Indian Rocks Beach’s Piers A Prime...

july / 2010 ISSuE 26

Story By: Wayne Ayers,Indian Rocks Historical Society

Sport fishing played a major role in luring tourists andwinter visitors to Indian Rocks Beach. An early guidebookspeaks of “a myriad of saltwater game species so easilyaccessible to anglers in all walks of life, moving about inpleasant soothing temperatures, and surroundings ofsubtropical beauty.”Fishing piers became a major tourist attraction, offeringanglers a convenient way to spend a day “at sea” reelingin their favorite catch. During the post-World War IIboom era, Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Rocks SouthShore hosted a total of seven piers, the most of anystretch along the Pinellas Suncoast.The headliner was the Big Indian Rocks Fishing Pier,longest in Florida. Built by Carl Moseley (grandfather ofMayor R.B. Johnson) and Louis Snelling in 1959. The BigPier became a center of social activity and helped defineIRB as a fisherman’s paradise. Its popularity continuedfor 26 years, until the wooden structure succumbed to thewinds of Hurricane Elena in 1985.Although the other piers were to some extentovershadowed by the big one, they too played animportant role in bolstering the local economy. All wereowned by private interests. Motel and cottage ownerswould often build an adjacent pier as a lure for guests.The “Pier at Mayo Cottages” was recalled by residentCarol McGlaughlin. Carol and her husband Mike wereco-owners of the structure, which helped bring businessto the cottages. “We had a diverse clientele, including

hippies and bikers, who enjoyed the pier too,” Carolsaid. That pier was damaged by Hurricane Agnes in1972 and sold by the family in the late ’70s. The pier isimmortalized in a 1980s print done by noted artistGeorge King. The painting shows pelicans roosting on itsremaining rotting pilings.A pier located near 23rd Avenue was built around 1930for employees of the American Agricultural ChemicalCompany of Pierce, Florida. The company ownedcottages nearby and held summer camps there. PioneerJoe Knight remembers the tarpon, shark, rays and otherspecies caught there. His father was given a key to usethe pier by a company official.A 900-ft. long pier originally known as the South ShoreFishing Pier, built in 1960, was bought by Frank and JoByars in the mid-’60s and renamed Pier Kahiki. It wasacross from their famed attraction Tiki Gardens, and theByars wanted it primarily for the parking lot. The pierattracted serious fishermen until it was closed after beingbadly damaged by Hurricane Agnes.R. B. Johnson remembers some of the smaller pierswithin walking distance of his family’s Big Indian Rockspier. Most were already deteriorating when he visitedthem as a kid in the 1960s and ’70s, he recalls.The earliest pier was constructed inthe early 1900s at Val’s Castle,home of Tampa cigar manufacturerVal Antuono. The last standing pierwas at 5th Avenue and GulfBoulevard where the Pier Housecondos are today. Johnson recallsthat pier was “falling apart” by thetime the beach was renourished in1990. A wider beach left the pierstranded, with the sand extendingbeyond its end. It was torn downshortly afterwards.

PRESORTED STDU S POSTAGE

P A I DPermit No. 4008St Petersburg, FL

Indian Rocks As It Was: A Pictorial History,available at the Indian Rocks Historical Museum, 203 4th Ave.

Indian Rocks Beach’s Piers... A Prime Attraction

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INDIAN ROCKS BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER

CITy NuMBERSCITY HALL. . . . . . . 595-25171507 Bay Palm Blvd www.Indian-Rocks-Beach.com

CITY mANAGEr - Chuck CowardmAYOr/CITY COmmISSION . 517-0204

MAYOR - R.B. Johnson COMMISSIONERS — Daniel Torres Vice Mayor • Cookie KennedyTerry Wollin • Phil Hanna

City Manager, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595-2517Chuck Coward

Building Department: . . . . . . . . 517-0404Don Weigner

Planning & Zoning: . . . . . . . . . . 517-0404Danny Taylor, Dir.

Public Services: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595-6889Dean Scharmen, Dir.

Irb LIbrArY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 596-1822Next to City HallM-F 10-5pm, Tu-Th 7-8:30pm, Sat 10-1pmIrb HISTOrICAL mUSEUm . . . 593-3861Across from the Post OfficeIrb HOmEOWNEr ASSOC.. . . 517-0525Phil Wrobel, President - IRBHome.com Bob Griffin - Boat Club . . . . . . . 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 rOTArYwww.Indian-Rocks-Rotary.orgMeets at Jimmy Guana's every Wed. 7:15AMBruce Sobut, Past President . . . 403-4060ACTION 2000John Todia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595-2369Meets 2nd Monday Each Month Beach Art CtrbEACH FOOD pANTrY . . . . . . 517-25341615 First St. M-W-F 10 am-12 pm4H CLUb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 582-2597

LITTLE LEAGUE . . . . . . . . . . . . 735-4574CHAmbEr OF COmmErCE

Gulf Beaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360-6957Clearwater Beach . . . . . . . . . 447-7600

AA & 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 . . . . 464-3000

COmmISSION OFFICES . . . . . 464-3377 Karen Seel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464-3278

STATE:Senator Dennis Jones . . . . 727-549-6411

Republican, District 138940 Seminole Blvd, Seminole [email protected]

Representative Jim Frishe . 727-518-3902 Republican, District 54125 Indian Rocks Rd, Belleair [email protected]

Governor Charlie [email protected]

FLOrIDA UNITED STATES SENATOrS:George Lemieux . . . . . . . . 202-224-3041

www.Lemieux.Senate.govBill Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202-224-5274

www.BillNelson.Senate.gov

ArEA UNITED STATES rEprESENTATIVE:Rep Bill Young . . . . . . . . . . 727-394-6950

9210 113th St, Seminole, FL 33772www.house.gov/young

julyIndependence Day (Sunday) 4Boat Club Island Party 4Homeowners Happy Hour 8Blood Drive at the IRB Post Office 9Boat Club Meeting 15Homeowners Bowling Night 30AuGuSTLittle League / Fall Ball Sign Up . Property Tax Notices Mailed 9Homeowners Happy Hour 12Sales Tax Free Week-end 13-15IRB Community Clean Up Week 16-18Boat Club Meeting 19Boat Club John’s Pass Sand Bar 22Primary Election 2010 24Public School Begins 24SEPTEMBERLabor Day 6Homeowners Happy Hour 9Homeowner’s Poker Run/Bar Crawl 11Household Chemical Cleanup 11Bucs First Game 12Grandparents Day 12Boat Club Meeting 16Yom Kippur Begins 17

Boat Club End of Summer Island Party 18Yom Kippur 18Sand Key Triathlon 19Autumn Begins 23IRB Historical Society Fall Luncheon 25OCTOBERIRB City Occupational Licenses Due 1Clearwater Offshore Racing 1-3Blessing of the Animals 2Movies in the Park 9Boat Club Intracoastal Clean Up 9Columbus Day / Holiday 11Homeowners Happy Hour 14Stone Crab Season Starts 15Blood Drive - IRB Post Office 15Clearwater Jazz Festival 14-17Octoberfest 16Pinellas Coastal Clean Up 16 Boat Club Meeting 21 Johns Pass Seafood Festival 22-24Commitment to Excellence Awards 23Country Jubilee Heritage Village 23Pumpkin Carving City Hall 30Haunted House / City Hall 30Halloween 31Sea Turtle Nesting Season Ends 31

CREDITS

© 2010 Griffin Productions, Inc.

2010 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.

