Childers new operations director at Morton Plant
CLEARWATER — Casey Childers is the new director of operations at Morton Plant Hospital. He joined the staff on May 5 and received his doctorate in organization and strategic management from Liberty University a few days later.
A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he incurred a back injury in Afghanistan in 2018. Childers has spent the last few years serving in leadership roles with not-for-profit health systems in Colorado and Georgia.
He had close connections with Morton Plant even before assuming his leadership role. His wife was born at Morton Plant, and earlier this year the couple welcomes their third child at the hospital.
Aquarium opens two new habitats
CLEARWATER BEACH — Clearwater Marine Aquarium has unveiled two new animal habitats: both moving the center away from the water and onto land and its inhabitants.
One brand-new habitat, Wings & Wildlife, introduces several varieties of tropical birds and tortoises that came from the closed Miami Seaquarium. The habitat offers guests an up-close look at some of nature’s most colorful and intelligent animals, complete with custom-built perches, interactive enrichment spaces and specially designed habitats that allow each animal’s unique personality to shine.
Several tortoises also came from Miami Seaquarium, as well as some that were rescued locally.
The habitat is sponsored by Universal Parking, CMA’s parking partner.
The other habitat, the Animal Connections Village, is populated by two sugar gliders, a chinchilla and Benjamin the Virginia opossum. The new habitat is built to look like a Key West village of colorful pastel houses, highlighted by gingerbread trim. The new habitat will be sponsored by CMA’s catering partner, Puff ‘n Stuff Catering.
“These animals needed a new home, and we are proud to provide them with exceptional care and a safe, enriching environment,” said Joe Handy, CEO of CMA. “The opening of Wings & Wildlife and the Animal Connections Village represent an exciting evolution for Clearwater Marine Aquarium as we continue expanding the ways we connect guests to wildlife, conservation and animal rescue. These two new habitats reflect CMA’s continued commitment to animal rescue, rehabilitation, conservation and providing lifelong care for animals in need.”
New feature reveals the places where Clearwater gathered
CLEARWATER — The Cleveland Street Alliance has released a second public history feature continuing the story of historic Cleveland Street — this time exploring the places where Clearwater gathered, celebrated, shopped and connected during the city’s early decades.
Presented through a new “Did You Also Know?” video, the feature follows the recent “Did You Know?” release on the Telephone Building, Peoples Bank and the F.W. Woolworth Co. Building by turning to the Guaranty Building, The Colony and Brown Brothers — three landmarks that helped shape everyday life in downtown Clearwater.
Taken together, the Guaranty Building, The Colony and Brown Brothers tell the story of where Clearwater gathered whether for civic life, fashion and shopping, or simply a meal and conversation among friends.
Among the stories highlighted:
• The Guaranty Building became home to Clearwater’s Chamber of Commerce, serving as a civic hub where visitors registered, residents gathered information and art galleries, photo exhibitions and public activities brought people into the heart of downtown.
• The Colony was once home to Stearns Millinery, a bespoke hat-making shop that connected Cleveland Street to the fashion and style of the early 20th century, when custom headwear, ribbons and fine accessories were part of downtown life.
• Brown Brothers became one of Cleveland Street’s original gathering places, known for early-morning milk runs, sandwiches, milkshakes and its world-famous hot fudge sundae — a destination remembered as much for the people who met there as the food it served.
The new feature uses archival imagery, historic references, animated recreations and present-day visuals to bring these stories forward for a modern audience, showing how the district’s buildings once supported the daily rhythms of civic life, shopping, entertainment and social connection.
While each building tells a different story, together they reveal what made Cleveland Street the center of downtown life. Visitors registered at the Chamber of Commerce, shoppers browsed fashionable storefronts and families gathered around lunch counters and soda fountains—turning the district into the social and civic heart of Clearwater.
As restoration and redevelopment continue across Cleveland Street, these stories help reconnect today’s district with the activities, experiences and gathering places that once made it the center of downtown life.
The new feature is available at clevelandstreetalliance.com.
Cleveland Street Alliance is leading a coordinated effort to revitalize downtown Clearwater through a series of historic restoration and redevelopment projects along Cleveland Street. Through sustained investment and a building-by-building approach, the initiative is restoring landmark properties, reactivating the corridor and reestablishing the district as a center of activity and commerce.
Student achievement
• John Daly of Clearwater has earned a place on the spring Chancellor’s List at the University of Arkansas, the university’s highest semester academic honor for undergraduates.
Drew lane reduction for utility adjustments
CLEARWATER — The city of Clearwater Public Utilities Department has closed a portion of Drew Street for utility adjustments in preparation for a Florida Department of Transportation roadway project. A westbound lane reduction will be in place between Corona Avenue and Duncan Avenue, near the Keene Road intersection, through June 26. The FDOT project is scheduled to begin later in the year.
Detours will be clearly posted throughout the duration of the work. Solid Waste and recycling services in the area may be temporarily affected.
Vehicular access to and from Drew Street at the following side streets will be temporarily closed during construction:
• Mars Avenue
• Saturn Avenue
• Jupiter Avenue
• Duncan Avenue
For more information, visit MyClearwater.com/DrewStreet.
Parking garage construction to impact roads, sidewalk
CLEARWATER — Construction associated with the Osceola Parking Garage project will require temporary sidewalk closures, roadway closures and traffic pattern changes in downtown Clearwater over the coming months, city officials say.
Sidewalk closures are currently in place on Osceola Avenue and Pierce Street and will remain in effect until further notice. Pedestrians should follow posted detour signage and use designated alternate routes.
Through Sept. 15, Pierce Street will be closed to traffic between Osceola Avenue and Fort Harrison Avenue to allow for utility connections and the erection of a precast structure. Motorists should follow posted detour routes and allow additional travel time while work is underway.
A tentative lane shift is also planned on Osceola Avenue from Pierce Street to south of Cleveland Street from July 20 through Aug. 29. The temporary traffic pattern change is necessary to facilitate ongoing construction activities.
For updates on the Osceola Parking Garage project and other city construction projects, visit MyClearwater.com/DowntownConstruction.
Former police chief enters Hall of Fame
CLEARWATER — Former Police Chief Daniel Slaughter was inducted June 6 into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame in Tallahassee.
Slaughter, who is now an assistant city manager with the city of Clearwater, was chief from 2014 through 2023. He retired in 2023 after a 30-year career with the Clearwater Police Department.