Belleair Newsletter

AUGUST / 2008 ISSUE 5
Before Hurricane Elena...
A fterw
ards
The Indian Rocks Beach Fishing Pier in 1985, before and after Hurricane Elena.
By Bob Griffin
PAID
PRESORTED STD
U S POSTAGE
Permit No. 39
Clearwater, FL
Everyone living in the Belleair area or even
Pinellas County during 1985 remembers
Hurricane Elena. A Category 3 hurricane, she
threatened Pinellas County's coast for two days
during the Labor Day weekend.
Elena developed near Cuba and quickly
strengthened, reaching Category 3 status with
winds of 125 miles per hour. Elena became a
named storm on August 28th, moving to
hurricane status the next day. By September 1st,
it had reached its peak wind speeds.
Elena is remembered partly for its unusual route.
It stalled off the Pinellas Coast for a full day,
moved north, then looped back to the south,
before turning again and heading towards Biloxi,
Mississippi.
During the Labor Day week-end, Elena sat 80
miles off the Indian Rocks coast drifting slowly
northward. While it never made landfall in
Pinellas, it produced winds of 80 miles per hour
and constant rainfall. When the storm looped
around and began heading south, hurricane
watchers thought it would eventually head
towards Tampa Bay.
Over 300,000 people in the Tampa Bay Region
were forced to evacuate. Parts of the Florida
Panhandle and Louisiana also evacuated. At the
time, it was one of the largest evacuations and
shelter operations in US history.
The St. Pete Times noted, "In Pinellas,
approximately 300,000 people were ousted from
their homes. 160,000 of them went to nearby
shelters. People in low lying areas, who did not
evacuate, found themselves trapped in their
homes by the rising water. In Indian Rocks
Beach, tides were as high as 10 feet above
normal that Saturday night."
Elena destroyed the near-famous Indian Rocks
Beach Pier. By noon on Saturday it had
collapsed. Much of the sand from the Indian
Rocks beaches washed away and it would be
years before it was replenished.
After two days of sitting off the Pinellas Coast,
Elena moved toward the Panhandle eventually
coming ashore in Biloxi, Mississippi with 115
mile per hour winds. Though the Florida
Panhandle was spared a direct hit, there was still
significant damage from the 10 foot tidal surge.
The storm created $125 million in damage
caused mostly by the 6-7 foot storm surge that
hammered the Pinellas coast. Most of the
reported damage was in Indian Rocks Beach.
Four deaths are attributed to Elena, but they
were unrelated to the actual storm. The name
Elena was retired due to the massive nationwide
damage. Elena is the only storm name to be
retired without causing any direct casualties.
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
CREDITS
This newsletter is published by GRIFFIN
PRODUCTIONS, Inc. and is mailed to
occupied residence and business in
Belleair Beach, Belleair Bluffs, Harbor
Bluffs. We are not officially associated
with any city government.
PUBLISHER
Bob & Becky Griffin
ART DIRECTION
Becky Griffin
SALES
727-517-1997
CONTACT INFO
P.O. BOX 1314
Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
517-1997 ~ 517-1998 FAX
BeachNewsletters.com
Published Feb ● May ● Aug ● Nov
CITY NUMBERS
CITY OF BELLEAIR BLUFFS
www.belleairbluffs.org
2747 Sunset Blvd City Hall: 584-2151
FIRE DEPT: 584-8392
SHERIFF: 582-6200
MAYOR - Chris Arbutine, Sr
COMMISSIONERS —
Troy Krotz - Vice Mayor • Robert Russo
Hunt Brand • David Shimkus
CITY OF BELLEAIR BEACH
www.cityofbelleairbeach.com
444 Causeway Blvd City Hall: 595-4646
FIRE DEPT: 595-1117
POLICE: 595-4646
MAYOR - Lynn Rives
COMMISSIONERS — Kathy Mortensen Vice Mayor • Mitchell Krach • Stan
Sofer Mary Schoonover • Richard
Crowl • Rob Baldwin
TOWN OF BELLEAIR SHORE
www.belleairshore.com
1200 Gulf Blvd, Belleair Shore 593-9296
FIRE DEPT: 595-1117
POLICE DEPT: 595-4646
MAYOR: John A. Robertson
COMMISSIONERS — John E. Hayes, Jr.
Carl W. Hilton • Robert E. Schmidt, Jr.
Ray Piscitelli
TOWN OF BELLEAIR
www.townofbelleair-fl.gov
901 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Belleair 588-3769
FIRE DEPT: 588-8392
POLICE DEPT: 588-3769
MAYOR - Gary H. Katica
COMMISSIONERS — Stephen R. Fowler
Deputy Mayor• Tom Shelly• Karla
Rettstatt• Stephanie Oddo
CITY OF LARGO
www.Largo.com
201 Highland Ave, Largo Info: 587-6700
FIRE DEPT: 587-6714
POLICE: 586-7427
MAYOR - Patricia Gerard
COMMISSIONERS — Mary Gray Black
Andy Guyette • Rodney J. Woods
Gigi Arntzen • Harriet K. Crozier
Gay Gentry
BELLEAIR FINE ARTS SOCIETY 934-4304
FRIENDS OF THE BILTMORE 581-5171
BELLEAIR SINGLE SENIORS
953-6663
BEACH SINGLES CLUB
415-9496
CLEARWATER SAILING
517-7776
Please send all comments to
bo b@gr iffin dir ect or ie s.co m
PUBLISHER’S COMMENTS.
It’s our birthday! This is the fifth
issue of the Belleair Area Newsletter.
It has been one year since we printed
our first issue.
Since this is August, and near the
beginning of our Hurricane Season,
we thought it was appropriate to take
a look back to Labor Day week-end
1985 and Hurricane Elena.
In writing this story and interviewing
locals, we discovered very few of
today’s residents experienced Elena,
our last real storm. Thus few people
really know what to expect from a
hurricane.
This newsletter is mailed to all
residents of Belleair Beaches, Belleair
Bluffs, Town of Belleair and some of
the nearby Largo area.
A U G US T :
We publish similar newsletters in
Little League Register for Fall Ball
Indian Rocks Beach, Madeira Beach
Buc’s 1st Pre-Season Game-Miami 9
and Downtown St Petersburg. If you’d
Property Appraiser Trim Notices
11
like to see prior issues, view them
Belleair
Bluff’s
Business
Mixer
14
online at www.BeachNewsletters.com.
Public School Begins
19
This newsletter survives on local
Primary Election
26
advertising. If you live in the area,
S E PT EM BE R :
and own a business, you can
Labor Day (Monday)
1
advertise at a discount.
Household Cleanup (in Largo)
6
Please take a moment to send us an
Buc’s First Real Game (Sunday)
7
email or letter. We’d like to hear
what you think about it, and any
Grandparents Day (Sunday)
7
ideas you may have for our
Patriot Day (US)
11
November issue.
Belleair Bluff’s Business Mixer
11
Bob & Becky Griffin
Indian Rocks Beach Poker Run
20
bob@griffindirectories.com
OCTOBER:
www.BeachNewsletters.com
Yom Kippur
9
BELLEAIR AREA ROTARY CLUB
Meets at Belleair Country Club every Thur. for
lunch; Ed Shaughnessy . . . . . . . 461-7171
BELLEAIR BLUFFS ROTARY CLUB
Meets at Jorge's Seafood Grill Tues. 6:15PM
Pat France, President . . . . . . . . 581-0519
BLUFFS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Kim Bender, President . . . . . . . . 559-7881
TOWN OF BELLEAIR CIVIC ASSOC.
