For the holiday season and the coming new year, a wish for peace and dignity for all

You don't always know where the inspiration will come from. We were reading the hometown newspaper – Winona Daily News – back in Minnesota. There was an interesting column published on Christmas Day and just had to share it with you. It was written by Dr. Frank Bures, a semi-retired dematologist in town, who puts his thoughts and ideas down on paper for the edification of all. This particular column had a basic idea that fits what we believe and seemed worth sharing with you. Dr. Bures quotes from a poem by an unnamed friend. You can read the entire entry here but this is an excerpt:

I yearn for the day when we will realize that we all have the same desire and need

For a life we can live in peace and dignity, free from hunger, warfare, jealousy and greed.

Every rock and spring, every living thing is a part of God’s creation.

We are all God’s children. God loves us all, every person, every nation.

We wish everyone a joyous holiday season and a new year rich with blessings and possibilities.

What an example to set for us all! Bartender donates his tips to assist military veterans

What an amazing community we live in. Such kind and giving people for neighbors. Did you see the story on TV about Ian O'Connell, who works as a bartender at Sea Critters in Pass-a-Grille? He was donating all his tips at Christmas to veterans who need assistance. “I’m an accidental fundraiser,” O’Connell told Channel 8 News. “I didn’t know I was going to be but I like helping the veterans out. I didn’t serve [the country] and I didn’t do anything for my freedoms that I enjoy every day ... this is just my way of giving back. ” Here's a link to the story on the Channel 8 site.

PEACE AND GOODWILL TO ALL!

Gulfport is going to be in the movies: Filmmaker shoots at Historic Peninsula Inn

We love the movies so we couldn't help but be intrigued by the recent work on an independent film being done at the Historic Peninsula Inn in Gulfport. It's a story about a ghost and a girl's encounter with her. In the photo, are nine-year-old Abby Biddar, who plays the girl, 11-year-old Jack Champion, who plays her brother, and Chuck Russell, the filmmaker from Georgia who is  directing the project. The Gabber has a delightful story about the whole thing. Mayor Sam Henderson, who tends bar at the inn, says he invited Russell to show the film at the Catherine Hickman Theater next summer when it's finished. We can't wait!

Looking for a gift that keeps on giving? This is it! Pass on by or read and heed!

So, there's about two weeks left in the year and less than a week left before Christmas. If you've already been to some of the courses in the Eckerd Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, you already know about this. If not, listen up. If you had been a member, your membership would be about the expire. Time to renew. If you've never been a member of Eckerd OLLI (why not?), it's time you signed up. You're not getting any younger, you know. Seriously, an Eckerd OLLI membership might make you younger (well, make you feel younger). Why? Because people who are out doing things and learning things do feel younger (insert study reference instead of just making things up). Every year, OLLI offers more than 300 intellectually stimulating programs in music, theater, art, travel, culture, cooking, movies and TV, health and fitness, history, literature and writing, religion, philosophy, ethics, science, technology, Florida studies, and creating a business. Download a catalog and see what we're talking about. Do it. Now. You'll be glad you did. Merry Christmas.

After "Gecko Season" events, some charity efforts are rewarded for the good they do

You know all those Gecko events that were going on during the summer? In case you didn't notice (of course you did but not your friend), those events were fund-raisers. The Gulfport Merchants Association was collecting money so it could give back. Well, now it's time for the giving. Did you see the story in the Gulfport Patch the other day?  The money is going to a couple of most worth causes. You'll have to click over to the story to find out who. Trust us, they deserve it.

Here's another reason we just continue to be amazed at the sheer brilliance in our midst

Okay, so maybe we do go on a bit about the bright young things in our midst at our local colleges but we can't help it. They're just so amazing! Exhibit A (or B or C or D, if anybody's keeping count): These eight Eckerd students who spent the summer in internships in lab coats hunched over microscopes learning about how medical research is conducted. It's the kind of work that leads to important discoveries and cures for diseases that plague mankind. It's important. What's also important is where they did these internships. In Boston. At Mass General. In Harvard Med School's research institute. They coulda been on the beach, but no ... Well done, friends, well done!

All the best to St. Petersburg College's nursing grads on completing their studies

Here's what's happening in our community that's so important. We're training scores of young men and women to take care of the community. These are the recent graduates of the St. Petersburg College nursing program in their pinning ceremony. They've been through all the courses. They've been exposed to a variety of situations and circumstances that are likely to come up in their professional lives. The college says they're ready, and now they're going to take their places in our society and give it the care it needs. All the best to you, graduates!

Wheee!! Eckerd students always have such fun but this is serious fun with a purpose

Pardon us while we gush! The students at Eckerd College are always up to something fun! Case in point: this video just posted on the Eckerd College YouTube Channel. It's from an outing of the Eckerd College Outdoor Adventure Club, a group that's dedicated to building connections to the natural world by being out in the natural world. Jumping out of perfectly good airplanes or gliders for a thrilling float to the ground isn't the only thing club members do. You're likely as not to find them out kayaking, hiking, snorkeling, surfing, or even camping. It's not all just fun and games. They're learning about the unique ecosystems in our state. That's why Eckerd is just an asset to our community. They're turning out well-rounded citizens.

