The Queen’s Court, a local not-for-profit corporation dedicated to advancing charitable organizations and recognizing volunteerism, is now accepting nominations for outstanding female volunteers in Pinellas County. According to the release, guilds, auxiliaries or nonprofits must make the nominations, and nominees must “demonstrate a depth and breadth of volunteer and leadership service.” The Queen’s Court annually selects one Queen and six Princesses in recognition of their community service. Nominations are due by Nov. 11, and the organization will present its Royal Court at the Queen of Hearts Ball on Feb. 25, 2023. View the nomination packet here.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is relaunching its TD Tampa Bay, a regional transportation disadvantaged service in partnership with Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties, PSTA announced Tuesday. The regional service is provided by Uber, Lyft, Wheelchair Transport and taxi services. The TD-Tampa Bay service was discontinued in June 2021 due to a lack of funding. In June 2022, PSTA received $1 million from the Florida Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged for the re-launch of the service.
Because of the Labor Day holiday, the St. Pete Catalyst will be closed Monday, Sept. 5. Publishing will resume Tuesday.
1 Million Cups, CodeBoxx and the St. Pete Catalyst are partnering for Startup Report LIVE, with hosts Kim Vogel from CodeBoxx, and Catalyst publisher Joe Hamilton. Episodes will be recorded once a month the during the regular 1 Million Cups event - Wednesday, 9 a.m. at Thrive DTSP. The series debuted with Spontivly on Aug. 17 and continues with Chris Krimitsos, founder of the official Florida Bitcoin and Blockchain Summit, on Sept. 14.
Applications have opened for Leadership St. Pete, a division of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, which seeks to identify, recruit and develop leaders who represent the diversity of the local community. Through a six-month period, Leadership St. Pete provides a curriculum that enhances community acumen to develop the future leaders who will assume roles throughout the community, including within the City of St. Petersburg staff. Applications are being accepted for the 2023 class and the next information session will be held on Sept. 6 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce. The application deadline is Sept. 27.
The Tampa Bay Rays continued their late-season push Friday night with a dominant 9-0 victory over the league-leading New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. The 15.5 game advantage the Yankees once enjoyed over the Rays has since evaporated to just five. Friday night also marked the first of six games between the division rivals in 10 days. New York has lost five of their six while Tampa Bay has won four straight to move 16 games over .500, a season-high. The Rays’ playoff push could soon receive another boost as phenom shortstop Wander Franco said he expects to return soon, and pitching ace Tyler Glasnow plans to start a minor league rehab assignment next week.
With just over a month until the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Taste of the Beaches event, participating restaurants are now providing ticket pop-up sales every Thursday through the month of September. Taste of the Beaches is a week-long “taste tour” featuring over 40 local eateries. It takes place from Saturday, Oct. 8 until Friday, Oct. 14. Patrons can purchase tickets for $10, redeemable for one “taste” from a participating restaurant. The PARC Center for Disabilities will receive a portion of all proceeds. For pop-up locations and more information, visit the website here.
People and Great Place to Work recently named BayCare Health System one of the nation’s best employers. The healthcare system ranked 30th out of 100 companies based on survey feedback from over 6.1 million employees. The designation marks the second time BayCare made the list, and the organization was recognized for addressing behavioral health issues throughout the community. Great Place to Work bills itself as a global authority on workplace culture and compiled the list using rigorous analytics and confidential survey results, according to the release.
The City of St. Petersburg announced the temporary closure of the 40th Avenue NE bridge is now complete, and the roadway has reopened. There's a new traffic pattern that shifts access to the newly constructed northern section of the bridge. Construction will now begin on the southern segment of the bridge, according to the city.
St. Petersburg-based Kawha Coffee plans to launch a long-discussed franchise program this month. What started as a single location in 2006 has since blossomed into 15 shops. It recently opened a location at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and enjoys over 1,000 wholesale partnerships across Florida. According to a release, Kahwha’s plan is to confine franchise sales to the state throughout the first year before expanding its footprint. Franchisees will receive training at a corporate store and ongoing support for the duration of ownership.
All Pinellas County government offices will close on Monday, Sept. 5, in observance of Labor Day. While the county’s Parks and Conservation administrative office, Heritage Village and education centers will close, all county parks and preserves will remain open. Residents can also still visit the Florida Botanical Gardens and utilize county boat ramps and beach access parking. The Solid Waste Disposal Complex will remain open for business from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. However, the administrative building and the household electronics and chemical collection centers will close. Normal operating hours will resume Tuesday, Sept. 6.
The Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority plans to spend $733 million on road and trail projects over the next six years, according to its latest work program unveiled this week. THEA is projected to invest $663.6 million in community enhancement and expanded capacity projects and $69.6 million in maintenance and preservation projects. A large portion of the funding will go toward the South Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.
