S2 Ep2121: PLAY BALL Dan Hirshberg Ashlyn Wear, Baseball Phenom

S2 Ep2135: Shawn Drinkard & Williams Park Future 6-15-26

St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership's Shawn Drinkard visited the RadioStPete studio on Monday to discuss plans for Williams Park.  Shawn joined Stephen Riordan and Dominico Pontoriero as they hosted the kickoff for the RadioStPete Summer fundraiser.  #stpetedna #williamspark #stpetefl #stpete #shawndrinkard #stpetedowntownpartnership #tampabay #radio #radiostpete

S2 Ep2134: St. Pete City Council District 6 Member Gina Driscoll on RadioStPete 6-15-26

Gina joined Stephen Riordan and Dominco Pontoriero in our studio leading off RadioStPete's  Sunshine Summer Jam Fundraiser. #ginadriscoll #stpetefl #stpete #stpetedna #tampabay #radio #radiostpete

S2 Ep2133: AIRPORT ART New Creative Pinellas Exhibit "JUICY": Glass Art & Citrus Illustrations

Lunchtime Conversation host talks with Monica Drake about JUICY: A Slice of Florida Life which opens on June 30 with a reception 3-5pm and program at 5 at Ticketing B at the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport; parking validation will be provided. RSVP to mrouth@fly2pie.com by 6/24. The exhibition features Heritage Village's vibrant replicas of historic orange crate labels that helped defined Florida's citrus heritage. Adding a contemporary touch, featured artist Steven Hagan (Duncan McClellan Gallery) will showcase his stunning blown glass citrus creations, inspired by the fruits that helped shape our local history. The exhibit it an homage to America 250 and Heritage Village's 50th anniversary celebrations this year, and curated by Maggie Duffy. ABOUT THE EXHIBIT SPACE at PIE The PIE Gate 12 Mural Project is a partnership between Creative Pinellas and St Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), with a goal of having a Pinellas County Artist create a welcoming art experience for visitors as they arrive on the ramp outside at the Gate 12 area at St Pete-Clearwater International Airport. From murals in 2022 to 2026's Rise, the third exhibition from the Creative Pinellas and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) partnership,  Gates 7–11 are transformed, showcasing local creativity — celebrating the power of renewal, nature, and sense of place through photography, woodworking, ceramics and poetry. The most recent exhibit, located at Sightline Gallery at PIE, features four local artists whose collective work invokes both the literal and spiritual meaning of the word “rise.” Luci Westphal’s photography features soaring birds and comforting angels; Scott Solary carves sunrises and mountains celebrating the beauty of nature, clay rises into stunning vessels in Charles Morrison’s hands, and Letisia Cruz’s poem reminds us that each day we rise offers a new hope. Keep reading to learn more about each artist, and purchase their artworks on view at PIE [https://thegalleryatcreativepinellas.org/collections/rise].

S2 Ep2132: Culture, Music & Nostalgia with Gabrielle Calisi, Tampa Bay Times

Renaissance woman Gabrielle Calise [https://www.tampabay.com/author/gabrielle-calise] is the Culture, Music and Nostalgia Reporter for the Tampa Bay Times. She reports on offbeat Florida and her favorite stories are exploring Florida and  local oddities. We talked about recent stories including Crowbar's closing, Live Nation's proposed new venue near Ybor City, BTS sightings (pickleball, ice cream tastings), mermaid culture, peacock mania, Tampa Theater's retrospective book and a climb up the scaffolding to see the restoration first hand and more of her immersive, cinematic reporting...oh yes, and on the set with Paul Rudd during the Don Cesar filming of the new film.  Says Gabrielle, who grew up here going to punk shows in Ybor and downtown St. Pete, taking photographs at 14 and just recently, forming Hex Appeal after a Ladies Rock Camp story led her to amazing friendships and a band that just won a Palladium artist grant and performed at a major Tampa festival. Says Gabrielle: "I also love profiling fascinating people in our community and both photographing and reviewing concerts. Before I joined the Tampa Bay Times as an intern on the digital team, I graduated from the University of Florida in 2018 and was a journalism fellow in Germany through the RIAS Berlin exchange program. I’m a big fan of long-lost tourist attractions, oat milk lattes and film photography."

S2 Ep2131: NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT PInellas Park with Ricky Butler, Vice-Mayor

As we explore Pinellas County neighborhoods, Lunchtime Conversation host Nanette Wiser was please to welcome Ricky Butler, vice-mayor of Pinellas Park and an advocate of good deeds. We talked about issues facing all municipalities in general and Pinellas Park in particular and the many successes they have achieved with their visionary initiatives. It's all about community activism plus treating people well...no wonder Pinellas Park has won numerous awards for Best Place To Work. No stranger to public service, Ricky's Dad was on City Council for many years and he grew up knowing he wanted to do so as well.  Ricky Butler was elected to city council in March of 2024. He currently represents the city on Forward Pinellas, the Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board (OAFAB), and the Florida League of Cities' Municipal Operations Legislative Committee. In his "day job,"  Ricky is the Communications & Public Education Manager at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office where he leads the dynamic team responsible for traditional public relations communications, social media, public education programming, special events, and intergovernmental relations.  Additional Service Prior to serving on on Pinellas Park City Council, Ricky has been a member of the following boards and organizations: - Mental Health for Heroes (2022-24) - Leadership Pinellas Board of Directors (2018-24) - Pinellas County Charter Review Commission (2023-24) - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast Board of Directors (2016-18) - PACE Center for Girls Pinellas Advisory Board (2014-16) - Pinellas Park Boys & Girls Club Unit Advisory Council (2009-16) - Pinellas Park/Gateway Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (2009-11) - Pinellas County Youth Advisory Committee (2006-08) Over the years, he has been affiliated with organizations, programs, and one-off projects including: - Police & Kids Foundation Pinellas Park High School 9/11 Memorial Project (2009) - Pinellas Park Police Department Citizens Police Academy (2009) - Pinellas Park Police Department Volunteer Patrol (2009-12) - Clearwater Jazz Holiday Jazz Force (2014-21) - Pinellas Park Police Department External Strategic Plan Working Group (2017) Awards - Pinellas Park Youth Citizen of the Year Award (2006) - Modern Woodmen of America Hometown Hero Award (2006) - Pinellas Park Citizen of the Year (2017) Education & Professional Experience Ricky holds a Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy & Administration from St. Petersburg College, is a graduate of Florida State University's Certified Public Manager program, and a proud alumni of the Leadership Pinellas Class of 2015. Hobbies & Family In his spare time Ricky enjoys photography, travel, gaming, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with his wife, Jessica and their daughter, Leighton.  #pinellaspark #rickybutler #neighborhoodspotlight #nanettewiser #pinellasparkhistory #stpete #stpetefl  #tampabay #radio #radiostpete #cityofstpete  #dtsp #downtownstpete