By Peter Roos
GULFPORT
The Gulfport Merchants Chamber (GMC), was created by a merger some years ago by the Gulfport Merchants Association and the Greater Gulfport Chamber of Commerce. Their mission is to stimulate and support the wellbeing and economic growth of its members through implementation and coordination of marketing, ethical and equitable advocacy, event coordination, economic development programs, strategic membership alliances, and education efforts. During the year they host or support several events designed to bring visitors into Gulfport and to the doorsteps of their members’ businesses. They maintain a Welcome Center in the middle of the action, a block from the casino, where staff and volunteers hand out brochures, business cards, and provide additional information and recommendations to visitors. Membership is $175 for 2022. In 2021, their Gulfport Welcome Center, located at 3101 Beach Blvd. S, Suite 1, greeted over 4,000 visitors. Members are encouraged to share their business’ information at the Welcome Center. Online, they provide a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/visitgulfportflorida and a web page, www.visitgulfport florida.com. Both sites are used to support members and inform the community about events and sponsors of events. On the web page, you will find a business directory listing information about each active member. During 2021, they hosted several events that promoted art, animal rescue, and retail businesses. Thanks to proceeds from these events the GMC donated over $3,000 to non-profit/charitable organizations. In 2022, they will host six major events, along with monthly art walks and their popular weekly Tuesday Fresh Market.
MADEIRA BEACH
While some of us are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, community youngsters will have the luck of the Irish as the Gulf Beaches Rotary Club hosts their 11th Spring Break Waterfront Festival & Carnival, in partnership with the city of Madeira Beach, at the Rec. Ctr. and ROC Park at 300 Municipal Drive from Thursday, March 17, from 3-9pm Friday; Saturday, noon-10pm; & Sunday, March 20, noon-8pm. This four-day, fun-filled event will offer a collection of carnival rides provided by Arnold Amusements, live entertainment plus awesome food and craft vendors. ADMISSION IS FREE! The Gulf Beaches Rotary Club donates over $50,000 annually to local charities including: St. Pete Free Clinic, Eckerd College Search and Rescue, Metropolitan Ministries, All Children’s Hospital, Guardian ad Litem, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Pinellas County Education Scholarships, Suncoast Voices for Children, and many other deserving organizations. The Spring Break Festival is the club’s signature event and largest fundraiser each year. RIDE-ALL-DAY WRISTBANDS may be purchased in advance for $20 at the Madeira Beach Recreation Center. They are also available at the carnival for $25 per day. Please contact the Madeira Beach Recreation Department at 727-392-0665 for more detailed information. Visit the Madeira Beach Recreation Department’s website at www.madbeachfun.com for additional information and event details.
MANATEE COUNTY
Manatee’s 42nd Heritage Days run through March. Activities have been as varied as exhibits and parades.
Events take place both virtually, as well as throughout Manatee County communities. Through these events, participants can experience the pioneer lifestyle and learn how Manatee County has grown and developed.
Cemetery Tours: Explore different facets of Manatee County’s history on a FREE hour- long guided tour of the 1850 Manatee Burying Ground. Tours will begin at 10am and will be available on select days March 21–April 1. Manatee Village Historical Park is located at 1404 Manatee Ave. E (State Road 64), Bradenton. Please note that the Burying Ground does not have pathways and getting to it requires crossing a street and maneuvering two curbs.
For more information visit www.manateevillage.org. Space is limited to only 16 slots per tour. Guided tours are FREE but advance reservations are required and can be made online at www.manateevillage.org/events or over the phone at 941-749-7165.
ST. PETE BEACH
Music in the Afternoon is back! Enjoy music from Lew Barrows and The Rhythm Kings in the scenic Boca Ciega Ballroom. Each event is from 2-4pm and refreshments are available. These events are free! Go to www.spbrec.com and click on special events for more information. You can also call the St. Pete Beach Parks and Rec Department at 727-363-9245. Boca Ciega
Ballroom 7701 Boca Ciega Dr., St. Pete Beach, Sunday, March 13th and April 10th.
Summer Camp Registration Opens
St. Pete Beach Parks and Recreation Department is providing another summer full of fun! Indoor/outdoor group play, field trips, swim days, beach days and more! More information at www.spbrec.com or call 727-363-9245. Registration is limited.
