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Change is the theme for the fall of 2008. It certainly dominates the political climate, where the public is hungry for a substantial change in government at all levels, but especially at the Presidential level. Change has elevated our spirits with a worst-to-first Tampa Bay baseball team and nearly crushed us with an economy that appears to be spinning out of control with consequences yet to come. Change is remaking the landscape of newspapers, which are being forced to reinvent themselves. Tropical Breeze is no exception.
This newspaper began in 1990, producing its first monthly issue in March 1991. As we stated on the front page of that first edition, it represented a rebirth of the first newspaper published in Safety Harbor. The original Tropical Breeze was published weekly in 1915, two years before the city was incorporated. The world has changed radically since 1915. The past 18 years have brought a new generation of changes — and some interesting non-change. In March 1991 the U.S. was beginning an invasion of Iraq, punishing it for invading Kuwait. The economy was entering a recession, but shook that off briefly to engage in the dot.com bubble before crashing again at the end of the 20th century. Wars seem to drag on forever and technological change is continuous. The economy ebbs and flows with business cycles that always are more clear in hindsight. The internet was something that had just gained a name in 1990, but it is a critical part of our infrastructure today. It is radically reshaping the delivery of information and how people seek information.
TropicalBreeze.com will strive to continue as Tropical Breeze pledged on that first front page: to “welcome contributions from its readers and… a lengthy, interactive dialog.” It is a paradigm shift in format, yet shares the same idea of providing a forum for community discussion. Technology has opened a door for community participation in sharing information as never before. Email allows you to share pictures and stories of events with not only close friends, but with the community at large. TropicalBreeze.com is a way to continue that dialog within the community.
In 1990 Safety Harbor was contemplating the redevelopment of its downtown. Twice a year, arts & crafts shows lined Main Street, but the small town was still surrounded by pastures and groves and was often thought to be somewhat out of the way. Development and relentless growth, including the rebuilding of McMullen Booth and Tampa roads and construction of the Bayside Bridge, have revealed Safety Harbor to be a quiet center to the Tampa Bay area. Main Street has been revamped to emphasize its quaint character and entice pedestrians. A sprawling library has replaced a tiny block building. Today the city’s 3rd Friday is a monthly celebration that rivals those earlier craft shows in attendance. Music festivals at the city’s marina draw thousands. Even with another bust in real estate prices, values have remained strong in the city because a desirable quality of life has been maintained. The oak trees thrive, the water quality in the Bay continues to improve and the schools excel.
Change comes. Visit us at www.TropicalBreeze.com.
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