THE CLEARWATER JAZZ HOLIDAY & HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Clearwater Jazz Holiday did not just happen.A group of people with foresight and gutscreated an event that, over the years, attractsthousands of spectators to a small plot ofgrass next to Clearwater Harbor to enjoy thesounds of local and national jazz artists. The creation was almost Woodstock-esque. Afew people had an idea to add music wherethere was none to see what might happen.Instead of Jimmy Hendrix, they invited WoodyHerman. In place of Jefferson Airplane wasthe Count Basie Orchestra. Instead of MichaelLang (Woodstock’s promoter), there was DonMains and Cary Stiff, who in 1980, gave birthto the event Pinellas County has come toknow and love--the Clearwater Jazz Holiday.So who were Don Mains and Cary Stiff? DonMains had convinced the Clearwater AreaChamber to hire him as their Director ofTourism. Mains promised to create events that

would pay his salary. Realtor Cary Stiff was the president of a downtown Clearwater business association, who promotedthe then-suffering downtown area. Mains and Stiff were very different, but in many ways they were similar. “He was the daddy and I was the mama,” is the way Cary described their relationship. “Don had the idea for a musicevent of some type,” Cary says, “and I liked anything that promoted the downtown area, especially when it combinedmusic with food.” According to Cary, JAZZ was Don’s suggestion. His main goal was to put “heads in beds” at local hotelsbut he also liked Jazz because it would appeal to a range of residents, from Greenwood to Belleair. It always botheredCary that food was not sold during the early days. The City had an ordinance against alcohol on public land, so patronsbrought their own food and “snuck in” the beverage of their choice. We experimented by selling tortilla chips and meltedcheese for 50¢ and hawked sodas out of an old barrel for a quarter each. Surprisingly, we quickly sold out. The Kiwanislater sold hot dogs. Today there is a huge variety of food available.Admittedly, Mains and Stiff knew nothing about putting on a concert event. They also had no money - at all. The Chamberwas willing to “help” but they didn’t have big coffers either. They approached Bronson Thayer, president of the Bank ofClearwater, then the area’s largest local bank. After a 15-minute presentation, Thayer handed them a check for $2,000. They chose October since it was cooler and an off-period for the hotels. They considered many venues, including the bigwaterfront lot behind Maas Brothers, but “It was not really a park; it was more of a vacant lot with sandspurs,” says Cary. On the first day of the very first Jazz Holiday, Bob Draga, a local musician played a clarinet version of Revelry at sunrise onthe east side of the Memorial Causeway. About 75 locals showed up to kick off the first day. Later that day, manypoliticians and sponsors along with a few musicians boarded a trolley at City Hall and road it over to Coachman Park in aneffort to promote a party atmosphere.Paulette Pepper, a local singer, was the very first performer at the very first Jazz Holiday event. Also in the inaugural line-upthat year was The Polka Dots, a local band with a following that played polka (oom-pah-pah) music regularly at WoodyRiley’s Warehouse, a popular bar near Ft. Harrison and Myrtle Avenue. “Some of our friends and sponsors thought wewere crazy,” said Cary, “but we wanted local bands to be a part of it, too, especially since they were free.”Woody Herman was the first major headliner booked. Volunteers Jim and Mary Pugh’s son, Jim, Jr. played trombone inWoody’s band. All it took was a phone call to Jim, Jr., and Woody agreed to play a free show in Clearwater despite nopermanent stage, only the use of a flatbed truck donated by the city with a tent over top. Mr. Herman said that first year, “Ibelieve this is the start of something big.” The theme was “Building a Rainbow.” An arch of hundreds of balloons was constructed to celebrate to the event’s successon the last night. Buddy Yerdi, the very last performer, played Wizard of Oz’s “Over the Rainbow.” When it came time to

elevate the balloon arch, it would not go up. Cary remembersJoe Butler of Clearwater Audio/Visual, the sound sponsor,coming to the rescue with his bucket truck and it finally got itoff the ground. “The band kept playing the song over andover until we got the balloons up,” laughs Cary. She remembersit being awful at the time, but hilarious in hindsight.

THE CLEARWATER JAZZ HOLIDAY & HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Headliner, Woody Herman at the first Jazz Holiday

SEPTEMBER / 2014 ISSUE 51PRESORTED STD

U S POSTAGEP A I D

Permit No. 4008St Petersburg, FL

Or Current Resident Continued insideBy Bob Griffin, Publisher

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER

CITY NUMBERSCITY HALL. . . . . . . 595-25171507 Bay Palm Blvd www.Indian-Rocks-Beach.com

CITY MANAGER - Gregg MimsMAYOR/CITY COMMISSION . 517-0204MAYOR - R.B. Johnson COMMISSIONERS — Cookie Kennedy • Terry Wollin Phil Hanna • Jim Labadie Vice Mayor City Manager, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595-2517Gregg MimsBuilding Department: . . . . . . . . 517-0404Don WeignerPlanning & Zoning: . . . . . . . . . . 517-0404Danny Taylor, Dir.Public Services: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595-6889Dean Scharmen, Dir.IRB LIBRARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 596-1822Next to City HallM-F 9-5pm, Tu-Th 7-8:30pm, Sat 10-1pmIRB HISTORICAL MUSEUM . . . 593-3861Across from the Post OfficeIRB HOMEOWNER ASSOC.. . . 641-4795Phil Wrobel, President - IRBHome.com IRB BOAT CLUBBob Griffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517-1997BEACH ART CENTER . . . . . . . . 596-4331Next to City Hall, 1515 Bay Palm BlvdPOST OFFICE / IRB. . . . . . . . . . 596-2894204 4th Avenue 33785, Near Crabby Bill’sMon-Fri 8:30A-4:30P; Sat 9A-12:00PIRB ROTARY Meets at Jimmy Guana's every Wed. 7:15AMBruce Sobut, Past President . . . 403-4060ACTION 2000Eric Meyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 744-0123Meets 2nd Monday Each Month Beach Art CtrBEACH FOOD PANTRY . . . . . . 517-25341615 First St. M-W-F 10 am-12 pm

LITTLE LEAGUE . . . . . . . . . . . . 417-7349IRB WELCOME CENTER . . . . . . 595-4575CHAMBER OF COMMERCEGulf Beaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360-6957Clearwater Beach. . . . . . . . . . . 447-7600AA & AL-ANON MEETINGS . . 595-1038ELECTRICITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 443-2641PHONE (Residential) . . . . . 800-483-4000PHONE (Business) . . . . . . . 800-483-5000WATER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464-4000CABLE (Bright House) . . . . . . . . 329-5020SEWER / IRB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595-6889TRASH / IRB / Pick Up . . . . . . . 595-6889-------------------------------------------------EMERGENCIES: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1-1SHERIFF NON-EMERGENCIES 582-6200SHERIFF DISPATCH . . . . . . . . . 582-6177IRB FIRE STATION . . . . . . . . . 595-1117-------------------------------------------------COUNTY INFORMATION . . . . 464-3000COMMISSION OFFICES. . . . . . 464-3377 Karen Seel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464-3278STATE:Senator Jeff Brandes . . . . . 727-552-2573Republican, District 22 3637 Fourth St. N., Suite 101 St. [email protected]

Representative Larry Ahern 727-395-2512Republican, District 668383 Seminole Blvd, Suite B, Seminole [email protected]

Governor Rick [email protected]

FLORIDA UNITED STATES SENATORS:Marco Rubio . . . . . . . . . . . 202-224-3041www.Rubio.Senate.gov

Bill Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202-224-5274www.BillNelson.Senate.gov

AREA UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE:David Jolley . . . . . . . . . . . . 727-392-41009210 113th St, Seminole, Fl 33772www.house.gov/jolley

SEPTEMBERLabor Day 1 Morton Plant Mile 4 Men Run 6 IRB Public Safety Day 6 Bucs First Real Game 7 Grandparents Day 7 Patriot Day 11 Homeowners Happy Hour 11 Dolphin Tale 2 opens 12Blood Drive at the IRB Post Office 12 Boat Club Intracoastal Clean Up 13 IRB Boat Club Meeting 18 MADD Walk on the Beach 19 Boat Club End of Summer Party 20Welcome Home Hawks McGough 20Autumn Begins 22Homeowners Scavenger Hunt 27Clearwater Offshore Racing 28Park Blvd Bridge Closes 29

OCTOBERFire Prevention Month City Occupational Licenses Due 1 Blessing of the Animals 4 Make A Difference Fishing at Pier 60 4 Homeowners Happy Hour 9 St Patrick’s School Fun Fair 9-12Hispanic Heritage Coachman Park 12Oktoberfest on the Beach 11 Columbus Day 13 Stone Crab Season Opens 15 National Boss’s Day 16Clearwater Jazz Festival 16-19 COTI Fall Carnival 18 Coastal Clean Up 18 Historical Society Fall Luncheon 18 Schools Closed 20 Keegans Stone Crab Event 24-26 Country Jubilee Heritage Village 25 Pumpkin Carving City Hall 25 Haunted House City Hall 25 Johns Pass Seafood Festival 25-26Sea Turtle Nesting Season Ends 31

CREDITS

© 2014 Griffin Productions, Inc.

2014 CALENDAR OF LOCAL EVENTS

This newsletter is published byGRIFFIN PRODUCTIONS, Inc.and is mailed to every occupiedresidence and business in IndianRocks Beach We are not officiallyassociated with the City of IndianRocks Beach.