Sandy Tuten, President . . . . . . . 581-7314
BELLEAIR YOUNG WOMAN’S SOCIETY
Nettie Thomas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 585-5464
EMERGENCIES: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1-1
SHERIFF NON-EMERGENCIES 582-6200
SHERIFF DISPATCH . . . . . . . . . 582-6177
PINELLAS COUNTY INFO . . . . 464-3000
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Gulf Beaches . . . . . . . . . . . . 360-6957
Clearwater Beach . . . . . . . . 447-7600
Largo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 584-2321
ELECTRICITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 443-2641
PHONE (Residential) . . . . . 800-483-4000
PHONE (Business) . . . . . . . 800-483-5000
WATER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464-4000
CABLE (Bright House) . . . . . . . . 329-5020
------------------------------------------------COUNTY INFORMATION . . . . 464-3000
COMMISSION OFFICES. . . . . . 464-3377
Calvin Harris . . . . . . . . . . . 464-3360
Karen Seel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464-3278
STATE:
Senator Dennis Jones . . . . 727-549-6411
Republican, District 13
8940 Seminole Blvd, Seminole 33772
Jones.Dennis.web@flsenate.gov
Representative Jim Frishe . 727-518-3902
Republican, District 54
125 Indian Rocks Rd, Belleair Bluffs
Jim.Frishe@MyFloridaHouse.gov
Governor Charlie Crist
Charlie.Crist@myflorida.com
FLORIDA UNITED STATES SENATORS:
Mel Martinez . . . . . . . . . . 202-224-3041
www.Martinez.Senate.gov
Bill Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202-224-5274
www.BillNelson.Senate.gov
AREA UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE:
Rep Bill Young . . . . . . . . . . 727-394-6950
9210 113th St, Seminole, FL 33772
www.house.gov/young
2008 CALENDAR OF LOCAL EVENTS
© 2008 Griffin Productions, Inc.
Belleair Bluff’s Business Assn Mixer 9
Columbus Day Holiday (Mon)
13
Stone Crab Season Begins
15
Clearwater Jazz Coachman Park16-19
Oktoberfest Indian Rocks Beach 18
Coastal Clean Up
18
John’s Pass Seafood Fest
24-26
NOVEMBER:
Property Tax Bills Mailed
1
Turtle Season Ends
1
Daylight Savings Time Ends (Sun)
2
Election Day
4
Taste of IRB Indian Rocks
8
Veteran’s Day
11
Bluff’s Business Assn Mixer
13
Taste of Largo
15
Iron Man Clearwater Beach
15
Thanksgiving (Thursday)
27
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
BELLE AIR AREA NE IGH BORHOOD NE W SLE TTE R
Did You Know...
BEST BEACH IN THE USA !
We may think it is ours, but
when Dr Beach released
his annual Best Beach
awards list, Caledesi Island
State Park was the one he
chose as America’s Best
Beach. The park is located
north of Clearwater Beach
and south of Honeymoon
Island and is a well-kept secret. Unless you own a boat,
you may have never visited it. This important designation
promotes all of Pinellas County as a tourist destination.
Fort De Soto State Park won this award in 2005, and is no
longer eligible for the title. Get more info at DrBeach.org.
Two other Florida beaches also were in the top ten.
___________________________________________________
Summer Specials
BOTOX®
2 areas
$499
Juvéderm
1 syringe
$599
Also Featuring...
Thermage
FRAXEL
Medical Director: John J. O’Brien, Jr., MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
The Bluffs Shopping Center
2894 West Bay Dr.
Belleair Bluffs
727-518-7100
www.radiancetampabay.com
BOTOX (max 25 units per area). Not to be combined with any other specials, coupons, or offers.
THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS A RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT, OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION,
OR TREATMENT THAT IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED FEE, OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT.
PO STMAN R ICK BR INKMAN, resident and mail carrier
servicing the Town of Belleair, has also been in the Navy
Reserves for the past 26 years as a hospital Corpsman
(HMC). He recently returned from his third tour of duty
in Iraq. He also has been in Kosovo Albania, Hawaii,
and Alaska,. The Town of Belleair is planning to honor
him at an up coming meeting.
___________________________________________________
ELECTI ONS - AUGUST 26 is the county primary. Several
county officials are running for reelection, including Sheriff
Coates and our commissioner - Karen Seel.
___________________________________________________
POKER RUN SEPT. 20t h ON
INDI AN RO CKS B EAC H. Never
done one before? The goal is
to visit participating bars and
restaurants who will give you a
playing card. Make your best
poker hand at the end of the
run party at Crabby Bill’s
Loading Dock. Visit
IRBhome.com for more info.
___________________________________________________
REC YC LE YO UR PHO NE BO O KS! Pinellas residents
discard more than 2 million phone books yearly. They
end up in our land fills. Belleair residents with curbside
collection can include phone books in their curbside
recycling or drop them off at one of over 40 Pinellas
locations. Visit www.PinellasCounty.org/utilities or call
727-464-7500 to find a location near you. Businesses
can reduce the number of books they receive by calling
Verizon 800-888-8448 and Yellow Book 800-929-3556.
___________________________________________________
THE BEL LE AIR CI VIC ASSN HA LL OW EEN PAR TY
planning is underway. Sat., October 25 at 5pm, City
Hall will be turned into a Haunted House. There will be
a costume judging contest and free pizza, salad and
drinks for the children. Volunteers needed to help
decorate. Call Sandy Tuten at 581-7314.
___________________________________________________
JULY 4TH BB Q I N B EL LE AIR B LUFFS This year the City of
Belleair Bluffs combined with the local Buffs Business
Association (BBA) to host the annual cook out. The Fire
Department did the cooking. Thanks to all who helped
and volunteered their time.
BELLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NE W SLE TT ER
FIRE FIGHTERS FOR
THE CURE The local
Belleair Bluff's
Firefighters are
assisting in the Susan
G Komen Race for the
Cure, October 4.
They collected $1400
in donations during
the July 4th Bar-B-Q
at City Hall. Anyone
still wanting to donate to the breast cancer research
event may bring a check to Belleair Bluff's City Hall.
___________________________________________________
WAGON OF HOPE October is Breast Cancer Awareness
month. Pam Roper, owner of Beans About Cooking, is a
breast cancer survivor, sadly her sister Beverly, was not.
In October, Pam is once again offering the Wagon of
Hope raffle. The prize is a large wagon of goodies
mostly donated by her store. Last year she raised $
1,200 for the Susan G Komen Foundation.
__________________________________________________
STATE HOUSE DISTRI CT 54 Representative Jim Frishe (R) is
running for re-election in November. His office is located in
Belleair Bluffs. He is being opposed by Democrat George
Gonzalez, a realtor living in Madeira Beach.
___________________________________________________
SAVE THE DATE: O CTO BER 18 Plan to attend IRB's 7th
annual Oktoberfest in the city park between 15th & 16th
Ave. There will be an art show and many fun things to do
and see. Activities start around 11AM and last until 7pm.
Get more information at oktoberfestonthebeach.com.
___________________________________________________
NO MORE TROLL EY Beginning October 5th, PSTA
(Route 80) will not be stopping in Belleair Bluffs. There
are not enough riders supporting it. On the same day,
the rates on all Pinellas buses will increase.
___________________________________________________
TURTL ES ARE NESTI NG I N
RECORD NUMBER S! As of
the end of July, eighty six
Sea Turtle nests have been
discovered along the
Pinellas Beaches. The first
nest discovered May 17th,
in Indian Rocks Beach
hatched July 15th and 97
hatchlings headed to the
ocean. Belleair Beach’s first
hatching, three days later,
yielded 120 hatchlings. If you come across a nest, keep a
distance and DO NOT DISTURB IT! Call 727-441-1790
x224 with the location so that it can be protected.
