Welcome to the March 2024 edition of Paradise News. It is the “height of season” here on the west coast of Florida, in the corner of the world we call Paradise. Seasonal residents are all here this month as well as visitors escaping snow, ice and nor’easters for shorter glimpses of Paradise. March is the hardest month to rent a place to stay here. Some say that Easter is the end of the height of season. Easter Sunday is March 31st this year. As season wanes, the shoulder season and spring break keep things busy until school gets out and families flock to the beaches.
This issue we salute boutique hotels, privately owned and operated, offering a different experience than the large resorts on the beaches. In particular, we salute the Bay Palms and Bayview Plaza Waterfront Resorts that are affiliated with the Plaza Beach Resort, our February 2020 cover story. The past 10 years’ worth of Paradise News issues can be found in their entirety on our website www.paradisenewsfl.com.
The past issues button is under the current issue on the drop down. While you are on the website you can also subscribe for FREE to our weekly digital newsletter that publishes each Thursday with the top 5 things to do each weekend, and more. If you do not already get your Paradise News in the mail you can, for less than $2 a copy.
This month we introduce four new writers. With a journalism degree and a specialty in health and wellness, Claire Brinsden Jordan, helped start and coordinates the St. Pete Run Fest. Her features this month are found in our health and wellness section. A Treasure Island attorney specializing in property law, wills, trusts and elder law, Anthony Velardi will replace Danielle Vaughn’s legal advice column. Yet another new advice column is beginning this month as well. Elizabeth (Elli) Baldwin, the founder and president of Sunways Senior Living Concierge, came highly recommended by a good friend as a helper to either stay in your home or to find the right place to go for your or your parent’s golden years. I have been wanting to understand more about “retirement living.” Elli’s senior living advice column debuts this month. Lisa Piazza was introduced on page 36 of our February 2024 30th anniversary edition as a professional assistant with NestWatch Home Assistant. Lisa also loves writing, along with natural wellness and the environment. Her first article will be about successful recycling.
In our January publisher’s message, we tried to inspire some of our readers to experience the “Great American Eclipse” coming up on April 8th. The swath of totality goes from Mexico through San Antonio and Dallas, Texas, northeast through Buffalo, N.Y., Burlington, Vt., and most of Newfoundland. Keep in mind that a clear sky and eclipse glasses are essential to view the disappearance of the sun at midday. The window is closing for you to get there, but if you miss it you have another chance 21 years and 4 months later. On August 12, 2045, the longest lasting eclipse ever, nick-named the “Greatest American Eclipse” will make it dark throughout Tampa Bay for 6 minutes. Thanks for reading Paradise News.