Prominent local Chef Chris Ponte has announced that OLIVIA, a modern Italian restaurant with a flagship location in Tampa, will open Jan. 21 in downtown St. Petersburg. Those hoping to secure an early reservation at the much-anticipated restaurant can now register through its website. OLIVIA will accommodate about 180 diners on the ground floor of the recently completed, 36-story Ascent apartment and hotel tower at 225 1st Ave. N.
Carole and Howard Baskin, who rose to fame in 2020 with Netflix’s Tiger King docuseries, have sold most of their Big Cat Rescue property to a local development firm. Clearwater-based Boos Development paid $19.5 million for 56 acres between the Tampa suburbs of Citrus Park and Westchase and plans to build 280 townhomes. Howard Baskin explained their motives for the sale in an April 2023 interview.
Pinellas County officials announced Tuesday that they have completed all storm debris collections in unincorporated areas. The county finished in time to meet state and federal reimbursement guidelines, as did the City of St. Petersburg. Contractors have hauled most of the refuse from local management sites to collection locations outside the area.
The City of St. Petersburg announced Tuesday that it will launch a new Healthy Homes initiative with a kickoff meeting Thursday, Jan. 23, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Pinellas Technical College. The program, a collaboration between the city and Pinellas County Health Department, is a community-led effort to promote awareness and education regarding household lead hazards. For more information about the initiative and launch meeting, visit the website here.
Embarc Collective announced a new partnership Tuesday with the Bank of America Foundation to bolster Tampa Bay’s tech community and foster additional economic opportunities. The tech-focused startup hub and banking behemoth will expand technical programming for members, including workshops on emerging topics like artificial intelligence and spatial computing. Embarc will also provide scholarships to increase access to collaboration spaces and cover costs for selected meetup groups.
Woody's Waterfront, the St. Pete Beach seafood restaurant that's been at the same location (overlooking Blind Pass at 7308 Sunset Way) for 35 years, is closing. The restaurant was decimated by Hurricane Helene in September, and after months of speculation about its future, the owners announced on Facebook Tuesday that the business is for sale. "We have spent many hours reviewing options and have decided it is time for someone else to build their vision," the post read. "We are greatful (sic) for each one of you and glad we were able to be a part of you and your family memories."
The Tampa Bay Rays have moved their annual Fan Fest event to the St. Pete Pier as Tropicana Field awaits hurricane repairs. The free event is from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Feb. 15 and will feature a “Bargain Beach” yard sale benefiting the Rays Baseball Foundation, player interactions, games, mascots and a stage show. Paid VIP experiences include a fishing experience and a tiki boat ride with Rays players. For more information, visit the website here.
The concert by folk music legend Judy Collins at the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, postponed from Jan. 9, has been rescheduled for Feb. 16. Tickets for the postponed date will be honored.
The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) has been awarded $309,498 in renewal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support SPHA's Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program. The FSS program is a voluntary initiative offered to families in HUD-assisted housing. where participants receive coaching, referrals to services and a family escrow savings account.
Sensidyne, a Tampa Bay manufacturer of industrial health and safety instrumentation, announced the retirement of Howard Mills, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after 38 years on the job. Glenn Warr, current President and Chief Operating Officer, will continue the role of President in addition to becoming CEO.
St. Petersburg-based Raymond James has launched Ready for School, a new charitable initiative that will provide local nonprofits with over $7.5 million to enhance educational opportunities for Tampa Bay area students. The first cohort of 11 organizations, including the St. Pete Free Clinic and Pinellas Education Foundation, will receive $2.5 million annually for three years.
CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas and Statewide Workforce Development-Florida of Transportation have partnered to offer two training boot camps this month for military veterans interested in roadway construction and infrastructure careers. Each free, three-day workshop includes tours of an FDOT contractor’s facility and heavy equipment, safety and flagger training. For more information, visit the website here.
