First, an apology.

My Clearwater Scoop normally goes out every Monday and Friday. Obviously, yesterday was Friday... and there was no Scoop.

That was intentional.

With Clearwater's election coming up Tuesday, August 18, I've been watching some of the political claims being thrown around online. Rather than rushing out Friday's newsletter just to hit a deadline, I wanted more time to look into what was being said and try to separate facts from political spin.

Because when we're talking about electing the people who will make decisions affecting our city for years to come, getting it right matters more than getting it out first.

And frankly, there's something about election season that drives me crazy.

Let's cut the B.S.

Every election seems to reach the point where candidates and their supporters stop telling us why we should vote for someone and start telling us why we should be terrified to vote against somebody else.

A carefully worded accusation gets posted.

A graphic gets shared.

Someone reposts it.

Then somebody else shares the repost.

And pretty soon, something that may contain only part of the story is being repeated as established fact.

That's not how I believe we should choose the people running Clearwater.

And it doesn't matter which candidate is doing it.

If you're going to make a serious accusation about another candidate, bring the receipts.

One claim circulating in Clearwater's City Council race caught my attention in particular.

The suggestion being made is that candidate Jared Leone received $70,000 connected to Scientology.

That's a hell of a statement.

And it's exactly the kind of statement that deserves scrutiny rather than an immediate share button.

Political money can move through candidates, political committees, PACs and independent expenditures. Those aren't all the same thing.

There is an enormous difference between saying:

"Scientology gave a candidate $70,000."

and saying money came from or moved through a political committee whose donors, members or affiliates may include individuals associated with Scientology.

Those distinctions matter.

Political committees can include money from individuals and organizations representing all sorts of businesses, causes, political philosophies, religions and personal affiliations.

Simply finding an individual with a particular affiliation somewhere in that financial chain doesn't automatically establish that the organization itself funded a candidate!

And the same standard should apply regardless of whether we're talking about Scientology, a corporation, a developer, a labor organization, an environmental group, a religion or anything else.

Follow the money. Follow the documentation. Follow the facts!!!

Then tell voters what you actually found.

This is bigger than one candidate or one accusation.

Facebook is fantastic for finding out what's happening around town.

It is absolutely terrible as your sole source for deciding what's true.

A political graphic isn't research.

A campaign mailer isn't research.

A candidate saying something about their opponent isn't independent verification.

And yes, that includes information you read here.

Don't blindly trust My Clearwater Scoop either.

If something matters enough to influence your vote, spend a few minutes checking it yourself.

Look at campaign-finance records.

Read what candidates have actually said.

Look at their involvement in Clearwater.

Look at their professional and community history.

Look at how they've handled issues when nobody was campaigning.

Then make up your own mind.

We've spent a lot of time here discussing The Landings and the future of 77 acres of public land.

Why?

Because that's something that could fundamentally change a Clearwater neighborhood for decades.

We've also talked about Green Street, downtown development and other decisions affecting the future of this community.

Those are the kinds of issues I want to hear candidates discussing.

Where do you stand on development?

What do you believe should happen with public land?

How will you approach traffic and infrastructure?

What about green space?

What have you actually done in Clearwater before asking residents for their vote?

How accessible will you be once the election is over?

Those answers tell me far more about a future City Council member than the latest Facebook attack graphic or mailer.

Here's what I'd love to see more of during election season.

Tell me why I should vote for you.

Tell me what you've accomplished.

Tell me what you've done for Clearwater.

Tell me where you stand on the issues.

Tell me what you'll fight for.

Tell me where you think the City has gotten things wrong.

Tell me what you're going to do differently.

Then let the other candidate do the same thing.

And let us decide.

That's democracy.

Trying to make voters afraid of your opponent through half-truths, carefully constructed associations or information stripped of context?

We've got enough of that in national politics already.

We don't need to import more of it into Clearwater.

Clearwater's election is Tuesday, August 18.

I'm not going to tell you who to vote for.

That's not what My Clearwater Scoop is here to do.

But I will encourage you to do something before Tuesday:

Spend 15 minutes doing your own homework.

Ignore the campaign noise for a moment.

Look at each candidate's record.

Look at their involvement in this community.

Look at where they stand on the Clearwater issues that matter to you.

And if you see a shocking claim on Facebook?

BEFORE you hit Share...

Ask where it came from.

Because your vote shouldn't belong to whoever created the scariest graphic.

It should belong to the candidate who, after you've looked at the facts, you believe will do the best job representing Clearwater.

By a Neighbor. For the Neighborhood.

If you've lived in Clearwater for any length of time, there's a pretty good chance you know O'Keefe's Tavern.

The longtime Irish pub has been serving Clearwater since 1961, making it one of those increasingly rare local places that has been around long enough to become part of the fabric of the community.

Now, after roughly 65 years, O'Keefe's is preparing to leave its longtime home at 1219 S. Fort Harrison Avenue.

But before anyone starts mourning another Clearwater institution...

O'Keefe's isn't closing. It's moving. 🍻

🏗️ So What's Happening to the Current Location?

The property where O'Keefe's currently sits is slated for redevelopment.

Plans call for the existing building to eventually be demolished to make way for a five-story, 82-unit apartment development with a two-story parking garage.

O'Keefe's previously told customers that the timing of the move remained uncertain and that it would remain business as usual until the time came to relocate.

Most importantly, the owners made it clear they intended to stay right here in the area.

📍 And We May Know Where They're Going

Here's where things get interesting.

A new Florida company called O'Keefe's Tavern Group LLC was filed on July 7, 2026, with O'Keefe's ownership represented in the filing.

The principal address listed for that company?

1653 Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, Clearwater.

That's only a short drive from the current Fort Harrison location.

So while the familiar building may eventually disappear, all indications point toward O'Keefe's beginning its next chapter without leaving Clearwater behind.

And frankly, that's the part of this story I like.

🍀 Some Clearwater History Gets to Come Along

Restaurants come and go constantly. Making it more than six decades is something entirely different.

O'Keefe's has survived changing neighborhoods, changing generations, hurricanes, recessions, COVID and probably more than a few Clearwater St. Patrick's Days that nobody involved remembers particularly well. 😂

The current restaurant remains open at 1219 S. Fort Harrison Avenue, so there's still time to visit the original location before the eventual move.

The building may be changing.

Thankfully, O'Keefe's isn't disappearing with it.

🍀 Here's to another chapter for a Clearwater original.

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 150+ 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 →

🎸 Downsyde Up Saturday August 15th - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - Ginger Kelly - Saturday 8:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

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

🎸 Stormbringer Saturday August 15th - FREE - 6:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Brett Wilkins Saturday August 15th - FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Squeeze with Adam And and Haircut 100 Wednesday August 19th - 6:00 pm The Baycare Sound Clearwater, FL TICKETS & 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