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Here's what's going on this weekend in the Tampa area: ST. PETERSBURG - A full weekend of racing is already in gear in St. Petersburg. The festivities officially started with a Thursday night parade down Central Avenue. It featured last year's champ, Will Power, and this year, Budweiser added a float and its world-renowned Clydesdale horses. A big party followed at North Straub Park where fans got the opportunity to meet the drivers. "Anytime we bring in the Honda Grand Prix, it brings 150,000 people to a downtown spot. So the hotels are filled, restaurants will be packed, there's a lot of economic impact with this event," Mayor Bill Foster offered. "And then, of course, you've got the impact of a three-hour commercial on national television." The weekend of racing wraps up with the main event, Sunday's Honda Grand Prix. There are several closures in the downtown area. Through race weekend, the following roads will be closed or have limited access: For more traffic and parking information, click on over to the city's website.
Friday, March 25, 2011
St. Pete revs up once again
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
March Teacher Month
Here's an interesting event for Tampa Bay for the month of March:
Free teacher with a guest every day in March to Dinosaur World. Valid teacher ID required. Click here to visit their website
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Recycling fishing line for marine life
Here's an interesting article about our marine life here in Florida: TAMPA - Many people consider Florida to be the fishing capital of the world. But with so many anglers comes a lot of fishing line. Images of dolphins and turtles tangled in fishing line or nets are disturbing and unforgivable. "As an environmental scientist, as a person who loves the outdoors, I like wildlife and I feel bad when I see them suffering in a way like that," said Kevin Misiewicz, an environmental scientist with Tampa Bay Watch. Fishing line causes needless suffering, due to some anglers' improper disposal of it. Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's produced a video on fishing line recycling to put stop the suffering. A popular reminder of this is Winter the dolphin. Her tale was amputated after it became entangled in fishing line. Most animals aren't as lucky -- especially birds. Misiewicz explained, "The hooks will get lodged under the wing, the wing gets pinned down, and then they can't fly. If they can't fly, they can't catch food, if they can't catch food they can't feed their young, and often times the whole nest can parish." There is a way to prevent these disasters: monofilament fishing line recycling bins posted at many major fishing areas. Misiewicz helps clean the bins. While cleaning, he notes items of garbage that are not supposed to be in it. Click here to learn more.
Friday, February 25, 2011
BALLROOM DANCERS GO TOE-TO-TOE IN TAMPA BAY DANCE-OFF
TAMPA, FL - Ballroom and Latin dancers from around the country are gathering for the 10th Annual Florida Superstars Dancesport Championships, being held in Tampa next week. Wearing their most enchanting outfits, dancers hope to dazzle the judges as they compete for $85,000 in cash and prizes at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Downtown Tampa, where the ballroom will be decked out in a Venetian Masquerade theme. "This is an exciting and glamorous spectator sport where cheering for your favorite couples is all part of the fun," said Michael Chapman, event organizer. "You'll see amazing dancers of every age and skill level, from talented professionals and youths to dedicated students dancing with their teachers, just like on Dancing with the Stars. See them perform the Cha Cha, Rumba, Waltz, Quickstep, Jive and more. The competition runs morning to night, so you can come for a session or stay for the entire day." Click here to continue reading.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
White House: No drilling off Florida coast
Here's is an interesting article for all Florida residents: TALLAHASSEE (AP) - The Obama administration will maintain a long-standing oil drilling ban in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida after considering loosening it before the BP spill, a senior administration official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Just a month before the spill started in April, the Obama administration had announced plans to allow drilling in the eastern portion of the Gulf as part of the management plan for the Outer "In light of the BP spill, we've learned a lot and understand the need to elevate the safety and environmental standards," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar planned to discuss the decision Wednesday afternoon. The eastern Gulf -- an area stretching from 125 to 300 miles off Florida's coast -- was singled out for protection by Congress in 2006 as part of a deal with Florida lawmakers that made available 8.3 million acres to oil and gas development in the east-central Gulf. Under that agreement, the protected region is to remain off limits to energy development until 2022. But the administration had entertained the idea of expanded drilling, until the BP spill that spewed an estimated 172 million gallons of oil into the Gulf. In order to open more of the eastern Gulf to drilling, the administration would have to ask Congress to lift the drilling moratorium. Click here to continue reading.
Continental Shelf.
decision hadn't been announced yet. "We took a second look at the announced plan and modified it to remove the Eastern Gulf of Mexico from leasing consideration."
Friday, October 22, 2010
Roll out the barrels, it's Oktoberfest again
Oktoberfest is here again in Tampa: TAMPA - It's time to break out the strudel, sausages, sauerkraut and steins for Oktoberfest, that annual German-inspired celebration of beer brewing. And throughout the Tampa Bay area, people will mark the 200th anniversary of this German tradition with song, dance, food and drink. • The former Tampa Armature Works, 1910 North Ola Ave., is the location for Oktoberfest Tampa 2010, which runs Oct. 15-17. Converted to a Bavarian-themed building, the Works will host singing, dancing and, of course, drinking. The inaugural keg of Warsteiner will be tapped at 4 p.m. Oct. 15. Food will be served by South Tampa's Datz Deli. Activities include barrel tossing, a Mr. and Miss Oktoberfest and a beer stein relay. Click here to read more.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Four Year Old Boy Comes To Great-Grandmother's Rescue
ST. PETERSBURG — A 4-year-old's quick thinking may have saved his great-grandmother's life.
Devonte Dawson was home with 67-year-old Janie Leshore when she began having seizures and lost consciousness, according to Bay News 9.
Devonte called dialed 911 and stayed by her side as he talked with emergency dispatchers.
Leshore was hospitalized for three days and lost movement in her arm, but is expected to make a full recovery.
Devonte's mother, Aisha Beckwith, said she taught him how to call 911 when he was 3, Bay News 9 reports.
Police gave the boy a coloring book and toy police badge for staying cool under pressure.
Friday, August 13, 2010
School Supplies That Cost $10 or Less Are Tax-Exempt This Weekend.
For the first time in two years, the tax-free holiday for school shopping is back.
The sales tax holiday kicks off Friday and lasts through the weekend.
Retailers said they expect the weekend to be the second busiest shopping event of the year. They have cut prices and stocked their shelves in anticipation of the tax holiday.
The tax holiday covers school supplies that cost less than $10 and clothes and shoes that cost less than $50. The items also have to be on the list of tax-exempt items issued by the state.
This is the first back-to-school tax holiday since 2007. However, families had a week to take advantage of tax-free shopping. This time, lawmakers shorted the break because of budget constraints. As a result, the tax holiday only lasts three days.
Even so, officials expect the tax holiday will save families about $26 million.
List of taxable and tax-exempt items
Taken from Bay News 9 website.
