Happy Fourth of July!
Enjoy these Florida Fireworks courtesy of Fairfield FL artist Gary Borse:
Find more of Gary’s great Florida paintings at GaryBorse.com and at Florida’s Eden.
Happy Independence Day!
You may have heard. There was a new giant confederate flag flying near the intersection of I-4 and I-75 yesterday.
As you might expect, and as the organizers probably wanted, it sure is getting a lot of attention.
Steve Otto says it is Another Questionable Landmark:
“I would suggest that if Mr. Lambert or the good people of the Sons of Confederate Veterans want to get some tips on how to honor those who served and died, they ought to head up I-75 near Bushnell and drive over to the Florida National Cemetery, a magnificent memorial and resting place for those who served in our military.”
Sue Carlton thinks the Message is Clear:
“Supporters will tell you it’s all about preserving heritage. Sorry, but I don’t buy that wide-eyed line, or the idea that well-intentioned people interested only in remembering their history would use a symbol so abrasive, incendiary and hurtful to so many fellow citizens. Or that there is no other way to honor family than this.”
A Tribune editorial suggests the Flag Flies in Face of Good Taste:
“… if the group is sincere about wanting to honor its heritage, it would make the flag’s size proportional to the veterans’ memorial below. That would be the neighborly thing to do. Yet in its quest for attention, the Sons overlook the greater good. It’s a selfish move.”
If someone wants to put up a flag of the armed forces of a foreign country that only existed for less than five years over 140 years ago, well, this is the United States of America. And partly because the armed forces of the Confederate States of America lost their asses to the United States of America, being a citizen of the USA gives you and I the freedom to choose to pay $800 for a giant rebel flag made in China, and the liberty to raise it 139 feet in the air or so.
God Bless the USA
Another week and we have earned another dollar, so let’s go spend it around town. Courtesy of Weekly Options, here are a few of the Pirate Events in Tampa for you to attend and enjoy for a few bucks!
25 Jan. Friday - Rough Riders Gasparilla Eve Annual Party – 6-11pm at Embassy Suites 513 S Florida Ave. Tampa. Buffet, dancing, music and more. 35$.
A Fabulous Buffet Will Be Served From 6:30 to 9:30 and music by Otis and the Old School Band. Rough Rider Members are free and guests are $35.00 per person which includes buffet and two drink tickets per person. Payment due in advance and reservations are required. Call Club Secretary Iris with credit card info at 813-248-1898.
26 Jan. Saturday – Gasparilla 11am - ? Downtown Tampa
The pirate invasion of Tampa will begin at 11am in the south end of Tampa Bay and then docking at the Tampa Convention Center at 1pm. At that time the Mayor will have to hand over the key to the city. With the key to the city in hand they will begin the parade of pirates down Bayshore Blvd.
26 Jan. Saturday - Gasparilla Pre-Parade Brunch – 10am-Noon at the University of Tampa Plant Hall West Verandah 401 W. Kennedy Tampa.
Join UT alumni & friends for the annual Gasparilla Brunch on Saturday, January 26th from 10 AM until noon. Enjoy an all you can eat breakfast buffet, an open bar, and free parking while you get ready for the parade. Tampa Alpha Members and children under 5 are free, $35 per adult guest in advance ($40 at the door), $10 for children ages 6 to 13 in advance ($15 at the door), Children 5 and under are free.
26 Jan. Saturday – Gasparilla Invasion Brunch - 10am-1pm at the Tampa Convention Center 333 S. Franklin St. Tampa.55$ adults, 45$ child.
This event includes a buffet brunch, live entertainment and a reserved seat with the best view of the invasion. Pirates from the Ye Mystic Krewe will return to this location after the invasion to get a bite to eat with you. You must have a reserved ticket and to do so call 813-353-8108 before 2pm Monday – Friday before the 26th.