PuBlISHERS

Bob & Becky GriffinResidents of Indian Rocks Beach

ART DIRECTION

Becky GriffinSAlES

727-517-1997

CONTACT INFO

P.O. BOX 1314Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785

517-1997 ~ 517-1998 FAXIRBNewsletter.com

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VOLUNTEErS NEEDED FOr DEEpWATErHOrIzON OIL SpILL prEpArATION

There is no imminent threat of oil from the DeepwaterHorizon spill making landfall in Pinellas County.However, volunteers are needed to prepare in casethere is a future landfall. If oil reaches the Pinellascoastline, it is expected to be highly weathered in theform of tar balls or mats. Although weathered materialis not as toxic as fresh oil, it could still affect birds andwildlife coming in contact with it. If oil or tar balls washup on area beaches, the materials would be removedby trained contractors, not volunteers.Local environmental organizations are seekingvolunteers for coastal watches, preventative beachcleanups and bird monitoring. Also, local wildliferehabilitation agencies are requesting trained assistanceand donations. Volunteers are needed as follows:• Coastline watchers: To report oil on the shoreline, call(866) 448-5816, or dial #DEP from a cell phone. Toreport oiled wildlife, call (866) 557-1401. • Pre-oil landfall beach cleanup: Sign up online withKeep Pinellas Beautiful at www.pinvol.org for a SpecialBeach Cleanup. Volunteers who register will becontacted for a beach cleanup event, if necessary, priorto oil making landfall. For information, call 533-0402.• Local bird survey: Assist Audubon with counting localbird populations by using the eBird checklist atwww.ebird.org or call the Clearwater Audubon Societyat (727) 431-2856. • Beach and wildlife monitoring: Volunteers can contactTampa Bay Watch at www.tampabaywatch.org or call(727) 867-8166.• Office work or seabird rehabilitation: Volunteers areneeded at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary for tasks suchas feeding birds, which will free up trained staff foremergency work. Also, veterinarians and wildlifeparaprofessionals are needed for an Emergency CallList. Visit seabirdsanctuary.com, or call (727) 391-2473.• Aquarium work: Volunteers are needed to assist theClearwater Marine Aquarium with daily duties. Trainingclasses and long-term weekly shifts are required.Volunteers will not necessarily treat oiled wildlife directly,as marine animal needs will be determined by federalwildlife officials and facility staff. Visit seewinter.com orcall (727) 441-1790, ext. 230. Donations:• Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is requesting donations ofitems such as towels to treat oiled birds. Visitwww.seabirdsanctuary.com, or call (727) 391-2473 fora current list of needed supplies.• Clearwater Marine Aquarium has set up an Oil SpillEmergency Fund. Donations can be made by calling theaquarium at (727) 441-1790 or visitingwww.seewinter.com.In terms of local preparations, after the 1993 TampaBay Oil Spill, the U.S. Coast Guard drafted a detailedArea Contingency Plan to prepare for a future oil spill inthe area. The plan has been recently updated by localenvironmental officials and wildlife organizations. Theplan identifies environmentally sensitive areas in PinellasCounty (such as mangroves, estuaries, bird rookeriesand marshes) with specific strategies for protecting eacharea. Floating booms would be deployed to protectpasses and inlets. However, booms are not efficient forbeach areas because they are difficult to secure in openwater areas due to wave action.


Irb OSprEYS Thepair of osprey’srelocated from thetraffic lights on theIRB Bridge, to thepole on thenorthwest side ofthe WalsinghamBridge had to twochicks, Rocky andBullwinkle. Theyhave flown thecoup and are nowsearching for dinner over the intracoastal waterway nearIndian Rocks Beach. Plans are in the works to makethem a more permanent box for their next nest, and topossibly add a mini web-cam before next year. _________________________________________________FIrEmEN TO rOAST bILL YOUNG During the 8thAnnual Indian Rocks Volunteer Firemen’s Association’sCommitment to Excellence in Leadership Awards, thegroup will honor US Representative Bill Young. Young livesin Indian Shores. The roast is Saturday, October 23rd andwill be held at the Holiday Inn Harbourside. This eventnormally sells out. Call Father Bob at 510-6153 for info._________________________________________________CHAmpIONS The West Pinellas Little League Seniorswon their third straight District Championship Game thisyear, beating East Lake 8 to 1. Matt Schafer and TylerBates both hit home runs. Jody Gardiner and Brad Millerwere the winning pitchers. Congratulations!_________________________________________________DID YOU pArTICIpATE IN THE CENSUS? It costsmoney to count people. This year it is estimated that it cost$110 per housing unit. It was $69 per unit in 2000. A lotof people didn’t respond. The average participation rate inthe US and in Florida is 72%, but in Indian Rocks Beach itwas only 68%. The breakdown of other area’s participationwas Indian Shores - 55%, Belleair Beach - 67%, Sand Key -67%, Clearwater Beach - 54%, & Island Estates - 70%_________________________________________________prE-OIL CLEANUp Bill Sanders, director of KeepPinellas Beautiful spoke to members of the IRB BOATCLUB last month. Sanders has been handed theresponsibility of signing up 5000 Pinellas Volunteers, tohelp clean our beaches of litter before any oil arrives.You can sign up at www.PinVol.org. July 17th there willbe the first pre-oil clean-up day._________________________________________________Irb IrONWOmAN Alaina Kimmey, an IRB residentwho lives off 8th Avenue, competes in Ironmancompetitions around theUS. May 1st she competedin St George, Utah’sIronman Competition. Thecourse was high in themountains and the swimwas held in 58 degreewater. To train for that sheran a loop over the SandKey, Clearwater MemorialCauseway and the BelleairCauseway Bridges, and swam up and down the Gulfnear IRB. She recently participated in the Morton PlantMease Triathlon and plans to attend the Half Ironman inClermont, Florida

Did You Know....


NEW DEpUTY There’s a newsheriff’s deputy working in IRB,Deputy John Cleary. He has beenwith the Sheriff’s office for 4 years.Most recently, he was working inSeminole and in the ‘StreetCrimes’ division. He lives in Largowith his wife and their new baby.You will see him around town,working the 4pm to midnight shift. ______________________________pSTA FOr kIDS PSTA is offering children discountedsummer passes. For $35, kids 18 and under getunlimited transportation on PSTA all summer. TheSummer Youth Haul Pass program lasts through August31. Kids need a school or government ID showing theirage, or they can get a PSTA Youth ID, with proof of age,at any PSTA terminal. Visit www.PSTA.net.___________________________________________________COmmUNITY GArDEN The County approved theconcept of allowing a community garden to be planted onpublic land. A suggested location is the County land atGulf Blvd north of 23rd Avenue. Mayor Johnson,Commissioners Torres and Wollin and Public WorksDirector Dean Scharman are studying it. Start up costs maybe as much as $15-20,000 for irrigation and parking. ___________________________________________________LOCk IT Or LOSE IT Indian Rocks Beach larceny incidentsrecently jumped 125%. Many were vehicle robberies. Thesheriff’s office has a new ‘Vehicular Burglary PreventionProgram, designed to stop the rise in car burglariescountywide. Officers walk neighborhoods checking forunlocked cars. When they find an unlocked vehicle, theyleave a note and lock the vehicle before leaving._________________________________________________GULF bLVD bEAUTIFICATION CONFIrmED In June,the County Commissioners confirmed the long awaited $35million beautification project. Possibly as soon as 2011, thebeach communities will begin receiving money to improvetheir parts of Gulf Blvd by undergrounding utility lines,adding pedestrian crosswalks, new signs and landscaping. _________________________________________________CLEArWATEr FUN FEST CANCELLED They hope toreturn next year, but with the poor economy, no sponsorand the possibility of oil on the beach, they canceled it._________________________________ANONA WINNErS Elementarystudents Team Captain, KaylaMcGee, Madison Dunning, DavidHarlem and alternate, BrandonMcCoy won the Pinellas County 2010Battle of the Books. Congratulationsto these scholars who read andstudied the fifteen required booksidentified by the Sunshine StateYoung Readers Award Program forthe 2009-2010 school year. _________________________________mAIL CArrIEr’S FOOD DrIVEThanks to the local carriers, and the generosity of IRBresidents, 5,000 pounds of food were delivered to theFood Pantry, as a result of the recent food drive. In April,the Beaches Food Pantry served 261 families (almost 500people). The Food Pantry is in Calvary Episcopal Church._________________________________________________NO NAmE STOrm Did you live here during March1993’s No Name Storms? Did you have damage or doyou a story to tell? Email [email protected] orcall 517.1997. We are planning a future story.


rEAL ESTATE NEWSbOTTOmS Up?

