The Gabber: January 13, 2022

Digital subscriptions provided by the City of Gulfport THE GABBER.COM No. 2743

January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Ballooning Beauty

By Abby Baker

JASON HACKENWERTH

Artist Jason Hackenwerth is known for his ambiguous, looming installations made from... latex balloons.

His work has been blown up, seen, and methodically popped internationally for the last 20 years, but he’s nowhere near done.

For one night [Saturday, Jan. 15] Hackenwerth’s latest work, Flesh Fatale, inflates at St. Petersburg’s Coastal Creative gallery.

A two-room exhibit, the installation offers a giant, rubbery metaphor for human emotion and will feature a drink-friendly dance party.

Blowing Up Before moving to St. Petersburg in 2013, Hackenwerth spent 10 years in New York City. He spent his early years as a New Yorker, riding the subway, something he describes as “a bummer.”

He began making balloon installations underground, thrilling metro riders with his version of public art.

“I always thought art should surprise people, stop them in their

Work from Hackenwerth at the 2017 “Skyway: A Contemporary Collaboration” at the Tampa Museum of Art.

tracks,” Hackenwerth said. “Even as a kid I wanted to be an artist because I thought art was the way to change the world, and it certainly saved my life.”

It wasn’t long before Hackenwerth started booking sculptures internationally.

“The whole part of making art is to express what cannot be spoken, and so making a dragon out of balloons, at face value it’s just a dragon,” Hackenwerth said. “If you can make something more ambiguous so that it transcends it’s initial im-

Balloons continued on page 18

This week’s paper is packed...

But we have even more for you online. Check out more Gulfport news, South Pinellas crime reporting, and beach happenings – all at thegabber.com.

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REMEMBER: Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Little Free Pantry 2908-B Beach Blvd. S. Gulfport, FL 33707 727-321-6965 Publisher

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Reporters & Contributors Abby Baker, Events Editor & Breaking News

[My] Sister and I fill the library food box once a month. We had heard rumors that people more fortunate than others were raiding the box. I did not believe it to be true until I saw it on Monday, Dec. 27 while filling the box. I now understand why the box sits empty. We will find a more personal way to help the truly needy. Shame on the greedy, especially during the holidays. The incidents we witnessed were disheartening but I believe Gulfport is an amazing place with the majority of its citizens being kind, giving, and generous. –J. Leigh Woolf, St. Petersburg

Gulfport Rebound Standing here in the peaceful outdoors it’s easy to critique the op-

erations of a city, business, or individual. But out here when chaotic times come-a-calling, nature resets its operations and counts on its environment for safety and security.

Birds hunker down, animals retreat to their dens, and marine life heads for the depths or the estuaries until the “storm” subsides. For certain, no one can predict when this current COVID storm will subside…

Enter Gulfport Rebound! Refreshing as the first cold front of autumn or the cleansing rain of spring, a program designed to acquire and retain funds within city limits to assist the residents and businesses blows into town! I’m inspired and hopeful for a trend to follow for upcoming festivals and fundraisers to continue to build on this sustainable model for a strong, healthy, successful Gulfport!

–Kurt Zuelsdorf, Gulfport

Mike Sunnucks,

Politics, Police, and Courts Gabrielle Reeder, Gabs & Beaches Jeff Donnelly, Theater Morgan Banno, Food Nano Riley, Environment Jon Kile, Columnist Resie Waechter, Outdoors & Fitness Serving Gulfport, South Pasadena, St. Petersburg West, Downtown St. Petersburg, Kenneth City, Tyrone, Tierra Verde, St. Pete Beach, Pass-A-Grille, Treasure Island, Pinellas Point, Madeira Beach, Pinellas Park

The Gabber welcomes and encourages letters and commentary. One letter per person, per month. All letters must be signed with your real name, and should be as brief as possible. Letters may be lightly edited for content, clarity and length. We will not print letters that incite violence, include personal attacks on private citizens or that are intentionally misleading or inaccurate. Letters sent to the Gabber for print will also appear online and on the Gabber’s social media pages. Commentary posted to the Gabber’s website and social media pages may also be used in print. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of the Gabber owners, advertisers or staff. Send letters to news@ thegabber.com or mail them to 2908-B Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport, FL, 33707.

Owners Barry Loper and Cathy Salustri Loper Deadlines Friday at 5 p.m.

thegabber.com @gabbernews @gabbernews @gabberlife The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers, advertisers, or employees of the Gabber. The Gabber is not liable for any errors in advertising beyond the cost of the first printing of any advertisement. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced or copied without permission of the publisher.

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thegabber.com theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

news Waiting for Life

Bert Savage Needs a Kidney to Live You may recognize St. Petersburg man Bert Savage as one of the smiling faces of his Tampa law firm’s (Savage Villoch Law) advertisements.

That smiling face, though, waits for a kidney. He’s lived on dialysis, with only one working kidney since 2019.

“It’s not easy, but I try to take it day to day and appreciate the good things I have, like my family,” Savage said. “It’s been two years and dialysis is not easy on the body and not an ideal state of living.”

For four hours a day, five days a week, he gets dialysis at home to cope with the effects of kidney disease. He bikes an average of 15 miles a day and still works full time, but it proves difficult without two fully functioning kidneys.

None of Savage’s family members have physically compatible kidneys, so the 56-year-old father of two waits for a type O donor with applicable antibodies.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, type O has the longest wait time.

“It’s like finding the needle in 10 haystacks,” Savage said.

Track Star As a high school athlete going out for track, Savage tested positive for early signs of kidney disease during a doctor‘s visit.

“The doctor told me, this could be nothing or you could need a kidney one day,” Savage recalls.

Fast forward 13 years later.

28-year-old Savage, training for the Chicago Marathon, notices his feet swell suddenly. The intense physical training activated his kidney disease.

It also destroyed his kidneys.

He received his first kidney transplant from a compatible cousin in 1992, within a few months of his diagnosis. That organ lasted 29 years.

BERT SAVAGE

By Abby Baker

“My highest calling in life is being a dad to my kids,” Savage said.

“It’s literally life saving, life giving,” Savage said. “I think it was a tough kidney but I also took really good care of such an important gift.”

The Big Ask Time is running out.

Wendy met Savage while training for the Chicago Marathon, so she’s always known this day would come.

That doesn’t make it any easier.

“I worry about my kids more than I worry about myself,” Wendy told The Gabber. “I want my kids to have

a dad, a healthy and active dad.”

He could get matched with an unrelated donor or a deceased donor through the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), but a direct donation, his family says, is his best bet.

Medicare covers the cost of the donor’s medical expenses, and other programs may cover the cost of lost work time for donors.

Still, it’s a big, ask – but a necessary one.

Interested in testing as a match? tampagenerallivingdonation.org

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Council Starts Year with Yelling During Public Comment A Resident Yells at Council; the Mayor Responds The Gulfport City Council’s first meeting of the year started off with a row between Mayor Sam Henderson and Gulfport resident Ray Rodriguez.

The heated exchange occurred during the public comment portion of the council’s Jan. 4 meeting.

Henderson warned Rodriguez to maintain decorum and obey rules about references to elected officials and city employees.

“I don’t want you intimidating the crowd – screaming and yelling. We still have some rules of propriety,” the mayor said.

That was the start of an increasingly terse exchange.

“I’m an honest man and only speak the truth,” Rodriguez said, questioning the protocols related to his free speech.

Rodriguez contends city officials have not adequately responded to public records requests regarding his disputes with the Boca Ciega Yacht Club.

“What I have is multiple Sunshine Law violations,” Rodriguez said, referring to state transparency laws and his requests for emails referencing himself and the yacht club.

“There seems to be a problem with Ray Rodriguez,” Rodriguez said as the interaction escalated.

“Good night, Mr. Rodriguez,” Henderson said to Rodriguez as he ended his comments. Rodriguez kept speaking during his exit.

“Good night, Mr. Rodriguez,” the

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CATHY SALUSTRI

By Mike Sunnucks

Mayor Sam Henderson apologized repeatedly for raising his voice.

mayor then yelled.

“Give me my Sunshine Law requests,” Rodriguez yelled back as he left the hearing.

The Gulfport mayor apologized repeatedly throughout the meeting for raising his voice during the ex-

change, but also looked for some ways to address Rodriguez’s public comments.

Henderson asked City Attorney Andrew Salzman what recourse the city might have if council wanted to curtail Rodriguez’s public comments related to alleged corruption, questioning the ethics of city officials, and retaliation against him.

Salzman said the city could restrict future flare ups via violations of decorum rules. He could also face a trespassing restriction or receive a cease and desist letter, Salzman said.

The council voiced consensus in hearing options related to public comments from Rodriguez.

“We’ll go ahead and draft that,” Salzman said of potential options related to interactions with Rodriguez. “We’ll take care of it.”

