BELLEAIR — After serving as Belleair’s town attorney for the past 15-plus years, David Ottinger stepped down last week, paving the way for Jay Daigneault’s firm to step into the role, effective immediately.

BELLEAIR — Over the past several years many communities around the country have held discussions about the funding of police departments, an issue that’s been a hot topic in Belleair, also.

Even before the final round of the 2021 Pelican Women’s Championship ended with top-ranked Nelly Korda knocking in a birdie on the first playoff hole under darkening skies in front of a packed gallery on the 18th green, the second-year tournament had widely been considered a success.

LARGO — Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties is aiming big in northwest Largo.

BELLEAIR — When former Belleair Town Commissioner Karla Rettstatt was accused by a volunteer committee member in April 2019 of having a conflict of interest when voting on legal matters concerning the Pelican Golf Club, where she was employed, the town attorney absolved her of any wrongdoing.

BELLEAIR BLUFFS — The total changeout and makeover of the playground at City Park will be finished and open for use by the middle of November, in plenty of time for children and adults to begin trying out the new equipment during the holiday season. The completion date had been previously sc…

BELLEAIR — Dozens of Belleair residents, officials and a few high rollers turned out for the 15th anniversary celebration of the Dimmitt Community Center on Oct. 22.

BELLEAIR — There was a lot of congestion, of the human and vehicular variety, between the Belleair Causeway and Indian Rocks Road on Oct. 23 as the Bluffs Business Association’s fourth annual Wine Walk drew huge crowds to that part of town on a hot and humid Saturday afternoon.

BELLEAIR — The role of a community center varies from town to town, as some provide a variety of programs and services for the masses while others cater to a small segment of the population.

BELLEAIR — World No. 1 player and Bradenton resident Nelly Korda, sister Jessica Korda, defending champion Sei Young Kim and fan favorites Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson headline a field of early commitments for the 2021 Pelican Women’s Championship, tournament officials announ…

BELLEAIR BLUFFS — Since its inception in 2017, the Bluffs Business Association’s annual Bluffs Wine Walk has grown from a potential revenue generator for local businesses into a certified countywide phenomenon, drawing upwards of 800 guests to the Belleair area each fall in the pre-COVID-19 era.

BELLEAIR BLUFFS —The Thorn Collection of Caldwell Banker Residential Real Estate recently held its eighth annual lemonade stand fundraiser for pediatric cancer research, and according to organizers, this year’s event was the biggest to date.

BELLEAIR BLUFFS — A first look at plans for the total changeout and makeover of the playground at City Park were presented at the Aug. 16 city commission meeting.

Pet owners, beware the cane toad.

BELLEAIR BEACH — Mayor Joseph Manzo’s penchant for threatening and even taking legal action against others broadened last month to enlist his life partner, who filed a federal lawsuit against the city last month.

BELLEAIR — The town of Belleair is under a time crunch as Pinellas County officials work to come up with a bid for the purchase and operation of the town’s faltering water supply.

BELLEAIR BEACH — The city will be getting an electronic message display sign, to be placed in front of the City Hall/Community Center. In a close vote, the city council approved the sign’s purchase at a July 12 meeting.

BELLEAIR — R. Joseph Wiessinger considers himself an altruist.

BELLEAIR — A Belleair resident plans to present a petition to the town commission requiring that a referendum be held in the event there are any moves to reduce funding to or eliminate the police department.

BELLEAIR BEACH — The city is distancing itself from a lawsuit filed by Mayor Joseph Manzo against the town of Belleair Shore relating to a ban on beach umbrellas on that town’s portion of the beach.

CLEARWATER — No two diapers are exactly the same.

Francis O’Dey O’Donnell was only 22 when he was sent to Europe to fight in World War II. That was in 1943, before D-Day.

BELLEAIR — Much too often in America, police must knock on the doors where occupants are suffering a mental health crisis. Though officers are often trained in spotting schizophrenia, depression, psychosis, and other mental illness, law enforcement options are limited: calm the person causin…

BELLEAIR BLUFFS — The city’s crime rate fell by nearly one-fourth between 2010 and 2019. The significant drop in serious crime was announced in a recent letter from Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri to Belleair Bluffs Mayor Chris Arbutine.

BELLEAIR — In a symbolic — and literal — changing of the guard, the town of Belleair swore in a new mayor and two new city commissioners March 16.

BELLEAIR BLUFFS — There will be a new face on the City Commission for the first time in 11 years. Joining the commission will be Steve McNally, a Bluffs resident for six years who has not run for political office before. In a three-way race, McNally and incumbent Commissioners Jack Nazario a…

BELLEAIR BEACH — Many people likely roll their eyes when they hear the old election cliche that every vote counts.

BELLEAIR — Are motorists speeding through the quiet streets of Belleair, using its roadways as shortcuts to other parts of the county?