Friday, November 13, 2009
THE FINE PRINT: Published online since 2005 by the City of Treasure Island Public Information Office for exactly 1249 fleece-and-windbreaker-clad online subscribers. For more provocative reading pleasure, back issues available here.

A little late in the season for a tropical storm (or a Bucs win, for that matter) but we'll take our borderline thrills where we can get them. This week on the island, the surf was up and the old Surf Style building on the corner of Gulf & 107th was down (as in leveled). Some of you who go waaaay back may remember the building as the Corfar Building, seen in the upper right pic (and home to the much, much, much beloved National Hay Association) - more recently, the corner anchor business has been Surf Style. The new design, in the lower right pic, keeps some of the art-moderne elements and offers more parking.

Sanding Ovations begins Thursday
For Sanding Ovations next weekend, we've been told we'll see highs in the lows 80's, lows in the 60's and mostly sunny skies; a forecast like that is more than a borderline thrill, indeed. Treasure Island's 1st annual Sand Sculpting Competition and Music Festival, Sanding Ovations, is November 19-22, 2009, on the beach behind the Bilmar. Three days of live music, food, drink, arts, crafts and a wide-open Florida Music Jam on Sunday afternoon. Over $10,000 in prize money for the sculptors awarded Saturday night, followed by The Rocket Man Show, starring Rus Anderson as Elton John. Complimentary Beer and Food Alert: You can meet the sculptors at a reception this Wednesday the 18th at the Crystal Sands Ballroom at the Bilmar Beach Resort from 7 to 9pm. 

A slick industry
Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater (or FSPJA, for short) has announced plans for the Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation (the CEPC) to conduct a study on offshore drilling. And just who will be doing this study? FSU's Institute for Energy Systems, Economics and Sustainability (the FSUIESES, of course.) There will be talk about oil revenue, to be sure. But overall, it looks like good news in that it applies the brakes to the runaway "drill, baby, drill" crowd (or the DBDC). The Treasure Island City Commission (TICC) passed a resolution in August of this year opposing offshore drilling in Florida waters: NOOOB (No Oil On Our Beach).

Our long, narrow picture of the week

The Treasure Island Fire Department (known as the TIF ... oh, never mind) supported the Breast Cancer Walk last weekend with a support location at 108th Avenue and Gulf, complete with pink
t-shirts, balloons and a fire hose to cool the walkers down. And something you don't see everyday -  a man standing atop a fire truck blowing up a large pink baloon. Another borderline thrill.

Beach Graffiti

TURKEY DAY TRASH PICKUPS: If your trash day is Thursday, November 26th, it moves to Friday the 27th; if your day is Friday, it moves to Saturday the 28th ... A DREAM KNOT: Congrats to former TI Commissioner Temple Corson who married his longtime sweetie Liz this past Monday in a ceremony at his Sunset Beach home ... HOLIDAY BARGAINS ABOUND: It's a luncheon! It's a shopping spree! It's a card party! It's all that and much, much, much more at Hollyfest, the Treasure Islettes annual bazaar at the TI Community Center Saturday, November 21st. Doors open at 10am. Luncheon tix available for $10 now or $12 at the door (no tix needed if you just want to shop). All proceeds go directly to buying all the pretty flowers you see around town. (We highly recommend the baked goods ... mmm .. baked goods ...) Call Maudie at 360-5076 or Carol Lee at 360-9181 for tickets ... PARTY LIKE IT'S 1929: It's an open house/80th birthday party for B.C. Acton this Saturday the 14th, says her sis Gwenda, and you, yes you (despite what people have alleged), are invited. Stop by between 5 and 7pm at 8300 Bayshore Drive in Sunset Beach ... A COMFY CHAIR AVAILABLE: Commissioner Ed Gayton, Jr. announced last week he won't seek a fourth term as District 2 commissioner ... NO DATES IN PARADISE: Over the next year, those 38 Canary Island Date Palms in the Paradise Boulevard median will be replaced by Double Foxtail Palms. Why? Well, the trees are so tall they'll soon touch the power lines, and you don't want fried Date Palms as a landscaping element, believe-you-me. The Date Palms are also susceptible to LETHAL YELLOWING, so either way, you'll end up with a dead date ... Next e*ti: November 25th.

- Jeff Jensen, Editor