The call for applicants for the Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA) Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships is open to qualified Tampa Bay area high school juniors and seniors. TBBCA annually awards six or more scholarships to students with exceptional talents in instrumental and vocal music, theater, dance, and visual and literary arts. All details are available here.
The city has published a full video showing each of the pitches from the four development teams that presented their proposals during a Jan. 4 public meeting at The Coliseum. The full video can be accessed here. People can submit their feedback regarding the proposals online or at a feedback pop-up station through Jan. 23.
Pinellas County government officials have recently invested significant time and money into increasing the quality of life for unincorporated Lealman residents. They are now looking for some civilian assistance, and applications for one appointment to the Citizen Advisory Committee for the Lealman Community Redevelopment area are now open. The three-year term expires Dec. 31, 2025, and the county will accept applications until 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. The advisory committee assists the Pinellas Community Redevelopment Agency on issues and policies impacting Lealman. For more information, visit the website here.
No Kid Hungry Florida recently awarded the St. Pete Free Clinic a grant to help the local organization feed more children and families. Sky Beard, director of the state’s No Kid Hungry affiliate, told WFTS that one in six children live in homes considered food insecure. The extra funding will reportedly allow the St. Pete Free Clinic to assist 10,000 children and 1,200 families monthly through its Fresh Sprouts Program.
Pinellas County residents can help the Homeless Leadership Alliance secure vital funding by volunteering to participate in the “Point in Time Count and Survey.” The annual national event provides a snapshot of those experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in the county, according to the release. Volunteers will survey individuals and families at various locations, such as meal sites and bus stops. Program officials will send the collected data to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Florida Department of Children and Families to help secure over $5 million in funding. For more information, visit the website here.
This week, the St. Petersburg Development Review Commission approved Stoneweg's plans to redevelop to Coquina Key Plaza. The plans entail building 465 residential units with at least 20% dedicated for workforce housing to households earning 80-120% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The plans also entail constructing 20,817 square feet of commercial space. The applicant was requesting two design variances - to locate the buildings off the setback line and locate parking in-front of the commercial buildings. Many residents have opposed the project, largely regarding how the project will not be able to attract and accommodate a large grocer, which has been expressed as a dire need by the community. The city council approved the project last year.
The towering flamingo art installation at the Tampa International Airport has a name. The airport announced on social media that after receiving over 65,000 entries in its name the flamingo contest, the flamingo will be named Phoebe, a play on the scientific name of a flamingo. The winner is Brian M. The airport received 35,000 votes regarding the three potential names.
Concert performers have been announced for Busch Gardens' 2023 Food and Wine Festival, beginning March 10. The lineup, with more to be announced: Mar. 11: Kansas; Mar. 12: Maddie & Tae; Mar. 18: SWV; Mar. 19: Dustin Lynch; Mar. 25; Rodney Atkins; Mar. 26: Flo Rida; Apr. 2: MacKenzie Porter; Apr. 8: +Live+; Apr. 9: The Fab Four; Apr. 15: .38 Special; Apr. 29: Hoobastank. Information on the Food Wine Festival is here.
Embarc Collective, a co-working and startup incubator in Tampa, has received a $20,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to go toward Embarc's efforts to prevent burnout and promote mental well-being for their members. The grant "will enable Embarc Collective to launch CEO Peer Groups, which are close-knit communities of startup CEOs at the same stage of startup building who will keep each other accountable and help to navigate business challenges under a common ethos of accountability, trust and candor," according to Embarc's announcement.
Councilmembers Brandi Gabbard and Deborah Figgs-Sanders swore in as the St. Petersburg City Council chair and vice chair, respectively, during the first meeting of the new year. The Honorable Judge Steve D. Berlin administered the oath of office to the new council leaders Thursday morning. Councilmember Gina Driscoll served as the chairperson through 2022, while Figg-Sanders assumed Gabbard’s previous role. Gabbard thanked her colleagues for expressing their confidence in her and said she and Figgs-Sanders will “make a fantastic team leading this council into what’s really a fresh start.”
The USL Championship revealed the home openers for the league’s 24 clubs Wednesday, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies will open the 2023 season at Al Lang Stadium. The match takes place Saturday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m. against the Indy Eleven. The Rowdies hosted Indy in last year’s opener and walked away with a 2-0 win. Tampa Bay will face the Eastern Conference foe in Indianapolis later in the season as part of the USL’s new 34-match balanced schedule format.
Ridgway, the baby bottlenose dolphin freed from crab trap lines on Clearwater Beach last July, is adjusting well at SeaWorld Orlando, where he has lived since his rescue. The recovery team reports that Ridgway, who can never be re-introduced into the wild, has gained 40 pounds in five months, and now has all of his teeth. Most significantly, the dolphin has been moved to the dolphin nursery pool in the park, "which is a major milestone in his recovery," according to report from the team. "During this next stage, Ridgway will be able to socialize with other dolphins where he can pair up and bond with adult females and play with other calves close to his age." The Catalyst visited Ridgway and his SeaWorld caretakers in October. Read that story here.