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Pride Returns in 2022

Gulfport Council Gave the Now-Annual Event Green Light CATHY SALUSTRI

Gulfport’s LGBTQ Resource Center will sponsor a Pride event in June.

GULFPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT

Gulfport gathers

The collective bargaining agreement protects detectives and officers.

For the second year running, Gulfport will have a Pride event in June. At the Jan. 4 city council meeting, council approved a request from the Gulfport Public Library’s LGBTQ Resource Center for a Pride 2022 street festival on Saturday, June 4.

The event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. and features vendors on Beach Boulevard from 28th Avenue to Shore Boulevard South.

Council approved waivers of ordinances — including allowing retail sales on public property — and agreed to provide city services for the event.

As do all Gulfport’s street festivals, Pride has free admission. Gulfport’s LGBTQ Resource Center sponsors the family-friendly event.

Gulfport Officers, Detectives Get New Union Agreement

The Agreement Includes Parental Leave Benefit, Juneteenth Holiday

By Mike Sunnucks

Gulfport city council unanimously approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association Inc., a police union that represents Gulfport police officers and detectives. Detective Jennifer Crowson serves as the union rep for Gulfport officers and detectives.

The new CBA makes Juneteenth a holiday, increases payments for unused sick leave, and adds a parental leave benefit for officers.

Gulfport city manager Jim O’Reilly said the city will also begin working with the police sergeants’ union on a new CBA.

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City of gulfport 2022 Holiday sanitation schedule MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., DAY – MONDAY, JANUARY 17 No change in schedule

PRESIDENTS’ DAY – MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 No change in schedule

MEMORIAL DAY - MONDAY, MAY 30 No change in schedule

JUNETEENTH - SUNDAY, JUNE 19 No change in schedule

INDEPENDENCE DAY - MONDAY, JULY 4

Monday’s pickup will be on Tuesday, July 5 Tuesday’s pickup will be on Wednesday, July 6 No yard waste pickup this week

LABOR DAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 No change in schedule

VETERANS DAY - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 No change in schedule

THANKSGIVING DAY - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24

Thursday’s pickup will be on Wednesday, November 23 Friday’s pickup will remain the same No yard waste pickup this week

CHRISTMAS DAY - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25

Monday’s pickup will be on Tuesday, December 27 Tuesday’s pickup will be on Wednesday, December 28 No yard waste pickup this week

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Monday’s pickup will be on Tuesday, January 3 Tuesday’s pickup will be on Wednesday, January 4 No yard waste pickup this week

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theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Resident-Only Parking Remains in Gulfport – For Now Mayor Sam Henderson Says No One’s Complained

By Mike Sunnucks

CATHY SALUSTRI

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MD Although Gulfport city council opted to table removing the resident-only parking signs, the council could revisit the idea in February.

Despite Vice Mayor April Thanos’ requests to remove “residents only parking signs” on some Gulfport streets, Gulfport City Council opted to table the idea at its Jan. 4 meeting.

Thanos said parking rules are not regularly enforced and removing the signs will offer more parking for visitors.

“Parking is a problem,” she said.

The proposal would remove some parking signs on 56th, 57th, Clinton and Dupont Streets South. The signs indicate that only Gulfport residents with a parking decal can park on those streets between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The council opted to table the idea to see if they get more feedback from residents — and whether it is a pressing issue.

“No one has come in mad about it either way,” Mayor Sam Henderson said.

Ray worried about having “a backlash after the fact” if the city removed the signs.

The council will also look at how and when it enforces parking rules.

“This is enforced when residents complain,” Vincent said, adding there have been enforcements during special events.

Council may revisit the issue at its February meeting.

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theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

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Get Out: Lettuce Hike

Our New Outdoors Writer Takes on Hillsborough Hikes Hiking in Florida? But there are no mountains! We don’t even have hills here.

These are my initial thoughts when I hear about the 2022 Hillsborough Hiking Spree. Hiking’s not only for mountains, I soon learn. Hillsborough Parks and Recreation encourages everyone to “get up, get out and discover Hillsborough County’s wild side!”

And discover it I shall. The website lists nearly two dozen parks and preserves scattered within a comfortable driving distance of my St. Pete home. I choose Lettuce Lake Conservation Park for its proximity and promise of an easy, beginner-friendly hike. Just outside of Tampa, the park stretches across nearly 250 acres of beauty, with a 1.25-mile paved exercise trail and a 3,500-foot boardwalk. From an observation tower, hikers have premium views of the hardwood swamp

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RESIE WAECHTER

By Resie Waechter

After several days of COVID quarantine, Resie and her boyfriend, Nate, are hungry to get outside.

forest. Inside the visitor’s center, hikers can tour a mini-museum full of wildlife replicas and get info about the park’s diverse residents.

The park has ample restroom facilities, campsites, pavilions, and kayak and canoe rentals (on weekends, you can even schedule a guided tour.)

This adventure couldn’t come at a better time: After several days of COVID quarantine, my boyfriend Nate and I are thirsty for fresh air and ready to explore. Mossy oaks greet us as we enter the park. The old, gnarled branches arch toward the road and hug the street as we pass underneath. At the top of my wish list today is to see a hummingbird or a bald eagle, although I know encountering either one is rare.

We start with the boardwalk, which curves through a swampy paradise full of cypress trees and palms. The observation tower is a few stories high – not enough to intimidate my acrophobic self – and offers gorgeous views of

the wilderness. Herons, ibis, and egrets fill the trees. After a time in the tower, we get back on the boardwalk for a closer view.

I lose count of all of the birds we see. They studiously watch the swamp water, gently stirring the surface in hopes of teasing up lunch. A yellow-crowned night heron prepares escargot by smashing a snail shell against a rock with its long beak.

Once we stroll the stretch of boardwalk, we explore more of Lettuce Lake. Signs posted throughout the park explain about prescribed pine forest burns and how cypress trees grow “knees” to help them breathe.

After a few refreshing hours of exploration, it’s time to retreat. I inhale deeply. The hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods nourish a hunger I forgot I even had. Grateful for this beautiful, swampy paradise I get to call home, I promise myself to explore a new park each month of 2022. My soul needs it.

And I still want to see that eagle.

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Winged Warriors Soar Skyward

Seaside Seabird Sanctuary First Release of 2022

By Gabby Reeder

JOE MESTAS: ST. PETE BEACH PHOTOGRAPHER

Some waddled, some flew, but they all made it back to their wild homes.

A pod of pelicans bobbed on the water. Gulls waddled back into the sea. Cormorants trekked into the ocean. Joe Mestas, a St. Pete Beach photographer, chimed in: “After release, many of them gathered offshore, as if having a reunion or waiting for their friends to be released.”

Known for its rehabilitative practices among rescued and injured birds, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary’s main focus is to release the birds back into their natural habitat. On Jan. 5, the Indian Shores center held the first release of the year, freeing pelicans, gulls, and cormorants back into nature.

Since the center sits on the sandy shores of Indian Rocks beach, the sanctuary staff and volunteers gathered the birds who were ready for their journey back into the wild and headed behind the center to the water.

The release drew the interest of locals and tourists, eager to watch the healthy birds re-enter their natural environments. Audience members smiled wide grins and crouched into prime photo-taking positions as staff and volunteers carried birds to the shore.

Workers transported each bird individually, grasping their beaks safely, then placing the flying creature near the water, allowing them to approach their natural environment once again.

Each winged warrior adjusted differently: Some birds waddled into

the water, re-familiarizing themselves with the sea, while others took a few steps and soared over the ocean.

Mestas described the experience as a, “great, great experience to watch these birds return to the sea.”

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theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

9

Business Beat: Gulfport Pizza, a Beach Bar + Gulfport Doctors From Wellness to Beach Beers, Here’s What’s New in South Pinellas

RASCALS WATERING HOLE

SLICE OF GULFPORT

ABBY BAKER

By Abby Baker

The Labrador Primary Care Center is adding a third location in Gulfport on Jan. 19.

The two “Johns” of Slice of Gulfport, John McLachlan and Jon Rowles.

Slice of Gulfport Gulfport residents and fans of homegrown pizza joints have reason to rejoice: Slice of Gulfport, a no-nonsense pizza place at 1414 58th St. S., plans to open anytime between mid-February and March 1, says co-owner John McLachlan.

The restaurant will open at the location of the former Gulfport eatery, Fazio’s Pizza. A fire destroyed the former pizza spot in 2016; the fire also set Suncoast Food Store, Sunrise Laundromat (now Funky Flamingo), and Gulfport Florist ablaze.

Today, McLachlan along with co-owners Jon Rowles and Andrew Radish, hope to start fresh traditions.

“I’m from St. Pete Beach, and I recently moved to Gulfport. Now that I’m in the neighborhood, I want pizza, and there’s not a lot of choices,” McLachlan said. “So I decided to do it myself, that’s the dream.”

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Rascals Watering Hole, the newest bar on St. Pete Beach.

