TOP OF THE WEEK:

Happy Birthday Clearwater! 2015 marks the 100^th anniversary of the incorporation of our city. If you have lived here for more than half the city’s history as has your aged HB (Humble Blogger), there are a lot of memories – some of which we share each week in our blog. There has been lots of growth, lots of change – both for the good and not so good. We’d like you to use the comment button below and share with us your favorite, least favorite or most significant event(s) in Clearwater during your residency. Over the next several weeks, we will share some of yours as well as our reflections on our 100-year-old city. Thanks in advance for sharing.

AROUND THE BAY:

1. Following up on our lead item, we will lead off with our most significant and least favorite events (they are the same) in our lifetime in Clearwater. That would be the back door entrance of the Church of Scientology (under the guise of United Churches of Florida) in the mid-seventies. Anyone who argues their presence in Clearwater hasn’t adversely affected the city is kidding themselves.

2. Brooksville has moved to drop their red light camera program later this year amid a flurry of protests by merchants and civic leaders of what it’s doing to the city’s image. The red lights and Waldo, Lawtey and Inglis’ speed limit changes every 100 feet do tend to tarnish a city’s reputation.

3. Hey, remember that new Mexican restaurant that was going to open in the city marina last September? Target date is now May. Meanwhile, the marina diner that dates back to the 50s is nowhere near re-opening. More on this wonderful metamorphosis of our city marina coming next week.

4. Our Raves and Rants focus group (comprised of three old, cranky people) hopes it’s not your or their fire or medical emergency the new fire station location has to respond to during the height of spring break. Margin of error: fifty percent more or less.

5. You’ve lived in Clearwater for a long time if you remember when Leslie “Buster” Narum was a three-sport star at Clearwater High – quarterback, point guard and star pitcher. Bonus points if you remember that he homered in his first MLB at bat with the Baltimore Orioles.

THE DIAMOND, THE MEDIA AND OTHER STUFF:

6. New York had Murray the K, Cousin Brucie and Dan Ingram. One the west coast, it was Robert W. Morgan, Wolfman Jack and the incomparable Gary Owens who ruled the airwaves on KFWB. Then, of course, there was Laugh-In plus the voice of a hundred other characters down through the years. Gary, who passed away last week at 80, was an American icon.

7. Don’t be so quick to write off NBC News with the six-month departure of Brian Williams. The guy filling the chair, Lester Holt, is no slouch. Nicknamed “Iron Pants” because of the many chairs he fills at NBC due to his versatility, Lester will do just fine, thank you.

8. Related Item: Rod Carter replaced as anchor on Channel 8 morning news. Big mistake, the folks who needed replacing in the morning are those three giggling idiots with their phony smiles with whom Carter was forced to work.

9. Believe it or not, you actually get a result when you Google Mel Famey. If you don’t know the saga of pitcher Mel Famey, it’s worth a look. But none of the results tell the story quite as well as local raconteur Joe Burdette.

10. At last! Pitcher and catchers report this week.

IN CLOSING:

All of us are quick to shout about receiving what we perceive as lousy service – not so quick to trumpet people who have consistently delivered good service over the years. For us, if we had to pick three organizations in the latter category right at the top would be Dick Norris Buick/GMC where we’ve bought about a dozen cars; Regions Bank – knowing full well it is chic to complain about banks but over the course of two decades (and a few name changes) they have delivered for us. A third would be Apsco Appliances which is why we were saddened to learn of their bankruptcy and subsequent buyout by Famous Tate who have no track record in Pinellas. Apsco went so above and beyond in sales and especially service, you didn’t even bother to shop anywhere else when the dishwasher or whatever needed replacing – much like Dick Norris and Regions. Time will tell if Famous Tate can fill their shoes. Forgive us if we’re skeptical.