TIDBITS By Peter Roos
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
With more time on our hands to read, some locals found a way to share books and have enjoyed with PaGWC members and neighbors. In about a week, we will be installing a book exchange box at the back of the Pass-A-Grille Women’s Club house side street for public access (2201 PaG Way – south end of building).
Many have come together to bring this idea to life from Al Ingram making the house, Sandie Lyman, and Ariel Grant supplying the lumber, Wayne Dewey, and Herb Edmunds the installation, to Marlene Connelly, Ariel Grant, Jacky Dawson, and Barbara Ottinger painting and decorating it! We want to thank them all for their hard work on this project! Shari Ellis and Marlene Connelly will be stewards of the library.
The Little Free Library is a global organization. Our library is registered on the world map. If you go to littlefreelibrary.org you can look up all the libraries in the world. Please see the photos below of our library share box as we work to complete it getting ready for the grand opening next week. We will take needed sanitary precautions for sharing.
We would like to start our library with some good adult and children’s books. If you would like to donate any books, please drop them off at the clubhouse and give call to let me know or to make arrangements to meet someone there.
Contact: Marlene Connelly, Pass-A-Grille Women’s Club Community Welfare Chair, bucmingo@gmail.com or call 727.225 .2769.
FLORIDA & BEYOND
EUROPEAN UNION MAKES IT OFFICIAL: NO TRAVEL TO U.S.
When the European Union recently opened its borders post COVID quarantine, the U.S. was not on the EU’s list of countries its residents could visit. It’s also barring Americans from visiting the EU. The U.S. still has its own travel restrictions in place for the EU, too. It’s unclear when any of those restrictions will be lifted.
Crist Obtains Key Environmental Funding For Florida, Ban on Offshore Drilling
The 2021 Interior & Environment Appropriations bill passed the full committee in July. At Representative Crist’s request, the bill prohibits drilling and seismic testing off the coasts of Florida, including in the eastern Gulf, a policy for which Crist has long advocated. He supports H.R. 205, the Protecting and Securing Florida’s Coastline Act, which would permanently ban drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Included in that bill was over $15 million for Everglades restoration. The 2021 bill includes $9.38 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and $170 million for the National Endowment of the Arts, to help support the arts community that has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. He also helped earmark $14 million to Fight Red Tide and $30 million for Veterans Treatment Courts.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration hopes to open the door to oil and gas drilling off Florida’s coast — but will wait until after the November election. Drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico would fulfill a long-sought goal of energy companies, giving them access to potentially billions of barrels of oil that have been off-limits since the federal government withdrew leases it had sold in 1985. But even the possibility of drilling is a politically explosive topic for Floridians, who worry that oil spills would devastate their tourism-based economy in a reprise of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. President Donald Trump, who has set “energy dominance” as a key national goal, has eased regulations on offshore drilling put in place by the Obama administration. Interior has spent years working on a proposed drilling plan that would expand oil companies‘ access to waters around the country’s coastline, including a draft plan issued in 2018 by the Trump administration that considered opening the federal waters off both of Florida’s coasts and an expansion of offshore drilling in California, a move that would escalate the ongoing battles between the state and the administration over environmental issues since Trump took office.
TAMPA BAY
The Real Estate Market remains HOT in our area. The shortage of homes for sale and people’s desire not to vacate during a pandemic combines with record low interest rates to create a sellers market. Local Realtor® Joan Walker shared these “reasons people will relocate during a pandemic” from Florida Realtor Digital News on July 16th. With Americans still reaching retirement age at an incredible pace, and the growing desire to escape the cities, Chicago and Detroit for example, there are more buyers than sellers in our area, making it an excellent time to consider moving somewhere else, but where would you be happy after life in Paradise?
44% Need More Space
41% Purchase Rather Than Rent
37% Move to Suburbs from City
31% Job Relocation
31% Desire for private outdoor space
28% To Be closer to Family and Friends
27% To Downsize
19% For a Better School District
13% Get Away from Apartment or Condo Life
11% Job Loss or Financial Problem
Tampa General and USF Health partner with Johns Hopkins to provide more pediatric surgery services.
A July agreement calls for pediatric general surgeons from All Children’s to work in Tampa General’s Children’s Medical Center, providing prenatal counseling and intervention.
They will also be conducting procedures, specializing in general surgery, trauma surgery. Tampa General president CEO John Couris said in a release that the partnership will “create a collaborative environment in which innovative ideas and best practices are shared, our students learn and our youngest, most vulnerable community members benefit.”
