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Albert Whitted launches flight training scholarships

The Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg is offering flight training scholarships for ages 16-24 to encourage underrepresented youth groups to become pilots. There will be two different types of scholarships - Flight Training Scholarships ($5,000) and Starter Flight Scholarships ($1,000). St. Pete Air will lead the flight training portion. The scholarship applications can be found here

Howard Frankland to close overnight

The southbound lanes of Interstate 275 over the Howard Frankland Bridge will close from 11 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7. No vehicles will be allowed on the southbound portion of I-275 west of State Road 60 (Exit 39) to the Ulmerton Road (SR 688)/Martin Luther King Jr. Street interchange (Exit 31), according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The closure and detour are due to crews installing sign structures across all lanes of southbound I-275 on the Pinellas side of the bridge.

BayFirst appoints new CEO

St. Petersburg-based BayFirst Financial Corp. announced Monday that Anthony Leo will retire as CEO at the end of this year. Leo will remain a director of the company and Thomas Zernick will succeed Leo as CEO on Jan. 1, 2024. Zernick has served as president of the company since February 2022, and previously served as president of its CreditBench division, according to BayFirst's announcement. 

Localtopia organizers prepare for expanded event

The shopping, entertainment and arts festival known as Localtopia will return to downtown St. Petersurg's Williams Park February 18, and organizers expect over 300 organizations to help celebrate "all things local." Organizers announced attendees can now park for free at Tropicana Field Lots 1 and 2 and take a complimentary Star Trolley to the park. For more information on the 10th annual event, visit the website here.

Kirstie Alley’s Clearwater home lists

The waterfront Clearwater home of the late actress Kirstie Alley is listed for sale with an asking price of $5.995 million. The 7,815-square-foot estate at 1100 N. Oceola Ave., built in 1993, has nine bedrooms, with five bedrooms in the main house, and features two courtyards and a pool with a spa. Ray Cassano of Station Square Realty LLC is the listing agent. 

Professional skateboarding tour to stop in St. Pete

The Red Bull Drop-In Tour will bring some of the top street skaters to the St. Pete Skatepark Sunday, February 12. The city is one of four on the tour, which is meant to highlight the best venues in professional skater Jamie Foy’s home state. For more information on the park and event, visit the website here.

Sheriff wins national award

The Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) named Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri its 2022 Sheriff of the Year. The association presented Gualtieri with the award Wednesday at its 2023 Winter Conference. According to a release, Gualtieri received recognition for his positive impact on the MCSA and nationwide contributions to law enforcement.

‘Pawn Stars’ to shoot in Tampa, St. Petersburg

History Channel officials recently announced the popular reality television show Pawn Stars will film in Tampa, St. Petersburg and 13 other cities in the second season of Pawn Stars Do America. According to the website’s description, Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Austin “Chumlee” Russell will leave Las Vegas and search for historical and collectible objects. The first season includes eight two-hour episodes, and officials did not release filming dates.

Rays, Rowdies hiring workers

The Tampa Bay Rays, in collaboration with hospitality partner Levy, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and others are hosting a job fair at Tropicana Field today, Feb. 2, from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. to fill job positions for the new season. The companies are hiring catering attendants, concession workers, cooks, security guards, retail sales associates, tech team members and additional positions. The companies are asking applicants to bring their resumes. 

What will happen to the iconic Sundial sculpture

St. Petersburg-based Paradise Ventures, which purchased the Sundial shopping plaza year, is working with Ally Capital Group in Tampa to redevelop the plaza into a modern destination, which calls for the removal of the Sundial sculpture. Mike Connor of Paradise Ventures told the St. Pete Catalyst they have offered to give the art piece to the City of St. Petersburg, which will be able to determine its future use. The sculpture was designed by renowned production designer René Lagler and crafted by Thomas Sign and Awning Co. 

Tampa International adds two nonstop routes

Travelers seeking to fly from Tampa International Airport (TPA) to San Diego and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, without worrying about a layover are now in luck. TPA officials recently announced that Alaska Airlines will begin nonstop services to San Diego on October 5. Frontier Airlines will provide nonstop flights to Puerto Rico’s west coast starting May 4.

Feeding Tampa Bay breaks ground on new HQ

The nonprofit organization Feeding Tampa Bay, which focuses on providing food access to families, held a groundbreaking this week at 4000 Causeway Blvd. in Tampa for the new home of its expanded HQ. The Catalyst first broke the news in 2021 on plans for the 217,000-square-foot center. The new HQ is expected to be complete in 2024 and will more than double its current footprint.   

The St. Pete Catalyst

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