TIDBITS By Peter Roos
ST PETE BEACH
St. Pete Beach Library is working out of temporary quarters next to PJ’s Oyster Bar at Gulf Blvd. and 75th Ave. while the historic building is rebuilt. The actual address is 7460 Gulf Blvd. Masks are required in the building.
Sewer maintenance is underway on the northbound side of Gulf Blvd., leading to minor delays. Leave a little extra time for trips up and down the beach for the next couple of years.
Tropical Storm ETA impacted our area rather severely on Veterans Day, Nov. 11th, and the following day.We have always heard that a hurricane making landfall in the area between Port Richey and Cedar Key would cause the worst storm surge for Tampa Bay, due to the circular action of the storm. It seems ETA proved the theory, as the weak, disorganized tropical storm with 50 mph winds dropped 6” of rain on Wednesday and piled water higher at high tide that night than even longtime residents had ever seen. High tide late Wednesday night saw levels 6-8” above seawalls behind the house and several inches above street level in front.
ST PETERSBURG
Annual Wreaths Across America laying ceremony will be held virtually on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Bay Pines National Cemetery at the VA Center on Bay Pines Blvd. Co-sponsored again by the DAR Caravel Chapter, an online sign-up will be available and wreath-laying volunteers will be scheduled in two different groups: 11-11:45am and noon-12:45pm. Additional questions or inquiries about volunteering can be addressed to Diana Schwarz, NSDAR Caravel Chapter for Wreaths Across America, via email to dianasf11@aol.com.
A new survey from SmartAsset.com ranks St. Petersburg No. 23 among the “best places to live on a $60,000 salary.”
With a median household income of $61,631, St. Petersburg was the sole Florida city and one of just three in the southeast U.S. in the top 25. “Strategically living in a place with robust employment opportunities and a lower cost of living can help Americans stretch their dollar further and enable them to sock away ample savings,” SmartAsset.com said. In 2020 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, came in first as the best place to live on $60,000, followed by Billings, Montana, and Lincoln, Nebraska. St. Petersburg came in ahead of Santa Fe, New Mexico (No. 24) and Salem, Oregon (No. 25).
City aims to increase diversity at USF Marine Science School
A contribution of $125,000 by the city of St. Petersburg aims to enhance diversity in the college’s graduate programs. The $125,000 gift to the USF College of Marine Science’s “Bridge to the Doctorate” fellowship endowment will support under-represented African American, Hispanic, Native American or Alaskan students over the next five years.
Cross Bay Ferry is Running Again
The Cross Bay Ferry is running three to four trips daily Wednesdays-Sunday, with extensive precautions in place to keep passengers and crew safe amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The ferry, sailing between Vinoy Yacht Basin in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Convention Center, will follow all CDC guidelines, said Kevin Fisher, general manager of HMS Ferries. Masks are required at all times inside the ferry and are suggested for those on the outdoor deck. All high-traffic touch points, such as door handles and rails, will be wiped down and sanitized between trips and during sailings. There are plastic dividers between seats, hand sanitizer stations throughout the boat and touchless sinks in the restrooms. Tickets are available online, through the Hornblower mobile app and at dockside ticket booths. Reservations are encouraged. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65, military and college students, $5 for youth 5-18, and free for children under 4. The ferry is scheduled to run through April 30, 2021.
SunRunner Construction has Started
PSTA’s new SunRunner will connect downtown St. Petersburg (including the Innovation District), South Pasadena and St. Pete Beach with express bus service. To learn more about the SunRunner, visit the SunRunner page on the PSTA.net website or call SunRunner Construction Information Line: 727-540-1973.
EDGE Animal Hospital
Dr. Raul Buso, owner of and vet at the Haines Road Animal Hospital announced his new EDGE Animal Hospital, located at 913 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33714, also offers at-home visits and golf cart pickups and deliveries.
A feline-inspired mural painted by St. Petersburg artist Matt Kress has already made its mark on the EDGE District. EDGE Animal Hospital’s initial hours are 8am–5pm Weekdays, Saturday 8-noon. Closed on Wednesday and Sunday.
MADEIRA BEACH
Ten Masons, friends and family members prepared and delivered Thanksgiving food baskets to less fortunate families in the area. The baskets included a large turkey, pies, and all the sides necessary for a most sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner. Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge, located at 14020 Marguerite Dr. in Madeira Beach since 1950, has provided Holiday baskets for over 45 years and looks forward to continuing the tradition well into the future.
