Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup watch party at downtown St. Petersburg’s Williams Park is canceled. Event organizer and local restaurateur Pete Boland made the announcement in a social media post Monday afternoon. He noted the park’s bandshell needs renovations and upgrades and that pre-sales for the Tuesday event were too low to absorb additional costs. However, Boland said that if the U.S. Men’s National Team beats Iran, Jannus Live will host a knockout round watch party this weekend.
A stormwater application indicates a proposed expansion of the Belleair Country Club in Palm Harbor. The owner is proposing to expand the fitness and aerobics areas by increasing the size of the Sports Center Building. A new building and a swim team locker room is also being proposed within an existing parking lot just north of the existing swimming pool.
Mayor Jane Castor officially filed for reelection Monday. Castor, a Democrat, is Tampa’s first openly gay mayor. She easily defeated philanthropist David Straz Jr. in the 2019 election. She spent 31 years in law enforcement, six as the city’s police chief, before retiring. The City of Tampa will hold its next mayoral election March 7, 2023. Castor, 63, is the only name on the ballot thus far.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Cleveland Browns 23-17 Sunday in a game that went into extra minutes. The loss drops the Bucs to 5-6 on the season but not out of first place in the weak NFC South. Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay’s All-Pro right tackle, was carted off the field in overtime and could miss extended time with a leg injury. Quarterback Tom Brady and the Bucs' offense had a 17-10 lead and the ball with just over two minutes remaining in regulation but gave the ball back to Cleveland (4-7) on a short punt. The Browns then converted a fourth down on their way to tying the game and forcing overtime.
According to the real estate platform Zillow, home values in Tampa Bay surged in October while the national average “remained nearly flat.” The recently released report stated that home prices were up by over 21% in the area, compared to just 0.1% nationally. Additionally, it showed that Florida home sales dropped by nearly 25% compared to Oct. 2021, while the Tampa Bay market comprised 17% of all state transactions last month.
The Oakdale Christmas Spectacular is now open for the 46th consecutive year in St. Petersburg. According to its website, the display features over 600,000 lights and fiber optics, about 700 animated objects and two outdoor TV presentations. The free event is at 2719 Oakdale St. S. on a half-acre property. The lights come on at 6 p.m. daily through Jan. 3.
The St. Pete Catalyst and the Daily Spark are taking the Thanksgiving holiday off. We'll be back Saturday with the best local business and arts news!
AAA is again offering free towing services to drunk or impaired drivers that did not plan ahead. The company’s “Tow to Go” program is also available to non-members as a last resort. The service begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday and runs through 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28. The number to call is 855-2-TOW-2-GO, or 855-286-9246.
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners held a swearing-in ceremony for two new and three reelected members Tuesday evening. Commissioners Dave Eggers, Rene Flowers and Kathleen Peters were recently reelected, while Chris Latvala and Brian Scott are new to the board. Voters across the county elected Scott to represent District 2, which includes northwest Pinellas. Eggers, Latvala, Peters and Flowers represent single-member Districts 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively. The new board’s inaugural meeting is Dec. 8.
The St. Petersburg Police Department is participating in a statewide campaign to increase pedestrian, bicyclist and motorist safety on busy roads. According to the release, 11 pedestrians and one bicyclist have died in the city this year. The department will begin its special operations Dec. 1, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., on 34th Street North and South. The High Visibility Enforcement program runs through May 2023.
Michigan-based Home Point Financial Corporation, which does business as Homepoint, is laying off an additional 10 employees at its Clearwater office. The news follows the company notifying the state it was permanently laying off 57 remote and in-person employees associated with its Clearwater office at 14255 49th St. North. The layoffs started Nov. 1. The jobs affected include underwriters, loan coordinators, specialists and directors, according to its notice submitted to the state. The employees do not have bumping rights. None of the employees are represented by a union.
St. Petersburg native and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Marlo Hampton is giving back to her hometown community this Thanksgiving. Hampton’s Simply Giving foundation partnered with the Saturday Morning Shoppe and Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders to host a Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway at the Lake Vista Recreation Center. The event runs from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday at 1401 62nd Ave. S in St. Pete. Attendees will receive a full holiday dinner, face painting for children and photo opportunities with Hampton. Mayor Ken Welch will also welcome Hampton home.