___________________________________________________
FR ANK CHI VAS HE LPS THE C LEA RWATE R MA RI NE
AQUAR IUM . Chivas, a Bluff's resident and co-owner of
Marlin Darlin's, volunteered to oversee their remodeling
project and donated hundreds of hours of his time. The
project included a complete renovation of the interior,
upgraded exhibits, new lobby and floors, water drainage
system (to keep contaminated water out of animal
exhibits) and a new theater. They also have a fresh new
Caribbean look. Frank saved the aquarium an estimated
$500,000.
See the aquarium online at cmaquarium.org.
___________________________________________________
ONLINE: Read this issue and our Madeira Beach,
Downtown St. Pete, or Indian Rocks Beach issues at
www.BeachNewsletter.com.
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
Hurricanes, Did You Know...
Pinellas County has not had a
direct hit since 1921. That
storm, a Category 2 produced
8 foot tidal surges on the
beaches, and over 10 foot
surges in Tampa Bay. It
destroyed many bridges, but
not IRB’s. It created Hurricane
Pass between Caledesi and
Honeymoon
Island.
___________________________
The access to the Belleair Causeway and all three major
Pinellas County bridges are in a Zone A. Unless you
leave early, they may be unusable.
__________________________________________________
In Belleair Beach, a Cat. 1 hurricane’s 5-7 foot surge will
have water in the streets and over most seawalls,
depending on the landfall’s location and timing. A Cat. 3
hurricane
could flood 42% of Pinellas County.
__________________________________________________
The Hampton Inn at 100 East Bay Drive, will be open.
They only have 90 rooms and will fill up quickly.
However, they do not have a backup generator. If the
power goes off, there will be no free breakfast or air
conditioning
__________________________________________________
Our closest shelter is Largo High School. You can not
bring pets. Oak Grove Middle School in Clearwater is
the
closest shelter accepting pets.
__________________________________________________
Not wanting to leave their pets is the main reason people
do not evacuate. Find out where to take your pet now.
Your veterinarian can advise you. A few shelters allow you
to bring a pet, but there are restrictions. Service dogs are
allowed in regular shelters and motels. Paradise Pet Motel
1631 West Bay, accepts pets during a hurricane. But call
early
to make a reservation. 585-2007
__________________________________________________
Family members with special needs is another common
reason people do not evacuate. The County has a special
needs
program. Call the fire station, 595-1117 for info.
__________________________________________________
Employment issues
may delay you
from evacuating.
Some companies,
such as Home
Depot and the
Sheriff’s
department, expect
you to work. They
should have a
program to help
families of
employees.
_________________
Do not call 9-1-1
for hurricane
information, only if
you have an
emergency. The
county has a
Citizen’s Info Line
to keep you
informed - 727464-4333
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
MORE PROPERTY TAX
REFORM
By Jim Frishe, Representative,
District 54
In addition to increased tax rates that
have made owning property
unaffordable for many Floridians,
Florida's property tax system is rife with
inequities and arcane rules which have built up over time
to stack the deck against property owners and in favor of
tax collectors.
Last year, the House of Representative led the way in tax
relief, by providing nearly $25 billion in property tax
relief through statutory and constitutional reforms,
including Amendment 1.
This year, the House of Representatives continued to build
on the relief and reform, by successfully passing
legislation to reform the practice of highest and best use,
and change the composition of value adjustment boards.
Highest and best use is an unfair practice which taxes
property on its potential future uses, instead of its current
value. This approach has been particularly devastating to
small businesses such as beachfront restaurants and bed
and breakfasts. The small mom and pop businesses I
represent are being unfairly taxed based on what a future
developer might do with the same land.
House Bill (HB) 909, which incorporated much of the
same provisions of a bill I sponsored, corrects this by
creating new standards and uniform procedures for
appraising property that places less emphasis on highest
and best use. This legislation will make it tougher for
county property appraisers to assess a commercial
property at its highest and best use, because it will
require appraisers to assess properties based on the
income they generate, not their potential.
Thanks to HB 909 appraisers must consider 'the legally
permissible use of the property' as well as whether it
needs zoning changes, permits or additional roads
before it could be used for something different, such as a
condo tower.
HB 909 will also change the composition of value
adjustment boards, the panels which are designed to
hold property appraiser accountable. Until now, these
boards have been made up of elected officials and
government bureaucrats. HB 909 changes this by
requiring that private citizens sit on these boards as well,
so that property owners can have full representation.
After passing overwhelmingly in the House and Senate,
this bill was signed by Governor Charlie Crist June 17th.
I am confident this common sense legislation will restore
some fairness to our property tax system. This bill will
take effect September 1, 2008, meaning property owners
will see the changes reflected in next year's tax bills.
Property tax reform is not just about cutting taxes, it is
about making fundamental changes to the way we tax
property in Florida to create a more fair and equitable
tax system, and we are just getting started.
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
CITY GOVERNMENT NEWS
B ELL EAI R B L UFFS:
New Fir e Ch ie f: Chief Patrick Competelli, formerly Chief
in Dunedin, has been hired to be the new fire chief.
Until now, the department has been under the Largo Fire
Department’s Administration.
Fir efigh ter Ho no r ed: Several firefighters were
recognized recently by the City Council. The firefighters
were Steve Langere (26 yrs) Driver & EMT, Lt. Joe
Martens (25 yrs), Lt. Chuck Barlet (22 yrs) and Lt. Dale
Fletcher (19 yrs). Firefighter Clint Faulkner was
recognized as the department’s first paramedic.
No Mo re C hi cken s! It is official, you can no long keep
chickens or any "farm animals" including fowl and wild
animals on your Belleair Bluffs property. It seem to still
be ok though to keep snakes and turtles as pets.
__________________________________________________
TO WN OF BE LL EAI R:
The Biltmore Variance, approved May 20, extends the
height of the new East Wing from 32 to 60 feet allowing
space for the roof. A few additional variances were
approved at the meeting that didn’t end until 2AM. The
Biltmore will close May 2009 to start these renovations.
Sa ll y Spen cer wa s h on or ed for the many years she
served on the town's Parks and Tree board. She is
credited with the planting of countless trees all over
town. Sally died May 12 and will be remembered for her
long
time service and devotion to the city.
__________________________________________________
B ELL EAI R B EAC H:
Tem po ra r y O ffic e: City Hall is temporally operating out
of the house at 1001 Cedar Drive, just west of the now
demolished old City Hall. Meetings are held in the
garage.
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
BIBLES FOR TROOPS CAMPAIGN
National Bible for Troops Campaign - First Baptist Church
of Indian Rocks’ Charis Bookstore
Across the nation, an effort is underway to sign and send
100,000 Bibles to American troops in 100 days. Tens of
thousands of people are expected to go to a local
Christian bookstore, purchase a $4.99 camo-covered
special edition Bible, write a personal message inside the
front cover of the Bible, and give it back to the retailer to
be shipped to an American soldier serving somewhere
around the world. While there have been other efforts to
provide Bibles to soldiers, never before have Bibles been
sent with personal messages inscribed by individual
Americans, expressing their prayers and gratitude.
At a special display station in at least 1000 participating
Christian bookstores across the country—including Charis
Christian Bookstore of Largo, FL, caring Americans will
be able to purchase, sign, and send the Operation
Worship special edition of the New Living Translation. The
Christian retailer will then send the signed Bible—along
with thousands of others—to be distributed free-of-cost to
active military via hundreds of military chaplains around
the world who have requested Bibles.
