Bob Deakin Short Stories

Council Member Jennifer Salmon makes a point to City Manager James O'Reilly Tuesday night. Photo by Bob Deakin

The Gulfport City Council Tuesday night approved the renewal of the existing franchise agreement with Progress Energy for a ten-year period. As part of the agreement, Progress Energy will pay the city a six percent ($843,095) franchise fee, which is taken from fees charged to the customers.

Council Member Jennifer Salmon questioned why the council did not have an opportunity to discuss the franchise agreement at a workshop, indicating that there may have been ways to reduce energy uses or other bids to consider. The city manager said he didn’t bring it to workshop as it is a standard agreement that the city has continued over time but that it would be brought to public discussion in the future.

Gail Simpson, manager of public policy for Progress Energy, explained that the deal is a right-of-way agreement and that the company would be willing to discuss measures to reduce energy uses for the city. Mayor Yakes added that this is the first reading of the contract and that there will be a public hearing to address it.

The council approved the franchise renewal by a 4 to 1 vote with Council Member Salmon adding the ‘no’ vote.

*****

The council unanimously approved the city’s $444,081 insurance policy with Public Risk Management of Florida. City Manager Jim O’Reilly said that there was no increase over last year and that he was satisfied with the ongoing agreement.

Council Member Salmon commented that the council should be more active in seeing that there are more options available before voting on a new policy.

“It just seems like we have a fiduciary responsibility to make sure that we are re-bidding these things and encouraging a slew of applicants,” she said. “I think that’s part of our job.”

Council Member Sam Henderson later commented that the council should not try to micro-manage how the city staff does its work in day-to-day activities.

*****

The council also unanimously voted to authorize the city manager to renew the city’s sewer system repair contract with J.T.V., Inc. for a period of two years. Public Works Director Don Sopak has been working with the city for many years, is familiar with the systems throughout the city and has a good working relationship and willing to make repairs when called upon.

“To me it’s a good deal,” he said. “I do like working with them. They do a good job and we’ve never had a collapse in any line they’ve put in and they’ve probably put in a hundred thousand square feet of line.”

Resident Bob Worthington spoke up in favor of the contract renewal, warning that the pipes are old and preventing collapses is vital in avoiding larger expenses of replacing pipe.

“I’d just like to say keeping this group in here or even having another group of the same type is hugely important,” he said. “Our infrastructure here in Gulfport is the pipes in the ground that you can’t see. They’re deteriorating and in a lot of cases they’re more than 70 years old… We need to keep up with our infrastructure and I urge the council to do everything they can.”

*****

In other business, Council Member Henderson has proposed an early-morning “Keep Gulfport Weird Mini-triathlon” on September 24 on the day of the Tangerine Blues Festival. It would not be for expert athletes but more for fun and would involve a one-mile run, 4-mile bike and a swim from the recreation center to the Casino Pier. He will provide more details in the future.

*****

Council Member Barbara Banno alerted the council that the Rand McNally “Best of the Road” competition is coming to a close and that Gulfport is one of six finalists out of 600 for the “Best for Food” category. Beginning June 23, five teams selected by USA Today and Rand McNally will head to the various towns in several categories to judge for themselves. It is not known what day they will hit Gulfport but she advises merchants to be ready.

She gave credit to the Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association to get the word out to participate in the competition and vote for Gulfport. “It’s a really good opportunity for Gulfport to be put on the map,” she said. “It’s very exciting news and I’ll keep you guys all posted.”

Mayor Yakes said the town has received calls as a result of the competition and that other local officials have indicated they will be heading to Gulfport to judge for themselves.

Originally published on Patch.com in June 2011

Copyright 2011

Jennifer Deidrich shows off the tools of her two favorite passions.

Jennifer Diedrich founded Suzuki Strings of St. Petersburg in 2003, utilizing a unique style of teaching music that benefited her as a child. The St. Pete resident and violinist for the Tampa Bay Symphony was one of the first to learn via the Suzuki method as a four-year-old back in Chicago in the early 1970s from Arthur Montzka, one of the disciples of originator Shinichi Suzuki of Japan.

The Suzuki method applies the basic principles of learning to speak to learning to play an instrument, starting with children as young as infants. With the help of parents and a very basic program of study they learn the instrument and performance and are often well beyond the typical learning curve of others students within a few years.

The Suzuki method is meant to help in the approach to learning as a whole – not just music – and often results in better study habits, leadership skills and confidence.

Diedrich has been teaching at a local church and preschool but most students now go to her home for instruction as she seeks a new facility in which to expand her program. She talked to Patch about teaching students to play the violin.

Q. Can you explain what’s different about the Suzuki method?

A. Most of us started out having a half-hour lesson a week and it was just a relationship between the teacher and the student. This method is a triangle – the parent, the teacher and the student – all three work together and the life skills are really what Suzuki had in mind. He was using music as a vehicle to teach discipline and respect and kindness. The other benefit with music is it really taps your emotional self, your intellectual self. It’s more of a whole piece for development. I think that’s why it works so well.

Q. Do parents have to be musicians to participate?

A, It’s not necessary. A lot of adults are intimidated by that but I just reassure them they know more than a two or three year-old. They have better muscle coordination so usually the parent will learn how to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” just so they understand what it feels like. You’ll make a lot of mistakes but they’re joyful about it and laugh at it and have fun. It creates quality time.”

Q. Can you point to a student you’ve seen profoundly benefit from the program?

A. There is one little guy who has won the Florida and Southeast Division for composing and honorable mention nationally on violin and piano. He’s eight years old. He did an infant and toddler program.

Q. What inspired Suzuki to develop his own method?

A. He believed everybody had potential, so that you weren’t born a musician or an athlete or whatever. It is primarily what you’re exposed to and how you’re nurtured. For instance, you’re not going to batter someone if they pronounce a word wrong, you just repeat it for them correctly. He believed the world would be a better place if people would be kind and loving.”

Q. How did the Suzuki method evolve?

A. (Shinichi Suzuki) said all of us have to call it our own program like Montzka Suzuki or Diedrich Suzuki because you have your own personality to inject into it. Montzka was a professor at Northern Illinois University and he went to all the elementary and middle schools during the day, and that’s how it sort of started organically.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

There are approximately 30 families in her program in St. Pete and about 150 in the greater Tampa Bay area, and she has many adult students as well. Fees are about $100 per month, which includes both private and group lessons. There will be a new web site launch in the coming weeks for Suzuki Strings St. Pete at www.suzukistringsstpete.com.

She can be reached by phone at 727-804-1488 or via email at diedrichj@aol.com.

Originally published on Patch.com in June 2011

Copyright 2011

Bikers take a break at Paciugo. Photo by Bob Deakin

ST. PETERSBURG – Toni and Carl Riche have owned and operated Paciugo Gelato & Caffe on Beach Drive in St. Petersburg since 2006. Their bright, spotless shop, with cafe tables and chairs out front, offers rich, handcrafted frozen Italian desserts.

Often there is a line out the door for such flavors as Amaretto Black Cherry Swirl, Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel or Green Tea Chocolate Chip.

Paciugo makes dozens of flavors fresh each morning, and the display area can only be properly appreciated in person. A mind-boggling array of items – some not typically associated with frozen treats, such as balsamic vinegar or violets – are used in the creations.

The tastes are amazing, as Carl was generous to offer servings as he gave the grand tour of the products and their creation on a recent morning.

The owners emphasize the ingredients that they do not use, as well as the all-natural and fresh products that are infued in their milk-based gelato and water-based sorbets. There are no artificial flavorings or preservatives in the desserts, no trans fat or corn syrup. 

Toni and Carl opened what was then the second franchise of Paciugo, which now boasts more than 40 stores around the country. Not surprisingly, the company has its roots in Italy.

