Five Palm Harbor Conversation Starters for the Holidays

The holidays can be a heartwarming time spent catching up with loved ones. But there's bound to be a lapse in the conversation at some point this weekend.

For those moments, here are a few surefire conversation starters that made news in Palm Harbor this year.

Coming soon to a yard near you... Residents of Palm Harbor and other unincorporated parts of Pinellas County may now raise chickens, a practice that was previously banned in the county.  In an unscientific Patch poll before the vote, 72 percent of respondents said it should be legal to keep chickens. Would you raise your own chickens for food? How would you feel if your neighbors did?

A new local exercise option: pole fitness. , and by all accounts it's a great workout for the upper body and core. Class members even have the option of wearing high heels to intensify the leg workout. Owner Eva Spicola knows there's a stigma associated with pole anything, and she's quick to point out that her business teaches "pole fitness, not pole dancing." Would you try pole fitness? Would you object to your daughter taking a pole fitness class? Why or why not?

Who has the best pizza in Palm Harbor? Speaking of polls, there's quite the debate going on over . Our food critic picked Lobosco's Pizza & Pasta Delight on U.S. 19 for its thin, crunchy crust and scant amount of cheese, but let's just say others have expressed a little difference in opinion. Where do you go for real pizza, prepared the right way? And what makes your pizza of choice so good? (For another spirited debate, also see )

How to stop drunk driving. A  recently about whether it's legal to pull over a driver without reason, whether DUI checkpoint locations should be revealed in advance, and whether drunk driving is really just a product of the prevalence of alcohol at social events. Do you think checkpoints are the best way to cut down on drunk driving, and does knowing about them in advance affect how much alcohol you consume?

The most opinionated man in town? Tim Bryce has used his blog as a platform to explore , and even warn against . Love him or hate him, this guy seems to have an opinion on every subject, and he has attracted quite a following of local readers who check in every day to see what he has to say. (Want to add your voice to the mix? It's easy to become a blogger for Palm Harbor Patch.)