4th Of July Celebrations and Fireworks

There are lots of area events scheduled to celebrate the 4th of July. Take in a parade, enjoy live music and then watch fireworks. All events are on Saturday July 4th unless noted.

Clearwater Celebrates America
Overlooking the beautiful intercoastal waterway at Coachman Park, this celebration features the Mostly Pops Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. A spectacular fireworks show will follow at 9:30 p.m. The event includes children's activities, food and beverages for purchase and exhibitor and sponsor booths. Gates open at 4 pm.
*Coachman Park 301 Drew. St., Clearwater.

4TH of July U.S. Constitution Boat Parade
Enjoy a patriotic, fun filled Rally that will kick off the First Annual Fourth of July U.S. Constitution boat parade. Festivities will start at noon at Gators Pass. There will be music and prize drawings throughout the afternoon. Decorate your boat - Show it off - Wave Flags! Or, just watch the boat parade sail by just after 3:00 P.M.
*Gators on the Pass 12754 Kingfish Dr, Treasure Island

4th of July Extravaganza at The Pier
Starting at 1pm on the east courtyard, enjoy live music by the Cool Daddies or step inside to catch a one man circus. If you've never tried a drum circle, this is your chance, with free drums or bring your own. Live music continues until 8pm. Fireworks start at 9 pm.
*The Pier 800 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg.

Largo 4th of July Celebration
Music starts at 7pm with interactive kids activities near the stage. Fireworks begin at 9pm. Parking is available on site and free. No alcohol, pets, or personal fireworks.
*Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive, Largo.

Madeira Beach Fireworks
The fireworks display will be fired from the city recreation park on Rex Place next to the City Hall complex.
*Madeira Beach 300 Municipal Dr., Madeira Beach

Redington Shores Fireworks
The fireworks display will take place shortly after dusk in the County beach park.
*Redington Shores,182nd Avenue and Gulf Boulevard

St. Pete Beach Fireworks
Launched along the Gulf of Mexico, enjoy the fireworks show starting at dusk.
*St. Pete Beach Access Park, 4700 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach

Treasure Island Fireworks
Enjoy fireworks on the beach. Bring your chair or blanket. Fireworks start at 9pm.
*Treasure Island Beach,10400 Gulf Blvd, Treasure Island

July 3rd Concert and Fireworks
Fri, Jul, 3 6:00 pm
*Knology Park , 373 Douglas Ave. Dunedin

Fireworks Cruise
Take a high speed water sightseeing ride. Then, watch Clearwater's fireworks display from the deck of the Sea Screamer. $35 adults, $25 children. 8 pm.
*Clearwater Beach Marina at Sea Screamer 25 Causeway Blvd. Clearwater Beach 727-447-7200

4th Of July Parade
The North Redington Beach 4th of July Parade will be begin at Addie Graham Park 173rd Avenue and proceed via Second Street and First Street to Radcliffe Park starting at 9 am.
*North Redington Beach at Addie Graham Park

Keep Renters In Check - The Rules Apply To Everyone- A Rant

Recently the City of Belleair Beach received multiple calls to report dogs being on the beach. It turned out to be just one dog, who is owned by a renter. Many other rules are being ignored as well. On 20th Street there's a truck with a "Signs Now" magnet on it ( a violation of city code), parked pretty much all day everyday at a rental property. And no, it's not an ignorant employee, it's the ignorant owner of the company. Same goes for Bayshore Drive @ 20th Street - there's a pickup truck with a "Bovis" logo on it parked overnight every night. In this case it's an ignorant employee of Bovis Lendlease. A year ago any other resident would have been cited within a week of the violation, without anyone calling to report it.

These people think because they are renters they don't have to follow the rules- they can just plead ignorance. Meanwhile they are disrupting the serenity we once had -the very thing that made us want to live here. We chose Belleair Beach because it wasn't like those other towns with their riff-raff. What's worse is they laugh if you threaten to call the police, claiming the police tell them the homeowners call the police all the time for nonsense. They are told "don't worry about them calling us", "these people (the homeowners) call the cops for every little thing" "I don't hear your dog barking".

So, we are expected to put up with early morning pow-wows( loud conversations in the a.m. before work with a LOT of coughing). And there's the after-work pow-wows - I'll have to watch Slingblade again to figure out what it is they talk about. And the barking dogs, that never stop. I am a dog lover. I have a dog, I've had many dogs, almost everyone in town has a dog. BUT, they behave. They do not disturb the neighbors. I'd mention the diesel trucks, but they are not against the law. Change has turned our "resort community" into a "working class" community.

Times are different in this era of "change". Our sleepy community has changed. And we have to do more than complain, we have to respond. Many homes have been turned into rentals, housing people who do not care about our community, contributing to the decline of our way of life. We have to stand our ground. Owners of these properties must be held accountable. The City and the Sheriff have to enforce the rules, no matter how trivial they think they are - they are OUR rules. If you don't like it leave.

That been said, I do not mean in any way to disparage renters. I myself was a renter for many many years. But, I obeyed and respected the rules and other's right to enjoy peace and quiet.