By Gordon Obarski, Broker AssociateDoiron Realty Services on the Beach

According to a survey by the University of Florida'sBergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies, Florida’s realestate downturn hit bottom at the end of 2009. Q12010 was described as “less bad”; however, accordingto a comparison of 2009’s single-family sales to activitythrough May 31 this year, this was not the case in zipcode 33785.In zip code 33785, there were 21 total single-familyhome sales in the first five months of 2009, which wasalso the same number as the last five months of theyear. The first five-months of 2010 (Jan 1- May 31) sawonly 18 sales--a 14% reduction.Both list and sale prices took a substantial hit. AverageLIST PRICES declined 36% when comparing the first fivemonth’s of both years ($613,000 for 2009; $390,000for 2010). Average SALE PRICES followed suit droppingnearly 40% from $549,000 to $327,000. The last halfof 2009 fell somewhere between, showing a steadydecline in list/sale prices over an 18-month period thathas continued beyond 2009.One surprise: The percentage of foreclosure SALESdeclined in the first five months of 2010, meaning thatfalling sale prices were not entirely fueled by distressedsales as one might expect. Sellers simply “dropped theirprices” in view of a weak market.While another boom is unlikely anytime soon, it remainsto be seen whether the decline in IRB real estate willcontinue or if we’ve finally seen rock bottom.Source: Pinellas County Multiple Listing Service

mOrE rEAL ESTATE NEWSDA VINCI CONDOS It was reported in the March issuethat work on Da Vinci condos in the 900 block of GulfBlvd was progressing and it would open in June. Theproject manager for Orion Construction has told us thatplans have changed. The project is in limbo until themarket turns around.STONEHENGE City Manager Chuck Coward has issueda letter to the project manager of Ocean Glen atWaterside asking that “the structures’ verticals and slabbe torn down and that the property be returned to aneutral state.” Located at the corner of Gulf Blvd and7th Avenue, where the RV Park was, it is also referred toas ‘Stonehenge’ by many neighbors. The project wasstopped several years ago when the economy took anose dive and one of the investors died.

CALLING ALL pHONE bOOkS...IT’S TImE TO rECYCLE

Summertime is phone book time! Thousands of phonebooks will be delivered to Pinellas County residents’doorsteps. Please recycle your old phone books insteadof trashing them. They can be placed at the curb onWednesday with your newspaper recycling, or droppedinto a newspaper bin at one of our drop off centers.If you receive more phone books than you need, or useonline listings instead of a hard copy, you can stopreceiving phone books at www.YellowPagesOptOut.org.


FIrEWOrkS ArE A SUmmErTrADITION FOr mANY FAmILIES

By David Martin, Fire Marshal, Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District

Fireworks are a summer tradition for many families.Unfortunately, injuries often seem to follow. TheConsumer Product Safety Commission reports that:l 7 fireworks-related deaths occurred in 2007l 7,000 people were treated in Emergency Rooms in

2007l Almost half of the injuries were children under the age

of 15l 70% of firework injuries were to malesl Firecrackers caused the most injures, followed byrockets and sparklersl Burns are the most common injuries from fireworksl In 2006, according to the National Fire ProtectionAgency (NFPA), fireworks caused an estimated 32,600reported fires, including 1,700 total structure fires, 600vehicle fires, and 30,300 outside and other fires. On Independence Day in a typical year, more U.S. firesare reported than on any other day, and fireworksaccount for half of those fires, more than any othercause of fires.Parents, who understand that firecrackers, bottle rockets,and roman candles, etc. can cause injuries, often lettheir younger kids play with sparklers because they thinkthey are safe. But these sparklers can reach over 1000degrees F. and cause half of the injuries to childrenunder age five and 10 percent of fireworks-relatedinjuries overall. So even sparklers should be avoided.Florida Statutes prohibit firecrackers, torpedoes,skyrockets, roman candles, daygo bombs, and anyfireworks containing explosive or flammable compounds. Skip buying fireworks to use at home, and instead takeyour family to see a public fireworks show this year.

OCHS 4-H GArDEN CLUbIf you are looking for achildren’s program that iseducational, teaches how togarden, promotes a healthylifestyle and is fun, sign up forthe Ochs 4-H Garden Club.The program is open tochildren 5 through 18 (as ofSeptember 1, 2010). Thegarden is located at 14644113th Avenue North in Largo,just across the bridge fromIndian Rocks Beach. While the garden may seem quiet during the summer, itis filled with memories of the past gardening season andits bountiful harvest of beans, cucumbers, squash,strawberries, and potatoes.The cost to join 4-H is $15 a year, per child, andincludes the 4-H project book and group accidentinsurance. There is an additional cost of $10 per plot.All vegetable plants, seeds, fertilizer and supplies yourchild needs to grow a vegetable garden are provided.You must pre-register by contacting Jean Rogalsky [email protected] or 727-582-2597. Plots arelimited and this program is very popular.


INCLUDE YOUr pETS IN A HUrrICANE pLAN

by Dr. Matt Facarazzo, DVMIndian Rocks Beach Animal Hospital

Hurricanes can be a stressful situation for everyoneincluding your pets. The key to their safety and survival ispre planning.NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET AT HOME ALONEDURING A HURRICANE. The odds are against theirsurvival. The following are some suggestions to help youand your pets weather the storm safely. l Be sure to contact your local pet friendly evacuationshelters BEFORE a disaster hits. They will not accept anyonewho has not pre-registered. For a list, contact your localshelter. Your local animal shelters will not be able to boardyour animals during a disaster.l It's very important to get your pet microchipped BEFORE

hurricane season. Keep the microchip number with you atall times. If your pet already has a microchip, make sure allof the information registered is current. Be sure to includean out of state contact phone number.l Make sure pets have current immunizations. Get copiesof these records and take a copy with you if you evacuate.l Have a two week supply of food and water for all yourpets, and a two week supply of any medications your pettakes. Store food and medications in a watertight container.l All your pets need a secure carrier/crate for their safety.Bring their leashes and collars. DON'T FORGET ID TAGSFOR THE COLLARS.l Other necessities to bring include: Bowls, can openers,cat litter, pan, liners, and plastic bag for waste removal.Bring comfort items to help them feel secure such asfavorite toys, treats, blankets or bedding. Be sure to labelall items with a tag or waterproof marker.l Have a current photo of YOU AND YOUR PET in casethey have become lost.To help you prepare, Indian Rocks Beach Animal Hospitalwill be offering MICROCHIPING for June and July at a25% OFF DISCOUNT.

