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Preservation grant will help secure historic Williams House

University of South Florida St. Petersburg officials announced Wednesday that the John C. Williams house will undergo significant renovations and upgrades over the next two years. The university received a $280,640 matching grant from the Florida Division of Historical Resources. The $561,280 in total funding will help ensure the house, located on the USFSP campus, is more resilient to major storms. Built in 1891 by General John C. Williams, one of St. Petersburg’s founders, the Williams House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It was moved to 511 2nd Street South in 1997 and has been a campus landmark ever since. Upgrades will include bolstering the foundation, a new roof, hurricane panels and various other repairs. According to the release, wood is rotting in the house and its foundation is shifting.

Rocktoberfest coming to Williams Park

Rocktoberfest, a three-day food and cultural event from Paragon Festivals and Big Storm Brewing, will take over Williams Park Park Oct. 28-30. Along with German food for sale, and a marketplace featuring artisans and vendors, area bands will perform. Tickets for the pet-friendly festival are $5 Friday, $7 Saturday and $5 Sunday. Details and tickets can be found here.    

UPC estimates $1B hurricane-related losses

St. Petersburg-based United Insurance Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: UIHC), doing business as UPC, reported it has received approximately 19,000 claims to date and estimates it will receive 27,000 to 30,000 claims in total with a gross estimated loss of $1 billion. "Hurricane Ian was a devastating storm, and our primary focus today is on servicing our policyholders. There is a very high degree of uncertainty regarding the long-term economic implications of this event for our company, and the entire industry. The company will be working closely with its reinsurers, service providers, and other key stakeholders to adjudicate losses accurately and timely,” CFO and President Brad Martz said in a release. Mark Friedlander, Insurance Information Institute (Triple-i) director of corporate communications, previously told the St. Pete Catalyst that the claims from the storm may push multiple insurers into insolvency. UPC's report comes after the company announced it would withdraw from operations and enter into an orderly run-off. Six Florida property insurance companies already declared insolvent this year

Tom Brady invests in pickleball

Major League Pickleball officials announced Wednesday that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Kim Clijsters have purchased an expansion franchise. The league will expand from 12 to 16 teams next season and award over $2 million in prize money. According to the release, the ownership group is led by Knighthead Capital Management. Pickleball’s popularity continues to soar in St. Petersburg and across the nation, with Sports Illustrated calling it the fastest-growing sport earlier this year.

County commissioners name Fire Professionals of the Year

During Tuesday’s board meeting, Pinellas County Commissioners honored the 2022 Fire Professionals of the Year for going above and beyond the call of duty. Michael Ross, a firefighter and paramedic with Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, received the top honor. While off-duty, Ross saved the life of a neighbor whose car slipped into the water at a county boat ramp. Calvin Hunsinger, regional 911 supervisor, was named Fire Dispatcher of the year for helping a panicked resident as flames and smoke engulfed their home. The Pinellas County Technical Rescue Team, comprised of 120 members from the St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Largo and Clearwater Fire Departments, was named the Special Operations Team of the Year. According to the release, the team uses special equipment and techniques to perform high-risk rescues.

Tampa Bay Rays partner with ZooTampa

The Tampa Bay Rays and ZooTampa have entered a multifaceted, long-term partnership aimed at enhancing the shared commitment to conservation. Part of the new collaboration will include cross-promotional opportunities and the development of a unique up-close animal experience that connects guests with wildlife, according to the Wednesday announcement. Tampa Bay Rays Chief Business Officer Bill Walsh said it was "a natural fit." ZooTampa President and CEO Joe Couceiro said in a statement, “We are proud to join forces with another iconic Tampa Bay community asset. Partnering with the Tampa Bay Rays will be instrumental in sharing our vision of inspiring a healthy respect for wildlife. We look forward to doing great work together.”

Pharma company to cut workers after being acquired

VistaPharm Inc., a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company with a manufacturing and distribution facility in Largo, has notified the state it will cut its workers at the local pharmaceutical manufacturing facility as the company has been acquired by Greenville, South Carolina-based PAI Pharma. "Products and equipment will be moved to Greenville from Largo as it has been determined to be more cost effective and efficient to operate from the South Carolina facility," the Oct. 11 notice read. The first round of terminations will take place on Jan. 13, affecting 36 employees working as chemists, microbiologists and those who are also involved in packaging and inspections. Additional layoffs are expected to occur at the facility, which currently has 177 full-time workers. However, "many employees will be provided an opportunity to relocate to South Carolina but we do expect several to desire to stay in our area and will be in need of job search assistance," the letter read. 

Applications open for Bayfront Health’s community grants

Bayfront Health St. Petersburg officials announced applications for the 2023 Community Grant Program opened Monday. According to the release, the grants support important work addressing health inequities, with over $107,000 awarded during the 2022 cycle. Interested organizations must first submit a letter of intent by Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 11:59 p.m. Program organizers encourage applicants to request grants between $500 and $50,000. The release states that a limited number of applicants will receive an invitation to participate in the second phase of the process. That requires a grant proposal that is due by Monday, Nov. 7. For more information, visit the website here.

Tampa law firm merges with Gunster

The prestigious Florida-based law firm Gunster, one of the state's largest firms, has acquired Tampa-based Barnett, formerly known as Barnett, Kirkwood, Koche, Long and Foster. The merger was completed Oct. 1, according to a news release from Gunster. The merger boosts Gunster’s presence in the Tampa Bay region to 51 attorneys and 39 professional staff members. “After diligent consideration, the shareholders of Barnett determined that Gunster was the best fit for continuing and broadening the level of service and care we provide to our wonderful clients, while strengthening the professional culture for our exceptional attorneys and staff,” Barnett Managing Partner Peter Kirkwood said in the release. “There are many outstanding law firms in Tampa, but we believe Gunster shares our commitment to excellence. Gunster has a great focus on its people, they provide best-in-class legal services and are fully committed to the Tampa Bay community. We are very excited for this next chapter.”

Nominations open for St. Pete’s Honored Veteran Award

The public are now able to nominate local St. Pete veterans for the Honored Veteran Award through Monday, Oct. 24. One or more veterans will be chosen to receive the award at the ninth annual Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 11, according to the city's announcement. This annual event will be held at Williams Park with St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch honoring the veterans and presenting the awards. The nomination form can be found here.

Florida Poly names new VP and General Counsel

Well-known attorney David Fugett has been named vice president and general counsel at Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland. Fugett joins the university with over 25 years of experience in law and served four years as general counsel and prelaw advisor at New College of Florida. Prior to that, he was general counsel and chief litigation attorney at the Florida Department of State, and assistant attorney general at Florida’s Office of the Attorney General, according to Florida Ploy's announcement. “I enjoy working in the State University System. Having the chance to work at Florida Poly affords me the opportunity to continue my work in the SUS and at a bit of a younger school that I think is hitting the target really well with what the State University System wants to do in terms of preparing students for the next step,” Fugett said in a statement. “Just one good example is how Florida Poly extensively uses project-based learning.”

Voter registration deadline is Tuesday

The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections is reminding voters that Tuesday, Oct. 11, is the deadline to vote in the Nov. 8 elections. Residents must register to participate in city, county, state and national elections on that date. Applications are available at all three county Elections Offices, which will also stay open until 6 p.m. Tuesday. Residents can also apply online at VotePinellas.gov. St. Petersburg voters will decide on two City Charter Amendments and two Ballot Referendum Questions encompassing election cycles, city council residency requirements, Dali Museum expansion and economic development ad valorem tax exemptions.

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