Madeira Beach City Manager reports…
The beach access at Tom and Kitty Stuart Park should be open after the pouring of the concrete slab for the bathrooms in the SW corner of the park. The park itself will probably be reopened in January or February of 2021.
On the Madeira del Mar Condominium project: (13 units, four stories with two floors above parking), 15305 1st St. E. Parapets. All trades rough-ins, roof dry-in, window & exterior door installation. The project is at 79% completion. The Gulf Grille Restaurant, 14080 Gulf Blvd.–Framing and trade roughs are 88% complete.
The 54th Annual Festival of Lights Boat Parade begins at 6:30pm on Saturday Dec. 12th behind the American Legion just north of the Tom Stuart Causeway and travels through the Madeira Beach canals and ends at Johns Pass. Everyone is welcomed to participate or attend.
John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk is open for business, with over 100 individually owned, brick and mortar businesses, 14 restaurants, watersports and even a wildlife discovery center. While sand intrusion is affecting some key businesses along the boardwalk that depend on dock space, other businesses are open and ready to see the return of the locals and tourists. Sonny Flynn, president of the John’s Pass Village Association, says “community involvement is the key. John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk is a showcase of our community along with all the great things we have to offer, on the beach and on the sun coast of Florida.”
The new date of the 39th John’s Pass Seafood Festival is Jan. 22-24, 2021. Festival organizers have rearranged the footprint to allow for social distancing, are diligently planning for the health and well-being of all festival attendees. The John’s Pass Seafood Festival is a way to support the village as well as the charities selected for this year. For more details visit johnspassseafoodfest.com.
Dec 5 – John’s Pass Tree Lighting and Jingle Bell Tourney – All Day
Dec 12 – Festival of Lights Boat Parade – 6:30pm
The West Events Center recently held an open house to show prospective users the facility is open and able to book events with social distancing as required by the CDC. For more info contact Laurie or Michelle at WestEvents.com.
Do you love thrifting and second hand stores? Blondie’s Resale recently opened at 15026 Madeira Way.
PINELLAS COUNTY
To kick off the holiday “do good” season, Achieva Credit Union donated a $20,000 gift to The Salvation Army of Clearwater and Northern Pinellas and has pledged to match funds raised by the Kettle Bells in their lobbies at three locations: Park Blvd., Pinellas Park; 4th St. and 62nd Ave. N; and DTSP, 11th Ave. N. The Kettle Bell campaign runs through Dec. 23.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Duke Energy Florida (DEF) partnered to raise $123,000 for 211 Tampa Bay Cares. DEFdonated $1,000 for each regular season run and $2,000 for each run in the post-season.
Pinellas County celebrates 30 years of the Pinellas Trail
Pinellas County is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail with a special social media campaign. The first five miles of the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail opened on Dec. 5, 1990, along an abandoned railroad corridor, providing a unique and protected green space for walking, running and biking. Today, the linear park stretches for 54 miles and is used by 250,000 residents and visitors every month. It provides recreation and safe and affordable connectivity to many county amenities and locations.The Pinellas Trail extends from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs and East Lake. The Pinellas Trail Loop is an interconnected network of trails that offers regional connectivity to the Hillsborough and Pasco county trail networks and the 250-mile Florida Coast-to-Coast Connector Trail. The Pinellas Trail is part of the Florida Greenways and Trails System and has been inducted into the National Rails to Trails Hall of Fame. It is a two-time winner of the Best Trail of Florida award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. To learn more, visit Pinellascounty.org/trailgd.
Sunstar Paramedics wins American Heart Association’s Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award Again
Sunstar EMS has been recognized with the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Recognition Award for the fourth year in a row. This award goes to EMS agencies for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks. This is the highest award level possible from the AHA’s Mission.