PUBLISHERSBob & Becky Griffin

Residents of Indian Rocks Beach

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THE BARRIER ISLANDSGOVERNMENT COUNCIL

by Terry Hamilton Wollin, City CommissionerMost folks are unaware of their elected officials’integration into the county and state as voices for IndianRocks Beach. That’s a big part of our job and theBarrier Islands Government Council (BIG-C) has beenmy assignment for the past seven years. This year I waselected vice-president of the organization.The BIG-C was incorporated in 1990. The Council ismade up of 11 members, one elected official from eachof the cities on our barrier islands. Bellaire Beach,Belleair Shore, Clearwater, Indian Rocks Beach,Redington Shores, North Redington Beach, RedingtonBeach, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island and St. PeteBeach each have one member on the council.The BIG-C allows communication between the barrierisland cities in order to focus on issue and problemscommon to all of us including tourism, publictransportation, beach renourishment, the marineenvironment, water quality and waterway regulation. The BIG-C was responsible for the agreement withPinellas County that provides each member city funds tobeautify the crown jewel of our tourism industry, GulfBoulevard. IRB’s share is in excess of 3 million dollars.Our June 2014 meeting featured:

a. Presentation from Richard Coates, Director ofTransportation and Stormwater-Pinellas County,Department of Environment & Infrastructure whoinformed us that the Park Blvd. Bridge Constructionproject is scheduled to begin September 1, 2014.b. A legislative update by Rep. Kathleen Peters onaffordable housing, the foster care system and theManatee Management Plan.c. Pinellas County Coastal Manager, reported on theTreasure Island/Long Key nourishment project,scheduled to begin at Sunshine Beach July 2nd.The project will go from north to south fromSunshine Beach, to Sunset Beach, Upham Beach andfinishing at Pass-a-Grille Beach by mid-September .

The July 2014 meeting agenda included:a) Libby Carnahan-Florida Sea Grant Agent,UF/IFAS Extension "Climate Adaptation TechnicalWorking Group" b) Bruce Moeller-ALS First Responder Agreement(Update) c) Richard Coates, P.E. Director of Transportationand Stormwater-Pinellas County Department ofEnvironment & Infrastructure (Update) .

The BIG-C meets monthly, the last Wednesday of themonth, rotating from one member city to another. Ourmeetings begin at 8:30 am with a free breakfastprovided by the host city, and the business meetingbegins at 9:00am. Our meetings usually last about onehour and are open to the public. Our September 2014meeting will be hosted by Indian Rocks Beach in the cityhall auditorium.For more information on the BIG-C visithttp://barrierislandscouncil.com.


CALENDARSON SALE The2015 “Save OurCottages”calendars arenow on sale atthe HistoryMuseum,Welcome Center,Kooky Koconut,Café de Parisand Coffee Mill. The calendarscontain beautifulpaintings created by the Plein Aire Cottage Artists HelenTilston, Mary Rose Holmes and Violetta Chandler.Proceeds benefit the History Museum the Library andAction 2000’s local projects. Recently the trio was invitedto exhibit their art in Ireland in June of 2015. Read theirblog PleinAireCottageArtists.blogspot.com or call MaryRose at 813-294-2272 for more information.___________________________________________________ONLINE STORE OPEN Now you can purchase some ofthe more popular Egmont Key Alliance items and havethem shipped directly to you. In the past, souvenirs wereonly available a few days a month at the lighthousecompound in the State Park on Egmont Key. If you evervisited the island and were not able to purchase somethingbecause the store was closed. now you can buy themonline. They are still adding more items so check backoften! They accept PayPal, VISA and MasterCard. Visitegmontkey.info/Online-Store. Mark your calendars for TheAlliance’s Discover the Island on November 8th and 9th. ___________________________________________________FUN FAIR St. Patrick Catholic School's annual Fun Fairwill be Thursday, October 9th through Sunday, October.12th, at 1501 Trotter Road in Largo. The fair will featurecarnival games, amusement rides, a silent auction,entertainment, flea market, food and drinks. An Arts andCrafts Show will be open Saturday and Sunday. FREEAdmission. Visit www.stpatsfair.com for information.__________________MCKAY CREEKBOAT HOUSE UPThanks to the hardwork of thevolunteer framingcrew, the buildingthat will housevintage boats andother materialsrelated to thecounty’s rich coastalhistory, is up, theroof is on, and the windows and doors are being installed.The next steps are to finish the exterior with siding, andbuild entrance steps and ramps. The work is far from over,the next phase will be to build the displays, andeducational panels to tell the story of our maritime history.The Historical Society with the help of our donors, andVolunteers are proud of what we have accomplished toadd to depth of experiences at Heritage Village, and westill need help to complete the Boat Shop. Information anda donation form can be found atwww.pinellascounty.org/heritage.

Did You Know....


NEW HAWKSMcGough Nature Parkis now home for twored shouldered hawks.The female Gwen, hasa permanentlydamaged wing andbecame a surrogatemother to ten babyhawks. Nine of themwere eventuallyreleased, while amale, born partiallyblind, bonded withGwen and will remainin the park's care. Because of their injuries, neither couldsurvive in the wild. They are asking you to help name thenew male hawk, by submitting your suggests [email protected]; entries will be accepted throughSeptember 12. His name will be announced September 20at the Welcome Home Hawks event, 3-6pm at McGoughNature Park which offers an opportunity to becomeeducated on the birds of prey program and conservation. ___________________________________________________MAKE A DIFFERENCE Volunteers are needed to helphost this fishing tournament held for special needs kids.It will be October 4 at 8am on Pier 60. Anothertournament in November will be for special needs adults.To learn more, call John Phillipoff at 235-4919 or visitwww.MakeADifferenceFishing.org.___________________________________________________36TH ANNUAL COUNTRY JUBILEE Visit PinellasCounty’s Heritage Village on Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 am to4 pm for non-stop music performed by local groupsincluding Americana/Folk Rock, Pre-1900 songs, Pure Folk,Folk-Rock, Acoustic Old-Timey Folk and Bluegrass rhythmsand musical sounds from around the world. Visit morethan 100 craft vendors displaying stained-glass items,handcrafted jewelry, wooden items, seasonal crafts,handcrafted candles, and many more. There will be a hugeFlea Market loaded with books, videos, DVDs andphonograph records, vintage items, collectables andantiques. Sugar cane grinding and boiling will bedemonstrated by the Largo Area Historical Society. TheMorse Telegraph Club, Florida Chapter will demonstratehow people communicated with Morse code. "4 Men andTheir Trains" will have working model railroad displays. ___________________________________________________LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Volunteers are neededMonday through Friday mornings (9-1) and afternoons (1-5). People are needed at the circulation desk and tointeract with their visitors. Call 596-1822.___________________________________________________FOOD PANTRY EXPANDS Partly because there are morepeople needing their service, and partly because theCalvary church wanted their old space, the Beaches FoodPantry relocated to the southwest corner of the building.This is a larger area with an expand display space. _____________________________AUTUMN IS ALMOST HEREThe fall season will soon be uponus and to help you get in thespirit, the US Post Office recentlyreleased the Farmers Marketsstamp series with an array of fallflowers and food. These areforever stamps currently valued at49¢ and will still be able to beused when they raise the cost of postage again.


“C” REAL ESTATE STUDENTContract to Closing

By Gordon Obarski, Broker Associate Doiron Realty on the Beach

You have an accepted offer and signedcontract on your home. Does that meanit’s time to pop the cork on the Cristal,hire a mover and spend the next twoweeks vacationing in the South of France?Think again. An offer and a contract aremerely starting points. That’s when the“real” work begins--where the rubbermeets the road.

Just in the last few years, an offer and contract meanless and less. In some cases, they are not worth thepaper they are lasered on. Internet-educated buyers seethemselves as “slick” negotiators and tender a gazillionoffers--all with easy-out contingencies. In the end, theymay not end up closing on any of them, which makesfor a somewhat squirrelly selling environment.The most important thing to remember after an offercomes in: Until you feel like you’ve lost the sale, itprobably won’t happen. Gear up for multiple pit-in-the-stomach moments. Prepare for anything that can gosideways to do precisely that. The appraisal may comein lower than the purchase price; the 4-point inspectioncould turn up a litany of repairs that the buyer attemptsto “use” to renegotiate the deal; the home/condo mighthave termites (rule rather than exception!); the seawallneeds attention; the insurance cannot be bound due toan imminent tropical cyclone threat; the surveyor isbooked up for weeks; HOA approval has yet to besecured after weeks of chasing the association president;repairs were not satisfactorily completed; buyers backout after the contingency period ends resulting in anescrow dispute, etc. I could go on but I’m making myselfsick…so I won’t.This is when the difference between a good realtor andgreat one becomes apparent. Only the one with theability to get from contract to closing without you, as theseller, losing your sanity achieves true “greatness.” You’lldiscover that an agent is only as good as his roster ofcontacts: from insurance brokers, exterminators, homeinspectors and title companies to surveyors, roofers, A/Ctechnicians and seawall contractors. The realtor with alist of suppliers who will jump through burning hoops wins.“Realtor the Great” will not only help you secure theright contractor; he/she will personally oversee the repairsto everyone’s satisfaction and expedite the entire process.Word to the wise: DON’T take your property completelyoff the market. Tag it as “active with contract/acceptingback-up offers” until inspections are complete, appraisalis acceptable, all contract contingencies are removed,financing appears solid and a closing date and timeappear imminent. That way, if the deal doesn’t happen--no matter what the reason--you will not miss showingsto other potential buyers in the interim.If you’re like me, you only dreamed about being an “A”student while sleeping in high school. That’s okay in realestate because it’s the “C” student who knows how to rollup his/her sleeves and kick it out to the very end—from“C” (Contract) to shining “C” (Closing). As RodneyDangerfield said: “A, B, C…Hey, you’re in the top three!”

