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Letter to the editor

Resident to give Treasure Island big birthday present

Bill Edwards will pick up the tab for the Florida Orchestra, Jon Secada, fireworks and more May 27-28. City anniversary events start Saturday with a '50s festival.

By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published May 4, 2005

TREASURE ISLAND - Treasure Island resident and business owner Bill Edwards is donating more than $200,000 to help the city mark its 50th anniversary.

Edwards, through his St. Petersburg recording and production company, Big 3 Records, is producing two evenings of free entertainment on the beach.

"He wants to give a gift to the city of Treasure Island, and we never could have afforded this in a million years," said Mayor Mary Maloof.

The mayor said she and Edwards, a large contributor and former orchestra board member, last year invited the Florida Orchestra to perform at the anniversary party. But the city's budget was limited to the $17,000 it had paid the Tampa Bay Symphony in years past.

Because the orchestra musicians are union members, the city would have been required to pay nearly $200,000 for the event. Maloof said Edwards immediately offered to pay. In addition, through his entertainment company, he is producing the two beachfront shows, providing additional performers and the stages.

"Sun, Sand and Symphony" is scheduled for May 27 and 28. The sunset concerts will feature patriotic performances by the orchestra May 27, followed by 15 minutes of fireworks, also paid for by Edwards. Performing with the orchestra on the evening of May 28 are two Big 3 singers, two-time Grammy winner Jon Secada and female country artist Joey Daniels. The party will end May 28 with a 25-minute fireworks display.

The concerts will culminate a monthlong celebration of the city's incorporation, which took place at 2:32 p.m. May 3, 1955.

The TI Five-O party kicks off Saturday with a '50s theme party, Rock Around the Clock, downtown near the city's clock tower. The city is closing Central Avenue, 107th Avenue, from noon to midnight. The celebration will include children's activities, face painting, an open-air market, food vendors, and displays of antique cars and firetrucks. The street party also will include entertainment by bluegrass artist Capt. Bob Thompson, the BackBreakers, Florida's '50s Original Rockers and Bruce Bye the Elvis Guy.

The next weekend, May 13, the city is hosting a golf and tennis tournament at 3 p.m. at Treasure Bay, followed by movies in the park at 8:30 and 10 p.m. The events will include refreshments and entertainment throughout the day and evening, including Rick Samples, the Golfing Guitarist.

Last year, Edwards offered St. Petersburg an $8-million donation and a $2.35-million loan in exchange for managing the Mahaffey Theater and the adjacent waterfront property as a concert venue for five years. He later withdrew.

In Treasure Island, Edwards is making an additional donation to help the city commemorate Armed Forces Day, May 21. A former Marine and Vietnam veteran, Edwards is paying for military personnel and their families to participate in a city fishing tournament and for a military museum with tanks and other equipment to be displayed at the Community Center. That evening, the city is sponsoring Potluckapalooza at the center, a potluck party for residents who want to bring a covered dish. Later this year, the city hopes to publish a cookbook with some of the favorite recipes shared at the event. Local civic groups will sell beverages.

In addition to the donations from Edwards, the city also has received money and in-kind contributions from most of its businesses and community leaders. Local restaurants are providing food, and several businesses have donated gift certificates and other "real cool things for door prizes," said city recreation director Cathy Hayduke.

Except for the fishing tournament, all of the events are free and open to the public.

[Last modified May 4, 2005, 00:57:19]