Local Tidbits July 1, 2021

Happy 4th of July!

July Astrology Forecast by Sarah Lyons

Happy Birthday, America! The last month’s energy is clearing out and closing down and summer is underway. The New Moon in Cancer on the 9th begins the lunar cycle this month. This sign is concerned with home and family matters, is sensitive and emotional, and needs security. It offers a creative and transformative influence to start new paths in these areas. Communication planet Mercury visits Cancer on the 11th and we are more intuitive and receptive mentally. We are good listeners but may be quite touchy and easily swayed by our emotions in decision making. Click here for your sign.

Florida Freedom Tax Holiday

From Thursday, July 1 – Wednesday, July 7, residents can purchase a wide variety of event tickets, movie and museum admissions, as well as equipment for outdoor activities, etc., without having to pay sales tax.The Florida State Legislature has created Freedom Week as a way to help support its arts, live entertainment, culture, sports and hobby industries, many of which were hit hard financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for all the details.

Become a Bird Steward!

A very busy 4th of July weekend for nesting birds is right around the corner. Beach nesting birds rely on people like you to make it through nesting season. Being a steward includes monitoring nesting sites, collecting data, and making connections with the public. Education is one of the most effective tools we have to protect birds and inspire others! Click here to learn how you can be come a bird steward.

4th of July Weekend Travel Tips

St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is happy to see so many passengers returning to PIE and wants to emphasize that patience is greatly appreciated as many of their businesses are doing their best to keep up with increased demand for air travel. Along with their many tourism partners, their businesses are hiring and training more staff to provide you with the best travel experience.

CLICK HERE to see PIE’s tips to help make your travel easy as pie this holiday weekend!

Red Tide Update from June 23, 2021

A patchy bloom of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists on the Florida Gulf Coast. Over the past week, K. brevis was detected in 79 samples, with bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) observed in one sample from Pasco County, 11 samples from Pinellas County, three samples from Hillsborough County, seven samples from Manatee County, and one sample from Charlotte County.

Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/red-tide-6-23/.

NEW TIDBITS:

CLICK HERE to see last week’s tidbits.
The June/July Issue is NOW online. Read it here.
CLICK HERE to signup for ALERT PINELLAS to get vital updates during hurricane season.
Gecko Ball and Gecko Crawl tickets go on sale July 4. Get ‘em in Gulfport at the Gulfport Beach Bazaar or at http://visitgulfportflorida.com/purchase-tickets/.
The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is celebrating the opening of their environmental education center this Saturday July 3rd. Click here to learn more.
Run your FOUR ON THE FOURTH at the St Pete Pier! Click here to sign up now for Run St. Pete’s Inaugural Pier Run on July 4th.
The next time you’re near the Don Vista building, make sure to look for the newly installed bike rack. Created by local artist William Colemen with the input and direction from Mariah Kaylor, Recreation Leader II, this bike rack features black skimmers and the beautiful teal blue of our Gulf waters.
The Woman Who Broke Boundaries: Photographer Lee Miller exhibit is set to open at the The Dali on Saturday, July 3rd. The exhibit surveys the work of photographer Lee Miller, who is known for her fascinating personal life and remarkably incisive portraiture and photojournalism. Click here to learn more.
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County (DOH-Pinellas) is again offering its annual Back to School Clinics from June 28 to August 10 at four of local clinics. Click here to learn more.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Florida Freedom Week Tax Holiday- July 1-7 INFO
Independence Day- July 4th EVENTS
Inaugural St. Pete Pier Run- July 4 REGISTER
Madeira Beach Trash Pirates Clean Up- July 5 INFO
Happy Hour with the Historian- July 8 TICKETS
NEW Latin Jazz Fest- July 9-11 TICKETS
Tampa Bay Watch Mid-Summer Cleanup- July 10 REGISTER
Woodie’s Wash Shack Grand Opening- July 10 INFO
Gecko Art Show- August 6 INFO
Gecko Pub Crawl & Poker Run- August 14 INFO
GeckoBall- August 28 INFO
20th Anniversary Geckofest- September 4 INFO

REMINDERS

The June/July Issue is NOW online. Read it here.
Reach customers this summer with our 2 month ads 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.
Coyotes call Pinellas County home too! CLICK HERE for safety tips for you & your pets.
TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE to Zubrick Magic Theatre in St. Petersburg!
Get your tickets before they disappear at https://bit.ly/3iFlli6.
Want to know what you can expect at this year’s GeckoBall? Click here to find out.
This summer St. Petersburg Jazz Festival has a NEW festival called the Latin Jazz Fest on July 9-11, 2021 at the Palladium Theater! Visit www.stpetejazzfest.com/ to see who they have lined up and how you can get tickets.v
The WINNERS of this year’s Best of St. Pete/Clearwater are out! See who won the top spots now at https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/best-of-winners.
South Pasadena Locals Can Use SPB Library! Upon payment of $25 at South Pasadena City Hall, residents may immediately take a voucher to the St. Pete Beach Public Library to get their library card (or renew an existing card). While residents may only take their voucher to the St. Pete Beach Library, library cards may then be used at any library in the Pinellas County Library Cooperative.
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.
The City of St. Pete Beach shared a friendly reminder this week that individuals who take their dog(s) on the beach, one may be fined $118 per City of St. Pete Beach Code of Ordinances.
As a Blue Star Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete is showing their appreciation to military families by offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, starting this Saturday, May 15 through Labor Day, Sept. 6. Click here to learn more.
Clothes to Kids needs donations! Learn how you can help here.