Gulfport residents, free smoke detectors are available for elderly and low-income households within Gulfport city limits. Call 727-893-1059. City of Gulfport residential water customers are eligible for a rebate of up to $100 after the purchase and installation of a high efficiency water-saving toilet. Restrictions apply. Application and guidelines are available at mygulfport.us/toilet-rebate-program. Alert Pinellas Emergency and Community Notification Service for Pinellas County enables the city to provide residents with critical information quickly in a variety of delivery methods. Visit mygulfport.us/alertpinellas for this free service. Get informed to be prepared at Gulfport’s Annual Hurricane Preparedness Seminar at the Catherine Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. at 6pm Thursday, May 25. This informative seminar is free and open to the public. Attendees can enjoy a slice of pizza and a drink for $3.
Seven Florida water parks made a splash with U.S. News & World Report reviewers. The website named these watery attractions in the Sunshine State as being among the top nation’s top 36 water parks for 2023. Included in that list is Adventure Island Tampa. “Within walking distance of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is the 30-acre Adventure Island water park, offering mat racing slides, corkscrews, a lazy river and more. In 2022 the park introduced two new rides: a multirider Rapids Racer and a Wahoo Remix family raft ride.”
Niche recently named Pinellas County #9 in the top 10 Florida counties to live with an overall grade of A; public schools B+, housing C+, nightlife A+, good for families A-, diversity B+ and jobs B-. Said the report card: “Pinellas County is one of the best places to live in Florida. In Pinellas County, most residents own their homes. In Pinellas County there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals and retirees live in Pinellas County and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Pinellas County are above average.” The Economist lists historian and USF St. Petersburg professor emeritus Gary Mormino’s latest nonfiction book as one of six to read about Florida! Dreams in the New Century: Instant Cities, Shattered Hopes, and Florida’s Turning Point depicts early 21st-century Florida and its connections to some of the most significant events in contemporary American history. Available at Tombolo Books and online.
In April, SPB’s Beach Memorial Chapel’s Jeff and Lisa kicked off their Cereal for Summer campaign to gather boxes of cereal for kids who count on schools to provide breakfast or lunch during the school year. Last year, Beach Memorial Chapel was third place for donations. You can drop off cereal boxes at 301 Corey Ave. during business hours.
Wedding and prom season is here and it’s time to get fitted for a tux or clean the one in your closet. St. Pete’s family-owned Sacino’s Formalwear “suits you” for all occasions. The local go-to since 1916 for suits, tuxes and drycleaning. Ron Sacino and his team provide 5-star customer service earning rave reviews and loyal customers. They offer dry cleaning with free pick-up and delivery to your home or office as well. Check them out at Sacino.com and SacinosCleaners.com.
Sea Dog Brewing Treasure Island thanked everyone who bought the Skyway 10K IPA and t-shirts in support of the 2023 Skyway 10K Race and The Armed Forces Families Foundation by presenting a $12,823 check to the members of the Armed Forces Families Foundation at a reception in late April, one of their many philanthropic efforts during the year.
Transportation alternatives from ferries to bike shares continue to make getting around carless easy. St. Pete Beach’s Freebee provides on-demand free taxi service around the island from 6am-midnight daily up and down Gulf Blvd. Use the app, flag one down or call 855-918-3733. The SunRunner Bus between St. Pete Beach and downtown St. Pete remains free of charge through November. Giving back to the community is important to Engel & Völkers St. Pete, who take on a monthly project such as Dog Beach cleanup at Fort Desoto Dog Beach and helping with oyster reef balls at MacDill AFB. Part of Tampa Bay Watch’s Community Oyster Reef Enhancement (CORE) program, the oyster reef ball program (formerly called “oyster domes”) uses reef balls to stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion while creating habitat similar to natural oyster communities found along shoreline areas throughout Tampa Bay.
The Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce has taken over the monthly “Gulfport Boulevard Block Party” as part of its ongoing efforts to promote local businesses and revitalize different areas of the city and plans to expand activities. The Block Party started Nov. 2021, organized by independent business owners along Gulfport Blvd. to attract visitors and residents with live music, food vendors and merchants. promoting it as a must-attend monthly gathering. Said Melissa Helmbold, president of the Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce: “Our aim is to highlight other areas of Gulfport in addition to Beach Blvd.and create more opportunities for local businesses to thrive. This event is an excellent platform to showcase the diverse offerings of our city and bring the community together.” Join in the fun May 27 11am-3pm; free street parking between 5317-5401 Gulfport Blvd. S.
Robin Nicholson as the new executive director of The James Museum. An imaginative strategic thinker, he has been at the forefront of re-envisioning the art museum model by maximizing exhibition planning, fundraising opportunities and public engagement initiatives and is committed to the future of art museums and cultural organizations as diverse, equitable and inclusive institutions. Nicholson is committed to examining issues of cultural appropriation, and the interaction of Western and Indigenous artistic visions in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and how The James Museum can serve as a platform to ensure Indigenous voices are heard and their stories are told.
Valor Preserve, is a new fully affordable development on Lake Seminole that will provide 64 apartment homes to people with disabilities, particularly for veterans, is now under construction in Seminole. Pinellas County officials joined developer Norstar Development USA, the Pinellas County Housing Authority and a host of other partners who are supporting the new apartments at a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, April 14.
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport hired aviation consultants C&S Companies for its $106 million terminal expansion including a second-floor boarding level and more airplane parking. The method of water treatment for Pinellas County and its wholesale customers will be temporarily modified between Monday, May 15, and Saturday, June 3. This routine maintenance measure is the first of two short-term changes from chloramine to chlorine disinfection in 2023 designed to optimize water quality. St. Pete Beach has improved and launched a new CivicClerk Public Portal with upgraded features, media and design, including better searchability and easier event upload.
Reimaging Tyrone Mall In April, Tyrone Square Mall and St. Petersburg Arts Alliance revealed a mural showcasing the power of art in public spaces. Called Ulele-The Spirit of St. Pete, local artist Brian McCallister created it to inspire dialogue and unite our community with art. This newest endeavor enhances the national respect for Pinellas County as an art and culture destination. The city of St. Petersburg is famous for the more than 600 murals which adorn its walls that started about a decade ago when city officials loosened a local ban on street art, instead embracing local artists and their vision of transforming St. Pete into a true arts destination. JBM Studios is the professional art studio of Brian McAllister, an international muralist, professional artist, and arts educator based in St. Pete, Florida. A life-long artist, Brian graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design with a degree in art and has been honing his craft ever since.
The freeFall Theatre Company Board of Trustees has named Craig Badinger the new executive director of freeFall Theatre Company. Badinger succeeds Executive Director Cheryl Forchilli, long-time patron and former freeFall Board President, who served in the role for several years. With more than a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising, Badinger began with Miami City Ballet and New York’s Martha Graham Dance Company before relocating to Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2016 and working with Sarasota’s Hermitage Artist Retreat. He first stepped into a leadership role in 2019 with Punta Gorda Symphony, then relocated to St. Petersburg where, for the past year, he had the good fortune to work with two other cornerstone institutions of this community, the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, and The Florida Orchestra.
American Stage has a new managing director, Anthony Winter-Brown, who succeeds former managing director CJ Zygadlo who left earlier this year. He moved to Florida from London after an 18-year career in the UK, most recently working as director of visitor experience at the Royal Albert Hall Concert Hall. With a background both in hospitality and theater, he’s a welcome addition from across the pond. “I have always loved live theater ever since I was a teenager,” says Winter-Brown.