According to Florida Department of Education data, 60% of Pinellas County children are “ready” for kindergarten, the highest rate in Tampa Bay. Pasco County is second, at 53%. The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County recently launched its “Brain Building Summer” campaign to help increase those scores. Families can print handouts and watch videos with tips on the nonprofit’s website here.
Actor William Shatner, 92, will speak and conduct an audience question-and-answer session Wednesday, Nov. 8 in Morsini Hall, at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. There will also be a screening of the 1982 film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at this link.
Clearwater city officials have partnered with the city’s ferry operator to offer extended operating hours and discounted rides ahead of the much-anticipated grand opening of a reimagined Coachman Park and The Sound. The extended schedule runs from June 28 through July 4 to align with the week-long celebration. Discounted rates are $3 for the downtown Clearwater Beach Marina route and $5 for the downtown Dunedin service. Passengers must make reservations at the website here.
Pennsylvania-based health care company Progressus Therapy LLC is laying off hundreds of Florida employees. Invo Healthcare, the parent company, notified the state it would close 11 Florida facilities as the company is exiting the home-based and center-based autism therapy business. Last week, the company cut 15 workers at its St. Pete office, located at 8950 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N., 24 employees in Tampa, 31 in Riverview, and 21 in Sarasota, among other locations. The layoffs commenced on June 20.
Tourists and locals can now utilize the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Visitors Guide to help plan a day out or weekend getaway. The guide promotes local businesses and attractions while providing valuable information. To receive a free copy, stop by the Visitors Centers at 6990 Gulf Blvd., or download it from the Chamber’s website here.
The Cross Bay Ferry, which travels to and from Tampa and St. Petersburg, carried over 72,000 passengers during its latest season that ended in May. The seasonal ferry service will return in October. Advocates and Tampa attorney Ed Turnachick, the operator’s local representative, are garnering support for year-round ferry service and future connections at the MacDill Air Force Base and South County area.
Over 30,000 residents who call Lealman home will soon have their first fireworks show in the unincorporated community’s history. The display is part of the Lealman Independence Day Celebration July 4 at Raymond H. Neri Community Park, which will also feature a laser light show, food trucks, free hot dogs, a beer and wine garden, music and activities. The event runs from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., and attendees can park at the Lealman Exchange at 5175 45th St. N.
The Sound, an outdoor performance venue that's the centerpiece of the reimagined Coachman Park, will open June 28. The city will celebrate the grand opening celebration with programmed concerts and events. The completed first phase of the $84 million project also includes a modern playground, and a new gateway plaza and bluff walk that connects the 19-acre park to downtown.
According to Livability.com’s 10th annual list, St. Petersburg is one of the nation’s 100 best places to live. The organization evaluates relocation trends, economic statistics and several other factors influencing quality of life. It cited the city’s events, public amenities and inclusivity in the analysis. St. Pete’s “LivScore,” 756 out of 1,000, was the highest in Florida.
City officials have unveiled a new logo they say will embrace the beach community's identity for the first time in Treasure Island's history. Thursday’s announcement states that the city’s pirate folk tales inspired the new design. “The tagline, ‘Paradise Found,’ lets everyone know that Treasure Island is more than just your average beautiful beach community,” it added. To view the new logo, visit the website here.
Officials with Better Choice, a Tampa-based pet health and wellness company, announced Thursday that they received a $5 million investment. The funding comes from Alphia, a “super-premium” pet food manufacturer. In addition to creating a direct relationship with the two companies, Better Choice officials said the investment would eliminate subsidiary debt, stabilize the company’s business outlook and improve liquidity.
The Tampa Bay Innovation Center's next tech accelerator program will cater to startups developing enterprise solutions that leverage data science and artificial intelligence, according to TBIC's announcement this week. The eligible early-stage startups must be creating products that utilize machine learning, robotics, generative AI, image recognition and other tech-based solutions (program applications can be found here). The program will run from mid-August through the end of October and consist of weekly group workshops supplemented by one-on-one mentoring to help founders on their go-to-market skills. The wrap-up showcase for this program will be one of the first public events hosted inside St. Pete's ARK Innovation Center, which is expected to debut in early October.
