Ravaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium will re-open to the public Monday, Oct. 21 (hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily). A special ticketed event, Aqua Lanterns: A Chinese Festival of Lights, takes place this Friday (Oct. 18) from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets and details are available here.
Pinellas County officials have invited residents and business owners to participate in a virtual Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) workshop from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday. The LMS identifies natural and manmade hazards and sets goals to reduce risks and minimize the loss of life, property and resources. To register, visit the website here.
A Pinellas Suncoast Transit Agency bus carrying 10 passengers collided with a pedestrian on an electric scooter at the intersection of 22nd Ave. N. and the Pinellas Trail shortly after 11 a.m. today. The St. Petersburg Police Department reported that the man subsequently died from his injuries at an area hospital. Officials have not released the man’s name. The bus driver and passengers did not report any injuries, and an investigation is ongoing.
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue will host its annual Haunted Fire House on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Fire Station #10, featuring family-friendly activities and a recommended haunted experience for ages 11 and up, with free admission and optional $10 Fast Passes to support local charities. The event aims to foster community unity following recent hurricanes, with proceeds benefiting the Holiday Toy Drive for families affected by emergencies.
Duke Energy Florida notified customers Tuesday that additional crews would join an “already robust team of line personnel” in Pinellas County the company has restored power in other parts of the state. Duke expects to make “significant progress throughout the day.” According to an outage map, 41,842 customers remained without electricity Tuesday morning, nearly six days after Hurricane Milton struck the area.
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, 150 Central Ave., will re-open its 5,875-square-foot Mesa Hall as a co-working space Tuesday (Oct. 15) through Friday. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with WiFi, air conditioning, storage lockers and restrooms. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis, and families are welcome. Mesa Hall was used for this purpose following Hurricane Helene.
Pinellas County Schools officials announced Monday that area schools will reopen Wednesday, Oct. 15. Staff will return to work Tuesday to ensure buildings remain safe and secure, bus routes are clear of debris and cafeterias can serve meals. The school board will discuss student make-up days at an Oct. 22 workshop.
The 10th annual SHINE Mural Festival has been rescheduled for Nov. 8-17. On the event's Facebook page today: "We understand new murals may not be top of mind for many people right now - caring for our basic needs takes priority - but as St. Pete rebuilds we believe art, particularly public art, can offer healing, hope, and a much needed reminder who we are as a community. In many ways, artists built St. Pete. We will be here to rebuild too." The Morean Arts Center is still hosting a reception this Friday (Oct. 18) from 5 to 8 p.m., to celebrate the SHINE 10 Year Group Exhibition.
In response to Hurricane Milton, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, in partnership with Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas County School Districts, will open Hurricane Camps on Monday, Oct. 14, to support families during recovery. The camps will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and are open to all children and teens, regardless of membership. Camps will continue to operate until schools re-open. In Pinellas County, Grab and Go meals will be available from 12 to 5 p.m. at the Salvation Army, Ridgecrest Teen Center, and Tarpon Springs Club. Camp locations include: - Hillsborough County: Temple Terrace Club and Garcia Salesian Youth Center - Pinellas County: Tarpon Springs Club, Ridgecrest Teen Center, and Pinellas Park Club (open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) - Pasco County: Lacoochee Club Non-members should allow extra time for registration at drop-off. Follow social media for further updates.
Mosaic officials announced Friday that contaminated water at its fertilizer plant likely spilled into Tampa Bay during Hurricane Milton. The Tampa-based company is North America’s largest fertilizer producer. Torrential rains overwhelmed a water collection system for a gypstack - a massive mound of toxic phosphate production waste.
A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) with expanded services will open at 9 a.m. today at the Florida Botanical Gardens, Magnolia Room, 12520 Ulmerton Road. The center will operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The DRC will offer a range of disaster recovery services, including information on assistance programs, application help for FEMA grants and Small Business Administration loans, translation and accessibility services, and status updates for existing applications. Various state agencies, including Veterans Affairs and Elder Affairs, will be on-site to provide additional support. Residents can register for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
The Florida Department of Health has lifted the precautionary boil water notice in St. Petersburg. Residents and businesses are advised to run water for five minutes at each tap, including drinking fountains and soda machines, to flush their systems. Ice machine users should discard the first binful of ice.
