Dig in the dirt. Get your hands dirty. Learn some tips about gardening. Help a neighbor.

There's nothing like digging in the dirt to give you a renewed connection with the earth. That's what our friends at Broadwater are going to be doing from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 5 at an undisclosed location. Here's the thing. It's open to Broadwater neighbors and friends. You have to RSVP. Get in touch with Kristen Mory by email at kristenmory@yahoo.com or call  her at (727) 688-9597. "Come prepared to get your hands dirty and learn by doing," says the invitation. Bring a shovel and pruning shears. The objective is to landscape the entire front lawn of this South Broadwater home. You'll learn planting and pruning tips, tricks, and practice. You can participate in a plant swap. There'll be a garden tool raffle. This program is hosted by Helping Hands and made possible with a neighborhood grant from the City of St. Petersburg.

The youngsters of the Fourth Estate are gathering and disseminating all the news

It warms the heart to see youngsters reading a newspaper. We couldn't help but notice the article in The Weekly Challenger by Demorris Lee, formerly of the Tampa Bay Times but now communications coordinator with the Pinellas County School Board. The paper in question was the Manatee Messenger, the student-produced newspaper at Melrose Elementary. Students in the third through fifth grades serve as reporters and photographers. The 16-page tabloid newspaper was printed in full color, which kind of cancels out the old riddle: What's black and white and read all over? Answer: a newspaper. Time was when newspapers were people's primary source of news, and although that is changing, the important role that journalists play in our democracy is just as vital as ever. Melrose is a journalism magnet school, along with John Hopkins Middle School, and Lakewood High School. Glad to see these youngsters learning these important skills in critical thinking. We say bravo!

We're gonna be in pictures! Watch the premiere of the Skyway Sizzle Reel

Okay, so maybe it's not exactly like the Hollywood premiere you see in the picture. Still and all, it promises to be exciting. After all, the star of the show is right here -- the place that we live. We're talking about the Skyway Sizzle Reel. Word comes from Keri Melshenker, executive director of the Skyway Marina District, that there will be a showing of the short video at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1 in the Desoto Room at the St. Petersburg College's Allstate Center.

As far as what's in the video, you'll have to wait and see but you could make some pretty good guesses. There's lots to love about the outdoors where we live, and not just the beaches. So we'd expect to see lots of pretty shots. South St. Petersburg is a vibrant business district, so we'd expect to see shots that reflect that, too. The bridge, of course, and the marinas, naturally. We;d doubt that there are any speaking parts, though we're  sure the pictures are going to say a lot. A picture is worth ... and all that.

Keri has been working with the city for quite awhile to get this video made. If you have any questions, you can email her at keri@skywaymarina.com or call her at 727-866-2696 As for us, we're just humming that old 1934 Rudy Vallee hit "You Ought To Be In Pictures." Can't help it. Go ahead. Listen below. Then it'll go round and round in your head, too.