Weekly Tidbits October 19, 2023

NEW TIDBITS:

• CLICK HERE to see last week’s tidbits.
• The October Issue is NOW online. Read it here.
• The 3rd Annual Run For the Beaches 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk is set for Saturday, December 2nd at Thunderbird Beach Resort. Run for the Beaches benefits Treasure Island’s beaches dune restoration and the replenishment of sea oats washed away by Hurricane Idalia. Register now at https://runforthebeaches.raceroster.com/.
• Sponsor Florida Botanical Gardens Holiday Lights in the Garden! Holiday Lights in the Gardens is FLBG’s largest annual fundraiser and this year will run from Friday, November 24th through Sunday, December 31st 5:30-9:30pm nightly. The proceeds from your sponsorship and from the event will benefit FLBG’s new Majeed Discovery Garden (MDG) for children. For more on this special opportunity, see their sponsorship brochure at https://tinyurl.com/HLsponsorship2023. 
• Returning for it’s 25th year, Southwest Florida’s premier architectural home tour, Bunglaowfest 2023 is set for Saturday, November 4th 10am-4pm!  This year’s exciting experience explores architectural diversity and showcases 10 homes spotlighting this Historic Kenwood Neighborhood’s urban rebirth and the phenomenon of living large in small spaces. Get tickets ($25) at https://www.historickenwood.org/.
• Free Bikes 4 Kidz Executive Director Randy Hallier says that more than 600 bikes were refurbished and given with helmets to kids in need last year. The program was so successful FB4K Tampa Bay is hosting two more donation events in October in collaboration with St. Petersburg Parks & Recreations on October 28 from 10am-3pm. If you have a gently used non-electric pedal bike that’s functional, please bring it to J.W. Cates and Lake Vista Rec Centers. Learn more at paradisenewsfl.com/free-bikes-4-kidz-tampa-bay/.
• Donations to MOTE Marine Lab & Aquarium made before Oct. 25, 2023 will have double the impact— your donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $75,000. CLICK HERE to have your donation matched dollar for dollar this October.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• E.T. at Movies in the Park- October 19 INFO
• Florida Botanical Gardens Pumpkinfest 2023- October 21 INFO
• Liquid to Land: Discover St. Pete’s Waterfront History Boat Tour- October 21 TICKETS
• Local Author Carol J Perry Book Signing at Gulf Beaches Library- October 21 BOOK NOOK
• The Addams Family at Movies in the Park- October 26 INFO
• Pass-a-Grille Halloween Golf Cart Parade- October 28
• Majeed Discovery Garden for Kids Grand Opening at FLBG- November 4 INFO
• Savor St. Pete Food & Wine Festival- November 4-5 TICKETS
• Florida West Coast Orchid Society Plant Sale at FLBG- November 11 INFO
• Sanding Ovations- November 16-19th INFO
• Holiday Lights in the Garden- November 24- December 31 INFO
• St. Pete Beach Holiday Lighted Boat Parade & Tree Lighting- December 1 INFO
• 57th Annual Madeira Beach Festival of Lights Holiday Boat Parade- December 9 INFO
• Florida Botanical Gardens Gift & Plant Sale- December 9-10 INFO

REMINDERS

• The October Issue is NOW online. Read it here. 
• Reach snowbirds, locals & tourists in 2023 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 the NEW Rays Stadium at https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/tampabayrays/heretostay.
• Following the decision of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) Board of Directors, the SunRunner began collecting fares Sunday, October 1st. The Board voted to institute full fares at the August 23rd Board meeting.  A one-way ticket will cost $2.25, while an all-day pass will be available for $5. Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/sunrunner-starts-fares/.
• If you love St. Pete history and want to help share it, St. Petersburg Museum of History has the position for you! The Museum is currently seeking tour guides, docents and volunteers. Tour guides are needed for trolley and walking tours, docents will showcase our gallery exhibits and volunteers are needed in customer service, marketing and archives/collections. For more information, call Cameron Lemery at 727-894-1052, ext. 200 or email cameron@spmoh.org.
• The eagerly awaited Indian Shores Sunday Morning Market is gearing up to welcome residents and visitors alike for its 2023-2024 Season on Sunday, November 5th. The Indian Shores Sunday Morning Market, a beloved community event, will run every Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM, weather permitting at the Town of Indian Shores Municipal Center. On every third Sunday, the Town of Indian Shores Library joins the market with its monthly Library Book Sale. Learn more about the market at https://www.thebeachmarkets.com/.
• The Madeira Beach Fitness Center is now accessible to Madeira Beach residents. Learn more about how you can access the Fitness Center at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/madeira-beach-fitness-center/.
• The St. Petersburg Museum of History is proud to introduce the Museum’s new premier membership — the Benoist Society. The Benoist Society honors the airboat designed by Thomas Benoist that made aviation history in St. Petersburg. Click here to learn more.
• In honor of the rich cultural tapestry woven by Hispanic and Latinx communities, WADA extends a warm invitation to join them in commemorating National Hispanic Heritage Month. Learn more about what events they have planned for October at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/celebrating-national-hispanic-heritage-month-with-wada/.
• Season subscriptions are on sale now for St. Pete Opera’s 2023/24 season at https://stpeteopera.org/.
• Preserve the ‘Burg’s Saturday walking tours of downtown, Mirror Lake and more return this September. See their schedule and reserve a spot at https://ptb.wildapricot.org/.
• Clothes To Kids inventory on shoes is extremely low.  Sadly, they are out of many sizes starting at children size 12 all the way up to adult size 13 girls, boys, juniors, and young men.  Clothes to Kids asks that go through your closets and donate gently used shoes or purchase a pair or two and donate to Clothes To Kids.  All children deserve to have shoes that fit them.  Learn more about Clothes to Kids & how you can donate at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/ctk-needs-shoes/
• 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.
• St. Pete Beach Launches Pedestrian Safety Campaign: S.A.F.E. Safety Awareness For Everyone.  Visitors to our beaches expect Gulf Boulevard to be a lazy beach road rather than a state thoroughfare. Four to five lanes of traffic moving at 35 miles/hour has meant injury and even death to more visitors than anyone likes to see. Learn more in our April Tidbits at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/tidbits-april-2023/.
• Sea turtle nesting season takes place from May 1-Oct. 31 on Southwest Florida beaches. See the tips below for how you can help keeping nesting seaturtles & hatchlings safe. See the dos & don’ts for when you are on the beach or in the water at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/sea-turtle-dos-and-donts/.
• 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