Citizen Beach - Community Journalism

In the News This Week

I’ve captured all the key news impacting our beach communities this week, so you don’t miss anything important!

Firefighter Injured in Treasure Island: Crews from TI, St Pete Beach, and Madeira Beach responded to a two-story house fire on 126th Ave. One firefighter was injured by falling debris, according to WFLA and Fox13.

Drowning Victim in St. Pete Beach: Man dies after being pulled from the water. For more, see the video news report and brief news item.

St. Pete Beach Threatre Ongoing Renovation: The Beach Theatre on Corey Avenue is making progress, thanks to Hanna Hockman — the 25-year old director and a nonprofit organization. She says the 175-seat theatre will feature second-run films and old classics. Visit their website for more.

Customary Use Wins a Court Battle in Redington Beach: The Judge wrote: “…that the town has proven the customary use of the privately-owned dry sand beach.… Further, the town has proven that this customary use has been by both town residents and those who may visit the town either as vacation renters or guests of residents.” Visit WTSP for more on this story.

Hotels with Less Than 50 Rooms in Treasure Island: On July 30, Treasure Island’s Board of Commissioners voted to allow hotels and motels with under 50 rooms to contain accessory establishments such as bars and restaurants on-site.

St. Pete Beach Election on August 20: If you live in the city’s District 2, don’t forget to vote for Lisa Robinson, a 35-year resident of the city who is committed to representing constituents’ interests fully and fairly. Call Lisa at 727-367-5377 if you have questions.

Madeira Beach Parking Garage Public Meeting Today! The city requests input on the proposed parking garage on Saturday, August 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Levitate Treasure Island—The City Commission will seek more public input on the expensive boondoggle on Tuesday, August 20, at 6 p.m. at the new city hall.

Scam Beach

This section will equip you with the knowledge and tools to protect yourself from the ever-evolving world of scams. We'll uncover the latest tactics scammers use, provide tips on identifying suspicious activity, and offer advice on safeguarding your personal and financial information.

The Grandparents Scam

A grandparent receives a frantic call from someone they believe to be their grandchild. The supposed grandchild sounds distressed and may be calling from a noisy location. The supposed grandchild claims to be involved in some trouble while traveling in Canada or overseas, such as being arrested, in a car accident, or needing emergency car repairs and asks the grandparent to immediately wire money to post bail or pay for medical treatment or car repairs.

A variation of the scam may involve two scammers. The first scammer calls and poses as a grandchild under arrest. The second scammer, posing as a law enforcement officer, then gets on the phone with the grandparent and explains what fines need to be paid.

A common theme of scams across Pinellas County is the caller's request for the grandparent to wire money through Western Union or MoneyGram or to provide bank account routing numbers. Wiring money is like sending cash; there are no protections for the sender. Typically, there is no way to reverse the transaction, trace the money, or recover payment from the telephone con artists.

These scams can be very convincing, and it is important to be aware of them to protect yourself. Here are some tips on how to prevent becoming a victim of a grandparent scam.

• Beware of unsolicited phone calls or emails from “family members.”

• Never give out personal information over the phone. Scammers try to get you to reveal personal identifying information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth, address, or bank account information.

• If you receive a call from someone claiming to be your grandchild or family member, ask them questions only they would know the answer to. If they hesitate or answer incorrectly, they will likely be a scammer. Hang up and call the grandchild or family member.

• Please don’t send money to anyone before verifying their identity. If you are unsure of who they are, disconnect the call and contact the family member directly using a phone number you know is legitimate.

• Talk to your family about grandparent scams. Ensure they know the warning signs and what to do if they receive a suspicious call.

• Use caution when sharing information on social media. Scammers often troll social media to locate their next victim, and the more information you share, the more likely you are to be targeted.

• Stay informed on the latest scams. Websites such as the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and National Council on Aging are good resources.

• Use a family code. Create a unique code word for your family. If someone in your family is in trouble, they will use this code word, which will help you know it is a legitimate call.

If you think you may be a victim of a grandparent scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission and the local police.

Eco Warrior Beach

Saving and protecting our natural environment — on the beach and off (Editors: Lisa Reich, Coastal Wildlife Advocacy Group) and Ginger Goepper (Audobon Society Volunteer)

Who Is Not Prepared?

By Ginger Goepper

We are all inundated with advice for storm prep. But why aren't some cities and counties preparing for these storms?

These excessive rainfalls lead to catastrophic sewage pollution due to a lack of routine maintenance and infrastructure investments. Unlike our City of Treasure Island, many Public Works departments do not take proactive measures to protect their residents from sewage spills by making necessary replacements and repairs of underground wastewater pipes.

Just last week, Pinellas County exploded with nearly a million gallons of scattered sewage spills — barely a drop recovered. [Source: F.D.E.P. Pollution Reports] The locations were scattered - mostly Clearwater and mid-county locations. Neighborhoods were impacted. Waterways were impacted. For example, Lake Seminole got another 2,500 gallons of sewage. Meanwhile, our neighbors to the south in Manatee County need to brace themselves for more sewage spills: In Palmetto, 220,000 gallons were spilled this week alone — none recovered, according to Brandon Martingano, GIS Analyst & Compliance Coordinator.

Blame it on the Rain? 

Not so fast! Our City of Treasure Island is the most densely populated per square mile of any location in the State of Florida, yet not one drop of sewage was spilled in this city.

