The Gabber: May 20, 2021

Digital subscriptions provided by the City of Gulfport THE GABBER.COM No. 2709

May 20 - May 26, 2021

Memorialized: Veterans Through the Lens

By Abby Baker

DOROTHY SMITH

Page 18 Boatstock P.4

Student of the Month: Elisabetta Dosi P.8

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Editor

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Creative Director Joey Neill

Advertising Director Chris Madalena

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Reporters & Contributors Abby Baker, News & Events Jeff Donnelly, Theater Sheree Greer, Advice June Johns, Photographer Jon Kile, Columnist Ryan McGahan, News Gabrielle Reeder, Gabs & News Nano Riley, Environment Jen Ring, Food & Culture Morgan Banno, Food

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voices How Do You Mediate Noise?

Dear Editor: Louder doesn’t mean better. It just means louder! I can’t help but wonder what part of city code Sec. 14-35 entitled “Noise” the North End Taphouse and Gulfport City Council do not understand. After all, it’s written in plain English so that even a child can understand it.

The code reads as follows: “(a) It shall be unlawful and constitute a nuisance to make, cause or allow any noise or sound within the City of Gulfport which exceeds the noise limits set forth herein, is unreasonably loud or disturbing, or is otherwise prohibited by the code. (b) No sound or noise, from whatever source derived, shall be allowed within the city which exceeds the following A-weighted decibel levels at the given time, as measured from any private property within the city other than the property from which the sound or noise is emanating: Between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm – 65 decibels Between 11:00 pm and 7:00 am – 55 decibels” I suspect the excessive noise problem we are experiencing is two-fold: 1) The owners of North End Taphouse seem to hold the belief that they are above the code; and 2)

[Gulfport Councilmember] Christine Brown is trying to be ”politically correct” by playing a very dangerous game called “let’s make a deal – mediate.”

This is unconscionable! There is nothing to mediate unless city council plans on rewriting the city code.

Should council consider “an exception” for the North End Taphouse it can’t be done due to city code Sec. 14-36 (10), which allows a noise exception for construction engineering standards or generally accepted construction practices only.

I wonder if Christine Brown would want to “mediate” if she didn’t live

about half a mile away from all of the noise. Perhaps the bands should play across the street from her house so she can hear what we hear. I bet it’s louder than a vacuum cleaner. – Deborah Blake

Thank You, Gabber Dear Editor: I want to thank you for your wonderful reporting in the Gabber. I enjoy reading it online. My father has been a resident of Gulfport for 25 years. He is 94 years old. I like that we can discuss the events in Gulfport together. – Barbara Werner, Cincinnati, Ohio

The Gabber welcomes and encourages letters and commentary. All letters must be signed with your real name, and should be as brief as possible. Letters may be lightly edited for content and clarity. We will not print letters that incite violence, include hate speech 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.

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news Free Lovin’

Music Festival on the Water Draws Huge Boat Crowd

DUSTIN HOWARD

DUSTIN HOWARD

By Abby Baker

“Tyler” of Johnny Mile and the Kilometers.

DUSTIN HOWARD

Hundreds of weekend warriors hit the waters of Madeira Beach on Saturday, May 15 for BOATSTOCK 2, a day-long music festival entirely on the water.

They came by sail, by kayak or by noodle to jam at a set of coordinates for BOATSTOCK 2, a floating music festival that attracted hundreds of boaters in a donation-based party on the sea.

In May of 2020, boaters Dustin Howard and Bob Burnett sat quarantined on a St. Petersburg patio; the world was shut down, but not the water.

“We were both fed up with not being able to see people, but the boater world hadn’t slowed down,” Howard said. “It took like six days to make sure it was legal.”

They had a week of word-of-mouth organizing and it was smooth sailing from there: BOATSTOCK was born.

Now an annual event, the waters of Madeira Beach

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were swamped with more than a hundred boats on Saturday, May 15 from 12 to 5 p.m.

“It went absolutely amazing,” Howard said. “The first thing that popped in my head was that it’s a big ask for everyone to really be safe and not be stupid, but we pulled it off.”

With Californian band SWIMM headlining, the free event also featured local groups such as FayRoy, Johnny Mile and the Kilometers, Aubrey Wollet and others.

“We ask that people donate, and that’s how we pay the bands,” Howard said. “We want to keep this going. We had such a good turnout that we can’t drop the ball now.”

Keep the fest going for next year at madbeachboatstock.com.

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

DUSTIN HOWARD

DUSTIN HOWARD

According to Howard, the Madeira Beach festival will keep swimming next year.

DUSTIN HOWARD

“I’m just happy it all panned out,” Boatstock creator Dustin Howard said. “It’s such an experience out there.”

Bands and performers, many who are local artists, performed for free. Donations keep the event afloat.

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Coyotes Are Here to Stay

Here’s What You Need to Know to Live With Them If you’re an early-morning walker, you may see one slink past on its way home after a night of hunting. Yes, that slim, quick, medium-sized canine disappearing into the dawn was probably a coyote, canis latrans (“barking dog”).

Coyotes, known in the Americas for millenia, were so named by the Aztec; the Southwestern Indians often told tales of “the trickster,” as they found the wily canine very smart. In 1804, Lewis and Clark “discovered” the coyote. Lewis called it a “prairie wolf,” though he was perplexed because it was “neither wolf nor fox.”

“Coyotes are very smart, and they’re not going anywhere“ said Brice Philippi, an information officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). “They’re not considered native, but they’re naturalized, and they’re in all 67 (Florida) counties.”

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They’re Everywhere Most folks think of coyotes howling at the moon, or chasing the elusive roadrunner, but they really live everywhere – even in New York City. Once they roamed the Southwest and central plains, but they’ve expanded their territory to include all states except Hawaii.

They’re opportunistic, so they live in areas with cover: Golf courses are ideal, as are nature parks and other wooded areas, such as Boyd Hill or Sawgrass Lake.

Recently, a pair made a den amidst a solar farm in a San Francisco park, sunning themselves on the solar panels while raising a litter of pups below.

Are They Dangerous?

If you read the neighborhood social site Nextdoor, you’ve probably seen the alerts advising neighbors to lock up small pets and children after a coyote sighting. These posts generate a torrent of comments, from live-and-let-live animal lovers

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Most police departments, including Gulfport and St. Petersburg, refer calls about coyotes to the FWC, unless there’s a dangerous situation.

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to gun-toters who threaten to blow away any varmint they see.

Misinformation is rampant about coyotes, but according to Phillippi, coyotes actually help keep nature in balance by hunting small mammals, such as rats and raccoons. Of course, that means they can be a danger to small pets.

Wildlife experts say be aware, and take sensible precautions.

Secure garbage and don’t leave pet food out. Try to keep cats in, especially at night. If you’ve seen coyotes in your neighborhood, walk your dog on a short leash, and carry a jar of coins or another noise-maker to scare them away. They’re fairly skittish, and don’t want to tangle.

Most coyotes weigh between 25 to 50 pounds, so dogs under 25 pounds could be vulnerable, as are other small pets and chickens.

