Making their mark on Clearwater tourism

The recent passing of Don Seaton reminded us of just how much he meant to Clearwater tourism and how he and three contemporaries took Clearwater tourism to a higher level over the decades. Along with Don, three other men come to mind who, in their own way, drove Clearwater tourism - and one still does. While Don was running the Sea Wake and Sea Stone resorts, Russ Kimball was, and still is, overseeing perhaps Clearwater’s pre-eminent hotel – the Sheraton Sand Key. Wallace Lee first made his mark in the halcyon days of the Jack Tar Fort Harrison Hotel and later oversaw things at the beautiful Clearwater Beach Hotel. And then there was Bob Jones probably as well known for his massive practical jokes (along with Jay Keyes of the Bank 1890s Restaurant) as he was for his skillful guidance of the original Holiday Inn (now the Hilton) on Clearwater Beach. Without these four men and a few others, Clearwater’s robust tourism would not be what it is today.

Around Tampa Bay:

1. Hard to believe but in another week or so, you’ll be hearing the sound of the Salvation Army bell outside many retailers. They are always looking for volunteer bell ringers; give them a call (725-9777). And thanks to the many retailers who grant the Army space to raise funds for the great work they do.

2. New logo and “rebranding” for Clearwater? The city seemed to doing pretty good with the old branding – dynamite beach, great golf and fishing - and it doesn’t snow here in February.

3. On a related and more serious note, you have to wonder about the Canadian component of tourism and seasonal residency when the Canadian dollar is worth about six bits American.

4. Two folks whose phones ring a lot asking them to get back into the political arena are long time Pinellas Park Mayor Bill Mischler and two-term Clearwater commissioner John Doran. Both cities are viewed as having a vacuum of leadership but our money is on Mischler and Doran remaining on the sidelines.

5. And a follow up to our lead item, you have lived in Clearwater a long time if you enjoyed the sumptuous buffets at Jay Keyes’ Bank 1890s Restaurant located where the new Shephard’s now stands.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. The answer to the lowly Chicago Cub’s woes involves neither pitching nor hitting according to long time Cub fan and sufferer George Will. What needs to happen is for someone to start World War III. As Will points out in his book “Bunts”, the Cubs have not won the pennant since 1945 – the year WWII ended.

7. Never too soon to forecast the 2016 season and here is our first 2016 baseball prediction: David Ortiz will morph into the next Ryan Howard, an overweight, aging slugger whose bat speed matches up with that of Hank Aguirre (younger readers, look him up).

8. The NFL is the only one of the four major sports leagues (MLB, NBA and NHL) where you don’t laugh uncontrollably when they talk about possible expansion.

9. Know they each have won a lot of games, but our money won’t be on the Bengals, Broncos or Panthers when January and early February come around.

10. From an honorary member of our Rants and Raves focus group (comprised of three old, cranky people) comes this gem: “The biggest lie I tell myself is I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it”.

More beach shutdowns/slowdowns ahead

First, our apologies for not giving you advance warning of the November 8th traffic jamming run on Clearwater Beach. Hope you didn’t need to be anywhere promptly. Here’s a “cut and save” for the next few months for days it will be near impossible to get to the beach or get off in a timely fashion. Saturday, December 5 will see beach traffic slowed or stopped for The Color Run 5K. Sunday, January 17 - allow extra time to get off the beach or on the beach to church for the Clearwater Distance Classic – same thing applies to Sunday, April 10 for an Iron Girl event. Of course, there is Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot which only gums up part of the city and you can use alternate east-west and north-south routes as opposed to the beach where there is only one practical way on and off - something lost on race planners and the city officials who sign off on these events.