For the second year in a row, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is hosting a month-long contest to design a bus wrap that encapsulates Juneteenth. Entries must be received via email to marketing@psta.net no later than Feb. 28. The entry form and complete list of guidelines can be found here. The winning artist will also receive a $1,000 dollar prize.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a 2012 Lakewood High School graduate, turned in a huge performance for the Kansas City Chiefs during Sunday's AFC Conference Championship game. The wide receiver, who also starred at the University of South Florida, recorded six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown to help the Chiefs secure a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Valdes-Scantling will now represent the city in Super Bowl LVII.
Mayor Ken Welch, city officials and community leaders will host a celebration of Black History Month at City Hall Wednesday, Feb. 1. The public event begins at 2 p.m., and includes the ceremonial raising of the Woodson African American Museum of Florida’s flag. Dr. Carter G. Woodson is known as the “Father of Black History Month.” For more information, visit the website here.
Kierstyn Benjamin, a junior marine biology student at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, recently helped rescue a small, distressed manatee in Bayboro Harbor. Benjamin was doing homework in the library last week when she noticed it floating alone in the adjacent harbor. Upon further inspection, she realized something was wrong and called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Hotline. FWC officials rescued and transported the manatee to Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park.
According to U.S. News & World Report’s latest study, St. Petersburg College’s online bachelor’s program is the best in the Tampa Bay region. The publication also ranked it as the Best Bachelor’s Program for Veterans and said the school offers the Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Program. An SPC release states that this is the third consecutive year in which SPC has received top rankings from U.S. News & World Report.
Bounce The Mall, billed as the nation’s largest touring inflatable festival, is making its St. Petersburg debut at Tyrone Square Mall Saturday, Jan. 28, through Sunday, Feb. 19. According to a release, the attraction features eight interactive bounce houses, a 600-foot-long obstacle course, a “bottomless” ball pit, a silent disco dome and a customized sports arena. For more information, visit the website here.
City water customers with in-ground sprinkler systems can now take advantage of a free program that supports conservancy. Eligible residents can receive a free sprinkler evaluation with site-specific recommendations, installation of rain sensors and an automatic shut-off nozzle. For more information, visit the website here.
St. Petersburg-based BayFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: BAFN), parent company of BayFirst National Bank, reported a net income of $1.3 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2022. The report comes after BayFirst discontinued its mortgage lending division during the prior quarter. "Our ability to achieve our profitability goals will be dependent upon our success in continuing to generate conventional and government guaranteed loans in the current rate environment, as well as our efforts to control non-interest expense and generate deposits at reasonable rates. While we believe our loan loss reserve is well positioned for current economic conditions, deterioration during 2023 could adversely affect our financial performance and condition," CEO Anthony Leo said in a news release, explaining BayFirst expects to return to more normalized levels of profitability this year.
Black Dog Venture Partners and St. Petersburg College have partnered to host the St. Petersburg VC Fast Pitch event Thursday, Feb. 2. The event takes place from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at SPC’s Gibbs Campus, located at 6605 5th Ave. N. In addition to local entrepreneurs, students will also have a chance to deliver pitches to investors. For more information, visit the website here.
The new middle school and YMCA under construction near 62nd Avenue NE and Perishing Street NE now has a name - Mangrove Bay Middle School and the Speer YMCA. The Pinellas County School Board unanimously approved the new name during Tuesday’s school board meeting after receiving roughly 150 suggestions submitted by the public, according to an announcement. The new middle school at the 19-acre site will be a health and wellness leadership magnet school for 600 students.