Toni, originally from Melbourne, Florida, and Carl, originally from Louisiana, operate at 300 Beach Drive across from the Museum of Fine Arts, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

You may wonder why they open so early. In addition to delicious frozen desserts, they also sell strong Italian coffee. It is not unusual to see someone sipping their espresso with a dollop of gelato.

The company has 18 employees and looks forward to the future serving gelato on the bay.

Q. How has the location worked for you?

A. I love it, because you’re looking out at the bay. We’ve got a place where people can go and sit and talk, turn off the computer and have an espresso, a cappuccino, a latte, a little gelati, and just have a good afternoon, a good evening and slow down, the Italian way.

Q. Can you describe one of the flavors?

A. Here is the Three Vanilla (Tre Vaniglie). The beans come from Madagascar, Tahiti and Mexico – the best vanillas in the world. The good thing is we make it fresh here, so there’s no preservatives, no corn syrup. If you look at the label on ice cream in a grocery store, there are all these preservatives, all this junk in it. This has none of that. It’s 70 percent less butterfat, so it’s a lot more healthy for you. An average cup is about 150 calories, not a whole lot more than a Coca Cola, so it’s a lot better for you.

Q. You serve a violet gelato?

A.  The Viola is made from fresh cut Bulgarian violet petals. People either like that one or they don’t. There’s not much in between, and you don’t find it in the United States much.

Q. Can you describe the sorbets?

A. We have three sorbets today, which are fresh fruit and water-based. There are about 110 calories in a typical (3.5 oz.) cup. One is Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar sorbet and we have Mango. You can actually taste the strands of mango because it’s made with the real stuff, not just an extract.

Q. What does the business name refer to?

A. Paciugo is Italian, and it means “messy concoction.” So we make it here in the back and we make a mess.

Q. You serve coffee, too?

A. South Africa bean coffee. A South Africa bean is a little more fruity flavor and a South America bean is a little more earthy. They’re both a fruit and the fruit falls off and you’ve got the coffee bean but the way it’s grown you’ve got a little more fruity flavor with the South Africa bean and that’s what we have.

Q. What did you do before you came to St. Petersburg?

A. I started at Walmart in 1974, when there were 87 Walmart stores. I opened the very first Sam’s Club so I’m the founding father of Sam’s. I managed the first Sam’s Club, then I was the director of operations for them in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Eventually I decided to retire, and this is a fun thing. We’re happy. Toni has 51 percent and I have 49 so it’s a female-owned business.

Originally published on Patch.com in June 2011

Copyright 2011

The Gulfport Waterfront District sign in Gulfport, FL. Photo by Bob Deakin

Gulfport’s City Council heard one presentation and examined four items at its workshop on Thursday including the operation of golf carts on public roads, an amendment to the Historic Preservation Ordinance, the Waterfront Redevelopment Area entryway sign and the proposed mooring field.

For the third time in the past year the city council discussed the feasibility of allowing golf carts – or low-speed vehicles – on public roads. Early in the discussion City Attorney Associate Caitlin E. Sirico confirmed that the city of Indian Rocks Beach allows golf carts on city streets that do not exceed 25 mph, which seemed to be what many in the discussion wanted to emulate. It was golf carts crossing or driving on busier streets such as Gulfport Blvd. or its intersections with 58^th St. or 52^nd St. that most agreed was a common danger.

Driving a golf cart in downtown Gulfport was seen as a positive for the town by some, saving both natural resources and parking. It was also seen as a sign of a friendly, eclectic community open to more forms of travel and comfort.

Resident Bonnie Bray spoke in favor of legalizing golf carts on the streets.

“With the city tax base and everything else decreasing and the tax roles going down we have to develop some uniqueness for the city. We have a small little community here in the middle of a big area and the more unique our community can become the better our property values will increase. Golf carts within the city of Gulfport will keep our business within our community, within our restaurants; it will keep the community a little bit more quaint.”

She said the city of Dunedin recently legalized golf carts on the street and that members of its merchant’s association helped push the ordinance through. She claimed it would help the lack of parking in town and that insurance can be covered under homeowners policies.

The major points of debate were whether registration of the golf carts was necessary, if insurance was necessary and how much, how rules pertaining to their use would be enforced (police department or code enforcement) and whether allowing their use might open the possibility of younger or unlicensed drivers operating them on city streets.

One possibility brought up was to create a set of safety regulations for each cart such as lights, indicators, windshields, horns and seat belts, and make the owner have it inspected by the police and put an easily identifiable marker on those carts so that the police would be able to quickly identify an approved cart.

Gulfport Police Chief Robert Vincent addressed the council and admitted it would be difficult to expect his officers to write code enforcement citations during their course of duties, as opposed to traffic violations, which are part of their normal duties.

“That does bring up an issue,” Chief Vincent responded to a question from Council Member Barbara Banno as to the enforcement of citations. “It would be enforced via a code violation not a uniform traffic citation, which is a little bit more complicated procedure. We would have to change some policies in the way we do things otherwise we would never get cops to do it. For an officer to write an ordinance violation citation right now requires that they complete an offense report, that they complete an arrest report, that they complete a booking report. It’s a very complicated process. It’s not anywhere near as simple as writing a traffic ticket.”

He said that officers rarely write code enforcement violations but when they do it’s typically for a barking dog or loud music, and that they have to file a long list of reports.

“I think that Gulfport could use a golf cart ordinance,” Vice Mayor David Hastings suggested. “I’m not in favor of this [one]. It does have some of the features in here that I would like to see as required equipment but it does lack, I think, the specifics.”

He mentioned light levels and that he wasn’t in favor of allowing carts at night. Living in the Pasadena Yacht & County Club he noted that it does have a golf cart ordinance and that teenagers will sometimes pile on the carts at night and create dangerous situations for themselves and automobile drivers. He also said he would be in favor of allowing golf carts in the downtown Beach Blvd. area.

“I think we definitely need to stay away from 58^th and 22^nd,. That is not a place to allow a crossing,” he stressed. “I would think that we would want to require, for everybody’s concern, that a golf cart would have to be insured with a minimum amount of liability to protect all.”

Council Member Sam Henderson also suggested minimum liability insurance, as well as licensed drivers only, for golf cart operators on the streets of Gulfport.

Ultimately, City Manager O’Reilly agreed to write a new ordinance stating specific requirements for the carts and where they can travel. The council will vote to approve or deny that ordinance at a later date.

*****

Mike Meidel, Director of Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) spoke to the council to make them aware of the services that it provides including consulting, education and assistance with small business loans.

One of the points he made was that Gulfport may be able to qualify for a Brownfield grant to help develop areas around 49^th St. that may have been contaminated by hazardous materials. He suggested that the city may take advantage of working with bordering St. Petersburg to apply for such grants and that designating an entire corridor as a Brownfield may be beneficial in qualifying for a grant.

“Over time if the areas are lopsided in development it drags down the development of the entire neighborhood,” Mr. Meidel said, referring to the 49^th St. area.

*****

Community Development Director Fred Metcalf announced to the council that the Waterfront Redevelopment Advisory Board (WRAB) is looking at prices and ideas for a new sign at the entryway to the Waterfront Redevelopment Area at the intersection of Gulfport Blvd. and Beach Blvd.

“It’s a nice sign but it might need a little work,” Mr. Metcalf said of the existing blue and white “Gulfport Waterfront District” sign set into a flower garden for Gulfport Blvd. traffic to see. He and others at the meeting admitted that they barely notice the sign when driving because of the concentration needed to drive at that point of the road.

He said WRAB members would like to incorporate sailboats and a regatta theme into the new sign and for it to be artistically tasteful to reflect the art district. He presented an architectural drawing of a concept of a new sign structure about 20 feet in diameter featuring three sails labeled with the attractions of the city within a water fountain.

Mr. Metcalf said WRAB was hoping to keep the cost of the entire structure within the $25,000 to $30,000 range. They came up with an initial estimate of $1,500 for construction drawings before unveiling a final concept. Since WRAB is under the auspices of the council, council members would have to authorize the project.

He said WRAB has $11,000 in its capital budget to help pay for the sign but it was not stated where the rest of the funds would come from to pay for the project. No further discussion followed about the next step to bid for drawings or to settle on a final artistic plan for a sign. WRAB will approach the council at a later date with an update on its plans.

Originally published on Patch.com in May 2011

Copyright 2011

Engineer Andy Nicholson gives a walk through of the Gulfport mooring field plan. Photo by Bob Deakin

With the go ahead from the Gulfport City Council, City Manager James O’Reilly will move forward with the permitting process for a mooring field in Boca Ciega Bay. Following a long discussion, Mr. O’Reilly agreed to proceed with the process at a cost of approximately $25,000 to the city.

The mooring field proposal has been discussed and debated at several meetings the past two months with much public input at the meetings, most speaking in favor of it. The city first began the permitting process with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) several years ago and as part of the process the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers would grant approval or denial as well.

Five residents spoke in favor of the mooring field proposal at Thursday’s workshop including former vice-mayor Bob Worthington.

“I applaud the council for bringing that back. It’s been something that’s been very necessary for Gulfport and the control of our environment along the beach and in the bay,” he said, connecting a mooring field with better enforcement of boating regulations. “I think the good boaters of this area also applaud you because it takes away from a lot of their monies that would be going to boating projects. When one of these [derelict] boats has to be removed it takes boating money away and it takes our marina money away and that hurts all good boaters.”

Resident Al Davis encouraged the council to see an active mooring field for themselves in order to make their decision and not base it on the advice of others.

“Whatever your decision is please base it on fact, and consider the economics and consider the best for Gulfport, not just the warm noses that are in the room at the time of the decision.”

Council Member Jennifer Salmon asked to have a walk-through of the map of the footprint of the field in relation to the public beach.

Andy Nicholson, consulting engineer of the mooring field project, pointed to the map and explained that distances between the field and the beach range from 590′ to 642′ to 686′ at various points on the west side closest to the Casino.

“We are putting perimeter buoys here to control the traffic and provide a bigger protection area,” Mr. Nicholson said, pointing to the eastern side of the Casino pier. “This is all going to be a very slow speed area and this is all a safe zone for critters. Although there’s not a large activity of the mammals (manatees) here we’re still giving them an extra level of protection they don’t have today.”

Mr. O’Reilly pointed out that the distances are important as it is a designated manatee habitat and that after four attempts in the past seven years the permitting process must move forward in order to see if the mooring field can in fact be approved by the various agencies.

“Not to be blunt with you, but we’re here,” he said. “We’re here for the fourth time, and I’d like to poll you and ask you if that’s something you’d like to move forward [with].”

Mayor Michael Yakes noted that the footprint of the mooring field plans have been moved west over the years to accommodate an acceptable location, to be sensitive to the environment and considerate of access to the business district.

“It has been around a long time, I think we’ve got to do what you said,” Mayor Yakes agreed. “Let’s do this.”

“I agree,” said Council Member Barbara Banno, confirming that Mr. O’Reilly wishes to move forward with the current proposal rather than continue to debate it or make adjustments. “I think it’s a step in the right direction. I think it’s good for the community… I think it kind of puts us on the map a little bit.”

“Let us go to the FDEP because I think what would happen is, I think we’d get bound up in the what if? That’s what I would rather not do,” Mr. O’Reilly responded. “If we get caught in the what ifs, we could be redesigning [the project] completely. I think we need to be able to just go use our best judgment as a staff. They’ll come back and you’ll either accept their permit if they offer you one or you won’t.”

Vice Mayor David Hastings asked for confirmation that $25,000 is the estimate to get the project to the point of an approval or denial with the FDEP and Mr. O’Reilly confirmed it was.

“I’m willing to front that money because I think the ultimate goal if we could end up with something like that, would be a positive for the city,” Mr. Hastings said.

“I’ll probably be the oddball out, and I do think that mooring fields are environmentally friendly,” said Council Member Sam Henderson, satisfied with the layout and the aesthetics of the plan. “My issue is economics in a year we’re talking about who are we going to lay off, we’re talking about raising utility rates… It seems like a luxury item and I don’t think it’s a good time to do it. That’s my personal opinion.”

At that point Mayor Yakes concluded the discussion with a majority in agreement to allow the city manager to proceed with the permitting process with the FDEP at a cost of $25,000 taken from the Gulfport Marina Fund.

Originally published on Patch.com in May 2011

Copyright 2011

The outdoor seating area of Yummy's at the entrance of the Art Village in Gulfport, FL. Photo by Bob Deakin

Visitors to Gulfport’s Art Village have become used to Yummy’s, the three year-old luncheonette in the colorful 86 year-old bungalow in the center of the courtyard, known for its all-American treats and setting.

Lori Luczak purchased Yummy’s last October from original owners Bonnie and Richard Reale after being a loyal customer since the restaurant opened. She had experience in the restaurant industry but wasn’t planning on returning to the business until she walked into the Reale’s establishment.

“I fell in love with it the minute I walked in and I’ve always wanted to do something like this,” Luczak says.

She became a regular customer and got along well with the owners as she settled in as a new Gulfport resident not long ago.

“As I kept coming in Rich and Bonnie and I became good friends. He was going to retire and was ready to sell and he sold it to me. After about a month of retirement he couldn’t stand it any more,” she says with a laugh.

Mr. Reale came back to work at the store part-time and will operate its new trailer – “Bringing Yummy’s to Your Tummys!” – this summer at fairs and other events throughout the area. The flashy new trailer is currently parked in front of the store in preparation for Memorial Day weekend events as it is loaded with supplies for its maiden voyage.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Luczak’s route to Gulfport was a long one in more ways than one. A few years ago living in Orlando she suffered serious injuries to her neck, shoulder and arm in an accident and went through several surgeries followed by a long recuperation period.

“I came to Gulfport because I knew for two years I’d be tied up with the surgeries and the healing,” she remembers. “Instead of being in Orlando where I couldn’t really get around with my neck brace on I came to Gulfport just to get some fresh air and be able to walk down to the beach.”

She also wasn’t able to drive and enjoyed Gulfport’s small and vibrant downtown atmosphere.

“I’d be walking back and forth to the beach and Yummy’s was one of the places I’d stop at and that was basically it. I just fell in love with it. It was a good place to be at a time of healing. That’s how I ended up here.”

Chicago-style hot dogs are the signature item at Yummy’s and Vienna Beef dogs, Gonnella French rolls, sport peppers and other ingredients are shipped straight from Chicago. The Italian Beef Sandwich is another popular item on the menu and is built of sliced roast beef dipped in a natural gravy on toasted Gonnella, also served with hot peppers and onions.

Corn dogs, veggie dogs, turkey dogs and chili dogs are also staples on the menu as well as a beef and sausage combo, meatball sub, Polish sausage on a roll, pizza bread and soups. Sandwiches include the classic grilled pastrami on rye with Swiss and mustard, the Reuben, the Dagwood (turkey, ham and roast beef) and a host of others. Lighter items include the “veggie pita” or wrap, salads and a kids menu.

Homemade chili comes in cups, bowls and even quarts and is from a recipe originally created by Richard Reale’s grandmother. He opened the first Yummy’s in Alabama a few years ago but the Gulfport location is the only one that remains.

Hershey’s Ice Cream is a customer favorite at Yummy’s and tough to keep on the shelves. It comes in 21 flavors in a cup or cone as well as in sundaes and milk shakes.