LITTLE LEAGUEExcept for a few local kids who made the All Star teams(9 -10 and 10-11), there is no Little League activityduring July and August. The All Stars are still playing andpreparing for the State Championships. Volunteers are planning to paint and remodel theconcession stand during the summer. To raise moneythey are offering a discount card good for discounts atlocal businesses. Get yours by calling Tracy Jeffries at422-2578. IRB’s Little League still needs money. Theyalso need coaches, volunteers and sponsors. They will start registration for Fall Ball in September. CallMike Kelley at 735-4574.

pSFrD AND STINGrAYSPinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue responded to 45 stingraycalls during the month of May, the month when moststingray injuries occur. When you surprise a stingray andget stung, you will have a very painful reaction. The stingercontains a toxin that causes extreme pain. The only way toneutralize the toxin is to apply extremely hot water, NOTCOLD, which increases the pain. Go to your doctor’s officeor emergency room as soon as possible, or call 911. It israre but the tip of the stinger can break off in the skin andmay need to be removed. Do not hesitate to call 911 if youare having a reaction. Remember do the “stingray shuffle”to scare them away. They sting to scare us away.


FrOm THE DESk OF SHErIFF JIm COATSCrime information is now available to Pinellas Countycitizens from the comfort of home.With a few strokes of the keyboard, you can access the‘Crime Viewer’ website, a mapping program designed togive you quick and easy access to information about crimein your community anytime of the day or night.‘Crime Viewer’ was developed and created through acooperative effort between the Sheriff’s Office InformationSystems and Analysis Unit and Pinellas CountyGovernment’s Business Technology Services (BTS). Thewebsite can be accessed at pinellascounty.org/crimeviewer. At the site, just enter an address and a mapping report willbe generated based on proximity to the location you haveentered. The map will pinpoint the crimes in the specifiedarea. A series of icons will pop up on the screen that willprovide you a snapshot of the criminal activity that hastaken place around the selected location.The information will allow you to see what types of crimesare most prevalent in the area and perhaps even allow youto spot trends. If you are interested in buying property ormoving into a neighborhood, this snapshot of informationmay help guide you in the decision making process. In another example, if you are a member of aNeighborhood Watch group or community association, youmay wish to use the information to keep other residentsinformed of criminal activity in your area and to take thenecessary steps to prevent crime.Beyond searches by address, the user friendly site will alsoallow queries by date of offenses or by a specific type of

offense, giving you greater control and flexibility on theinformation you wish to obtain. Reported offenses include:burglary, assault, theft and drug possession and others. The Sheriff’s Office and various police departments havepartnered to contribute data for the new mapping program,which is powered by Pinellas County’s GIS database. The Sheriff’s Office contributes data for unincorporatedareas and its contract cities including: Belleair Beach,Belleair Bluffs, Belleair Shore, Dunedin, Indian Rocks,Madeira Beach, North Redington Beach, Oldsmar,Redington Beach, Safety Harbor, Seminole, South Pasadena The Sheriff’s Office also provides data for the policedepartments of Belleair and Clearwater.Additional data contributors include the Police Departmentsof Gulfport, Indian Shores, Largo, Pinellas Park, St.Petersburg , Tarpon Springs and Treasure Island.Another feature is the ‘Crime Viewer’ is linked to the FloridaDepartment of Law Enforcement’s sex offender database,allowing you to view sex offenders’ photos and addresses.In order to maximize usability, ‘Crime Viewer’ also works onmobile devices. Work is already underway on the nextphase of ‘Crime Viewer,’ to add on notifications and alertsto mobile devices and e-mail accounts. ‘Crime Viewer’ information is updated every 48 hours andthe application will allow you to research up to one year ofcriminal activity to date.The Sheriff’s Office is extremely proud of this cooperativeeffort. We invite you to visit the ‘Crime Viewer’ website,which we think will be an extremely useful tool in helping tokeep you informed and safe.


Restaurant News....brEWmASTEr’S NAmE CHANGEG. David has changed theBrewmasters Steakhouse Restaurantto Marker 34 Grill. With that hascome a full remodel and acompletely new menu. They plan tobe finished for a July 2-4 GrandOpening week-end party. ________________________________

mIkE’S pIzzA Mike Dodaro, apart-time IRB resident and owner ofMike Pizza on 49th Street, boughtVinny’s Pizza on Walsingham. He hopes to have it openlater this July. He will deliver to the Indian Rocks Beacharea. Mike’s Harbor Drive home recently won theHomeowner’s House of Excellence Award.

___________________

LIGHTHOUSEDONUTS TheLighthouse is 10 yearsold this month, but theoriginal owners aregone. Matt and JaniceMcGarry sold theLighthouse to Chhay(Charles) and MarleneSiev in April. charlesand Marlene have

experience owning donut shops and will continue thetradition of great breakfasts and lunches. Lighthouse wasvoted the “Best Breakfast”, by readers of this newsletter,three years in a row._________________________________________________

JAkE’S SANDWICH SHOp Jake’s is now open at 435Gulf Blvd at Walsingham. This is owned by Crabby Bill’sand run by Paul Jenkins, Jake’s dad. They specialize inhoagies and other meaty sandwiches. They also deliver. ______________________

GUppY’S WINS Guppy’swas voted Best Dinner andBest Overall Restaurant byreaders of this newsletterin May’s People’s ChoiceContest. Pictured here areScott Bebell, head chefand partner and some ofthe staff that helped winthe award. ______________________

rOCkY’S ON WALSINGHAm Geo Pappas, onWalsingham, has been closed for a year, but now TonyHouvardas is reopening it as Rocky’s NeighborhoodDiner. It will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.The menu includes ‘comfort foods’, meaning oldfashioned home cooking. Look for it to open in August._________________________________________________

JErUSALEm DELI The deli is not open yet, but it iscoming soon. There have been some construction delays.Menahem and Ester Roth are opening a complete kosherdeli and restaurant there at 311 Gulf Blvd. _________________________________________________

CLOSED:Cafe Naturel, Walsingham & Gulf Blvd.Village Inn on Walsingham, in May.Sam Seltzer Steakhouses, Marketwide


Do you remember...THE OIL SpILL OF 1993?

The oil disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico is not thefirst one to threaten Pinellas Beaches. On August 10,1993, around 6 am, three ships collided in the Gulf, westof the Skyway Bridge, leaving over 300,000 gallons ofheavy oil and 33,000 gallons of jet fuel in the water. Oneship caught fire and burned for 18 hours, adding acomplexity to the rescue efforts.Fortunately for Pinellas, the winds and tides cooperated forfour days buy pushing the oil temporarily northwest of ourbeaches. But that did not last. It did, however, giveplanners and responders, time to prepare. When the oil finally came ashore, the black goo landed ona 13-mile stretch of our coastline. It resulted in oil on birds,sea turtles, mangroves, salt marshes, sea grasses, mudflats, oyster beds, bayside seawalls, miles of shoreline, andour sandy recreational beaches. Some of the oil sank,forming mats of submerged sediments in offshoredepressions, and in Boca Ciega Bay.Unfortunately, this happened when the Sea Turtles wereready to hatch. Luckily, only two sea turtles were reporteddead, but over 2,000 were threatened. Volunteers workedaround the clock to protect 96 threatened loggerheadnests. Over 1,500 hatchlings were intercepted andreleased at alternative sites. Two area nests werediscovered covered in oil for a short period. 366 birds were reported to be oiled, injured or killed in thespill. Some died from ingestion and stress. Bulldozersremoved over 40,000 cubic yards of sand from publicbeaches. Many St. Pete Beach hotels had to replace theircarpeting when people left oily footprints in their lobbiesOddly enough, the Tampa Bay area had just finalized theregion’s first Area Spill Contingency Plan (ACP) a monthbefore, spelling out response protocols, equipment andpersonnel, while identifying natural resources and publicareas needing protection. “We were better prepared thanwe thought, and we did a pretty darn good jobresponding,” said Chris Rossbach, an environmentalmanager with the DEP, Bureau of Emergency response.