Real Estate News


TECHNOLOGY AND KIDSby Kadi Hendricks TubbsTechnology sure has changed the past few years and itseems to be something that won’t be going away. Thinkabout cell phones for instance, almost everyone has a cellphone. I have even seen elementary aged kids with cellphones. I know friends have asked me when I am goingto get my two girls ages 8 and 9 years old a cell phone. Idon’t know. I know they won’t have one in elementaryschool. I am not sure about middle school. My nieces gotphones as they started middle school and I was kind ofshocked they had them, but I do understand that thesedays for security issues it’s nice to have. I don’t think kidsneed iPhones, but a basic phone may be ok. If you askedme a few years ago about my kids having a phone, Iwould have said high school. I see so many kids texting. Idon’t want my kid to be on the phone all the time.When it comes to computers, tablets and iPods, I know asa parent of two young girls in elementary school, I wantto protect my children when they are on their electronicdevices and practice internet safety. It’s not always easythough. I monitor what’s on their tablet and what appsthey have, but still I can be caught off guard.I was recently talking to a friend about social media andshe told me some horror stories that happened in theirschool in another state. She told me about kids in highschool using Instagram, a social media site for postingphotos is the big thing. Instagram for high school studentsis like Facebook is to their parents. I guess on Instagramkids can take a photo of someone and change the photoand post it. Sometimes kids post bad things about otherkids and it can go viral and really ruin a student.The other site I was told to be cautious about is SnapChat. My daughter had this on her tablet. It was an app Ididn’t fully understand until a friend warned me. Theproblem is people can send kids something bad andonce the email is opened, it disappears. A child canpotentially see something and can’t show you what it wasbecause it’s not there anymore. Even for teens this couldbe bad. Once I found out a little more, we deleted it.I know we have seen stories in the news aboutcyberbullying on social media sites and destroying kidslives because someone posts something bad aboutanother kid or a photo that is distasteful. I know as aparent I don’t want to subject my kids to this, so I have tobe wise and try and prevent these things before theyhappen. My best advice is to talk to your kids about thetechnology they are using. Make sure you tell them whatis acceptable and not acceptable on the computer andinternet. Monitor what your child is doing on thecomputer. Technology is wonderful, but we need to beaware of just what our kids are seeing and using.

TAYLOR MORRISON WINS AWARDThe Cove at Indian Rocks Beach is well under constructionat the corner of Gulf Blvd and 7th Avenue. Construction isproceeding on schedule as crews are working on theinitial development phase of the planned community oftownhomes. They expect the first owners to move in bythe end of this year. It is a Taylor Morrison development. Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (TMHC on the NYStock exchange) was recently selected as the Builder ofthe Year by “BUILDER”, the leading media brand forresidential construction. Taylor Morrison is headquarteredin Scottsdale, Arizona and builds large housingcommunities in the U.S. and in Canada.



“We had a big round neon sign made the first year,” saysCary. “It broke after the first year, but with the help of alocal sign company, it was repaired and can still be seentoday, 35 years later.” The sign cost $1,217 which for anevent that had never existed was a leap of faith. When itwas all over, hosting the first Jazz Holiday cost $42,000.The second year, the festival lasted 10 days and spannedtwo weekends. “What were we thinking?” says Cary inretrospect. It was held all over Clearwater: the Sheraton,Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Kapok Tree, Woody Riley’s Bar and atCoachman Park, which eventually became the event’spermanent home. As a Chamber of Commerce event, theytried to spread out the festival so no area was favoredIn the early years, they tried to stir up interest by holdingjazz-related events around Clearwater. There were dancesand concerts to help with awareness and promotion. Somewere fundraisers. They had events at the Kapok Tree. PhilHenderson had special jazz parties on his Starlite cruiseboats. There was even an event on the ice skating rink atCountryside Mall. In later years, there were “workdayconcerts” in Coachman Park, where those who workeddowntown brought their lunch and caught a free show. Donna Yarbrough lived nearby by and volunteered. “Iheard about the event and just wanted to help,” she says. “Iwent to one of their organizational meetings at theChamber office near Maas Brothers (now the HarborviewCenter) and it was like a scene out of a movie,” Donnarecalls. “Don Mains got on top of a chair and shouted hisideas to us, a group of naive volunteers. He was quite amotivator,” Donna remembers.The second year featured Buddy Rich. The third year, DizzyGillespie. By the fifth year, volunteer Donna Yarbroughbecome the event’s president. By 1990, growing pains set in and David Stone, thenpresident of the Chamber, endorsed the idea of the JazzHoliday becoming a non-profit organization. By standingindependently on its own, they could focus more onfundraising, selling sponsorships and giving back to thecommunity. Today, the Clearwater Jazz Foundation donates money andsupport to Pinellas County Schools’ music programs.According to Yarborough, they interact with approximately50 local learning institutions, primarily elementary andmiddle school, when interest in music is just beginning.“Heaven knows, those teachers need our funding and oursupport,” says Donna.Over the years, the Jazz Holiday has changed in manyways. Food, beer and wine vendors were eventually added.A bigger stage was built to handle larger bands and theirmassive equipment. The most recent additions: large screendigital TVs. With the Great Recession, they lost many sponsors andwere forced to charge admission - $10 per person. It’s only$15 now! “Where else can you get entertainment of thiscaliber for $15?” asks Cary rhetorically.Even though they now get funding from the city, county andstate in addition to grant money from the TouristDevelopment Council, Donna Yarborough says “We couldnot do this without our wonderful sponsors and help fromarea businesses such as the area hotels.”Indian Rocks resident Larry Gerwig, a Vice President withCreative Contractors, had a two year term as Presidentabout ten years ago and stills works closely with Cary,

Donna and all former officers.“It is rewarding to know we are appreciated by the publicand those that give us money,” Larry says. “We now havename recognition. Businesses like Lokey Mercedes andMarineMax stepped up donating sponsorship money.Homeowners Choice Insurance purchased the namingrights for this year and last. It is unfortunate that we have to charge for this wonderfulevent,” says Gerwig. “But in some cases, other major jazzfestivals sell tickets for over $100.” The committee is grateful to the surrounding hotels thathouse the traveling musicians: the Hilton, Sandpearl,Sheraton, Hyatt Regency and previously the Adams Mark.Phil Henderson. Jr. and his Starlite fleet (formerly theCaptain Anderson) have also helped in many ways. RuthEckerd Hall and their staff have helped with booking talent. The Clearwater Jazz Holiday has come a long way from thehistory of jazz in Clearwater, which started in the 1950s and‘60s at the Belleview Biltmore and Fort Harrison Hotel wellbefore the decay and conversions of those historic venues.Research shows that 56% of the Jazz Holiday attendees arePinellas locals but the event also draws very well from thesurrounding counties, especially Sarasota. After 34 years,we are still proud to be a part of promoting the city, areabusinesses and tourism,” says Donna Yarborough inclosing. Over its 34-year history, the Clearwater Jazzholiday has attracted hundreds of thousands of adoringfans and hundreds of famous, as well as up-and-cominglocal, musicians. The likes of legendary talents TonyBennett, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Dizzy Gillespie,Herbie Mann, Dave Brubeck, Tito Puente, StephanGrappelli, Stan Getz, and the Count Basie Orchestra havegraced the Clearwater Jazz Holiday stage. This year’s event is October 16-19 with headliners Earth,Wind and Fire, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Spyro Gyra, Dr.John & The Nite Trippers, Trombone Shorty & OrleansAvenue, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. Advancepurchase general admission is $15 per person; childrenunder 12 are free. VIP & reserved seating is also available. For a complete list of this year’s performers and topurchase tickets, visit www.ClearwaterJazz.com.There is the Official After-Party on Friday and Saturdaynights at the Capitol Theater in Downtown Clearwater.Instead of the ill-fated balloon arch celebrating the close ofthe very first Clearwater Jazz Holiday, fireworks will light upthe sky on Saturday around 10:45 p.m.Special thanks to: Don Mains, Cary Stiff, Donna Yarbrough, andLarry Gerwig who graciously provided historical info for this story.

Co Founders Clearwater Jazz HolidayCary Stiff and Don Mains - 1980

CLEARWATER JAZZ continued

NEW P.J.’S NOW OPEN! Theirnew building, across the street fromtheir old location, is open forbusiness. The new building still hasa touch of their old look with muralsof the old building painted on theoutside of the restaurant. Inside theyhave a full liquor bar and 35 moreseats, larger bathrooms, a biggerkitchen, plus an outside dining deckand more parking. P.J.’s is now intheir 29th year in IRB. Get moreinformation at www.PJsOysterBar.com._________________________________________________AQUA PRIME SOLD After only 9 months, Emmet andShirley O’Barr sold Aqua Prime to Steve Wesphal, ownerof The Pub in Indian Shores. He plans to change themenu to include more upscale steaks and seafood, al acarte the way it is at his downtown St Petersburgrestaurants Parkshore Grill and 400 Beach Seafood. He isalso planning daily happy hours and the NFL ticket in theReel Bar. Westphal has owned The Pub 16 years and alsoowns downtown’s The Hangar and Café Gala at theSalvador Dali Museum. ______________________________HUNGRY HOWIES CELEBRATES25 YEARS. Co-owner Kevin Greenopened his Largo store (his secondone) in 1989 when Walsingham Rd.was still only two lanes. He was thefirst tenant in Walsingham Village,the shopping center across thebridge. Store manager and co-partner Bill Kaiser came on boardin 2001. The Hungry Howies Pizzastore delivers to Indian Rocks, Indian Shores, BelleairBeach and Sand Key. To order a pizza, call 596-1400._________________________________________________LULU’S OYSTER BAR AND TAPHOUSE Coming soonto the old P.J.’s Oyster Bar location, this new restaurant willbe owned by the Crabby Bill’s family. They plan fresh localfish caught on their own boats, oysters shucked beforeyour eyes, smoked fish spread, grouper, gator tail, & wildpink shrimp with the best quality and prices. The bar willhave over 20 craft draft beers. They plan to be open forstone crab season, which starts October 15th. Watch forthem at 500 1st Street, Indian Rocks Beach._________________________________________________WINGHOUSE SOLD Ker’s Winghouse, which has 24locations, has been sold to Third Lake Capital, aninvestment company. Third Lake plans to inject enoughcapital to expand the chain beyond Florida. FounderCrawford Ker will stay on as the CEO. _________________________________________________NEW SUSHI RESTAURANT OISHII Fondue Hotpot &Sushi Bar, a new concept in this area, recently opened inLargo Mall. You can order from the menu or sit at therevolving sushi bar where the sushi passes in front of youon a magnetic conveyer belt and you take what you want.The tables offer built in fondue pots. _________________________________________________SUBWAY OPENS The Sunoco Convenience store at thenorth end of the city finished building the SubwaySandwich inside the store. They are offering all residents$1 off a sandwich during September & October. You mustshow proof of residency and mention this newsletter.