“What better impact can you have on a soldier than to
provide them with the Word of God?” said Jeff Hilliard,
cofounder of Open Window Foundation and Operation
Worship, a national not-for-profit ministry whose mission
is to enrich the spiritual lives of military personnel. “No
matter how we feel about the war, our soldiers need our
support. This is an incredible way for Americans to
support our soldiers in a personal and meaningful way.”
“Soldiers continue to ask for Bibles in the field,” Hilliard
said. “One chaplain I talked to estimated that out of 40
soldiers attending a field church service from the back of
a HumVee, only 2 to 5 of them will have a Bible. There is
a great need.” When Bibles are made available, he
reports, they are eagerly received by soldiers—many of
whom are confronting some of the toughest challenges of
their lives.
This special edition Operation Worship Bible includes
lined note pages at the front for a message of
encouragement, warm words of thanks and support from
retired Army Chaplain Steven R. Young, a brief
introduction to the Bible for those who are encountering
its truth for the first time, a topical reference listing, and
the complete NLT text, one of the most readable and
understandable Bible translations available today.
Media outlets needing more information or requesting an
interview with Jeff Hilliard, founder of Operation
Worship, and/or Bill Anderson, president of CBA, the
association for Christian Retail, may contact Nancy
Guthrie via nancyguthrie@comcast.net.
Additional information is available from the Operation
Worship website: www.operationworship.com
For general information about First Baptist Church of
Indian Rocks, please call 727- 595-3421 or go to the
church’s website at www.indianrocks.org
Customers can come to Charis Bookstore, 12685
Ulmerton Road, Largo and buy and sign a Bible that will
be given to an active-duty U. S. soldier serving
somewhere in the world.
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
B us i n e s s B r i e f s .. .
URBAN COAST opened in the
Plaza 400 building at 416
Indian Rocks Rd.N.
Soosie Lazenby and partner
Missy specializes in premium
paper goods, personalized gifts
and entertaining essentials. They
have local as well as national
clients. Reach them at 584-8400
or____________________________
www.Urban-Coast.com
AL’S PIT STOP A "Pit Stop" has
opened where the Mediterranean Cellar was. No car
repairs, just groceries. Stop In and say hello. 305
Indian Rocks Road North.
_________________________________________________
ILLUME ECO BOUTIQUE is a new boutique store full
of ladies clothing and gifts located at 784 Indian Rocks
Rd.
N., next to Le Bouchon Restaurant
_________________________________________________
RAYMOND JAMES at 645 N. Indian Rocks Road in
Belleair Bluffs is looking for experienced financial
advisors to join the branch. Call Liza 585-1212 if you
are interested.
_________________________
MARLIN DARLIN’S KEY
WEST GRILL: New Name,
New Sign, and a New
Menu! Stop by for a taste of
their authentic New Key
West menu with all your
favorites in a casual Key
West atmosphere.
_________________________
BUSINESS OWNERS: 10,000 square foot commercial
building for sale on Walsingham Road. Call Kevin at
455-7415 for details
_________________________________________________
THE SECOND ANNUAL
TASTE OF IRB
showcasing some of the
best area restaurants will
be Nov. 8th. Sponsored
by the IRB Homeowners
Assoc. and the City of IRB
Over 20 area restaurants
and local vendors will be
on hand for a great
evening of food, music
and fun. Last year's event was a huge success with
thousands attending. It is FREE to attend, just pay for
food, beer and wine as you go. They are currently
soliciting vendors. If you are interested in a booth for
this event, call Becky Griffin at 517-3131.
_________________________________________________
OUT OF BUSINESS:
A LB ERTSO NS: Publix bought 21 Albertsons stores in the
Tampa Bay Area, one of which is in Belleair Bluffs.
Manager Kimberly Boccia, says she is not sure what
will happen to her store and staff. It might become a
Publix, or something else. Others say that it will open
as a Publix on September 6.
W INE STYL ES: One of Belleair Bluff's largest wine stores
closed However, Bella Vino, next to E&E, is still open
to serve you.
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
an d M o r e . . .
STONE COLD CREAMERY in
Belleair Bluffs was voted "Best Ice
Cream" by the readers of the
Belleair Bee. JD and Viren,
owners of Stone Cold want to
thank those who voted and invite
you by for a cold one. They are
now one year old.
_____________________________
GRILLE 131, a new restaurant in
Seminole, opened in July. They
are located at 13079 Park Blvd,
just south of Seminole High School. They feature steaks,
seafood and cocktails - dinner only. Coincidentally, the
owners had a restaurant in the same spot 20 years ago.
Call 393-1703 for more information
__________________________________________________
DON’T WORRY BE
SUSHI! Matt Loder at
Crabby Bills is trying
something new in the
brick building. It is no
longer Blue Marlin
Sports Bar, it is IRB
Sushi. Bring your chop
sticks.
____________________
BLUFFS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (BBA) The BBA has
lots going on this year. Mark your calendars for these
networking socials:
Aug 14: at Raymond James on Indian Rocks Rd N
Liza Campa-Flanagan
Sept 11: at All State Insurance, Joe Barkley
Oct 9: at Easy Living Ginny Moore
Nov 13: at JK Flowers 432 West Side
For more information, call Kim Bender at 559-7881. To
Join the BBA, call Bob Griffin, at 517-1997.
_____________________
BIG DEAL! In May, Dr
James St Louis, founder
of Tampa's Laser Spine
Institute, purchased
Marine Max founder Bill
McGill's waterfront home
for $10,250,000. That is
record price of a home
sold in Pinellas County.
It has five bedroom
"suites", eight baths, and
a 240,000 gallon rocky
lagoon swimming pool. The Belleair home is just down
the sea wall from Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan.) Ray
Alexander, of Engel & Volkers (Anna Maria Island) was
the listing broker for this record sale. The home,
previously on the market for years with other realtors, was
sold by Mr. Alexander after only 60 days. (Photo provided
by Ray Alexander, 941-794-6700).
_________________________________________________
ANTIQUES IN IRB??? No, not people. There is an
Antique Show scheduled inside the Indian Rocks Beach
City Auditorium October 18th as part of the Oktoberfest
celebration. It is sponsored in part by LeJan’s Antiques.
Call Len or Jan Spencer of LeJan's at 586-7515 for info.
__________________________________________________
BELLEAIR NAILS AND SPA recently relocated to
2401 West Bay, Ste 601, near the Venus Restaurant.
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
HOW OUR GOVERNMENTS ARE
PREPARING FOR A HURRICANE
TO WN OF BE LL EAI R
by Micah Maxwell, City Manager
During a hurricane, all necessary city personnel will
report to the Dimmitt Rec Center which was built to
withstand a Cat 3 Hurricane. This includes the mayor, city
manager, public works employees, fire, police and their
families. The building has plenty of room and a
generator that will last three days. It is equipped with
cooking facilities. Everyone will be here to immediately
attack any awaiting problems after a big storm.
Except for a few areas near the bay, most of the Town of
Belleair is not in an evacuation zone. The biggest
expected problem is fallen trees and downed power lines.
B ELL EAI R B L UFFS
by Chief Patrick Competelli
The Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department will use
the Belleair Bluff’s City Hall as a base of operations. The
City Hall, built more recently than the fire station, has a
generator and should survive winds better than the fire
station. This area of Belleair Bluffs is 34 feet above sea
level and is not in an evacuation area.
The fire department also operates the EMS units. All
rescue staff will be on site around the clock. They will be
rotated so that they can rest between calls.
The fire department maintains a list of all “special needs”
residents and will contact them. If they need a ride to a
special needs center, the fire department will arrange it.
Most of the special needs centers are in Dunedin. Largo
High School is the closest evacuation center to this area,
but only holds 1,074 people. Pets are not accepted.