G. DAVID HOWArD CELEbrATES NINE YEArS IN Irb.

What do you do for your ninth birthday? G. DavidHoward, owner of Brewmasters Steakhouse is changingtheir name. After being known as the ‘Home of theBottomless Glass’, Brewmasters is becoming Marker 34Grill. 34 is the number of the Channel Marker just south ofthe Holiday Inn Harbourside. The name change comeswith a complete remodel and a new menu, includinglightly dusted and fried lobster tail and alligator chowder. Brewmasters used to be a chain of eleven restaurants,started and owned by John Christen, former owner ofShells Seafood. The Indian Rocks location opened in 1996.But now the chain has dwindled to only one restaurant.G. David is best known for his comedy shows (notrecommended for small children). He has toured in theUS, especially Las Vegas, and performed on cruise ships.He performed locally and also owned G. David’s PrimeRib Steakhouse on Bayway, now South Beach Grill. “I got tired of traveling,” says G. David. “In 2000, I playedthe small room here at Brewmasters, and John took measide and asked if I wanted to buy the place. So I did.”

FISHING ON THE pIErby Lori S Horton

The moon lit up the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and all was quiet, but the gentle lapping sound of the water against the pierpilings. The fishing rod lines were baited with stingray and ladyfish, as the fishermen settled in the sprawled sleeping bags scatteredat the end of the pier, to rest during the long night of fishing. With cautious ears they wait for any sound that might come from therods to indicate a fish had taken the bait. Then, “click…click…click…silence…click…click…click…zzzzzzzzzzzz, Shark on! Thefishermen sprang to their feet to start battle. Ah, such was the life at the Indian Rocks Beach Fishing Pier, once the longest fishing pierin Florida - Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. The pier was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; it was a meeting place for many. Back in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, thewater was so clear, you could see the phosphorus shimmering on the water and the squid surfacing by the lights at the end of thepier. I ruined many a shirt while catching squid for the fishermen. I am sure some will remember an older couple, Sophie and herhusband Ralph. Ralph was deaf, but he always had a pencil and paper so you could write him a note and vice versa. They were oneof the nicest couples on the pier. There was always excitement to run and see who was catching what and how big. I met my boyfriend, at the time, on that pier. Hisparents owned Gulf Breeze Apartments. My friend and I used to run across the street to what used to be Mr. Sub, where Coaster’s istoday, to get the hungry fishermen something to eat. You could get a foot long sub with all the fixings for 99 cents. Lifelong friendships were established on that pier. The boyfriend I had met is married to someone else now, but we are still friendsand go boating and fishing to this day. I miss the days that I was able to sleep among the stars and listen to the water in the night.The pier was a special place for me as I am sure it was to many others. When Hurricane Elena took her down in 1985, we lost avaluable landmark and future memories for others that could have taken part in her history

GENESIS OF THE bIG pIErby R.B. Johnson The property did not come with a plan. When mygrandfather, Carl H. Moseley, a Tampa attorney, first beganto acquire parcels on Indian Rocks Beach in the 1930s, hehad no clear idea what he was going to do with all the landhe would eventually accumulate. Gradually several cottagescame to be built, including one at the corner of Gulf Blvd.and 12th Ave. that would many years later find a secondlife as the home of the Indian Rocks Historical Museum (andbe moved twice in the process). But the oldest cottage, builtin the mid-1930s right on the gulf, sat for nearly a quartercentury with nothing but an acre of wild scrub as itsneighbor on the north and east sides. For years thisundeveloped part of the Moseley property was a favoritedestination for church groups from Tampa looking for theperfect place to hold beach picnics. And while other parcelsin the area were gradually occupied by motels, cottages,and stores, this large piece remained vacant year after year. Finally, in 1959, the long period of dormancy came to anend. While many ideas had come and gone about what todo with this attractive piece of land (including building anobservation tower for paying customers), the one that hadstaying power was the construction of a fishing pier. Andnot just any fishing pier. My grandfather had traveledaround the coast of Florida and seen piers in almost everycommunity, but most were only a few hundred feet inlength. No, what he wanted to provide for the public was areally BIG pier, so long, in fact, that it would be the mostimpressive in the state. So he partnered with localbusinessman Louis R. Snelling, Jr., and on June 27, 1959,the Big Indian Rocks Fishing Pier -- all 1,041 feet of it --opened to great fanfare. For the next quarter century it wasthe favorite haunt for untold numbers of fishermen, many ofwhom practically lived on what came to seem a venerableand timeless structure. But the sense of permanence cameto an abrupt and heartbreaking end when Hurricane Elenaswept by in 1985, leaving the pier shorn of a thousand feetof its length. It was never rebuilt.And so another quarter century has passed, and many(most?) who live here today do not remember the greatpier. But part of its legacy lives on, for there sit under adozen or so feet of water the massive concrete pipes placednear its end as an artificial reef way back in 1959, andknowing fishermen can still be seen casting lines from boatswhere once lines were sent soaring from the longest fishingpier in Florida.

The Big Indian Rocks Fishing Pier

ANOTHEr pIErby Bill Brandon, former Indian Rocks Beach resident

In the mid 1930s, Jack McGucken built a smallpier in front of his places about a hundred or sofeet south of Val's pier, opposite the Narrows. Itwas a short low pier and disintegrated by theearly 1940s. A tall, raw-boned, gruff-toughIrishman originally from Peoria, Illinois, Jackmigrated to Tampa and formed McGucken andHire. They were a big name in contracting inearly Tampa. The firm built the old Tampa cityhall and the Bay Shore Boulevard. Jack was alsoinvolved in ship-building in Tampa during WWI.He was a power in city politics and a man to bereckoned with. But, he lost his fortune in theCrash of 1929 and moved to IRB in 1930. Heran a beer and wine bar with a restaurant out ofone of his houses, but Jack and his friends drankall the profits. His little pier blew down in theearly ‘40s, shortly before he died in 1942.

Val Antuono's Pier

The South Shore Fishing Pier later named Pier Kahiki

Pier Photos for the front page and those on these pages courtesy of State Archives of Florida and the Indian Rocks Beach Historical Society

INDIAN rOCkS bEACH pIErS THrOUGH THE YEArS

FISHING ON THE pIErby Lori S Horton

The moon lit up the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and all was quiet, but the gentle lapping sound of the water against the pierpilings. The fishing rod lines were baited with stingray and ladyfish, as the fishermen settled in the sprawled sleeping bags scatteredat the end of the pier, to rest during the long night of fishing. With cautious ears they wait for any sound that might come from therods to indicate a fish had taken the bait. Then, “click…click…click…silence…click…click…click…zzzzzzzzzzzz, Shark on! Thefishermen sprang to their feet to start battle. Ah, such was the life at the Indian Rocks Beach Fishing Pier, once the longest fishing pierin Florida - Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. The pier was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; it was a meeting place for many. Back in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, thewater was so clear, you could see the phosphorus shimmering on the water and the squid surfacing by the lights at the end of thepier. I ruined many a shirt while catching squid for the fishermen. I am sure some will remember an older couple, Sophie and herhusband Ralph. Ralph was deaf, but he always had a pencil and paper so you could write him a note and vice versa. They were oneof the nicest couples on the pier. There was always excitement to run and see who was catching what and how big. I met my boyfriend, at the time, on that pier. Hisparents owned Gulf Breeze Apartments. My friend and I used to run across the street to what used to be Mr. Sub, where Coaster’s istoday, to get the hungry fishermen something to eat. You could get a foot long sub with all the fixings for 99 cents. Lifelong friendships were established on that pier. The boyfriend I had met is married to someone else now, but we are still friendsand go boating and fishing to this day. I miss the days that I was able to sleep among the stars and listen to the water in the night.The pier was a special place for me as I am sure it was to many others. When Hurricane Elena took her down in 1985, we lost avaluable landmark and future memories for others that could have taken part in her history

THE pIEr AT 23rD AVENUEAS I rEmEmbEr IT

by Joe Knight, Jr.

