6p LIBRARY NEWS & EVENTS- (Dec. 21-28)--Monday & Tuesday, Dec. 24-25, Library CLOSED; Thursday, 2:00 pm - Monsters & Movies: make a monster treat and watch the animated film Monsters vs. Aliens: ages 5 to 12; Friday, 11:00 am - Play Jeopardy with your fellow library patrons. HONOR WALK AT UPHAM BEACH The 2018-2019 Brick Campaign has officially launched. Orders will be received from November 5, 2018 until March 18, 2019. Installation of the bricks will occur early summer. For more information call 727.363.9232 or download the form Honor Walk at Upham Beach SENIOR EXCURSIONS HOSTED BY THE ST. PETE BEACH COMMUNITY CENTER The St. Pete Beach Community Center has new Senior Excursions on the schedule January-March. The excursions are a great way for local seniors to travel with friends. All excursions will depart from St. Pete Beach Community Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Dr. All participants must preregister the Wednesday prior to the excursion. Each trip is $15. Cost covers transportation only. All Admissions or lunch are extra and the responsibility of the participants. Time of trips are 9am-4pm. For more information call the Community Center at 727.363.9245 or visit www.spbrec.com Trip Schedule Jan 5th St. Armand s Circle Jan 12th North Tampa Market Jan 19th Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (additional fee for admission) Jan 26th Yuengling Tour & Lunch at Shells Feb 2nd Localtopia A Community Celebration of All Things Local followed by the Dali Museum and lunch at 4th St Shrimp Store (additional fee for Dali Museum) Feb 9th Florida State Fair (additional fee for admission) Feb 16th Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival (additional fee for admission) Feb 23rd 72nd Annual Fiesta Day Mar 2nd Florida Strawberry Festival (additional fee for admission) Mar 9th 2019 Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival (additional fee for admission) Mar 16th Ikea, Ybor City and The Columbia Restaurant Mar 23rd Tampa Premium Outlet Mall Mar 30th Dunedin Downtown Market CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 24TH, TUESDAY DECEM- BER 25TH AND TUESDAY JANUARY 1ST FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
6p ST. PETE BEACH COMMUNITY YARD SALE SPACES ON SALE NOW the St. Pete Beach Community Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Dr. is hosting a Community Yard Sale on Saturday January 19th from 8am-12pm. Call 727.363.9245 for more information. MESSAGE FROM PUBLIC WORKS Following the holidays Waste Connections will collect Christmas Trees from the curb during normal pick-up days. COMMUNITY INFORMATION & EVENTS Sunday Market on Corey Avenue from 10am-2pm Free Lunch and Learn Wednesday January 9th at the St. Pete Beach Recreation Center from 12-1pm. Topic of Discussion Boosting the Immune System Naturally. For more information or to reserve your seat, call 727.363.9245. Corey Avenue Art & Craft Show January 12th & 13th St. Pete Beach Classic January 19th & 20th Music in the Afternoon February 3rd from 2-4p at the St. Pete Beach Recreation Center. For more information, call 727.363.9245. CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 24TH, TUESDAY DECEM- BER 25TH AND TUESDAY JANUARY 1ST FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
6p a local referendum. MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER TERRI FINNERTY ED.D., DIS- TRICT 1 Home Rule: The Florida constitution empowers citizens with the right of local self-government, or Home Rule. As the only form of voluntary government, Florida s municipalities are the embodiment of this right. A city is created by its citizens to provide additional functions and services for the particular benefit of the community. Local citizens develop a charter to specify the form, functions and power of their city government. The incorporation and city charter are approved by voters in Home Rule authorizes all governmental, corporate and propriety powers necessary to conduct municipal government, perform municipal functions, and render municipal services. Home Rule is why not two cities are alike. City residents take pride in this diversity and responsibility. Strong Home Rule powers ensure that government stays close to the people it serves. Intrusion on Home Rule from the state or federal government undermines the constitutional right of citizens to govern themselves. Last week I wrote about the Florida League of Cities priority this year to educate Floridians about local self-government, known as Home Rule. I provided a definition of Home Rule, as well as, the history of how it evolved. This year Honorable Leo Longworth, Mayor of the City of Bartow and President of