Let Us Be Thankful

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. What a joy it is to have a holiday dedicated to preparing and sharing a meal with friends and family as well as intentionally taking time to reflect on that which we are grateful for, whether tangible or intangible. Favorite intangibles certainly include the beauty of nature, health and most importantly, the love and support of those we share our lives with. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. This gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals - whether to other people, nature, or a higher power. 

As you gather to cook and laugh together, to share memories and make new ones, too, I hope you can take a moment to take a breath - to look around and realize that yes, there is much to be grateful for.

With that in mind, much of my November newsletter is dedicated to expressions of gratitude. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Vice-Mayor in Clearwater and working and volunteering shoulder to shoulder with so many of you in our community. It is truly an honor that I do not take for granted.

I am grateful for community leaders, like Ms. Jai Hinson, Director of Artz 4 Life Academy, who doesn’t hesitate to lend a hand when someone - or some organization - asks for help. This fall, Ms. Hinson came to the rescue of three different organizations in Clearwater who were caught in a bind. Councilmember Lina Teixeira helped plan, as well as participated in, Dunedin’s 16th annual “Wearable Art” fashion show. Lina was working with a local dance group who were slated to perform during the show. However, when there were complications and the troop pulled out, Lina reached out to Ms. Jai to ask if her dancers could fill in “last minute.” Ms. Jai’s Artz 4 Life dancers quickly choreographed a program, practiced with all the models and helped make the show a success. 

Ms. Jai also helped out the Paint Your Heart Out organization when the group’s planned after-party location was suddenly unavailable. She opened her doors and grounds for a party of nearly 150 volunteers. And most recently, Ms. Jai was approached by the Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project asking to use her facility for an Afro Futurism Wakanda Family Paint Party. Sure enough, Jai opened her doors and dozens of families were able to gather together to paint, enjoy music and games. Finally, Jai and other leaders in the community collectively rose to the occasion by spear-heading Clearwater’s First Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Buccaneer Field. It really does take a village and continuous collaboration and support to enable these impactful programs to be successful. Just wanted to give a special shout out to Jai Hinson and her generosity with Artz 4 Life Academy and the talented kids that she teaches and inspires.  You can also purchase tickets for her holiday Artz 4 Life Academy Family Blessings Performance, which is not to be missed.

Clearwater is fortunate to have numerous congregations who genuinely give back to our community as a whole. I want to share an update about “Laundry Love” sponsored by Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Holy Trinity Church has partnered with Laundry Love to brighten the lives of local people in need, through love, dignity, and detergent. Laundry Love washes the clothes and bedding of low/no income families and persons across the US. 

In Clearwater, Laundry Love is offered the 1st Wednesday of the month from 4-7 p.m. at Happy Bubbles Laundromat at 412 S. Missouri Ave. in Clearwater. Parishioner Karen Owen (above holding detergent and her helpers, as well as Michael, who appreciates the help) helps organize this event and provides an update on the people who utilize this service. Click here to read Karen’s heartfelt update and learn more about this amazing program. A sincere thank you to all those who donate and volunteer to make Laundry Love a success. It truly impacts the quality of life of many residents in our community.

As a member of the Clearwater City Council, I have the opportunity and responsibility to serve on a number of boards of non-profits to help influence policy and/or represent the interests of our City and residents. For two years I’ve served on the Clearwater Arts Alliance (CAA) board as a non-voting member representing the City. On Nov. 7 the CAA held an “Evening of Art and Culture.” This event raised funds to help support public art and art-centered events in Clearwater. During the event the CAA debuted a wonderful video highlighting their projects. It should be available on their website soon. The painting to the right was created and submitted for a signal box wrap by local artist, Elizabeth Barenis

Thank you to all of the organizations, some who partner with the city, some who are independent, who offer a wide variety of activities for people to enjoy during this holiday season. Note that this is not an all-inclusive list - but, as you can see, there really is something for everyone!