I was born in Elfers, Florida, just north of Tarpon Springs.In 1928, my mother, Rosalind Knight, paid $500 for aGulf-front lot in the 2400 block of Indian Rocks Beach.She had a log cabin built on the lot so we could spendour summers at the beach. The log cabin, located wherethe Cameron Cove condos are today, was about 2 milesnorth of the old wooden bridge. There were only a few houses nearby among theAustralian pines, palmettos and cabbage palms. Thewater was so clear you could see 200 feet underwater. Every summer until 1946, we went to Indian Rocks Beach.After the war, we permanently moved into the Indian RocksBeach house. In 1952, I graduated from the University ofFlorida, married my wife, Harriett, and moved into that logcabin, where we raised four children.There was a pier at 23rd Avenue, next door to the cabin.The pier was built in 1930 by American AgriculturalChemical Company. It was about 225 feet long with alarge ‘T’ shape at the end, to make more room forfishing. American Agricultural Chemical Co. had a campof small cottages, across Gulf Boulevard at 23rd Avenue,used by their employees, called “Camp Co-Ho-De”. The pier, built for residents of Camp Co-H-De, had agate to keep people who did not belong...such as me,off. A key to the gate was given to my father, Joe Knight,Sr., many years ago by AACC Superintendent SterlingEdwards. About 1950, with donations from the public, the pier wasimproved and railings were added. Later, it became knownas “Huff’s Pier” by the newcomers. We caught many fishfrom that pier, includingtarpon, sharks and rays.We had a great timefishing on and under thatold pier. Eventually it wasblown down in one of thebig Gulf storms. My familylived in that house until1970 when CameronCove construction started.

Pier at 23rd Avenue, 1949

Joe Knight Jr. andthe 23rd Ave. Pier Key

ANOTHEr pIErby Bill Brandon, former Indian Rocks Beach resident

In the mid 1930s, Jack McGucken built a smallpier in front of his places about a hundred or sofeet south of Val's pier, opposite the Narrows. Itwas a short low pier and disintegrated by theearly 1940s. A tall, raw-boned, gruff-toughIrishman originally from Peoria, Illinois, Jackmigrated to Tampa and formed McGucken andHire. They were a big name in contracting inearly Tampa. The firm built the old Tampa cityhall and the Bay Shore Boulevard. Jack was alsoinvolved in ship-building in Tampa during WWI.He was a power in city politics and a man to bereckoned with. But, he lost his fortune in theCrash of 1929 and moved to IRB in 1930. Heran a beer and wine bar with a restaurant out ofone of his houses, but Jack and his friends drankall the profits. His little pier blew down in theearly ‘40s, shortly before he died in 1942.

The Big Indian Rocks Fishing Pier

INDIAN rOCkS bEACH pIErS THrOUGH THE YEArS


Irb ACCOmmODATIONS & THE OIL SpILLHow is the threat of oil on our beaches affecting IndianRocks Beach Accommodations? We asked them.VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s tourism department, asked for$28 million dollars from BP for advertising to help offsetthe financial damage to Florida tourism. Pinellas has thegreatest coastal exposure of any county on the Gulf ofMexico, but did not receive any of the advertising dollars.THE PINELLAS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU hasapplied to receive a share of the marketing dollars. Todate, they have been denied. They have asked membersto send copies of cancellations directly related to the Gulfoil spill. PLUMLEE manages over 200 vacation rentals. As of theend of June, Plumlee had 20 confirmed cancellations,resulting in 350 room nights lost, related to the oil spill.This is approximately $66,000 in revenue. Occupancy inJune-July is normally 60%; they are now projecting 40%.They changed their cancellation policy from 45 days to24 hours. “We are expecting to file a class action lawsuitagainst BP, says Todd Plumlee. “All the accommodationsin Pinellas County may join in.”IMPERIAL REAL ESTATE AND RENTALS manages over100 area rentals. Lorri Marshall, rental manager, saysshe has received calls concerning the spill. “Peoplefarther way, simply hear the words ‘spill in the Gulf ofMexico’ and assume that it is everywhere’.” People inFlorida, closer to here, seem to know that it is not in ourpart of Florida (yet). Imperial has changed theircancellation policy from 60 days to now. If oil appearson our beaches while you are here, they will give you

their money back.HOLIDAY INN HARBOURSIDE People are asking, “Isthere oil on your beaches, yet”. Almost every caller isasking that question. But they do not know of anycancellations yet. Most reservations go through theircentral reservations center. “We are relaxing ourcancellation policy and fee,” says Joe Lawler, manager ofthe Holiday Inn Harbourside. “We have been virtuallysold out during the end of May and beginning of June.GULF FRONT RESORTS Mary and Lee Wilkerson ownand operate 810 Gulfside and Sara Seaside on the Gulfin Indian Rocks. Mary says,”there have only been a fewcancellations, but there have definitely been less calls.Everyone who calls asks about the oil. They are verynervous.” She says they speak of ‘price slashing’ goingon in other places. “We have a 60 day cancellationpolicy, but we have told people they will get their moneyback if the oil shows up.”Below is an EMAIL recently receive from a long timeIndian Rocks vacationer. “We were scheduled for theweek before Labor Day. But in light of the oilcontamination, which is sure to hit that part of Florida inthe next few weeks, we have decided not to come thisyear. It is very upsetting on all levels, and the sheardestruction of what this will do for years to come to theGulf Coast and now maybe the East coast. On apersonal level, I have never in 45 summers not walkedthat beautiful white sand and swam in that wonderfulclear warm water. The thought of going elsewhere, hasno appeal to me. I am sure I am not the only one.”(Email from Melissa Lakey, May 5, 2010.)


LIbrArY NEWSMake a splash! Read is the theme for this summer'schildren's reading program. The Indian Rocks BeachLibrary will host four programs at 2:00 pm on: June 29,July 6, July 13 and July 20. Children Pre-K to age 9 areinvited to enjoy the following sessions: Frogs and Turtles,Octopus's Garden, Florida Fish and Whales and Sharks.Books, songs, bookmarks, and prizes will center oneach of the four topics. The library will set aside booksfor checkout select, especially for the program. Eachchild participating will receive an age appropriate bookat the end of the program.All IRB residents have reciprocal borrowing privilegeswith any of the Pinellas county libraries that are part ofthe Pinellas County Library Cooperative. You need tohave a IRB Library membership card and a currentdriver's license. The library will then add your card totheir membership database. All materials must bereturned to the library you borrowed them from. Eachlibrary has its own rules, which must be abided by allreciprocal borrowers. These privileges resulted from astate aid grant awarded to our IRB library.If you haven't stopped by IRB Library recently, you're infor a pleasant surprise. The circulation area and lobbyhave been renovated with new carpet, expanded spacein front of the circulation desk, new furniture and paint.More changes are in store. The second phase will takeplace during late July or early August. During this time,the library will close for approximately two weeks. Nomaterials will be due and no fines will accumulateduring this period.