Restaurant News....


CITY MANAGER WINS HOME RULE HERO AWARD

The Florida League of Cities recently recognized CityManager Gregg Mims, City of Indian Rocks Beach, with a2014 Home Rule Hero Award. The award was presentedto Mims for his tireless efforts to advance the League’slegislative agenda and help protect the home rule powersof Florida’s cities during the 2014 legislative session. “Gregg Mims is a longstanding example of a Home RuleHero. He is one of the Florida League of Cities’ biggestadvocates for municipal issues, always willing and ready tocontact legislators and travel to Tallahassee to be sure alocal voice is heard on important issues to cities,” saidFlorida League of Cities Legislative Director Scott Dudley.“It is clear that Mims has devoted himself to the citizens ofIndian Rocks Beach and will always remain loyal to his cityand state far into the future.”Home Rule is the ability for a city to establish its own formof government and enact ordinances, codes, plans andresolutions without prior state approval. The Home RuleHero Award recipients are local government officials –both elected and nonelected – who consistently respondedto the League’s request to reach out to members of thelegislature and help give a local perspective to an issue.

MEET THE NEW CITY ATTORNEYLarger cities have one ormore paid attorneys on staff.Smaller cities, like IndianRocks Beach, do not; theyhave one on retainer. The law firm of Trask, Metz &Daigneault, a long timePinellas law firm, was hiredin April to represent the Citywhenever legal issues arise.They specializes in MunicipalLaw and Litigation. PartnerJay Daigneault ourrepresentative, has workedfor them for over 10 years, handling only municipal law.The firm represents nine area cities including: BelleairBluffs, Madeira Beach, Redington Beach, North Redington,Indian Shores and now Indian Rocks. They also representthe Florida League of Cities and other Florida’s West Coasttowns.Daigneault specifically handles Tarpon Springs, KennethCity, North Redington Beach and now Indian Rocks Beach.“Most meetings occur Tuesday through Thursdayevenings,” Jay says. “So, I work a lot of nights.”“Every city has different legal issues,” Daigneault continues,“One moment I may be working on a labor issue and thenext an accident with a city vehicle.”How is Indian Rocks Beach different from the others? “Atthis time there seems to be a lot of issues withdevelopment and zoning,” Daigneault says. “I am not anelected official. I was hired to do a job and have to beresponsive to the City Commission. I find this CityCommission very easy to work with and well prepared. Ithink there is a great in place staff, too. They areknowledgeable and really seem to care. Sometimes I maybe asked for a legal opinion on the spot. If I do not knowthe answer, I will research it and get back to them.Daigneault, his wife Lori, and their two daughters, live inSeminole.


By Bob Griffin, PublisherShepherd’s Village in Largodesperately needed to be painted.They took a leap of faith and asked anearby Home Depot for help.Not only did the store donatematerials, they also suppliedvolunteers. A dozen Home Depotemployees, from three nearbystores, and all levels ofmanagement, stepped in to help.Glidden donated all the paint. The job started just prior to theMemorial Day weekend and tookten days. The first step involvedvolunteers pressure washing theentire building. After the holiday,another team taped the windows

and doors.When thatwas done, othersbegan painting. I helped fourdays,” says JohnScuderi, whoworks at theClearwater Gulf-to-Bay store.“With ahandicap, I waslimited in what I

could do, but I found lots to do.I helped direct people andmove things around. HomeDepot gave me two pins for myvolunteered time”

“We were glad toget involved anddo what we couldfor Shepherd’sVillage,” saysTiffany Miller,DepartmentManager at the UlmertonRd. store. “We cannothelp everyone that asks,but this was certainly aproject that fit our areaof expertise and it wasnot hard to find a dozenemployees to volunteer.”

The volunteer Home Depot employeesworked on their days off. Somepainted in the mornings and workedlater that day. By volunteering,employees earn special Home Depotpins which they wear on their aprons.Collecting four pins, earns employeesrecognition and a $50 bonus.Others volunteered, too. A group fromIndian Rocks Beach Baptist Churchand members Florida Thunder

basketball team helped. Home Depotvolunteer Ara Faison, coaches theyouth basketball team.“The painting of Shepherd’s Village byHome Depot volunteers and paintfrom Glidden Paint Company was areal-life, much needed extrememakeover”, says Dr. Alderman,Director of Shepherd’s Village. “Weare blessed to see the lives of oursingle-parent family residents findhope and a new sense of directionfrom the inside and now the outside ofour building. This is a big building andwas a big blessing. Our heartfeltthanks to all the volunteers who madethis possible.”Shepherd’s Village is located at 3025Los Altos in Belleair Bluffs. Call 424-2309 for more information.

HOME DEPOT HELPS SHEPHERD’S VILLAGE

Home Depot EmployeeJames Scuderi

Event Coordinator &Home Depot Employee

Tiffany Miller


by Bob Clark, Belleair Christian Science practitionerShakespeare may have said it best in As You Like It: "Sweetare the uses of adversity, which, like the toad, ugly andvenomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head."Science is helping to explain the Bard's positive spin onadversity by researching what the New York Times recentlycalled posttraumatic stress disorder's "surprisingly positiveflip side": posttraumatic growth, or PTG. Richard Tedeschi, apsychologist at UNC, who studies PTG, reports people areshowing positive changes from trauma in five areas:• A renewed appreciation for life• New possibilities for themselves• More personal strength• Improved relationships• More spiritual satisfactionTedeschi's research and other similar studies should sounda positive note and offer some hope for people with PTSD.So why don't we hear more about this?One of the best examples of PTG is Winter the dolphin, alocal hero and movie star. Winter was the inspiration forDolphin Tale and sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, out in September.I had the privilege of being part of a group of volunteerswho helped give Winter 24/7 care when she first arrived atClearwater Marine Aquarium as a 3-month-old orphan.Talk about trauma. She had been hopelessly tangled in acrab pot line on Florida's east coast. She lost her mother.She very nearly lost her life, and circulation to her tail hadbeen cut off for so long that she eventually lost it as well.I remember CMA's vet saying, "Your job is to give her areason to live." Winter was so adorable and pathetic I wouldhave done anything for her. My wife and I volunteered totake the 2 a.m. shift, getting in the tank with her for hours,feeding her fish milkshakes from a 2-liter soda bottle,monitoring her breathing and most importantly, loving her.It's very quiet and peaceful at 2 a.m. We talked to Winter.We assured her she was safe. We refused to see her asincomplete. Instead, we chose to see her true identity asspiritually whole and we loved that wholeness. This was ourway of praying for her.After her tail was completely gone, she learned quickly andeasily how to swim pretty well without it and eventuallyalmost perfectly with a prosthetic tail. We saw resilience,playfulness and the normal joy of a child, seeminglyuntouched by the trauma. Here was living, breathing proofthat extreme physical trauma can be met and overcome.The story gets better. Winter has become an internationalPTG symbol. She has spent the past several years, helpingto heal and rehabilitate wounded soldiers and childrenfacing special challenges. Like Winter, they are finding waysto transform trauma into growth and prove their wholeness.As research and experience are proving, when confrontedwith trauma, we sometimes do have a choice. Americanphilosopher William James told us, "The greatest weaponagainst stress is our ability to choose one thought overanother." Mary Baker Eddy, a Christian leader and authorof Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures, assured usthat "trials lift us to that dignity of Soul which sustains us,and finally conquers them."As "ugly and venomous" as trauma can be, we can chooseto meet it with spiritual resilience and courage. We cangrow instead of wither, and, like Winter, we can find the"precious jewel" of wholeness. Read Bob Clark’s blog at simplyhealthyflorida.com.