OCC Road House & Museum
Paul Teutul Sr. of Orange County Choppers fame and area hospitality executive Keith Overton will open the OCC Road House & Museum, a new restaurant and attraction based on Teutul’s wildly popular OCC brand. Located adjacent to the 9.5-acre complex that is home to Bert’s Barracuda Harley-Davidson, the one-of-a-kind destination restaurant will be decked out with a fleet of Paul Sr.’s custom choppers featured on the hit Discovery Network series “American Chopper,” along with hundreds of rare items from his vast collection of biker memorabilia, many never before seen by the public. With more than 11,000 square feet of indoor space, the family-friendly OCC Road House will be one of the area’s largest full-service restaurants, with indoor and outdoor seating for more than 325 guests to enjoy a full menu of classic American fare. The restaurant will also feature a massive 25,000-square-foot pavilion for concerts, outdoor dining, a billiards hall, floor games and other entertainment, and a retail store loaded with merchandise and collectibles for bikers, friends, and fans. The new OCC Road House & Museum is expected to break ground by the end of the year, with an anticipated opening in May 2021.
SEMINOLE
SPENGA Fitness Studio certified for indoor air – Dan Foster, a mechanical contractor working in HVAC for more than 35 years, opened the first SPENGA franchise in the Tampa Bay area in February 2019. Just over a year later, the studio was forced to close because of the COVID 19 pandemic. During the shutdown, Foster focused on the importance of indoor air quality. “Becoming a Certified Pure Air Indoor Environment has given our members the confidence to come back in for classes,” Foster says. “It’s really provided the bounce we need to get back to business and has given us an edge over the competition.”
The Studio is open Monday-Friday, 5am-8pm, and Saturday-Sunday, 7am-noon. SPENGA offers a one-hour boutique fitness high intensity interval training workout of 20 minutes each of spin, strength and yoga. A second Pinellas County location is coming in 2021.
The Karol Hotel Welcomes Back Guests
Tampa-based Mainsail Lodging & Development has announced the reopening of The Karol Hotel (2675 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater). Centrally located in beautiful Feather Sound between Clearwater, St. Pete and Tampa, and the first member of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio in Pinellas County, The Karol Hotel is welcoming guests again after a temporary closure due to the pandemic.
TAMPA BAY
New biweekly nonstop route from Fargo, North Dakota
Allegiant announced a new nonstop route to Hector International Airport (FAR) in Fargo, North Dakota, from St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE) beginning Feb. 11, 2021. The new seasonal nonstop route will operate twice weekly. Flight days, times and the lowest fares can be found only at Allegiant.com. Introductory one-way fares start at $79.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium officially broke ground for the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) at Nathan Benderson Park. Federal, state, and local government officials, Mote Trustees and supporters, and other community partners came together to celebrate the occasion.
Mote SEA will be an iconic facility at a nexus location for Sarasota and Manatee counties and the entire southwest Florida region. Reaching nearly 700,000 visitors per year, Mote SEA will surely inspire the next generation of marine scientists, while serving as a major tourism and economic driver for the greater Sarasota-Manatee region. Three state-of-the-art STEM teaching labs will bring marine science to life for thousands of school children, offered at no cost to Sarasota and Manatee county school districts.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America has announced Kevin Cash as the winner of the 2020 American League Manager of the Year Award. Cash received 22 first-place votes, five second-place votes and one third-place vote for a total of 126 points in the 5-3-1 scoring system. Cash is the second manager in Tampa Bay Rays history to win the award, following Joe Maddon in 2008 and 2011. Cash led the Rays to a 40-20 (.667) record in the shortened 2020 season, the best winning percentage.
University of Tampa, USF rank among top 20 best entrepreneurship programs in U.S.
Tampa General, AdventHealth will be among the first to administer Covid-19 vaccines in Bay area TGH provided the first monoclonal antibody treatment to a Covid-19 positive patient.
Apple Lawsuit Settled
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced a $113 million agreement with Apple, in response to Apple’s decision to throttle consumers’ iPhone speeds in order to address unexpected phone shutdowns. Apple allegedly discovered that battery issues were leading to unexpected shutdowns in iPhones. Instead of disclosing those issues or replacing batteries, Apple updated software that reduced iPhone performance in an effort to keep the phones from unexpectedly shutting down. Attorneys general of 30 states claim that decision led to Apple profiting from selling additional iPhones to consumers whose phone performance had slowed.
Be aware of these scams: Duke Energy says fakers are posing to collect unpaid bills, and people have been paying for internet pet adoptions that never happen.
Tampa-born singer / actress / DJ Lauren Mayhew has joined the cast of Trollstopia, a DreamWorks Animation production. The successful franchise TV series debuted Nov. 19th on Hulu. Lauren plays the new character Val Thundershock.
