This issue marks the first anniversary of the visits of hurricanes Helene and Milton. Many of us, who lived on the ground floor, are still getting our lives back together after homes were flooded on Sept. 26, 2024, for the first time in over 100 years. We have been serving as owner/builder on our own residential recovery efforts, so we have learned a lot about permitting and construction after a disaster. Many of those who have helped with our recovery have ads in this issue, hoping for your business.
We have been blessed that even though our home and office were flooded and we lived in seven different places in the three months after the storm, we never missed a deadline, publishing a new edition every month. An incredible group of dedicated writers, our proofreader, creative art and production director, and our online networking coordinator, all working remotely, custom created each edition for our readers.
We have learned a great deal about FEMA and their 50% rule, and we have shared most of those lessons with our readers in the last 10 issues of Paradise News. In case you missed any, you can find them online at www.paradisenewsfl.com. The Past Issue button hides under the Current Issue button and gives you access to the last 10 years of our work.
Someone advised me decades ago that sacrificing all your live to save for enjoyment and travel during retirement was unwise. Too much can happen. As a result, Renee and I took a month in a travel trailer for our first honeymoon in 1970. This year we spent most of our 55th honeymoon in an awesome tiny home near Pike’s Peak. We had a great few weeks in Woodland Park, Colorado, mostly acting like tourists.
We visited Cripple Creek and Victor, Garden of the Gods, Western Museum of Mining & Industry, Diane’s Dahlia Farm, and several visits to Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs. We went to a wolf preserve, an Amish store, some thrift stores, a casino or two, a weekly community market, a hot spring. We saw Oriah, our favorite healer, twice. The weather reminded us of winter in Florida. Cool mornings gave way to highs in the low seventies.
Our October cover story is Mark Ferguson’s well-earned title for Ferg’s as TOP U.S. Sports Bar. We first met Ferg when he and some partners bought “Philthy Phils” (now the Toasted Monkey) at 75th and Sunset in St. Pete Beach, and he hired Sue Mulligan to run it for him. We were always impressed with his business and hospitality know-how and his approachability. He always seemed interested in new opportunities to learn and to network. He even has a Bitcoin machine.
We also recount the accomplishments of some organizations that have recently returned to their respective homes. Every step toward normalcy is worth celebrating.
While municipal elections are still five months away, Belle Vista resident Scott Tate, a viable candidate for mayor of St. Pete Beach, is already announcing his intention to run for the office.
Clearwater Jazz returns Oct. 16-19 on the Green in Coachman Park. Their band schedule and full-page ad are on pages 32-33 of our August / September issue with a QR code for tickets. Italian Night is back on Oct. 25 to benefit the Gulfport Senior Center rehab. Thanks for reading Paradise News. If you know of an advertising prospect call Peter Roos at 813-230-3965 or email sales@paradisenewsfl.com.