Wholly absorbed, the young beachcomber meandered and dabbled along a stretch of beach, empty save for myself who passed by without pause or comment.
It’s rare to see just one person on sugar-white Florida beaches with weather this good. It reminded me of the lone dolphin that Capt. John Heidemann and I encountered one fine winter day not long ago.
We were heading out of a hidden cove in our study area when the silhouette of a diving dolphin materialized in the distance. Between an adult and calf in size, it was impossible to tell whether the lone adolescent was male or female. We decided to call it Bora, a name without implication of gender.
A brief cool down last weekend shouldn’t have much effect on our inshore fishing. If anything it might help out a bit.
The trout fishing has been good countywide; there are a lot of big trout in the northern region around the spoil islands, and there’s plenty of gator-sized trout to be caught down south as well, in and among the many potholes of Fort De Soto.
Our water temperature was close to 65 degrees before this last small front came through. If it were to drop a few degrees it probably would bunch the trout up even better.
INDIAN SHORES - There is a saying that no matter how old a person is, or how experienced, there is always something new to be learned. Members of the Indian Rocks Beach Boat Club discovered that first hand on Jan. 28 when they had their boats inspected by the Coast Guard Auxiliary out of Madeira Beach.
Dozens of IRB Boat Club members met at The Pub for one of their monthly gatherings. Their boats were moored at the docks behind the restaurant and they had asked the CG Auxiliary to come and do the inspections. Experience had taught them there was always going to be something to attend to. Sure enough there was.
Larry Gellinger, human resource officer for the Auxiliary, said they are happy to carry out the inspections because there is a need to remind boaters of some basic safety needs.
CLEARWATER - Being able to say shake hands with the opposing team and saying “Good game!” after a loss, throwing a strike and catching pop flies are just a few of the tools the Clearwater Lady Bombers 14 and under softball team are learning.
The girls are preparing to play high school ball and gearing up for scholarships to play in college, said softball dad and Lady Bombers Board of Directors Member Mark McEntire.
In honor of kicking off the 2012 season, the team had a barbeque on Jan. 28 in Lansbrook Park in Palm Harbor, where the girls got motivated by pep-talks from the team manager, the league’s president, the 14-and-under manager Carl Mason, and two-time Olympic softball gold medalist, Michele Smithe. The season essentially lasts all year, Mason said, from January to December, so this is a good way to set a course for the new year with new energy.
Dunedin's Green Market DUNEDIN - Green Market is open Saturdays through the end of July from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Douglas Avenue in Dunedin. Vendors offer a wide variety of items including: produce, cheeses, plants and herbs, local honey, all natural pet treats, organic products, nuts, olive salad, pastries and orchids. Free entertainment and parking is available at the Dunedin Green Market. For information, contact the Market Manager, Richard Kendler, at 692-5353 or email GreenMarketManager@verizon.net
Volunteer orientation LARGO - Volunteer orientation is Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m. to noon at Heritage Village, 11909 125th St. N. Attendees will discover fun ways to get involved at Heritage Village during this volunteer orientation. Volunteers can serve as a tour guide, museum greeter, historical house caretaker, receptionist, maintenance worker or grounds assistant. Call 582-2125 or email heritagevillage@pinellascounty.org.
New Horizons for Widowed People meeting LARGO - New Horizons for Widowed People will meet Saturday, Feb. 4, 2 p.m., at west clubhouse of Imperial Palms Apartments, 101 Imperial Palms Drive. Dinner at a local restaurant will follow.
Call Dolores Ruskin at 584-0958.
Friends of the Largo Library book sale LARGO - The Friends of the Largo Library will host its winter book sale Saturday, Feb. 4, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Jenkins Room of the Largo Library.
All books are 50 cents each. Buy two and get one free.
Proceeds will benefit the library, located at 120 Central Park Drive.
Call 586-7392.
Blessed Sacrament fundraising auction SEMINOLE - An annual fundraising auction will take place Saturday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m., at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, 11501 66th Ave. N.
The auction will help raise funds to support classroom education. Cost is $25 a person. Call 391-4060.
Pinellas Seminole Woman’s Club fundraiser SEMINOLE - The Pinellas Seminole Woman’s Club plans its annual scholarship fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Harbourside, 401 Second St., Indian Rocks Beach.
The event will carry a Mardi gras theme with door prizes, lunch and a fashion show.
Tickets can be purchased for a $30 donation by calling Pat at 709-3778.
Card and game party ST. PETE BEACH - The St. Pete Beach Community Club plans its annual card and game party Saturday, Feb. 4, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Warren Webster Building, 1500 Pass-a-Grille Way.
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon playing games and cards and supporting a local philanthropic cause.
The event will feature door prizes as well as coffee and desserts. A donation of $4 to the club will be collected at the door. The party is open to the public.
For more information, call 360-8216.
Southern gospel concert and dinner ST. PETERSBURG - A free Southern gospel concert and dinner will be presented Saturday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m., at Northwest Presbyterian Church, 6330 54th Ave. N.
For more information, call 544-4551.
• Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012
Fresh Market on Corey Avenue Corey Area Business Association's Fresh Market on Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach, Sundays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 16 through May 2012. The market will feature vendors of fresh and/or organic produce, plants and flowers, spices, foods, handcrafted items, arts and crafts. For vendor information, call Kathi at 727-498-8778. Corey Avenue is just off Gulf Boulevard in downtown St. Pete Beach. Parking is free.
Paradise Bazaar PASS-A-GRILLE - Paradise Bazaar, Friday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., next to Paradise Grille on Pass-A-Grille Beach at Ninth Avenue and Gulf Way. For more information, email ParadiseBazaar@yahoo.com.
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