Nov. 26; Dec. 3; Dec. 10; Dec. 17: Clearwater Jazz Holiday Wanderlust Concert Series ~ Station Square Park 5:30-9 p.m.

Nov. 24: Turkey Trot ~ 560 Acturas Ave. (Adjacent to Clearwater High School) 7 a.m. 

Nov. 30: Downtown Clearwater Tree Lighting Ceremony ~ Station Square Park 6-8:30 p.m.

Dec. 2-31: Downtown Holiday Stroll ~ 6-10 p.m.

Dec. 1-12: Holiday Solar System Neighbor Program ~ Clearwater Main Library 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Dec. 1: Stroll of Trees organized by the Clearwater Historical Society 2 p.m. 

Dec. 1-12: Twelve Days of Christmas Tree Lighting ~ Clearwater Historical Society 6 p.m. 

Dec. 3: Reindeer Lane at Countryside Rec. Center 10 a.m. - noon 

Dec. 3: North Greenwood African American Memorial Cemetery Dedication - 10 a.m. at the corner of Holt Ave and Engman St. in Clearwater

Dec. 4: Miracle on Cleveland St. ~ Cleveland St. and Osceola 2 -7 p.m.

Dec. 8: Special Council Work Session - Strategic Planning - 9 a.m. - all day. 

Dec. 8: Food Truck Thursdays Holiday Jingle at Station Square Park - 11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Dec. 9: Lake Belleview Holiday Party~ Ross Norton Recreation Center - 5:30-8 p.m.

Dec. 9: Morningside Ho-Ho-Ho Holiday Hayride ~ Morningside Recreation Center - 5:30-9 p.m.

Dec. 9: Holiday Spirit of Lights Festival in Downtown Clearwater - 6-10 p.m.

Dec. 10: Market Marie in Station Square Park - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Dec. 10: Holiday Music Outdoor Concert at Moccasin Lake - 5 p.m.

Dec. 10: Clearwater Yacht Club Annual Holiday Boat Parade - 6 p.m. 

Dec. 11: Artz 4 Life Academy Family Blessing Performance ~ Mahaffey Theater - 3 p.m. 

Dec. 11: Peace Memorial Church Free Concert ~ Suncoast Bronze Ringers - 3 p.m.

Dec. 13: Making Spirits Bright Christmas Parade - 4 p.m. 

Dec. 16: Dinner with Santa at Station Square Park - 5-8:00 p.m.

Dec. 16: Holiday Movie in the Park at the Clearwater Historical Society - 6 p.m

Dec. 17: Home for the Holidays Paws-on-Parade Parade ~ Cleveland St. from Fort Harrison to Station Square Park - 11 a.m. - Festival from noon-2 p.m.

Dec. 17: Ugly Sweater Decorating Party - East Library at SPC - 2-4 p.m.

Dec. 17: Market, Music and Mimosas ~ Clearwater Historical Society 9 a.m.

Dec. 18: Pet Pawrade ~ Clearwater Historical Society 9 a.m.

Dec. 18: Music of the Holidays with the Florida Suncoast Chorus ~ Countryside Library - 2-3 p.m.

Dec. 18: Craftivity Club: Gingerbread Houses ~ Clearwater Main Library 2-3 p.m.

Dec. 21: Yuletide Magic (Holiday themed dance performances) ~ Station Square Park - 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 21: Holiday Trivia Night at Downtown Pizza - 7 p.m.

Dec. 30: ReliaQuest Bowl Beach Day ~ Clearwater Beach - 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Dec. 31: Light it Up Clearwater - Annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks - Midnight. Launched from Sand Key Beach.

I appreciate all the voters who showed up to vote on or before Nov. 8. I am grateful to those organizations, like the League of Women Voters, who promote non-partisan voter education as well as voter registration. I congratulate our newly elected officials, both state and local, and I hope they will consider the voices of not only the constituents who supported them, but those who did not, when they make decisions in the future.