Santa Taking Delivery Reservations

The annual Santa Claus Christmas gift delivery in Belleair will be Dec. 17, 18 and 19 from 6 to 9 pm. Residents of Belleair who would like Santa Claus to deliver a gift to someone 12 years old and under at their home must make reservations in person with Rachel Schneider, or e-mail reservations to the Polar Parcel Service at pps@townofbelleair.net.

Reservations will be accepted December 1st-12th, from 1 to 8 pm. Reservation forms are available at the Dimmitt Community Center and http://www.townofbelleair.net/.

Early reservations are suggested. Gifts should be wrapped and tagged clearly with the name of the child, delivery address, and phone number. Gifts are limited to one per child, and limited in size to 12 inch by 12 inch (including wrappings). Gifts may be delivered to the Dimmitt Community Center, 918 Osceola Road, between Dec. 8th and Dec. 15th. For information about the Santa Delivery or becoming an elf for the Santa delivery, call Rachel Schneider at 588-3769, ext. 292.

Belleair Holiday Tree Lighting

The Belleair Civic Association and the recreation department will host the annual tree lighting at Town Hall on December 5th at 6 pm. The ceremony will include a visit from Santa Claus, carolling, cookie decorating, and refreshments. Belleair Town Hall is located at 901 Ponce De Leon Blvd.

Council Rejects Harrsion Bridge Repair

What is known is that the bridge needs to be repaired, what is not known is by who or at what cost. The condition and safety of the small Harrison Avenue bridge has not yet been fully determined. But what is known is that the city cannot afford the price of one contractor’s proposal to replace the aging structure – a figure which suddenly jumped to half a million dollars during the company's presentation.

The proposal, previously estimated to cost about $300k, involves rebuilding the bridge. Midway through his presentation, Jorge Perez, head of Elite Engineering Solutions slipped in the upward cost revision that likely took his firm out of the running.Perez said his firm’s costs shot up because of an increase in the price of new shafts to support the bridge.

Prolonged bridge closures could also result from the Elite solution due to the large equipment involved and residents could be stranded or cut off from their homes.

Current use of the bridge with its unknown safety factor was also brought up by former Mayor Rudy Davis who said he had witnessed full dump trucks weighing in excess of 50,000 pounds crossing the bridge, which currently has a weight limit of 18,000 lbs. The equipment is servicing a new home being constructed on Harrison Avenue. Garbage trucks were also a concern.

The city has asked another contractor to submit a proposal, and has ordered a safety inspection of the bridge.

Community Center Will Hold Golf School

The Belleair Bluffs recreation department is offering basic golf school at the Dimmitt Community Center taught by local PGA member and certified Titleist fitness trainer Joe Quinzi. Classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays at both beginner and intermediate levels. Call the rec department at 588-3769 ext 210, or visit the Dimmitt Community center at 918 Osceola Rd.

Susan G Komen Golf Tournament

The Woment's Golf Association will host the 9th annual tournament to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure will be November 19, at the Belleair Country Club. Donations can be forwarded to BCC Rally for the Cure, Belleair Country Club, One Country Club Lane, Belleair, FL 33756. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Call Diane Crowl at 278-6753.

Publix Scheduled To Open

The new Publix supermarket on West Bay Drive in Bellair Bluffs is scheduled to open on the 13th.

Bellear Beach Community Yard Sale November 15th

There will be a city wide yard sale in Belleair Beach on Saturday November 15th. This is a good opportunity to clean out the garage and meet your neighbors. To add your address to the list for signs call city hall at 595-4646.

Set Your Clocks Back Tonight

The time officially moves back one hour at 2 a.m. - remember, Spring Forward, Fall Back. State Sen. Bill Posey tried to persuade the rest of the Florida Legislature to pass his bill ending the practice, but the bill failed. Posey wanted Florida to join Hawaii and Arizona as the only states that don't follow Daylight Savings Time.
The Daylight Savings Time switch is later than normal this year. To save energy, President George Bush in 2005 signed a bill that extended Daylight Saving Time about 4 weeks starting this year. Congressional leaders reasoned that having more hours of daylight in the evening would reduce the need to turn on lights.