BuzzWorthyitems of note
Maestro Mark Sforzini, artistic
director of the St. Petersburg Opera
Co., introduced songs and stories
from Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto at the
Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg,
where he was joined by cast members/
professional opera singers of the
St. Petersburg Opera’s production of
Rigoletto. Sforzini demystifies opera at
“Mornings with the Maestro,” where
for more than 10 years, he has been
previewing operatic works, engaging
his audience with stories and comments
that relate great musical works to
today’s world.
Dr. Gordon Gilbert and his wife
Michele Kidwell Gilbert have created
a second annual month-long cultural
festival in St. Petersburg, this year with
a theme of “Tolerance and Acceptance.”
This Celebration of the Arts includes
programs at cultural centers such as
Florida CraftArt, freeFall Theatre,
the James Museum of Western &
Wildlife Art, the Imagine Museum,
St. Petersburg Opera and the Florida
Holocaust Museum.
Dr. Barbara Hubbard has been
appointed the dean of humanities and
fine arts at St. Petersburg College. She
had been acting dean and is now the
permanent dean. She began her career at
the college as an adjunct instructor and
advanced to the academic chair of the
digital media program at the Seminole
campus. She has been instrumental in
updating the program’s curriculum,
academic standards and portfolio
quality in addition to updating program
branding and marketing efforts. She
was recently profiled in the Dunedin
Fine Art Center brochure.
Chef Chris Ponte and his wife
Michelle hosted a soft opening for
Olivia, their new restaurant at 3601
West Swann Ave. in South Tampa.
Dr. Ron Vaughn, president of The
University of Tampa, announced
The mascot of the Clearwater Threshers watched as Francois Deforges, food and
beverage director at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, and its Chef Jeremy
Rogers accepted the People’s Choice Awards for best presentation and for best
signature dish at the 14th annual Taste of Safety Harbor that was held at the Safety
Harbor Resort and Spa. The Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce, led by president
and CEO Susan Petersen, organizes the event that features food and beverage
samplings from the chamber’s members. The Clearwater Threshers sponsored the
People’s Choice Awards that are voted on by the guests.
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Dave Worobec, president of the
Rotary Club of Dunedin North,
thanked Mary Beth Carroll for
creating and chairing the first
recognition dinner to honor those
who give Dunedin its heart and
make it such a special place to
live. At the dinner, “heart” awards
were given to Carol Toscani for
her service to the Clearwater Free
Clinic; to Cindy Clay Cole for her
service to the Dunedin Boat Club;
to Dr. Irwin and Syd Entel for
their service to the Dunedin Fine
Art Center; to Vinnie Luisi for his
service to the Dunedin History
Museum; to Joe Garrison for
his service to the Dunedin Kiwanis
Foundation; to Evelyn Dufner for
her service to the Florida Business
Incubator; to Patti Boylan for her
service to GFWC North Pinellas Women’s Club; to Marc and Terry Banning for
their service to Habitat for Humanity; to Lois Byrnside for her service to the
Homeless Empowerment Program; to Gaye Staskiel for her service to the Literacy
Council of Upper Pinellas; and to Shari Schwartz for her service to Random Acts
of Flowers Tampa Bay. The Rotary Club of Dunedin North was formed in 1921 and
meets at the Dunedin Golf Club on Wednesday mornings. Guests are welcome.