Trapping is ineffective, said Phillipi.

“If a coyote is trapped or killed, the remaining pack members will breed quickly to replace the loss, but most coyotes are too smart for a trap,” he explained. “They can climb low fences and get into screen porches.”

At the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, information officer Travis Sibley said they often get calls about coyote sightings.

“We’ll take a report and if it’s aggressive, we’ll respond, but if it’s no threat, we refer the caller to the FWC,” Sibley said. “Sometimes people believe coyotes are a danger if they’re out in the daytime, fearing for kids and pets.”

Sibley said he sees them at night, mostly, as they hunt for small prey.

But like all urban wildlife, they’ve figured out how to live with us.

“They’ve adapted to urban living,” said Sibley, noting that the best thing to do is learn how to deter them.

More, including a coyote tracker and tips to deter them at myFWC. com/Coyote.

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Student of the Month: Elisabetta Dosi

By Ryan McGahan

American high school is mythologized in TV and movies the world over, and it can be daunting for foreign students. You could excuse Elisabetta Dosi, a junior at St. Petersburg High School, for feeling out of place since moving here from La Spezia, Italy in 2019.

That’s far from the case.

In addition to her regular studies, Dosi’s volunteered at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, distributing pamphlets, sifting through documents, archiving and helping to plan new exhibits.

The museum, coincidentally, is run by her history teacher, Rui Farias.

“But that’s not how I got involved in the museum,” she explains.

“I was looking for volunteering opportunities, and I just kind of emailed this museum because I was like, ‘Oh, a museum of the history of St. Pete – that’s so cool.’ I just emailed it and then Mrs. Trewin, my art teacher, told me, ‘Oh yeah, Mr. Farias told me that you asked to volunteer at his museum’, and I was like, completely clueless,” she said, laughing.

She’s since settled in, however, it took her some time to adjust to taking classes in the U.S. “When I first came here, my En-

ELISABETTA DOSI

“Student of the Month” is a feature highlighting some of our area’s brightest young minds, what they’re doing and where they’re going.

Know a student you think deserves a mention? Email news@thegabber. com.

glish was really, really bad,” she said.

“The first day of school, I was just not understanding anything of what the teachers were saying. I was just

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completely lost. The one thing that helped me was a teacher that spoke Italian for some reason, [Mrs. Bosco].”

Dosi found her Spanish classes easier than her English-language ones, thanks to the three years of Spanish she had already taken in Italy.

“School in Italy is kind of, not harder, but like, they give so much work. So like in three years of middle school studying Spanish, you’re most likely to be fluent already,” she said.

Aside from the language barrier, she’s noticed a number of major differences in the school system compared to back home – like the fact that American high school ends

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

after four years, compared to five in Italy.

Also, in the U.S., high schoolers have some freedom to choose their classes based on their fields of interest, but in Italy you choose a school based on what you want to study, and from there your classes are set in stone.

“A classical school can teach [ancient] Greek while a scientific school can do physics or chemistry,” she explained.

Some differences are more cultural, particularly in the way that students and teachers interact.

“The people. Oh, my God, that’s such a difference. That’s something I say all the time. People in America are so much nicer. I’m just stating facts…. I became so close to some of my teachers here.... This could never happen in Italy. You just keep a really professional relationship with your teachers in Italy. They just see you as students.”

Q: As a junior, do you have any specific plans for college – where you

might want to apply, or what you might want to study?

A: I have no idea where I want to apply, personally, because of the fact that none of my parents lived here, and they never went through school here. I’ve been here for only, like, a year and a half or something, and it’s just so complicated to understand the American system, because college is so expensive. So unless I get a scholarship, I don’t know if I can stay.

Q: Have you thought about applying back in Italy?

A: Yeah, but I kind of don’t want to. I like how America works. I like the fact that if you’re good, you go on; it’s not all about the money….If you don’t know people in Italy, you don’t usually get to go into school that you like. But here, if you’re good, you do.

Q: If you had to give one piece of advice to a freshman, what would it be?

A: I don’t know, maybe communication? I don’t know about middle school here, but like in middle school where I was, there was no communication between us and the teachers. So I think one of the most important things when you get into high school is trying to talk to the teachers, and let them understand if you have problems or anything.

They’re there for you, so like, just talk to them.

Q: If you could tell everyone who reads this one thing, what would it be?

A: Creativity, I think, is one of the most important things in life. Just getting to do something with your own hands…. Like, I love to paint, and I do whenever I can. I think that’s one of the things that’s helped me the most throughout high school.

Just getting some time for myself when I am really, really stressed.

That’s what I think is most important, just taking care of yourself and not getting eaten alive by stress.

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THE WEEKLY CHALLENGER

I AM: The Story of the Gas Plant Neighborhood

By Gwendolyn Reese, The Weekly Challenger

The area known as the Gas Plant neighborhood was the second African-American neighborhood formed in St. Petersburg between 1890-1900.

Originally known as “Cooper’s Quarters,” the area was owned by Leon Cooper, a white business merchant.

It ran along Ninth Street South and south of First Avenue South. Like the earlier neighborhood of Pepper Town, formed between 1888-1889

along Ninth Street between Third and Fourth Avenues South, Cooper’s Quarters was also settled by the influx of African Americans coming to the area to complete the Orange Belt Railway.

Along with Methodist Town and an area referred to as Goose Pond, these two neighborhoods were the only places Black people could call home in the city.

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As the population of Cooper’s Quarters grew, the neighborhood expanded and became known as the Gas Plant neighborhood. This was because of the natural gas cylinders that dominated the skyline.

The neighborhood was home to many people, me included, who still have pleasant memories of growing up there. The communal fish fries on Friday, crab boils on Saturday and bar-

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becues were a major part of the social life of the neighborhood, as was the sound of children’s laughter as they played kickball, hopscotch and foursquare in the alleys and backyards of the homes along Sugar Hill, Dixie, and Dunmore Avenues.

Mango, avocado, guava, and other fruit trees abounded alongside sugarcane in the front and backyards of the homes in the neighborhood. I have particularly fond memories of the cherry bush hedges along one side of Dr. James and Fannie Ayer Ponder’s home on Fifth Avenue South, or Sugar Hill, as so many people remember it.

The Gas Plant neighborhood was a bustling community where many of us worked, lived, played, and died. It was the home of the first school for Black children, Davis Academy, later named Davis Elementary, which opened in 1910 and the private McCray’s school.

Bordered to the west by the gas tanks and to the east by Webb’s City, the Gas Plant neighborhood was home to a number of Black churches, businesses, and homes.

Also, the Harlem Theater and the James Weldon Johnson Branch Library were a part of the Gas Plant neighborhood, and Campbell Park was in close proximity.

This vibrant, flourishing, mixed-income neighborhood was devastated first by the interstate and then completely gutted with the construction of the baseball stadium now known as Tropicana Field, or the “Trop.” But baseball was not what was originally promised to the residents of the neighborhood.

On Sept. 7, 1978, the city council passed a resolution declaring the neighborhood a redevelopment area and adopted a written proposal that included affordable housing and an industrial park that would create between 620 and 688 new jobs.