PTSD’S SURPRISINGLY POSITIVE SIDE


GET FITNESS GETSNEW EQUIPMENTThis is the Synergy 360,a premier trainingdestination with eightunique training spacesthat incorporates a 10-rung monkey bar anda dedicated area forTRX suspensiontraining. If that doesn’tget you off the couch,

nothing will. Contact Jarrad Flower at 595-4505 for apersonal tour. Get Fitness is located in the BarclayShopping Center behind McDonalds._________________________________________________PUBLIX REOPENING SOON The Publix grocery storeat the corner of Indian Rocks Road and WalsinghamRoad closed at the beginning of the year, but plansshow it reopening by October 1st. Between 40 and 50employees that were transferred to the Walsinghamstore and will return in October.__________________________

NEW HAIR SALON ChadMalm, owner of Salon Jacks inTampa, is opening a salon inIndian Rocks Beach whereHead Hunters West and SalonLu Ann is at 102 15th Avenueacross the street from the RedLion. Lu Ann and KarenPalamara are retiring. Malmhas been practicing the art ofhair for over 25 years afterbeing trained in New York andpreviously owning a salon inSan Francisco. He has owned

Salon Jacks in Tampa for 10 years. “Each hair cut is acreative process that begins with a consultation,” saysMalm. “After that, the art begins. It is never a 15 minutehaircut.” Malm lives in Seminole with his wife and twochildren. He sees this second studio as a satellite to hisTampa salon. Salon Jacks IRB will cater to women, menand children. Visit www.ChadMalm.com or call him at415-8009._________________________________________________NEW IRB LAUNDRY The town’s second coin laundryhas opened next to the USA Grocery on 13th Avenue.They have all new stainless steel machines and sinceowner Nazie owns the convenience store next door, he willgive you a free bottle of water while using his laundry. _________________________________________________SMALL LODGING AWARD Cay Pointe Villa, a smallIndian Rocks hotel, earned Awards of Excellence in threecategories. They also won the White Glove Award forcleanliness. Cay Pointe Villas located at 514 Gulf Blvd.has 4 units facing the gulf and a studio. The Villas ownedby Julia Armbruster, are managed by her daughter LynnTimberlake. Lynn’s son Jimmy, “deserves most of the creditfor this award,” Lynn says. “He is the hospitality managerand does most of the real work.” The annual awards arefrom the Superior Small Lodging Association. _________________________________________________MORE NEWS? If you have news for the newsletter, [email protected] or call 517-1997.

Business News....


WALKING TO WELLNESS IN THECITY OF INDIAN ROCKS BEACH

by Cathleen Shears, B.S., M.A

What is the goal of Walking toWellness?The goal is to increase overallwell-being for the participants.What are the benefits of theprewalking educationalcomponent?Benefits include better balance, posture, core strength,flexibility and on greater fluid walking pattern.Why is developing good posture and balance soimportant in a walking program?Poor posture and balance are associated with increasedrisk of falls in people aged 62-96, this is because of theshift in the center of gravity.Who can benefit from this program?This program is for everyone, young, old, active, orinactive, all can benefit.What is the class format?The class format will consist of a 15 minute warm upand education session, a 30 minute walk on the beachand 15 minute post walk stretch and education.Is this a course or drop in class?It is designed as a 6 week course that progresses frombasic movements to more challenging exercise. Aparticipant may “drop in” and is always welcome tosample the class. Fees are $8 per session, or $45.00when all 6 are paid in advance.Why is the beach such an important ingredient?In a 2011 study cited in ACE IDEA Fitness Journal,researchers evaluated 11 trials involving 833 adults tosee whether exercising indoors or outdoors had agreater effect on physical and mental well-being. Theconclusion: “Compared with exercising indoors, exercisingin natural environments was associated with greaterfeelings of revitalization and positive engagement,decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression,and increased energy” (Thompson et al. 2011). About the instructor:Walking to Wellness sessions are taught by Indian RocksBeach property owner and long time resident CathleenShears, B.S., M.A. She has more than 25 yearsexperience in the fitness field and holds a degree inPhysical Education and Wellness from the University ofSouth Florida, Tampa, Florida. She is an AmericanCouncil on Exercise, Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Posture Specialist, National Posture Institute.Contact Cathleen for information and registration: 727-238-9456 or [email protected]

911 MEMORIAL WORK SLOWThe memorial being built at the Indian Rocks Fire Stationin memory of the firemen who lost their lives in theSeptember 11 attack is slowly moving forward. Announcedin 2012, the artwork is not complete, and more moneyand supplies are needed. Redington Beach artist VinceAnthony, is still working on the monument at his home.Work came to a standstill due to a lack of donatedsupplies (concrete). Most of the project has been doneby Robert Hill on his personal time. To help, call 595-1117 and ask for Hill. They hope to have a dedicationevent September 11, but details have not been released.


If a hurricane is coming and you are forced to evacuate,have you made a plan for your pets? Many people don’t andthat is the number one reason people choose not toevacuate. No one wants to leave their pets behind, andbecause they didn’t plan ahead, they stay put.The best hurricane evacuation choice is a friend or relative’shome. But, if that is not an option and you must go to ashelter, most Pinellas County shelters do not accept pets. Thefew that do accept pets, require you to register in advanceand most spots are already reserved for this hurricaneseason. To register for a future evacuation, call 582-2150 orvisit PinellasCounty.org/Emergency/petpreparedness.htm.Only three Pinellas shelters are designated as pet evacuationshelters. They are Dunedin Middle School, ThurgoodMarshall Middle School and the closest one, Oak GroveMiddle School located at 1370 So Belcher, Clearwater. Theseshelters only accept cats and dogs. They do not allow yourrabbits, ferrets, parrots, snakes and other exotic pets.If you plan to go to a hotel, there are very few that allow petsand they may already be full. If that is your plan, call nowand ask if they accept pets. A list pet-friendly Pinellas hotels isavailable at www.VisitStPeteClearwater.com. If you take a pet to an evacuation shelter, all pets must bekept in a carrier. It should be large enough for your animal tolive comfortably in, but not so large you can’t carry it. Label itwith your animal’s name, your name and your phonenumber in large letters. Inside can be your pet’s bed, blanketor toy to help keep them calm. If you have a cat, the carriershould be large enough to include a small litter box.Have a leash and collar ready to use when you take your petin and out of the carrier. Bring unbreakable food and water

bowls with enough food tolast at least a week. Dry foodis best since it does notrequire refrigeration. If youbring canned food, makesure you have a can opener.Shelters may not have waterfor your pets so be preparedto supply your pet’s watertoo. Depending on their size,plan up to a gallon of water per pet, per day. Shelters require pets to have current licenses andvaccinations. Pack vaccine records, micro-chip numbers, arecent photo, and medication instructions in a waterproofcontainer or bag and attach it to the outside of your petcarrier for safe keeping. Bring any medication your petrequires and if your pet is on insulin, pack it in a cooler. Consider having your pet microchipped. Microchips, tinytransponders about the size of a grain of rice, use radiofrequency waves to transmit information about your pet. Theyare implanted just under the skin. Each microchip contains aregistration number associated with the owner and can beread with scanners. In the case of serious storms, pets areoften are separated from their owners or run away. Chipscan help reunited owners with their pets. If you become separated from your pet, after the storm, strayanimals will be collected and staged at temporary sites priorto transfer to more permanent shelters. You should look foryour pet(s) at the location nearest where you last saw your petBring a photo to make the search easier. Every effort will bemade to return pets to their owners as quickly as possible.

TIME TO MAKE HURRICANE PET EVACUATION PLANS


LARGO MEDICAL CENTER VOLUNTEERS Discover the Possibilities! Discover the Rewards!

By volunteering at Largo Medical Center, you can make adifference in our community.Volunteers make a positive impact in the everyday life atLargo Medical Center - they provide comfort andassistance to patients, their families, visitors and staff. Everyday, they share their time, talents, energy and hearts. Theybelieve in helping others. They believe in the hospital’smission. They believe in making a difference.Have you considered becoming a Volunteer? As a volunteerat Largo Medical Center, you'll meet new people and learnnew skills. No matter what your skills or special talents, orif you'd like to learn something new, there is a volunteeropportunity to suit your interests.Also, as a volunteer, you'll receive on-the-job training, freehealth screenings, and a free annual TB and flu shot.Cafeteria meals are also provided at no cost every time avolunteer works. How Much Time Can I Volunteer? When you beginvolunteering, assignments initially are available once aweek for a three-hour shift. As you become familiar withLargo Medical Center and its Campuses, if you wish, yourresponsibilities can be increased, with additional hoursand/or service areas.Opportunities Available - Volunteer opportunities areavailable in patient care areas and non-clinical departmentsthroughout the hospital. You are cordially invited to discoverthe possibilities and the rewards of volunteering at LargoMedical Center. Spend your time doing somethingrewarding and give back to the community! [email protected] or call (727) 588-5876 to request a volunteer application today!

PINELLAS COUNTY EXTENSIONCELEBRATES 100 YEARS

The University of Florida/Institute of Food and AgricultureSciences Extension is celebrating 100 years of service.Events at Pinellas County Extension began this summerwith a school garden summer camp held at the Parks andConservation Services. The Cooperative Extension was created through the federalSmith-Lever Act in 1914. The extension, which has servedPinellas County since May 8, 1914, which grew into anagricultural area before becoming an urban community.County residents and visitors benefit from information onhealthy lifestyles, financial management, youth life skills,water conservation, energy conservation, coastalsustainability, green practices and Florida FriendlyLandscaping™ programs. Pinellas County Extension is a partnership between PinellasCounty government and the University of Florida Instituteof Food and Agricultural Sciences as part of a nationwidenetwork of land grant universities. The University of Floridais an equal-access/equal-opportunity institution. Pinellas County Extension offers programming at theExtension office, 12520 Ulmerton Rd., Largo, 582-2100.The Largo office is open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.The Extension also offers programming at the BrookerCreek Preserve Environmental Education Center, 3940Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, 453-6800 and at theWeedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural HistoryCenter, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 453-6500.For information, visit pinellascountyextension.org.