McLachlan, a chef, hopes that Slice of Pizza will open for business sooner rather than later, but currently faces challenges due to the pandemic.

Cheers, St. Pete Beach Manned by two former beach bartenders, Rascals Watering Hole opened as a beer and wine bar on St. Pete Beach at 6670 Gulf Blvd. earlier this month.

Owners George Wales and Jason Bona are adding liquor and food items – such as charcuterie boards – but for now, the bar offers air-fried wings and casual pours.

“It’s definitely a casual place on the beach,” Wales told The Gabber. “We cater to the Sunday football crowd, things like that.”

Previously the bar was a similar watering hole, Barrier Island.

Wales hopes to expand on the original concept but keep Rascal’s an easy going, casual beach bar with draws such as crab dip and aged wine.

Family Practice Gulfport will become the third location of Labrador Primary Care at 5602 Gulfport Blvd. S., adjacent to the Dunkin’ Donuts. A groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

The center will open at 5602 Gulfport Blvd. S. Locals know it as the former vacant lot adjacent to the Dunkin’ Donuts.

Owners and primary physicians Dr. Carlos and Kitty Labrador have served community health needs for 18 years.

The other two Labrador locations are in St. Petersburg.

The Labrador practice is a family one, but employs 28 health care workers, counting four full-time physicians.

In Gulfport, the Labradors assigned Dr. Christina McCoy as the chief physician.

“It is by wisdom, dedication, and compassion for her [Dr. McCoy] patients that she has become such an admired and trusted family physician within the community,” reads the Labrador Primary Care website.

Find more information at drlabrador. com.

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

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theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

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She Would Dye for Gulfport

This ADA Expert Calls Gulfport Home – and Adds Color Wherever She Goes If your life were a t-shirt, what would it say? Gulfport resident Marra Piazza Brass knows her answer: “Sit still, be quiet, be kind.” She even knows what color it would be: a tiedyed swirl of raspberry and navy, the hues slightly faded so you can see the words clearly. As an experienced tie dyer, she thinks of these things.

“Don’t get me wrong, I can be loud!” she quips. “But I do think it’s important not to get totally caught up in the day-to-day. Stopping to reflect a bit more lends itself to kindness.”

Reflection – and a fair measure of creativity – are vital in her line of work. Piazza Brass has worked in student services for her entire professional life, first as a financial aid counselor, then as a high school guidance counselor, and now, as a Human Services Practitioner at the University of South Florida, in accessibility services. She assists students with disabilities in developing accommodations that allow them to fully participate in classes and campus life, while helping to educate university communities about accessibility issues.

Even 30 years after the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this work can be an uphill battle.

ANNE ANDERSON

By Amanda Hagood

Marra Piazza Brass leads a tie dye demonstration at a Gulfport Historical Society fundraising event in September 2019. If you would like to see more of her work, check out her Etsy shop: Marralynn’sSaltyDyes.

“If I could wave a magic wand, and do just one thing to make the world better,” says Piazza Brass, “it would be to eliminate ableism – the belief that people with disabilities are somehow lesser.” Whether it’s campus facilities not built for all mobilities or a lack of education around invisible disabilities such as autism

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Still, Piazza Brass finds her own unique ways to make a positive change. A Disability Awareness Month program that she organized in March of 2021 featured workshops and presentations on univer-

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sal design for education, navigating disability in the workplace, and a screening of the hit Netflix documentary, “Crip Camp”. Giveaways included Disability Awareness Monththemed buttons, bumper stickers, and – you guessed it – tie dyed shirts.

Friends and neighbors see Marra’s penchant for color and creativity in the home she shares with her husband, Tyler Brass, and their two cats, Lucy and Charlie. The family moved to Gulfport’s Marina District in October of 2020, and quickly set about improving their mid-century ranch house with new windows, a fresh coat of sea salt paint with coral trim (with a matching Little Library out front), and new tropical plantings. They designed the home inspired by fond memories of Hawai’ian vacations and a shared

MARRA PIAZZA BRASS

MARRA PIAZZA BRASS

Charlie Brass, one of Piazza Brass’s feline family members, sports a unique tie dyed creation.

Tie dye is a labor of love. Marra says “I love you” in American Sign Language after a long dyeing session.

love of Jurassic Park. While there are no dinosaurs in the yard – yet, though she envisions at least one small T. rex skeleton, with a spotlight – the couple did host an outdoor screening of the Spielberg classic for Marra’s birthday last December.

“I can only imagine what the neighbors must have thought,” she grins.

Dinos and all, Marra and Tyler love living in Gulfport. Though they originally hail from a small town in upstate New York, Gulfport feels like home.

“It’s a village and a community in a really big space, but it doesn’t feel really big.” Together they enjoy getting to know their new neighborhood by bike, kayak, and personal watercraft.

And the humans aren’t the only ones building a new life in Gulfport.

While Charlie, an avowed introvert,

prefers the quiet pursuits of cuddling and hiding under bedclothes, charmer Lucy is quickly rising to fame on her (ahem, Tyler’s) TikTok channel, @stpetetyme. One recent video, in which she interrupted her Dad in the middle of a work call, has garnered nearly a million views. Piazza Brass explains: “She’s telling him, meowingly, that she wants to eat dinner.”

When cats butt in, or work gets tough, or a T. rex catches you right in the middle of things, what can you do?

“Just laugh,” says Piazza Brass.

“That would be another good t-shirt for my life.”

This one, she thinks, would be purple and teal.

Meet the Brass family in March along Gulfport’s Pink Flamingo Home & Garden Tour.

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theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

13

arts Pear-aphernalia

Artist and Teacher Steven Beverage’s 10-Year Love Affair with Pears It began with the birth of his son and a graphite pear drawing.

Working artist and Gibbs High School art teacher Steven Beverage has studied, painted and created pear-themed sculptures after the 2010 birth of his child.

“I recognized immediately that this life was no longer about me,” Beverage said. “I have the responsibility of this child, it felt like a gift to me.”

This new take on life paired with Beverage’s infatuation with the “Confessions of St. Augustine,” a 13-book series written between 397 A.D. and 400 A.D. by a Christian philosopher who famously converted from pagan.

In his writings, Augustine tells a story about himself and friends excitedly destroying fruit from a neighbor’s pear tree as teenagers.

“Something about the story stuck with me and resonated with me,” Beverage said.

Since then, the pear has been his main muse for the last decade, but it’s strictly a professional relationship.

“People ask me all the time, do you like pears? Do you like to eat pears?” Beverage said. “Not necessary, I’m not a huge fan.”

STEVEN BEVERAGE

By Abby Baker

Fresh Fruit The vulnerability and softness of his newborn and his discovery of St. Augustine inspired him to begin painting pears, but his most effective and meaningful expressions come through sculpture, Beverage said.

His son is 11 now, and the artist’s work has grown from peachy petals to a darker series of sculptures made from found objects.

Beverage named the series Chess Pieces.

The work is sharper – literally. He uses materials such as knives and sliced pears to convey trauma, a

14

“Edge of Knight” is a threatening sculpture made to look like a knight chess piece.

darker feeling.

For example, the Chinese proverb saying that a couple who cut a pear together will eventually split inspired “Li”, a sculpture featuring a green pear and wooden table split in half.

It’s also very personal to Beverage.

“The trauma that you can deliberately inflict upon a pear ... that piece specifically is kind of influenced from a rather toxic relation-

ship I was involved in,” Beverage said.

The table used in “Li” comes from a secondhand store, but it represents a table that sat in Beverage’s ex-girlfriend’s apartment.

He has no plans to stop working with pears. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

“I might do it for the rest of my life,” Beverage said.

See Beverage’s pear art at stevenbeverage.com.

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Quilting Together

The Women Behind Gulfport’s Quilts Quilts connect the seamstresses of the Gulfport Senior Center Quilters Club.

This group of retired women sew because they always have. For a quarter century the group has completed projects for causes like Meals on Wheels, the Gulfport Police Department, Quilts of Valor, and others.

No-nonsense expert seamstress, Elizabeth Zanata, leads the group.

“It’s just something we’ve always done,” Zanata said.

At the moment, the group has 25 members committed to the craft of sewing; they often donate their own handiwork.

“Most of us who quilt started with sewing clothes. I know my money went farther if I bought fabric,” said Gini Duke, a Gulfport Quilters Club member of seven years. “I started to quilt once I retired, when I had the time.”

While the seamstresses sew November through April, they find the holiday season especially important. At their last ceremony on Dec. 7, the Gulfport Quilters presented two veterans with quilts as part of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

They wrapped the veterans in the quilts as a symbol of appreciation.

The group also donated 120 handmade stockings for the seniors of the Meals on Wheels program.

Quilting, it turns out, is no simple feat.

That’s according to Fabric Smart owner Karen Donnelly, who has sewed since the age of 9. The longtime seamstress explains that sewing a quilt involves combining three layers of fabric into one complex piece.

