Roundup of recent published articles

Let’s start with politics…

• St. Petersburg’s “People’s Budget Review” formed as a community coalition to give St. Pete residents an organized voice on what they feel the city’s budget priorities should be. Here’s a brief write up from their recent press conference: http://saintpetersblog.com/2012/08/st-peter-city-councilmembers-join-peoples-budget-review-to-encourage-public-participation-in-budgeting-process/
• Pinellas County is known for having a strong, responsive EMS system that it contracts through Sunstar. Some say the local fire departments/paramedics would do an equally fine job and would cut costs for the county. Now, Pinellas has decided to allocate $50K to find out of this suspicion is true. Link to my article here: http://saintpetersblog.com/2012/07/county-commission-votes-to-spend-300k-on-ems-study/
• Interview with Joe Wicker, Republican running for State House, District 59: http://saintpetersblog.com/2012/07/five-questions-for-joe-wicker-republican-candidate-for-state-house-district-59/
• Interview with Dwight Dudley, Democrat running for State House, District 68: http://saintpetersblog.com/2012/07/five-questions-for-dwight-dudley-democratic-candidate-for-house-district-69/
• Interview with Josh Shulman, Democratic candidate for House District 69: http://saintpetersblog.com/2012/07/five-questions-for-josh-shulman-democratic-candidate-for-house-district-69/

Now for some other stuff – stuff about my hometown, St. Petersburg!

• In the middle of a recession, St. Petersburg business development appears to be… growing! Emerging from the fiery row off of Beach Drive and Central Avenue, seems 1st Ave North will soon be the new locale to see and be seen. 3 new eateries/drinkeries are opening their doors! Article here: http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/Burg-Surge-Spreads-Off-Usual-Paths/3636
• The St. Petersburg Pier is a HUGE topic of great contention in town. In what I think is one of the best articles on the topic to date (yes, I’m biased about the article, but not the issue), here is the link. Please also note the great discussion on the article, where I along with city Councilmember Kornell answer questions readers pose. Lik to article is here: http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/Magnifying-the-Lens/3634
• Local Olympic siblings representing their hometown, St. Pete, as they sail in the Summer 2012 Olympics: http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/St-Petes-Own-Competes-at-Olympics-for-the-First-Time/3630
• FREE BEER! No, seriously, a local brewery that is expanding in the ‘Burg offered up a contest awarding a free keg of beer. Here is the link to that article: http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/First-Commercial-Brewery-to-Open-in-the-Burg/3612. And, here is the follow-up article announcing the winner: http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/St-Pete-Brewery-Location-Revealed/3628 [NOTE: This article got over 300 Facebook shares!]
• It’s not just restaurants building in the ‘Burg – check out these other construction projects, showing great economic resiliency and health for our town: http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/More-Building-Boom-in-the-Burg/3620
• Photographic Biz Profile–Inspirations on Central: http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/Photobomb-Inspirations-on-Central/3619
• Profile of local, internationally renowned glass art great, Duncan McClellan: http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/FAB-20-Duncan-McLellan/3601
• Dr. BBQ – Food Network, Chopped Grillmaster Champion! http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/The-Burgs-Dr-BBQ-Represents-on-Chopped/3613
• And ANOTHER new joint – Banana Joe’s and Margarita Mama’s opening on Central Ave: http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/Tex-Mex-Resto-and-Nightclub-Set-to-Debut-Downtown-this-August/3605
• Hedda Lettuce Rolls into the Burg — national drag queen star performs at the Palladium http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/Hedda-Lettuce-Rolls-Into-the-Burg/3587
• St. Pete has no shortage of world class glass artists and collectors! Check out this exhibit from the Museum of Fine Arts! http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/St-Petes-Crowd-Sourced-Glass-Art-Exhibit/3595

[Note: I do not control editing of my work – some are edited with a heavier hand than others. Some are unedited. It’s a mixed bag, but sometimes the editing can leave choppy copy, so I apologize for that.]