Tampa ranked among the top 30 cities for solar energy. Tampa ranked at No. 29 and again earned the distinction of a “solar leader,” with 25-50 watts of solar photovoltaics installed per person. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement. “With the addition of Whit Remer, our new sustainability and resilience officer, we are ready to double down on our commitment to renewable energy. We are actively assessing projects and identifying partners and programs to help the city add new solar capacity.”
Jacksonville ranked at No. 19, while Orlando was 32 and Miami 53. Honolulu was No. 1 for solar energy capacity per capita. The top cities for total PV installed were Los Angeles, San Diego, Honolulu and Phoenix. The full report by The Environment Florida Research and Policy Center is available online.
Tampa Bay Watch’s DIY Scallop Search
This year Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteer boaters to snorkel selected sites within Boca Ciega and Lower Tampa Bay for a DIY Bay Scallop Search. This year’s Scallop Search will be do-it-yourself from August 15-23 due to COVID-19.
Chamber pleads us to Buy Beaches First
Want to participate in their ‘Shop Local’ Movement? Whether you’re a customer or a business, they have easy steps to follow and resources to help you support the Tampa Bay Beach communities and #buybeachesfirst.
How to Buy Beaches First–
As a customer:
• Choose to visit a local business
• Show your support and Share local businesses
• Tag the business. Use #BuyBeachesFirst on social media. We’ll share your post on Facebook @buybeachesfirst or Instagram @buybeachesfirst
As a business: Attract shoppers by using #Buybeachesfirst whenever posting to Facebook or Instagram (i.e. Post a picture of a customer transaction using #Buybeachesfirst or post a sale!) Encourage your customers to share their experience through a photo, video or review and #BuyBeachesFist The Chamber will share your post Facebook or Instagram @buybeachesfirst to help promote your business. info@tampabaybeaches.com
If you have a business looking for more resources? “We have created promotional flyers, social media graphics and more to help promote your business! Contact jessica@tampabaybeaches.com Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce; 6990 Gulf Boulevard, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706-2030; 727-360-6957 Fax: 727-360-2233
RAYS ANNOUNCE 2021 REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE
The Tampa Bay Rays 2021 regular-season opens with a six-game road trip against the Miami Marlins (April 1-3) and Boston Red Sox (April 5-7). All 30 major league clubs released their 2021 schedules today.
The Rays schedule is subject to change and game times will be announced at a later date.
They’ll play at home on Friday, April 9, opening a seven-game series against the Yankees (April 9-11) and Texas Rangers (April 12-15). They beat the Yankees in their season opener, in Japan in 2004 (8-3), and at home in 2009 (15-5), 2012 (7-6). Follow them on Twitter at @RaysPR. Press releases, game notes, clips, stat packs and other information can be found at rayspressbox.com, using username rays\media and password R@ys2020#
PINELLAS COUNTY
Pinellas County Schools has joined a partnership with Cyber Florida at USF and the Florida Center for Instructional Technology to prepare high school students to pursue careers in cybersecurity. Beginning in fall 2020, the course “Cybersecurity Essentials,” which will help prepare students to earn certifications often required for entry-level cybersecurity positions, will be available to high schoolers across Pinellas County. The curriculum aligns with the Florida Department of Education Curriculum Framework for the Applied Cybersecurity Career Preparatory Program, and is recognized by the Career and Professional Education program. Cyber Florida and the Florida Center for Instructional Technology are working to provide this program to all Florida school districts. Cyber Florida will also provide teacher training to support the new course, and both instructors and students will have free access to the Florida CyberHub, a cloud-based resource that provides state-of-the-art cybersecurity software tools and training scenarios based on real-world incidents.
The new 72-unit Harbor View Resort and Marina at Clearwater Beach as an outstanding condo-hotel investment opportunity, notes Waterfront Realty realtor/co-owner Tim Johnson. Construction will start later this year, with completion expected in early 2022.
The new resort is in a sheltered harbor along the gorgeous intracoastal Waterway. The 72 units, with parking, on seven floors with 1- or 2-bedroom options start from around $400,000. Each will be fully furnished with a beach-modern vibe, ensuring each guest feels right at home. Owner-investors are able to stay up to 90 days a year, and some units offer an owner’s lock-out room, allowing for income even while maintaining your own space. On-site hotel management will ensure easy operation and hassle-free ownership.
The luxury resort is a boaters’ paradise, with unit owners having the option to lease or purchase one of the 55 Marina boat slips. Intracoastal cruising is just outside, and for deep sea fishing, the Gulf of Mexico is minutes away out of Clearwater Pass. A beautiful pool with a Tiki Bar and full-service restaurant is planned, right on the Intracoastal Waterway. Clearwater Beach – the #1 beach in the U.S. and #7 in the world – is two blocks away via a Resort beach shuttle, eliminating the struggle of parking. Waterfront Realty is now taking reservations. These units are expected to sell out quickly, so if you are interested and qualified, don’t wait to reserve your opportunity today.