“There is a lot of detail in making a quilt, and that all takes time,” Donnelly said. “There’s no way to get around taking that time, but it can be very meditative.”

In these tough times, she said, stitching can offer a welcome outlet.

“People are turning to embroidery and sewing to help cope and keep the mind calm,” Donnelly said.

ABBY BAKER

By Abby Baker

The Gulfport Senior Center Quilters Club consists of a team of seamstresses who sew year round for fun and for donation purposes.

Staying in practice is key, and as a tradition, the seamstresses head to a cabin sewing retreat for a weekend each January.

“It’s out in the boondocks and we love it,” Zanata said.

The retreat, near Lithia Springs, typically gets used for youth camps

during the summer.

But for four days in January each year, it turns into a seamstress haven.

“We work on personal projects and club things,” Duke said. “I know I joined the group particularly because of the retreat.”

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theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

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City facilities closed Jan. 17 to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Gulfport Senior Center 5501 27th Ave. S. • 727-893-5657 •

/gulfportseniorcenter

Annual registration required. Free, residents; $50, non-residents. All programs subject to change without notice. Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Fri, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Stop by, join our weekly newsletter, or like us on Facebook for a full calendar of events.

Fitness Center now open! To provide physical distancing, we’ve limited capacity, so call to register for a spot.

Supplemental food assistance for qualifying Gulfport Seniors in need is available at the Senior Center. Pantry is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Proper verification required prior to use of the pantry.

GEMS (Gulfport Extended Mobility Service) provides affordable Door-to-Door transportation service, rides to medical appointments, shopping, and much more for Gulfport residents, 55 years of age or older or disabled. 727-893-2242. Call GEMS at 727893-2242 to learn about this month’s exciting GEMS Getaways.

Medical Equipment Lending Program provides gently used wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches and other medical equipment to seniors who need it. Supplies limited.

SPECIAL EVENTS Health Talk with Labrador Primary: Cold & Flu Season Dr. McCoy discusses how to prepare for (and protect your family during) cold and flu season. Jan. 13, 12 p.m.

Rhythm & Groove Jam Session Let’s make music together at our new monthly hootenanny. Bring your instrument and join others for a casual jam. Open to everyone, no matter your experience or instrument – we also welcome listeners! Jan. 13, 3 p.m.

Wellness Wednesday Make your health a priority and track your progress with these free monthly wellness screenings. Jan. 19, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. iPhone / iPad Instruction Class Learn the basic functions of your Apple iPhone or iPad. Jan. 20, 1 p.m. Call to pre-register (required.)

In The Kitchen with Chef Jack: Mushroom Beef Barley Improve your culinary skills with step-by-step instruction from the Soup Guru, Chef Jack. Jan. 20, 4 p.m. Limited space; call to register and get the recipe.

Clubhouse Chatter Open discussion about the MLB season & the Rays. This month, meet a special guest: Bill Matthews, the official scorekeeper for the Tampa Bay Rays. Jan. 21, 10:30 a.m.

16

EPIC Coffee Club Join other LGBTQ+ seniors and allies in a welcoming, safe space for discussion, encouragement and growth over a warm cup of coffee. Jan. 26, 8:30 a.m.

Happy Birthday! Celebrate January birthdays with friends – whether it’s your birthday or not. Cake and ice cream for all! Jan. 26, 3 p.m.

Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament 2022 Sign up your team today for this year’s tournament.

Jan. 27, 3 p.m.; register with staff by Jan. 21.

Matinee Movie Take a break and enjoy a movie with friends. Call for title. Jan. 28, 1 p.m.

Valentine’s Day Sock Hop Break out your poodle skirt and leather jackets, grab your partner and head to the Gulfport Casino for a Valentine’s Day to remember. Feb. 14, 6 p.m.; tickets at Senior Center and Casino.

MONDAYS Monday Mile Walking Club 8 a.m. Call for location Chair Exercise 9:30 a.m., Theater lobby Stretch & Strength 10:30 a.m., Casino Wisdom Healing Qigong 11 a.m., Neighborhood Center Mahjong 12 p.m., Room 107 Dominos 1 p.m., Theater lobby Chair Yoga 1 p.m., Casino Strength Training & Aerobics 1:30 p.m., Dining Hall Chair Volleyball 3 p.m., Dining Hall

TUESDAYS Seated Tai Chi 8:30 a.m., Theater lobby Gulfport Senior Citizens Harmonica Club 9 a.m., Room 107 Tai Chi / Qi Gong 10 a.m., Casino Line Dancing for Beginners 10 a.m., Neighborhood Center Gulfport Quilters 10 a.m., Room 106 Continuing Level 1 Spanish 10:30 a.m., Zoom Texas Hold ‘Em 11 a.m., Theater lobby Wii Bowling 1 p.m., first and third Tuesdays, Room 107 Contract Bridge 1:30 p.m., Theater lobby

New Horizons Band of Gulfport Jazz Practice 4:30 p.m., Room 107 New Horizons Band of Gulfport Concert Practice 6 p.m., Dining Hall

WEDNESDAYS Gentle Mindful Yoga 9:30 a.m., Neighborhood Center Investment Discussion Group 10 a.m., Room 107 Stretch & Strength 10:30 a.m., Casino Canasta 1 p.m., Theater lobby Bingo 1:30 p.m., Dining Hall Cardio Drumming 4:30 p.m., Dining Hall Bunco 6 p.m., Room 107

THURSDAYS Seated Tai Chi/Qi Gong 8:30 a.m., Theater lobby Art Summer Open Workshop 9:30 a.m., Room 106 Tai Chi/Qi Gong 10 a.m., Casino Intermediate Spanish Study Group 10:30 a.m., Room 107 Texas Hold ‘Em 11 a.m., Theater lobby Acrylic Painting 1 p.m., Room 106 Strength Training & Aerobics 1:30 p.m., Dining Hall Contract Bridge 1:30 p.m., Theater lobby Italian Language Classes 6 & 7 p.m., various rooms

FRIDAYS Gulfport Writers’ Workshop 9:30 a.m., Room 107 Wellness Movement 9:30 a.m., Neighborhood Center Knitting & Crocheting 10 a.m., Theater lobby Healing Yoga Therapy 11 a.m., Casino Bridge Instruction 12:30 p.m., Room 107 Chair Volleyball 1:30 p.m., Dining Hall

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Gulfport Casino Ballroom 727-893-1070 • 5500 Shore Blvd. S. Soul Night: Disco Party Dance to funky disco grooves and beats. No partner needed, and you can take a lesson with Bob Quartltere before the party starts. Jan. 14: 7 p.m., hustle lesson; 8 p.m., dance. $10. swingtime.info.

Ballroom Dance with Daniel Fugazzotto Learn to foxtrot with Carol Baker before the

ballroom dance party starts. Jan. 16: 6 p.m., lesson; 7 p.m., dance. $10.

Mind, Body & Spirit Expo All things metaphysical, hosted by Unity of Gulfport. Speakers, psychics and seminars, as well as like-minded vendors. Jan. 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Ballroom Dance with USA Dance DJ music and dance hosts, plus a lesson. Jan. 24,

7 p.m. $10; $7, USA Dance members. 727576-1206.

Casino Weekly Dances Ballroom Lessons: Tues., 12-3 p.m. $10 Argentine Tango: Tues., 6:30 p.m., $10 Swing: Weds., 7 p.m. $10 Latin Night: Thurs., 7 p.m. $10

Catherine Hickman Theater 727-893-1070 • 5501 27th Ave. S. Gilligan’s Island: The Musical Remember the iconic ‘60s TV show? Don’t miss this family-friendly musical, with 19 original songs. Through Jan. 23: Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m. $22. gulfportcommunityplayers.org.

Gulfport Public Library 5501 28th Ave. S. • 727-893-1074 • /gulfportlibraryfl Mygulfport.us/gpl • Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

All programs free and subject to change.

Science in the Garden Meeting in the Reading Garden for our weekly Science Club for Grades K-5. Resumes Jan. 10, Mondays, 4 p.m.

Storytime in the Park Join Miss Cailey at Clymer Park for outdoor Storytime fun!

Enjoy books, songs, rhymes and bubbles. Bring a chair or blanket if you want to sit during the program. Activities for toddlers and caregivers, but we always welcome additional siblings and family members. Thurs., 10:30 a.m.

Get Growing City horticulturist Toffer Ross answers questions about Florida native

gardening. Learn how to shrink your turfgrass and create a biodiverse habitat for pollinators, while adding Florida beauty!

Jan. 18, 11 a.m.

SHINE Presentation: Medicare Part C Trained volunteers provide free, unbiased information and counseling about Medicare Advantage options, including HMOs, PPOs, and financial assistance programs..

Jan. 19, 1 p.m. 727-893-1073 for individual appointment with a SHINE counselor.

Gulfport Library Book Club “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley. Jan. 20, 2 p.m.

