Eligible homeowners in the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) could soon receive up to $36,000 through the upcoming Lead Reduction Grant program. All residents who attend the Get the Lead Out kickoff event Oct. 25 at the Childs Park Recreation Center will receive lead hazard and exposure reduction education, safety training, remediation resource information and an opportunity to learn about the grant program. The free event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 4301 13th Ave. S. For more information, visit the website here.
Local philanthropists Arnie and Lauren Bellini have donated $100,000 to the City of St. Petersburg to support artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, professional development and system analysis training for municipal employees. Mayor Ken Welch made the announcement Wednesday evening following the CyberBay 2025 conference in downtown Tampa. The University of South Florida recently opened the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, and Welch said the donation would help the city "remain innovative and responsive to resident needs while prioritizing their digital safety and security."
Coming to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Friday, Oct. 31: The Halloween Spookquarium (3-6 p.m.), a family-friendly Halloween evening of trick-or-treating, an inflatable maze, underwater pumpkin carvings, games and activities, animal adventures, the "Move Your Bones Zone" and more. Find all information at this link.
Raymond James Financial has acquired a majority stake in GreensLedge Holdings LLC, a New York-based boutique investment bank, for an undisclosed amount. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Inc. will continue to have a minority interest in the company. “After 17 years as an independent firm, we’re energized by the opportunities ahead and confident in the scale and growth we can achieve together,” said GreensLedge managing partner Brian Zeitlin in a prepared statement.
South Florida-based Property Markets Group and local co-developer Feldman Equities announced Wednesday that the Waldorf Astoria Residences St. Petersburg has surpassed $100 million in sales. Smith & Associates Real Estate is the 50-story development's exclusive sales team. A $27 million penthouse sale at what will become St. Petersburg's tallest building set a new Tampa Bay record in July.
A new Moroccan-inspired coffee and wine lounge has opened at 2200 1st Ave. S. in St. Petersburg's Grand Central District. Ruya, from the Arabic word for "dream" or "vision," began serving teas, coffee, sangria, beer, wine and pastries in a 1,650-square-foot space Oct. 11. The location was formerly home to If I Brewed the World, which closed earlier this year.
The Tampa Airport Marriott has completed a "multimillion-dollar" renovation project as "travelers seek properties offering more than a layover and that provide exceptional amenities, convenient and comfortable experiences and unique offerings." The over 25,000-square-foot hotel upgraded all 298 rooms, the concierge lounge and elevators. Marriott will renovate the lobby, restaurants and bar next year as Tampa International Airport builds its $1.5 billion Airside D.
New Jersey-based Reworld plans to lay off all 70 of its local employees when its contract to operate Pinellas County's Waste-to-Energy facility terminates Dec. 31, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed last week. County commissioners approved a new 10-year, $320.85 million contract Oct. 7 with FCC Environmental Services. Solid Waste Director Paul Sacco told commissioners that FCC would "do their best to transfer and assume" most of Reworld's employees.
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue will host its annual Haunted Fire House event Saturday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Fire Station #10 (2800 30th Ave N). It will feature Halloween-themed activities such as face painting, bounce houses, trick-or-treating and crafts. Admission is free. To learn more, visit this website.
Lorene’s Fish House, a tiny but always-busy restaurant that's been in St. Petersburg's historic Deuces neighborhood since the mid 1990s, is the recipient of a $50,000 National Trust For Historic Places "Backing Historic Small Restaurants” grant. The five-year-old, national grant program supports 50 community restaurants annually, "to help them improve their businesses and positively impact their communities," according to the National Trust website. "These grantees - resilient, community-rooted establishments - have not only survived but thrived, becoming powerful symbols of cultural pride and local impact."
Noble Tavern, at 1650 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg's Grand Central District, has officially opened. The 4,100-square-foot restaurant, from the creators of Noble Crust, is on street level at the Tru By Hilton hotel. The owners describe it as "polished casual craft cocktail bar with creative culinary dishes." Website
Pinellas County Consumer Protection is warning local federal workers to be wary of scams amid the ongoing government shutdown. The agency encourages furloughed employees to be cautious of fraudulent job listings, loans and grants. The announcement also notes that charity scammers "take advantage of well-intentioned donors in times of distress like this."