Mastry’s Brewery brought home the Champions Belt for the Peoples Choice at the Florida Brewers Guild Keg-A-Mania in Vero Beach. “Have to say this is probably the coolest beer award ever,” said Mastry’s owner Matt Dahm.
Rob Williams is celebrating the 12th anniversary of his Swigwam Beach Bar at 336 Corey Ave. on St. Patrick’s Day, on Corey Ave between Chill and the Beach Theatre. They will have tables and chairs, corn hole games, BYO lawn chairs. Two local classic rock cover bands “Sandy Bottom Boys” & “Beach Rats” will play from 1-4 & 5-9 respectively. Grillin & Chillin” will serve corned beef, cabbage and potatoes.
Renovated Merry Pier Reopens
Merry Pier is a favorite destination for fishing and boating. The pier, located at 801 Pass-a-Grille Way, offers a store, boat excursions, a fish market (with right-off-the-boat seafood), fishing, as well as rod/tackle and bicycle rentals. The pier was named after long-time resident Captain Kenneth B. Merry, who moved to the area in 1900. In 1902, the Merry family opened the first store on the Gulf Beaches at the end of the dock at eighth Ave and, today, the Merrys legacy lives on.
ST. PETERSBURG
Mayor Welch said St. Petersburg’s historic downtown airport Albert Whitted Field will be reviewed for its benefit to the city. It is the largest parcel of city-owned land and it sits on the downtown waterfront. Welch said it will not be sold to developers to build high rises.
SKYWAY MARINA DISTRICT
Skyway Lofts, located at 3900 34th St. S, is the latest affordable housing development by Tampa-based Blue Sky Communities. The project broke ground in September 2020 and consists of two four-story buildings with 17 one-bedroom units at 650 square feet each and 48 two-bedroom units at 960 square feet.
TREASURE ISLAND
The Tahitian commissioned local master muralists. The Vitale Bros. to paint public murals for the area. “We tried to capture the importance of sea life, with turtles and coral, also a huge postcard map opportunity for kids to interact with that connects with the theme of Treasure Island itself. The new owners renovated the mid- century motel and kept all of its old Florida charm with modern amenities but whet out of their way to create this interactive space for all people from Treasure Island.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Pinellas: Enroll for ambulance coverage through March 2023
Sunstar FirstCare Ambulance Membership offers ambulance transportation savings.
Enrollment applications are still available for the 2022 Sunstar FirstCare Ambulance Membership.
Enroll now to receive a full year of financial help with out-of-pocket expenses for ambulance transportation.
The estimated average cost of a single ambulance transport is $796. Annual membership fees for the Sunstar FirstCare Ambulance Membership plan are $83 for a single membership and $125 for a family membership. Membership covers 100% of expenses associated with deductibles and co-payments and 50% of medically necessary trips denied by insurance. Uninsured members receive a 20% discount on medically necessary ambulance transportation. In 2020, the membership plan saved residents an average of $180/transport.
The Sunstar FirstCare Ambulance Membership is not an insurance plan. It is a Pinellas County government program that works with an individual’s insurance company to minimize out-of-pocket ambulance expenses.
Enrollment will provide coverage through March 31, 2023. For more information and detailed plan coverage, call 727-582-2008 or visit www.pinellas.gov/ membership.
Housing Affordability Agreement Signed
The availability of housing that working folks can afford was a problem in Pinellas and tourist areas nationwide even before the pandemic effect started the latest round of cost increases. The Pinellas County Commission took a first step in late February when it approved a countywide affordable housing compact with Forward Pinellas and the cities of Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg. The compact outlines a common set of policy focus areas to create more affordable housing. Compact partners will collaborate on a housing action plan to increase affordability through developer incentives, local funding, zoning changes and other potential policies. Pinellas County, Forward Pinellas and the cities of Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg officially launched a new partnership in late February aimed at increasing production of affordable housing in the coming years. With commission approval of the Advantage Pinellas Countywide Housing Compact, the county and partners have committed to creating a common set of policies that will make it easier to develop and preserve affordable housing throughout the community.