the Florida League of Cities, has established the priority of the organization as We Live Local. He explains, Florida s cities, towns and villages are centers of economic, social and cultural energy. Each municipality is a catalyst for the quality of life enjoyed by its residents and visitors. However, special interests are hijacking our hometowns and now more than ever, citizens need to understand what s at stake. In a recent article published in The Ledger, President of Florida League of Cities Longworth and Mayor of Bartow, wrote an article entitled, A Polk Perspective: We Live Local We ll Decide Local. Below is a reprint of that article which helps to shine light on this most important issue facing many cities. Every one of Florida s 412 municipalities is unique. No one knows what makes a community exceptional better than those who live there. Shouldn t you be the ones to decide what happens in your community? Home Rule is not a gift from the Legislature; it is the will of the people. It is included in our state s constitution, and it gives each city the authority to craft its laws to meet its unique needs. We don t need distant politicians meddling in our backyards. We who live there know what works best in our cities. It comes as no surprise, however, that state legislators disagree. They believe they are better equipped and more qualified to decide what s best for our local communities. Special interests are hijacking our hometowns and now, more than ever, citizens must understand what s at stake.
6p MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER TERRI FINNERTY ED.D., DIS- TRICT 1 During the 2018 legislative session, for example, the Legislature considered a bill that would have forced cities to hold their local elections in November or March, regardless of existing city charters and ordinances. While at first this may not seem like much of a problem, consider how it would affect you and your local election. In many cities that hold runoff elections, for example, local campaigns would be in full swing during the summer and winter holidays when people are already unbelievably busy with all the tasks, events and to-dos that naturally accompany those times of the year. Could you imagine trying to participate in a local election on top of all of that? Clearly, those cities and their residents hold their elections when they do for a reason: because they know it s what works best for them. Just as you and your local leaders know what works best for you and your community. That bill ultimately died in the Senate thanks to the advocacy efforts of so many local leaders, including many city officials in our area. But the fight for Home Rule is far from over, and city leaders need your help. As President of the Florida League of Cities, I want to educate Floridians about local selfgovernment. We want residents to be engaged. We want small business owners, students, neighbors and friends to start talking about Home Rule. We want you to feel empowered to take action and speak out on the local issues that matter to you. There are more than 20 million residents in Florida. If we could get even 1 percent of you engaged, that would be 200,00 more people fighting for local self-government. Imagine what we could accomplish together. Join us in learning why local self-government works and why it s something we ought to protect. Join me in telling our legislators one size fits all doesn t fit us. Florida s communities are unique, and that s what makes us thrive. You live local so you should decide local. Together, we will restore our roots, defend local solutions and protect Florida s future. Together, we will make sure our message is heard: WE LIVE LOCAL! In the coming weeks I will be providing residents with information as to how to be involved in this effort. I hope you will join me in making that effort during this legislative session of 2019. I want to wish everyone the happiest of holidays and look forward to a continuation of the enormous progress we are making in our city. I will return with more articles about the legislative session for 2019 and Home Rule after the 1 st of the year. Terri Finnerty, Ed.D. Commissioner District #1 727-641-2314 tfinnerty@stpetebeach.org
Monsters and Movies Thursday, December 27 2:00 p.m. Make a monster treat and watch Monsters VS Aliens St. Pete Beach Public Library 365 73rd Avenue St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 727-363-9238 SPBLibrary
Friday, December 28 11:00 a.m. Come show off that big of yours and become Our Jeopardy champion St. Pete Beach Public Library 365 73Rrd Avenue St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 727-363-9238 SPBLibrary.com