The St. Pete Catalyst will not publish on Monday, July 4, Independence Day. We will return on Tuesday the 5th.
In observance of Independence Day on Monday, July 4, St. Petersburg City Hall and all government facilities will close in observance of the holiday. Residential trash and recycling collection scheduled for Monday will move to Tuesday, and Tuesday’s services will move to Wednesday. All Pinellas County government offices will close July 4, though county parks and outdoor areas of county preserves remain open during the holiday. The Solid Waste Disposal Complex will also remain open from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday.
The EDGE Eatery, a concept featuring three food concepts at 1572 Central Ave., formerly a Pinot’s Palette location, has opened on the ground floor of the Fusion 1560 apartments. The food is currently open but has a grand opening planned for July 15. The restaurant concepts include the Italian Carne D’Vino, The Cuban Sandwicherie and the Sangrias at Saint Pete. There is also a hidden lounge.
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity on Thursday for the first-of-its-kind Reconnecting Communities pilot program established under President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This $1 billion program will help reconnect communities that were previously cut off from economic opportunities due to insufficient or ineffective transportation infrastructure, allowing St. Pete to pursue a share of the funding, the City of St. Petersburg stated in a news release. “As one of my top priorities, our Administration is working to incorporate equity into all policies to ensure growth benefits the entire community. This new available funding can serve as a catalyst for building a connected city and dismantling historic transportation barriers to success while connecting businesses to customers and employees and providing safe transportation options," St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said in the release. He plans to meet with city staff to explore how to best tap into this historic funding, which comes at a crucial and pivotal moment on the heels of the request for proposals process restarting for the Historic Gas Plant District/Tropicana Field site.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies face the Memphis 901 FC Saturday, June 2, in a match that promises fireworks both on and above the pitch. The Rowdies own a seven-game winning streak and now sit in third place in the USL’s Eastern Conference. After remaining unbeaten through the month of June, Tampa Bay will take on a Memphis squad that leads the 14-team division with 35 points and a record of 11 wins, two draws and three losses. Immediately after the conference showdown, the skies above Al Lang Stadium will light up with a fireworks display in honor of Independence Day. The match begins at 7:30 p.m., with fireworks following the last whistle.
Pinellas County announced Thursday that its emergency planning mobile application is updated and fully operational. As hurricane season heats up, county officials are encouraging residents to download the updated Ready Pinellas app to better prepare themselves and their families. The updated version features a new design and user interface, additional emergency preparedness information and tips and checklists to ensure proper preparation. Residents can also build a personal emergency plan utilizing a supply checklist, home inventory tool and emergency contact list. Ready Pinellas also provides real-time storm updates and resources to contact Pinellas County Emergency Management. The app is free to download in the Apple App or Google Play Stores by searching for “Ready Pinellas.” Android users must delete the old app and install the new one to receive the updated version, and the county recommends enabling location services to receive accurate evacuation information.
Tampa topped all other metro areas in the country for its housing price rate increase. According to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index released Tuesday, the region saw a 35.8% year-over-year jump in April. Miami came in second with a 33.3% rise, with the Phoenix area following at 31.3%. Tampa and Miami were the only Florida markets included in the analysis of 20 metro areas.
In just its first week of operation, the Tampa housing hotline helped 801 callers. Of those, 370 sought rental assistance. Emergency rental assistance is running out throughout the region. The city launched an information line on June 21 to streamline resources for people with housing issues, including eviction notices, landlord complaints or trouble finding affordable housing. The Tampa Bay region continues to be plagued by soaring inflation and skyrocketing rents, and anyone in need of housing help can call 813-307-5555.
The Warehouse Arts District Association has named Markus Gottschlich as its new executive director. The Austria-born pianist and composer has a track record of engaging communities with compelling arts education programs and culturally unique event initiatives.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will receive $1 million from the Florida Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged for a re-launch of a regional transportation disadvantaged service in Tampa Bay, which was discontinued a year ago due to a lack of funding. In partnership with agencies in Hillsborough and Pasco counties, the funding will re-launch same-day, door-to-door regional trips within Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. “When the state funding was canceled last year, I know a lot of residents who relied on the service to get from Pinellas to Tampa or Pasco to Clearwater were left stranded. So this time, all three counties worked collaboratively and I’m grateful to the Commission for approving of this new regional approach," PSTA CEO Brad Miller said in the news release. The new regional service will be provided by rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, taxis, and wheelchair van services for all qualified residents within the counties.
St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch will make his much-anticipated selection of a developer for the Tropicana Field site on Wednesday, June 29, at 10 a.m. The announcement takes place adjacent to the stadium at the corner of 16th Street and 5th Avenue South, under the I-175 overpass. The City of St. Petersburg will live stream the event from its Facebook page.
Philanthropists Carol and Frank Morsani have gifted $7 million to the University of South Florida, to endow the Morsani Scholars, which will offer scholarships to USF students; create an endowed chair in geriatrics; and a directorship and professorship focused on ethical leadership in business. In March, the couple gave $5 million to support the development of an on-campus stadium.
