The number of area residents missing work due to mental health issues has grown exponentially, according to a follow-up survey commissioned by Tampa Bay Thrives. The report found that area workers missed at least 2 million more workdays due to mental health issues than last year. That breaks down to 524,500 monthly missed days and 6.3 million annually. Tampa Bay Thrives' support line, 844-YOU-OKAY, offers a wealth of mental health-related resources and a “compassionate space” to talk.
Charles W. Thomas, Pinellas County Tax Collector, and his team recently delivered 2,047 pairs of socks to children in need. Local nonprofit Clothes to Kids will distribute the much-needed socks to low-income and in-crisis school children. Tax collector employees and customers donated the items, which will help clothe 409 kids throughout Pinellas.
The City of St. Petersburg is extending operational hours at free sandbag sites through Sunday as a tropical system develops in the Caribbean. Free sandbags are now available from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Pavement and Traffic Operations Building at 1744 9th Ave. N. In addition, Florida’s Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday starts Saturday and runs through Sept. 8.
Tampa International Airport is welcoming Canada-based Porter Airlines, which will offer daily nonstop flights between Tampa and Toronto beginning Nov. 1. The airline will use Embraer E195-E2 aircraft for the new service.
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg’s cardiovascular group has received national accreditation for its vascular testing program. The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission granted the designation for the hospital’s peripheral arterial and extracranial cerebrovascular testing programs. Those services enable early detection of stroke, limb-threatening arterial disease and heart disorders.
Officials with St. Petersburg-based Neptune Flood announced that new carrier programs and reinsurer relationships will provide over $100 million in additional premium capacity. The technologically focused flood insurance platform now features 23 carriers and reinsurers backing six unique programs. The announcement states that Neptune is preparing for an increasing demand for private flood insurance due to “increasingly uncertain climate scenarios.”
Frontier Airlines will add new daily nonstop flights from Tampa International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, according to a Thursday news release. The flights will be available starting Nov. 16 with introductory fares as low as $39 each way.
St. Petersburg is the only city in Florida to receive $2.5 million through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to protect children and families from lead-based paint hazards, according to the city's Thursday announcement. "Unfortunately, lead-based paint continues to remain a serious safety issue, particularly in older homes that tend to be the most affordable for some residents of our community. I'm proud of the work we've already done to address lead hazards in our community, and grateful that this funding will ensure this important work continues," Welch said in a prepared statement. The funding will be used to implement a new lead hazard reduction program, which will build local capacity to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in privately-owned rentals or owner-occupied housing, with emphasis on underserved residents of the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA).
St. Petersburg city officials announced that water quality around Riviera Bay is back within acceptable limits “and the public can now make contact” with the waterway. An archaic wastewater pipe began leaking Aug. 17, and about 10,600 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the bay by Aug. 19. Water quality testing at six sites throughout the area - including Weedon Islan Preserve - showed that once-elevated bacteria levels were back within an acceptable range.
The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the 11th annual Good ‘Burger Awards will return to Jannus Live on Tuesday, Nov. 14. A Good ‘Burger is a business, organization or person that positively impacts the community. The Chamber is now looking for event sponsors, and for more information, visit the website here.
Mayor Ken Welch notified city employees and council members Wednesday that he is reinstating St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Chief James Large. Welch placed Large on administrative leave Aug. 5 following allegations that he fostered a hostile work environment for minorities and women. Large will resume his duties on Thursday.
Over the weekend, nearly 150 community volunteers joined Keep Pinellas Beautiful and marine-biodegradable drinking straw brand Phade to remove 1,120 pounds of trash from the Gandy Beach Shoreline. The Gandy cleanup was organized to help address the ongoing issue of beach debris and ocean pollution, especially from single-use plastic products. The effort, which set a new record, was the first of three statewide cleanups Phade has organized with regional Keep Florida Beautiful chapters, according to a news release.
