Two Tampa Bay homes are finalists in HGTV's annual "Ultimate House Hunt” promotion in the “Downtown Dwellings” category. The month-long online competition allows people to vote on their favorite homes for sale. Among the finalists is a condominium in One St. Petersburg at 100 1st Ave. N., and a unit in The Residences at the Tampa Edition at 1000 Water St. To vote, visit the website here.
A new yoga studio has opened at 131 22nd St. S., across from 3 Daughters Brewing. The new studio, dubbed Beach Town Yoga, will have a grand opening celebration this Saturday, July 8, inside the 2,132-square-foot warehouse. The yoga classes are funded through donations from participants.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch will proclaim July as Bebe Moore Campbell National BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Mental Health Awareness Month in the city. The declaration aligns with a national movement to increase awareness, promote understanding and provide support for mental health issues among minority populations. The Miller Auditorium at Eckerd College will host a presentation at 9 a.m. Friday, July 7. To register, visit the website here.
According to a June audit, Pinellas County's debt per capita remains well below six comparable county governments across the state, "continuing a long-term trend." County officials have no general fund debt, which Clerk of Court and Comptroller Ken Burke called a rarity in Florida. The independent audit showed that Pinellas also has "healthy reserves."
The 40th Avenue Bridge, which replaced the previous bridge and connects the neighborhoods of Northeast Park and Shore Acres in St. Petersburg, is now open to traffic, according to a Wednesday LinkedIn post from the Orion Marine Group. "This historic structure, which has been the center of community discussions since August 2017, revealed hidden structural issues that required immediate emergency repairs and subsequent closure. As the repair process unfolded, further deterioration was uncovered, prompting city officials to determine the need for an entirely new bridge," according to the project description. The bridge replacement design focused on three key factors: user safety, accessibility and aesthetics.
Construction to expand an ambulance bay at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg has commenced and will impact eastbound traffic patterns on 6th Avenue South through September. The announcement states that westbound lanes will remain unaffected. The project will widen the ambulance bay to better accommodate emergency service volumes and improve patient safety, and officials expect the work to complete next summer.
Tampa Bay Rays pitching ace Shane McClanahan was named to the 2023 American League All-Star roster Sunday, his second straight selection. He joins first baseman Yandy Diaz and left fielder Randy Arozarena, who were named starters Thursday. However, the team placed McClanahan on the 15-day Injured List Saturday due to a mid-back tightness. While he won’t be able to play in the July 11 Mid-Summer Classic, Major League Baseball officials announced that Arozarena would participate in the home run derby.
The St. Pete Catalyst staff will enjoy the Fourth of July holiday with their families; the Catalyst will resume publication Wednesday, July 5.
The South St. Pete CRA’s (community redevelopment area) popular Rebates for Affordable Residential Rehabs program is now available to residents citywide. Officials expanded the program to provide more homeowners the opportunity to receive rebates for structural repairs, electrical work, constructing an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and other renovations to increase the quality and supply of affordable housing. For more information, visit the website here.
The St. Petersburg-based Poynter Institute is awarding CNN anchor and CBS News correspondent Anderson Cooper with its Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism. Cooper will accept the award at the institute’s annual Bowtie Ball fundraiser Nov. 18 at the J.W. Marriott Water Street in Tampa. Past honorees include Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric and Lester Holt.
The historic waterfront Rutland-Farley estate at 5050 Sunrise Drive in St. Petersburg will be demolished, according to an estate sales website. A described "demolition and estate sale" is taking place this weekend, starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday. The items listed for sale include the home's oriental rugs, iron entrance gates, chandeliers, a George Streak baby grand piano, a pizza oven, solar panels, and two large cabinets that are part of the original 1918 house, among other furnishings and fixtures. The listing comes after Louis Miele purchased the 4.41-acre property in an $8.1 million all-cash deal two months ago. The Tampa Bay Times reported that Miele and his wife wanted to preserve the home, but they discovered significant issues, including mold and termite damage.