The fire department holds quarterly meetings with the
county’s Emergency Management Operations
Department. During a storm they are in hourly contact to
assess damage and needs. They use Nextel phones and
will do a lot of texting.
This station services Belleair Bluffs, the Town of Belleair
and part of Largo.
THE CI TY OF B EL LE AIR B EACH
Peter Cavalli, MPA Community Services and IT Director
An emergency management plan outlines its employees'
responsibilities and their role in the City's emergency
management scheme. Since the City is located on a
barrier island, it is vital that the City remain vigilant and
always prepared to respond to emergencies. All
employees have taken emergency management courses
based on their job functions and areas of responsibility.
After the storm, traffic controls will be in place to restrict
vehicular access. At the city access points residents will
need to show their Evacuation Re-Entry Permit to enter.
Residents should contact City Hall at 727-595-4646 to
obtain their Permits.
The City has ongoing agreements and arrangements with
contractors to provide debris management, monitoring
services, equipment rental, and miscellaneous supplies.
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS FOR PETS
by Dr. Lester Mandelker, DVM
Community Vet Hospital, Largo
The most important thing you can do to help pets during
a disaster is to have appropriate emergency kits for
yourself, your human family, and the animals in your
care. This should be done well in advance of a
hurricane. Include medications, vaccination records,
food, water, bedding, leash, food/water bowls, plastic
bags and gloves for waste, and a cage or kennel for
each animal. Don't forget kitty litter and a litter pan.
If your pet does not have one, ask your veterinarian to
implant a pet microchip for identification. Register the
chip with one of the national organizations available.
Carry the microchip identification number in your wallet
along with a picture of yourself with the pet. Being
personally prepared not only helps your own animals, it
frees up disaster service workers who might otherwise be
spending time and effort saving you and your pets.
Evacuate humans and animals in a timely manner.
Know what motel, friend, relative, veterinary hospital or
boarding kennel can accommodate your pet(s). In the
Belleair area, Paradise Pet Motel, next to Community
Veterinary Hospital (727-585-2007 or 727-585-8776)
on West Bay Drive in Largo is an approved hurricane
disaster facility, however, space is limited. Call as soon
as a hurricane is forecasted for our area.
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
"How to Hurricane-Proof Your Business"
by Charles R. Gallagher III, Esquire
Having been very fortunate over the past two hurricane
seasons, local business owners need to be all the more
vigilant this storm season. Experts predict an active
hurricane season. Your business hurricane
preparedness plan should include three segments: (1)
personnel, (2) facility and (3) equipment/data.
Each business should develop a notification system for
closure and evacuation. Many businesses have
established a hotline to alert employees of closure.
Email and cell phones are also an effective means of
communication.
Next, you should attempt to protect your office facility.
This preparation takes place far before the hurricane
season. First, ensure that your property insurance
includes hurricane and windstorm as covered perils.
Also, confirm that you have a separate flood insurance
policy, since flood is typically an excluded peril most
insurance policies. Next, consider hurricane shutters or
some other temporary window covering.
Finally, perhaps the most important area of
preparedness involves protection of equipment and
data. Ensure that you maintain an off site hard copy of
your client list, your file list, client contact information,
and other sensitive data. In the event of an evacuation
of the office, retain the disk/tape backup copies of data
from your server and a hard copy of vital client data.
Ensure that your server and workstations are away from
windows above ground level.
Careful preparation can minimize the impact of a
hurricane on your business. Should have any questions
about preparedness or hurricane claims please feel free
to contact us at Gallagher & Associates Law Firm, P.A. at
727-344-LAWS or www.attorneyoffices.org.
REMEMBERING HURRI
PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE
Ka ren Seel , Co un t y Co m miss io ner We lived in
Clearwater at that time, but my parents owned a 1920
beach house on Gulf Blvd and three condos in the area.
When the storm passed we grabbed our shovels,
hammers and other tools and joined the long lines of
cars wanting to get back on the beach, all anxious to
see what had survived.
At our old house, “old Gulf Blvd” which ran behind the
house, to the west, had buckled in half and became a
huge concrete barrier/seawall. The house was saved
although it had some wind and water damage. It still
stands today.
At the Reef Club condos in Indian Rocks Beach, the
entire deck and pool were destroyed. We were sad to
see the Indian Rocks Pier and many older homes along
the beach were swept away.
These experiences come to mind each hurricane season.
It certainly affects how I approach a storm as a County
Commissioner.
-------------------------------Jo hn Sla u gh te r, Sl au ght er Plu mbin g My brother, Hal
Gray, was employed by the Indian Rocks Beach Pier.
There were huge pumps for the live wells that ran along
the sides of the pier. When Elena intensified, they were
unable to be moved. One minute the pier was there,
and the next, it had broken apart and drifted off into the
sunset, taking the retail shop and bathrooms right along
with it. Slaughter Plumbing had originally installed the
bathrooms, back flow preventers and pipes on the pier,
and during major storms they would be come clogged.
We stayed on standby for the pier during Elena’s fury to
“keep things running”.
----------------------------Gi nger Ly le PS FR Fi re Depar tm en t S ecr eta r y It was my
fifth wedding anniversary and I was spending it alone as
my husband was out of the country on business. But I
was not really lonely. I spent 2 1/2 days on the gym
floor at Walsingham Elementary. I was one of the lucky
ones, though. Our home had no damage. My husband
could not locate me. It took a few days to get word to
him.
-------------------------------Ma r y El len L asn er , Assi sta n t t o Cit y Cler k,
Ci ty o f Bel lea ir B lu ffs I lived on Gulf Boulevard at 6th
Avenue in an older home and rented part of the house
as an apartment. My friend and I had a catamaran
sailboat that we had anchored in the intracoastal directly
across the street. We were concerned about the boat
and, although we were told to evacuate, we chose to
stay with the boat in the event we had to readjust the
lines or strengthen it with more ties. This was my first
experience in a hurricane and it was scary once the
winds kicked up and the electricity was out. I could see
the seawalls giving away. Water and sand rushed down
the road in from of our apartment into Gulf Boulevard.
The beaches were being destroyed. Debris was strewn
everywhere once the storm was finally over. Although
Elena wasn't that strong a storm, she packed a punch
with her unending rain and wind.
RICANE ELENA - 1985
ELENA DESTROYS THE PIER
by R.B Johnson, Mayor Indian Rocks Beach
When Hurricane Elena came howling up the gulf at the end
of the summer of 1985, I was living in my family's cottage
right next to the Big Indian Rocks Fishing Pier. Built in 1959
by my grandfather, Carl H. Moseley, and his partner, Louis
R. Snelling, Jr., it was the longest pier (1041 feet) in Florida
at the time of its construction, and I never knew a time when
it did not dominate my family's life on the beach.
Everything would change that fateful Labor Day week-end.
The surfers were out in force all day Friday, but Elena stalled
to the north of the Tampa Bay area, and by sunset the
beach, never wide to begin with, had disappeared entirely,
the huge waves now crashing directly on the seawall. That
caught my attention, along with the fact that one of the pier
pilings close to shore was swinging like a long, loose tooth an ominous sign. The authorities soon ordered an
evacuation of the barrier islands, but I dawdled, reluctant to
leave most of my personal possessions behind, including a
large number of books. Like usual the pier was lit up by its
lights that evening but for the first time that I could recall
nobody was fishing. Around midnight I walked out to the
snack bar/bait house to tell the fellow working there that it
might be a good idea to close up shop. On my way I
notice that the tops of the waves passed below me only a
foot or two from the decking I was walking on, an unsettling
observation as they would normally be about ten feet down.