LITTLE WHEELEr pLAYS bALL IN Irb

Dan Wheeler, a pitcherfor the Tampa Bay Rays,has a five year old son,Gabe, who plays T-Ballin Indian Rocks Beach. Dan Wheeler, age 32, isfrom Rhode Island andalso played little leagueas a child, beforeplaying baseball in highschool. In 1999, he wasdrafted into MajorLeague Baseball by the then-named Devil Rays. Eventuallyhe was traded. He played for the NY Mets and HoustonAstros before being traded back to the Rays in 2007.Shortly after coming to St. Petersburg the first time, he metStephanie Staats during a team function. Her father,Dewayne Staats, was and still is the Ray’s TV gameannouncer. Dan asked for her phone number, but wassent back to AAA ball in Durham, North Carolina, the nextday. He returned to the area in September and promptlycalled Stephanie for a date. Today, they live in BelleairBeach, and have two sons, Gabe 5 and Zack 2, withanother baby on the way.Dan enjoys playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. He says it isfun, but it is a full-time job. He has to focus on improvinghis pitching to remain competitive. He says the newownership and coaching staff are great and he enjoysworking with them. Gabe Wheeler, his oldest son, plays first base atCampalong field in IRB. He plays T-ball, so the coaches dothe pitching. When he grows up, Gabe says he wants toplay baseball, just like his dad. He is very athletic, alsoplaying football, basketball, golf and tennis.Gabe watches every Rays game, either on TV or in person.He was attending Belleair Montessori Academy but nowattends the St Paul’s School in Clearwater. He says all hisfriends know his father plays for the Rays. Now, withschool out for the summer, he tries to attend every game.The Wheeler’s enjoy living in Pinellas and the beach area.Their favorite local restaurant is Island Way Grill. Dan’swife Stephanie is a full-time mom and active within theRays Wife’s Group, which sponsors many charity events.We all hope Dan and the Rays take their team to theWorld Series again in 2010.

rAYS bASEbALLUp coming popular home game series:

Boston Red Sox, July 5-7New York Yankees, July 30-Aug 1Boston Red Sox, August 27-29New York Yankees, September 13-15

MUSIC AND BASEBALL:If you want music with your baseball:

July 9: Vanilla IceJuly 10: The Go-Go’sJuly 30: Los LobosAug 14: TrainSept 18: Adam LambertSept 25: Bret Michaels

See the complete promotion schedule at RayBaseball.com


INDIAN rOCkS bEACHHOmEOWNErS

ASSOCIATION NEWS2010 HAPPY HOURS Homeowners Happy Hours continue atthe following restaurants:

July 15: My Place August 12: Salt RockThese FREE Happy Hours are 6-7:30 pm the secondThursday of the month. Visit IRBhome.com for info.NEW BEACH SIGNS The HOAused a portion of the Guppy’sGallop 5K Run proceeds to buy“street signs” for the beach. Nowwhen walking along the water youcan look up at each beach accessand know the corresponding street,which is especially helpful tovisitors. The idea was suggested byBoard Member Lisa Dawson, andthe City thought it was a great idea.City employees installed the signs POKER RUN BAR CRAWL SEPT.11TH Plans are underway for the HOA Poker Run. Visityour favorite IRB restaurants and bars, followed by theafter party at Crabby Bill’s Loading Dock. 250 peopleparticipated last year. For information or to register online,visit www.IRBhome.com, or you can register the day of.Don’t DRINK & DRIVE! BOWLING NIGHT FRIDAY, JULY 30th The HomeownersAssociation is planing another Bowling Night at Twedt'sBowling Alley across from Largo Mall. This is a repeat ofthe popular “Black Light” bowling. It starts at 9pm andcosts $13/person, including shoes and unlimited bowlinguntil 1am. RSVP by July 27th to [email protected] orcall 517-3131.FOURTH ANNUAL TASTE OF IRB will be November 6th.Plans for this event are underway. If you are interested inbeing a participating vendor or sponsor, please [email protected]. THE ANNUAL MEETING was May 26th. The Officers arePhil Wrobel, President, Dave Pearson Vice President,Jacque Enderle, Secretary and Becky Griffin, Treasurer.Two new Board members were added - Tim McGee andLance Coraggio.

Irb bOAT CLUb NEWSUpCOmING EVENTS:Sandbar Party at Johns Pass - Sunday, Aug. 22IRB End of Summer Island Party - Saturday, Sept.18thmEETINGS - The last two meetings have been about thepotential of oil on our beaches. We had speakers from theSeabird Sanctuary, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, ClearwaterMarine Aquarium and Pinellas County EnvironmentalManagement. It was Great Information! Come getinformed at Jimmy Guana’s, the third Thursday eachmonth. The next twomeetings are July 15 andAugust 19. Happy Hour startsat 6pm and the meetingstarts at 7pm. Everyone iswelcome and there are nofees. If you have questions,ideas for outings or guestspeakers, [email protected]. Bill Sanders, of Keep Pinellas Beautiful


NEW HUrrICANE SEASON

brINGS CHANGESby Commission Chair Karen Williams Seel

It may be the last thing on the minds ofmany beach residents, but the 2010Atlantic Hurricane Season is here.Forecasters around the country are alsocalling for a more active season than lastyear, which will certainly have uswatching the forecasts more carefully.

Even though the high wind, storm surge and heavy rainsof hurricanes won’t be different, there will be a fewnotable changes this season.

First, the hurricane watch and warning times issued bythe National Hurricane Center are increasing beginningthis year. Now, a hurricane watch will be issued 48 hoursin advance of the arrival of tropical storm force windsand a warning will be issued 36 hours in advance. Theextra 12 hours will provide additional time to prepare forresidents in low-lying areas, but shelters may not openimmediately following warning being issued. Please checknews reports or visit Pinellas County EmergencyManagement’s website pinellascounty.org/emergency forthe latest information.

A number of changes also have been made to theevacuation map. More accurate data and fastercomputers have improved the storm surge models usedby the National Hurricane Center. All residents who live

on the beaches in Pinellas will still have to move awayfrom the water during all mandatory evacuation orders,and it’s also a good idea to check to see if yourevacuation destination may have changed evacuationlevels. Again, you can check the Pinellas CountyEmergency Management website to determine yourevacuation level.

You will also note that the evacuation level colors for themaps have changed. For example, beach areas are nolonger purple. Those areas are now red. This was doneto make the evacuation maps more closely resembleother color-coded scales such as the homeland securitylevel.

What hasn’t changed for the 2010 season is theimportance of being ready for the worst that nature canbring us. The last time Pinellas County took a directhurricane landfall was in October 1921. Very fewstructures remain from that time, and those built sincehave not yet experienced the full fury of a hurricane.Storm surge also remains a killer, and the only safe placeto be when the water rises is away from low-lying areas.

The key to survival is to plan now. Develop an evacuationplan for yourself and your family – including your pets.Bring important papers and a supply of medications,nonperishable food and water. Know where you will goshould an evacuation order be given.

