Hoffman School, family center to host supplies drive
CLEARWATER — The Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts at Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center will host a performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory later this month to gather school supplies ahead of the looming start of public school.
At the performances of the Hoffman School’s summer musical, sponsored by Duke Energy, on Friday, July 31, and Saturday, Aug. 1, audience members can donate new school supplies in bins in the theatre lobby.
The show’s July 31 performance will begin at 7 p.m. The Saturday performances will be at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center provides support services for families and children living in Safety Harbor, Oldsmar and eastern Clearwater.
Tickets are still available for the production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which features a cast ranging in age from 7 to 70. Tickets are priced at $15 for reserved seating and $10 for students and military with photo ID are available at The Raymond James Central Ticket Office at Ruth Eckerd Hall, by calling 727-791-7400 or visiting www.RuthEckerdHall.com.
The ticket office at Ruth Eckerd Hall is located at 1111 N. McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater and is open Tuesday through Thursday, from noon to 6 p.m., Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, from noon to 6 p.m.
Bakery opens on Cleveland Street
CLEARWATER — Another independently owned business has opened its doors on Cleveland Street.
Nourish & Nosh Bakery Bistro serves breakfast, coffee and fresh, made-from-scratch food inside the Atrium Building at 601 Cleveland St., bringing a distinctive European café experience to the heart of downtown.
Co-owner Nea Porta, originally from Helsinki, Finland, says the café was created around a simple idea: prepare food from scratch using clean ingredients, and become part of a growing downtown community.
“I think it’s very exciting to be here on Cleveland Street right now because it’s the beginning of all the development happening here,” Porta said. “We’re looking forward to being part of it, and this location is perfect. I really like serving the downtown community, and I’m very proud of it.”
Throughout the day, breakfast, lunch and café offerings are prepared fresh using organic ingredients, seasonal produce and locally sourced dairy. Guests can choose from breakfast sandwiches, fresh bagels, crustless quiche, salads, pastries, cookies, organic coffee, house-made cold brew and a variety of gluten-free and specialty baked goods.
Student achievements
• Two Pinellas County students, Olivia Fuller of Clearwater and Holden Wade of Dunedin, have been selected for the president’s list at Georgia Southern University for the spring 2026 semester.
Library to host rooftop celebration of America’s 250th birthday
CLEARWATER — The Clearwater Public Library System will mark America’s 250th birthday with a special rooftop event on Wednesday, July 22, from 5-7 p.m.
The celebration, on the Main Library Rooftop Terrace, will reflect on the nation’s history and recognize the significance of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The event will feature a live music performance from local artist Tyson Marshall, complimentary refreshments, patriotic giveaways and more.
The event is free.
In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will be moved indoors at the Clearwater Main Library.
PGA TOUR Champions tournament returns to Feather Sound
CLEARWATER — The Skechers World Champions Cup supporting Shriners Children’s has announced that Darren Clarke, Retief Goosen and Justin Leonard will captain the European, International and U.S. teams, respectively. The tournament, now in its third year, is set to be played Dec. 3-6 at Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater for the second consecutive year.
Clarke, the 2011 Open Championship winner, five-time European Ryder Cup team member and 2016 European Ryder Cup captain, will return as the captain for the European Team for the third consecutive year. He led the European Team to a dominant victory at Feather Sound in 2025 and will seek to retain the title in 2026. Clarke is currently ranked 10th in the Charles Schwab Cup Standings.
Goosen, the 2001 and 2004 U.S. Open champion, takes on the captain’s title with hopes of adding the International Team’s name to the trophy for the first time in tournament history. The South African will captain the International Team after competing in the inaugural Skechers World Champions Cup supporting Shriners Children’s in 2023. During his Hall of Fame career, Goosen competed in six Presidents Cups, and was in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) for over 250 weeks between 2001-2007. He is currently ranked eighth in the Charles Schwab Cup Standings.
Leonard, a five-time Presidents Cup and three-time Ryder Cup team member and the current vice captain for the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup Team, will captain the U.S. Team for the first time in 2026. A 12-time winner on the PGA TOUR, Leonard won the 1997 Open Championship at Royal Troon. He is currently ranked 33rd on the Charles Schwab Cup Standings.
Tickets for the Skechers World Champions Cup supporting Shriners Children’s will be on sale this fall. For more information visit www.worldchampionscup.com.
Salvation Army welcomes new corps officers
CLEARWATER, — Majors Tim and Cheryl Gilliam have been appointed the new Corps Officers for the Clearwater Corps.
The Gilliams have served as Salvation Army officers throughout the southeast United States. Their ministry has included corps leadership in Dallas, Lufkin, McAllen, and Waco, Texas; divisional youth leadership in Maryland and West Virginia; area command leadership in St. Petersburg and Fort Myers; service at Territorial Headquarters in Atlanta; and most recently, leadership with the Memphis Area Command and the Mid-South.
In Clearwater, the Gilliams will provide pastoral leadership, guide local ministry and community engagement, and continue The Salvation Army’s work of meeting human needs without discrimination in the greater Clearwater community.
They have three adult children: Jacob, who was recently ordained as a minister and commissioned as a Salvation Army officer; Ashleigh, who lives and works in St. Petersburg; and Michael, a student at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky.