George N. Cretekos Mayor
David Allbritton Councilmember
Dr. Bob Cundiff Councilmember
Hoyt Hamilton Councilmember
Jay Polglaze Councilmember
William B. Horne, II City Manager
Pam Akin City Attorney
Michael Delk Assistant City Manager
Micah Maxwell Assistant City Manager
EDITORIAL STAFF
Executive Editor Joelle Castelli
Editors Jason Beisel
Heather Parsons
Assistant Editors Sandy Clayton
Krystie Epperson
Mike Lockwood
José Patiño
Rob Shaw
Graphic Designer Laura Del Valle
CONTRIBUTORS
Library Jennifer Obermaier
Linda Rothstein
Library Managers
Parks & Recreation Shaun Beasley
Rosemary Davis
Kris Koch
Kerry Marsalek
MyClearwater is published three times a year
by the city of Clearwater.
If you would like a free subscription,
call 562-4708.
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unless otherwise indicated.
ON THE COVER
The fall season is a special time of celebrations, diversity and community.
The holidays we celebrate are unique, and we experience those holidays
in ways that are meaningful to us as individuals, as part of our families,
and as part of our community. They are Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur,
Diwali, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Las Posadas,
Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years, among many others. I hope you
celebrate in ways that are special and important to you.
One of Clearwater’s strengths is its richness in diversity and inclusivity.
Our residents are of all races, ethnicities, genders, religious beliefs, sexual
orientation, abilities and disabilities, and political ideologies. That being
said, our community is one that knows and loves their neighbors, as city
staff observe each year at Neighborhoods Day, a celebration of neighborly
connectedness. Our residents volunteer and help one another. It is our
rich diversity that is rooted in Clearwater’s strong sense of community.
Each year, the city celebrates this cultural richness with its annual
diversity poster contest. Summer camp attendees demonstrate an
understanding of what diversity means and celebrate it in their lives by
participating in the contest. This year’s grand prize winner is 13-year-old
Danielle Roberts. Her stunning work of art is featured on the cover of this
magazine issue, and it is titled, “The Differences Between Us.”
I’d like to congratulate all the participants and winners of this year’s
contest, including second place grand prize winner A’laysha Patterson
(“Everyone Has Powers”) and third place grand prize winner Brody
Conley (“Diversity”). Prizes were awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in
the age groups of 5-8 years, 9-12 years, and 13 years old and older.
Another way Clearwater celebrates diversity is by hosting the MAXIMA
Concierto Herencia Hispana, which features some of the best Latin live
performances by internationally recognized artists. The event will be held
Oct. 13 at Coachman Park. A few days later, Clearwater Jazz Holiday
celebrates its 40th season with a stellar repertoire of musical performances,
Oct. 17-20, also at Coachman Park.
People from all over Tampa Bay and the Florida region come to
Clearwater to experience these unique events, and I hope that you will
come to see them, too. For information on these and other special events,
see page 60 of this issue.
Sincerely,
Bill Horne
City Manager Featured is the artwork of 13-year-old Danielle
Roberts, with "The Differences Between Us." She
is the grand prize winner of the city's diversity
poster contest, in which Parks & Recreation
summer campers participated.