PARK BOULEVARD BRIDGE TOGET REPAIRS

By Pinellas County Commissioner Chair Karen SeelTransportation is a very important thing toconsider. Being able to get to where youneed to go in a timely and safe manner iscritical, regardless of the time of year. Thisis especially true in a place like PinellasCounty, where we rely so heavily on thebridges that span bodies of water thatwould be otherwise impassable by car. So, when one of those bridges needs to be replaced orrepaired, it’s always a major concern for residents.That’s why it’s important for your county to bring you upto date on a major bridge repair project coming laterthis month.The Park Boulevard Bridge, which connects many of ourbeach communities with the county’s mainland, is inneed of repair. After nearly 35 years of continuousservice in one of the harshest environments possible, themechanical parts that operate the drawbridge need tobe replaced. Complicating matters, in order to satisfy Coast Guardrequirements for navigation purposes, the bridge willhave to be repaired with the span in the up position,making driving, biking or walking across impossible.County staff has been looking into the constructionproject to ensure that the work is done properly with theminimum amount of disruption to residents andbusinesses in the area. Repairs are expected to begin onSept. 29 and take 30 days to complete.Residents and visitors looking to get to or from thebeach communities will have travel options. The TomStuart Causeway to the south and Walsingham Bridge tothe north will be fully operational during the project,providing the closest detours to beach access. Otherbridges to the beach communities, while further away,will also be available.While the timing on a project such as this is never good,county engineers have worked closely with the mayorsand staff members of the beach communities, chambersof commerce and local residents to find the bestpossible time to conduct this work to minimize theimpact of increased visitors and the return of seasonalresidents, when road volumes increase. In the event of a hurricane evacuation, the contractorwill put the bridge back into a drivable position, helpingresidents get to safety as quickly as possible. The best part about this repair project is that the bridgeoutages being experienced now will be addressedduring the project, allowing for far fewer unplannedoutages and emergency repairs for many years tocome.To help keep resident up to date on the latestdevelopments with the Park Boulevard Bridge repairproject, the county is maintaining a website which willfeature status updates. Visitwww.pinellascounty.org/roadwork.htm or call (727)453-3320 for the latest information. We appreciate your concern and patience during thisimportant construction project.


ACTION2000

NEWS

Once again, Action 2000 is hosting the AnnualOktoberfest on the Beach here in Indian Rocks Beach.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! OCTOBER 11TH11AM - 7 PM inside Kolb Park, in Indian Rocks Beach.

You won't want to miss this year'spremier event featuring livemusic, sponsored by CoastalProperties Group, our favorite DJkeeping things jumping duringthe day, a variety of foodvendors, drinks at our famousbeer tent sponsored by CrabbyBills, arts and crafts vendors, andour Silent Auction, with more great items than ever ondisplay. Don't forget the popular keg throwing contest, andthe ladies beer stein carrying contests...great fun !A new addition this year: free giveaways every hour, soyou'll want to stick around to win some valuable prizes.

A special thanks to our Event Sponsors:Kinderfest is always a big hit for the children, and it is freefrom 11-2pm. Bring them by to enjoy a variety of activities,bounce houses, face painting and more. Again this year,we thank Plumlee Realty for sponsoring Kinderfest.The business community has once again stepped up. Hereare just a few of the companies to thank for their generoussponsorship and support: Coastal Properties, ClearwaterGas, Coldwell Banker, Colorfast Printing, Plumlee Realty,Smith & Associates and Sivyer, Barlow & Watson. P.S. allsponsors will be recognized in a special business directorydistributed at Oktoberfest!Spirited Volunteers of IRB Action 2000 work hard behindthe scenes for many months to put on this event. A verycommitted group lead by Rebecca Sacra, our Chairpersonthis year, her husband, Ron Sacra, Vendor Chair, DonBishop, Sponsorship Chair, and Jo Nocera Silent AuctionChair, who work very hard to make this event a success.Your support is very important to us. Best of all, is that allproceeds received from this event are used for specialprojects here in our great community. When you see thenatural landscape scene at the Nature Preserve withbenches and lighting in the evening, know that is just oneof the projects Action 2000 was able to accomplish thisyear with monies raised by our annual Oktoberfest event.If you want to volunteer, be a sponsor or need moreinformation about Oktoberfest, call Rebecca Sacra at727-642-4880 or e-mail [email protected]. Visitour website at www.oktoberfestonthebeach.com and don’tforget to like us on Facebook! We hope to See you all atOktoberfest On The Beach....


INDIAN ROCKS BEACHHOMEOWNERS

ASSOCIATION NEWSHomeowners Happy Hours continue atthe following restaurants: September 11th at Marlin DarlinOctober 9th at Jimmy Guana’s

These FREE Happy Hours are 6 - 7:30 pm the secondThursday of the month. Visit IRBhome.com or watch forour emails for more details.

SCAVENGER HUNT - The Homeowners 2nd AnnualScavenger Hunt sponsored by Plumlee Gulf Beach Realtywill be on September 27th.This year every registered person will receive an event t-shirt, koozie, goodie bag and a wristband that will getthem drink and food specials. Pick up, including the list ofclues, will be in Kolb Park (across from City Hall) from11am to 1pm on Saturday the 27th. Everyone will registerseparately and can work as a team or on their own. Cashprizes will be $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place and$100 for 3rd place.The IRB locations for this year’s hunt are: 18 On TheRocks, Red Lion Pub, Chicago Jaqx, Century 21 Beggins,Pinky’s Ice Cream, Radd Bicycles, Sandbar, Pajano’s Pizza,IRB Nature Preserve, Tropical Ice Cream, Jake’s Cantina,Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty, PJ’s Oyster Bar, JimmyGuana’s, Keegan Clair Park, JD’s, Aqua Prime, Island SurfShop, Sweet IRB, Slyce, and Crabby’s Loading Dockwhere the awards party will be held. Register at www.IRBHome.com or download a registrationform and mail in. Early registration to guarantee a shirtends Sunday September 21st.TASTE OF IRB - This will be our 8th annual tastesponsored by Century 21 Beggins in Chic-a Si Park onNovember 8th from 4pm to 10pm. There will be over 20local restaurants, several local non food vendors andgreat music by EspreedeKor all night.The Homeowners will be serving beer, sponsored byCrabby Bill’s and wine sponsored by DiscountMortgage.com. We will also have our annual raffle for achance to win over $600 in gift certificates from all of thevendors.Thank You to everyone that brought school supplies to theAugust Happy Hour at the Salt Rock Grill. Hope to seeeveryone out enjoying these eventsPhil Wrobel, President, IRB Homeowners Association


TENNIS ANYONE?By Bob Griffin, PublisherLazaro Alfonso lives inIndian Rocks Beach and isa tennis instructor. Helearned to play tennis inCuba while he was inhigh school . Laz (47) grew up in Cubain the late 1960s and‘70s. As Castro hadalready taken power, itwas a communist country.To him though it washome. “Everyone in Cubaliked to play sports,” Laz says. “Different high schoolsspecialized in different sports mostly baseball and soccer.I was not good at those, so I choose tennis. Turns out Iwas pretty good and won many school tournaments.”In 1992, while still living in Cuba, Laz met his wife Sylvia.After they were married, they decided living in Cuba wasnot what they wanted to do. Everyone wanted to go to theUnited States. When Laz was 25, he and Sylvia left Cubaand traveled to Germany and then Spain. In Spain, heinterviewed with the American Embassy and received avisa. In the U.S., he was assisted by the Cuban/AmericanOrganization. In 1996, they moved to Indian Rocks Beach. Laz has two jobs. He is an inspector for Florida’s StateBoxing Commission in Central, West and North Florida.His job is to be an observer, check the fighters for drugsand monitor their condition during a fight. But, when heis not traveling to a boxing match, he teaches tennis inIndian Rocks Beach. As many as 15 people a week take lessons from Laz onIndian Rocks Beach’s city courts, at Kolb Park and 28thAvenue. Most of his students come from word-of-mouthand many live in nearby neighborhoods. “The numbervaries with the season. I have a lot of snow birds, and ofcourse weather is a factor, too. No one wants to playtennis in 95 degree weather.”“I might be Laz’s first student,” says Sonja Kis, an IndianRocks resident. “He’s been teaching me for about sevenyears. The thing about Laz is he really wants to see youimprove. He has a good eye and can tell you how toprogress. Plus, we have a lot of fun out there.”Laz and Sylvia have been married 30 years and live on13th Avenue in Indian Rocks Beach. If you would like helpwith your tennis, call Laz Alfonson, 813-458-2020.

Laz Alfonso & student Sonya Kis

BOAT CLUB NEWSThe IRB Boat Club, is a FREE organization…NOW IN ITS 6TH YEAR and over 200 members strong! Theirprimary goal is to have fun enjoying the water and the great community we live in! It is open to residents,non-residents and businesses.Their meetings are on the third Thursday of each month at Jimmy Guana’s, Holiday Inn Harbourside, 4012nd St. in Indian Rocks Beach (6 pm Happy Hour/7 pm Meeting). Monthly meetings will resume September 18. INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY CLEANUP - Their Fall Intracoastal Waterway Cleanup is September 13. During thecleanup, volunteers will clean area waterways and islands. To help, with or without a boat, call Bob Griffin,727.517.1997.END OF SUMMER ISLAND PARTY - September 20: It is the Boat Club’s sixth annual farewell to summer complete witha live band again this year. This is one of the biggest Boat Club bashes of the year and draws about 100 folks…so getthere early for a prime anchoring spot. A community grill and paper products will be provided; bring a dish to share, yourown refreshments and something to grill.Everyone is welcome to join in the fun. For information, e-mail [email protected].