Yummy’s now opens for breakfast seven days a week and has also added beer and wine to the menu. The deceptively large interior of the store has undergone a complete color scheme change to brighter shades throughout, reflecting the Vienna Beef and Hershey’s brands. It will undergo a few more minor renovations to cater to the beer and wine customers on one end of the store but will remain mostly the same as it now appears.

Music is usually playing inside and out and the atmosphere is decidedly casual with indoor and outdoor seating, customers in flip flops and pets tagging along for the trip.

Yummy’s is open from 8 am to 7 pm Monday through Thursday, until 9 pm Friday and Saturday and until 5 pm on Sundays. It is a member of the Gulfport Merchant’s Association and the Chamber of Commerce. Call 727-321-9869 to arrange an event at the store or visit Yummy’s Facebook page.

Yummy’s Slideshow

Originally published on Patch.com in May 2011

Copyright 2011

Coney Island Grill owner Hank Barlas. His father opened the business in 1926. Photo by Bob Deakin

ST. PETERSBURG – Old St. Petersburg still exists at the Coney Island Grill, at 250 Dr Martin Luther King St. North.

This St. Pete institution was opened in 1926 by Peter Barlas, a Greek immigrant, who opened the restaurant after several attempts to settle in the Northeast.

He charged a nickel for a hot dog. Chili dogs were the signature item on the menu.

Not much has changed over the years. Coney Island Grille is now run by Hank Barlas, Peter’s son, who was born nine years after the restaurant opened.

Hank comes in every morning to set up shop and handle the food preparation.

Coney Island Grill opened at a different location downtown, and moved to its current spot in 1950.

Hank’s brother, George, was a co-owner until he passed away several years ago; Hank’s son, Peter, will soon take a share of the ownership.

The grill.

Chili dog with mustard and onions reign supreme (just don’t ask for catsup). The chili is made from a recipe developed by Hank’s father; it remains a well-kept family secret.

Other favorites are the cheeseburger, chili burger and of course the shakes. The restaurant takes its name from New York’s Coney Island, home of Nathan’s Famous, a favorite of Hank’s father when he first came to the United States.

One step into the restaurant is a step into the past, with classic diner booths with old photos of ballparks, movie stars and icons. Another tribute to the past is the current menu prices. A chili dog sells for $1.72, a hamburger deluxe for $2.92, grilled ham & cheese sandwich for $3.64 and shakes for $3.

Of the eight employees, Jerry Lovely (or Jerry R. Lovely, I are not as Hank refers to him) has been there the longest with 30 years of service. Most have been there 20 years or more. Coney Island Grill is open from 10 am to 6:30 pm Monday through Friday, Saturday 10 am to 3:30 pm. and closed on Sundays.

Q. What’s kept Coney Island Grill in business for so long?

A. We have customers who’ve been coming in here since they were kids and as a matter of fact we had one who died just a couple months ago who’d been coming in here since 1926. We’ve also got another one whose been coming here that long too. He doesn’t come that often because the problem is people that age can’t eat this kind of food anymore, like me, I’m having trouble with it but I love it, that’s the killer.

Q. Do any of the baseball players from the past or present ever come in?

A. Don Zimmer comes in all the time. He’s not supposed to be eating here either but he’s been coming in. Last year he was taking [the chili dogs] to [Rays Manager Joe] Madden but I don’t know that he still is or not. Madden’s wife might have put him on a stricter diet, who knows. Mel Torme was in one time and one of our former governors was a customer too.

Q: Why is there a five cent charge for catsup?

A: Because it ruins my chili.

Q. Any truth to the rumor that your waitresses don’t hesitate to put customers in their place?

A. Oh yeah, but they’re mostly gone by now. I liked it. The customers seemed to like it too. I had one waitress who used to say to a guy as he was ordering, ‘shut up, sit down and eat what I put in front of you’ and give him the same thing he always ate. People are different now, much more sensitive. Even more than they were eight or nine years ago.”

Q: Have there been any notable incidents in the restaurant’s history?

A. There are so many. The reason we don’t have French fries is that the deep fryer caught on fire one time with my dad and he through it out the door – after he got the fire out of course – and we haven’t had fries since.

Q. hat are some significant changes you’ve seen over the years?

A. When we opened this place hot dogs were a nickel and you could buy 20 of them for a dollar. A brand new automobile was about $395 too.

Q. How has the location changed?

A. It’s not in the central area anymore. In the old days the Festival of States Parade used to come straight up 9^th Street here right by the store. Central Avenue between 4^th and 9^th was pretty much the center of town and that’s changed a lot. We’ve still got people coming in bringing their grand kids and great grand kids in. Sometimes you have four generations sitting at two tables over there.

Originally published on Patch.com in May 2011

Copyright 2011

Vice-Mayor David Hastings accepts check on behalf of Gulfport from Darby Dickerson of Stetson University. Photo by Bob Deakin

The Gulfport City Council Tuesday night unanimously approved an ordinance granting the renewal of a non-exclusive franchise agreement with Peoples Gas, a division of TECO Energy of Tampa, for the provision of natural gas in Gulfport.

Resident Al Davis pointed out that some residents have resorted to propane because natural gas lines do not run to their homes and asked if the agreement would make provisions for added availability of natural gas. Leroy Sullivan, a representative of Peoples Gas, confirmed that the gas mains do not extend everywhere in the city and to add service, those residents would have to share the installation expense with Peoples Gas.

“I’d like to say that Natural gas is available to anyone who wants it, it’s just a matter of what are you willing to pay for it,” Mr. Sullivan explained, including that once installed, natural gas costs significantly less than other forms of energy.

He was asked what percentage of the city is served with natural gas but was unable to to provide that number at the time. He also said that the company does not publicly provide a schematic of where the mains run in the city as it becomes a competitive issue with other energy providers. He confirmed that if a cluster of residents wanted to band together to share installation costs that the company would be willing to work out an agreement and that it is always eager to extend itself to new customers.

Vice-Mayor David Hastings, acting in place of Mayor Michael Yakes, who was absent from the meeting, confirmed that Peoples Gas is the only natural gas company that submitted a bid to the City of Gulfport.

*****

Public Works Director Don Sopak reported that sanitation pickups have increased in recent weeks in response to resident call-ins and concerns as well as seasonal increases as a result of snowbirds cleaning up in advance of the annual migration north.

“Last April was actually our record month for picking up special pickups and brush piles and debris,” he said. “A lot of those are initiated by code enforcement and a lot of them are called in to public works and probably the majority of them are never called in.”

In one week of April this year public works made a record 125 special pickups. It averages about 250 pickups per month but made 405 special pickups for the entire month of April according to Mr. Sopak. He said the March storms and foreclosures added to the debris and that crews have been working weekends to make up for the added pickups.

“We’ve been very active trying to get stuff off the road and I think it’s just a seasonal type thing that’s going to transition back.”

*****

The council unanimously approved the amendment of an ordinance authorizing residents to hold six 3-day garage sales each year.

Resident Margarete Tober asked the council if the city planned on enforcing the ordinance, pointing out that the code enforcement officer does not work on weekends when most garage sales take place. She said she believed that the current ordinance is not being enforced and urged to council to see that it is or “do away with the rule.”

City manager James O’Reilly explained that the city issues color-coded permits for garage sales to residents so the police can easily confirm if they stop at a garage sale to check. The permits can be issued and printed online or picked up at City Hall and must be visible from the street during the sale.

*****

In other news Council Member Jennifer Salmon announced that a database of at-risk boats will be available through a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) program. She said the database is used by FWC in concert with local police departments to help prevent at-risk boats from becoming derelict, necessitating an expensive removal.

Vice-Mayor Hastings pointed out that part of the program is to get at-risk boats back into compliance before they become derelict and are then defined as a criminal act on the part of the owner. He said at one point the state had $980,000 allocated for the removal of derelict boats but because of bureaucracy it removed only 83 vessels.

