The governing board of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg (FHSP) has placed Randall Russell, its president and CEO, on administrative leave. The nonprofit’s board made the decision on June 24 due to unspecified concerns. The matter is reportedly still under investigation. FHSP was formed in 2013, and Russell took the helm in 2015. The nonprofit is funded by the city’s sale of Bayfront Medical Center, now known as Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. The foundation oversees $164 million in assets dedicated to improving health equity.
After 20 years of operating in St. Petersburg, the Lynn Merhige Gallery at 216 4th St. N. is closing its doors. According to reports, the art gallery has sold to the developer of The Hollander Hotel. "The building was sold last year and I was given only a year from the closing," the Lynn Merhige Gallery wrote on Facebook. The art gallery will have a closing sale this Saturday.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) was awarded $20 million in federal grants for the construction of a new Clearwater Transit Center, the group announced Wednesday. The funds are part of the Rebuilding America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, which will cover some of the costs to link downtown riders to area beaches and beyond. The new transit center will be built on a city-owned vacant lot at the corner of Court Street and Myrtle Avenue. The plan includes 16 bus bays, bicycle and scooter storage, ride-sharing connections, and a “green” design including solar panels and electric bus charging stations, according to the announcement. The new comes after the agency was previously unsuccessful in obtaining the federal funds last year.
Vanessa Williams has been appointed General Manager at Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort and Golf Club, Marriott International announced Wednesday. Williams, a South African native, has 30 of experience in luxury hotel sales and operations management with most recently serving as the General Manager of the flagship Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.
The Pinellas County Department of Health (DOH) is continuing to warn of a harmful blue-green algal bloom around Maximo Park. The agency first detected the toxins near Sunshine Skyway Lane and Pinellas Point Drive South in St. Petersburg on June 30. The DOH is still urging the public to take caution in and around the water at Maximo Park and posted signs to alert visitors. People and their pets should avoid drinking, swimming or boating in water where the bloom is visible.
Local philanthropist and former CEO and founder of the IT powerhouse ConnectWise Arnie Bellini recently invested $5 million into a campaign to help save wildlife. His marketing campaign called "Live Wildly" was launched to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor initiative, educating the public about the need to protect wildlife and how it touches everyone's lives. The wildlife corridor covers 18 million acres across the state. Bellini previously led the effort last year to get Florida to pass the $300 million Florida Wildlife Corridor Act.
Students interested in the fitness industry or maintaining a healthier lifestyle now have a dedicated facility at Lakewood High in South St. Pete. The school’s Athletic Lifestyle Management Academy converted a classroom into what it is calling an exercise lab. The lab is supported through a $25,000 grant from the John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Valor Fitness donated weightlifting and exercise equipment. The school held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility, which will also help students prepare for the National Association of Sports Medicine Certification on Monday afternoon.
Craft Kafe, a St. Petersburg restaurant providing gluten-free pastries, pizza and bread, has opened a third location across the bay. On Aug. 3, owner Teddy Skiadiotis opened a Craft Kafe at 442 W. Kennedy Blvd. in South Tampa, adding to locations in downtown and West St. Pete. Skiadiotis also co-owns Skidder’s Restaurant on St. Pete beach with a family member.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have extended their unbeaten streak to 13 matches after picking up their seventh-straight win Saturday night. The club outlasted Detroit City FC for a 1-0 victory at Al Lang Stadium, with forward Steevan Dos Santos scoring his fifth goal in four matches. The Rowdies, who have not lost since April, remain one point behind Louisville FC for first place in the USL’s Eastern Conference. The two teams will meet next Saturday night at Lynn Family Stadium in Kentucky.
Tampa-based First Citrus Bancorporation Inc. (OTC Markets: FCIT), the parent bank holding company of First Citrus Bank, announced that its shareholders unanimously approved the DFCU Financial all-cash transaction on Aug. 4. “It’s no surprise that shareholders overwhelmingly approved our merger because DFCU Financial is such a quality organization. This merger is quite good for our shareholders, many of whom are First Citrus bankers and clients,” CEO and President John Barrett said in the announcement. As a result, shareholders of FCB will receive $47.75 in cash for each share owned. Michigan-based DFCU will also cash out the outstanding options at FCB at the difference between the strike price and the per share cash consideration to First Citrus shareholders. The combined entity will have approximately $7.1 billion in assets and nearly $800 million in capital across its Michigan and Florida footprint with a total of 33 branch locations, according to a news release.
This week, the Tampa City Council unanimously granted preliminary approval to Gas Worx, the mixed-use development that would revitalize the Ybor area that's being spearheaded by landowner Daryl Shaw. The approval on Thursday covered 5.2 million square feet on 26 acres. The final approval for Gas Worx will be heard on Aug. 25. Gas Worx, which would help bridge Water Street Tampa to Ybor City, entails building roughly 5,000 residential units, more than 140,000 square feet of retail and 500,000 square feet of office space.
