INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — Recently we brought you the story of the Plein Aire Cottage Artists, a trio of accomplished painters who have produced a calendar featuring classic local cottages for the last 20 years.

ST. PETE BEACH — Corey Landing moved a step closer to reality when city commissioners unanimously approved the allocation of 150 dwelling units from the city’s residential pool reserve that will allow the developer to build a 243-unit mixed-use development on 3.9 acres at the eastern end of …

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — The Beach Art Center is a longstanding community institution that first opened its doors in 1978.

ST. PETE BEACH — Gulf Winds Drive, which stretches north from Gulf Boulevard near 60th Avenue and connects to Boca Ciega Drive at 70th Avenue, will be totally reconstructed into a much narrower and safer roadway, if plans come to fruition in the next few years.

MADEIRA BEACH — Alligators, lizards, fish, snakes, rescued exotic animals, and an especially large 30-year-old tortoise appropriately named Rudolph will celebrate the holidays and a special anniversary with the public this month in John’s Pass Village.

“We’re just going ahead and acknowledging what’s happening,” said Community Development Director Linda Portal, in proposing that most of John’s Pass Village officially be made a wet zone, where people can carry their alcoholic drinks outside.

MADEIRA BEACH — The city’s wide and sandy beach has been built up and maintained largely with the aid of groins, rather than beach renourishment. But now, of the 37 groins, 23 are exposed, aging and wearing out, and the system needs to be rebuilt.

MADEIRA BEACH — In an unexpected, but welcome, turn of events for the city, it now appears certain a new city manager will be at work, in his office at City Hall, on Monday, Dec. 20.

REDINGTON BEACH — Redington Beach will make itself known and lobby to get its share of the state budget pie during the next legislative session in Tallahassee.

MADEIRA BEACH — When 77-year-old Bill Gay bought a condo in Madeira Beach nearly a decade ago, he pictured a relaxing retirement in the walkable coastal town of about 4,000 residents.

MADEIRA BEACH — The city commission has picked a new city manager. At a special meeting on Nov. 22, the sharply divided commission chose Anthony J. Carson Jr., most recently city manager of Forney, Texas, as the city’s new chief executive.

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — Mayor Cookie Kennedy continued her annual tradition of honoring the city’s veterans around Veterans Day during a recent commission meeting.

INDIAN SHORES — Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District Chief Mike Burton gave his last monthly fire department report at the town’s Nov. 9 meeting. Burton officially retires on Dec. 3.

TREASURE ISLAND — For the next seven months motorists will see, and sometimes endure, construction taking place on the East Causeway Roadway and Drainage Improvements Project, scheduled for completion in May 2022.

Organizers of Sanding Ovations, Treasure Island’s signature beach festival, predict the four-day “Sandlantis,” a sand-sculpting competition with musical concerts and an additional encore weekend, will attract tens of thousands of visitors to this barrier island city.

It’s the age-old coastal Pinellas County tale.

MADEIRA BEACH — A popular waterfront seafood restaurant in John’s Pass is not only back, it’s better than ever. Sculley’s Waterfront Restaurant was recently purchased and renovated by St. Petersburg-based hospitality group Sun Pubs, which also owns the Caddy’s Waterfront brand.

REDINGTON SHORES — Commissioner Cinda Krouk said at the Oct. 27 town commission workshop that the residents in her neighborhood “have been riled up.”

MADEIRA BEACH — For the second time in the past three years, the city plans to increase the parking rate at all city-owned lots. In 2018, the rate was raised from $2.00 to $2.50. Now, it is going up another 50 cents to $3 an hour.

Another Florida legislative session, another bald-faced attempt by the state to wrest authority from local governments.

TREASURE ISLAND — A transportation service that focuses on providing traveling entertainment, rather than just standard trips between destinations, recently kicked off its inaugural service along Gulf Boulevard with rides into Madeira Beach, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach.

Ralph T. Heath Jr., whose decades of work at the beachside bird rescue he founded in Pinellas County brought him national attention, died Saturday, Oct. 2, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary said in a statement. He was 76.

MADEIRA BEACH — The city commission decided at a special meeting on Oct. 4 to appoint Recreation Director Jay Hatch as interim city manager. He will replace current City Manager Bob Daniels, whose contract expires Nov. 1. Hatch will serve until a new city manager is hired.