I think we were both relieved to get back to shore, because
the structure was starting to sway more dramatically as the
night wore on. As far as I know we were the last two
people to walk on the pier. Soon after a police officer came
by asking everyone to leave the island, and I drove over to
Tampa to stay with my parents.
The next morning we receive news that our pier had almost
completely washed away in the middle of the night. What
we didn't know was if the cottage was still there. With Elena
stalled offshore from Cedar Key, I decided that I couldn't
wait several days to find out what the situation was. Since
the three Tampa to Pinellas County bridges being closed, I
drove around the north end of the bay to get to Clearwater,
and from there made my way to the Walsingham bridge,
which was closed but in the down position. After briefly
considering swimming across, I parked in a neighborhood
to the south of the roadblock and climbed up the bridge
embankment, then ran across the bridge and down Gulf
Blvd. There were no cars, no people, and no lights. Here
and there sand had been washed across the road. At 8th
Avenue there was a continuous flow of water from the Gulf
towards the Intracoastal. When I got to our property I was
relived to see, for the moment, the cottage was still there.
A quick glance around the corner confirmed that, yep, the
pier was about a thousand feet shorter. From inside the
cottage I looked out toward the shore. All I could see was
the ghostly white froth of the waves as they smacked the
seawall and flew up high into the air over and over. After
finding no apparent damage to the cottage I headed back,
only to be confronted by a police offer. Thankfully, I had ID
proving my residence and he only told me to get the hell off
the island, which I promptly did.
Monday found most residents parked in a long line waiting
to be allowed back on the island. What was found was that
the beach was gone, some seawalls were destroyed, along
with the cottages immediately behind them, but perhaps
most heartbreakingly of all was the solemn fact that the Big
Indian Rocks Fishing Pier had vanished forever, scattered
north across the coast. It was beautiful while it lasted.
B ELLEAI R ARE A NE IGHB ORHOOD NE WS LET TE R
ELENA AND THE BELLEAIR AREA
Most people don’t realize that Hurricane Elena did as
much damage, if not more, to the homes and
businesses along Belleair Beach, as any where else. The
city of Belleair Beach has a shoreline of .87 miles. Prior
to Elena, the entire length of the beach was bulkheaded
and the beach width varied from ten feet at the north
end to about fifty feet at the south end. After Elena
passed very little beach existed at high tide. The
bulkheads were substantially damaged or destroyed
along nearly 50% of the city’s shoreline.
-------------------------------The Tortugas Condos, south of the Belleair Beach Access
at Morgan Street had 400 feet of seawall destroyed. The
beachside of the building had heavy damage. La Casa
de los Caracoles to the south had a 500 foot bulkhead
destroyed and the building was undermined. All
beachside units were damaged. South of La Casa, the
Almenaro Condos lost 60 feet of seawall, the property
was eroded and the pool was threatened. The pool was
destroyed at the Aldea Condominium
-------------------------------The Nautical Watch property, at the north end of the
beach, was substantially damaged and its 150 foot
bulkhead destroyed. The Carriage House property also
sustained damage. 150 feet of its seawall was
destroyed. Juan would destroy another 100 feet in
October. The Serena del Sol had a failure of their 320
foot seawall with minor damage to the building. Next
door, a townhouse sustained heavy damage, as well as
the next three single-family homes. The Chateau Motel
lost it’s swimming pool.
-------------------------------From Ralph Clark, the Florida Department of Natural
Resources, the Bureau of Coastal Engineering and Regulation.
“The Impact of Hurricane Elena and Tropical Storm Juan on
Coastal Construction in Florida. March 1986
STORM SURGE
Assistant Chief Rick Walker,
Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue
In recently released reports, experts have predicted an
active 2008 hurricane season. PSF&R has been trying to
raise awareness of the dangers these storms present to our
communities residing on barrier islands. The greatest
hurricane threat is the storm’s surge. In Pinellas County,
evacuation plans are implemented based on surge
predictions and are shown on evacuation zone maps. Each
category of storm strength, predicted by the emergency
management experts, represents a "level" of evacuation. A
Category One storm represents a Level A evacuation
requirement continuing on through the five storm
categories to a Level E evacuation. Each increase in
hurricane Category adds five to seven feet of surge water
to the prediction. A Cat. 5 storm that hits directly in this
area could bring more that 30 feet of water on shore. The
surge has the potential of moving water, higher than a
two-story building, over the entire island. Our goal is not
to scare citizens but to remind them that there is no safe
way to protect you from that much water on the island and
no safe rescue options during the storm. The only way to
ensure your survival is to leave the area when you are
ordered to evacuate. Seek high ground in a safe structure
on the mainland. According to Rick Walker, the Assistant
Chief of Operations at PSF&R, a public shelter should be
your last resort. If possible make arrangements to go to a
friend's house on high ground. "A shelter is a life boat not
a cruise ship," states Assistant Chief Walker.
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
REAL ESTATE
The County Property Appraiser's Office says property
values countywide fell 8.5 percent from 2007 to 2008.
This is the first time since 1992 values dropped. For
local governments, the drop means the same tax rate
will bring in less money.
Am ou nt ea c h c it y fell:
Belleair
6.6%
Belleair Beach
9.3%
Belleair Bluffs 10.7%
Belleair Shores
2.5%
Indian Rocks
11.0%
Indian Shores
13.0%
Largo
8.6%
North Redington 9.9%
Redington Beach11.8%
Redington Shores 3.3%
(Source: Pinellas County Property Appraisers Office)
Hi gh est pri ced h om e sa le s ne ar B ell eai r i n 2007:
288 Spottis Woode Court, Clearwater ($5.4 Million)
306 Harborview Lane, Largo ($5.2 Million)
1720 Gulf Blvd, Belleair Shores ($5.0 Million)
1540 Gulf Blvd, Belleair Shores ($4.87 Million)
(Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal)
REAL ESTATE IN THE AREA
Information provided by
Martha Thorn,
Coldwell Banker,
Belleair Bluffs.
727/ 432-9019
www.MarthaThorn.com
Information represents sales
activity in the second quarter of
2008. Shown are SOLD prices.
Average Belleair Non Waterfront
Highest Belleair Non-Waterfront
*Average Belleair Waterfront
*Highest Belleair Waterfront
595,000
1,800,000
4,365,633
10,250,000
NOTE: These numbers are skewed due to
$10,250,000 sale; see related story in this newsletter.
Average Belleair Shore Waterfront
Highest Belleair Shore Waterfront
No Sales
Average Belleair Beach Non-Waterfront
Highest Belleair Beach Non- Waterfront
333,500
370,000
Average Belleair Beach Waterfront
Highest Belleair Beach Waterfront
745,000
830,000
Average Harbor Bluffs Non-Waterfront
Highest Harbor Bluffs Non-Waterfront
401,318
670,000
Average Harbor Bluffs Waterfront
Highest Harbor Bluffs Non-Waterfront
1,661,250
2,600,000
Average Harbor Hills Non Waterfront
Highest Harbor Hills Non-Waterfront
162,500
185,000
Average Harbor Hills Waterfront
Highest Harbor Hills Waterfront
No Sales
Average Belleair Bluffs Non Waterfront
Highest Belleair Bluffs Non Waterfront
182,166
200,000
Average Belleair Bluffs Waterfront
Highest Belleair Bluffs Waterfront
No Sales
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
CHIVAS BOYS CATCH THE BIG ONE
Frank Chivas, principal owner of Belleair Bluff's Marlin
Darlin and Salt Rock Grill, has three sons who love to
fish. Oldest son,19-year-old part-time angler and full
time UCF student, Cody Chivas and the Salt Rock Grill
Pro Marine crew won "Team of the Year" honors in the
Boca Grande Tarpon Tournament in the Professional
Tarpon Tournament Series. Cody, his 18 year-old brother
Kyle and friends Grant Johnson and Dan Munyon
started with a 168 pound winning tarpon in the first of
the five tournament series. Cody and his brothers grew
up on the water and have been fishing for years. He
drives the 22 ft Century while the others concentrate on
their fishing. When a fish is on the line, Cody helps by
gaffing it and bringing it the boat.