727-893-1073.

Babytime For little ones under 2 and their caregivers – older siblings welcome.

Sing, read, enjoy lap bounce rhymes, and learn baby signs. Jan. 21, 10:15 a.m.

Sew Easy Use assorted fabric, thread, and stitches to make a washable, reusable coffee cozy you can wash and reuse.

Jan. 21, 1 p.m. Limited supplies; registration required starting Jan. 14. Call or email library.programs@mygulfport.us Grab & Go Bird Craft Pick up a craft kit for kids grades K-5. Kits include everything you need to make your own feathered friend. Kits available Jan. 31; limit two per home.

Recreation Center 5730 Shore Blvd S. • 727-893-1068 • mygulfport.us/recreation/rec Annual registration: $3; $25, nonresidents Basketball Adult: Wed., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. & Thurs. 6-8:30 p.m.

Pickleball All levels: Tues., 6-8:30 p.m. & Thurs., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Beginner: Tues., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Intermediate & Advanced: Mon., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Table Tennis Tues.. & Thurs., 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Game Room Mon., Wed., & Fri., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

PROGRAMS Afterschool Program Registrations Continue! Register now for 2021-22 school year child care program for kids entering kindergarten through age 14. Bus transportation available from Pasadena Fundamental, Gulfport Montessori and Douglas Jamerson Elementary. Program runs until 5:30 p.m., with extended hours until 6 p.m. for an extra charge. Please contact the Recreation Center for more details.

Teen Night Registrations Continue! Available for middle and high school students 17

and younger. Recreation, social activities, field trips, cooking projects, guest speakers and service projects. Teens can use the gymnasium, game room and outdoor area. Mon., Wed., & Fri.: 6-9 p.m. Rec Center membership required: $3, residents; $25, nonresidents.

Tot-Time Registrations Continue for hands-on preschool program for children ages 3-5. The program aims to make learning fun for children and helps prepare them for kindergarten. Two, three and five-day options available on a monthly basis. 8:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; register Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Proof of residency required for Gulfport residents.

CLASSES

Essential Oil Thurs., Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m. $10/ class. Jennifer: 813-263-3919.

F.I.T Tennis Fri., 6 p.m. Free for beginners, ages 21 and up. Chase Park, 5313 27th Ave. S. Mo: 727-515-1454.

Hula Hoop Fitness Every other Thursday, 6:30 p.m. $35/month; $10/class. Maria: mestrada1987@gmail.com.

Tennis Tues., Adult lessons. Chase Park, 28th Ave. and 53rd St. S. $15. Mo: 727-5151454.

Yoga Moves Hatha Yoga Fri., 9:30 $12/ class; $40/month. Denise: 727-251-8868 Youth Hip Hop Ages 6-8: Fri., 6:30 p.m.; ages 9-16, Fri., 7:30 p.m. $40/month. Lisa Walker: 727-742-2594

Call instructor for more information. Want to teach a class? Call John: 727-893-1079.

Walking Club Fri., 8:45 a.m. $3/trip. John: 727-893-1079.

Ballet and Tap Tues.: Ages 3-6, 5:45 p.m.; ages 7-16, 6:45 p.m. $40/month. Lisa Walker: 727-742-2594.

Watercolor with Patsi Wed., 10 a.m. $55/ month. Patsi: artistpsychic@gmail.com

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Zumba Thurs., 6 p.m. $20/month; $6/ class. Magda: 727-214-7868

17

pulse … it can become everyone’s inner demon.”

He’s exhibited his work at the Hong Kong Art Fair, Miami’s Art Basel, in The National Museum of Scotland, and in a rolling list of national and international spaces.

His installations only last as long as the balloons – or the show.

When the event ends, Hackenwerth literally pops each individual inflatable – without hesitation.

“Destroying the piece is similar to what the monks do with the sand mandalas,” he said. “It’s a metaphor for our existence. Everything is temporary.”

Especially balloons.

There’s no additional materials, despite each sculpture appearing to the attached to swirling infrastructure.

“That’s because I’m a bada** engineer,” he jokes.

Local Sighting At the Coastal Creative exhibit, Hackenwerth’s Flesh Fatale features

JASON HACKENWERTH

Balloons continued from cover

Jason Hackenwerth creates immersive, enormous balloon installations internationally.

two installations in dual rooms. The first symbolizes human pride; the second, overindulgence.

“The Wreck of the Hesperus” by Henry Wadsworth inspired the first.

The poem tells a tale of a sea captain who leads 300 people to their death after refusing to listen to the signs of an incoming storm.

“It’s about pride, and ego, and a reminder not to be arrogant,” Hackenwerth said.

The second installation is the flip side of the first. It’s a biological mass made from balloons, and the site of a literal dance party.

“I feel like these are the two ills

of our society and they are given to people completely free to overdose on,” Hackenwerth said. “I wanted to make an installation that would offer all of these fantastic sensory experiences.”

But, Hackenwerth said, people don’t need to know that.

His particular inspirations don’t have to directly translate. To the unsuspecting viewer, the two rooms filled with massive balloon sculptures push for a dance party, complete with raised platforms and balloon-clad models.

Get tickets for Flesh Fatale at coastalcreativetv.com.

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theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Ab workouts sure do look different this year.

What makes us extraordinary?

Some say it’s how we enable you to create your own inspiring day. Others point to our award-winning dining and one-of-a-kind enrichment programs. But really, it’s our people who make all the difference. Those moments of joy, the sense of belonging, that true connection shared with friends and neighbors. Can you sense the possibilities?

Schedule your private tour. Call 727-202-3474 today.

Learn more about our community: Hover phone camera over the QR code or visit wrcsenses.com/bocaciegabay.

scan with your camera TO LEARN MORE

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theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

19

food A Foodie Resolution: Be Your Dream Chef

Some Pantry Tips and Two Recipes for the New Year

By Morgan Banno

The New Year’s all about fresh starts and new beginnings – a clean slate every first of the year where we convince ourselves to eat better, exercise, and be spontaneous. January’s when we denounce unhealthy foods and embrace our leafy greens with vim and vigor, only to find ourselves face down in candy and chocolate-covered strawberries come February. With nearly two years of

‘pandemic cooking’ behind us, it’s about time we enjoy a deliciously well-made meal, even if it isn’t the healthiest.

If COVID taught us anything, it’s that we must adapt in the kitchen. From frugal prepping practices (like saving vegetable peels and meat carcasses for stock) to shopping locally and seasonally for the least-inflated prices, now is the time to kick up your kitchen game.

Despite the savagely spreading Omicron strain, there’s never been a better moment to take full advantage of your own kitchen. This year’s resolution? Be the home cook you’ve always dreamed of!

While you re-evaluate your foodie priorities, consider my 2022 Chef’s Pantry Tips to set the stage for your amateur chef experience and soon-to-be master home cook:

Chef Morgan’s Pantry Tips

MORGAN BANNO

Set your mise en place (AKA: get your act together).

Pre-measure ingredients, chop veggies and chiffonade garnishes into separate bowls to speed up the cooking process.

It may feel like extra work up front, but you won’t regret it.

Layer flavors. Infuse oils with fresh herbs or peppers for depth. Sear meats on high heat for hard caramelization before braising, and allow your aromatics time to cook over the heat so they release their full, volatile flavors.

Befriend your freezer! Stock up on gallon bags and freeze veggie scraps, herb stems, and animal bones. You can use them later to make a flavorful, homemade stock or sauce.

Save the fat. You can render excess fat, particularly bacon fat, save it to add optimal flavor and depth to your next dish. Remember, when cooking: Fat is a friend.

Finish with fresh herbs. Earthy and herbaceous, finishing dishes with freshly chopped parsley, basil, cilantro, or tarragon elevates any home-cooked dish so it tastes like it was prepared in a professional kitchen.

Bonus tip: Invest in a good chef’s knife! Even for the most basic home cook, a quality knife makes all the difference in preparation, presentation, and safety! Sharpen and hone regularly.

Pandemic cooking doesn’t mean flavorless cooking. Experiment with flavors of elevated comfort foods, like my roasted butternut squash risotto. This simple, straightforward recipe is creamy, comforting and full of warm flavors for those chilly January days.

READ THE FULL ISSUE ONLINE! ISSUU.COM/THEGABBER 20

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

MORGAN BANNO

utes. Squeeze in lemon juice. Add one ladle of hot stock to rice and stir until combined. Repeat until all of the stock is absorbed by the rice.

Add cooked butternut squash. Finish with additional butter, mascarpone cheese and grated Parmesan cheese. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

1 cup brown/green lentils 1 cup crushed tomato 1 cup vegetable broth 1 bag frozen peas/carrots 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 tablespoon butter ¼ cup milk salt & pepper to taste

If you’re anything like me and use the top of the year to jump start your metabolism, my vegetarian lentil shepherd’s pie offers a healthier alternative to the traditional meat-forward casserole. Prepared in under an hour, this dish is naturally gluten free and you can easily make it vegan by swapping the dairy for vegan-friendly alternatives.