According to an article in the St. Petersburg Times written by Theresa White on April 19, 1979, the plan was opposed by the Module 16 Advisory Committee and the International Ministerial Alliance (IMA) because it would displace more than 800 Black residents.

The NAACP, along with several

churches and residents, had already voiced their opposition. The primary criticism of the plan was that it was designed without asking the people most affected for their opinions.

Residents were not consulted until the plans had been drawn up.

According to the news article, in order for the city to keep its promise of developing an industrial park and affordable housing, it would have “to acquire 185 parcels of land; demolish 262 structures; relocate 27 small businesses, 45 owner-occupants, and 281 tenant households.”

Elder Clarence Welch of Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ said his church was prepared to fight to keep their newly renovated church from being demolished. Many voiced that they were afraid they couldn’t afford to live anywhere else. But the concerns went unheeded.

In Nov. 1982, the IMA held a press conference in which they endorsed the Gas Plant area as the future home for the proposed baseball stadium.

The wheels were put into motion, and the race was on between Tampa and St. Petersburg for which city would be the first to build a stadium and attract a Major League Baseball team to the Bay area. In March 1983, Mark Johnson, staff writer with the Times wrote: “the Pinellas Sports Authority selected the Gas Plant area in St. Petersburg as the site for its stadium and even held a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony.” This was before a franchise had been awarded.

In 1984, the two gas cylinders, which served as neighborhood landmarks for so many years, were dismantled. This was the beginning of the end for the Gas Plant neighborhood.

In July 1986, three years after the

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

symbolic groundbreaking and eight years after the referendum of 1978, six of the nine city council members voted to build the stadium on the site without allowing it to go to referendum.

In 1986, City Manager Robert Obering supported the plan. Mayor Edward Cole, Jr. and Councilmembers Bill Griswold and Dean Staples voted against the stadium. Councilmembers Martha Maddux, J.W. Cate Jr., Robert Stewart, Chuck Fisher, David Welch, and Bill Bond Jr. voted to build the stadium.

In June 2008, Robert Stewart, a member of the council in 1986, was referenced in the Times: “He believed voters would not have approved the stadium in 1986 when the initial cost was $85 million. But he had no regrets about voting for it.”

In 1988, the city acquired Laurel Park, a low-income housing complex from the Housing Authority, to build a parking lot for the stadium. Once again, Black families were moved from their homes and dispersed throughout the community, many times losing the support systems and safety nets that were integral to the health and well-being of families.

In 1987 construction began. The stadium would be built, but without a baseball team. It would be eight years before a baseball franchise was awarded to the city. Until then various events were held in what was originally the Florida Suncoast Dome, including music concerts, ice skating shows, home and garden shows, the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair, basketball’s NCAA Final Four in 1999, and any special event that would reduce the Dome’s deficit.

In 1993, the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team agreed to play in the Dome for two years, and the name Gas Plant continued on page 26

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For the Love of Parks

Facebook Group Organizes St. Petersburg Cleanups More than 3,000 St. Petersburg enthusiasts have joined as members of the Facebook group, “We Love St. Pete Parks!” On Saturday, May 15, some of the group set off in the first of what they hope to be many cleanups.

With a new permit from St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation, the group hit Walter Fuller Park, 7891 26th Ave. N., on Saturday, May 15, just a handful of days after the event was posted.

“This, to me, is an organic way for people to translate love for St. Pete parks to actual acts,” said group organizer Aron Bryce. “It’s got to start somewhere, and this is it.”

The cleanups will take place at various locations throughout the summer.

“If I could rally these guys in just three days, imagine what we could all do together months in advance,” Bryce said.

Find “We Love St. Pete Parks” on Facebook for updates.

ABBY BAKER

By Abby Baker

Aron Byrce, creator of “We Love St. Pete Parks!” Facebook group, organized the group’s first clean up at Walter Fuller Park, Saturday, May 15.

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theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

Clam Bayou’s Litter Gitter

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Litter Collecting Device Gives Scientists Answers on Waterway Trash

By Abby Baker

HIGH VIBES

“I JUST CAN’T MEDITATE”

TAMPA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM

A cage-like device floating in Clam Bayou – dubbed “litter gitter” by scientists – has one job to do: report on the amount and types of waste in Florida waterways.

The Osprey Initiative team, in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, deployed Clam Bayou’s “litter gitter” on Tuesday, May 4 in an effort to eventually reduce the amount of trash in the area.

It’s one of 12 marine debris collectors, roughly $2,500 each, deployed throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties as part of the three-year Trash Free Waters Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program was awarded roughly $500,000 for implementation of trash-free water projects and research throughout the area.

“While the primary goal of the device is to collect litter, the type collected raises questions about where the debris is coming from,” said Joe Whalen, communication and outreach coordinator with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program.

In addition to the Clam Bayou device, other pollution reducers, such as Watergoats $3,300 devices and Seabins $6,500 devices, are also be-

ing installed throughout the three counties.

A recent discovery in Tampa Bay waters has been the consistency of mini chip bags washing into the cage.

“There’s a number of schools in the area, which really paints a picture of how the chip bags are getting into the bay,” Whalen said. “Potentially, there could be more education in the schools about the environmental consequences of not disposing of trash correctly. There’s a number of options.”

Another new bit of garbage is also appearing in local waterways: masks.

“PPE items have become a significant component of the region’s litter problem in the past year,” Whalen said. “When folks are required or encouraged to carry new, often single-use accessories with them, the opportunity for that accessory to be left behind becomes a natural possibility.”

Teams from Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Keep Manatee Beautiful, Osprey Initiative, and the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program are responsible for maintaining the devices. This could be once or twice a month, or after a heavy rain.

For more on the project, visit epa. gov/trash-free-waters.

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

Yeah, I have a hard time with it, too. Wow, does my mind wander. Sometimes when I sit down to meditate I think of people and conversations I haven’t thought of in years (and what I SHOULD have said). How should I rearrange the furniture in my bedroom? What’s for dinner? I need to place that Amazon order NOW...and so on.

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I paint or create jewelry...and so on. Because all those things are meditative as well.

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crime Police Recover Boater’s Body in Madeira Beach Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies recovered the body of a missing boater in the waters off Madeira Beach on Saturday, May 15, a day after his friend’s small vessel sank, stranding him and three others offshore.

Dwight Haggins, 33, was reportedly not wearing a flotation device and could not make the swim to shore; his three companions, including Haggin’s 6-year-old son, were uninjured.

The day of the incident, Friday, May 14, the group launched the small dingy from the Madeira Beach McDonald’s, 650 150th Ave., hoping to reach a friend’s boat anchored offshore.

According to police, once the vessel took on water, it quickly sank behind the Madeira Beach Fundamental Elementary School, 591 Tom

PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

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Stuart Causeway. At 11:10 p.m., a 911 caller reported hearing calls for help near the school.

The PCSO Marine Unit discovered his body, with help from the PCSO Dive Team, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard.

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“Detectives say his next of kin has been notified and he has been removed from NCIC/FCIC as a missing adult,” PCSO wrote in a release. “The Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.”

