INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — The line to speak at a Nov. 15 meeting on short-term rentals stretched from the front of the City Hall auditorium to the back and out the door, as hundreds showed up to vent on the hot-button subject.

Sand sculptors from around the world will transform the 15th annual Sanding Ovations into a storybook fantasyland on the beach, with creations designed around the theme of “Once Upon a Time.”

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — Ever since Joanne “Cookie” Kennedy was elected mayor, she’s honored area veterans during the Indian Rocks Beach City Commission meeting nearest Veterans Day, and this year was no different.

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue Department Chief Jeffrey Davidson recently thanked the voters for their support in passing a critical referendum question on Election Day, Nov. 8.

REDINGTON SHORES — Former town commissioner Jeff Neal collapsed from a heart attack at a Town Commission meeting in September, so those on hand in Town Hall for a Nov. 9 meeting were pleased to see Neal on his feet and shaking hands with those who had helped him.

REDINGTON SHORES — For years, this tiny beachfront town of barely 2,000 residents has been embroiled in a series of legal and ethical challenges over how officials handled — or possibly mishandled — building rules, employee firings and commissioners’ own personal actions.

ST. PETE BEACH — Members of the Historic Preservation Board won’t get to weigh in on or make recommendations to the City Commission regarding a long list of items in the Historic District, but their feelings of being ignored did get attention.

MADEIRA BEACH — The city will soon have an automated system for emptying trash containers in residential neighborhoods, along with new, larger city-provided trash carts.

ST. PETERSBURG — Under a still-dark, early morning sky, Tampa Bay’s first bus rapid transit system rumbled alive Oct. 21, opening to the public 15 years after local transportation leaders first pitched the project as a potential antidote to the city’s growing congestion and parking woes.

NORTH REDINGTON BEACH — Commissioner Gary Curtis has been an elected official in North Redington Beach for a long time — so long, if fact, that he received the John Land Award for his 23 years of continuous public service. at the Oct. 13 town hall meeting. 

MADEIRA BEACH — The city commission decided at its Oct. 5 workshop to keep its recycling program, although there will be some changes coming, including a new vendor and an increase in costs.

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — The turnout for Indian Rocks Beach’s annual Oktoberfest was in question leading up to the Oct. 8 event, just two weeks after Hurricane Ian. But amid clear blue skies and pleasant temperatures, attendees showed up at Kolb Park in force for IRB Action 2000’s signature event.

NORTH REDINGTON BEACH — Let the drooling begin! Last month John and Barbara Messmore, husband-and-wife owners of Sweet Sage Café & Boutique, discovered via WFLA-TV that their restaurant made Yelp’s list of top 100 dog-friendly restaurants in the United States. The restaurant, at 16725 Gu…

ST. PETE BEACH — An upscale boutique hotel in St. Pete Beach is changing hands.

This year’s tribute to beer, brats and all things Bavaria is set for Saturday, Oct. 8, from noon to 6 p.m. at Kolb Park, and will again feature all the fan favorites, including the beer stein race and keg toss as well as traditional German food, dancing and live entertainment.

S.C. developer buys hotel

ST. PETE BEACH — City commissioners deliberated whether to enact bans on smoking, plastic foam coolers, bicycles and fishing on the beach during a work session to draft an all-encompassing beach ordinance.