*****

The council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a five-year submerged land lease agreement with the board of trustees of Florida’s Internal Improvement Trust Fund. It will renew an ongoing, no-charge lease for the City of Gulfport to maintain its properties at Williams Pier and the Casino dock.

In response to a question from Al Davis, City Manager James O’Reilly and City Attorney Andrew Salzman confirmed that commercial activity is not permitted on either of the docks but would check the laws to confirm how “commercial activity upstream” is defined in the agreement in order to ensure compliance with the state. The lease is retroactive to 2010 and the city manager confirmed that the paperwork was submitted to the state nine months ago and finally returned last week.

*****

At the beginning of the meeting Darby Dickerson, Vice President, Dean and Professor of Law at Stetson University, presented a check for $7,500 to the City of Gulfport to help pay for its July 4 fireworks display.

*****

Resident Lisa Powers then spoke to the council saying she had heard of Council Member Barbara Banno’s recent suggestion to consider a permanent stage near the recreation area of the public beach. Ms. Powers briefly explained her extensive experience in the theater, urged the council to consider building a stage and said she would be more than willing to offer her services for the staging of any events should the city follow through with it.

“I miss that outdoor free theater, family oriented, low budget [venue] and I think that would be a great use if you did get that permanent stage or even if you didn’t get the stage,” she said. “If the city wanted to support something like that I would be happy to [help]. It’s something I would be very interested in.”

She submitted her resume to the town following her comments. The council has taken no action or had further discussion about a stage since the initial suggestion.

Originally published on Patch.com in May 2011

Coyright 2011

A great menu, sunny weather, waterfront location and outdoor seating have O’Maddy’s Bar & Grille on pace for a record year in 2011. The Shore Blvd. restaurant has been around for more than 20 years and is now entrenched as a Gulfport landmark.

Joe Guenther is the general manager and his wife Maddy is the owner. He explained that many years ago she wanted to open an Irish pub so she simply put an ‘O’ in front of her name and went into business. That was 1989 and the location had been in her family for years before that. One side of the building was formerly a snack bar and a gas station stood at the the corner building.

“Business is very good,” Guenther says. “We’re on track for a record year this year. January wasn’t so great, we had a really good February and a record March and a record April.”

Good weather usually means good business at O’Maddy’s, perched at the end of Williams Pier in prime real estate for visiting boaters and tourists. A few years ago the owners decided to take better advantage of the location and take down the walls on the corner of the building.

“This building used to be all enclosed,” he says of the exposed side of the building. “We were open and operational but when we knocked the building down and opened it all up it made a night and day difference in the amount of volume that we do because of the view.”

There’s a dinghy dock and five boat slips off The Casino pier providing a destination for boaters to make their way across Boca Ciega Bay to O’Maddy’s. Guenther warns that the waters are rough for power boaters but that most boaters are careful and responsible.

“We get a lot of business from the boating community as a whole for sure,” he says. “We get a lot of people off the water, Stetson College students, people from Town Shores, Pasadena Yacht & Country Club; a little of a mix of everything.”

The signature menu item at O’Maddy’s is the “Famous Beef on Weck – The RBK!!!” as it is listed on the menu. It is a thin sliced London port roast beef on a Kimmelweck roll with au jus and horseradish. The Kimmelweck – sometimes spelled Kummelweck – is similar to a Kaiser roll and comes from an old German recipe later made famous in Buffalo, New York. It is baked with kosher salt and caraway seeds on top, distinctively rich in flavor and texture.

“If you go to Buffalo, roast beef on Kimmelweck is everywhere up there,” Guenther says. “It’s one of the most popular sandwiches in Buffalo today. My grandfather was the very first person to serve that sandwich in Buffalo. That’s where that sandwich originated from but he brought it over from Germany.”

Popular in Gulfport too, O’Maddy’s sells about a thousand RBKs each month.

The menu is huge. Chef Wade Parrish has loaded it with a wide array of appetizers, salads, pastas, steaks, pork, chicken and seafood as well as sandwiches, vegetarian dishes and a kids menu.

Another staple is Bubba’s Buffalo Chicken Dip in honor of local radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge. It’s a chicken wing on a chip, originated by Bubba himself. As for drinks, O’Maddy’s serves a “Bo-Tikitini” in honor of Maddy Guenther’s “Bo-Tiki” store in Gulfport. It includes Smirnoff Blueberry Twist vodka, Triple Sec, cranberry, lime juice and simple syrup.

Maddy Guenther is a Gulfport native and Joe is originally from Connecticut but grew up in Sarasota. Both have been long been active in town, involved with organizations such as the Waterfront Redevelopment Advisory Board, Gulfport Merchant’s Association and the Chamber of Commerce.

Most of the restaurant staff of about 30 have been with them for a long time and it’s a cheerful place to be, as evidenced by the smiling faces during the bustle of activity on a recent morning as they all prepared for the lunchtime rush. Joe Guenther likes the casual atmosphere and assures it’s is a fun place to work.

“Absolutely. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he says. “The view, the location and the great people. The mix of the crowd that we have that comes in here is sometimes amazing. It’s a diverse community for sure and absolutely a lot of fun.”

As for the future, O’Maddy’s may expand to a second floor over both sections of the existing structure.

“That’s been a goal of ours for a while,” Guenther confirmed. “Before we bought this property we had plans drawn to build a second story and we got approved. Then the opportunity came up to buy this property and we ended up buying it and kind of going sideways instead of up but that’s still our long term goal.”

O’Maddy’s is open from 8 am to 3 am every day (Sunday at 11 am) and can be reached at 727-323-8643 or via its Facebook page.

O’Maddy’s Slide Show

Originally published on Patch.com in May 2011

Copyright 2011

Members of the City Council of Gulfport, Florida.

The Gulfport City Council received two stern criticisms from residents at Tuesday’s meeting regarding garbage left out for pickup at homes throughout town. Residents Doug Hudson and Mike Schnippering each admonished the town for allowing residents to leave excessively large items and brush at their curbs as well as leaving it out too far in advance of the scheduled pickup dates each week.

Each expressed regret that they had to publicly speak to the council but felt the issue should have previously been addressed by the sanitation department or other city employees. They felt that the appearance of trash at the curbside is an eyesore for the entire town and suggested ways to deal with the issue.

“In general people put them out on Monday mornings and if they’re lucky they’ll be back in on Wednesday and they’ll do the same procedure again: Thursday morning garbage out, Friday, Saturday back in,” Mr. Schnippering attested. “So basically six days of the week we’re looking at garbage.”

He also claims people are putting out sofas, mattresses and other large items not knowing whether the sanitation trucks are permitted to pick them up or not, and if so, when.

“There could be a solution in my opinion that people need to be more educated, people maybe need to be fined if they actually do not follow the rules,” he said. He proposed that perhaps a sticker could be put on the garbage cans explaining the rules in order to protect the curb appeal of the city.

Mr. Hudson said he has been notifying the city of the issue via online forums but felt compelled to finally approach the council in person.

“The current condition is unacceptable,” he said. “When we moved here in 2003 we were instantly impressed by Gulfport’s character and charm. Now when I look around I see unkempt yards, impassible sidewalks due to overgrown trees, illegal handyman and discount rental and ‘for sale’ signs and piles of garbage and trash that go uncollected for weeks.”

He criticized the city for not replacing a code enforcement officer absent on medical leave, describing it as “disgraceful.”

“As a responsible citizen I call in for a special pickup when needed and it’s quickly taken care of but what about the residents who are not responsible citizens?” he asked. “Do their neighbors have to suffer week after week? Is it the neighbor’s responsibility to notify the Public Works Department and make sure the ordinances are enforced? What about the employees who ride past these piles of trash while making their scheduled rounds?”