26 Jan. Saturday – TBT Pirate Invasion Party – 10am-2pm poolside at Westin Harbour Island 725 South Harbor Island Blvd.
Drink specials, music and a fantastic view of the Gasparilla Invasion. 25$ advance, 15$ general admission. MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND! Arrive early for best parking options. The bridge crossing over to Harbour Island will close at 9:30 a.m. The Westin Harbour Island does not provide free parking. The Pirate Fest Buffet will be included with the purchase of a VIP ticket/ VIP table only. All other food and drinks can be purchased on site. Tickets after Jan. 24: VIP, $35 General Admission: $25 for reservations and details call (727) 893-8602
Whether you eat at one of these events or not make sure you do eat before you start the drinking part of this great parade! The list of things to remember have already been posted here at Sticks so read over them, pick your seating area or venue and have fun!
The 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice National Parade begins at 1:15 p.m. in downtown St. Petersburg. The parade starts at Third Avenue S and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street to the waterfront via Central Avenue.
The 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Candlelight Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 Second Ave. NE. Program begins outdoors at museum entrance; continues indoors with presentations, entertainment, dancing and music. For more information: (727) 894-1052.
Get on over to Tampa’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade at noon. The parade begins at 15th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and ends at 22nd Street and Osborne Avenue.
The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival continues all week, culminating in a huge Tampa Blues Festival on Sunday.
I know the pirates are coming to town this weekend for the kids but the little one won’t be home this weekend. So that means I am free to do adult things, and took a look at Eric’s Weekly Options for ideas. I have made a list of things I would like to do and hopefully Hubby and I will make it to one or two. I hope you get out this weekend and find something you enjoy.
Friday: If you start your weekend a little early and are ready to get in the mood for the BIG pirate invasion check this out!
Open House, January 18 Noon—5:00 p.m. at the Henry B. Plant Museum
From skulls and crossbones to gowns and feather plumes this exhibit is definitely the biggest party in town. Have a blast creating your own parade in an interactive exhibit. Join the merriment of Tampa’s signature celebration. Underwritten by Pepin Distributing and Verizon.
Saturday: Tommy has been promising to take me to Tarpon Springs - I’m Greek and have never been! Maybe some chili on a cold Saturday afternoon will get him motivated to take me there!
19 Jan. Saturday - Suncoast Chili Cookoff – Noon at the Boys & Girls Club 111 W. Lime St. Tarpon Springs.
Saturday: Well, this may not be a big barrel of fun, but I want to open a bed and breakfast one day. If I don’t get to this one this weekend, I will keep an eye out for future meetings.
19 Jan. Saturday – Going Into Business Class - 9am-Noon at the Corporate Square business complex Suite 425 of Building 400, 7402 N. 56th Street Tampa . 25$. www.tampascore.org
Saturday: I enjoyed a wine tasting event at a winery in Plant City last year. I love the shirt I got there: Drinks Well With Others! This one sounds like a good one as well
19 Jan. Saturday - Wine Festival and Market – 10am-3pm at Florida Estates Winery 3101 37th Ave. N., Saint Petersburg. The event will include fresh foods, sandwiches, sauces, home made arts and crafts, live music (light and classic rock) and an opportunity to sample the winery’s offerings.
All weekend: I will go to Treasure Island for anything and if the weather is half-way decent on Sunday I want to go to this Kite Festival. They have a lot of cool little pubs on the island as well!
18-20 Jan. Fri-Sun. - Treasure Island Kite Festival - 10am-5pm on Treasure Island Beach behind the Thunderbird Beach Resort 10700 Gulf Blvd. Treasure Island.
Now I have to try and decide which Saturday event I will want to do the most! Chili at Tarpon Springs or the Wine Festival in St. Petersburg?
Nine year old Jordan Hays was killed at the Plant City Christmas Parade. He was walking alongside his church’s float and tossing candy to the crowds when the horrible tragedy happened. He got caught under the wheels of the float as he reached for more candy to throw.
Parade rules say children younger than 10 should ride on the floats rather than walk alongside “if at all possible.”
