By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published October 13, 2004
Today we begin a new feature for readers of our beaches edition of Neighborhood Times: a Beaches Notebook designed to gather a lot of news items in one spot. The entries will range from festivals and activities to government news that matters to you. We hope you find the notebook useful every Wednesday.
NORTH REDINGTON BEACH: On Oct. 20, land use, transportation and coastal management issues will be the focus of a committee charged with studying and recommending changes to the town's Comprehensive Plan.
The planning group meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Town Hall and is open to the public. A variety of proposals under review would:
Reduce the conversion of hotels and motels to condominiums.
Make Gulf Boulevard more pedestrian friendly.
Promote new commercial ventures catering to tourists' needs for food and entertainment.
Institute a formal site plan review of new and expanded developments.
Increase the use of reclaimed water and native salt- and drought-tolerant landscaping.
Make it easier for facility operators to expand and improve their properties.
Reduce the amount of solid waste.
Establish an ongoing stormwater drainage capital improvements program.
BELLEAIR BEACH: The Belleair Beach Island Garden Club will offer a program on basic orchid culture at 10 a.m. Oct. 20 at Belleair Beach City Hall, 444 Causeway Blvd. Michael Polen, past president of the Orchid Society and owner of Art Stone, will discuss repotting orchids. Orchids also will be shown and sold. Participants may bring a plant or fresh fruits and vegetables for the share table. A potluck lunch will follow the presentation. Coffee and dessert will be provided. For more information, call 581-8313.
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH: The board of directors of the recently renovated Beach Art Center will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in conjunction with the third annual Oktoberfest in Kolb Park. The pottery studio will demonstrate wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques. Refreshments will be served. The Beach Art Center is at 1515 Bay Palm Blvd., next to City Hall. For more information, call 596-4331.
INDIAN SHORES: The Indian Shores Property Owners Association will meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Indian Shores Town Hall Auditorium for its fall meeting and will discuss "Metro Crime Prevention of Florida." Annual membership fees of $15 will be due at the meeting or can be mailed to ISPOA, P.O. Box 434, Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785. For more information, call president Steve Sutch at 595-4149.
MADEIRA BEACH: The Second Annual City of Madeira Beach Municipal Marina Fishing Tournament on Saturday will feature two divisions - an offshore division fishing for grouper, amberjack and king mackerel; and an inshore division fishing for trout, sheepshead and flounder - and an old-fashioned fish fry.
Children 9 and younger can participate in a free "Off The Wall Tournament" from 8 a.m. to noon at the marina.
Division fishing begins at 12 a.m. Saturday (midnight Friday) with the catch weigh-in from 3-5 p.m. Entry fees are $60 per boat for up to four anglers, and $20 per additional angler. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. Rain date is Oct. 23.
For more more information, contact Capt. Dave Marsicano at the marina at 399-2631.
REDINGTON BEACH: The Fall Townwide Yard Sale will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday between 155th and 164th avenues. Call 391-3875.
REDINGTON SHORES: The town is looking for volunteers for the Florida Coastal Cleanup on Oct. 23. Participating residents will meet at the Town Hall Community Room from 8 to 11 a.m. and then disperse to the beach. T-Shirts and supplies will be furnished. For more information, call 397-5538.
ST. PETE BEACH: A Fall Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at the recreation center, at 7701 Boca Ciega Drive. Activities will include an arts and crafts festival, a costume parade, face painting, sand art, petting zoo, hay wagon rides, moonwalk, rock wall, games, contests, prizes and entertainment. For more information, call 363-9244.
TREASURE ISLAND: Pancakes will be served from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Community Center, 106th Avenue and Park Place, hosted by the Soroptimist International of Holiday Isles. Proceeds will enable low-income women to receive mammograms. For more information, call 866-7746 or 319-8383.
TREASURE ISLAND: All Children's Hospital Guild will sponsor a miniluncheon and card party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at the Treasure Island Community Center, 1 Park Place. The event is open to card players of all ages. Teams of four should register for the event. The party will include door prizes, raffles and a bazaar. Tickets are $7.50 and include lunch. Proceeds will benefit children at All Children's Hospital. To register, call 367-0030.
News for the beaches Neighborhood Notebook may be submitted by e-mail to sheila.estrada@knology.net fax to 398-6054, or mail to Beaches Notebook, 13472 Bellewood Ave. N, Seminole, FL 33776, or call Sheila Estrada at 399-9197.
