SEMINOLE — The Rotary Club of Seminole Lake hosted its 40th installation banquet at Chapel on the Hill on June 28.

Several leaders of local governments and organizations in Pinellas County had been patiently waiting with fingers crossed on Gov. Ron DeSantis to make his final decisions on the state budget.

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — Former City Commissioner Connie Allen died June 17, 2020, after a short illness. Allen, who was 68, was active around the city and was especially involved in the Pinellas County Historical Society and Heritage Village.

ST. PETE BEACH — City leaders gave the green light June 23 to new rules that would help keep large buses and trucks off residential streets, which some residents say have created a “nightmare” for their neighborhoods.

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — Pinellas County’s beaches are typically packed with revelers for the Fourth of July. But if you’re planning on heading to Indian Rocks Beach in hopes of celebrating Independence Day with some fireworks, city officials have a message for you: Don’t even think about it.

ST. PETE BEACH — City Manager Alex Rey said four years of efforts to cut down on sewer overflows are working and now he wants some flexibility on a development moratorium that has hindered small businesses from setting up shop in the area.

MADEIRA BEACH — Littering on the beach, and other areas in the city, has become a major concern.

ST. PETE BEACH — COVID-19 has affected many things this year, but property assessment is not one of them. At least not yet.

ST. PETE BEACH — When City Manager Alex Rey was hired, commissioners were optimistic but unsure about how he would handle the position. After 14 months on the job, Rey has erased any doubt any of those commissioners may have had, and they showed their gratitude June 9 by unanimously voting t…

ST. PETE BEACH — Officials from Pinellas County and St. Petersburg were thrilled May 28 when President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement via Twitter that the U.S. Department of Transportation was committing the final $21.8 million to the PSTA’s $43.9 million bus rapid transit project.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced Tampa Bay area cities and towns to cancel dozens of events the past few months. 

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — The Beach Community Food Pantry, a mission of Calvary Episcopal Church, is finding success with two local food drives that replaced the canceled Stamp Out Hunger program.

Parking fees are some of the largest and most reliable revenue sources for the cities along Pinellas County’s beaches. Unfortunately, much of that revenue vanished in March and April when the county closed the beaches in an effort to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus.

ST. PETE BEACH — The first loggerhead sea turtle nest of the season was found May 6 on Pass-A-Grille beach, and city and county officials have a question for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

MADEIRA BEACH — Bookdealer Harry Nash led a most interesting and extraordinary life, according to his longtime business partner in the used book trade, Sean Donnelly.

TREASURE ISLAND — The city has made plenty of progress in the past month toward achieving its plans of moving to a new and improved City Hall.

INDIAN SHORES — One year ago, Robert Brotherton, a member of the Clearwater branch of the Sons of the American Revolution, presented the town of Indian Shores with a certificate documenting the town’s respectful handling and displaying of the American flag at the Indian Shores Municipal Center.

REDINGTON SHORES — A piece of Florida history is now just that — history.

Joanne Kennedy was fully prepared to open her Indian Rocks Beach hair salon this past Monday. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ stay-at-home order had forced her business to be closed for a month, but she was certain that was going to end when he made his announcement April 29.

MADEIRA BEACH — City leaders have a message to boaters speeding through Madeira Beach’s waterways: slow down.

Some people shine brightest during the darkest times. And times are pretty dark at the moment, which is why community leaders and groups are banding together to help those in need.

REDINGTON SHORES — Following her win over longtime District 1 Commissioner Tom Kapper, Commissioner-elect Jennie Blackburn told Tampa Bay Newspapers what issues are important to her and what she would like to accomplish during the next commission term.

Across the country, healthcare professionals and at-risk individuals struggle with shortages of personal protective equipment — face masks, gowns and gloves, among other items — as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.

MADEIRA BEACH — The recent elections have brought a significant change to the makeup of the city commission, and, potentially, to the direction of the city on a number of issues.

REDINGTON SHORES — The long-awaited demolition of the historic Redington Pier has begun. A “notice to mobilize on-site and to proceed with demolition” has been given to the contractor hired to do the work.

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — Commissioner Phil Hanna perhaps said it best when he remarked: “It is not going to be an easy problem to solve.”

MADEIRA BEACH — Candidates for mayor and City Commission expressed their views on traffic problems and other issues Feb. 25 with one participant advocating that the Tom Stuart Causeway drawbridge be put on a timer.