WHERE THE MOVIE STARS DINEBy Bob Griffin, PublisherDolphin Tale 2 filming is complete and the film will be in theaters soon.The movie continues the story of Winter and introduces a new babydolphin named Hope, rescued by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium(CMA) in 2010. Winter and Hope, who both reside at the CMA, playthemselves in the movie.The human stars of the movie recently spent a few months in ClearwaterBeach filming this sequel to Dolphin Tale. In their off hours, they enjoyedgetting away from work and going out to dinner just like the rest of us. I had a chance to meet some of the stars during a pre-opening presstour and talk to them about our Tampa Bay area restaurants and whichones they prefer. When talking to Cozi Zuehlsdorff (who plays Hazel) and Austin Highsmith (who is Phoebe, the trainer) about arearestaurants, they both immediately said Clearsky Café in Clearwater Beach was their favorite stop! They lovedeverything on the menu, especially the hamburgers and the salads. Nathan Gamble (Sawyer, the male star of the movie) said he loved Kiku’s Japanese Restaurant in Clearwater Beach’sPelican Plaza. “I liked the atmosphere inside the restaurant, not to mention the authentic menu,” Nathan said. The group regularly traveled to Dunedin for dinner, too. They enjoyed the Living Room and said Harry Connick Jr.was crazy about Casa Tina. The girls said that was his favorite spot and he ate there frequently. All three stars said they love Island Way Grill, next door to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s studio. They enjoyed thegreat variety of Florida seafood they always have on the menu.They each commented on the people in the area. “Clearwater appears to have the friendliest people in the world,”Austin said. “The people here really are amazing.”“Making a movie here was a little like being away at camp, only it was a movie camp,” says Zuehlsdorff. Since we knew each other, getting back together to make Dolphin Tale 2 was like a family reunion,” said Gamble.“When they called, I said I can’t believe we get to do this again!”Don’t be surprised to see them all back again sometime soon. There is already talk of a third movie or even atelevision show. Dolphin Tale 2 opens in area theaters on September 12. See an extended trailer of the movie at www.SeeWinter.com.

Cozi Zuehlsdorff and Austin Highsmith


This summer, theCity of Indian RocksBeach entered intoa contract withFlorida Services toprovide rentalchairs andumbrellas on thebeach at the IndianRocks BeachCounty Park acrossfrom Guppy’sRestaurant.Florida Services hasbeen offeringPinellas Countyresidents this typeof concession forover 20 years in.They operatesimilar concessionson HoneymoonIsland, insideCaladesi State Parkand at ArchibaldPark in MadeiraBeach. Their main office is in Dunedin. The new Indian Rocks Beach concession operates 7 days aweek, weather permitting. They have 40 sets of chairs andumbrellas (which is 80 chairs total) available. They normally rent about 20 to 25 sets a day on a weekday and all 80 on weekends. Their set up area is limited tohalf of area behind the County Park, in the middle, so theyare not close to the residents on the north and south sidesof the park.Bill Williams, a former Indian Rocks resident, is the primarymanager on the beach. “I enjoy meeting the people whocome down to the beach,” says Billy. “I talk to them andkeep a list of where they live. Most of them are from out ofthe state or out of the country. The people from out of thearea normally show up without any chairs or umbrellas.They seem very happy to see we offer this service. But evenif they bring their own chairs and umbrellas, I usually helpthem set up at no charge. I have a big drill that makesinstalling the umbrellas in the sand really easy.”In addition to renting chairs and acting as the area’srepresentative, Williams also helps keep that area of thebeach clean. Every day, he picks up trash visitors leavebehind. The chairs are rented by the hour or all day. Two chairs andan umbrella rent for$20 a day or $5 anhour. Chairs only are$5 all day. Umbrellasonly $10 all day. Theyprefer payment bycredit card. Florida Servicesoperates 7 days aweek from 8:30am to5pm. They plan to addCabanas for season,beginning inDecember.

BEACH CHAIRS FOR RENT


ROTARY CLUB OF INDIANROCKS BEACH

“Service on the Rocks”by Claire EnglishThe Rotary Club ofIndian RocksBeach is a proudsupporter of theIndian RocksFamily SailingAssociation andcongratulates allthe “IntrepidSailors” thatlearned to sail orcontinued theirinterest in sailingthis summer. Theprogram run by Fr. Bob Wagenseil, not only teachessailing but builds teamwork and leadership skills. The club held a kickoff for our annual benefit drawingfor tickets to Football’s Biggest Game. The Grand PrizePackage includes: 2 tickets to the Game in Phoenix onFebruary 1, 2015, 4 nights lodging and $1000 travelallowance. This year, we have added a second prize of:$1000 and third prize of $500. Tickets are $5 each or5 for $20. If you are interested in purchasing ticketscontact any IRB Rotarian or call 510-9464. The drawingraises funds to assist in numerous local, regional,national and international humanitarian projects.

On the first Monday of the month IRB Rotarians, theirfamilies and friends meet at Slyce Pizza Bar in IndianRocks Beach for dinner and to support the BeachCommunity Food Pantry, IRB Rotary’s flagship localcharity. On the first Monday of every month, 10% ofsales at Slyce (dine in and take out) are donated to theBeach Community Food Pantry. Stop by to visit and havea great meal for a good cause. IRB Rotarians have been at work in the community andbeyond volunteering as Senior Staff at the Indian RocksFamily Sailing Association camps, cleaning Gulf Blvd aspart of the Adopt-A-Mile program, assisting at theBeach Community Food Pantry and hosting our annual“Back to School Breakfast” at Anona Elementary Schoolfor the Teacher’s first day back. If you would like to be part of a fun and friendlyorganization that serves the local community, the nationand the world, The Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beachinvites you to visit us at Jimmy Guana’s in the HolidayInn Harbourside any Wednesday morning beginning at7:15am. For information, call (727) 403-4060 or visitwww.irbrc.com. "Your first breakfast is on us!"


HISTORICAL MUSEUM NEWSPotluck luncheon focuses on “Old Florida”

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 18, at 12 Noonwhen the historical society will hold its fall potluckluncheon. Enjoy a pictorial talk by CathySalustri that revisits “Old Florida”places on US 19. Cathy used aWPA tourist guidebook from1939 and logged almost 5,000miles retracing the old drivingtours. Her US 19 talk, called“Manatee, Mermaids, andWatermelon Queens” goes fromMonticello in north Florida toPinellas County, with fascinatingstops along the way.You need not be a member to participate! Just bring adish to share, and plan to enjoy traditional potluck foodand good fellowship at the museum.The museum continues to get rave reviews from visitorswho are enjoying the renovated exhibits. Visit the museumWednesday through Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm, for a funand interesting experience.If you enjoy visiting the museum and want to get moreinvolved, consider volunteering as a museum host. Hostingis easy and a great way to help out the museum whilemeeting people from every corner of the world. Stop bythe museum or call 593-3861 for more information.The gift shop has the beautiful Plein Aire Cottage Artistspaintings for sale, as well as their new 2015 calendar. Aselection of local history books includes Indian Rocks As ItWas, and Tampa Bay’s Gulf Beaches: The Fabulous 1950sand 1960s. Check the website at www.IRBmuseum.com.

PSFRD FIRE CHIEF LEAVES Robert Polk, Fire Chief of the Pinellas Suncoast Fire andResue, serving Indian Rocks and the Belleair Beaches,resigned in July . He started his firefighting career with theSt Petersburg Fire Department, and had been the PSFRDChief since November 8, 2010. He previously worked forthe State Fire Marshall in Columbia, South Carolina. Polk (60) returned to Columbia to assume the role of StateFire Chief. When he relocated to Pinellas County, his wifeof 24 years, along with their children, remained inColumbia. He was ready to rejoin his family. The searchfor a replacement has been underway and the name ofthe new Fire Chief should be announced soon.

NEW HIGH VALUE INSURANCE PROVIDER COMES TO THE BEACHESby Phil Wrobel, Florida Best Quote, 727-584-9999.Florida Best Quote & I would like to introduce you to Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group subsidiary, National Fire &Marine! They specialize in coverage high value homes (500k and up) and have an AM Best Rating A++++. BerkshireHathaway’s CEO, President and Chairman, is Warren Buffett. So no worries about the financial stability of this company!You may be able get a complete policy on the beaches including wind coverage. You an can customize most of yourcoverage’s to your specific needs. These include:1) Liability limits up to a million plus (Citizens still only has $100,000) 2) Increased contents coverage back to 50% and upwards (Citizens dropped to 25%)3) And last but not least, their premiums are fantastic!Florida Best Quote is a consumer driven Insurance agency started by a former realtor that was fed up with her owninsurance and knew there was a better way to provide home and condo insurance. In the last 6 years Florida Best Quotehas become one of the area’s most referred and trusted insurance agencies.Please call me right away to get a complimentary insurance review. Get better coverage now and save money!


SWEET IRB - BRINGING SUGAR TO THE SANDMelissa and Bill Dotson have moved a lot in their lives, but they finally wanted toput down roots and live in a community they could call home. But, there had tobe a place for Melissa to bake. They chose Indian Rocks Beach where it turns outthey can do both.Melissa apparently grew up with sugar in her veins because she was bakingcookies and cakes by the time she was 8. While living near Knoxville, Tennessee,her mother took nearby baking lessons and would bring home the samples toshow the family what she had learned. By the sixth grade, Melissa was there too,taking her own lessons and decorating cakes in the family’s kitchen. After Bill and Melissa were married, their jobs forced them to move frequently. In2003, while they living in Kansas City, which coincidentally is a cake bakingmecca, Melissa opened a part-time home business called “The Red Hot Kitchen.”She made decorated cakes for birthday parties, weddings and special events. During her time in Kansas, Melissa learned to make designs using siliconemolds. She wanted unique items, like sea shells and ribbons so she was forcedto make them herself, by the hundreds. She even started a company makingand selling silicone molds.