Method Preheat oven to 400º and grease an 8x10 oven-safe baking dish. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add olive oil and butter. Sweat onions until soft; add garlic and cook 2-3 minutes. Add thyme, sage, and coriander and cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and cook until dark red. Add lentils and stir to coat. Add crushed tomato and vegetable broth, fold in frozen peas/carrots. Cook over medium heat while you prepare the potatoes. Peel, cube and cook potatoes until tender. Mash, add second portion of butter and milk, combine with salt and pepper to taste. Assemble shepherd’s pie in the baking dish by layering the lentil mixture on the bottom and top with mashed potatoes. Cook 20-30 minutes until heated through and potatoes are lightly browned on top.

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto Yield: 6 servings

Method Preheat oven to 400º. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, drizzle cubed squash with olive oil. Bake approximately 20 minutes, until squash is tender. In a medium sauce pot, heat chicken broth. In a separate skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add shallot and cook until tender and translucent.

Add garlic, cook 1-2 minutes. Add arborio rice and coat well in the fat.

Add white wine and cook 5 min-

MORGAN BANNO

Ingredients 1 small butternut squash, cubed (or buy precut) 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter ½ cup dry white wine (sauvignon blanc recommended) Juice from 1 lemon 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium recommended) 1 small shallot, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 ½ cup arborio rice 1 tablespoon butter ¼ cup mascarpone cheese 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

For this new year, ditch the detox, forego the fad diets, and instead, make a mouthwatering meal that is simply delicious.

Vegetarian Lentil Shepherd’s Pie Yield: 4 servings Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon butter ½ cup yellow onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced ½ teaspoon thyme ½ teaspoon sage ½ teaspoon coriander 1 tablespoon tomato paste

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

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21

the gabs What is your favorite way to waste time?

KATY WILLIAMS

listening to podcasts! I find walks are a great way to waste my spare time because at least I feel productive afterwards. It saves me from wasting all of my free time on TikTok or Twitter and other social media apps that probably aren’t the most healthy to be spending hours on. I also enjoy going for drives at night listening to music, mainly Taylor Swift. I’m sort of a night owl, so it’s always fun to drive and listen to music when no one else is really on the roads.”

Katy Williams, Atlanta: “On Zillow, trying to find my dream home in various cities around the country.”

VALERIE VOLL

MARISSA JACKSON

Marissa Jackson, Gulfport: “I like to waste time by going for walks and

MARIA MENDIA

By Gabrielle Reeder

Maria Mendia, Orlando: “Things I usually do to waste time include endlessly scrolling on Instagram and Twitter. I also tend to go on TikTok for hours just watching random videos. Watching the same show I have already watched is another way that I like to waste time.”

Valerie Voll, St. Petersburg: “[I] Aimlessly scroll through TikTok and bug my fiancé or parents.”

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THE GABBER.COM

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

crossword

Solution on page 31

Missing Links

gabber on vacation

Solution on page 31

AMANDA HAGOOD

sudoku

Amanda Hagood escapes the sunny shores of Gulfport for the sunny shores in Makalawena Beach, Kona, Hawaii.

Have you taken the Gabber somewhere? We want to see your pictures! Please send a high-resolution photo and a brief description to news@thegabber.com.

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

23

GULFPORT Neptune Grill

5501 Shore Blvd. S. Friday, Jan. 14: Paul Anthony Trio, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15: Drag By the Bay, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 16: Callaboone, 1 p.m.

ST. PETE BEACH

Jimmy B’s Beach Bar 6200 Gulf Blvd.

Saturday, Jan. 15: Ryan Marchand, 1 p.m.

Woody’s Waterfront

7308 Sunset Way Friday, Jan. 14: J.D. Early, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15: J.D. Early, 7 p.m.

Drunken Clam

46 46th Ave. Friday, Jan. 14: Bob Hope Band, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15: Tripp N Becca, 7 p.m.

TREASURE ISLAND

Ricky T’s Bar and Grille, 10601 Gulf Blvd.

Friday, Jan. 14: Cornfused, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15: Kevin Toon, 5 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 16: Kevin Toon, 5 p.m.

Ka’Tiki Beach Bar and Grille

Historic Gulfport Casino Ballroom 5500 Shore Blvd, Gulfport, FL 33707

January 29, 2022 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Tickets $25 • VIP Seating $30 To Benefit Boca Ciega High School Scholarship Fund

www.eventbrite.com/e/225926421007 24

MADEIRA BEACH Daiquiri Shak Raw Bar & Grille

Saturday

Tickets available at: Casino, Beach Bazaar, and Online

8803 West Gulf Blvd.

Friday, Jan. 14: The Ordeal, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15: R&B Project, 1 p.m.; The Griswolds, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 16: T-Bone Hamilton, 1 p.m.; Cornfused, 6 p.m.

14995 Gulf Blvd.

Friday, Jan. 14: Kevin Toon, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15: Jeff Gurney, 6 p.m.

Bamboo Beach Bar and Grille

13025 Village Blvd.

Friday, Jan. 14: Tom Davis, 1:30 p.m.; Ryan Marchand, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15: Juke Box Heroz, 1:30. p.m.; Mark Mann, 6 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 16: Gale Tripsmith & Joey, 1:30 p.m; Boston Bob, 6 p.m.

More live music at thegabber.com.

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

things to do

Masks Recommended

Social Distancing Observed

Vegan Options

Dog-Friendly

Virtual

BBQ Festival, MLK Parade + Doo Wop Find links for these events — and many other things to do — online at thegabber.com/events.

Thursday, January 13 Doo Wop From five guys singing harmonies on a street corner to the Mahaffey Theater. See the Doo Wop Project – with stars from Broadway’s Jersey Boys and Motown – transform modern hits and classic zingers on the St. Petersburg stage. Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S., St. Petersburg. 7:30-9 p.m. $42. themahaffey.com Genocide Lecture The Pardoll Family Lecture Series’ Why Have We Failed To Prevent Genocide? features Dr. Gregory H. Stanton.

Stanton is the man behind the Cambodian Genocide Project and the Alliance Against Genocide, and brings his expertise to both online and in-person audiences. The Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 5th St. S., St. Petersburg. 6:30 p.m. thefhm.org Friday, January 14 Funk Out! Soul Night returns to Gulfport with disco, funk, dancing, and rhythm in the Casino Ballroom.

Hustle in for a hustle lesson, and feel free to dress the part. Gulfport Casino, 5500 Shore Blvd. S. 7 p.m., lesson; 12 a.m., dance. $10. mygulfport.us

Monday, January 17 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Get your marching (and watching) shoes ready. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade marches through downtown St. Petersburg. The parade starts at 1st Avenue South, and marching bands, performers, public figures and others will march in honor of the civil rights giant and all he symbolizes. Check website’s map for location details. The Trop, 1 Tropicana Dr., St Petersburg. 11 a.m. mlkdreambig.com Green Needs Step into the monthly Botanicals and Brews market at Gulfport Brewery + Eatery for all your plant-based desires. The brewery’s outdoor garden turns into a pop-up space for green thumbs every third Monday of the month. Gulfport Brewery + Eatery, 3007 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. 5-8 p.m.

Tuesday, January 18 Reef Helpers Tampa Bay oyster reefs need you! Join volunteers at Tampa Bay Watch for a morning building sea life-grounding reef

Wednesday, January 19 Relax on the Lands Anyone who wants a moment of peace (or five or 10) will find it at this semi-regular meditation. The Meditation for Peace class focuses on serenity in nature through breathing. Sacred Lands, 1700 Park St. N., St. Petersburg. 7-8 p.m. 727-430-0388.

Thursday, January 20 Motown Vibes The much-awaited Thursday Night Social returns! This week’s theme is Motown; namely, the soulful pieces of the ‘60s and ‘70s. DJ Daniel spins the beats – and, most likely, dancing will ensue. Go for the Cantina’s burritos and guac; stay for the jam session.

Sea Dog Cantina, 2832 Beach Blvd.

S., Gulfport. 6-10 p.m.

THE NORTH END TAPHOUSE HAS A DELI-STYLE MENU WITH LOCALLY BREWED BEERS AND MORE.

We have live entertainment every day and Open Mic every Tuesday, located in the Village Courtyard.

Saturday, January 15 Sunday, January 16 Bacon, Beer & BBQ Bacon fans and beer die-hards, it’s time for a twoday food festival curated for you.