GREATER BELLEAIR YOUNG
WOMEN'S SOCIETY
A new season will begin in September as the Greater
Belleair Young Women's Society announced its new
President and Board. The group met at the Harborview
Center in Clearwater and enjoyed a fun social hour
followed by a delicious dinner created by the Center's
chef. Deborah Vaters, President for the 2007/2008
social year, welcomed the incoming President Nicole
Piccarreto. Nicole then announced her Board. For
information on joining the club, please call 727-5862268
From left to right are Nicole Piccarreto - President, Tracy
Bland Griffith - Vice President, Jeanette Lawrenson Treasurer, Kathleen Hager - Recording Secretary, and
Cheri DeCollibus - Corresponding Secretary.
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY
By Karen Williams Seel, District 5
Pinellas County Commissioner
We have a great threat facing us this
summer: complacency. Hurricane
season started June 1, but since we
have experienced such calm weather
in the last couple of years, I am
worried we have become too
comfortable. We must not allow ourselves to feel so safe
that we fail to prepare ourselves, our families, our pets
and our businesses for the possibility of a hurricane.
Pinellas County has not experienced sustained hurricane
force winds since 1921. We have come close, and many
of us have had some experiences with hurricanes. I
remember Hurricane Elena in 1985 and I know many of
you do, too, as it caused extensive damage along the
coast. Do you remember Hurricane Charley in 2004,
and the fear that struck our hearts as we watched a
powerful hurricane moving directly toward Pinellas
County? Who will ever forget the horror of Hurricane
Katrina in 2005 as it devastated the city of New Orleans
and much of the Gulf Coast? Many lessons were learned
and those lessons were incorporated into our local and
state emergency management plans.
Beach residents take hurricane preparedness seriously,
but remember in the case of a hurricane, your area will
be underwater. If you refuse to evacuate, the storm surge
is deadly. A category 1 storm produces a storm surge of
up to 7 feet, category 2 up to 12 feet. In a category 3
storm, the water will rise 15 feet above sea level. I hope
and pray every person and pet will leave when the
evacuation order is given.
The key to successfully riding out a hurricane and taking
care of your family in the days that follow a storm lies in
one word: planning. Go to the county's Emergency
Management website or pick up a copy of the county's
Hurricane Guide to assist in your personal planning. The
guide is filled with checklists, phone numbers and the
information you need to get your hurricane kit together.
We encourage our businesses to prepare for the
hurricane season. Part of the process for business
readiness is to ensure that your employees have a plan.
Business owners are asked to keep in mind that
employees need time to prepare their homes and
families before a storm so a plan should be put in place.
You can help those at your business or in your
organization by setting up a Host Home program. We
can assist you with this. The Host Home program
matches families who live in evacuation areas with those
who don't. The guests help prepare and stock the host
home, and then join the hosts to ride out the storm. It is
a much more comfortable option to public shelters,
which should be used as a last resort. At a public shelter,
you are given 10 square feet. You would be sleeping on
the floor, and it would likely be dark, hot and crowded.
You would be safe, and that's important. But a host
homes avoids the use of a public shelter, and increases
comfort during the storm and in the days that follow a
hurricane, before emergency response systems can assist.
We are also asking residents to take an extra step this
year. We realize that in order to make sure everyone is
ready, we need to look beyond our own confines to that
of others. Perhaps a neighbor living alone is not aware
that there are special needs shelters for which they need
to pre-register. Maybe a co-member of a club is not
aware of the special planning needs of their pets. We're
asking our citizens to help each other.
Speakers are available to help educate groups within the
county, which is another excellent way to help spread the
message. Libraries sponsor presentations. Several videos
are available on pinellascounty.org and are aired on our
Pinellas County government television station, PCC-TV.
If everyone calmly makes a plan for themselves, and
their businesses, and remembers to think about
neighbors, we will be well prepared as a community.
Please remember, the time to plan is now. Some
important resources:
l Pinellas County Emergency Management:
(727) 464-3800 www.pinellascounty.org/emergency
l Find your evacuation level: (727)453-3150
|gis.pinellascounty.org/hurricane_txt/
l Register for Special needs transportation: (727)464-3800
|www.pinellascounty.org/forms/special-needs.htm
l Sign up for the Community Notification Service to
receive text emergency information on your cell phone:
(888)689-8905
l Set your Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME)
equipped all-hazards alert radio for Pinellas County:
Enter code 012103
l If you know of someone who would like to receive the
E-Lert newsletter, have them visit
www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/subscribe.htm
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
From the Desk of Sheriff Jim Coats
As we approach the end of summer I would like to
remind you that a new school year is about to begin.
Later this month more than 150,000 Pinellas County
students will once again begin making their daily trip to
and from school in one of the largest school districts in
our state. Whether traveling by car, bus, bicycle, or on
foot, students may face some challenges as they make
their way to and from school in the coming months.
I encourage parents to talk to their children about safety
before the new school year begins. Children should be
taught about bicycle and pedestrian laws and parents
should encourage their children to adhere to them all. In
addition children should be taught to cross streets in
marked crosswalks or at intersections, and to make eye
contact with drivers of vehicles that are stopped to ensure
that they are seen before crossing. If no sidewalk is
available, pedestrians should walk facing traffic and
bicyclists should ride with the flow of traffic.
Drivers can also expect some changes in their daily
commutes associated with the start of another school
year. The addition of more cars and buses on our
roadways each morning and afternoon will certainly
result in increased traffic congestion, particularly near
schools and bus stops that have been idle for the past
couple of months. School zones will require reduced
speeds and brief stops as crossing guards assist younger
students who negotiate busy streets while walking to
school.
As motorists, we must also be aware that the location of
school crossing zones may change from year to year. Just
be aware that there may be a school crossing on your
way to work this year where there wasn't one last year.
Motorists should plan to add a few extra minutes to
morning and afternoon trips, and extra care should be
taken when driving near schools, crosswalks, and bus
stops. Drivers should also be prepared to stop for school
buses when picking up or dropping off students. Florida
law requires that drivers bring their vehicle to a full stop
when approaching any school bus displaying a stop
signal. Motorists must then remain stopped and are
prohibited from passing the bus until the signal has been
withdrawn. This law also applies to motorists driving in
the opposite direction of a stopped school bus unless
there is an unpaved space of at least 5 feet, a raised
median, or some other type of physical barrier.
By obeying traffic laws and remaining alert for children
near our roadways, we can prevent serious injuries or
deaths related to traffic crashes during the upcoming
school year. By following the law and these simple
suggestions you can help us to achieve our goal of
"Leading The Way For A Safer Pinellas."
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
BELLEVIEW BILTMORE PROGRESS
After a lengthy town meeting on May 20, the Belleair
Commission approved the site plans for the restoration of
the Belleview Biltmore Hotel. Legg Mason Real Estate
Investors, property owner of the Hotel, Biltmore Golf
Course and the Cabana Club on Sand Key spent months
working with the community. The recent Variance Appeal
has not dampened the owners optimism about this exciting
project. The appeal, a petition for writ of certiorari was
filed on June 20, 2008 by citizens Robert Swinehart, Scott
Spencer and Fred Thomas. Even though an appeal was
filed to delay the Belleview Biltmore restoration project,
Legg Mason is hopeful that the Court will affirm the Town
of Belleair Commissions’ support of the site plan.