Nearby, the Oklahoma State Fair is home to one of the largest cake shows in the U.S. and is fiercely competitive. In 2005,Melissa entered, traveled there and won six awards. In 2010, the Dotsons vacationed on the Pinellas beaches and fell inlove with the area, but one area in particular - Indian Rocks Beach.“It was the kind of small community you could really love,” Bill says.They decided to make a plan to move here.Melissa planned to keep her day job telecommuting as a ProjectManager with TD Bank in their IT Department, but she still had theurge to bake and she wanted to do it close by. “We decided that ifwe could not do it in IRB, we were not going to do it anywhere,” shestates. So after some looking around, Bill and Melissa leased the space at301 Gulf Blvd, between Slyce Pizza and Los Mexicanos Restaurant.The plan was to build their dream bakery, with a combination ofretail sales and commercial clients. Building the bakery was a laborof love for Melissa. Everything was hand-pick by her with an eye forboth functionality and design. It took a while though to get the placeopen. Between working their day jobs, volunteering with city civicorganizations, serving on City Boards, baking for customers on theside and dealing with construction delays, Sweet IRB finally opened August 24th. “We did everything locally,” Melissa says. “We only hired local trades. The art work on the walls is from a local artist. Evenour coffee is brewed locally, just for us.”In addition to their walk-in customers, they will sell cakes, muffins and other products wholesale to area restaurants. Theyare baked overnight and delivered in the morning. Customers already include Crabby Bill’s, Slyce Pizza, Seabreeze, AquaPrime and Gypsy Souls. Crabby Bill’s buys three of their signature products: Their Big A$$ Chocolate Cakes, TropicalCoconut Cakes, and their P-Nut Butter Pies.Sweet IRB already has a bustling wedding business. Many area wedding planners and hotels have already discoveredMelissa’s talents and frequently call her. Her products have even been shipped to weddings out of state.

“We do not want to compete with the other IRB bakeries,”Melissa says. “We do not offer donuts or pastries. We are noteven open during morning hours, yet.” They have severalgluten-free products including cakes, muffins, and cookies. The shop is only open Friday, Saturday and Sundays in thebeginning. Melissa still has that day job! Eventually, they hopeto be open six days a week but never on Mondays. She plansto host classes and parties after they are fully open.Plan to attend their Sweet IRB Open House and GrandOpening on Saturday, September 20th. Come by between9am and 2pm for some samples off their menu and check outtheir new Patio while as they like to say, they are “BringingSugar to the Sand”.For more information and to see samples of her work, go towww.SweetIRB.com. Follow them also onFaceBook.com/SweetIRB or email [email protected].


GROWING YOUNGER EVERY DAY WITH ULTHERAPYBy Stephanie Schlageter, Radiance Medspa Without surgery, in fact without even breaking the skin, you can now lift even the delicate areasof your face, getting rid of the sagging and drooping that makes you look older outside thanyou feel inside. Imagine significantly lifting your brow, neck or chin with one simple medspa visit,and then watching your results get better over time. It’s like aging in reverse. Through the latest application of cosmetic medical ultrasound technology, Ultherapy provides anon-invasive lift to the areas of the face and body that are known for losing their firmness. Withage, our bodies produce less collagen, and that means that we have fewer defenses againstgravity. This force begins to pull down the skin over the eyes, along the jaw and down the neck.

That is where Ultherapy can step in because it will renew your skin’s elasticity, letting you combat the negative effectsof gravity’s tug. Ultherapy sends ultrasound energy deep below the surface of the skin and actually stimulates the body to producenew collagen, the exact substance the treated areas are lacking! On the face and neck, mild to moderate loose skin isthe perfect candidate for the sub-dermal heat of an Ultherapy treatment. Immediately after your Ultherapy procedure, which will last about an hour, you will see improvement. During the nextfew months, you will watch as your results get better and better because your body continues to produce new collagenand elastin. Most patients need only one treatment to get time traveling results. Your body will carry on with its naturalaging process, so eventually gravity will begin to have its way again. A touch up may be necessary, but most patientsreport results that last between one and two years. Since Ultherapy is non-invasive, there are no pre-treatment steps to take and virtually no downtime afterwards. Duringtreatment, mild discomfort may be felt as the ultrasound wand sends heat energy into the tissue. However, thesensation ceases as soon as the treatment has concluded. As your skin gradually lifts and tightens in the days and weeks following an Ultherapy treatment, you might startthinking that you are growing younger rather than older. This non-surgical, high-tech treatment offers results that aresimply incredible. You won’t miss your old double chin, those droopy eyelids or that elderly turkey neck. You’ll behaving too much fun facing the world like you did in your youth, with a firm jaw, wide eyes and a renewed elegant tiltto your head. For information, contact Radiance Medspa at 727-518-7100 or visit radiancemedspa.com. Radiance Medspa is in its 8th year at2894 West Bay Drive in Belleair Bluffs.


NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE BEACH ART CENTER

The Board of Directors at the Beach Art Center recentlyannounced the appointment Anna Kuhlman as their newExecutive Director. Kuhlman received a Bachelor of Arts inMusic with a Minor in Mass Communication from SouthernIllinois University and a Masters of Fine Arts in ArtsManagement and Leadership from Webster University.Prior, Kuhlman served as the Director of Development atCraft Alliance Center for Craft and Design in St. Louis, MOand The Hayes School of Music and Arts and CulturalPrograms at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.Her primary responsibilities focused on managing specialevents, fundraising, developing and maintainingrelationships with donors, corporations, and foundations. Lynda Hamlett, President of the Board of Directors stated,“At a time when money for the arts is beginning to pick upagain, we are confident that Anna's experience will bringus a broader exposure to local businesses andcorporations as well as individual donors who understandthe power of the arts and the impact it has on thecommunity.”Their Summer Kreative Kids Camp and adult classes andworkshops have continued during the transition. Ms.Kuhlman is coming in as the Fall Class Schedule isfinalized. Additional adult and kid’s classes will be added.The schedule includes classes in drawing, sketching,photography, pottery classes in hand building and wheelthrowing, Ikebana, and classes in oil, acrylic, watercolorand water media. For additional information about the Beach Art Center visitwww.BeachArtCenter.org or call 727-596-4331.

DOLPHIN RESCUEClearwater Marine Aquarium was part of an effort to helpa dolphin calf caught in fishing line, close to Destin. Theline was tightly wrapped around her tail and was cuttinginto her flukes. A team of 30 people, from eight facilities,worked together to remove the line from the calf who wasswimming with her mom.It took over a day to locate the dolphin and monitor her asshe swam to shallow waters that was needed to safelyremove the line. Once begun, it took approximately 30minutes to free the young dolphin from the fishing line andallow the dolphin to swim freely in the Gulf of MexicoMike Hurst, Vice President of Zoological Care atClearwater Marine Aquarium noted, “As good stewards ofour environment, we need to remember to take everycourse of action to not leave any fishing line, hooks orlures that could potentially harm marine life.”


TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT MONEYWhen children edge toward adulthood, how do you makesure they have the knowledge to make smart financialdecisions? It’s critical to recognize that becoming financiallyindependent is a journey—one that may take longer intoday’s uncertain economy. Fortunately, there are waysthat allow parents to ease the journey to financialautonomy. Here are six ideas for providing educationabout money matters. 1. Share information. Children often learn a family’svalues best by observing those principles in action. It canbe helpful to ease into sharing elements of financialstrategy. Rather than revealing your entire investmentportfolio, perhaps start by reviewing a college savingsaccount once each quarter. 2. Explain the importance of budgeting and saving.Parents can foster solid financial habits in their children byasking them what they are saving for right now and whatthat goal is going to cost. Sit down and discuss the basicsof money management, or if there’s resistance to yourinvolvement, bring in your Financial Advisor. They can helpkids create a budget, learn basic skills and discussplanning their financial future. 3. Use philanthropy as a teaching tool. You can learnimportant skills — researching, decision making andaccountability — through philanthropy. Also, it’s a greatway for siblings to learn how to make joint financialdecisions. For example, children can be allotted a givingbudget and charged with jointly evaluating charities anddeciding which ones to support. 4. Introduce investing. Investing smaller sums with limitedconsequences is a great way to learn about makinginformed choices and managing risk. One option is toopen custodial accounts and let your child work with yourFinancial Advisor to create and evaluate a small portfolio.Explain that it’s not about never making a mistake; it’sabout learning from those you make. 5. Let them falter. Whether it’s a bad investment or asplurge, a misstep is bound to happen. When one occurs,resist the urge to rescue your child financially. If you takeaway the consequences, you do your child a disservice.Instead, talk it through and work out a way to solve theproblem together, whether that means cutting back onspending or getting a part-time job. 6. Offer selective support. There are some expenses it maymake sense to fund, such as medical insurance orcontinuing education. Making sure your child has healthinsurance is not an indulgence. Be clear about what you willfund and what the expectations are when fund expenses.Every family will have its own idea about what assets togive the next generation and when. But the most valuablethings to give your children may be the knowledge andskills they need to spend, save, invest and share theirincome responsibly. For more information, contact your Merrill Lynch FinancialAdvisor Erin Emnett of the Clearwater office at727.692.1084 or [email protected] Lynch Wealth Management makes available products andservices offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & SmithIncorporated (“MLPF&S”) and other subsidiaries of Bank ofAmerica Corporation (“BAC”). “Merrill Lynch” refers to any company in the Merrill Lynch & Co.,Inc., group of companies, which are wholly owned by Bank ofAmerica Corporation.

Documents

THE CLEARWATER JAZZ HOLIDAY & HOW IT ALL BEGAN