Pinellas County Government offices will be closed Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day. This includes departments under the Board of County Commissioners, Clerk’s Office, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser and Supervisor of Elections.
The City of St. Petersburg will hold two virtual meetings to seek resident input on the Sidewalk Master Plan. The sessions are scheduled for Sept. 15 (at 6 p.m.) and Sept. 22 (at 6 p.m.). According to a prepared statement, the plan will "provide a framework for identifying, evaluating and prioritizing future sidewalk improvements throughout St. Pete." For more information, visit this link.
The University of Tampa has introduced a required course focused on generative artificial intelligence. According to a prepared statement, the class will introduce students to "AI tools and large language models." Additionally, it will provide learners with an opportunity to explore the technology. This can help them determine when to use AI systems.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, Inc., officially launched its public driverless vehicle service in Tampa today. Customers can download the app and sign up for the service. The organization will accept riders over time. Earlier this month, Waymo representatives met with St. Petersburg officials for an initial meet and greet and expressed interest in expanding to Pinellas County. The company also launched services in Denver and San Diego today.
Pinellas County Mosquito Control is expanding its efforts to reduce mosquito populations. According to a prepared statement, there are"more than 30 confirmed cases of locally-acquired Dengue Fever." Currently, Pinellas County crews are performing ground inspections and "dawn fogging in the Palm Harbor and St. Petersburg areas." For more information, visit this link.
St. Petersburg-based WOWorks, the parent company of brands such as Saladworks, The Simple Greek and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, has opened 23 restaurants so far this year. According to a prepared statement, 15 locations are "currently in development." New restaurants have launched in states including Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia and Texas.
Go Greek Yogurt will officially open its St. Petersburg location at the Sundial entertainment complex, at 153 2nd Avenue N., Sept. 12. The Mediterranean-inspired concept was launched in 2012 in California.
Pinellas County will launch the 2026 Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz science initiative Tuesday. Throughout September, residents and guests are encouraged to visit a Pinellas County park or preserve and take photos of pollinators or pollinator-friendly plants. They can then upload their observations to the iNaturalist app. Three community events are scheduled as well. Each will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The first is Saturday at Raymond H. Neri Park, at 4300 Duval Park Blvd. in St. Petersburg. The second will be hosted Sept. 12 at the Patti Johnson Farm, at 6199 94th Ave. in Pinellas Park. A third gathering will be held Sept. 19 at Moccasin Lake Nature Park, at 2750 Park Trail Lane in Clearwater. For more information, visit this link.
The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a community meeting Wednesday at the City of Pinellas Park Community Resources Building, at 6051 78th Avenue N., regarding transportation improvements along Park Blvd. and 66th Street N. Pinellas Park residents are encouraged to share input on safety, roadway maintenance, pedestrian features, aesthetics and bicycle features. The gathering will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit this link.
The Clearwater City Council will discuss establishing the Stevenson Creek Manatee Protection Zone Monday evening. If passed, this would require motorized watercraft operators to proceed at a minimum wake within the area. According to a City document, the Council is expected to conduct a second reading and either approve or deny the ordinance section.
This month, Tampa General Hospital and the Florida Orthopaedic Institute performed the first surgery using the new EVOS Pelvic and Acetabular System. According to a prepared statement, the system is "designed to help surgeons treat complex fractures and traumatic injuries of the pelvis and acetabulum more efficiently." Dr. Hassan R. Mir, the director of Orthopaedic Trauma Research at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute, led the procedure. He helped design the EVOS Pelvic and Acetabular System in partnership with manufacturer Smith+Nephew.
St. Petersburg College will host a community block party Sept. 12 at the Midtown Center, at 1300 22nd Street S., in recognition of the educational institution's 99th anniversary. The event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature live entertainment, local vendors and family-friendly activities. For more information, visit this link.