He suggested citing or fining the property owners and that it should be an “easy fix.” He also urged the council to require garbage collectors to notify the town when violations occur.

“The responsible parties should be billed and the added revenue would certainly help to pay for any additional expenses,” he said. “Second, we need to get this city under control. If the goal is to beautify the city then we should implement free days where anything left out will be picked up at no charge.”

Following the two public comments Gulfport Mayor Michael Yakes recommended that the city manager make recommendations to the council for future discussion. Later in the meeting Council Member Jennifer Salmon asked City Manager James O’Reilly to explain what could be done to address the issue.

“We are looking at expanding our pickups and mechanisms to make it available more often,” Mr. O’Reilly said, explaining that budgetary constraints are partly responsible for not being able to enforce the ordinances or better address problems that come up. He said he hopes to propose a solution to the problem as the new budget is discussed in the coming months.

Mayor Yakes later said the public works department did a one-time clean up of the right-of-ways in 2006, which was effective.

“We need to lead by example when we use the words ‘curb appeal’ and ‘right-of-ways’ and we can do better,” Mayor Yakes said. “I’m surprised that it has come to a neglect [issue] but we need to work together and take care of that.”

He asked the city manager to implement a right-of-way cleanup as soon as possible dealing with the worst areas first.

“We do a one-time cleanup and see how it goes or maybe we implement a once a month cleanup. I think that’s important and I know everything comes down to money and cutbacks, there’s no doubt about it, it costs, but sometimes you can’t afford not to.”

He finished by saying that the city cannot let evictions and foreclosures have a negative effect on property values and suggested that garbage cans residents use could be upgraded to a standardized type for a fee for more durable storage.

“We’re looking at the possibility of an eighteen percent increase (Public Works budget) somewhere down the line and I think that we can look at stepping it up a notch on our quality of service,” Mayor Yakes finished.

Originally published on Patch.com in May 2011

Copyright 2011

The view from the Casino dock in Gulfport, FL. Photo by Bob Deakin

The Gulfport City Council has revisited discussion of a proposed mooring field in its waterfront area. Gulfport Harbormaster Denis Frain gave a presentation to the council Tuesday night describing the proposal as an environmentally-friendly means to help enforce the laws of boats moored in the bay.

The proposal he presented calls for a maximum of 50 moorings with the north end beginning 305 feet south of the end of the Casino dock out 965 feet further south. The eastern boundary would be directionally at the city’s first easement east of Veterans Park with the west boundary line directionally from the public beach.

City Manager James O’Reilly ultimately recommended 25 moorings and added when the prospect of a mooring field was first proposed in 2004 it was for 100 moorings but with the economy and other concerns he felt a recommendation of 25 is a more workable number.

The buoys would be aligned similar to a parking lot with spaces large enough for 45 to 60-foot boats. The proposal calls for an auger mooring system screwed into the sea floor with floats in the middle and top to keep the line straight and off the bottom. Mr. Frain stated that there is no sea grass in the area of the proposed mooring field, which has been an environmental concern over the years.

“Boaters are discovering Gulfport every day,” Mr. Frain said in his presentation. “What they found out, just like we all did, is that Gulfport was a charming town with water access to public beach, restaurants, grocery stores and of course our pubs. What some of our boaters didn’t know was that our bay is a sand/mud mix, and that traditional long term anchoring accompanied with a lack of maintenance is not going to hold a vessel in inclimate weather for even an afternoon thunderstorm.”

He explained that as a result, abandoned and abused boats have ended up strewn about the bay “with very few laws on the books to deal with the problem.” He also noted that Gulfport’s harbor is within a mile of the Intracoastal Waterway, making it an enticing stop for water vessels passing through.

“The staff couldn’t find any environmental impacts,” he said of his employees research in planning the current proposal. “There was no sea grass and there was adequate depth of the water.”

The state would require an upgrade of the city’s facilities including the restrooms and laundry area at the marina to accommodate patrons of the marina and those on the additional boats in the mooring field. It would also require a pump out vessel for waste removal from the boats to the town’s sewer system.

“I used to tell my staff that we’re fast becoming a destination for all kinds of cruising boaters, which include boating clubs, loopers and weekenders,” Mr. Frain said. “I can tell you here tonight that we have become that destination. Embrace them. We have visiting vessels from all over our great ocean and even other continents.”

The cost to the city of Gulfport would be approximately $1,250 per mooring (25 moorings) plus $20,000 to $25,000 for permits for a total of approximately $55,000. Drill tests must also be performed to ensure that the moorings would hold. The city had previously begun the permitting process with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, suspended the applications and will now reinstate the process.

Council Member Jennifer Salmon said she was opposed to the proposal several years ago because of environmental concerns for the sea grass and manatees but would be willing to consider it this time in a council workshop session. She added that she has since learned sea grass would not be present below the location.

“It’s a very different kind of project than [what was presented] several years ago,” she said. “As long as we’re willing to be more flexible, keep it contained and have it be something that really protects the environment in terms of the sea bottom…”

Council Member Sam Henderson also had environmental concerns and said he has a lot of questions about the proposal for the workshop, particularly in regards to funding.

“I have no doubt that this is the environmentally sound thing to do and I really appreciated you taking me for a ride to see what kind of boundaries we need to look at from the water side of it,” Mr. Henderson said to Mr. Frain.

Gulfport resident Lee Stapella and several others at the meeting suggested making a visit to the Vero Beach Mooring Field to see first-hand evidence of a long-running mooring field, a suggestion seconded by resident Al Davis.

“The opportunity to see that I think is crucial to this decision whether you’re for it or against it,” Mr. Davis stated. He later brought up abandoned and deteriorated boats.

“The mooring field allows you to essentially upgrade the neighborhood. It should not be used as a means to keep people off the water.” He also suggested 25 moorings is too few for the amount spent on the project.

A resident with shoreline property near Williams Park spoke in favor of a mooring field reasoning it would be beneficial to Gulfport economically by drawing in money that would pay for the expenditures.

One of the scenarios that is most harmful to the sea floor, the resident said, is derelict boats and the mess they cause when eventually removed, creating a gully in the sea floor.

“It’s a disaster,” he said. “I think there’s eight of them [out there] but there’s three right where I’m at.”

There was no discussion of fees charged per mooring per day. By comparison, the Vero Beach Mooring Field fee is $11 per day per buoy with $1 for showers. Much larger fees are charged for a variety of other services such as anchors and installation.

Council members will discuss the mooring field proposal at the City Council Workshop on May 26 at 3 p.m. at Gulfport City Hall.

Originally published on Patch.com in April 2011

Copyright 2011

Greg Jones of St. Petersburg was a pre-med student following a stint in the U.S. Army when he decided to pursue acupuncture as a profession.

Subsequent years of practice witnessed too many cases of patients who couldn’t afford the treatment, so he chose to go on his own to make it accessible and affordable.

St. Pete Community Acupuncture in downtown St. Petersburg is the realization of that dream.

Jones earned a degree in biology at Syracuse University, graduated from the Florida Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is licensed as an Acupuncture Physician in the state of Florida.

He operates his business in a small clinic on 18th Street, and in just two years has seen it grow by word of mouth, as more people see acupuncture as a way to restore balance and health.

Jones, who lives in St. Petersburg with his wife and young child, chose the location for convenience – close to downtown to the west – and is adamant about making acupuncture affordable to people without insurance.

He talked with Patch about his career and passion.

Q: What does acupuncture accomplish that other treatments may not?

A. There is energy that we call Qi (pronounced “chi”) that runs through the body. When everything is running in balance and unimpeded then we’re healthy. When there’s blockage of that energy flow or one of the organ systems is out of balance with another then we get symptoms of disease. Acupuncture helps restore balance and restore the flow of energy through the body.

