Another great season of OLLI programs: Don't miss Arthur Miller's haunting play

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Eckerd College is such an extraordinary asset to our community. It's an educational program designed for people 50 and older and is open to all adult learners. Each year OLLI provides an astonishing array of intellectually stimulating classes, groups, local and international trips, and special events for our community. You owe it to yourself to participate. You can download a PDF of the Fall Catalog.

We'll discuss some of the other offerings later but here's a stunning program you won't want to miss, and we're excited to tell you about it. On Friday, September 30, as part of the OLLI at the Theatre series, an outstanding recording of the UK's National Theatre production of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge will be presented in the Miller Auditorium.

Arthur Miller's powerful play is set in Brooklyn in the 1950s and deals with the family of longshoreman Eddie Carbone, who harbors his illegal immigrant Sicilian cousins in his home. It's a story as topical today as in the decade in which it was set. Conflict arises when one of the cousins falls for Eddie's beautiful niece. The NT production stars Mark Strong, who was so memorable in The Imitation Game and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. It won a best director award for Ivo van Hove.

At the top of this page, we've included a trailer for the NT Live production (the same one we'll see at the OLLI presentation. Also on this page is a BBC interview with Strong that we thought would provide more insight into the production.

Oh, we almost forgot to mention that on the preceding Wednesday, September 26, as part of the Theatre Talk Series, Julie Empric will give a talk, Justice and the Immigrant in America: An Enduring Challenge at 10:30 a.m. in the Eckerd College CED Spoonbill Room.  Julie teaches literature at Eckerd College. The cost is $10 for members and $25 for non-members, another illustration of why becoming a member is helpful.

Director Monica Kile and her staff have put together a dizzying array of offerings for the Fall -- from art to zydeco, as they say in the catalog. The Autumn schedule runs from September through December, so we're coming upon it rapidly. That's why we wanted to get this out there so you can plan to attend these amazing programs.

Most programs are during the week and during the day, making them accessible for retirees or those with flexible schedules. However, some offerings are in the evenings or on weekends. As we mentioned above, some programs are open to the public but OLLI members receive significant discounts so it's advantageous to become a member. Visit the OLLI website to learn more.

When it comes to building community, Eckerd College is taking a leading role

We noticed this delightful video on the Eckerd College YouTube channel. It says a lot about the kind of community that exists on this great campus in South St. Petersburg. Listen to what some of the students say about Eckerd.

"Eckerd students are different.  Different from all over the U.S., all over the world, and with different kinds of interests but at the core they all share some basic characteristics. Eckerd students are creative, independent, friendly, and open."

"The Eckerd experience starts with a sense of community that is created from Day 1."

"Eckerd here is definitely a family. You don't just see it on the brochure, they actually live it. You can feel it as soon as you get here."

We hope you enjoy the video.

Showing films again at the historic Royal Theater. Here's why you should be there.

If you haven't seen this film (or even if you have), you owe to yourself to see this showing. Not only is it a really fine film but it also has several ramification for our community. Watch the trailer to get an idea of what it's about. You'll see why we think you ought to go see it on its own merits.

Here's why you should go see it from a community standpoint.

 1) It's the first movie being offered in a new program to start showing movies again at the historic Royal Theater on 22nd Street South in Midtown. The program, A Book and a Movie, is sponsored by Deuces Live in partnership with Keep St. Pete Lit and Federation of Families of Florida with the cooperation of the Boys and Girls Club.

2) It's a movie based on a book by Florida author Eva Marie Everson. It's moving. It's wholesome. It's free. It's Saturday afternoon. Doors open at 2 p.m. Movie starts at  2:22 (get it?).

This is the beginning of this project and it needs to be a success because it stands to contribute a lot to the well-being of the community. You can read all about it in this article by Veatrice Farrell in The Weekly Challenger. Take a look at that article because it has a list of some of the other movies that will be in the series.

Attorney James Flynn gives back in a big way to help our local community to thrive

From left, Andrew Golub, Jeff Copeland, Tammara Anderson, Lisa Wheeler-Brown, James Flynn, and Corey Edwards.

Now here's a fine example of giving back. Over the years, attorney James Flynn has built a successful practice under the banner of "Your Southside Lawyer". In 2014, according to an article by Frank Drouzas in The Weeky Challenger, Flynn provided the resources for a free shuttle service for residents 55 or older who need to get around town. Jeff Copeland, found of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's Pinellas County chapter, set it all up, and has an idea about how the give-back effort could be expanded. He told The Weekly Challenger: "If every successful business owner would put money back into the community, it would go a long way toward sustainability."

Greater Pinellas Point Civic Association donates to help two of our local schools

Principal Johnny Crawford accepts donation for Lakewood Elementary.