Plant City investigated the death, and have a good handle on what happened:
If I am encouraging or even allowing my ten year old child to walk in a parade, I am personally going to be right there making sure nothing happens. If the float setup looks funky or dangerous, she’s not walking near the thing. She certainly won’t be heading toward a wheel to grab more trinkets. Yeah, hindsight is 20/20, and we can chalk this up to a horrible, terrible accident.
It sounds to me as if parade organizers and city leaders did their parts in preventing this death. Simply put, those adults on and around the float did not properly supervise the child. Unfortunately, Plant City doesn’t have the guts to say that (maybe because it’s a church float?). In fact, the city is nearly begging to be take some of the blame.
In a unanimous vote Monday night, Plant City commissioners decided to ban distribution of candy and beads at parades.
That’s just crazy. What kind of lame parade will that be? What kid is gonna want to go watch a parade to watch old people drive by, with no chance of getting even a butterscotch? Why not just kill the entire affair instead?
Banning candy is not going to stop another kid from walking in the wrong spot. I wouldn’t think I have to spell this out, but… Stopping kids from walking in the wrong spots will stop another kid from walking in the wrong spot.
Jerry and Connie Hays have created a foundation in memory of their son called Jordan’s Wish, which will collect toys for less fortunate children. Plant City businessman Johnny Knotts, one of the first to reach Jordan after the accident during the Christmas parade, has volunteered to collect donations, including cash, checks, toys or stuffed animals, at his hardware store. Donations and toys can be dropped off at Knotts Trading & Supply at 314 S. Collins St. in Plant City.
The Hays family has also established a trust fund for monetary donations at Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union. Checks can be made payable to Jerry D. Hays Jr. or Connie L. Hays and dropped off at any credit unit branch, or mailed to Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, Attention: Member Service Support, P.O. Box 11904, Tampa FL 33610.
Friends of the River is a citizen support group concerned with promoting health and environmental policies that affect the quantity and quality of water in the Lower Hillsborough River and the Tampa Bay by actively promoting the development and implementation of natural resource management strategies which will improve and enhance the current and future health, recreational, environmental and proprietary values of the Lower Hillsborough River, the Tampa Bay, and adjacent lands and bodies of water, and promoting general public awareness of the issues with which F.O.R. is concerned.
The Friends of the (Hillsborough) River hosts an annual holiday boat parade on the Hillsborough River. They hope to have more than three dozen boats and hundreds of spectators. Held at dusk, boaters sometimes have elaborate set-ups powered by car batteries, while others may have a couple strings of 10 lights run with four C batteries.
As you might guess, this parade is for those of you with smaller craft. It’s easy to be in the parade, and they encourage anyone with any type of boat to get in on the fun. Kinda sounds like the redneck yacht club. I’d fit right in.
All boaters with kayaks, canoes and traditional motor craft are invited to join the Annual Hillsborough River Holiday Boat Parade, Saturday December 8, sponsored by Friends of the River. Boaters meet at the Lowry Park ramp at 5:30 p.m. and travel upriver from 6-8 p.m. past the illuminated Sulphur Springs Tower to the Harbor Club on the river at Nebraska Ave. Incoming tides will be favorable that evening for this trip. Free entry.
This is the boat parade for the rest of us - yacht ownership NOT required. Decorate whatever you have that floats and join the fun!
Spectators can gather to view the parade at the riverfront park by the Sulphur Springs City Pool and historic Gazebo, where they will find plenty of parking and room for viewing.
This year’s parade theme is A New Day in Tampa Bay, celebrating the coming rebirth of the Lower Hillsborough River. New Year’s Day 2008 fresh water starts flowing down the river every day from now on, something our community has not seen for 36 years. This daily minimal flow will provide good conditions for the River to once again function as Tampa Bay’s estuary, the nursery where fish are born & raised. Friends of the River advocated the river’s restoration for the past 9 years, winning its case when Swiftmud set the River Recovery Plan in motion this fall. As a result, scientists expect fishing in the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay to improve dramatically next year, along with birds and manatees, and to get even better every year from now on as conditions necessary for fish to spawn continue to improve.