Gulfport's talented New Horizons Band to perform at Catherine Hickman Theater

Gulfport's New Horizons Band is an asset to the community, and if you haven't heard them, you really ought to make a point of it. The video is from six years ago and it's really just snippets of the band's work but it'll give you an idea of what it's like. The video seems to be the only one anyone has posted online. Your opportunity for hearing this group is coming up at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13 at the Catherine Hickman Theater in Gulfport.  

The Gabber had a nice story about the group that has settled in well after a 10-year run at Eckerd College. The group's band leader, David Irwin, died during the summer. He had taught music at Eckerd. Now Bob Schaer, who used to conduct the Lakewood Ranch High School band, leads the group.

New Horizons of Gulfport is affiliated with a national organization founded by Dr. Roy Ernst at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, as a program for retirees who want to resume playing in a band or learn an instrument for the first time. Music can be therapeutic. It can bring down high blood pressure. And that's just listening. Think what it can do for you if you're playing.

If you're at Pass-a-Grille at sunset, chances are you're going to see this fun beach ritual

Some things just feel like they've always been that way and always ought to be that way. One of those things out at Pass-a-Grille is the tradition of ringing the bell at sunset. Though it seems as if it has been forever, actually the ritual has been going on for about two decades, so there are those around who remember before the ringing of the bell. Still, there are many for whom the sunset bell and life n Pass-a-Grille are synonymous. We noted with delight Helen J. Simon's recent feature in The Gabber about the bell and the people who look after it. Nice read. 

75 years ago today the Japanese attacked the United States in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

The Wall Street Journal has prepared an amazing report about the preparations for observing the anniversary of the attack that brought the United States into World War II. The man in the picture is one of only seven known Pearl Harbor survivors still living in Hawaii. His name is Dick Girocco and he was a Navy flight engineer during the attack. Today he volunteers at a local museum. You really should read this article about the preparations for the 75th anniversary reunion. Those who in Pearl Harbor on that fateful day deserve our respect and admiration.

Inspiring videos from students at Stetson: "I came to law school to help people"

What an amazing community we live in! We have some fine institutions of higher learning turning out graduates who are certain to become citizens dedicated to serving others. We couldn't help but be moved by two recent videos posted by Stetson University College of Law. The words of the students really  tell the story. “I first came to law school because I wanted to give back to the community, and I chose Stetson in particular because I grew up in the area and I knew this was a place where I could really sink in my roots and grow," says Stetson Law student Haley Coet. “I think it’s important to be a voice for the people who are voiceless and who don’t have opportunity to be heard by our legal system.”  Here's more from Stetson Law student Carolina Suazo. “I came to law school to help people. I’m one of those quintessential people who really want to use my own life in a way of service.” Watch the videos and tell us what you think.

If you have really old copies of The Weekly Challenger, USF St. Petersburg needs them

If you've been in the community for a long time and you're accumulated stacks and stacks of old newspapers, there's a chance you could help preserve a bit of the community's history. The man in the picture is Cleveland Johnson, who bought The Weekly Challenger in 1967. Today, his daughter, Lyn Johnson, runs the paper. The Nelson Poynter Memorial Library at USF St. Petersburg has launched a project to help digitize the newspaper that has served St. Petersburg's black community for nearly 50 years. So, if you have old copies of The Weekly Challenger, the library would like to copy them digitally and give them back to you. Here's a story all about it from the Tampa Bay Times that was recently published in TWC. Copies of the paper before 2000 are what is needed. Newer ones are already available. This will become a great resource for anyone interested in the history of the black community in St. Petersburg.

This is just darling. You've got to watch it!

In case you missed it, a few days before Thanksgiving there was this amazing community event the Tampa Bay Rays parking lot on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street across from the Trop. It was the 4th annual Fall Festival Turkey Giveaway, and more 3,000 people turned out. Some 1,500 people got free turkeys, just in time for Thanksgiving. The catalysts for this noble endeavor are attorney James Flynn, who is known as "your Southside lawyer" and community activist Jeff Copeland. The Weekly Challenger had a big story on it, along with lots of pictures. Take a look.

Now, about the video at the top of this item. Pony rides! Yes, that's right! There was as petting zoo and there were pony rides! So, in the video, James Flynn takes his daughter over so she can ride on a pony. She's adorable. You've got to watch.

There are five other videos accompanying this story in The Weekly Challenger, including interviews with James Flynn and Mayor Rick Kriseman, whose staff helped make the event happen. It's a grand example of public and private partnership. Working together for common mutual benefit of the community. Bravo to all involved.