The St. Pete Beer, Bacon & BBQ Festival takes over Vinoy Park and brings sizzling bacon, BBQ dishes and cold beer to the seaside venue. Vinoy Park, ​​ 701 Bayshore Dr. NE, St. Petersburg. 12-6 p.m. $39. stpetebeerandbacon.com

balls that prevent erosion and stabilize local underwater communities. Volunteers will pour marine -friendly concrete into oyster reef ball molds and deconstruct old molds. Best for people 15 and older. Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S., St. Petersburg. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. tampabaywatch.org

Jan 13 Gage Mooney 7-10pm Jan 14 John Frinzi 7-10pm Jan 15 Chris Keller 3-6pm Dave G & Cristyn 7-10pm Jan 16 Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues 6-9pm Jan 17 Team Trivia 8:30-10pm Jan 18 Open Mic 7-10pm

2908 1/2 Beach Blvd S Gulfport, FL

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Jan 19 Hot Tonic 6-9pm

25

Seafood Fest, Studio Time + Kites

Our Favorite Things to Do on the Beach This Week Here’s a lineup of coastal-neighborhood-approved events happening on St. Pete Beach, Madeira Beach, and Treasure Island this week. Hungry for more fun in the sun? Find your beach at thegabber.com/ events.

personal art spot each Tuesday. The center opens its studio space and supplies to all who need a cooperative artist zone. Suntan Art Center, 3300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 1-4 p.m. $5. suntanart.org/courses Thursday, January 20

Saturday, January 15 No One Parties like a Pirate, but landlubbers can get pretty close with an interactive cocktail experience featuring the Pirates of Treasure Island. This four-part interactive song and dance mixes strong pours with seaside entertainment from the city’s shanty singers. 290 107th Ave., Treasure Island. 6-7:30 p.m. $50. eventbrite.com/e/pirate-captaincove-show-tickets-231723058907 Tuesday, January 18 Studio Time Artists and creators can make the Suntan Art Center their

Grab a Chair Make yoga a Thursday ritual at this weekly chair yoga class.

Chair yoga is gentle and open to all levels. Happy stretching! Hibiscus Hall, 7047 Sunset Dr. S., South Pasadena. 9:30 a.m. mysouthpasadena. com Bingo! The Treasure Islettes Bingo returns to weekly games. In addition to the thrill of the game, enjoy free drinks, a snack bar, and cash prizes.

Treasure Island Community Center, 1 Park Place & 106th Ave., Treasure Island. 6:30 p.m., pre-game; 7:30 p.m., game. 727-270-3178

Music Lyrics & by Hope and Laurence Juber BOOK by Sherwood Schwartz and Lloyd J Schwartz

Crab Out The first of four days of crab legs, peel and eat shrimp, buckets of Cajun fish and more at the 40th Annual John’s Pass Seafood Festival calls your name. Seafood addicts and onlookers can explore John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk in search of fresh seafood, live music, and sea-friendly vendors and artists. John’s Pass, 12902 Village Blvd., Madeira Beach. 3-7 p.m. madeirabeachfl.gov Take Off Kite or no kite, come be amazed by dragons, spaceships, sea creatures, and other kites soaring through the sky. Weather permitting, kites will fill the skies at the Treasure Island Kite Festival. Sponsored by Windworks from John’s Pass in Madeira Beach, the fest features music, silent auctions, and hourly raffles, too. 10700 Gulf Blvd, Treasure Island. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. mytreasureisland.org

January 13-23, 2022 CATHERINE HICKMAN THEATER - 26th & BEACH BLVD Thur-Fri-Sat @ 8PM, Sat & Sun @ 2PM

A family-friendly musical of the iconic 60s TV comedy show “Gilligan’s Island.”

Shipwrecked on a remote Pacific Island, the seven castaways, build huts and have an out-of-this-world encounter.

It’s fun, wacky, and entertaining with 18 original songs.

Tickets $22

reserved seat/online www.GulfportCommunityPlayers.org Lobby sales (if seats remain, 15 minutes before showtime) $25 CASH - No debit/credit cards

26

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

worship Unitarian Universalist United Fellowship

During the pandemic join us Sundays on Zoom.

St. Vincent’s Thrift Shop 5124 Gulfport Ave S. 33707

AN EPISCOPAL CONGREGATION 330 85th Avenue • St. Pete Beach (Blind Pass Road at 85th Avenue)

Hours 10 AM to 2PM Wednesday to Saturday

Sundays 10:00am Holy Eucharist

Discussion -10:30 Program - 11:00 For Zoom directions email us at uuunited@earthlink.net “You need not think alike to love alike.”

- Francis David, 1534

uuunited.org

Paradise Lutheran Church

on Treasure Island 10255 Paradise Blvd, Treasure Island

5441 9 th Ave N. • St. Petersburg, FL 33710

“St. Alban's is an inviting faith community striving to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.”

Sunday Services 10AM Miss en Español: Domingos 12PM

727-360-8406 • www.StAlbanStPeteBeach.org

Affiliated with

St Vincent’s Episcopal Church

Good Shepherd Old Catholic Church 2728 53rd St. S. Gulfport, FL 33707 (Entrance on 28th Ave.)

Sunday Service

10am with Holy Communion

727-360-5739

paradiseluth102@gmail.com paradiselutheran.com

17th St. & 29th Ave N St. Petersburg 345-7777 Friday 7PM

Beth-El Shalom Messianic Congregation

ShalomAdventure.com JewishHeritage.net Rabbi@JewishHeritage.net

Where ALL are welcome at the Lord’s table.

Come and See...

Sunday Mass 9:30am www.goodshepherdocc.net 727-403-7178

HERE FOR YOU FOR 110 YEARS!

First United Methodist Church of Gulfport Sundays:

28th Ave. S. & 53rd St.

321-3620

PROTECT YOUR HOME NOW! Enjoy Security - Hurricane Protection - Energy Efficiency

Solutions for Every Budget!

• High-Impact Windows & Doors • Hurricane Shutters: Roll-Down & Accordion Style • Hurricane Fabric & Motorized Hurricane Fabric • Clear Polycarbonate Hurricane Panels Special Financing Available

WINTER SPECIAL

$1,000 OFF

Impact Windows • Doors • Shutters

On Orders of $10,000 or more. Not Valid on Prior Sales.

42-Year Trustworthy Reputation

727-544-0575

General Contractor License CGC1516020

www.stormfitter.com

EXPERT INSTALLATION • LIFETIME WARRANTY theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

27

CLASSIFIEDS

Accounting

CLEAR NUMBERS BOOKKEEPING Virtual bookkeeping for small businesses and nonprofits. Monthly packages customized to your needs or one time cleanups. Payroll available. QuickBooks Online Certified ProAdvisor.

10+ years experience.

Call/text to 727-248-0714 or email to nspence@clearnumbers.biz

Caregivers

If you have questions about advertising, please email us at advertising@thegabber.com or call 727-321-6965! Deadline: Friday 3 p.m.

and Organizing • General • Detailed • Spring Cleaning • Organization of any closet or room • Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

35+ Years Experience 10% OFF YOUR FIRST CLEANING Call Today for a Free Estimate

Non-Medical Home Care • Private Duty Personal Care • Companionship Homemaker Services • No Contracts Licensed, Bonded, Insured Nurse Owned & Operated

Free In-Home Consultation / RN Assessment

CALL TODAY 727-381-7498

www.omnipresentcaregivers.com Care@OmniPresentCaregivers.com

JS COMPUTER REPAIR Mobile Computer Repair – $40 per visit/hr – 727-643-0697, jmswebservices.com

COMPUTER SERVICES 727-343-2838

Gulfport Computer Repair Fast Friendly Service

727-388-3493

Mon-Thu 10am-5pm

EC-13008313

CLEAN UP CLEAN UP CLEAN UP Handy helper. Skilled labor, anything around the house from A-Z. Weeding, rock gardens cleaned, mulch, sod and plants installed.

Small trees planted and removed. Pressure washing. Free estimates. 30 years experience. Start the New Year off right.. St. Pete / Gulfport area. James: 407-244-6045.

HANDYMAN SEMI-RETIRED All types of repairs • small jobs welcome • Quality work at reasonable prices • Honest • Reliable • Free estimates • John, 727-410-2201 SEMI RETIRED CARPENTER At discount prices! Free estimates. Frame and finish work. Gulfport and Pinellas Park areas. Call the Door Doctor. Gus: 727-644-6194.

Heat / Air Conditioning

15 Years in Gulfport 45 Years Experience

Computer Sales

Fax, Copy, Print

Electrical

Cleaning / Housekeeping

• Room Additions • Lightning Protection • Fuses to Breakers • Mobile Homes • Circuits Added • Phone Wiring • Ceiling Fans • Security Lighting & More 24 Hour Service

FREE ESTIMATES

525-0677

Licensed Bonded Insured St. Lic. #EC0002881

SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT! 28

LICENSED AND INSURED

2321 49th St S

MAYNARD ELECTRIC

A-Z CLEANING SERVICES Homes-Condos.

Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly. Call Lucy 727735-8393.

