Kathleen Beckman
YOUR
Clearwater Councilmember
Monthly Newsletter
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Happy April!
This April, as we've focused on Earth Day/Month, I encourage all of us to think about the impact we have on our environment and how we can make a difference in our daily lives. We can pick up litter, reduce our use of single-use plastics, purchase local seasonal produce, air dry laundry, reduce energy consumption, spend time outdoors in nature.
Check out our city-wide sustainability plan - Greenprint 2.0 to learn what the city is planning and doing, and how each of us can help. We all play a role in shaping a sustainable future for generations to come.
In April, Clearwater held many Earth Day- Earth Month related events - trash cleanups, free trees for Arbor Day, and a water challenge, to name a few. In February, the city and the Clearwater Neighborhood’s Coalition hosted a Building Better Neighborhoods - Save Energy, Save Money half-day seminar . If you missed it, check out the video here. Please continue to look for these type of events in the future as well.
Thank you for your commitment to our future, and happy Earth Month!
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Clearwater Public Libraries...
So Much More than Books
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Yes, you can still borrow books at any Clearwater community library, even though many library services have gone high-tech.
Tracing its beginnings back to 1911, our library system consists of the downtown Main Library and four branches: Beach, North Greenwood, East, and Countryside. And, our libraries offer a surprising number of services. You can …
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Read newspapers via free access to online editions of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post.
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Request an obituary published in the Tampa Bay Times, St. Pete Times or Clearwater Sun.
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Search for holdings and digital resources online from your home.
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Preserve documents digitally – pick up a “memvelope” at any library, fill it with a variety of items, drop it off, and get back completed digital files (with your originals).
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Design and create works at the Main Library’s Heritage Studio digitization station or multimedia studio, using library equipment, software and shared resources.
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Attend an educational presentation or program offered by the library.
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Join a book group sponsored by the library.
Visit the library website (www.myclearwaterlibrary.com) to find a complete list of services, locations, and hours of operation. We have an amazing library system, and I hope everyone will continue to use it and discover new opportunities.
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New Operations and Training Center
Improves Safety and Response Time
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On April 10 Clearwater celebrated the grand opening of the Clearwater Police Department (CPD) District Three Operations and Training Center, located at 2851 N,. McMullen Booth Rd. This facility, built with Penny IV money, came in on budget, at $12 million, and on time.
The building, built to category 5 hurricane standards, provides a safe place for our police to shelter and will allow our police to rapidly respond after a major hurricane. This ensures that they are best able to immediately begin providing help to our citizens and helps our community get back on its feet.
The training center provides our CPD with the tools to properly train in de-escalation techniques and tactics that yield safe outcomes for all.
I’m also happy to report this building incorporates the Leadership in Energy and Design (LEED) Level Silver design guidelines and is significantly more efficient than the previous building that was built nearly 40 years ago.
Here are a few fun facts about the new District Three Operations and Training Center, rated for a Category 5 hurricane:
· The project includes approximately 1,250 cubic yards of concrete. This equates to over 5 million pounds of concrete, much within the walls and foundation.
· There is over 100,000 square feet of finished drywall. This equates to over 2 football fields of drywall.
· There is over 185,000 linear feet of wiring, which equates to over 35 miles of electrical wiring for power, data, and other systems.
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Clearwater Celebrates Our Cultural Diversity | |
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The city of Clearwater and our downtown Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is launching a FREE events series called “Living the Culture” which will celebrate the beauty of cultural diversity in our community and promote the value of embracing living together in harmony.
The first event in the Living the Culture series, “Taste of Ethnicity,” takes place Saturday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., on the 600 Block of Cleveland Street, Downtown Clearwater.
This inaugural culture festival will be held annually to commemorate World Diversity Day.
The goal is to celebrate the vast array of cultures and heritages represented in Clearwater through a wide variety of engaging activities including a kick-off parade, unique art displays, cultural cuisine offerings, and dance and musical performances to bring awareness, appreciation, enjoyment, and family fun to Downtown Clearwater.
You can learn more about additional planned events at MyClearwater.com/LivingtheCulture.
