There are certain moments in life when you remember exactly where you were.

September 11, 2001, is one of those days for millions of Americans.

I certainly remember mine.

I was living in Los Angeles and working for Webex, calling on customers in New England. When I first heard what was happening, I ran into the front room and turned on the television.

Like so many Americans that morning, I sat there stunned, trying to comprehend what I was watching.

Twenty-five years later, the images and emotions of that day remain difficult to forget.

Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives. Families were forever changed. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other first responders ran toward unimaginable danger while everyone else was desperately trying to escape it.

And there were countless acts of courage from ordinary people who simply saw another human being who needed help and acted.

There is another part of September 11 and the days that followed that I think is especially worth remembering today.

For a moment, we stopped seeing one another primarily through our differences.

Political affiliation didn't matter.

Religion didn't matter.

The color of someone's skin didn't matter.

The person standing next to you was another American. Another neighbor. Another human being.

People donated blood. They brought food to first responders. They checked on neighbors. They displayed flags. Complete strangers comforted one another.

It certainly wasn't a perfect moment in our history, and the period following September 11 also brought fear, anger and painful treatment of some of our fellow Americans.

But amid all of that, there was something powerful about the realization that what connected us was greater than so many of the things that divided us.

Today our country can sometimes feel painfully divided.

We disagree about politics. We disagree about government. We disagree about what our communities should look like and where they're headed.

Disagreement itself isn't a bad thing. It's part of living in a democracy.

However, we don't have to hate one another because we disagree.

We can argue about taxes, development, elections or what happens to 70 acres of public land and still recognize that the person on the other side of that argument is our neighbor.

Perhaps that's one of the lessons worth carrying forward from September 11.

Respect each other. Help each other. And remember that there is far more connecting us than separating us.

Today, we remember the people who went to work and never came home.

We remember the families who still carry their loss.

We remember the first responders and ordinary Americans who demonstrated extraordinary courage.

And 25 years later, perhaps we can also remember, and reclaim, a little of the unity that followed one of America's darkest days.

We will never forget. 🇺🇸

Where were you on September 11, 2001?

Sometimes life throws you a curveball, and sometimes you realize there simply aren't enough hours in the day to do everything you want to do and do it well.

My Clearwater Scoop has always been a passion project for me. I started it because I wanted to create something genuinely local, something that helps neighbors discover the hidden gems, local businesses, events, important issues and interesting stories happening right here in Clearwater.

But I also run Ideal Digital Agency, which is my primary business, and lately it has needed more of my time and attention. That's a good problem to have, but it also means I need to be realistic about where I spend my time.

So, for the time being, My Clearwater Scoop will be moving to one newsletter each week, published on Fridays.

I'd rather give you one Scoop worth opening than rush to put together two newsletters simply because the calendar says it's Monday and Friday.

This isn't goodbye to twice-a-week publishing. Far from it. As I get some things settled with Ideal Digital Agency and we start hitting a few of those home runs ⚾, my goal is to bring the Scoop back to twice a week and, eventually, perhaps even three times a week.

In the meantime, I'll still be sharing interesting Clearwater stories, local finds and other worthwhile information on our social channels between newsletters.

There's one incredibly simple thing you can do that costs absolutely nothing:

Tell somebody about us.

If you've enjoyed My Clearwater Scoop, forward it to a friend. Send the signup link to a neighbor. Tell someone who's new to Clearwater. Share it with that person who's lived here for 30 years but somehow still knows less about what's happening around town than you do. 😂

Every new subscriber helps build a larger local community and gets us closer to being able to devote even more time and resources to the Scoop.

Most importantly, thank you.

Thank you for opening these emails, clicking the stories, sharing the posts, sending suggestions, disagreeing with me occasionally, and supporting this little Clearwater experiment as it continues to grow.

We're not going anywhere. We're simply making sure we build this thing in a way that's sustainable.

See you Friday. 🌴

By a Neighbor. For the Neighborhood.

Before you load up the car, take a peek at the live beach cam to see exactly how busy it is out there. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to go and when to enjoy our little slice of paradise another day.

Check current water temperatures and conditions Here

Watch the live Clearwater Beach Cam Here

Our pets aren't just animals - they're family. If you've seen any of the pets below please email us at [email protected] and we will connect you directly with their families. One share could bring someone's baby home.

Zena has been missing for over 180+ days from the Seville Condo area near Clearwater Costco. Her heartbroken family will not give up searching

LEARN MORE →

Leah has been missing since April 28th from the King Arthur Court in Dunedin. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

Lobo has been missing since May 11th from Gladden Park in St. Petersburg. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

River is a one-year-old male tabby (brown, white, and gray) who slipped out the front door on May 30th, and last seen near 134th Ave and Trotter Rd in Largo.

LEARN MORE →

Mama Kitty is a 15 year old black cat with with a clipped left ear that went missing on June 4th, and last seen near Druid and Belcher in Clearwater.

LEARN MORE →

🎸 Article Groove - Reggae Friday September 11th - FREE - 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Clearwater Brewing Company Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Stormbringer Friday September 11th - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Zach Seufert Friday September 11th - FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - Jacoby Bruton - Friday & Saturday 8:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - The Dark & Dirty Comedy Show - Friday & Saturday 10:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

🎸 Shake Society Saturday September 12th - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Ryan Pope Saturday September 12th - FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 John Fogerty & Steve Winwood Saturday September 19th at 7:00 pm The BayCare Sound Clearwater, FL INFO→

READ MORE →

🚶Indoor Walking at the Countryside Mall: Beat the heat and rain with some indoor walking, grab a bite to eat, browse the shops, or catch a movie…all while letting the mall’s A/C do the heavy lifting. MAP →

If you must be out in nature, please don’t forget to bring water

🌳🥾 Beat the Heat: Peaceful Nature Parks Looking to escape the crowds and cool off in the shade this weekend? Tampa Bay is loaded with hidden natural gems, all free to explore:

🦅 Moccasin Lake Nature Park (Clearwater) — A peaceful 51-acre preserve with shaded oak trails, boardwalks over the lake, and a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary where you can see rescued eagles, hawks, and falcons.

⛵ Clearwater Community Sailing Center A nonprofit sailing center at 1001 Gulf Blvd offering boat rentals, sailing lessons for all ages, and Summer Camp. Open Tuesday through Sunday 9am to 5pm. LEARN MORE →

🏓 Pickleball Court Locations: Here is the easiest way to find Pickleball courts near you with an interactive map. LEARN MORE →

🏖️ Near the Beach

🏙️ Inland

⚠️ Trivia nights and schedules can change. We recommend confirming directly with the venue before heading out. Know of a change or a new spot? Tell Scout →

Thanks for reading My Clearwater Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone that you think would enjoy it.

Until next time,

Stan, Scoop and Scout