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR

Handy Person

Computer Service

CAROL’S ERRANDS & MORE

Do you need help with daily activities? I can be of assistance to you! Shopping, Meal Planning/Meal Prep, Transportation To & From Appointments, Help Around the Home, and More. 727-365-0884

CourtesyElectricFL@gmail.com

5030 78th Ave. N. Suite 12, Pinellas Park, FL 33781

727-712-7883

In-Home Services: Internet Security, Training, Virus & SpyWare Removal, Maintenance & Repair, Data Recovery. (PC & Mac).

Now Hiring, Retiree’s Welcomed

727-687-7999

“Same rates seven days a week”

NO SERVICE CHARGE EVER! CAC1815513

727

709-7979 www.AirPhillips.com

QUALITY AT WORK

Luke Phillips

3914 6th St S St. Petersburg

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Home & Condo Maintenance

D.C. STRONG

Home & condo maintenance • Interior & Exterior • Experienced in all work, A-Z • Insured. Call Dennis Strong 727-301-4530

Home Improvement

TAMPA BAY FLOORS & CARPETS CLEANING SOLUTION

We offer Marble, Vinyl, Ceramic, Grout Cleaning, All Kinds of Carpet Cleaning. We Clean Upholstery, Also Power washing. We Cover All Your Cleaning Needs. We are fully Equipped We are 24:7 Emergency Flooding Service COVID Fumigation Available 727623-7948 Or 813-750-9851

D.C. STRONG

Painting, Pressure Washing, Interior & Exterior • Experienced in all work A-Z • Call Dennis Strong 727-301-4530 • Insured

IRRIGATION STAIN REMOVAL

Remove ugly rust-colored irrigation stains from PVC fence, siding - stucco - wood, pavers, railings, windows and most other surfaces around your house or business including signage. Cars, too. Free estimate and demonstration. Surprisingly low prices.

Call/text 727-360-7070 Email RustStainRemoval@icloud.com Miscellaneous Service THE TRASH QUEEN Overwhelmed with the mess? Clean up/clean out, inside and out, recycling and organizing, and we do mulching and weeding! Free estimate from Kathy, Trashologist, licensed/insured, with truck/trailer. Call/text 845-866-3867.

Responsible, reasonable, and ready!

Moving & Hauling CHARLES JUNK HAULING & DEMOLITION Junk & trash removal. Low, low prices guaranteed. Daily specials. Kitchen, bath, shed, fencing, etc. Demolition. 727-831-0507.

Lawn & Landscape

EXPERT SPRINKLER REPAIR

Rich Moseley, irrigation contractor. 25 years experience. Reasonable rates. Well & pumps. 727-439-0792. Lic.#C8312. BBB Accredited.

Painting

BYRON JOHNSON PAINTING PLUS, INC.

Time to refresh the interior/exterior of your house or business? High Quality, Professional Painting. Free estimates. Lic.#9894.

Insured. 727-365-1088 CHRISTIANSON PAINTING 30 years experience. Interior and exterior work done the old-school way; strong customer service.

References. Lic #C-11520. Call or text Mark: 727-452-4938.

ARNEY’S PAINTING INC.

30 years experience. Painting expert plus wallpaper hanging and removing. Lic. #C9579. Call Arney 727-900-3459 Plumbing

PROFLO PLUMBING 727-902-7077

AFFORDABLE PROMPT • RELIABLE Licensed & Insured

#CFC1430429 State-certified, residential/ commercial service. Senior and military discount. $25 off service with ad. Locally owned and operated.

Lee Claxton, I.S.A. Certified Arborist

Planting • Trimming Tree & Stump Removal Cabling/Bracing • Pruning/Shaping

727-220-0226 AnAffordableArborist@gmail.com

PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED LINE ADS ONLINE! THEGABBER.COM theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Positions Wanted

WILLING AND ABLE HELPER, LIGHT GARDEN WORK

Repotting, weeding, clearing, trimming, watering. I am an able-bodied female who loves being outdoors. I can use your tools and offer my helping hands. Local lady, raised in St Pete, friendly, happy nature.

727-370-7920

Automotive CHRYSLER SEBRING 2005 4dr Sedan. 61k original mi. Clean CARFAX. No accidents, 1 owner, FL vehicle, All pwr. THE Good 4cyl economical gas milage. Excellent condition. $3500. 727-748-9117

Card of Thanks POWERFUL PRAYER TO THE Holy Spirit, you who solves all problems, who lights all roads so that I can attain my goal, you who give me the divine gifts to forgive and forget all evil against me and that in all instances of my life you are with me, I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things and confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you, even in spite of all material illusions. I wish to be with you, in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. The person must say this prayer for 3 consecutive days. After 3 days the favor requested will be granted, even if it may appear difficult. This prayer must be published immediately after the favor is granted, without mentioning the favor, only your initials should appear at the bottom. TTD4SKC

For Sale

HARLEY DAVIDSON LEATHER JACKET

Black on Black, Like new, Size: Men's M, $400 Paid $550, call Michele - 727-4200701

55 GALLON AQUARIUM WITH MANY GUPPIES

For SALE: 55 Gallon Aquarium with MANY Guppies plus ALL equipment. Also: solid wood wall unit. 12’ high, 18’ long. Two-drawer wood File Cabinet and a Samyo Kegerator. Best offer. 727-417-6335 General GULFPORT LIONS CLUB Available for parties, weddings, meetings. Great waterfront location with full facilities. Call Jean for info and dates. 727-366-6341.

29

Wanted

SEEKING PART TIME EMPLOYMENT

CDL CLASS A DRIVER and heavy equipment operator for hire. Call MG 813-610-7533

BUYING VINTAGE COSTUME JEWELRY I MAKE HOUSECALLS

Buying vintage Costume Jewelry from the 1980s back. I make house calls. Call Kaye anytime. I am available every day except Sunday. 239-560-2816 Kaye’s Vintage Jewelry

Yard Sale YARD SALE. DE-CLUTTER SALE! SATURDAY, JAN 15 Tools, decorations, household goods and furnishings. Saturday, Jan 15, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., 3044 51st St S.

1.3 ACRE LOT NEAR WESLEY CHAPEL

$65,000

8046 STIMIE AVE.N

$775,000 SOLD

727-418-8948

neldasellsfla@gmail.com

Nelda Hamm

3037 Beach Blvd. S. 505 Pasadena Ave. S.

Place your classified line ads online!

Deadline for classified ads is 3 p.m. Friday for the following week’s issue.

Call me to see how I can get your home sold too.

Real Estate for Rent

#312 Kenmore, Town Shores EXCEPTIONALLY REMODELED 1 Bd / 1 Ba • $240,000

FOR RENT One bedroom/One Bath apartment unfurnished. Gulfport Blvd. Call Rick 727-418-0086

#3120 Beach Blvd. South #4 Beautifully remodeled 1 Bd / 1 Ba in the heart of Gulfport

Real Estate for Sale

HOUSE FOR SALE

BY OWNER IN GULFPORT, FL

3 bedrooms, 1 bath, living room, dining room, kitchen. Many interior renovations.

One block to Stetson University. $340,000.

Appointments to view available Thurs Jan 13 to Tues Jan 18. For further information contact wkowalen@gmail.com.

Submit your events online at

thegabber.com

theGabber.com

Their life deserves more than five lines.

We make sharing it affordable.

Remember your loved ones forever with us.

• Free obituaries available; prices range from $10-$300 • Obituary on Legacy included

In partnership with

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theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

solution

ADVERTISING DEADLINE FOR NEXT THURSDAY’S ISSUE IS FRIDAY BY 5 p.m.

The 2022 The Gabber’s Pet Calendar 2022 Pet Calendar

This pet calendar doesn't feature only cats and dogs – beloved pets of all types grace these gorgeous pages.

A portion of the proceeds go to Friends of Strays.

2908-B Beach Blvd. S. • Gulfport, FL 33707 727-321-6965 • thegabber.com

Calendars are available for $10 at: Gulfport Beach Bazaar 3115 Beach Blvd S, Gulfport

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022

Gabber Office

2908-B, Beach Blvd S, Gulfport 31

Stand up to your sciatic pain!

Are you seeking relief from crippling BACK PAIN or SCIATIC PAIN?

Sciatica is used to describe nerve pain that originates in the lower back, radiates deep into the buttock and travels down the leg. Better known as, a literal ‘PAIN IN THE BUTT. All jokes aside, we understand how painful and debilitating sciatic pain can be.

The burning sensation is unbearable.

The shooting pain makes staying acti e almost impossible.

Long car rides are out of the question and standing for extended periods of time, forget it.

You spend your entire day trying to get comfortable only to find that it s nearly impossible.

You've tried the stretches. You've tried ice and heat. You've even tried massage and exercises with little to no relief!

At AAI |Achieve Acupuncture & Integrative

call today!

701 49th St N st. petersburg, fl

32

727-272-3587 visit achieveacuim.com to learn more and take advantage of our new patient offer.

theGabber.com | January 13, 2022 - January 19, 2022