Tierra Verde
GOVERNMENT
Is St. Petersburg’s rudest shop owner hurting more than people’s feelings?
ST. PETERSBURG — Tubular Tokes owner Skylar Strickland knows he’s infamous in this town. “For sure,” he said, smiling within the weed-scented stockroom of his convenience store and vaping emporium. “We’ve made a splash.”. Within arm’s reach sat an old pricing gun, a can of...
Pinellas County approves $8 million for 164 new affordable apartments
Two new residential projects that will bring 164 affordable housing units to area are poised to receive millions of dollars through Pinellas County taxes and other funding sources. This week, Pinellas County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved two separate funding requests for the 80-unit Flats on 4th apartment project in...
St. Petersburg Residents To See Changes In Utility Rates And Charges
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Starting October 1, 2024, St. Petersburg utility customers may see changes in their water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater, and sanitation rates and fees, pending City Council approval. The City Council will hold a First Reading on August 15 to formally set the date and time...
Winter Pride controversy: St Pete Pride distances self from event
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The owner of one of the largest gay-owned businesses in St. Petersburg said he was “shocked” after he learned the nonprofit St Pete Pride publicly denounced affiliation with an upcoming pride event. St Pete Pride distributed a statement mid-morning Wednesday, Aug. 14, to...
New SunRunner station coming to the heart of downtown St. Pete
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A new SunRunner stop is coming to the heart of downtown St. Pete, stretching the rapid transit line further east. The new station will be constructed at 1st Ave. North and 1st St. South, outside of popular downtown bars like Tequila Daisy and Copper Shaker.
7+ spots to visit on Free Museum Day in St. Pete this fall
St. Pete is a city for art lovers. We live on the renowned “Glass Coast,” and are a proverbial open air art gallery courtesy of our fabulous SHINE Mural Festival. Each September, our beloved local museums open their doors for free for residents. This year, Free Museum Day...
St. Petersburg officials receive big bonuses following Rays stadium deal
City employees who had a hand in negotiating and crafting a Tampa Bay Rays stadium and redevelopment deal hauled in big checks this week. According to payroll records obtained Friday by the Tampa Bay Times in a public records request, 17 high ranking employees received bonus checks Thursday totaling $250,000.
Iconic Beach Theatre nearing comeback in St. Pete Beach
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. - A Bay Area family is giving a historic theater in St. Pete Beach a second act. The Beach Theatre on Corey Ave. opened its doors in January 1940 as the first cinema in Pinellas County with sound and air conditioning. "It’s an 84-year-old art deco...
Council approves replacing deteriorating St. Pete bridge
A St. Petersburg neighborhood adjacent to flood-prone Shore Acres will soon receive a much-needed new bridge as part of an over $5 million project. City council members unanimously approved multiple agreements for the Venetian Boulevard NE Bridge replacement project Thursday afternoon. Background documents note that Tampa-based Cone & Graham, the lead contractor, was the “only responsive and responsible bidder.”
Pinellas school board race draws complaint over ad featuring DeSantis
A Pinellas County School Board member seeking re-election alleges Republican leaders crossed legal boundaries in campaign ads that endorse her challenger. In a complaint to the Florida Elections Commission, Eileen Long says mailers and texts in support of opponent Erika Picard violate a state law that says candidates cannot be identified by their party in non-partisan races.
Gigantic Oktoberfest celebration brings beer, food, music and games to Albert Whitted Park
Get your stein-hoisting muscles in shape – St. Pete’s biggest Oktoberfest celebration is back for round two. Presented by 3 Daughters Brewing, the 2nd Annual BayFirst Financial Oktoberfest is an all-day, beer-and-polka-fueled party by the water in Albert Whitted Park on Saturday, September 28, from 1-6 pm, featuring everything from German beer and food to a massive local market and traditional Bavarian music and games.
Six months into St. Pete’s housing experiment, enforcing rules and measuring success
The Tampa Bay Times has been covering this housing experiment since residents moved in on Valentine’s Day. We will follow tenants and staff throughout the year. Chapter 1: In St. Petersburg, homeless people get an apartment, support — and a fresh start. Chapter 2: A St. Petersburg housing...
Gulfport's 23rd Annual GECKOFEST to Feature Live Music, Performances and More
Gulfport's 23rd annual GECKOFEST will offer a full day of family-friendly fun on Saturday, August 31st from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. The streets of the waterfront village will be filled with live music on two stages, hundreds of food, art and craft vendors, kids' activities, and up close and personal street theater performances by a bevy of acrobats, magicians, daredevils, dancers, aerialists, fire eaters, balloon artists and costumed characters. GECKOFEST is located along Beach and Shore Boulevards in the heart of downtown Gulfport (3101 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport).
Groundbreaking set for new downtown St. Pete SunRunner Bus Station
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), along with U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, State Senator Darryl Rouson, and other local leaders, will break ground on a new SunRunner station on Friday, August 16, at 10:30am. The station will be located around 120 1st Avenue North near the popular brunch hub Social...
St. Pete Central Ave. businesses reopen after storm-related damages shuttered doors for two weeks
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Businesses on a block of Central Avenue in St. Petersburg are back open after storm-related damage shut their doors for close to two weeks. According to city officials, the mansard roof at 2541 Central Avenue collapsed into an adjacent parking area, causing the connected canopy in the front of the building to be unstable on the evening of July 25. No one was injured.
Debby debris cleared from veteran's backyard after 10 Tampa Bay coverage
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Outside a Pinellas Park home Wednesday, workers were the conductors of a symphony to a 79-year-old veteran’s ears. “Looks good, looks good, wished it looked like that a little before all this,” Terry Gould said. Gould, an Army veteran first reached out to...
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