Weekly Tidbits September 5, 2024

NEW TIDBITS:

• The August/September Issue is NOW online. Read it here.
• Medicare beneficiaries, their caregivers, and family members who have questions or  concerns about Medicare and related health insurance topics have a new place to turn. The Area  Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas County will be partnering with Gulfport Public Library to  provide Medicare counseling through the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders)  Program. On Wednesday, September 16th at 1:00 pm, specially trained volunteers of the SHINE  Program will begin offering Medicare presentations at Gulfport Public Library.  Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/free-medicare-counseling-september/.  
• Get ready to turn up the heat for the 24th Annual I Like It HOT! Festival on September 14 and 15.  This year’s event is going to be hotter than ever before.  The two- day family friendly event will take place at the Largo Event Center. This hot n’ spicy food show is painfully delicious, big on flavor and cooked up to be one of the hottest events of the season.  The festival is Saturday, September 14th & 15th.  Event admission and parking are free. Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/24th-i-like-it-hot/.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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:

• 2024 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday- August 24- September 6 INFO
• Gulfport’s First Friday Art Walk- September 6 INFO
• TradeWinds Eco Team’s Monthly Beach Cleanup with KPB- Sept 14 INFO
• St. Pete Beach Community Yard Sale- September 14 INFO
• I LIKE IT HOT! Festival- September 14-15 INFO
• Oktoberfest Weekend at Mastry’s Brewing Co- September 13-15 INFO
• South Pasadena Band FREE Concert- September 19 INFO
• Gulfport’s Third Saturday IndieFaire- September 21 INFO
• American Stage presents Ring of Fire- September 25- October 20 INFO
• Clearwater Latin Jazz Fest- September 27 INFO
• Clearwater Offshore Nationals- September 27-29 INFO
• Run for All Children- September 28 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/.
• The 2024 International Coastal Cleanup will take place from September 1st to October 31st at sites throughout Pinellas County. Keep Pinellas Beautiful has hosted this cleanup series in Pinellas County for 25+ years, joining other organizations and individuals from around the globe, to remove trash from the world’s beaches and waterways and help assess the presence of litter in our environment. If interested in hosting a site, please contact Megan Jackson, Program Coordinator, at mjackson@kpbcares.org. Find KPB’s upcoming events at https://www.kpbcares.org/upcoming-events.
• 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.
• 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.

August/Sept Issue