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Drew Street Improvement Update | |
April is National Poetry Month | |
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Introduced in 1996 and organized by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United Sates, April is National Poetry Month. Poetry has an emotional component, as well as requiring thoughtful attention to literary devices and connections as a poet communicates about the human condition. As a former English teacher, I love teaching poetry. AP Literature has a required poetry component and is tested on the National AP Exam. A few of my favorites to teach were “Blackberry Picking” by Seamus Heaney and “To Paint a Waterlily” by Ted Hughes. Another favorite poem, “Perhaps the World Ends Here” by Joy Jarjo, is one I think most people can relate to. Finally, a poem that is particularly moving is “Being Poor Is…” by John Scalzi.
In honor of National Poetry Month, perhaps you can recall a particularly impactful poem, or take a moment to discover new poets that speak to what you care about.
Note: The National Poetry Month 2023 poster was designed by Marc Brown, creator of the popular Arthur books and PBS television series. The artwork incorporates an excerpted line from the poem “The Carrying” by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limon.
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Someone You Should Know!
Sandy Lane Elementary School Librarian
Allison Sisco
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I met Sandy Lane Elementary, Conservatory for the Arts school librarian, Allison Sisco in the fall of 2022 when I became a “lunch pal” for a 4th grade student. Lunch pals meet with a student friend each week, for about a half hour, to share lunch, conversation, and maybe a craft or a game (Connect Four – Uno). We meet in the library, the literal center of the school, where Mrs. Sisco’s welcoming touch is evident in every corner of the space. As a former teacher, and nearly life-long school volunteer, I can confidently say I’ve never been in a library as warm and welcoming as Mrs. Sisco’s. It’s like walking into a big hug from a dear friend.
Mrs. Sisco is often bustling around the library or reading to a group of children as my lunch pal, Sophia, and I spend time together. As people of all ages pass by the library, it’s obvious both students and staff love Mrs. Sisco. I think she’s someone you should know; you can read her interview here: Mrs. Allison Sisco
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REH Sustainability Plan for
The Sound Venue
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On April 17th, Ruth Eckard Hall (REH) presented to the council their Sustainability Plan for the new amphitheater, The Sound, at Coachman Park. The plan includes a ban on single-use plastic cups and straws. View a summary of the REH Sustainability Plan here. The plan’s implementation will be important for showing the Tampa Bay region that sustainability is a priority for REH and Clearwater.
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Education, Engagement and Entertainment! | |
May 1 Begins SeaTurtle Nesting Season | |
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The 2023 sea turtle nesting season has begun! Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Conservation Program (STCP) patrols 20.8 miles of beach in Pinellas County each morning, starting from the south end of Caladesi Island State Park all the way to the south end of Treasure Island. All of their dedicated volunteers, interns, and staff members start their mornings on the beach just before sunrise identifying all sea turtle nesting activity within their patrol area.
During nesting the season (May 1 – October 31 in Pinellas County), female sea turtles will emerge from the water at night to locate the perfect spot to nest. To help our turtles complete the nesting process, we ask visitors to keep our beaches as clean, flat, and dark as possible. Doing so will help create an ideal habitat for sea turtles to nest on! To learn more about keeping our beaches clean, flat, and dark, click here to read specifics from the STCP.
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Countryside Library
Hosts Author Patti McCracken
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Patricia McCracken, a former Clearwater native and author of The Angel Makers: Arsenic, a Midwife and Modern History’s Most Astonishing Murder Ring, leads a discussion of her shocking new novel on May 24 from 5:30 - 6:30 at Clearwater Countryside Library.
The book tells the true story from the 1920's and 30's of group of female serial killers, one of the largest murder rings ever recorded, known as the Angel Makers. You can read reviews/summaries from "Publishers Weekly" and "Harper Collins ."
You can find out more about the author, Patti McCracken, and her book here: www.pattimccracken.com
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Want to Make a Difference? Advisory Boards are Looking for New Members | |
More than a few Clearwater advisory boards are looking for new members. This is a great way to learn more about our city, meet new people, and weigh in on important matters that affect residents and businesses in our community. You can learn more here: Clearwater Advisory Boards | |
Sign Up for One of the City's Many Newsletters | |
The city has multiple newsletters and ways to receive alerts. Subscribe via email or text to the neighborhoods newsletters, volunteer newsletter, the city's latest press releases, and more. Click here to learn more: City Newsletters. | |
Thank You for Your Interest and Support | | | | |
