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Beaches notebook
By AMY WIMMER and RYAN MALDONADO Candidate forums set for all contested racesCandidate forums will be held in all cities that have contested races this year. In Treasure Island, a forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club, 400 Treasure Island Causeway. In South Pasadena, a forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at City Hall, 7047 Sunset Drive S. In Indian Rocks Beach, a forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 4 at City Hall, 1507 Bay Palm Blvd. In St. Pete Beach, a forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 7 at City Hall, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive. St. Pete BeachThe City Commission turned down the TradeWinds Beach Resort's request to run a Hovercraft from behind the hotel on the sandy beach. The 37-foot vessel would have shuttled passengers to downtown St. Petersburg, Fort DeSoto and Egmont Key. Commissioners voted unanimously against the request, questioning the Hovercraft's compatibility with the beach. * * * The Department of Transportation will conduct a construction open house on the widening of Blind Pass Road from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting will take place in the Upham Room at St. Pete Beach City Hall, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive. Construction for this $6.1-million project, which will turn the two-lane road into a four-lane road with a center turn lane, began Jan. 22. Sidewalks and bicycle lanes will also be provided, along with drainage improvements along 80th, 83rd and 90th avenues. The public will be invited to ask questions and make comments during the workshop Tuesday, and DOT representatives will be available to discuss construction impacts. * * * The third annual Island Festival, a daylong event featuring live music, book signings by local authors, art vendors and exhibits, is March 2 in Pass-a-Grille Park. Island Festival III is sponsored by the Suntan Art Center, Gulf Beaches Historical Museum and the Island Community Theatre. The Island Festival Community Theatre will present miniplays throughout the day, Gulf Beaches Historical Museum docents will lead tours through Pass-a-Grille streets, local musicians will perform, and local authors will sign books. Also, the Suntan Art Center will provide arts and crafts projects for children. Artists, crafters and other vendors are invited to participate. All work must be original to the artist. Sixty-five spaces are available in the park or the street. Entry fee is $50 or $25 for Suntan members. Artists should register to participate by WednesdayFeb. 20. Anyone interested in renting space should call 526-0664. Madeira BeachUrban planning consultants will conduct a weeklong series of visioning sessions Feb. 23-March 1, ending with a design presentation that will give residents a visual idea of what their city can be in years to come. The week will begin and end with presentations at Madeira Beach Middle School. Other sessions will take place at City Hall. Among the community designers will be Andres Duany, a high-profile Miami architect and town planner. Between the beginning and ending sessions, which city residents are invited to attend, will be the series of visioning sessions. Immediately following those sessions and then, for two days at the end of the week, the professional designers will work on visuals that reflect what the city wants in a master plan. The sessions are: Opening presentation, 5-7 p.m. Saturday at Madeira Beach Middle School gymnasium, 591 Tom Stuart Causeway. Neighborhoods, 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 24, Madeira Beach City Hall, 300 Municipal Drive. Gulf Boulevard, 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 25, Madeira Beach City Hall. John's Pass Village and surrounding area, 3:30-5 p.m. Feb. 25, Madeira Beach City Hall. Waterfront and natural resources, 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 26, Madeira Beach City Hall. Codes, 2-3:30 Feb. 26, Madeira Beach City Hall. Final presentation, 6-8 p.m. March 1, Madeira Beach Middle School gymnasium. * * * The Pinellas Parliamentarian Unit will hold its monthly meeting from 9:30 a.m. to noon March 2 at Madeira Beach City Hall Auditorium. A coffee and social hour will begin at 9 a.m. The unit provides education in proper procedure for resolving differences within organizations. All meetings are free and open to the public For information, call 866-3899 or 392-3263. * * * The Madeira Beach Seniors will meet at City Hall Auditorium at 1 p.m. March 4. Meetings are free and open to the public. Membership is available for all participants over 50, regardless of residence. The seniors offer group trips and many activities. Join in the fun, coffee and refreshments served at conclusion of meetings. Redington BeachThe Redington Beach Property Owners Association will meet Wednesday to consider changing its name. The current name prohibits the group from qualifying as a non-profit organization. Members will discuss changing the name and possibly allowing residents to join even if they do not own property. The meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Town Hall, 105 164th Ave. Treasure IslandSunset Beach Civic Association will hold its annual neighborhood yard sale, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. A $5 fee covers advertising and puts your house on a map distributed to shoppers. Each house may display its own "yard sale" sign. Call Norma Jusek at 367-6570 or Bette Lippke at 367-1422 for information. Indian Rocks BeachThe Beach Art Center will offer several new classes beginning in March. Classes will be offered in drawing, beginning oil painting, stained glass, watercolor, and beginning acrylics and glass painting. Call 596-4331 for details and registration. The Beach Art Center is located at 1515 Bay Palm Blvd. next door to City Hall in Indian Rocks Beach. -- Compiled by Times staff writers Amy Wimmer and Ryan Maldonado. To submit items for the Beaches Notebook, e-mail wimmer@sptimes.com.
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