The Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties 2024 Glow Gala raised $1,012,095, according to CEO Mike Sutton. The fundraiser took place Friday at the Vinoy Renaissance Hotel, where the affordable homeownership organization presented its Silver Nail Legacy Award to David and Nancy Ridenhour, and the Golden Hammer Award to MaintenX.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will make a 7th consecutive playoff run beginning April 20. The team clinched the spot without playing a game thanks to losses by the Flyers, Capitals and Red Wings. The Lightning made the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, 2021 and 2022, but suffered an unexpected first round loss last year.
Tickets are now available for the previously sold-out TEDxSt. Petersburg College event April 10 at SPC’s Palladium Theater in downtown St. Pete. SPC originally capped the event at 100 participants but has since released additional tickets, which can be purchased online here.
Pinellas County officials are hosting a public Local Mitigation Strategy workshop April 15 to identify and address natural and man-made disasters, like flooding and chemical spills. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lealman Exchange, and attendees can share observations and concerns on how hazards impact their communities to help update the county’s five-year Hazards Mitigation Plan. For more information, visit the website here.
Tampa-based ReliaQuest challenged 10th-grade students enrolled in Junior Achievement’s 3DE program at six regional high schools to develop an effective brand strategy for the cybersecurity firm’s training program at the University of South Florida. Company executives named Gibbs High School’s “Innovators” team as the 2024 Best of the Bay champions at Thursday’s event for their “impressive in-depth research.” Gibbs’ victory came a day after St. Petersburg High School students won the 3DE Innovators Showcase at the Raymond James Financial campus.
Personal finance platform Smart Asset recently compared counties according to investment income, property value and median income to determine the areas with the highest increases in wealth over the past decade. Pinellas County placed 14th among Florida’s 65 counties and No. 318 nationally. According to the platform, home value increased by over $253,747, median income by $14,916 and investment earnings by $22,000.
Pagoda Asian Grill, a create-your-own bowl restaurant concept from the national chain P.F. Chang's, will replace the former Rib City, which operated at 1550 66th Street N. for four decades. An opening date has not been announced.
HaleLife Bakery, a gluten-free and vegan bakery, announced on social media that its downtown St. Pete location has closed. HaleLife first opened at 205 1st St. N. in 2021. The owners said, in addition to parking woes, the DTSP storefront was meant to be a test location until they could open their bistro concept in North St. Pete.
Dr. Alfred O. Bonati, founder of the Bonati Spine Institute, filed a $500 million federal lawsuit Wednesday against the State of Florida and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The suit alleges that AHCA wrongfully suspended Bonati’s Hudson-based ambulatory surgery center’s medical licenses in March 2023. Bonati also claims that state officials deliberately harassed and defamed him, his employees and his healthcare partners. The Spine Institute resumed operations in July 2023 following a settlement with AHCA.
WalletHub recently compared over 180 of the nation’s most populated cities across 41 “key indicators of good health” to compile its annual “Healthiest and Unhealthiest” rankings. St. Petersburg placed No. 63 due to its food and fitness scores. However, that is well below Tampa (No. 27), Miami (No. 40) and Ft. Lauderdale (No. 49).
Tampa-based Sypher has partnered with the Florida Association of Insurance Agents and plans to complete a $35 million funding round to enter the embattled residential property insurance market. The startup launched in 2021 as a tech-focused reinsurance brokerage and has underwritten over $750 million in premiums. Sypher’s leadership believes technological advancements can help insurance companies navigate the ongoing crisis.
The City of St. Petersburg’s Utility Assistance Program enables residents to make one-time or automatic monthly charitable donations to the initiative through their bills. Officials will then distribute the funds through a network of local social service agencies to help struggling families. For more information, visit the website here.