This sounds like a great time on the river. Grab your rafts, and head out to Lowry Park at 5pm. The parade ends at the historic Harbor Club at Nebraska Avenue, and rumor says their waterfront bar will be open!
At lunchtime today, Mayor Pam Iorio cut the birthday cake, and passed it out to about 250 citizens. The City of Tampa celebrated its 120th birthday by accepting a handful of items to be placed inside a time capsule. The capsule is to be opened in July of 2037, and I can’t help but think that future citizens of Tampa will be sorely disappointed. Or perhaps bored to tears.
I don’t know how much time these “Tampa dignitaries” had to come up with submissions, but let’s just say that it appears they had to cram for this exam.
Jack Harris emceed (just as he likely will in 2037), and opened the event with the same tired historical facts. He then introduced the dignitaries, and one by one, they offered the most mundane items to the mayor. Basically, the Honorable 2037 Tampa Mayor will have to spend his or her first couple of hours watching DVDs, then will have to wade through self-serving books, newspaper clippings, and brochures.
Along with a DVD player (in case they go the way of the 8-track), Kelly Ring submitted a DVD of a Fox13 newscast and recent aerials of the city from SkyFox 13. Jim Tarbet of YMKG gave the YMKG Treasure of Memories DVD. Robert Wolf donated a DVD about HCC. The Mayor’s Youth Corps gave a DVD of a show they did. Jack Harris included DVDs of ABC Action Newscast and two shows from The Mayor’s Hour, as well as a CD of this morning’s AM Tampa Bay broadcast.
Jack Harris also submitted his book (find it easily in stores), Steve Otto gave his upcoming book (find it in stores soon), and Fred Hearns offered his book. Reynar Pater chose USF’s 50th birthday book. Andrea Gonzmart included the current menu from the Columbia Restaurant. Ron Vaughn gave some written information about the history of the University of Tampa, along with copies of old postcards.
Ernest Hooper culled a handful of columns about local youth overcoming obstacles. He hopes to check in with them and see how they are doing in 2037. E. J. Salcines included a copy of the 75th edition of La Gaceta. Jack Harris threw in a copy of the 85th edition of La Gaceta. John Dingfelder offered a copy of today’s Tampa Tribune as well as the St. Pete Times. Joseph Caetano included clippings of all the newspaper articles where he was quoted.*
Tampa’s Poet Laureate James Tokley wrote a poem, and in it he talks about global warming melting the icecaps which causes the Hillsborough to flood. And the three big cities become one around a bigger bay. To be sure, Tokley’s poem will be the highlight of the time capsule.
Besides Tokley’s poem, other reading materials for the future mayor include magazines that Jack Harris brought - Tampa Bay Metro’s Best of Tampa Bay issue and the TBBJ Book of Lists. Dingfelder put in the phone list for the City of Tampa (he didn’t say if the Arts Czar is crossed out or not). Gwen Miller sent a letter to be included. The Mayor’s Youth Corps also wrote an essay and included a photo. Fred Hearns wrote a letter and added some family photos. UT gave copies of postcards of UT dating back to 1900’s. Mayor Pam wrote a letter to the mayor of 2037.
As for actual items, TMKG gave some Gasparilla beads, Jon Gruden sent a Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl XXXVII jacket, and Dingfelder threw in a cell phone, in case they don’t exist in 2037.
That is it. No touch screen voting booth, no faulty pier from the Selmon, nor a Jessica Sierra commemorative drink glass. Hell - I could have put in my noise ordinance warning. There could have been dead sod from your yard, a deed for a Trump Tower condominium, or even a sickness bag from a cruise ship. At the very least, they could have put Bob Hite in there perhaps wearing one of Mayor Pam’s I am Tampa t-shirts.
Maybe I’ll put together a Sticks of Fire Tampa Time Capsule… You got anything to donate?
*I’m not making that up.
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