Five Things We Learned This Week

Clearwater's guide dog Coastie, high tech water fountains and a domestic partner registry recap some of the most popular stories on Clearwater Patch.

  1. Stephanie Miller confronted city officials through Facebook after being barred from entry into an event with a guide dog in training. After an apology, officials also decided to sponsor Coastie, Miller’s latest puppy in training. 2. Jolley Trolley officials look to roll out a mobile app and push for the use of a circulator service. The additions are expected to help increased ridership. 3. Retrofit kits installed on water fountains throughout the city are expected to increase the amount of water consumed and reduce plastic bottle waste. The high tech bottle fillers are on fountains at Ross Norton Recreation Center, North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatics Complex, Clearwater Beach Recreation Center, the McMullen Tennis Complex, …

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Jared Leone

6:10 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012

I could not agree more!   more ›

Destination Clearwater

Destination Clearwater: 1987

Sometimes one song can connect you to the past.

I turned 15 in 1987, so I couldn’t drive yet. I spent a lot of time in the front seat of my friend Chad’s maroon Ford-type car, heading to Rocky Horror at Countryside Mall, driving up and down a pre-roundabout Clearwater Beach, and taking trips to the airport to ride the trams back and forth and page each other over the loudspeaker.  Chad’s car actually belonged to his parents, but they let him drive it all the time. As the declared ringleader of our merry band of misfits, he spent hours chauffeuring us on his latest adventures. At the hands of teenagers, this marvel of midwestern engineering took one hell of a beating. The gray headliner sagged. The electric windows went up and down as the spirit moved them and not in response to us …

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Sick Sea Turtle Rescued Off Honeymoon Island

The juvenile green sea turtle was "gasping for air" and "struggling to swim" about 200 yards from Honeymoon Island State Park, according to the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission. It will be rehabilitated at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Rescuers pulled a sick juvenile green sea turtle from the water off Honeymoon Island State Park Friday morning, according to a news release from the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission. The turtle was gasping for air and struggling to swim when it was spotted about 200 yards from shore. Two Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers who were on water patrol at Anclote Key were on the scene within minutes of the 10:36 a.m. call, the news release states. The turtle was taken to Clearwater Marine Aquarium to be rehabilitated.   It suffers from buoyancy concerns and fibropapilloma tumors, which are caused by a virus, Krista Rosado, spokeswoman for Clearwater Marine Aquarium, said in an email. Clearwater Marine Aquarium has …

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Teen Killed in Motorcycle Crash

Angelica Lee Hall, 18, was a passenger on a motorcycle that crashed Thursday morning. It was the second time she was involved in a crash in less than two months. In both incidents, Shay Daniel Lydon, 20, of Palm Harbor, was the driver.

A Palm Harbor teen was killed Thursday morning when she was thrown from a motorcycle in Clearwater. Barely more than six weeks ago, the teen and the same driver were in a wreck on Curlew Road in Dunedin. Angelica Lee Hall, 18, died at the scene of Thursday's crash, which happened just before 10 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Hall was a passenger on a motorcycle driven by Shay Daniel Lydon, 20, of Palm Harbor, investigators said.  The Yamaha motorcycle was traveling northbound in the inside lane on Belcher Road and ran a red light at the intersection of Belleair Road. The motorcycle drove into the path of a Toyota which was traveling westbound on Belleair Road. Hall and Lydon were ejected from the motorcycle. Neither was …

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Tampa Bay Area More Financially Distressed Than Detroit?

A national agency says Tampa-St. Petersburg has the nation's most financially distressed consumers due to high unemployment and difficulty paying for housing. Just how bad is it out there?

High unemployment and difficulty paying for housing are the major reasons Tampa-St. Petersburg consumers are the most financially troubled in the United States. Tampa Bay is the most distressed major metro area in the nation — worse than Detroit, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta and Los Angeles, according to CredAbility, a national nonprofit credit counseling and education agency.  Are you feeling financially distressed? How bad is it in Clearwater? Tell us in comments below. Households in Washington, DC, are the most financially healthy, followed by those in Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Honolulu and Dallas-Fort Worth, according to the agency. Those are among the key findings of the latest CredAbility Consumer Distress Index, which tracks …

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Drinking and Dining Options Multiply on Clearwater Beach

A number of new establishments are popping up in the area, many with strong local ties.

If you haven’t visited Clearwater Beach recently, you might be surprised at all the new bars and restaurants that have sprung up on the island, especially on north Mandalay Avenue. In just the past year, at least five eating and drinking establishments have a foothold on Clearwater’s most popular slice of real estate. And with more eateries under development, the business boom on the beach appears to be just beginning. What’s New to Eat? The first new place hits you right in the face at the end of the causeway: a two-story Hooters that towers over the northeast corner of Mandalay. Construction on the mammoth chicken wing mecca began in late 2011 and, according to Hooters chief marketing officer Denise Williams, is tentatively scheduled to …

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Martha Vasquez, ENGEL & VÖLKERS • Clearwater Downtown • Clearwater Beach

10:01 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

Ate at Brown Boxer last night and had their Restaurant Week special! For less than $18 enjoyed full servings of fish tacos, cheese steak and HUGE piece of chocolate cake with a scoop of ice cream. Fabulous value - no, I didn't eat it all at one sitting.   more ›

Domestic Partner Registry Coming to Clearwater

City leaders unanimously approved creating a domestic partner registry that grants certain medical, education and visitation rights.

After a brief discussion, city leaders unanimously approved creating a domestic partner registry that grants certain medical, education and visitation rights for applicants. The City Council will vote once more on creating the registry at its June 7 meeting. It is similar to ones already passed in Tampa and Gulfport.  After registering with the city, the partners would have a say in decisions regarding: health care facility visitation, health care decisions including those concerning physical and mental health, funeral and burial decisions, pre-need guardian designation, and participation in education.  The ordinance requires the clerk to maintain an online searchable database of the registered partners. Applicants will have to pay $30 to…

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