11/27/2024
Dear St. Pete Beach Community,
As Thanksgiving approaches, I reflect on the significance of this season of gratitude. This year marks my first Thanksgiving here in St. Pete Beach, and I am deeply honored to share it with this remarkable community. For many residents and businesses, this holiday season feels different—marked by challenges and change. For some, it is undoubtedly more difficult than in years past. Recovering from two unprecedented storms has tested our resilience, and finding reasons to be thankful may feel harder than ever.
Yet, gratitude is a practice I embrace daily, and it continues to provide light even during the most trying times. This season, I find gratitude in the unwavering support of my family, even as we adapt to new surroundings. I am grateful to have joined a community that exemplifies unity and strength in the face of adversity. I am profoundly thankful for a dedicated team that works tirelessly to meet the needs of our neighbors and friends.
Gratitude also reveals itself in the small, steady signs of recovery all around us. Through the dedication of countless team members and partners, storm debris is clearing. Our dunes are regaining their shape. Parks and beaches are reopening, and cherished activities are beginning to reconvene. These milestones, though incremental, remind us of the progress we are making together.
This Thanksgiving, I encourage each of you to pause and find your own moments of gratitude. Whether it’s in the support of loved ones, the kindness of a neighbor, or the quiet steps forward we take as a community, there is always something to hold onto and appreciate.
Looking ahead, our recovery journey will require patience, understanding, and a shared commitment to come together. In these times of challenge, I am heartened by the acts of kindness and generosity that define this community. You remind me every day of the strength we share when we work together.
On behalf of all city staff, I wish each of you a safe, peaceful, and meaningful Thanksgiving. May we continue to support one another and find gratitude in the journey we are on together.
Frances Robustelli
City Manager
[email protected]