The investigation is ongoing.

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One Dead, Four Injured in Hit-and-Run on St. Pete Beach

By Abby Baker

PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Hiep Huynh, 70, was fatally struck while passing through a Gulf Boulevard crosswalk on St. Pete Beach in a hit-and-run on Thursday, May 13, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Four other family members, all over the age of 50, suffered minor injuries, police said.

“Deputies say Huynh sustained life-threatening injuries and was

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transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased,” reads a PCSO report.

According to the report, Huynh and his family were on the east side of the road and began walking to the west side when a red Nissan Juke exited the public beach parking lot and turned northbound on Gulf Boulevard.

The car struck all five pedestrians.

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were immediately transported to a local hospital; Anh Martin, 51, and Tuy Vinh Huynh, 67, were treated at the scene.

Police urge anyone in the area to be on the lookup for a newer model red Nissan Juke with alloy rims. Anyone with information on the vehicle should contact Corporal Jon Dobson at 727-580-4505 or by email at jdobsonjr@pcsonet.com.

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Multipurpose 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.

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.

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

Call us to get the zoom link for these activities. iPhone 101 Learn the basics of your iPhone or iPad. May 20, 1 p.m.

Virtual Veterans Coffee Connection Empath Honors invites all Veterans and those who serve them to pour a cup of coffee and join the virtual conversation. This casual forum encourages discussion and learning about veteran resources in our community, offers guidance and support to fellow veterans and shares upcoming events that benefit veterans. May 21, 9 a.m.

Virtual Bingo It’s fun and easy, and you can play it on your smartphone, computer, tablet, or traditional phone. Use a virtual bingo card or pick up a paper card at the Center, get a

16

pen or bingo dauber, and you’re ready to play! May 21, 1 p.m.

whole body to create efficient movement.

Weds., 11:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Your Health Talk by Labrador Primary Care: Battling the Aging Brain The brain is one of the most complex organs on the human body.

Dr. Christina McCoy, D.O. of Labrador Primary Care will discuss how the brain works and ways to keep it healthy as you age. May 26, 12 p.m.

Wisdom Healing Qigong By the many methods of Wisdom Healing Qigong, you’ll be inspired and empowered to transform any illness or condition into wellness. Thurs., 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Gentle Mindful Yoga This class includes yoga for healthy aging with an emphasis on alignment, strength, balance, flexibility, breathing and agility. Wed., 9:30 a.m.

Chair Yoga A gentle class is for beginners and experienced practitioners alike and provides a fun, nurturing environment to increase flexibility, strength, balance and relaxation. Fri., 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Intermediate Spanish Practice and improve your Spanish. Thurs., 10:30 a.m.

Other Events

Writer’s Workshop Sharpen your pen, sharpen your mind! Whether this is your first attempt at writing or you’re an accomplished author, together our group encourages, supports, and advances each other’s writing. Fri., 10 a.m.

Monday Mile Walking Club Start the week on the right (or left) foot. Bring a friend, invite a neighbor or walk solo with Walter. Call for meeting location. Every Monday, 9 a.m.

Find these activities on Spectrum GTV Channel 640 or at youtube. com/thegulfportseniorcenter Chair Exercise with Pat A gentle exercise routine with focus on stretching muscle groups and moving skeletal joints without pain. Mon., 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Yoga with Barbara Newborn We are true healers of our body, mind and spirit. Learn meditation, sound healing and how to breathe with slow body movements. Tues., 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Wellness Movement with Noa SpectorFlock Explore movement to better use the

Chair Yoga No matter your ability, you can increase your flexibility, muscle tone and strength. Tues., 9: 15 a.m. at Tonkin Park near the tennis courts, 27th Ave. S. & 53-54th St. S. Stretch & Strength Work with and without weights to tone muscles and strengthen the core, improve balance, flexibility, and strength, reduce stress, and boost energy. Tues. & Fri., 10:30 a.m. at Tonkin Park near the tennis courts, 27th Ave. S. & 53-54th St. S. New Horizons Band of Gulfport Practice Learn to play a band instrument or pick up your old instrument after a lay-off with New Horizons, an adult concert band. Tues., 4 p.m.

Gulfcoast Legal Services Get legal assistance from a Gulfcoast Legal Services Representative.

Fourth Tues.; call for required appointment.

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

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.

Virtual Storytime Join us virtually for our storytime on the library’s Facebook page! Be sure to follow @GulfportLibraryFL for books and rhymes and felts and more! May 20, 10:15 a.m. via Facebook.

Cactus Keychain Holder for Teens & Adults Make a keychain holder at the library. Limited number of kits also available for use at home, with a recording available via Facebook

after the event. Meeting room. Registration (required) begins May 20. 727-893-1074, libraryprograms@mygulfport.us. May 27, 2 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.

ArtOut Reception Part of the daylong Pride event benefitting the LGBTQ Resource Center.

May 29, 4-6 p.m. Want more info? Search for “Gulfport Pride” on Facebook.

Book Club Live The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. Get the print book at the library, download the audiobook on Hoopla, or download the eBook or audiobook from Overdrive/ Libby. June 3, 2 p.m. via Facebook and Zoom: mygulfport.evanced.info/signup/calendar Grab & Go Kid’s Craft Kit Supplies are limited, so come early to get yours. Project details to come.

Supply pick-up starts June 8, 10 a.m. 727-893-1134

Recreation Center 5730 Shore Blvd S. • 727-893-1068 • mygulfport.us/recreation/rec Annual registration: $3, residents; $9, nonresidents

website (follow the links: City Departments, Recreation, Recreation Center.)

Basketball (Adult) Wed., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and Thurs. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

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

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

Beginners: Tues., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (lessons 11 a.m.1 p.m.)

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

Teen Night 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.

PROGRAMS Summer Program June 14-July 30 Gulfport residents and nonresidents alike, register now for our seven-week 2021 Summer Program for children who have completed kindergarten, up through age 14. We have 25 discounted spots for Gulfportians in need.

We use a letter from the school verifying acceptance of free/reduced lunch or a letter acceptance of assistance of financial aid or related program. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (extended hours available until 6 p.m.; extra charge); register Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Detailed pricing available at the Recreation Center or at the city

Tot-Time Register now for 2021-22 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. Program starts Sept. 7, 8:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; register Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Proof of residency required for Gulfport residents. $25 deposit, applied to first month.

VPK PROGRAM Register now for free Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) for the 2021-22 school year. Any child who lives in Florida and turns four by Sept. 1 can attend VPK for free. Apply on the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas website for a certificate of eligibility, required to register. Program starts Sept. 7, 8:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; register Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. elcpinellas.net

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

Ballet and Tap Ages 3-6: Wed., 6:30 p.m.; ages 7-16: Wed., 7:30 p.m. $35/month. Lisa Walker: 727-742-2594.

Essential Oil May 20, 6:30 p.m. $10 Jennifer: 813-263-3919.

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

Tennis Chase Park, 28th Ave. and 53rd St. S. Tues., Thurs., & Fri., 5-8 p.m. $10. Private lessons available. Jack (727-280-4276) or Mo (727-515-1454).

Youth Hip Hop Ages 6-8: Fri., 6:30 p.m.; ages 9-16, Fri., 7:30 p.m. $35/month. Lisa Walker: 727-742-2594.

Zumba Thurs., 6 p.m. $20/month; $6/class.

Magda: 727-214-7868.

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theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

17

arts

Memorialized continued from cover

Memorialized: Veterans Through the Lens

Pines Hospital has saved my life more than once.”

By Abby Baker

A Family of Heroes

LARRY BUSBY

“I use photography as a form of therapy and healing,” veteran Larry Busby said. “It is very much a Zen-like experience and gives my life meaning and purpose.”

Forty-four thousand veterans and their family members are at rest in St. Petersburg’s Bay Pines National Cemetery, and each year the cemetery, established in 1933, hosts a Memorial Day ceremony for those lost.

This year, Gulfport photographer and Navy veteran Larry Busby has created his own special tribute, inviting local photo artists with a connection to the military to complete a story through the lens, showcasing the beauty of the historic cemetery and honoring the sacrifice of veterans and family.

Kentucky Boy In 1978, Larry Busby was a scrappy boy from rural Kentucky who wanted a chance “out.”

“I’m a hillbilly, not a redneck,” Busby clarifies, sporting an ancient U.S. Navy cap. “I would be dead by now if I never joined the military. A lot of the guys I know didn’t leave the county, but the Navy cleaned me up and I went from a boy to a man.”

Busby served for 10 years as a Naval Aircrewman and photographer before becoming an environmentalist, pioneering the Terra Ceia Preserve State Park.

As a creative photographer, Busby likes to play with what he calls “the science behind photography to paint fine art photographs.”

But the journey to his art wasn’t without struggle.

“I made a promise to myself that I would spread awareness no matter what. I joined a 12-step program and I’m in recovery,” Busby said. “Bay

If it’s happening in Gulfport, chances are Eagle Finegan is there, watching from behind the lens.

Finegan moved to Gulfport following Hurricane Katrina with few possessions, but was gifted a pointand-shoot camera – to her, a treasure.

“I was able to view my new world via the lens,” Finegan said. “The passion of the ‘click’ from the shutter, and I was able to show just how I view things.”

Finegan hails from a family of Army vets: her father, two brothers and nephew all wore the uniform; her nephew is a Marine, so Bay Pines holds a special place in the Gulfport resident’s heart.

For Dad Dorothy Smith was 3 years old when her father, J.D Smith, completed his time in the Air Force.

“Even though our dad retired before I got to live life as a military child, he instilled in us the importance of our heroes that have sacrificed for our country,” Smith said.

When she heard about Busby’s photo essay idea, Smith decided to shoot local veterans Jared Proctor and T.J Neer in Bay Pines.

Her shots capture the art on their skin, their proud faces and patriotic gear as they tour the cemetery.

“I love working with light, how I can manipulate it right out of the camera, placing shapes and using colors and textures to make the image pop,” Smith said. “I love working candidly with subjects and then seeing their reaction when I show them the finished project.”

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The son of a veteran who died while on active duty, Thomas O’Connor also served as a Navy photographer, braving waves while wielding

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

EAGLE FINEGAN

“I was able to view my new world via the lens,” Eagle Finegan said.

THOMAS O’CONNOR

LARRY BUSBY

“The VA has been extremely good to me and it’s safe to say they have saved my life at least once, probably twice,” Thomas O’Connor said.

his camera aboard a ship from 1986 to 1988.

“After that, I focused on my other art pursuits until I rediscovered my passion for photography as part of my physical therapy after surgery,” O’Connor said, “and it has gone a long way in helping me recover.”

The VA is especially important to O’Conner, who echoes Busby’s appreciation.

“The VA has been extremely good to me,” he said, “and it’s safe to say they have saved my life at least once, probably twice.”

Burial in Bay Pines For many veterans and their families, Bay Pines National Cemetery – where veterans and, in some cases, their families, can be buried for free – is a sacred space. Busby and the photographers who participated in the photo essay honor not just the

space, however, but the profound sacrifice it symbolizes.

“Well we’re all going to die one day,” Busby said. “A lot of veterans are like this, like me. When we join

we know this – you’re making a deal with the devil and not everyone can do that.”

See more photos with this story at thegabber.com.

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theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

Frontline Faces

Janet Folsom Paints People in the Pandemic JANET FOLSOM

By Abby Baker

Since the 1980s, Gulfport artist Janet Folsom has been painting the everyday people she connects with.

Recently, those people have been the essential workers and faces braving the pandemic.

From the hospital-scrub-clad women behind a computer screen to the dewy-skinned cashier at a bakery, Folsom took note on the few days she left home and used these brief interactions as inspiration.

“I would go to the doctor’s office and be amazed at how great the workers were,” Folsom said. “I started asking if I could paint them.”

“Decisions” by Janet Folsom.

JANET FOLSOM

JANET FOLSOM

Stepping Outside Characteristically, the Washington, D.C. area native uses oil on canvas for her candids, with a slightly warped take on reality.

She’s not going for realism – she’s going for feeling.

“You know, through all this, some people were more locked down than others,” Folsom said. “We were really locked down, and I was really struck by the people I would briefly see.”

Her main artistic liberty? The nose down.

“I think the biggest challenge was that I didn’t want to paint people with masks on,” Folsom reflected.

“I made up their face from the nose down.”

Folsom’s subjects are not college students “braving” the bars on Saturdays – they’re grocery store customers, cashiers, doctor’s office patients, reimagined without a thin piece of fabric covering half of their face.

Painting candids of strangers has been Folsom’s passion since she graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s in art history. She moved to Gulfport in 1996, and never put down her paintbrush.

“It was just something that I had a calling to do,” Folsom said, but, she notes, “I’ve had to be corrected; I ask before I paint people now.”

“Front Line Doctor’s Office” by Janet Folsom.

Being Seen Folsom’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed: Her art was selected for Skyway 20/21: A Contemporary Collaboration, with collections showing at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Tampa Museum of Art and

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

“Stepping Out” by Janet Folsom.

the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum in Tampa.

Folsom’s work will appear in the Tampa Museum of Art from June 3 until October 10, alongside other collections of Floridian art.

“I’m just incredibly honored to be showing my work there,” Folsom said.

21

GULFPORT

North End Taphouse

2908 1/2 Beach Blvd. S. May 21: Greg Milo 7-11 p.m.

May 22: Carmack & the Melody Dusters 7-10 p.m.

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May 22: Janie & Lenny Duo 6 p.m.

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May 21: TL Jentgens 8:30 p.m.

May 22: Bully 4 U 8:30 p.m.

The Toasted Monkey

678 75th Ave. May 21: King Pin 6-10 p.m.

May 22: Griswalds 6-10 p.m.

TREASURE ISLAND Ka’Tiki

8803 W. Gulf Blvd.

May 21: Ship of Fools 7 p.m.

