Editor’s Note By Shelly Wilson
Publisher
Cathy Salustri Loper
Editor
Shelly Wilson
Creative Director Joey Neill
Advertising Director Chris Madalena
Reporters/Photographers Laura Mulrooney,
News and Politics reporter
Distribution Chris Campas Serving Gulfport, South Pasadena, St. Petersburg West, Downtown St. Petersburg, Kenwood, Maximo, Tierra Verde, St. Pete Beach, PassA-Grille, Treasure Island, Pinellas Point Owners Barry Loper and Cathy Salustri Loper Deadlines Friday at 5 p.m.
thegabber.com @gabbernews @gabbernews @gabberlife
2
– Shelly
theGabber.com | July 23 - July 29, 2020
On Tuesday, June 21, Sergeant Jesse Kellington emailed the Gabber the following statement: “On 7/16/20 after assisting another officer with [an] arrest on [a] warrant call at the beach front, Ofc. Ramos was involved in a slow speed crash. While exiting the parking lot Ofc. Ramos accidentally struck a vehicle that was traveling eastbound on Shore Blvd. S. There were no injuries reported as a result of the crash. Ofc. Ramos was found to be at fault and issued a traffic citation for failure to yield.”
Stevie is BAC B K!
100s of GUITARS • ALWAYS BUYING! USED & VINTAGE • WE PAY CASH! 6630 Gulf Blvd • St. Pete Beach StPeteGuitars.com
• The Housing Market is Hot! • Save Thousands in Fees with Me • You Pay Only 3-4% Commission! • Full Service Real Estate For Less
Pier continued from cover
2019 by engineering company, Cardno. The report gave two recommendations for repair. Option 1: Repair of all major, intermediate and minor deterioration. Option 2: Replace the 10 beams with major deterioration and repair of other beams with intermediate and minor deterioration. After reviewing the report the city chose option two, for longevity purposes. The cost of the repairs is $447,000, which was the lowest bid by Mid-Coast Construction. However, according to the report, future repairs may be needed to prolong the life of all of the pier’s components in the next five to 10 years. Future repairs are expected to cost $100,000.
theGabber.com | July 23 - July 29, 2020
Jeff Thomsen, Realtor Realean Real Estate
727-222-0099 JeffThomsen.com
HURRICANE SEASON IS UPON US! Stormfitters Offers Hurricane Protection for Every Budget!
Impact Windows & Doors, Roll-Down & Accordion Hurricane Shutters, Hurricane Fabric, Rolling Hurricane Fabric, Clear Polycarbonate Hurricane Panels.
HURRICANE SPECIAL! Limited Time Offer!
Convenient Tilt for Cleaning
500 OFF
$
YOUR ENTIRE ORDER
• Impact Windows • Doors • Shutters
*Offers Cannot be Combined. Not Valid on Prior Sales. On Orders of $5,000 or more.
Serving St. Petersburg and Surrounding Areas for more than 40 Years! Locally Owned & Operated.
WINDOWS and DOORS CGC1516020
0000088920-01
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.
727-318-0986
WOLFGANG DEININGER
Jeff Donnelly, Theater Jennifer Ring, Food and Culture Lynn Taylor, Arts June Johns, Photographer
Accident continued from cover
LAURA MULROONEY
2908-B Beach Blvd. S. Gulfport, FL 33707 727-321-6965
Settle in because I’m about to tell you the most wild, unbelievable story of survival. Not my survival. This amazing dog. Mango. Who has lived for years with liver cancer, Cushing’s disease, and pain that would keep most humans in bed. She’s 14 years old, and about as frail as a dog can be and still move. We rescued Mango from the SPCA in 2006. She was a six-month-old goofball who only stopped moving when she slept. She’s a had a full life. When we made a temporary move to Denmark, our family fostered her on a farm in Texas, where she swam in a pond every day and her best friend was a goat. Once she ran off after a herd of deer and everyone thought she was lost forever – until she turned up on the front porch. Mango has seen some things. Last weekend, we went to stay on the Suwannee River, up north near the Georgia line. We took her with us because, even though she can’t walk easily anymore, see much, or hear very well, we knew she would love it. The second night, around 3:30 a.m., my wife Maricris hauled Mango down two flights of stairs and into the pitch black woods so she could go to the bathroom. Our cabin sat right on the river, with a steep, limestone bank. Sometime later, Maricris burst into our room, hysterical. Mango, without a leash, had gone over the bank, into the fast-moving, black water below. We ran outside, searching wildly with flashlights for any sign of her. I teetered out over the water like a crazed momma bear. But she was gone. Just gone. I can tell you that I was inconsolable. We all were. Our beautiful, strong, amazing girl vanished, just like that, into the black water and darkness. Alone. We slowly went back into the house, wide awake, bewildered and devastated. Maricris and I passed sleepless, tearful hours in the dark.
How could Mango be gone, just like that? The next morning we began the dazed, slow and sad process of putting together a recovery mission. Her body could be miles down the river, but we had to try. We loaded a canoe with towels to wrap her in, if we found her. More likely the river had taken her without a trace. Maricris and I paddled slowly, eyeing the limestone banks, letting the river move us downstream. I tried to steel myself against the nausea and the heartbreak. About a quarter mile down the river, we passed a stand of cypress. I saw the glint of a white, sandy beach. I saw movement. A bird, probably. Then I looked closer. It was orange. An orange moving thing. A Mango. Standing on the beach, looking right at us, not a scratch on her after a night in the inky swamp. This dog, this frail old bag of beloved bones, tumbled over an embankment in the darkest night, pitched into black water and swam a quarter-mile downstream, where she pulled herself onto a tiny spit of sand in the middle of nowhere. And where, in the morning, she greeted her two sobbing humans on the shore like it was just another day. I tell you this story because, well, it’s a great story. In the midst of COVID-19 counts and epic uncertainty, it’s a story we need. We know Mango doesn’t have much time left in the world. But she hasn’t given up. She pulled herself up on the banks of the Suwannee because she wasn’t ready to give up. She happily goes to work every day that I let her. She loves nothing more than being useful, and to be loved. I think that’s what keeps her going. I think that’s what keeps a lot of us going. The fact is, Mango is so much stronger than I think she is. I think we all are.
727-544-0575 www.stormfitter.com EXPERT INSTALLATION • LIFETIME WARRANTY
3
