Friday, May 17, 2013
Fabien Cousteau sat, swam and took photos of Winter the dolphin during a visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Thursday.
Fabien Cousteau sat, swam and took photos of Winter the dolphin during a visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Thursday. Cousteau, the great grandson of famed sea explorer Jacques, was the guest speaker for the dedication and naming ceremony of the new R.O. Jacobson Center for Education and Animal Care facility at the aquarium. The center is part of a $14 million expansion for the aquarium to increase its capabilities to rescue and rehabilitate marine life. The facility offers office space for marine biologists, more lab and work space. There is an 18-foot-deep, 250,000-gallon rooftop pool, other pools for injured sea turtles and space for four North American river otters. Cousteau is the founder of Plant A Fish, a nonprofit dedicated…
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
City leaders discussed the wording of an ordinance and referendum, that if approved by city voters, would reshape part of the downtown waterfront. They are expected to vote on the revised wording at a June meeting.
City leaders discussed some changes to the 73-words of a referendum, that if approved by city voters, would reshape part of the downtown waterfront where City Hall is Monday. The revised terms and conditions of the possible 60-year lease on City Hall property in order to develop a $160 million Clearwater Marine Aquarium facility will come back to the City Council to be voted on June 3, said Pam Akin, city attorney. The ordinance, which contains the referendum, must be approved by Aug. 27 in order to meet the Supervisor of Elections deadline to be on the Nov. 5 special elections ballot. The expected cost of the special election is $100,000. Aquarium officials have said they will pay costs associated with creating the referendum. The …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Winter the Dolphin was the featured guest on 'Good Day Tampa Bay,' with Charlie Belcher, bright and early Wednesday morning in Clearwater.
Good morning, "Good Day Tampa Bay"! Film crews from the Fox13 show visited Clearwater Aquarium to film a segment with Winter the Dolphin that aired early Wednesday morning. Fans of Winter who tuned in were able to see host Charley Belcher meet star attraction Winter the Dolphin, as well as Winter's handlers. If you missed the segment, see the video here. The "Good Day Tampa Bay" segment went behind the scenes for “Charley’s World – Dream Job!" The segment offers an upclose look at the work involved caring for marine animals. Swimming with dolphins indeed seems like a dream job. This photo was tweeted by Clearwater Aquarium. (See the video here.) Related Coverage Get the Clearwater Patch delivered to your email each day. Sign up here.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium set its third best attendance day at its main facility and saw a record combined visitors at both the Island Estates and downtown Clearwater facility recently during spring break.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium set its third best attendance day at its main facility and saw a record combined visitors at both the Island Estates and downtown Clearwater facility recently during spring break. The 5,695 visitors to see Winter the dolphin, Hope, Rufus and other marine animals at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Island Estates facility March 26 is the third highest day in attendance, according to Michael Atwell, spokesman for the aquarium. “With regards to the record for both facilities, I have asked for this information and will pass it along as soon as I have it,” he said. Aquarium officials presented a $160 million plan to develop a 203,000-square-foot facility where City Hall is currently located in March, saying the …
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Clearwater Marine Aquarium officials presented a $160 million plan to create a facility at City Hall. The plan to lease and redevelop the city waterfront would need to be approved by Clearwater voters.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium needs help. Officials there have a $160 million plan to move resident movie star Winter the dolphin to an expanded facility at a redeveloped City Hall in order to fulfill visitor expectations of an anticipated two million people annually. Just one thing first: The project needs Clearwater voter approval. The plan to redevelop part of the waterfront and lease land where City Hall sits would need to be crafted in 75 words, and then, be approved by Clearwater residents in the November 2013 election. CMA officials Frank Dame, David Yates and former mayor Frank Hibbard talked about the plans and answered questions regarding its impact to downtown, possible risks and redeveloping Coachman Park to the City Council …
Friday, March 1, 2013
Winter the dolphin would be moved to a $160 million facility at City Hall, and Coachman Park would be expanded under the proposal, which also seeks nearly $60 million in government help and approval by Clearwater voters.
Winter the dolphin is looking to make a multi-million dollar move. Clearwater Marine Aquarium officials present a $160 million proposal to create a downtown facility in place of City Hall that also incorporates an expanded Coachman Park at a city council workshop March 5. Clearwater voters would have to approve any deal that includes development on the waterfront. The plan includes a timeline that includes a November vote and, if approved, opened by April 2017. Ultimately, the aquarium is looking to establish two locations. As in the "Dolphin Tale" movie, the Island Estates facility would be completely transformed into the movie moniker: Clearwater Marine Hospital. The facility would be devoted to caring for injured animals. The change …
A homeowners group studied visitor numbers at Winter's Dolphin Tale Adventure at the Harborview Center and determined only a small percent of people venture from the exhibit to downtown Clearwater.
To Jack Mortimer the numbers just did not add up. He is president and founder of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and lives in Water’s Edge, on the side facing the Harborview Center. He has a first row seat to the foot traffic coming and going from the nearly 300,000 people visiting Winter’s Dolphin Tale Adventure. But that is not what he noticed. Cleveland Street and Osceola Avenue, the intersection outside of the Harborview Center, teem with visitors walking to the attraction from the marina or standing outside waiting for the Jolley Trolley. But the restaurants, just a few hundred feet away, do not see an influx from the steady stream of people, Mortimer said. They are empty, or doing the same business as they ever did. If so many …
Friday, December 21, 2012
The two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are pool mates now and for the foreseeable future at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
The story is out of a Hollywood script. An injured, female, two-month old Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin is rescued with little chance of survival, but with perseverance does. Sounds like Winter’s story. But five years and a day from her rescue, while crews wrapped up the filming of Dolphin Tale, another dolphin came to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Hope. The two became poolmates Thursday where they will be seen together for the foreseeable future. Hope’s Journey Crews already had wrapped up work on the nearly five year Dolphin Tale movie project Dec. 11, 2010 when a call came in about an injured dolphin. A dolphin calf was spotted in the Indian River Lagoon, the same one where Winter was found, by the same rescuer, Theresa Mazza, of the …
The two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are now pool mates at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Many Clearwater Marine Aquarium fans know Winter and her story of perseverance. Five years and a day from her rescue, while crews wrapped up the filming of Dolphin Tale, another dolphin came to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Hope. The two became poolmates Thursday where they will be seen together for the foreseeable future. With the addition of Hope, Winter now has a family, Yates said. There is Panama, as mother and Hope as an adopted sister. Related coverage:
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Mildred Helms Elementary is the recipient of "Flo," one of Clearwater's Dolphins sponsored by Clearwater Gas System. The six-foot-tall fiberglass dolphin will be on display at the school for the next few years.
The "home of the dolphins" is about to be home to at least one more. Mildred Helms Elementary School in Largo is the recipient of "Flo," one of Clearwater's Dolphins sponsored by Clearwater Gas System. The hibiscus-themed, six-foot-tall fiberglass dolphin will be on display at the school's front entrance for the next couple of years. The school was very interested in hosting a dolphin sculpture. And after the Clearwater's Dolphins outdoor exhibition ended in September, the idea of Clearwater Gas System's Dolphin Loaner Program evolved, said Lisa Brown, who works with the utility. The goal of the program is to partner with area schools to heighten the awareness of diversity and inclusion of individuals from all walks of life. “We have …
ClearwaterCitizen
5:21 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
1/4 Billion Dollar project will NOT be approved by the voters ! $60 million in tax payers money is NOT going to happen... Clearwater should invest all of it's time and effort to get the IRS to remove the CULT's 501 tax free status so the City will have the revenue to run the city !!! But, that would take LEAERSHIP !!! more ›