How come? Our Public Works Department diligently monitors all our wastewater pipes constantly. We can see the vactor trucks parked near manholes, breaking up clogs to prevent spills year-round. Our underground pipes are lined or replaced routinely. Major wastewater pipe replacement within city limits has protected T.I. residents and guests for years: In 2018, Sunset Beach had a major underground pipe replacement project. In 2022, our city staff and state officials worked collaboratively to fund the replacement of all our causeway pipes, another major project that will protect us for decades.

So, while our residents stock up on batteries and water, Treasure Island will manage our wastewater as effectively as possible. Unfortunately, that is not the case in other cities around us. Their pollution levels skyrocketed because storm preparation for their underground pipes is little-to-none.

Rescue Beach

Rescuing and protecting our companion animals (Cats Editor: Monica Pugh; Dogs: editor needed)

Pinellas County Sheriff Deputies Save Dog

Pinellas Deputies rescued a small dog left in a vehicle on a hot day in Florida. The body video shows authorities breaking the window of an SUV after a concerned citizen notified them that a small pup was inside. The vehicle with the dog was left parked with its air conditioning off in the outdoor parking lot of a courthouse.

Authorities said the vehicle was also locked, and the windows were rolled up when the rescue occurred. Deputies found the dog inside the car "heavily panting and in obvious distress," they added.

The sheriff's office noted that the dog was left in the car for "about 30-45 minutes" on an 88-degree summer day, meaning it was about 120 degrees inside the vehicle when deputies rescued the dog. The dog’s owners were found and charged with animal cruelty. See Fox13 for more on this story, including a video.

Reminder: NEVER leave a child or an animal inside a car in the Florida heat.

Tragedy on Treasure Island

Michael posted on Nextdoor the very sad news that his six-month-old puppy, “Ace”, was killed on Paradise Boulevard in Treasure Island. Unfortunately, the dog had escaped the family’s backyard because of a faulty gate latch.

Many of us live in residential areas without sidewalks. Frequently, cars, trucks — even golf carts — are seen speeding way above the posted speed limits. Most of the speeders are contractors heading to or leaving a work site, or delivery people. However, some residents are also known to speed.

The person who was driving the car that killed Ace did stop after the impact, but it was too late. Now, he has to live with the guilt of killing this beautiful puppy. Children are also often playing, biking, or walking along the roadsides. Please obey the speed limits in our communities. Don’t risk ending a life and then having to live with the guilt.

Reminder: Do not speed in our neighborhoods — always obey the speed limit.

City Beach

Empowering our local communities through informed and active engagement to address local challenges and foster self-reliance.

Triangle Project at the Junction of West Gulf Blvd. and Highway 699 in Treasure Island

The planned improvements for SR 699 and 1st St/West Gulf Blvd aim to enhance the sight distance at the intersection for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. These improvements include modifying the intersection layout by adding a refuge island to delineate traffic movements better, upgrading road signage and markings, reconfiguring the signal to protect pedestrian crossings, trimming vegetation obstructing sight at the R/W, and enhancing lighting to increase visibility. Here’s a summary of all the improvements at SR 699 and 1st St/W Gulf Blvd:

• Enhancing illumination at the intersection by adding additional light fixtures.

• Upgrading pedestrian poles to meet ADA requirements.

• A protected left-turn signal will be added for vehicles traveling SB on SR 699 turning onto 1st St E to provide a safer pedestrian crossing.

• Adding a channelizing island at the SE quadrant of the intersection to shorten pedestrian crossing distance and channel right-turning vehicles improves the turning angle for vehicles approaching SR 699 from Gulf Boulevard.

• Reconfiguring crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety by shortening crossing distances.

• Extra advanced warning signs and pavement markings should be added to delineate the horizontal curve at the intersection better.

• Replacing signs to enhance reflectivity at night.

These planned improvements will be included in the SR 699 resurfacing projects, which are anticipated to be completed in 2027.

St. Pete Beach: Top 3 Issues for SPB Commission

According to Lisa Robinson, candidate for SPB Commission, these are the three key issues for the city:

• Accountability & Transparency: The city needs a Commission that prioritizes residents’ needs and quality of life and a city that consistently enforces its codes & ordinances (without bias) to preserve and protect our community, beaches, and wildlife.

• Improved & Repaired Infrastructure: Flood resiliency and long-range planning to ensure the sustainability of our community against storm and sea level rise; Environmentally sound engineering to protect our waterways, wildlife habitats, and natural resources; Roadway improvements and designs to increase safety for both residents and visitors; and Fix and repair residential wastewater systems.

• Manageable Growth: Smart growth based on credible, reliable data so that the community does not drown in overcrowding, traffic, and an overburdened infrastructure; a realistic economic model that accurately reflects the community's impact; a holistic approach that takes into account our unique character, strengths, and weaknesses; and Collaboration and partnership within the community.

Visit 35-year resident Lisa Robinson’s website to read more about the “Resident-First Candidate” and the latest news, including Knowledge is Power and A City United.

Advocacy: Want to help your local government be more responsive, transparent, and fiscally responsible? Join Protect St. Pete Beach or Citizens’ Voice of Treasure Island. Other groups with shared interests: Florida Beaches for All,

Who Are My Elected (or Appointed) Representatives?

• CITY: St. Pete Beach; Treasure Island; Madeira Beach; Redington Beach; North Redington Beach; Indian Shores.

• County & State: Florida Senate; Florida House of Representatives: County Commission - Search by Zip Code.