When it comes to hurricanes, preparing for the storm iseveryone’s responsibility. The steps you take now maysave your life later.


rOCk & SOULOpENS A new menand women's clothingstore opened nearbyin Belleair Bluffs in theBelleair BazaarShopping Center,near Bonefish Grill."There is no otherstore like this in theTampa Bay area," says owner Chris Jewel. "We carry aunique mix of the hottest brands and pull it all together inan atmosphere that is fun and comfortable." They carry ahand-selected line of designer apparel for men andwomen, as well as a gorgeous array of women's jewelry.Call them at 585-3438._________________________________________________

CrYSTAL CAVE A new health foods store opened at2300 Gulf Blvd, next to Sandy’s Restaurant. Owner Lynnspecializes in green and organic products, plus productsthat help in healing and wellness including Yoga, giftsand Reiki. Call her at 557-5880. _________________________________________________

E SpA In the other end of the same shopping center, anew spa should be open the first week of July, near ThaiPan Alley. This will be a full service spa for hair, skinand massage.___________________

LArGO mArINALargo IntracoastalMarina, across theIntracoastal has newowners. They recentlyremodeled and addedmany improvementsincluding new roofsand siding on all theirbuildings, a codeaccess gate system,security cameras and a new waiting area in their showroom. Unlike other marinas, when you use their high-dry,your rate is determined by the length of your boat fromfront to back and DOES NOT include the engine. If youstore your boat there, you will receive a10¢ per gallondiscount on their ethanol free fuel. Their storage ratesinclude unlimited launching. They are located just aquarter mile north of the Walsingham Bridge. Call 595-3592 or visit www.LargoMarina.com._________________________________________________

NAILS pLUS Kelly Vo is the new owner of Nails Plus at1401 Gulf Blvd Plaza. She replaces Lan Le as the owner_________________________________________________

CUSO’S SIGN GONE The last non-conforming sign inIRB is finally down. All that remains of the sign in frontof Cuso’s Cantina is the pole. _________________________________________________

mOVED, Sea Gull Realty has moved to the Seminole area.

Business Briefs....

4TH OF JULY bOAT CLUb ISLAND pArTYThe IRB Boat Club plans to meet around 4pm, on OneTree Island, in the Intracoastal, east of the Marriott, fora cookout. Bring your own food and beverage. At dusk,you can move your boat towards the MemorialCauseway for a closer look at the fireworks, or watchfrom the island. Call 727-517-1997 or [email protected] to get involved


rOTArY NEWS“SERVICE ON THE ROCKS”

Thank you Indian rocks beach!The Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach participated inseveral community service projects and other activitiessince our lastreport. No, those weren’tDepartment ofCorrectionspersonnel pickingup trash alongGulf Blvd onSaturday, May 1.The Club wasparticipating in theAdopt-A-Mile program, tidying up from WalsinghamRd. to 28th Avenue as well as Chic-A-Si Park.

Saturday, May22 saw severalmembers of theClub helpingclean andperformmaintenance atRotary’s CampFlorida. TheCamp provideschildren withspecial health

and physical needs the opportunity to experience thesame fun and joy of camping that we did as children,and thereby enrich them in body, mind, and spirit.Finally, the Club celebrated the end of the Rotary year,on Wednesday, June 2, aboard the Calypso Queenwith a “Tacky Tourist” themed dinner cruise. IncomingRotary District Governor Lynda Vinson installed the2010-2011 officers and the club welcomed four newmembers: Diana Busboom, Tom Busboom, JanGorissen and Deanna Moentman. The highlight of the cruise was the presentation of theFirst Annual Indian Rocks Rotary Citizen of the Yearaward to retiring Anona Elementary Principal MarshaJordan. The Club wishes Marsha well in her new life ofleisure. New officers for 2010-2011 are Bruce Sobut(President), Michael Schulz (President-Elect), DianaBusboom (Vice President), Paul Burns (Secretary), LynnJohler (Treasurer), Lou Gregor (Sergeant-at-Arms), anddirectors Bill Atkinson, Bill Drugash, Claire English,Dan OrRico, and Gary Polansky.Special guests included Felipe Suckow Herrmann andPaulo Fernando Paz Alarcon, members of the GroupStudy Exchange team from Curitiba, Brazil and ourRotary Youth Exchange student Cansu Yanik from Izmir,Turkey. The club, along with Action 2000, is already planningOktoberfest and looking for volunteers and sponsors.To find out more about Rotary. or any of our events,join us at one of our weekly meetings every Wednesdayat 7:15 am inside Jimmy Guana’s at the Holiday InnHarbourside, or call (727) 403-4060. Your firstbreakfast is on us! www.irbrc.com.


ACTION 2000 NEWS

ARBOR DAY EVENT ATT’J’S ITALIAN CAFÉ. Thisyear’s mixer was all about going green! We gave awaynative plants as Door prizes and had handouts for all totake home with native, drought and salt tolerant plantsand trees. Want to know more about native and droughttolerant plants to use here on the beach? Go towww.floridayards.orgPRESERVATION AWARDSGIVEN TO FOUR GULFBLVD RECIPIENTS.The preservation awardsare dedicated to the spiritof maintaining andpreserving propertiesreminiscent of the smalltown Florida atmosphere1. T.J’s Italian Café2. Don & Jean Gold, Tiki

Gardens3. Amy Steinkellner,

Cottage on Gulf Blvd4. Marian & Hal Flowers,

Chic-A-Si cottageOKTOBERFEST planning isin the works for this year’sevent. Mark yourcalendars for SaturdayOctober 16th, 11am untill8pm. We are now signingup vendors, sponsors andgathering silent auctionitems for the event.Anyone interested insupporting the event, andor advertising andpromoting their business,is encouraged to visitoktoberfestonthebeach.comor contact Diane Flagg,727-612-9454 foravailable opportunities.This year plan on a newaddition on event day!The band, CaribbeanCowboys will beperforming from 5 - 8pmfor your listening anddancing pleasure!! Aperfect way to end theday’s festivities………..SUMMERTIME SCHEDULENo monthly meetings, wewill resume meetings inSeptember on the secondMonday each month at6:30pm at the Beach ArtCenter.For more info visitwww.irbaction2000.com,or contact President EricMeyer at 727-744-0123.

Action 2000 Arbor Day Planning Committee

Plein Aire Artists Helen Tilstonand Mary Rose Holmes with

native plant door prizes

Preservation Award winners, Donand Jean Gold, Tiki Gardens

Preservation Award winners,Marian and Hal Flowers,

Chic-A-Si cottage


OIL AND SAND By State Representative Jim Frishe, District 54

We all have heard that Oil and Waterdon’t mix. I would like to put forth that Oiland Sand do not mix either. We, here inFlorida and particularly those of us inbeach communities, have been challengedas never before regarding the DeepwaterHorizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf ofMexico. Florida is possibly facing an economic andenvironmental disaster.

I have long been an opponent to off shore drilling andfirmly believe that we have alternatives to solving ourdependence on oil. Many have felt we have the oil, let’suse it and not rely on foreign oil to fuel our country. Weare now experiencing the results of such drilling and thedangers our coastal communities are facing because ofthis one oil “leak”. ( I think of it more as a “gusher”).

Florida’s beaches play a vital part in the prosperity of theState of Florida. The beaches are also our first line ofdefense in reducing damages due to storms and/orhurricanes. We cannot logically provide funding forbeach re-nourishment and then turn around and drill foroil right off the Coast of Florida.

I, along with Senator Jones, was instrumental in makingcertain that the Florida Legislature allocated the needed

$3,816,624 for the Sand Key Beach Re-nourishmentProgram, which along with the federal and localallocations, provides the necessary funds to complete thisproject. We also provided $339,600 for the Long KeyBeach (St. Pete Beach) Re-nourishment Program, whichwill get this project underway. These are just two of thebeach re-nourishment projects for which the legislaturehas allocated funding in the 2010-2011 budget. Thisshows how very vital we believe clean, pristine beachesare to Floridians and our 65 billion dollar tourismeconomy.

I urge us to all work together to keep our beaches andall of our natural resources clean and free from oil asthey are meant to be.

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