So, as homeowners, we need to enforce the rules. We need to call the city, call the sheriff, do whatever is necessary to preserve our way of life. This is our town. Owner's and renters of these transient properties must be held accountable. I have to imagine that the owners of these homes would be mortified to know that their tenants were behaving in such a way. But, maybe I'm wrong. They left - why should they care. Well, because when they come back - and they will - they expect everything to be as they left it. Peaceful, pleasant, quiet....

What can you do? If you know a home on your block is being rented, verify that the owner has a rental permit from the city. If you see violations, call the city or the sheriff. Don't feel ashamed, you pay taxes for these services. If we don't exercise our rights, we will lose our peace, our enjoyment of our property, and our property values.

Check Your Speed On New Bridge

You many have noticed a police car posted on the new bridge. If you guessed they were looking for speeders, you were right. The Pinellas Sheriff's Office reports a large number of speeding citations in just the first few days. On May 29th alone, there were 40 citations issued. Most were for speeds in the 50 - 70 mph range, and large number of those were issued for speeds in excess of 70 mph, while the posted speed limit is just 30 mph.

News Personality Greta Van Susteren Buys Beach Home

Greta Van Susteren recently purchased a beachfront home in Belleair Beach. She is currently the host of "On The Record" a Fox News show.

Residents and Business Must Register Alarm Systems

A new Pinellas County ordinance requires home and business owners to register their alarm systems.

On July 1, 2009, Pinellas County deputy sheriffs will begin enforcing this ordinance by citing property owners for false alarm incidents. The Sheriff’s Alarm Registration Program or “SHARP” has been established for home and business owners. Registration is available online or by mail. The ordinance covers unincorporated Pinellas County and the following cities: Belleair Bluffs ,Belleair Shore ,Belleair Beach ,Dunedin, Indian Rocks Beach ,Madeira Beach ,North Redington Beach ,Oldsmar ,Redington Beach,
Safety Harbor ,Seminole ,South Pasadena

There is no registration fee. Alarm subscribers will receive warnings for the first two false alarms within a revolving year. Registered alarm owners who experience more than two false alarms in one year will be subject to fines. Home and business owners who do not register their alarm systems will not receive any warnings and will be subject to fines. Registered alarm owners who experience more than two false alarm events in one year may also be subject to fines, as identified below, if the false alarms continue.

New Garbage Collection Schedule for Belleair Beach

In August residential garbage collection will be on Tuesdays and Fridays (instead of Mondays and Thursdays) with recycling pickup on Fridays.

Belleview Biltmore and Cabana Club Update

The Belleview Biltmore Hotel received a favorable decision from a 3 judge panel regarding the restoration of the property. The Circuit Court entered an Order and Opinion upholding the Belleair Town Commission’s grant of variances and approval of site plans necessary for the restoration of the historic property. The complaining parties have 30 days to appeal.

The Belleview Biltmore Hotel also owns a parcel on Sand Key which it proposes to redevelop with a 38 room hotel as part of the overall project. The City of Clearwater Community Development Board approved redevelopment of the Sand Key site in 2008. Several neighboring residents appealed this decision. The assigned Administrative Law Judge rejected the challenge and upheld the decision of the Community Development Board. The residents have now filed a Petition in the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Florida challenging the decision.

The attorneys for the Belleview Biltmore Hotel expect the Circuit Court to render a decision within the next 30 days as to whether the Petition has sufficient basis for the appeal to proceed.

The restoration project for the Belleview Biltmore will include:

• LEED Certification.
• Expansion plans include a new wing adding 176 hotel rooms.
• Restoration of the main building will provide 260 hotel rooms.
• Restoration of the Sunset, Magnolia and Palm cottages will add 12 guest quarters, plus corporate meeting space.
• Restoration Tiffany, Starlight and Candlelight Ballroom to original design.
• Construction of a new 18,900 square foot full service spa with thirteen treatment rooms, fitness center, salon and aerobics room.
• World class 18-hole Donald Ross designed golf course with a renovated club house featuring a new kitchen, grillroom, bar and banquet facility.
• A new 38 room, 6 story Victorian styled boutique hotel on the beach at
  the Cabana Club site.

Beware Of Trespassing Insurance Companies

Have you seen this man creeping around?

He was found trespassing in a back yard in Belleair Beach this morning around 9 am. His name(which he tried not to give) is believed to be Daniel Hogan. He was also reluctant to disclose who sent him trespassing. He wanted to identify himself only as "insurance inspector". When asked by the homeowner for a business card or other documentation, he refused. At one point he said he worked for a company called Castle, and then later said Citizens and AAA, but the door hanger he gave the police (he did not leave on the door) had the name "Rapid Survey Group".

A phone call to Rapid Survey Group in Utah this morning got no answer. After some digging it appears he is a independent contractor, hired by a company, who hired a company to snoop for whatever reason. I say snoop, because the homeowner was never called or mailed regarding an inspection. It seems they prefer to sneak around.

Insurance companies(assuming that's who hired him) may have the right to inspect your property from time to time. That does not give independent contractors (who's job description only requires that they have a car and a camera) the right to trespass.

In this case the guy let himself into a yard protected by a 6ft gated fence. When told to leave he said he "had the right to be there". Apparently he thinks the badge he was wearing, on which the print was too small to read, gives him property rights. He refused to give a business card, or any other paperwork.

The photo above was taken while waiting for the police to arrive.