Guy Harvey To Appear At Marine Aquarium

World famous marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey will appear at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to create a one-of-a-kind painting with Winter the dolphin.

Winter is the world famous dolphin who lost her tail after getting caught in a crab trap line in 2005 and is now learning to swim with prosthetic tail. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine life.

The event will include a talk by Harvey, a private dolphin show, raffles, silent and live auctions featuring Harvey artwork, food, drinks, and music. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

When: December 6th, 6pm
Cost: $75 - limited seating available
Where: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

249 Windward Passage on Island Estates

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Valentine's Day Wedding Contest

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is giving away a free Valentine’s Day wedding package. The winning couple of the 2nd Annual Wedding of a Lifetime Contest will get married on a platform over the main dolphin pool on Valentine's Day 2010.

The package is valued at more than $20,000 and includes wedding rings, wedding dress, photography, a honeymoon and more donated by local businesses. The one-of-a-kind wedding dress will be designed by celebrity costume designer Maria McGill, who has made dresses for “Dancing With the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” Resident aquarium dolphins Nicholas and Winter will assist in the nuptials.

Entrants should submit a photo and explanation of why they should be chosen to win CMA’s “2nd Annual Wedding of a Lifetime Contest” to weddingcontest@cmaquarium.org.
The entry deadline is December 4th, and the winning couple will be chosen December 11th. Call 727-441-1790 ext. 228 with any questions. Visit http://www.seewinter.com/ for more information.

New Hotels Approved For Clearwater Beach

The Clearwater Community Development Board has approved new hotel projects on Clearwater Beach. They will also require the City Council's approval as well because they're seeking more than their allotted number of rooms.

Tropicana Resort Motels, headed by developer Gus DiGiovanni, received approval to build 2 hotels between Hamden and Coronado south of Third Street. The properties are currently occupied by a number of buildings including the Sandman Resort, Sea Cove Motel and Alex Family Restaurant. One hotel will hae 142 rooms, the other will have 118 rooms.

Shephard's Beach Resort was given approval for a major expansion. The hotel and entertainment complex will add nearly 100 rooms. One of the existing buildings will be torn down to construct a new one.

Register Now For Island Estates Holiday Boat Parade

The 35th annual Memorial Holiday Boat Parade is scheduled for December 12th. The lighted boat parade is sponsored by the Island Estates Yacht Club and is one of the most popular boating events in the area. Boats will assemble at 6 pm in Mandalay Channel, between Island Estates and Clearwater Beach. They will proceed through Island Estates' canals, arriving at Coachman Park at 8 pm, then sail under the Memorial Causeway Bridge, into the Clearwater Marina Channel and ending at the Clearwater Yacht Club judging stand. Registration is free, contact Joel Briskman at 727-688-3144 or 727-461-1147 or joelbrisk@yahoo.com.

Rough Surf May Change Ironman Course

High surf and possible rip currents in the Gulf have closed parts of Clearwater Beach.

Yesterday, buoys were supposed to be placed for the swim portion of the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 but dangerous waters did not allow for it. The Ironman staff is meeting this morning to determine whether the swim should be moved from the Gulf of Mexico to the Intracoastal.

Weekend Ironman Schedule

The Foster Grant Ironman 70.3 World Championship is Saturday, with 1800 competitors traversing Clearwater, Largo, Safety Harbor and East Lake.

The race will begin and end at Pier 60, beginning at 6:45 am and lasting about 7.5 hours. There will be a 1.2 mile swim on Clearwater Beach followed by a 56 mile bike course on the Memorial Causeway Bridge, Drew St, Countryside Blvd, McMullen-Booth Rd, East Lake Rd, Bayside Bridge, Roosevelt Blvd, Belcher Rd and Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. It will be capped off with a 13.1 mile run through Clearwater Beach, downtown Clearwater, and Harbor Oaks.

The swim can be watched from Pier 60, and the bike and run can be best veiwed from the courthouse and the causeway. Parking in downtown Clearwater is recommended, there will be shuttles available for spectators.

Police will be present to help drivers at traffic signals along the route. At intersections without signals, bikes have the right of way on the course.

Starting 3 a.m. Saturday, drivers won't be permitted south of the Clearwater Beach roundabout. People needing access to and from the south Clearwater Beach will need to use the Belleair Causeway. There will also be delays at the following intersections, most will be blocked during the race.

• Coronado Dr at the roundabout, 3 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• MLK Jr. Ave and Court St, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Drew St and Keene Rd, 7:15 to 9:30 a.m.

• Drew St and Belcher Rd, 7:15 to 10 a.m.

• Countryside Blvd and SR 580, 7:15 to 9:45 a.m.

• McMullen-Booth and Curlew roads, 7:30 to 11:15 a.m.

• McMullen-Booth and Keystone roads, 8 to 11 a.m.

• McMullen-Booth and Enterprise roads, 8:15 to 11:30 a.m.

• McMullen-Booth Rd and Drew St, 8:30 to 11:45 a.m.

• McMullen-Booth Rd and Roosevelt Blvd, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

• East Bay Dr and Belcher Rd, 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

• Belcher and Belleair roads, 8:45 to 12:15 p.m.

• Belcher Rd and Gulf-to-Bay Blvd, 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Gulf-to-Bay Blvd to Clearwater Beach, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Medians along East Lake Rd between Tampa Rd and Trinity Blvd will be closed.

Clearwater Pass Jetty Will Get Warning Lights

City Council has decided to put navigational warning lights on the Clearwater Pass jetty, by installing a series of yellow flashing lights on the jetty to warn boaters to steer clear.

The rock jetty was built in 1975 to prevent beach erosion and extends hundreds of feet into the gulf from Sand Key Park and stands about 7 feet above the water. Boaters are supposed to stay in the marked channel north of the jetty, which has its lights but the jetty has been the scene of several boat crashes. The channel between Sand Key and Clearwater Beach is narrow and heavily traveled. Despite being well lit inexperience, bad weather, or carelessness can cause boaters to strike the jetty in the dark.

Another boating hazard will also be removed. There is an 85,000-pound block of concrete submerged in Clearwater Harbor off the Seminole Boat Ramp, the remains of the base of a turnstile that was in the middle of the Seminole Bridge, built in 1917. Concrete can still be seen at very low tides and has been struck several times by vessels.

Governor Charlie Crist recently asked the U.S. Coast Guard to install lights on the Bayboro jetty in St Petersburg after a fatal accident on October 2nd where a boat struck the jetty.

Open House Nov 4th For One Way Street Debate

A public meeting will be held Wednesday evening about a plan to change Coronado and Hamden into one-way streets. Coronado Drive would be southbound only, and Hamden Drive northbound only. There will be an "open house" between 4 and 7 pm where you can view displays and talk to city staffers at the Clearwater Beach Library, 69 Bay Esplanade. For more information, call (727) 562-4750.