Pinellas: Lifeguards needed for 2022 beach season
Pinellas County is hiring full and part time lifeguards for April – September for Fort De Soto, Sand Key and Fred Howard parks from April – September with a pay range of $14.22 to $18.49 for new lifeguards and $14.87 to $19.33/hour for senior lifeguards. Lifeguards may work 10-hour shifts. For a list of current openings, requirements and to apply, visit: www.pinellas county.org/careers.
Want a behind-the-scenes look at juvenile justice?
The 2022 Juvenile Justice Citizens’ Academy runs April 5-June 7. Apply online at www.pinellascounty.org/ justice/JJCA.htm. Pinellas County, in partnership with the Department of Juvenile Justice, host a free 10-week virtual Juvenile Justice Citizens’ Academy (JJCA) every Thursday, 4/5-6/7, from 6- 8pm.
A citizens’ academy is a civic education program that helps promote informed and involved citizenship. Participants in the JJCA will have the opportunity to meet professionals who work in the juvenile justice system. Each week, the class will meet virtually for an up-close view of how Pinellas County provides services for detained and at-risk youth and their families. Some of the areas to be discussed include prevention, civil citation, probation, residential commitment, community-based programs, the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center, and the Pinellas Regional Detention Center. We will also offer participants the opportunity to tour some of our juvenile justice facilities. Tours may be limited due to COVID. Applications can be found online at www.pinellascounty.org/justice/JJCA.htm and are open to all adult residents. Enrollment is limited. The deadline to apply for this class is Friday, March 11. Participants must attend a minimum of eight sessions to receive a certificate of attendance.
Pinellas County gets $17 million for flood protection along Joe’s Creek
Pinellas County is one of eight communities in Florida to receive a share of $64 million awarded by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program, which uses federal funds to support efforts to harden infrastructure against future storm damage. The project aims to reduce flood risk and increase community resilience in the Joe’s Creek Watershed, a 9,250-acre area that includes parts of Lealman, Kenneth City, Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg.
Following the grant award, next steps include beginning the design phase and permit acquisition for the project. For more information, please visit www.pinellascounty.org/publicworks.
Pinellas County Animal Services saw 55 pets adopted and $4,347.79 received in donations through the #BettyWhiteChallenge campaign. The Animal Services shelter currently has pets available for adoption. View adoptable cats and dogs through the Adoption Center. Adoptions include sterilization, registered microchip, age-appropriate vaccines, parasite prevention and more. Visit www.pinellas.gov/animal services to learn more.
TAMPA BAY
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) renewed Tampa Bay Water’s Consolidated Water Use Permit for the region’s groundwater well fields for another 10 years, confirming the sustainability of this important water supply. The permit was renewed at its current rate of 90 million gallons/day (mgd). “Over 20 years ago, we said we would create a diversified water supply network that balances the needs of the environment with the needs of the community. This shows we did it,” said Chuck Carden, Tampa Bay Water’s general manager.
A new solar array at the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir will offset electricity consumption for Tampa Bay Water and is one of the nine projects currently in construction for the utility. Others include a new temporary booster station that will bring an additional 5 million gallons per day (mgd) of drinking water to southern Hillsborough County as early as summer 2022. These and the rest of Tampa Bay Water’s recently completed, current and upcoming construction projects are outlined in the quarterly construction update presented at the January 2022 board meeting.
Cross Bay Ferry The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority received a $4,863,280 federal government grant last October. Ferry advocates had less than two weeks to apply for the grant. This grant will allow HART to significantly reduce operational costs while expanding the Cross Bay Ferry service, helping to grow intercity and commuter ferry service. “It will grow a popular transit option between Tampa and St. Pete, reduce congestion, create local jobs, support small businesses and increase connectivity in the Tampa Bay region. In fact, over 90% of the CBF passengers patronize restaurants, shops, museums and sporting events in these two urban areas. This investment is a win-win-win for our community and all of our neighbors,” said Ed Turanchik, attorney for HMS Ferry. The money will be used for a new 350-person ferry if there is one available to purchase, Turanchik said. The Cross Bay Ferry currently uses a 149-person ferry on a seasonal lease. The grant will also help establish commuter service between South Hillsborough County and MacDill Air Force Base. The same boat would be used for both the commuter service and the nighttime/weekend service between Tampa and St. Petersburg.