Weekly Tidbits September 14, 2023

NEW TIDBITS:

• CLICK HERE to see last week’s tidbits.
• The August/September Issue is NOW online. Read it here.
• If you need assistance with damage from Hurricane Idalia, contact the Home Cleanup Hotline at 800-451-1954.
• The 2nd Annual Madeira Beach Nautical Flea Market is set for Saturday & Sunday, September 16-17th. If it’s nautical, you’ll find it there – all types of boating equipment, fishing gear, nautical antiques and artwork, scuba gear, beach attire, boat shoes, jewelry, motors, anchors, tackle, hard to find parts and manufacturer close-outs! Learn more at https://madeirabeachfl.gov/.
• Join Gulfport Merchants along Beach Blvd on Saturday, September 30th 11am to 6pm for their 2nd Annual Oktoberfest- a celebration like no other. They have an exciting lineup of vendors offering delicious food, refreshing drinks, and unique crafts. The music will be pumping all day long, and there will be games and entertainment to keep the whole family entertained. Click here to learn more about this event on Facebook.
• Florida residents enjoy 50% off admission to Mote Aquarium every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) during the month of September. Simply reserve your tickets in advance online HERE and use the promo code HALF at checkout (make sure to hit the APPLY button). Be sure to bring your Florida ID to verify.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• International Coastal Cleanup with Tampa Bay Watch- September 16 REGISTER
• Madeira Beach 2nd Annual Nautical Flea Market- September 16-17 INFO
• The Florida Orchestra Jurassic Park in Concert– September 22-23 TICKETS
• ZooTampa’s Kids Fun Run- September 23 REGISTER
• Gulfport Merchant Chambers Oktoberfest- September 30 INFO
• Pass-a-Grille Party Under the Lights- October 7 INFO
• The Florida Orchestra Cirque Dances with Troupe Vertigo- October 7-8 TICKETS
• Taste of the Beaches- October 7-15 TICKETS
• Pass-a-Grille VW Beach Bash- October 14 INFO
• 57th Annual Madeira Beach Festival of Lights Holiday Boat Parade- December 9 INFO

REMINDERS

• The August/September 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.
• The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce has announced the highly anticipated dates for their Taste of the Beaches 2023. For the first time ever, this year’s culinary extravaganza will span over two weekends, starting with Kickoff on October 6th and running until October 15th, 2023. Stay tuned for more updates on participating restaurants and ticket sales at www.tampabaybeaches.com/taste.
• Season subscriptions are on sale now for St. Pete Opera’s 2023/24 season at https://stpeteopera.org/.
• The Protect St. Pete Beach PAC was relaunched in 2023. They envision St Pete Beach as a magnet for high-quality development and redevelopment projects that beautify the  community for the mutual benefit of residents and visitors alike, without increasing traffic, congestion, demands on infrastructure, or threatening wildlife and natural resources. To date, more than 1,000 residents have signed the petition. Learn more about their mission, values and upcoming events at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/opinion-protect-spb/.
• 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/.
• As Florida’s Coral Reef experienced record-breaking heat waves starting in July, with temperatures in adjacent backreef areas reaching temperatures above 100°F, Mote Marine Laboratory immediately began an unprecedented evacuation of thousands of stressed and dying coral from its four offshore coral nurseries. Read the full article at https://mote.org.
• Be among the first to step into the mesmerizing world of Salvador Dalí, as art comes to life like never before at Dalí 360° at The Dali, now open. Dalí Alive 360º Experience + Gallery Admission tickets include a timed showing of the Dalí Alive 360º Experience (+$15) and access to the permanent collection and art galleries, plus the cafe, store, community room and garden. CLICK HERE TO GET TICKETS.
• Register Now for ZooTampa’s Kids Fun Run on September 23rd. This kid-friendly event features three exciting races; a Diaper Dash and Toddler Trot, a 1K Fun Run for kids ages 4-7, and a 2K run for children ages 8-14. Don’t miss this unique event that encourages a healthy lifestyle while enjoying wildlife! Register now at https://zootampa.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/
• Florida Fish and Wildlife approved new restrictions for fishing on the Skyway Fishing Piers. Learn more at https://stpetecatalyst.com/fwc-approves-new-skyway-fishing-restrictions/.
• 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.
• It is illegal in Pinellas County to fertilize lawns during the rainy season (June 1-September 30), and slow-release products are required the rest of the year. Fertilizers containing nitrogen and/or phosphorus cannot be applied to lawns or landscape plants, according to Pinellas County ordinance. Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/skip-the-fertilizer/.
• Preserve the ‘Burg’s Twilights Tours return this summer! Reserve your spot for one of their upcoming tours now at https://ptb.wildapricot.org/.
• 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/.
• Join The Florida Orchestra as they bring the best of America and the world to Tampa Bay LIVE in our new 2023-24 season. Music Director Michael Francis is featuring Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue – celebrating 100 years! – Copland’s Appalachian Spring, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, Mahler’s epic Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” and many more. Full season and flexible series passes now available. Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/tfo-season-pass-2023/.
• 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.

October Issue