May 22: The Gearz 1 p.m., Raised by Fools 7 p.m.

Sloppy Joe’s on the Beach 10650 Gulf Blvd.

May 21: Well Strung 6 p.m., Radio Silent 6 p.m.

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May 21: Brittany Mone 6 p.m.

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Friday, May 21: Kevin Toon 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 22: Jeff Gurney 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 23: Big Brother Live 2 p.m., All Star Mic 8 p.m.

The Hut Bar and Grill

190 Boardwalk Pl. E. Friday, May 21: Miguel Lantigua 12-4 p.m., Curtis Allen Band 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 22: One Drop Shop 12-4 p.m., Ellie Lee Band 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 23: Tripp & Rebecca 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Poly Essence 4:30-8:30 p.m.

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

things to do Porch Party, Tacos & Remembering Mr. Satan

By Abby Baker

Find links for these events — and many other things to do — online at thegabber.com/events.

Thursday, May 20 Celebration for a Blues Legend Honor the late blues legend, Sterling “Mr. Satan” Magee – on what would have been Magee’s 85th birthday – with a new blues band, Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors, led by Magee’s nephew Rod Patterson. Dance and celebrate the way Mr. Satan would have wanted, while singing the blues. Hosted by Carroway + Rose.

The North End Taphouse, 2908 Beach Blvd S. 7-10 p.m.

Movies in the Park Movie lovers and wine-on-a-blanket connoisseurs, Movies in the Park is back in North Straub Park. Bring or buy a picnic and enjoy a film on the big outdoor screen, weather permitting. Tickets are required this year, so get them early. North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Dr. NE., 7 p.m.

Friday, May 21 Kitty Yoga in St. Pete Cat cuddles and yoga, happy Friday! This is an evening gentle flow with some cat time before stretches. Bring your own yoga mat, and reserve a spot right meow. Sunshine Kitty Catfe, 1669 1st Ave. S. 7-8:30 p.m.

Molding at the Morean Get your hands dirty with something positive this Friday – clay, and lots of it! Be prepared to spend two hours molding, wheel throwing and building your own personal creations at the Morean Center for Clay. Bring creative energy, and maybe a towel, and make your new favorite hand-crafted piece. Morean Center For Clay, 420 22nd St. S. 7-9 p.m.

Take over the lawn of the Gulfport Historical Museum with live music from The Tortugas, lawn games and food. Come celebrate and see what’s happening next year around town. Gulfport History Museum, 5301 28th Ave. S. 7-9 p.m.

Friday, May 21, to Sunday The Florida Music Expo Arts & Crafts Festival at Ferg’s Listen to local music, check out fresh art and knock back a few summer drinks, all for a good cause. Ferg’s Sports Bar is the destination for The Florida Music Expo Arts & Crafts Festival all weekend long. General admission starts at $10 and each weekend night will have themes from country grooves, to classic rock tributes. The festival benefits local nonprofit ProjectFREE. Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill, 1320 Central Ave. 2 p.m.–2 a.m.

Saturday, May 22 Childs Park Wellness Walk Come out, meet the neighbors and enjoy Childs Park for a monthly wellness walk around the neighborhood.

Bring a water bottle, a mask and Florida summer gear for this casual, outdoor event. Childs Park, 1227 43rd St S. 9-11 a.m.

Tacos and Tequila at the Trop A taco in one hand, a margarita in the other – that’s the premise of

GHS Porch Party: Welcome Back!

It’s been a heck of a year, but Gulfport Historical Society is thrilled to announce its grand reopening with a night of outdoor family fun.

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

the Tacos + Tequila Festival. Another St. Pete celebration of food, a little spicier than normal, hits the Trop. Check out tons of food and drink vendors and participate in the games and prizes. Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Dr. 12-8 p.m.

Sunday, May 23 Miss St. Pete Pride Pageant It’s time to crown Miss St. Pete Pride, this time by the beach! Mermaids participate in a “creative pride” presentation, an evening gown Q&A, and a talent portion. This is a drag pageant, so prepare for cocktails. Postcard Inn on the Beach, 6300 Gulf Boulevard S. 6 p.m.

Monday, May 24 Full Moon Party at Postcard Inn Soak in the full moon with live music, sips and bites, fire dancers, tarot readings, henna, and other spiritual movements all in Mother Nature. Hosted by the Postcard Inn on the Beach; reserve a moonlit spot today. Postcard Inn on the Beach, 6300 Gulf Blvd. S. 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 25 Drag Bingo at Punky’s Project No Labels invites queens, bingo champions and everyone in between for a colorful celebration of queerness at your neighborhood gay bar, Punky’s. Enjoy 10 rounds of bingo and good eats every Tuesday. Punky’s Bar and Grill, 3063 Central Ave., 7-9 p.m.

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No fee if you do not qualify.

23

the gabs What’s a piece of advice you’d like to give your younger self?

Photos by Gabrielle Reeder

Blythe Mitchell, St. Petersburg: “Be kind and be beautiful.”

Leandre Mells, St. Petersburg: “To be more responsible.”

Austin Tapia Hernandez, Dominican Republic: “Staying in school is one of the principal things right now. You need to have an education to survive in this country because everything is going high on prices. If you want to survive, you better get a degree and stay in college. Don’t quit school until you get a degree so you can have a nice future and life.”

Jonathan Mitchell, St. Petersburg: “When you start to feel uncomfortable, when things are causing you to feel out of place or like you’re pushing yourself, you really have to lean in on that. That is what helps you grow. It’s the only way that you learn how to do anything and if you don’t back down it’s going to make you better.”

Gentle, Friendly, and Personalized Care Modern, State-of-the-Art Facility General Dentistry Working with Latest Technologies

727-954-4431 StPeteModernDentistry.com 5500 1st Ave N St. Petersburg

24

2222 49th St. South, St. Petersburg

1.50

$

Bud & Bud Lite Drafts

ALL DAY!

LIQUOR SPECIALS LICENSED SECURITY 727-327-9115 • 727-455-9860 • Regular Hours 9am - 3am

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

worship Paradise Lutheran Church

on Treasure Island 10255 Paradise Blvd, Treasure Island

‘Upscale Resale’

316 Corey Ave. St. Pete Beach 727-360-5647 Open five days a week: 10am-2pm Mon. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat.

Sunday Service

10am with Holy Communion

Clothes–Collectibles–Gifts Household Goods A Ministry of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Proceeds go back into the community.

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

Beth-El Shalom Messianic Congregation

ShalomAdventure.com JewishHeritage.net Rabbi@JewishHeritage.net

Unitarian Universalist United Fellowship

During the pandemic join us Sundays on Zoom.

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

obituaries Vaughan Sr, Donald Peyton, passed away April 15, 2021 at age 86. Don was a 1954 graduate of St. Petersburg High, an Army veteran and a retired Building Engineer for Allstate Insurance Co. He lived in Gulfport since 1963 and was actively involved with the Gulfport Community Players for several years. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Miki Murphy Vaughn of Gulfport; his son Peyton Vaughan and his wife, Sally; grandchildren Zach and Megan Vaughan, of St. Petersburg; son Mark A. Vaughn of Ohio; brother Joseph Vaughan and his wife, Gay, of Inverness, FL.