Q: What is the most common misconception about acupuncture?

A. I guess the biggest misconception is everybody’s afraid of the needles. In truth it’s nothing like getting a shot. The acupuncture needles aren’t like traditional needles from a western medical point of view. The other misconception is that acupuncture is extremely expensive and we’re trying to change that. For most of its history acupuncture has been a peasant medicine and it’s been valuable because it’s been accessible to the public, whereas [western medicine] has made it more expensive and made it a commodity.

Q: How long is a treatment?

A. It’s a process. I usually ask people to allow four treatments and we should then be noticing things going in the right direction. The average plan for an uncomplicated problem would be about six to twelve treatments. If we can get people relaxed and comfortable for a while everything else tends to fall into place.

Q: Who benefits the most?

A. People who are in a lot of pain and need to get back to work or just need to feel better. People who are going through a lot of stressful times and have things like digestive issues, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches, things like that. I’ve also had a lot of allergy patients recently.

Q: What is your goal for the business?

A. To [eventually] be open 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week with more acupuncturists and really be the place to go for acupuncture. I want people to come here instead of taking medication, instead of self-medicating with alcohol or drugs, to come here and feel better.

Q: Can you describe the inspiration to open your own clinic?

A. The whole change in my paradigm shift came when I started seeing people that couldn’t afford acupuncture. It’s [typically] priced toward the upper-middle class and that’s not where I’m from. I’ve been doing it a long time, and I know it works; it just needs to be accessible and that’s what this clinic is about.

Driving down the road the other day I passed a bus stop with four people waiting, craning their necks looking up the road to see the bus on its way. They each had angst written on their faces and did not look like they wanted to be there. Just then I thought to myself; “have I ever seen anyone smile at a bus stop?”

The answer was no, and I didn’t feel good for having the thought but I knew I was right. Why don’t people look happy at bus stops? I realize they don’t have a ride to where they want to go or perhaps are unable to drive. It happens to everyone at one time or another and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

I took the bus a few months ago when my car was being repaired and the ride itself was interesting. It was nice to be able to do some reading and organizing while on the road and there was a certain freedom in not having a car once I was at my destination. It was also pretty cheap, just over a dollar for a ride all the way across town.

There were a lot of stops though. Stands to reason, of course, as it’s a vehicle for hundreds of people, all going to different places at different times. It wasn’t as bad as the Metro-North train to and from New York City though, regarding the stops. On the train it seems to take hours between stops and it’s a lot more long-term for everyone involved. They’re carrying more stuff, have bigger plans and they can’t just hop off and on like with the bus.

It seems a bit quieter on the bus too. People typically travel alone or with only a companion or two at the most. The critically important cell phone calls that everyone needs to make every ten minutes of their lives aren’t quite as prevalent either as quarters are tighter, the ride is shorter and riders don’t get as comfortable as they do on the train. I didn’t strike up a conversation with anyone on the bus. Since they all looked so unhappy at the stops I didn’t want to bother them or make their days any worse than they already were.

One thing that was fun was the electronic sign at the front of the bus, inside, announcing the coming destination with a little ping sound and the sign blinking as the bus slowed to a stop. It seemed an awful lot of resources to announce the arrival of CVS. It would have been a lot more fun and personal if the bus driver had announced it, especially if he had a real thick New York accent like they do on Metro-North. It was equally amusing when the bus was arriving – those at the stop see “Good Afternoon” on the electronic sign on the outside of the bus. It was all so friendly yet so impersonal.

Following my sojourn into public transportation I realized that the wait at the bus stop was pretty uncomfortable considering sitting or standing at the side of the road in front of hundreds of passing cars. It’s also awkward waiting with a total stranger who appears to be very unhappy. Add some cold or rainy weather and that creates added gloom in an awkward place. Now that I think of it, I probably wasn’t smiling either.

If it’s economical travel you’re looking for, taking the bus isn’t so bad after all.

The waiting is the hardest part.

Originally published on Patch.com in April 2011

Copyright 2011

Political analyst Dr. Susan MacManus at the University of South Florida (Sarasota-Manatee) Selby Auditorium in Sarasota. Photo by Bob Deakin

Florida residents are extremely concerned about the lack of jobs, financial stress created by the bad economy and fiscal barriers in maintaining businesses. These and other concerns were made abundantly clear in Leadership Florida’s 2011 Sunshine State Survey, presented and interpreted Tuesday by political analyst Dr. Susan MacManus at the University of South Florida (Sarasota-Manatee) Selby Auditorium in Sarasota.

Dr. MacManus, Distinguished Professor of Public Administration and Political Science at USF, was quick to point out that unlike many polls taken of much smaller samplings of residents, the Leadership Florida poll, conducted by The Nielsen Company, gives a more thorough and representational reading of the public pulse in regards to economic and political issues.

“I can’t tell you how many bad surveys are out there,” Dr. MacManus stated, “that have sample sizes of three or four or five hundred… Of course the timing is to get the analysis to the legislators and the new governor before the session begins, so they have all seen it.”

Florida is still the number one bell-weather state in politics, Dr. MacManus assured, owing to its size, ethnic and economic diversity, and it will continue to be the key state monitored in future elections.

The first survey question she discussed was, what is the single biggest threat to Florida’s economy? The top five answers on the survey were as follows: 

1. Taxes
2. Loss of jobs
3. Home foreclosures
4. Citizens leaving the state
5. Industry leaving the state

When the survey was conducted, she said, Florida was number two in the U.S. in unemployment rates and is still in the top five. As for foreclosures she noted it was number four in January and is now number two.

“When you have economic anxiety in a population it colors every single dimension in people’s evaluations of government and business and nonprofits and every other institution that we have in this country,” she said.

Is Florida is a better place to live than it was five years ago? Is another survey question?

“It’s not a pretty picture,” Dr. MacManus said. “People who have lived here at least five years think that the state has gotten a lot worse as a place to live and the quality of life.”

She reasoned that a good sign of conditions is if people stay in the area, and while subsequent questions reflect a negative outlook for the state, opinions of Florida’s quality of life have improved slightly in the previous years, which she sees as a “glimmer of hope.”

Are you seriously considering moving out of the state? Was also asked on the survey.

“Obviously this is something that policy makers are very interested in is how much bleeding is still going on in the state in light of the economic woes that Floridians describe themselves as being in,” she said. “It ticked up slightly (21% over 17% in 2010) but not significantly.”

Why are you considering moving out of Florida? Followed that question.

Cost of living, lack of jobs, family/health/personal situation, high taxes and property/home insurance were the top five responses in that order. Dr. MacManus added that the construction sector has seen the highest rate of job loss in the state. She also qualified some of the responses by saying that younger residents typically respond wanting change while older residents are more apt to keep things the same.

Barriers in starting new businesses is a key subject in the survey, and Dr. MacManus pointed to the difficulty in securing loans (52%), the prohibitive cost of property insurance (51%) and health insurance (50%) as key roadblocks.

“What is really, I think, one of the most interesting aspects of this entire survey, and is a mess in Florida is property insurance,” she explained. “Health care costs and property insurance are seen as much larger deterrents than some of these other things such as bureaucracy – licensing, rules and regs, lawsuits, etc.” 

Attitudes about taxes are one of the most consistent opinions year after year, Dr. MacManus said, noting that the survey indicates Floridians feel property taxes in the state are generally the unfair while sales taxes are most fair because everyone pays the same percentage.

As for reducing Medicaid costs, survey respondents suggested the following solutions in order. 

1. Reduce/eliminate fraud
2. Cut benefits to recipients
3. Impose stricter eligibility requirements
4. Cut amount paid to providers
5. Require recipients to receive services through HMOs

2011 is Leadership Florida’s fifth annual Sunshine State Survey, which is a comprehensive poll of more than 1,200 Florida residents to discover their views regarding the most pressing issues facing the state. This year’s results were compared to those from each of the past five years in graph form on the document.

