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Pirate figure ruled art, not advertising

Not everyone in Pinellas Park agrees with the city's declaration that it's not advertising, therefore, it's art.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published February 12, 2006

PINELLAS PARK - At least one resident thinks Sneaky Pete the pirate is tacky, but, under city rules, he's an artwork and can remain at his new home on Park Boulevard.

The giant pirate, which used to adorn a hole at Gulf Golf on Treasure Island, was installed Monday at First Security Truck Sales after the company's owner, Pete Villandry, bought him for $3,000 at auction last weekend.

Villandry originally wanted to put Big John, as he was called, in his back yard in Treasure Island, but city officials objected. So he moved the pirate to his business, 7498 Park Blvd.

But it was unclear until Thursday whether Pinellas Park officials would be any more welcoming than Treasure Island leaders.

Pinellas Park spent three or four days deciding whether Sneaky Pete was advertising or art. If he counted as advertising, designed to lure customers into the business, then he would be banned. But if he was art, he was permissible.

By Thursday, the determination was made.

"It's not illegal, it's art," Pinellas Park city spokesman Tim Caddell said. "Under our ordinances, it's not advertising. He's welcome (to stay). ... He's got a new home."

Caddell said the city's new resident highlights a fact of life that "people love to move to Pinellas Park."

Although city officials are welcoming Sneaky Pete, some city residents aren't as hospitable.

Randy Heine, a candidate for mayor who owns the business across the street, said he doesn't mind having a mammoth pirate as a neighbor as long as he's securely tied down in case of hurricanes. Heine said he doesn't want the pirate blowing into his business.

And John W. Rothfuss wrote a note to Mayor Bill Mischler that said: "I sincerely hope the City Council or powers that be will give some thought to P.P. being harshly criticized if this man is permitted to have this tacky looking monstrosity on his business site!"

"I think that's not fair. I've got it dressed up beautifully," Villandry said Friday. The pirate is attached and surrounded by a "tasteful" white picket fence.

Villandry said he's not finished decorating Sneaky Pete yet. He's looking for a 2-foot-high parrot to put on Sneaky Pete's shoulder. And he plans to install speakers so he can play pirate songs during the day as well as speak to people who come to visit Sneaky Pete.

"I'm going to have so much fun," Villandry said.

Sneaky Pete is not the only gargantuan resident on the west side of Pinellas Park. Just doors away, Vintage Antiques has a display that includes humongous horses. And around the corner at 7108 66th St. N, Spencers Western World has a rearing horse outlined in white Christmas lights on its roof.

Caddell said he's not sure why that end of the city seems to attract large statuary, but he noted that Sneaky Pete should feel at home among jumbo horses.

Sneaky Pete's first incarnation came as a cowboy atop a Wagon Ho restaurant on Pasadena Avenue not far from Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish. He was driving a chuck wagon. His raised arm held a whip of some sort instead of the pirate flag that's there now.

When the restaurant went out of business, the cowboy was moved to Gulf Golf, repainted and turned into a pirate.

[Last modified February 12, 2006, 00:26:20]