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Thieves target Youth Farm’s Halloween decorations

The St. Pete Youth farm is now out of several lights, decorations and food after thieves recently took the items less than a week before its “Farm-O-Ween” event. Carla Bristol, the farm’s collaboration manager, wrote that someone stole 16 solar lights, decorative tombstones, a mummy, three packs of chicken and “countless other items” on social media Sunday. Bristol said that if anyone would like to donate new or used Halloween décor, “it would be greatly appreciated.” The Youth Farm’s event is Saturday, Oct. 29, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., at 1664 12th Street S. It will feature a haunted greenhouse, costume contest, scavenger hunt, food and music. All ages are welcome, and for more information, visit the website here.

Pinellas leads job growth in finance and information sectors

The monthly data release from the state, released Oct. 21, shows the CareerSource Pinellas County region had a low unemployment rate of 2.4%, which is 1.1 percentage points lower than the area's rate a year ago. The data report also showed the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro had the highest annual job growth compared to all the metro areas in the state in the financial activities (with over 6,500 jobs) and the information sector (with over 1,000 jobs). The other industries gaining jobs over the year were leisure and hospitality (+18,100 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (+15,400 jobs); education and health services (+13,400 jobs); professional and business services (+4,600 jobs); manufacturing (+2,500 jobs); and mining, logging and construction (+1,400 jobs). 

The Florida Orchestra reschedules Perlman concert

The Florida Orchestra has rescheduled the concert featuring iconic violinist Itzhak Perlman, originally set for Oct. 1 but postponed because of Hurricane Ian. The new date is Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the Mahaffey Theater. The 8 p.m. performance will benefit TFO’s music and education programs. All tickets for the earlier date will be honored; additional tickets are available here

Hooper wins Year Up Tampa Bay pitch competition

Five teams competed at Thrive DTSP Oct. 21 in a Year Up pitch competition. Local judges, including Thrive's Brooke Beeler and CodeBoxx's Kim Vogel scored the teams and gave feedback on the performances. Hooper, a networked basketball app presented by Yaseen Ayoub and Najah Gibbs, took home the top honors, and a gift certificate. Year Up provides tuition-free job training programs, access to today's best companies and a proven path to career success. 

Rehab hospital to be built in St. Pete

Alabama-based Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC), the largest owner of rehab hospitals in the U.S., is planning to build a freestanding, 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital near the intersection of Tyrone Boulevard North and 9th Avenue North. The Friday announcement states the 50-bed rehab hospital will serve patients recovering from strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. In addition to 24‑hour nursing care, this hospital will offer physical, occupational and speech therapies, and will have a therapy gym and courtyard. The announcement didn't include details on an opening date. 

St. Pete Santa Parade details announced

The City of St. Petersburg and the Parks and Recreation Department are kicking off the holiday season with the annual illuminated Santa Parade Saturday, Nov. 26, at 6:30 p.m. The parade travels along the downtown waterfront and culminates with the annual tree-lighting ceremony at North Straub Park. Mayor Ken Welch will light up the area from the park, at 480 Bayshore Dr. SE. Organizations can still register to participate at the holiday event website here.

Applications open for parks and conservation board

Pinellas County officials are accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Parks & Conservation Resources Advisory Board. Commission Chair Charlie Justice will make the appointment. The term begins Nov. 4 and lasts a year, and members receive no compensation. The board advises commissioners, the county administrator and the relevant department regarding park plans operations and procedures. Members also participate in public education and ceremonies. The deadline to apply is Monday, Nov. 7, at 3 p.m. For more information and applications, visit the website here.

Reggae Rise Up’s 2023 St. Pete lineup

Popular music festival Reggae Rise Up returns to Vinoy Park on St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront March 16-19, 2023. Organizers announced the lineup for the four-day event Friday. The concert kicks off Thursday, March 16, with 311 and Dispatch headlining and two opening acts. Rebelution and Sublime with Rome close the first full show Friday, March 17. Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Koffee headline the Saturday, March 18, lineup. The festival ends with Wiz Khalifa and Dirty Heads Sunday, March 19. For more information on Reggae Rise Up Florida, visit the website here.

TGH, USF advance medical research in Water Street

Tampa General Hospital and USF Health are opening of the TGH | USF Health Precision Medicine Biorepository. The Health Precision Medicine Biorepository is a secure facility that collects, catalogs and stores samples of biological material for medical research, according to TGH and USF's joint announcement. “The biorepository will drive leading-edge scientific collaboration with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine that offers new advanced technology and innovative care to our patients. The addition of the biorepository further elevates our cancer institute program as a key anchor in the Tampa Medical and Research District that will continue to attract renowned physicians and tech partners,” TGH CEO and President John Couris said in the Friday news release. The facility is located at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute in Water Street. Biorepositories can help make medical breakthroughs by the sharing of data for cancer tumor sequencing – learning the exact order of chemical building blocks that make up a tumor’s DNA and result in the formation of tumors. Additionally, it can also be used for pharmacogenomics, the study of how gene mutations and patient DNA can affect the way a patient responds to medications, including cancer therapies, the release read. 

Container corp. secures 600,000-square-foot Tampa warehouse

Florida’s second largest industrial transaction year-to-date has just close and it's for a warehouse in Tampa. The Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp has secured a lease for a 599,976-square-foot warehouse for their distribution needs. The sustainable packaging provider will exclusively lease the Tampa Commerce Center in the submarket, according to the company's announcement. The new facility is approximately 10 miles northeast of downtown and in close to its existing manufacturing plant.

Airline adds Tampa-to-Wilmington flights

Avelo Airlines is launching flights from Tampa International Airport to Wilmington, Delaware starting Feb. 2. Avelo Airlines, founded in 2021, will provide the nonstop connections Thursdays and Sundays. Avelo currently connections from Tampa to Lexington, Kentucky and New Haven. 

Rowdies’ championship chase begins Saturday

The Tampa Bay Rowdies begin their USL Eastern Conference title defense Saturday night when they host the Miami FC in a division quarterfinal match. The Rowdies (20-7-7) finished the regular season with three straight wins and sit in third place in the east. Miami (15-10-9) is the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium, and the Rowdies will welcome back a familiar face for their championship run. Raiko Arozarena, whose brother Randy plays for the Tampa Bay Rays, is returning to Tampa Bay after the team loaned him to the USL League One club Forward Madison FC. Arozarena recorded 36 saves and four shutouts in 16 appearances for Madison. For tickets, visit the website here.

The St. Pete Catalyst

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