For more information, contact Tim Johnson by email to info@waterfrontrealty.com or by phone to 727-224-6856. To learn more about the company, visit waterfrontrealty.com. Learn more about the development atwaterfrontrealty.com/harbor-view.php
Local Dog Waste Removal Company Improves the Environment One Yard at a Time
Pet waste removal is a $3.5+ billion industry and growing. Kristin Carson the owner of ByByPoo.com, a pet waste disposal company, is celebrating a year of service. Ms. Carson started her company in July of 2019. 2020 has been a difficult time for businesses, especially one that offers what seems a luxury service. But Ms. Carson says cleaning up is not a luxury. “There are far reaching environmental implications to leaving dog waste around.”
PIE passenger counts rose to 141,561 in June as summer leisure travel increased. Although June 2020 is a 38% decrease in passengers from June 2019, it is a positive indicator compared to May’s 61% loss and April’s 97% loss.
“SunRunner” will be the first bus rapid transit system in Tampa Bay. The “SunRunner” is the name of the seafoam green bus that Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) revealed in July. PSTA has been in the working stages of its Central Avenue BRT project, a rapid transit connection between downtown St. Pete, through the city of South Pasadena to St. Pete Beach. The name “SunRunner” was chosen as the system connects the “Sunshine City” to St. Pete Beach, the “Sunset Capital of Florida”. PSTA CEO Brad Miller said the “SunRunner” “will act as a train of sorts,” with raised platforms that will allow people in wheelchairs, families with strollers and bike riders to easily hop on and off. Instead of paying upon boarding, riders will be able to pay on their phones or at the pay stations located at each stop. The buses will run every 15 minutes, taking passengers from downtown to the beach or vice versa in under 35 minutes.
TBARTA, the Tampa Bay Area Transit Authority, has meanwhile proposed that the BRT route from DTSP to SPB be the terminus of an extensive Bus Rapid Transit system that will connect New Tampa to Downtown Tampa, Tampa International Airport and Downtown St. Petersburg. The organization also recently considered adding air taxi between Tampa and St. Petersburg, utilizing an electric jet plane that can take off and land vertically and could make the run in 8 minutes.
Tampa Bay’s startup scene ranked among top 30 in the world
Tampa Bay is a startup hub, not only of Florida, but the southeast: Venture capital firms, unicorns and national tours have taken notice. Startup Genome, a top innovation policy advisory and research firm found Tampa Bay in the top 30. Tampa Bay drew high marks for market reach and
performance, a little lower on talent and funding. Orlando followed in the top 40s and Jacksonville ranked in the top 80s. Philadelphia was the top ranked U.S. city, coming in at No. 8 Other top 20 U.S. cities include:
No. 10 Research Triangle in North Carolina
No. 15 Portland
No. 17 Detroit
No. 19 Minneapolis
Two Tampa Bay Homes Selected as Finalists in HGTV’s Ultimate House Hunt
Tampa Bay Smith & Associates listings are finalists in the 2020 HGTV Ultimate House Hunt. The contest is one of the HGTV channel’s most popular contests, generating more than one million votes last year. A listing in Beach Park was selected for Curb Appeal. The home is is a Stucco, Italianate Home that features meticulously landscaped hedges and tall trees. Represented by the Pond/Gunning sales team at Smith who says the home is “a wonderful example of one of Beach Park’s original Mediterranean grandes dames built by a South Tampa prominent pioneer family in the 1920s”. Another home, a cheery Craftsman and Carriage house with a shingle roof, three porches, and landscape lighting, located in the Old Northeast neighborhood, is a finalist in the “Homes with a History” category.
ST PETE BEACH
The Corey Sunday Market first reopened with a pre-order and drive-by format. It has become a live, in person “essentials market” on Corey Ave. Sundays 10am-1pm. Organizers say they will likely continue through August, take September off and come back in October as usual. We were there right at 1 last Sunday and got some great buys on produce.
A Safe Spin on Taste of the Beaches, Friday, October 2nd – Sunday, October 4th, The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is bringing back the Taste of the Beaches in a new and safe way. This wildly popular event will have a new spin this year in the midst of COVID-19. This will not only allow locals and visitors to try local tastes from a variety of restaurants, but will also bring customers into our restaurants that are in need of support from our community.
