Mel Sembler, founder of St. Petersburg-based global development firm Sembler, died Oct. 31 at 93 years old. He also served as U.S. Ambassador to Australia and Italy, chaired the Republican Party’s national finance committee and founded the Drug Free America Foundation with his wife, Betty. Sembler’s eponymous firm built over 350 developments totaling 29 million square feet. Temple Beth-El hosted Sembler’s funeral service Thursday, followed by his burial at Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Largo.
The Pinellas County Tax Collector’s Office began issuing 2023 property tax bills Oct. 31, and residents who pay in November receive a 4% discount. If all 427,446 accounts totaling over $2.4 billion paid their bills this month, Pinellas property owners would collectively save $96 million. The discount decreases to 3% for December payments.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently removed a temporary hold on a 2021 gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and state officials that allows for in-person sports betting, craps and roulette. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa will feature all three starting Friday, Dec. 8. Tribe and casino officials plan to host “A New Era in Florida Gaming” celebrations throughout December.
Tampa General Hospital has completed an implant surgery on a 16-year-old pediatric patient diagnosed with Down syndrome and sleep apnea. The groundbreaking procedure is the first of its kind in Florida with the Inspire device, according to TGH's announcement. The device is the only implant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved to treat sleep apnea and it is one of the few alternatives to using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. The implant is similar to a cardiac pacemaker and is placed under the collarbone during the two- to three-hour surgery.
Local nonprofit Hope Villages of America has partnered with the American Institute of Beauty in Largo and St. Petersburg for the 19th annual “Cut Out Hunger” event. Anyone who donates three or more canned goods can receive a free haircut, and those who donate six or more items also receive 50% off any services. The event runs from Wednesday, Nov. 1, through Saturday, Nov. 4.
The University of South Florida's St. Petersburg campus is accepting nominations for the prestigious 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards, which recognize community contributions from students in Pinellas County Schools and USF St. Pete. The vying candidates must demonstrate dedication to social justice and civil rights efforts, overcome personal and/or academic challenges and exhibit impactful leadership. The online nomination forms are due by Nov. 17. The award ceremony will take place Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. at the St. Pete campus.
St. Petersburg city officials are now accepting applications for the Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC), a nonpartisan board that consults on the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Program's implementation. The CBAC will review the $6.5 billion Historic Gas Plant District’s redevelopment. The announcement notes that the project will have an “enormous” economic and social impact and “requires the utmost consideration.” For more information and application instructions, visit the website here.
The Carnival Paradise cruise ship has returned to Tampa after a refurbishment project that included upgrades to onboard spaces such as the Serenity adult-only retreat and the ship’s casino as part of a 16-day dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas. The 2,124-guest ship’s current six-day sailing schedule from the Tampa homeport includes a stop at Key West; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Grand Cayman, one of the Cayman Islands.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) and partnering agencies collected 827.4 pounds of prescription medication between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Operation Medicine Cabinet officials said the initiative provides proper medication disposal information, helps prevent children from accidental ingestion and raises prescription drug abuse awareness. Drop-off locations in the PCSO’s Administrative Building in Largo and the North District Station in Dunedin are open year-round.
HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital has received a Healthgrades Critical Care Excellence Award and was named among the top ten percent in the nation for critical care. The 215-bed acute care facility also received a five-star quality recognition for specialty care in the treatment of gastrointestinal surgeries, according to an announcement earlier this month. The Healthgrades report evaluates hospitals solely on clinical outcomes based on risk-adjusted mortality and complications.
University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine and Tampa General Hospital today announced the launch of a new medical residency training program in anesthesiology. The new anesthesiology residency program is based in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM) at the University of South Florida and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Residents in the four-year program will work at Tampa General Hospital and other TGH locations throughout the Tampa Bay region and be trained by USF Health faculty. Recruitment for applicants to the inaugural class has already begun.
Scientists at the Florida Institute of Oceanography’s (FIO) Keys Marine Laboratory are returning thousands of rescued corals to the sea as water temperatures have cooled to normal levels. The FIO, based at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, housed over 5,000 at the KML for three months due to a massive coral bleaching event caused by “unprecedented” water temperatures. Coral reefs provide vital ecosystems and a buffer between damaging wave action and coastlines.
