Weekly Tidbits August 22, 2024

NEW TIDBITS:

• The August/September Issue is NOW online. Read it here.
• Peak hurricane season is here. In Florida, most tropical storms and hurricanes happening between mid-August and mid-October. As we dry out from Debby, it is a great time to review your preparedness plan. What worked and what do you need to revise for any future storms? Check our hurricane preparedness feature from our June/July issue for tips on how you can prepare for Pinellas’s next big storm at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/2024-hurricane-prep/. If you need more supplies for your hurricane kit, our next  Florida Disaster Preparedness Tax Holiday of the year is set for August 24 to September 6.
• Congratulations to the City of St. Petersburg on landing the #2 spot on TripAdvisors list of Trending Destinations in the US. See the full list HERE.
• The 43rd Annual John’s Pass Seafood Festival set for January 17-19th is now accepting applications for vendors. For more information visit JohnsPassSeafoodFestival.net.
• Join the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce for breakfast on Friday, August 9th at Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key. Attendees can meet decision makers in our county and get inside information on decisions that impact our communities and our businesses. Meet the Candidates, where you will have the opportunity to connect with several dynamic leaders running for Office. $40/person. Get tickets at https://www.tampabaybeaches.com/.
• Join Old Salts and Madeira Beach Municipal Marina to clean Madeira Beach waterways and
  WIN prizes at the Madeira Beach Amphibious Trash Round-up on September 7th! FREE lunch! People can participate from either boat or land. Click here to learn more.
• The Gulfport Florida Pride festival surpassed all expectations this year, successfully raising $10,000 for two local nonprofits. The funds will be equally divided between the Sonia Plotnick Women’s Health Fund and the Gulfport Kiwanis Club. Learn more about the local charities at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/gulfport-pride-2024-success/.
• Join Tampa Bay Watch for their 29th Annual Great Bay Scallop Search on August 24th! They’re calling all snorkelers, boaters, and kayakers to help us monitor the health of the bay scallop population. By tracking these elusive creatures, TBW gains valuable insights into the effectiveness of their conservation efforts & promote environmental stewardship. Learn more & register at https://tampabaywatch.org/scallop-search/.
• Let us know what you are thinking about what is happening on our local beaches and St. Petersburg by submitting a Letter to the Editor at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/letter/. Letters will be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue of Paradise News.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• 10th Anniversary Monte Carlo Casino Night- August 24 TICKETS
• 13th Annual Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest- August 24 INFO
• DFAC’s Wearable Art Fashion Show- August 24 INFO
• Madeira Beach Burger Week- August 24-30 INFO
• 2024 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday- August 24- September 6 INFO
• GECKOFEST- August 31 INFO
• Guflport’s First Friday Art Walk- September 6 INFO
• TradeWinds Eco Team’s Monthly Beach Cleanup with KPB- Sept 14 INFO

FIND EVENT MORE SUMMER EVENTS AT https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/summer-2024/.

REMINDERS

• The August/September Issue is NOW online. Read it here. 
• Reach snowbirds, locals & tourists in 2024 with a print ad in Paradise News!  Email Peter Roos at sales@ParadiseNewsFL.com to place your ads in Paradise News in Print. 
• Pinellas County Sheriffs Offices wants you to please lock your car doors and stow valuables out of sight.
• CLICK HERE to signup for ALERT PINELLAS to get vital updates during hurricane season.
• Coyotes call Pinellas County home too! CLICK HERE for safety tips for you & your pets.
• Learn more about boating safety and how you can take a course in Pinellas County at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/safe-boating/.
• Known for bigger than life gourmet burgers and their Gulf Boulevard location in St. Pete Beach, Boulevard Burgers & Tap House is a family-friendly local restaurant. On Wednesdays, kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree. Boulevard Burgers & Tap House is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. See more of their specials at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/kids-boulevard-burgers/.
• Get ready to indulge in a culinary extravaganza like no other at the SAVOR St. Pete Food & Wine Festival! This spectacular event is a feast for the senses, featuring top-notch cuisine, exquisite wines, flavorful craft beers, and luxurious spirits. Mark your calendars for a weekend of delectable delights on Saturday, November 2nd, and Sunday, November 3rd, 2024. Get tickets now at https://bit.ly/3W8t9fJ.
• LocalShops1 is in the process of booking entertainment to perform at the annual community festival that will take place on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 from 10 am to 5 pm at Vinoy Park.  Entertainment groups and performers who are interested need to be based in the Tampa Bay area and family-friendly. Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/shopapalooza-2024-performers/.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest Pinellas County news by signing up for their new monthly newsletter- The Wave. From beach restoration to countywide road construction, The Wave will the most important news from Pinellas County Government to your inbox each month. Sign up now at https://pinellas.gov/the-wave.
• Fertilizer restrictions are now in effect for Pinellas County. No nitrogen or phosphorous may be applied to turfgrass or landscape from June 1 to September 30. Learn more at https://pinellas.gov/pinellas-county-fertilizer-ordinance/.
• Join the St. Pete Beach Dune Savers Friday mornings this spring to help preserve local sand dunes. Volunteers are welcome to join to help every Friday 8:30-9:30AM. Locations vary by week. Volunteers will also about native species and how you can help preserve our precious dunes by removing invasive plants. For more information email Deb Rothenburger at d2bvr@aol.comm or Ayako Ruckdeschel at aruckdeschel@stpetebeach.org.
• The Madeira beach social club is an active senior group located in Madeira Beach, Florida. Their club provides a wonderful opportunity for seniors to socialize, participate in various activities, and build lasting friendships within our community. Click here to learn more.
• The City of Gulfport Senior Center’s Telephone Reassurance Program is a free service for Gulfport Residents 50 years of age or older. Volunteers provide daily phone calls to registered members and provide comfort, security, and peace of mind to members and families. Registration is simple and free. If you or someone you know could benefit from this service during this difficult time, please call (727) 893-2237 and register today.
• Reminder to our residents and visitors. No Dogs On The Beach! If you see something, say something. Contact Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency Line at 727-582-6200.
• Connect with the City of Gulfport through their app! CLICK HERE to learn more and download it.
• The City of St. Pete Beach is now using See Click Fix for residents to submit issues to the city. Click here to learn more.

December Issue