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 Memoriam We joyfully remember Christopher Michael Clark. May 25, 1987–April 7, 2021

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

In partnership with

25

TRAVEL IS FUN TOURS

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Plus Dozens of Great Day Trips! Here are just a few!

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MAY 28, FRI—Lunch at HELLA’S with the the Magic of James Songster…$79 MAY 31, MON—ST. ARMANDS CIR Shopping & Military Appreciation Day…$39 JUN 1, TUE—ZOO TAMPA at Lowry Park—Primates, Wallaroos & more!...$79 JUN 3, THU—MONKEY ISLAND—Great Lunch & Boatride to visit the Monkeys of the Homosassa River, Lunch included at Florida Cracker Monkey Bar!...$85 JUN 12, SAT—”BEEHIVE” at the Broadway Palm, Great Music!...$105 JUN 19, SAT—YBOR COLUMBIA restaurant & Flamenco dancers!...$89

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26

Gas Plant continued from page 11

was changed to the ThunderDome.

In 1996 the ThunderDome became Tropicana Field. About 400 events were held at the Dome from when it opened in March 1990 to when it reopened in January 1998.

In March 1998, 20 years after the city council passed a resolution declaring the Gas Plant neighborhood a redevelopment area and promised a plan that included affordable housing and an industrial park, the Devil Rays played their first official game at Tropicana Field. This was the symbolic conclusion of a 20-year project that tore apart the heart of St. Petersburg’s Black community.

And now, 23 years after the first game was played in the stadium in 1998; 34 years after construction began on the stadium in 1987; 35 years after six of the nine members of the council voted to build the stadium on the site without allowing it to go to referendum in 1986; 37 years after the two landmark gas cylinders were dismantled in 1984; 43 years after the city council passed a resolution in 1978 declaring the neighborhood a redevelopment area and promised, in writing, a plan that included affordable housing and an industrial park offering between 620 and 688 new jobs; and approximately 130 years after the neighborhood was formed, we find ourselves once again deciding on the fate of what once was the Gas Plant neighborhood.

Will the promises made in 1978 be fulfilled in 2021? Our involvement in the process will determine the outcome. Get involved. Make your voices heard because your voices matter.

Gwendolyn Reese is currently writing a book about the Gas Plant neighborhood. If you would like to share your experiences of growing up there, of stories passed down in your family about the area, or memories you have, please email aahaspfl@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared in The Weekly Challenger, May 13, 2021. It has been reprinted here with permission, in partnership with The Weekly Challenger.

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

crossword

Solution on page 31

Tree’s A Crowd

sudoku

Solution on page 31

Do You Have Gulfport Spirit?

From downtown to nonprofits, there’s an opportunity for everyone with a few hours to spare. Help showcase Gulfport as an ambassador at First Friday Art Walk or the Third Saturday IndieFaire Night Market. Volunteers help artists find their spot and set up, as well as answer questions and offer visitors suggestions on places to eat, things to do and where to find whatever they seek. The Welcome Center also needs volunteers to greet people with a friendly smile, even if you only have a two or three hours a month to offer. The Gulfport Historical Society and Arts Center also needs volunteers for the museum and special events, and the Gulfport Multipurpose Senior Center could use a few volunteers to man the lobby desk and the fitness center. If you have time to give to your town, email volunteer@visitgulfportflorida.com.

Get Help in a Crisis The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay brings help, hope and healing to people facing serious life challenges. Dial 2-1-1, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to receive free, confidential crisis counseling, along with information and referrals to a crisis center service or to more than 3,000 other community resources. Learn more at crisiscenter.com.

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

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

HOMEWATCH CAREGIVERS OF ST PETE BEACH

Serving the greater St. Petersburg area.

Family owned and local business. Providing in home personal aid companion care, after surgery care, 24-hour care, dementia care, postpartum support, childcare, to name a few. 727-914-7472 www.hwcg.com/St-PeteBeach AHCA #299995153

If you have questions about advertising, please email us at advertising@thegabber.com or call 727-321-6965! Deadline: Friday 5 p.m. fences, driveways, homes, sidewalks, pavers, stepping stones, pool cages, pool area, you name it we can make it look new again.

40 yrs exp. Excellent references, call 727743-0701 for a free estimate.

Handy Person HANDYMAN SEMI-RETIRED All types of repairs • small jobs welcome • Quality work at reasonable prices • Honest • Reliable • Free estimates • John, 727-410-2201 CARPENTER DEPENDABLE! Have Tools Will Travel Trustworthy. Doors, Decks/Eaves/ Rotted Wood, Etc. 30 Year Gabber Advertiser.

Free Estimates, Lic. C-5754. 727-821-9973.

SEMI RETIRED CARPENTER

At Discount Prices! Free Estimates. Frame and Finish Work. Gulfport and Pinellas Park Areas. Call the Door Doctor. Gus, 727-6446194.

Electrical AC ELECTRIC 727-345-3108 Over 30 years experience. Residential & commercial. New or remodel work, service upgrades, lightning arrestors. Fans and lighting installed.

State License #ER0007653.

MAYNARD ELECTRIC • 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! Home & Condo Maintenance

Computer Service JS COMPUTER REPAIR Mobile Computer Repair – 40.00 per visit/hr – 727-643-0697 – www.jmswebservices.com

Computer Problems?

No Problem!

In-Home Service FREE Phone Consultation Virus/Malware Removal Setup • Repair • Tutoring Courteous, Competent, Reliable Service

D.C. STRONG

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

perfectworldllc.com

Cleaning / Housekeeping

PROFESSIONAL CARPET AND GROUT CLEANING

Specializing in spot removal and sanitizing your carpets. Ask about our $99 special. 40yrs experience ,Excellent references and attn to detail. Satisfaction guaranteed. 727-743-0701

PROFESSIONAL PRESSURE CLEANING

The pollen has finally subsided. Make your home beautiful again. We pressure clean

28

Gulfport Computer Repair Fast Friendly Service

727-388-3493 2321 49th St S

Mon-Thu 10am-5pm

15 Years in Gulfport 45 Years Experience

Computer Sales

Fax, Copy, Print

CHARLES JUNK HAULING & DEMOLITION Junk & Trash Removal. Low, Low Prices Guaranteed, Daily Specials. Kitchen, Bath, Shed, Fencing, etc. Demolition. 727-8310507.

Home Improvement ROOFING LEAK SPECIALIST Bryan “The Roof Whisperer”. 727-277-9502. Residential/Commercial, Repairs/Reroof. Shingles, Tile, Flat. Quick Response. Quality Work at Reasonable Rates. References. Insured/ Licensed. #CCC1330056. Also, Boat Dock Wood Repairs/Replacements.

BLINDS, SHADES, SHUTTERS AND DRAPERY

Installation Service. My name is Jim Richardson, I have been an Installer for JC Penney for over 25 years. As well, I also do repairs on all blinds and drapery rods.