This is the sort of activity that helps build community. We were pleased to see the report in The Weekly Challenger about the Greater Pinellas Point Civic Association’s generous donations to two schools in our community — Maximo Elementary and Lakewood Elementary. What a great way to start the new school year. Both individuals and local business contributed. Word is the organization plans to keep on giving to help these schools. We say bravo!

Principal LaKisha Falana accepts donation for Maximo Elementary.

Gulfport Montessori Elementary School has big changes and many great expectations

Expect to see lots of change at Gulfport Montessori Elementary this school year. The facility has a new principal, Jeff Hathaway, and nearly a whole new staff.  “There are some great families and some great kids here,” he told The Gabber. He said he doesn’t believe the D grade the school has had the last few years indicates what’s really going on at the school. “I don’t think that grade reflects this community or this building or the population that’s here at all.” The campus has been spruced up, including a new garden, painting and power washing, new landscaping, and picnic tables for parents and kids. There's a new computer lab, a reorganized library/media center, and a new space for the PTA. There's lots more to the transformation. Read the article. Can't wait to see the results!

Battle of the DJs event shows a healthy connection between police and citizens

One of the hallmarks of a good community is one in which the citizens and the police have a healthy relationship. So it was gratifying to see the community come together in the second annual Battle of the DJs event recently at Campbell Park Recreation Center. Theresa "Momma Tee" Lassiter organized the event, which was sponsored Successes Unlimited, the St. Petersburg, Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Duke Energy and several unnamed donors. There
is a great article about it along with several photos in The Weekly Challenger. A nice crowd turned out, and the police officers, as well as Police Chief Anthony Holloway, were part of the festivities. We say bravo! This sort of thing should continue.

Maximo Elementary gets off to a fine start, as it anticipates greater family involvement

With Back-to-School Night and Open House set for Thursday, September 1, Maximo Elementary School is in full swing for the new academic year. We read with interest an article in The Weekly Challenger in which principal LaKisha Falana characterized the school as a learning institution on the rise. She said the school is dedicated to providing quality instruction to all the children with an eye toward 100 percent student success.

This year's focus will be on family participation, especially on the academic side. The staff is planning home visits to all of the families with students at Maximo, a massive task that is expected to yield great benefits in widening the involvement of families in the success of the school. Falana, who is in her third year as principal at Maximo, has built a fine and welcome school atmosphere, where students know what's expected of them and strive to behave as they should in school.

A few weeks before the end of the last academic year, the school posted a video to YouTube (above) showing a kind and caring school environment dedicated to the best education for all students. It is a testimony to the hard work and dedication of Falana and her staff, and depicts a school that is, indeed, on the rise.

Skyway Marina District presents the classic madcap family adventure film The Goonies

Who can forget One-Eyed Willy, the legendary 17th-Century pirate, and the kids from the Goon Docks neighborhood in Astoria, Oregon, and their madcap adventure of a lifetime in the 1985 movie The Goonies? Well, you can enjoy it all over again and take the kids to see it, too. The Skyway Marina District is presenting Skyway Marina Movie Night on Friday, August 26 beginning at 6 p.m. at St. Petersburg City Theatre on 31st Street South. It's free but you should register here. There will  be a food truck -- Heavy D's BBQ -- and a concession stand. You can get more information on the Skyway Marina District's Facebook event page. Play the preview above to remind yourself how fun that movie was.

Time to hit the books again, students! The time for summer frivolity is over!

It's time for academics to kick into gear again! One big tipoff – if you actually needed one – is that this weekend is the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, our state legislature's tip of the hat to families needing to outifit their young Einsteins for the school year ahead. As you might expect, the tools of learning – notebooks, pencils and pens, highlighters, crayons, and so forth are among the exempt items, as well as school clothes and backpacks. There's an article in The Weekly Challenger with a whole list of the items covered.

 The school year begins on a hopeful note. Melrose Elementary School has a new principal who is determined to all her students with  quality education. She says communications with parents is a top priority.  Meanwhile, there's a new principal at Campbell Park Elementary as well. Christine Hoffman was formerly vice principal. Her theme is family engagement as well, and she is seeking to get parents and family members involved.

If the recent Childs Park YMCA Achieving Great Things Community Spelling Bee is any indication, there are plenty of high achieving youngsters in our community who took no break from learning over the summer. some 54 preschoolers through fifth graders participated, and they have the trophies to show for it.

Welcome artist Ray Domingo, painter of remarkable huge marine life scenes

Did you see the article in The Gabber about Ray Domingo, a remarkable artist who is opening a studio in his home on Beach Boulevard? For years, Ray Domingo was a commercial artist with such clients as Jell-O, Camel cigarettes, Anheuser-Busch, and Coca-Cola. Now he's focused on producing huge marine canvasses, plus apparel and other merchandise. Read the article! What a great addition to our community! Welcome, Ray!