Taste of the Beaches will take place the first weekend of October on Friday, October 3rd, Saturday, October 4th and Sunday, October 5th. Patrons will purchase tickets and then visit the participating restaurants of their choice. All weekend they have the opportunity to tour each restaurant and safely sit down with their friends or family. Each $30 tickets sold by the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce includes 3 tastes. The goal of this year’s Taste of the Beaches is to make locals and visitors feel comfortable, while introducing them to local flavors, specialty dishes and new restaurants. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to this year’s non-profit, Sea Turtle Trackers. Restaurants that would like to participate in this year’s Taste of the Beaches or for sponsorship contact: Amanda@tampabaybeaches.com
GULFPORT
The Gulfport Gabber, billed as Florida’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper has restarted print distribution that was interrupted in March with edition #2664. New issues, starting with #2665 dated July 9th – July 15th have been circulated, introducing the publication’s new owners, Gulfport residents Cathy Salustri and Barry Loper. In other news, Geckofest, Gulfport’s biggest party of the summer usually held Labor Day
weekend, has been cancelled for 2020.
ST PETERSBURG
Joe Furst, of Place Projects, is leading a zoning change campaign In the Warehouse Arts District. He has assembled 9 acres on 22nd St S. that he is seeking to rezone from a restrictive “IT” (Industrial Traditional), to a new zoning classification for the corridor called “Industrial Mixed-Use” or “I-MIX.” The change is intended to expand potential uses: providing for spaces with office and residential options that could cater to artisans, makers, breweries, and other local businesses. These users are already prevalent in the district, and proprietors are challenged by exiting zoning according to Furst.
St. Petersburg loves a grocery store, and a new concept called Yummy Europe is set to join the scene in late August.
The 1,200-square-foot store will feature a deluge of curious treats, proteins, and sweets for shoppers to indulge. Smoked meats, cheeses on the menu. They will be focusing on selling Eastern European goodies like smoked meats (sausages, bacon, salami, ham), cheeses, sweets, spices, snacks, pickled veggies, coffee, canned veggie spreads, international wine and beer. Yummy Europe, 1320 34th Street N.
Valkyrie Doughnuts is opening soon 2444 Central Ave (formerly Community Cafe). From Celine, the owner of Valhalla Bakery also in the Grand Central District.Miami has The Salty Donut, Chicago has Stan’s, Portland has Voodoo Doughnut (although I like Blue Star better) and New York City has a ton of doughnut shops, but my personal favorite is the Doughnut Plant. But where is St. Pete’s downtown doughnut shop? Celine Duvoisin, owner of Valhalla Bakery in the Grand Central District, and Steven Brinkman noticed a hole in the doughnut market too.
Valkyrie Doughnuts will offer 15 to 20 different flavors every day with selections like Choco-Lit, Double Choco-Lit, Blueberry French Toast, Strawberry Sprankle, Churro, and Dunkaroo. Flavors will change daily based on available seasonal ingredients. Expected prices are $3 for a single doughnut, $15 for a half dozen, and $28 for a dozen. Nugs will cost $5 for a cup (13 count), $10 for a box (30 count), and $29 for a party (100 count). Valkyrie Doughnuts will be located at 2444 Central Ave. Their hours will be 7am-3pm Wednesday & Thursday, 7am-7pm Friday – Sunday, and closed on Monday &Tuesday. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
The Grand Central District now has a Wild Child. A new restaurant and bar from the minds behind some of the most fun concepts in the Sunshine City. The Bends owner Matt Kaye and Chef Rob Reinsmith have big plans for the former NuMex restaurant space. Billed as a vibrant neighborhood bistro and cocktail bar, the menu will be fully formed by seasonal ingredients. Jerk Octopus with meyer lemon jam, pickled shallots and thai basil; Snapper Ceviche with watermelon, cucumber, avocado, serrano chiles and crispy plantain chips; Agave glazed lamb ribs with goat cheese and golden raisin-fennel relish and Fried Cauliflower with grapes and tahini-herb yogurt. Spicy Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich with kimchi aioli, shredded cabbage, dill pickles and brioche with hand cut fries; and our Veggie Burger with vegan american cheese, “special sauce”, caramelized onions, bibb lettuce and tomato on a vegan bun.” This veggie burger will be made with mushrooms, eggplant, celery, brown rice, chickpeas, cashews, and onion. Yes, this is music to my vegetarian ears.
St. Petersburg Bicycle-Friendly Businesses
Of the 45 Bike-Friendly Business (BFB), the League of American Bicyclists, ranked St. Petersburg ranking No. 3 in the nation! CONGRATULATIONS! Learn more online at, www.stpetegreenhouse.com/bicycle-friendly-business-program/.