Licensed and Insured. 727-504-5909

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

Heat / Air Conditioning

EXPERT SPRINKLER REPAIR

Rich Moseley, Irrigation Contractor. 25 Years Experience. Reasonable Rates. Well & Pumps. 727-439-0792. Lic.#C8312. BBB Accredited.

“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

“Nook” table & chairs plus more. Must sell soon before I move. Call 907-401-3142 or email mwilliam.oconnell@gmail.com.

FURNITURE FOR SALE

Beautiful and clean green L shaped couch (also a clean and comfortable hide-a-bed) $150. IKEA beautiful and clean soft pink modern couch, mint condition, $250. Three IKEA tables, white glass and chrome-1 coffee table, two matching end tables on large casters-$125 for all 3. One Queen Anne ball & clawfoot wingback chair, tapestry front, brown check fabric back, cleaned and scotch guarded. $100. Craftsman Professional table saw, all attachments and booklet, $225.

General GULFPORT LIONS CLUB Available for parties, weddings, meetings. Great waterfront location with full facilities. Call Jean for info and dates. 727-366-6341.

Professional Services

NEED A GREAT REALTOR?

Whether buying or selling a home, please call me for all of your Real Estate needs. I will work hard to earn your trust and confidence. Greg Graham, Realtor, Charles Rutenberg Realty 727-698-9017. https:// gregorygraham.gocrr.com

LAWN EQUIPMENT

RIDING MOWER, 30”, Troy Bilt, Gas $500.

PUSH MOWER, Rechargeable, $100. HEDGE TRIMMER, Rechargeable, $40. STRING TRIMMER, electric, $35. Call or text (727) 4539764. Gulfport.

WE BUY CARS AND TRUCKS As well as real estate, estates--any condition. 727-4583613.

Pets / Animals

BOLO! REWARD!

Plumbing

PROFLO PLUMBING 727-902-7077

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

Lawn / Landscape TREE PRUNING & DEBRIS CLEANUP Serving South St. Petersburg • Free Estimates • 727-308-8650

AFFORDABLE PROMPT • RELIABLE Licensed & Insured

Lee Claxton, I.S.A. Certified Arborist

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

727-220-0226 AnAffordableArborist@gmail.com

Automotive

2006 HONDA ELEMENT

Good condition. 4door. Orange and black.

New battery and tires, needs nothing else.

Works like a van, sits like a car. 115,700 miles. $4700. Call 810-334-9460 1999 MERCEDES 500 4 door, vintage, showroom condition. Low mileage. $8000 727458-3613

Lost caramel mini dachshund. New to area.

4/26, 2 am, Shyla ran out of front door after arrival. 14th Ave S, ran up 57th St S toward Boca Ciega H.S. Please check backyards and easement areas. No chip. She has blue spay tattoo. My little girls are heartbroken.

Shyla is skittish and shy. Please call BJ at 720-205-3992 with any sightings or info.

Help Wanted

Collectibles

Join Team Gabber!

GUN COLLECTIONS WANTED TODAY! WE TRAVEL!

We need a part-time operations and sales assistant to answer phones, support our sales director, and basically keep the office running. The ideal candidate loves our community, spreadsheets and organization.

You should also enjoy talking to locals on the phone, greeting walk-in traffic, and finding hard-to-find information. If you’re a smart, organized and reliable people person, we need you for 25 hours a week. We start you at $12 an hour, but review that at 90 days.

Size and Price No Object, honest and ethical local ffl dealer. We handle all paperwork, NO AUCTIONS, no consignments just cash today! House calls available or just stop by! 5697 34th St N St Pete 33714 727430-9424 Matt 9-5:30 Monday-Saturday Furniture / Appliances

APARTMENT FURNISHINGS SALE...

MUST GO!

Love Seat-Sofa 60”/ Full size quality Futon / Beds x2 / end tables / folding breakfast

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

Email your resume to publisher@thegabber.com.

Diverse applicants encouraged.

29

OLDER WORKERS NEEDED

Paid Job Training for Older Workers…PARTTIME…Pinellas County. Compensation: $8.65 (Federal Grant). General Office, Receptionists, Greeters, Cashiers, Maintenance, Custodial, Food Service. MUST be UNEMPLOYED, Pinellas Resident, 55 or Older, Low Income, AND LOOKING FOR WORK. Call AARP Foundation SCSEP, (727) 547-0534

BUSY WATERFRONT RESTAURANT HIRING

Hiring experienced line cook, busser, barback ,server, bartender. Apply within 2001 Pass A Grille way, St. Pete Beach.

Real Estate for Rent

1BD/1BA

Unfurnished duplex apartment. North Gulfport. Non-smoker. Senior preferred. Quiet and private. Small (15lb) dog considered. $900 monthly. 1st/last/sec. deposit. Tenant pays utilities. Yearly lease. Income verification/credit check. By appointment only. 727350-5609.

PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED LINE ADS ONLINE!

Real Estate for Sale

I Gulfport!

Accommodations Wanted FEMALE ARTIST SEEKING NEW HOME 61yo Single Female Artist w/2 cats VA disability seeks 1 or 2 BR house long termed rental in Gulfport area. Challenged & Unfair credit history. June & July availability. $1300 or less. Just need a Break .Text or Call 727490-8619.

727-418-8948

neldasellsfla@gmail.com

Nelda Hamm

3037 Beach Blvd. S.

theGabber.com

Gulfport Little League Upcoming Games

T-Ball:

5/22 10 a.m. • Egan Park 9101 Blind Pass Rd. • St. Pete Beach

30

5/22 11 a.m. • Egan Park

9101 Blind Pass Rd. • St. Pete Beach

theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

solutions

SOLD!!!

1432 53rd Street South

Now is the time to sell!

Let this Local Expert get you SOLD! Marie Drew 727-657-1259

mdrew@remax.net 6641 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 | LocalExpertHomes.com theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

31

FREE

TEETH WHITENING

Schedule an Appointment Today and Receive a Free Take-Home Teeth Whitening*

Coast Dental Pasadena

South Pasadena Shopping Center 6882 Gulfport Blvd S St. Petersburg, FL 33707

General Dentistry and Cosmetic Services

Schedule Your Appointment Today! Agents Available 24/7

(877) 880-1212 | CoastDental.com *Free Professional Take-Home Teeth Whitening. ADV – Free Whitening Special – Marketing 2020. $25 value. Must schedule and show for an appointment at Coast Dental & Orthodontics by June 30, 2021.

Offer expires 6/30/2021. Offer limited to one per customer. Minimum fee only. Fee may vary with complexity of case. ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY BE INCURRED FOR RELATED SERVICES WHICH MAY BE REQUIRED IN INDIVIDUAL CASES. (FL PATIENTS ONLY - THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS A RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT, OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT THAT IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED FEE, OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT.) The dentists and hygienists are employees or independent contractors of Coast Florida, P.A., Coast Dental, P.A., (Adam Diasti, DDS, DN12490). Coast Dental Services, LLC complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. © 2021 Coast Dental. All rights reserved. CD-103226 R 01/2021

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theGabber.com | May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021