“You don’t find Gulfport. Gulfport finds you.”

–Alicia Green explains how she settled in our town

“We’ve been playing there since I was 7. I have a picture of myself on the same stage. “ –Ben Rogers of the Ben Rogers Band talking about the Tap House stage and all its incredible music

“Hope you aren’t in the witness protection plan.” –Mike Wietholter explaining to Alicia the downside of being quoted in the newspaper

“Have you met G. Gordon McFly?” –Victoria Woods, lead singer of Hot Tonic, talking about Gulfport’s new 14foot gecko statue

“Her name should have been Tia. You know, Tampa International Airport.” –Local artist Ray Domingo talking about the giant flamingo in the Tampa International Airport recently named Phoebe

“Why doesn’t the city collect past due slip fees? Maybe they don’t need the $200k?” –Bill Oetting who says he pays his $475 slip fee every month

“No, they’re really homemade. My wife and I are here every Saturday baking them upstairs.” –Dennis Bixler from the Tavern at Bayboro talking about the rosemary buns

CITY OF ST. PETE BEACH, FLORIDA

Municipal Election

MARCH 14, 2023

The said election shall be for the following candidates: MAYOR

(Vote for One)

Alan P. Johnson

Adrian Petrila

VOTER POLLING LOCATIONS

The following polling places shall be open on Election Day (March 14, 2023) from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Precinct 405 – District No. 1

Community Center Gymnasium, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

Precinct 404 – District No. 2

Community Center Gymnasium, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

Precinct 403 – District No. 3

Warren Webster Building, 1500 Pass-a-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

Precinct 402 – District No. 4

Warren Webster Building, 1500 Pass-a-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

Please call 727.363.9220 with questions.

Amber M. LaRowe, City Clerk

AVISO PÚBLICO CIUDAD DE ST. PETE BEACH, FLORIDA ELECCIONES MUNICIPALES

14 De Marzo De 2023

Dicha elección será para los siguientes candidatos: ALCALDE

(Vote por Uno)

Alan P. Johnson

Adrian Petrila

Lugar De Votaci N Para Los Votantes

Se abrirán los siguientes centros de votación el Día de las Elecciones (14 de Marzo de 2023) De 7:00 a. m. a 7:00 p. m.

Precinto Electoral 405, Distrito Núm. 1

Community Center Gymnasium, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

Precinto Electoral 404, Distrito Núm. 2

Community Center Gymnasium, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

Precinto Electoral 403, Distrito Núm. 3

Warren Webster Building, 1500 Pass-a-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

Precinto Electoral 402, Distrito Núm. 4

Warren Webster Building, 1500 Pass-a-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

Llame al 727.363.9220 si tiene preguntas.

Amber M. LaRowe, Secretaria de la Ciudad

Zipperz and Spines Pasadena Hospital Gets New Spine Unit; Pepperz Gets a New Look

By Cameron Healy New Patient Rooms and Caregiver Spaces

On Feb. 3, HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly renovated surgical, orthopedic, and spine unit. The hospital caregivers lined the halls, clapping and cheering, to welcome patients to the new unit.

The hospital’s third-floor makeover improved 30 patient rooms from floor to ceiling. These units received new equipment such as upgrades to the electric white boards and beds to enhance inpatient monitoring.

The changes should benefit longterm patients as well as the hospital’s caregivers.

According to the hospital, “enhancements for caregiver break rooms, nursing stations, dictation, dedicated equipment storage, respiratory supplies, and a collaborative nursing and quality administrative suite were completed to support the patient care team.”

The orthopedic and spine unit received renovations to care for more than 100,000 residents while also addressing “longterm population growth.”

“As a surgeon, we love seeing the recovery space for a patient after surgery match the same caliber and quality of the surgery we perform,” said Dr. David Johnson, Jr., orthopedic surgeon at HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital. “The rooms are tailored for their specific re- covery needs and the nurses are specially trained orthopedic nurses. It’s a win-win scenario.”

Zip it!

The pandemic pushed a lot of places out of business, especially one of Gulfport’s LGBTQ+-oriented bars. Now, almost three years later, the business took a new route to start up again.

Zipperz Bar, formerly known as Pepperz, is fully renovated and awaiting final inspections from the city. The bar hopes to open by the end of February.

General Manager Tom Grant explained the name change happened to give the place a fresh start.

Grant also mentioned the renovations included painting more pride colors in and around the building. This includes the bar stools and a mural at the back entrance.

Along with physical renovations, Zipperz bar now has all new bartenders, two skee ball machines, a pool table, a beer pong table, a TouchTunes jukebox, a DJ booth, and wide open dance floor.

“The dance floor is very large, and the bar is almost 40 feet long. So it’s a nice place to go dancing and feel safe,” Grant said.

Grant expressed excitement to bring a safe space to dance and have a good time back to Gulfport for the LGBTQ+ community.

“We will have a little special spot for birthdays, not to rent the bar, but just to come in and have their own little space near the dance floor,” Grant said. They will section off an area for people who want to host gatherings at the bar – for free.

The LGBTQ+-oriented bar has a few drink specials planned: $5 margarita Tuesdays, Thursday night Long Island ice teas, and Sunday Funday $8 Bacardi rum punch.

Despite being a LGBTQ+-oriented bar, Grant made it clear to The Gabber that Zipperz welcomes everyone, regardless of their identity. Zipperz is a place to dance, drink, and safely socialize.

Zipperz Bar 4918 22nd Ave. S., Gulfport. Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-2 a.m.; Fri.Sat. 10 a.m.-2:30 a.m.