The survey was conducted via telephone calls to residents (registered voters or not) over age 18 at randomly selected households. Dr. MacManus initially conceived the idea for the survey and approached Leadership Florida to partner in the study. The full results can be viewed online at the Leadership Florida web site.

Dr. MacManus answered questions from audience members following the presentation, ranging from the ethics of political campaigns, wages for workers, race relations, college grads’ ability to find jobs, Florida’s future and its ability to recover from the recession.

“We’re used to, in a recession, rebounding ahead of other states,” she stated. “We are lagging for the first time and that we’re not used to. Floridians are impatient. I still think Florida, with the environmental aspect, the weather and local communities taking charge and making things better, it will still be a very attractive place.”

Following the presentation and public response, Dr. MacManus was asked what most struck her about the survey.

“The consistency,” she said. “The impact of economic woes and their outlook towards everything. Also, Floridians seem to be happy with their school systems – there really is a much more positive look than one would think.”

If this survey had been conducted ten years ago, what would have been the concerns?

“Growth,” she responded. “Congestion, traffic. Too many people moving in. Today it’s jobs. It’s a whole one hundred and eighty [degree] attitude about growth.”

Originally published on Patch.com in March 2011

Copyright 2011

Haslam’s Books on Central Avenue is one of St. Petersburg’s oldest retail businesses, selling new and used books to Florida residents and tourists since 1933. Ray and Suzanne Hinst now own and operate the business that Suzanne’s grandparents founded in downtown St. Pete. Their 30,000 square-foot store has more than a quarter-million titles and seems to keep growing.

The store has seen several downtown locations in its time, first at 9^th St. and 7^th Ave. North, and has continued to thrive in its current location at 2025 Central Ave. since 1964.

Haslam’s has had its share of authors visit the store over the years, from Jack Kerouac in the 1960s to John Updike in the 1970s to crime fiction and adventure author Randy Wayne White for a book signing last month. 

The store remains active with signings and events, but maintains its central stream of revenue as an independent seller of books with no sales via the Internet.

Ray Hinst points out that Haslam’s was actually one of the first book stores to sell books on the Internet but that soon after they decided to focus on the bricks-and-mortar business.

He talked with Patch about the retail book business.

Q. Who are your main customers?

A. Our strength has always been something for everybody. We offer the broadest spectrum of books that we are able to establish a market for. Our strength is being able to sell modest numbers of a wide variety of things. We try to stay up on or ahead of what the community is going to demand.

Q. Are you affected by the tourist season?

A. Because there are fewer and fewer book stores our size, there are many communities in which people don’t have an opportunity to visit a place like this. As a result, when they have the opportunity, coming here to St. Pete and St. Pete Beach to visit, this is a logical place to come if they have an interest in books.

Q. What is it like to be able to own the building and run a retail store in this day and age?

A. You can’t grow a business like this anymore in this country. How could you afford it? It is probably a phenomenon, which we are seeing a change in – the idea of the big, super book store. When we first moved here it was a fraction of this size, and we added on over the years. Being family-owned and operated has allowed us to do that. Being in a community which has always supported books and reading has made a difference too.

Q. What might newer residents of St. Petersburg not know about Haslam’s Books?

My father-in-law (Charles Haslam) had a radio and a TV show, “The Wonderful World of Books,” for decades and that was an opportunity for the Tampa Bay area to have authors come through who otherwise would not have stopped here. There were a lot of celebrity authors in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s… We had Lawrence Welk, Skitch Henderson, Spiderman (Marvel comics 1970s), Gloria Swanson, Lillian Gish, William Buckley and many others.

Q. What are your goals looking forward?

A. To continue serving the community and provide the printed word as long as it exists and there’s a need for it… Maybe on-demand [publishing] is what will come, it’s hard to say. But accessibility to the printed word is probably as unparalleled now as it has ever been.

Originally published on Patch.com in April 2011

Copyright 2011

In addition to the 25 percent overall reduction in crime compared to 2009, burglary and auto theft were reduced by 38% and 58% respectively. Violent crime was also reduced 27% and property crime 25% over 2009. A special enforcement team conducted investigations in the 49th Street “redevelopment” area, making dozens of arrests, and adjusted its policy to allow officers to pursue stolen vehicles.

An emphasis on communication – within the department and with the public – was a priority for the department in 2010 and it took significant measures toward improvements. It launched a Facebook page to make it easier for the social networking public to keep up on events and announcements, and Gulfport Police Chief Robert Vincent created Chief Vincent’s Blog to facilitate immediate and accurate interaction between the department and residents.

“I really wanted to increase the amount of communication within the department and between the department and the town,” Chief Vincent said this week. “We also signed up with Media Alert to put out information directly and immediately to the public.”

Media Alert serves as a news conduit between local media and public information officers from many different organizations within ten counties of west central Florida. It delivers news to all registered media outlets simultaneously, within one minute of release, and is free of any advertising or outside influence.

A particular area of concern for the department has been the 49th St. corridor, the crime in that area and the health of its business community. Gulfport City Manager James O’Reilly explained that as much as crime is a concern, so is communication and good will between the police department, business owners and residents.

“We’d like to develop where we have an officer more in tune with issues related to that area,” Mr. O’Reilly said. “To establish relationships with the business owners and residents is very important. We would also like to attract new business to that area.”

Thanks to funding from the Department of Justice, a new community resource officer will focus on identifying businesses and partners in the 49th St. area to better facilitate problem resolution, which is also a priority concern for Chief Vincent.

Simply stated, problem resolution is, in the eyes of the public, whether or not the police were able to solve the problem they were called upon to address.

“That is a major goal for us,” the chief said. “We are refocused on problem resolution and we will continue to work on our redirection on that front.”

Regarding Gulfport traffic, an intersection safety program was initiated last year, effective this month, which includes the installation of cameras and monitoring of patterns and infractions at three major intersections.

“It’s actually going to be a pretty affordable thing,” Chief Vincent stated, explaining that an outside company installs the cameras, the police monitor activity and the company is paid through fines.

In other significant improvements initiated last year, an additional resource officer was added to Boca Ciega High School to address increasing numbers of disorderly youth, and a patrol officer was added to the Pinellas County Prescription Drug Task Force to address the increasing problem in Gulfport and surrounding communities.

Regarding news with Gulfport Police Department personnel in 2010, Chief Vincent took the “interim” title away from his name last year following the retirement of longtime Gulfport Chief G. Curt Willocks.

Officer Robert McLaughlin was selected as Gulfport Police Department’s Officer of the Year in 2010. In addition to his exemplary work ethic Officer McLaughlin was credited for the development and implementation of a complete overhaul of the dangerous traffic situation at Boca Ciega High School, making it safer for all who use the area on a daily basis. He also played a major role in the 58% reduction in auto theft by leading a committee of officers in a juvenile probation program.

The promotion of Officer Thomas Woodman to sergeant in January filled a vacancy created by the retirement of Sergeant Terry Taylor, who at the time of his retirement was the longest serving member of the Gulfport Police Department with nearly 25 years of service. He was recognized by the Gulfport City Council and Chief Vincent at a ceremony on January 4.

Sergeant Woodman has served with the department since 2006 and is a member of the Marine Unit and Special Enforcement Team. He served with the United States Army and graduated Cum Laude from the University of South Florida with a B.A. degree in criminology.

Goals that the department has set for 2011 include reduction of crime and fear of crime in the 49th St. redevelopment area, increasing involvement by Gulfport police officers in local organizations outside the department and the reduction in serious accidents at signal-controlled intersections.

Originally published on Patch.com in February 2011

Copyright 2011