As of today, May 27, the city's parks and recreation department is opening the seasonal neighborhood pools to the public. The now-opened pools include Childs Park Pool, Fossil Park Pool, Jennie Hall Pool, Lake Vista Pool, Northwest Pool and the Shore Acres Pool.
The St. Petersburg Police Department and St. Petersburg Fire Rescue are hosting a public safety career fair Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The police department, located at 1301 1st Ave. N., will host the event. Several city employment and volunteer opportunities are available, and for more information, visit the website here.
University of South Florida President Rhea Law, recently named the Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Businesswomen of the Year, presented the key to a Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco County home this morning. The recipient is Cheetara Louch, a single mother of four children in St. Petersburg. Many of the Businesswoman of the Year finalists volunteered during the construction of the Louch family home.
The St. Pete Catalyst will take the Memorial Day holiday (Monday, May 29) off. We will resume publication May 30.
Mutts and Martinis, St. Petersburg’s first dog waterpark and full-liquor bar, began its grand opening celebrations Friday afternoon. Owners must register their pets, show proof of vaccinations and take them home by 9 p.m. Mutts and Martinis features a zero-entry pool with fountains for canines, 28 TVs and a stage for live music.
Clearwater-based Big Storm Brewing Co. has won the “Florida Distillery of the Year” title from the New York International Spirits Competition, according to the brewery's Friday announcement. The International Beverage Competitions organization received over 1,400 submissions from over 39 countries. There are more than 50 different categories competitors can place in. Big Storm placed in multiple categories.
Headquartered at the University of South Florida Tampa campus, WUSF Public Media has won three Regional Edward R. Murrow Regional Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association. The winners are: Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Black Mental Health; Excellence in Sound: Seagrass Thrive in the Gulf of Mexico While Withering Elsewhere; News Series: Black Mental Health.
The Florida League of Cities recently recognized Treasure Island Mayor Tyler Payne as a 2023 Home Rule Hero for his advocacy efforts throughout the recent Legislative Session. The organization credited Payne’s work to “promoted local voices making local choices” and “protect the home rule powers of Florida’s municipalities.” Home rule is the ability to address local problems with minimal state interference.
The St. Petersburg-based Harvard Jolly Architecture firm has entered a new partnership with PBK, a nationally-recognized architectural planning and design firm, according to a Tuesday announcement from HJA. The combined firms will have seven offices in St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Jacksonville. Ward Friszolowski, Rene Tercilla, Steve Johnson, Phil Trezza and the entire Harvard Jolly leadership team will continue to lead the firm’s regional operation. HJA is part of the development team that's building and designing the new Mangrove Bay Middle School and the Speer YMCA.
This Saturday, May 27, will mark the Saturday Morning Market's final seasonal appearance in the Al Lang Stadium parking lot. The farmers, food, arts, crafts and more market will move to its summer location in Williams Park for the months of June, July and August, before returning to Al Lang for the fall season.
Pinellas County Government offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. The clerk’s office, tax collector, property appraiser and supervisor of elections departments will be closed. The offices and adoption center at Pinellas County Animal Services will also be closed.
Local school bus drivers are now among the region’s highest-paid after the Pinellas County School Board unanimously approved increasing salaries by 10% to 20%. Starting wages now range between $19.98 and $21.75 per hour, well above their Hillsborough County counterparts who earn just over $16 per hour. School officials hope the raises will help address the driver shortage affecting districts nationwide.