Legg Mason and its team of professionals have spent over
a year modifying the site plan in an effort to accommodate
neighbors. This appeal halts the next steps required to
begin restoration. This unnecessary appeal is costly for the
taxpayers and stifles the economic stimulation that could
have been quickly realized from the entire project.
The plan for the Cabana Grill and the Belleview Biltmore
Beach Club is to redevelop the site with a 38 room
boutique hotel and restaurant. Improvements include a
new pool and deck, new parking lot, new landscaping
including more trees and a new stormwater management
system. Legg Mason hosted a community Open House on
July 8 to share the plans. For more information about
either project visit belleviewbiltmore/restoration.com
THE CAUSEWAY CONSTRUCTION
The construction of the new Belleair Beach Causeway
Bridge is progressing smoothly.
l All piers for the Bridge have been constructed
l There are only 30 out of 660 feet of incremental
launching to construct on the east side
l The beams for the three span continuous segment over
the channel has been completed
l Beams for the three regular 150 foot spans are erected
Misener Marine is installing a new seawall in what will be
the newly constructed boat ramp park. Construction of the
boat ramps are scheduled to be compete by the end of the
year and the boat ramp park will be ready by the end of
2009.
The main bridge is on schedule to open by the end of Feb.
2009. The remaining work and demolition will continue
once the traffic is shifted to the new structure. The total
project is on schedule to be completed at the end of 2009.
Currently, the job requires approximately 10 management
personnel and 80 hourly workers consisting of: Managers,
Engineers, Superintendents, Foremen, Carpenters, Heavy
Equipment Operators, Commercial Divers, Captains,
Deck Hands, and Laborers.
Jul y 2008
F OO
TBALL SCHEDULE
TA M PA B AY
BUCCANEERS
PRESEASON
FRI
SUN
SAT
Thur
8/09
8/17
8/23
8/28
at Miami Dolphins
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
at Houston Texans
REGULAR SEASON
SUN 9/07
New Orleans Saint
SUN 9/14
ATLANTA FALCONS
SUN 9/21
at Chicago Bears
SUN 9/28
GREEN BAY PACKERS
SUN 10/5
at Denver Broncos
SUN 10/12
CAROLINA PANTHERS
SUN 10/19
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
SUN 10/26
at Dallas Cowboys
SUN 11/2
at Kansas City Chiefs
-- Bye Week -SUN 11/16
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
SUN 11/23
at Detroit Lions
SUN 11/30
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
MON 12/08
at Carolina Panthers
SUN 12/14
atAtlanta Falcons
SUN 12/21
SAN DIEGO CHARGER
SUN 12/28
OAKLAND RAIDERS
7:30
8:00
7:30
8:00
PM
PM
PM
PM
1:00
4:05
1:00
1:00
4:05
1:00
8:15
1:00
1:00
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
1:00
1:00
1:00
8:30
1:00
8:15
1:00
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
Home Games appear in all CAPS.
All Home Games in Raymond James Stadium.
Times subject to change. Tickets: Call 813-879-2827
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
Belleair Rec. Dept. and Summer Camps at Dimmitt Community Center’s
r,
chneide
achel S. Camp
R
,
h
ic
v
…
Ye
y
Bobbyd Lindsey Parzazy Hair Da
an lors on C
Counse
y
n Wind
Magicia
in
and Ev
The morning summer camp program is full but
the specialty camps with openings are
A ug 4th – 8t h
PreK Science Camp 9am-12 noon
Magic Camp and Soccer Camp 1pm- 4
A ug 11th -15
Spanish Camp 9am-12:30
Cheerleading Camp 9am-12 noon
Beginners Acrylic Painting Camp 1-4pm
A ug 18th - 22n d
Water D
Kidz Art Camp for 2nd Grade and up instructed by
ay
Belleair resident Patti Spence and Joyce Curvin
O t her Au gu st Eve nt s
Basketball League starts
Flag Football Sign ups – League Plays Sept/Oct
Soccer Sign ups start –
Under 6 League plays Sept/Oct
Under 8 and up League Starts in Oct - Feb
They also have on going Hip Hop Classes,
Cheer Club, Martial Arts Classes and Tennis
Lessons
Fo r Adul ts
Morning Exercise Group, Duplicate Bridge,
Belleair Singles Club with Various Activities
and Beginner Oil Painting Lessons on Thursdays
C
Adult Volleyball every Tues/Thurs from 1pm-3:30 ShelbryaPzy Hair DayT
oups, Aogue, HallieTop Row….
Basketball Wed evenings and Sat mornings
Tay nnie Mull Muller, G
Jazzercise and Yoga
Pogue,lor Bottom Reor, and Hannrace
Evin, a
a
For Specific information please call the Rec Dept
nd Cawr …. Emme h
oline A
at 588-3769 ext 210
dikes
BE LLE AIR AREA NE IG HBORHOOD NEW SLE TT ER
PUTTING THE CUSTOMER FIRST
When you hear about so many
small businesses being bought out
by their larger competitors, it's nice
to hear about one that found the
formula for success. In 1981
James H. Clark started his Largo,
family business Downstate
Securities Group. He knew a small
brokerage firm would have difficulties competing with the
larger firms, so James made the decision his family-run
business would put emphasis on customer service. His
goal was not to become a large brokerage firm but to be
a company that treated customers with care and respect.
Soon, James's daughter, Tina, joined the firm. At 18 Tina
passed two exams, one qualified her as a broker and the
other qualified her to supervise other brokers. She was
told she was the youngest person ever to take and pass
these exams. In 1993, Downstate Securities Group moved
to their present location on Indian Rocks Road in Belleair
Bluffs. That's when Mr. Clark's son, James M. joined the
firm, after completing his Masters in Accounting at the
University of Florida. He and Tina took over day-to-day
operations and honored their dad's commitment to
making customer's needs first.
Today, Downstate Securities Group is one of the the Tampa
Bay area oldest locally owned and operated brokerage
firms. While other firms are closing local or merging with
competitors, Downstate's
commitment to personalized
service has provided them a
very loyal following.
ROTARY NEWS
BELLEAIR ROTARY: April 16, 2009 7-9 pm will be the
Belleair Rotary Club's annual fund raiser, A Fine Wine
Gala, held at Fresh Market on US 19 in Clearwater. For
more information about the Wine Gala contact Ed
Shaughnessy at 461-7171. Pictured above newly
installed Belleair Rotary President Kelly Carter presents
the Belleair Rotary Club Employee of the Year award to
Fresh Market Produce Manager Raymond Crump and
General Manager Danny Sanchez.
BELLEAIR BLUFF'S ROTARY: The
next meeting is August 19th at 6pm
in Jorges Restaurant on Clearwater
Largo Road. The guest speaker is
local author Alexandra Everist. She
has written a book called "A Katrina
Moment", a tale of survival. She is
a member of the Rotary and has
spent much time in New Orleans
volunteering with Hands On New
Orleans & Americorps. Call President Cheryl Pacheco at
Wildwood Florists 446-4610 to get involved.
Quality Home Care for the Way You Live
Assisting with Life Enrichment Activities
●
Personal Assistant
●
Personal Care Assistant
(Certified Nursing Assistant
Home Health Aide)
Medication Management
Transportation
(Companion/Homemaker)
●
●
Call
727-448-0900
1465 S. Ft. Harrison Ave.
Suite 200 Clearwater
EASYLIVING
TM
INC
HOME CARE FOR THE WAY YOU LIVE
Email: Administrator@easylivingfl.com
www.easylivingfl.com
HHA # 29 9 99 2 28 2
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