Dear Friends:
I want to stay in touch and help keep you informed about what is going on in our community. Periodically I will send you information about precautions the county is taking to combat the COVID virus, business incentives, park updates, government operations and general good news about our community that you want to know.
If you have good news or have an upcoming community event, send it to me and it could be included in a a future Community News.
Sincerely,
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Florida long-term care residents can enjoy family visits, complete with hugs
“Moving forward, all long-term care facilities should strive to help alleviate the burden caused by separation of residents from their loved ones.”
The state Agency for Health Care Administration announced on Tuesday that it was removing restrictions on residents of long-term care who want to visit with their loved ones.
The move came more than a year after the coronavirus pandemic forced nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to close their doors to the outside world. The state restrictions were put in place in March 2020, with the goal of keeping the disease out of care centers, and were loosened later in the year to allow socially distant visits from loved ones.
For many residents and their families, this news means everything, said Louise Merrick, administrator of Gulf Shore Care Center, a nursing home in Pinellas Park. Residents had been making the best of the pandemic-induced lockdown with window visits, phone calls and FaceTime.
Read more HERE
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Bay Area, State Vaccinations Expand to 40 And Older Starting Today
COVID-19 vaccination sites are expected to be busy this week, as the state is opening up vaccinations to anyone 40 years and older today. Also now eligible for the vaccine at Hillsborough County managed sites include health care workers and Pre-K to 12th grade teachers under 40.
Read more HERE
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954 new homes to be built on bluff overlooking Hillsborough River in West Tampa
Related Urban Development Group will partner with the Tampa Housing Authority on a project that will bring 954 new housing units to West Tampa within six years, 600 of which will be for workforce housing and affordable housing.
People earning 60% of the area median income can qualify for workforce housing -- 40% of the project -- and 40% of the units are for families of four earning $47,000 or less. Another 20% are set aside for market-rate housing. In addition to rentals, there are also townhouses available for purchase in the project.
It will take about a year for the Rome Yard Development Project to finalize agreements with the city, which owns the 18 acres of land, and to complete various negotiations. After that, the development will take about five years to complete.
Read more HERE
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USF chosen for virus research headquarters
The University of South Florida has been picked to host the regional headquarters for a virus research coalition, which will help develop new strategies to fight against infectious diseases.
The Global Virus Network has named USF Health as its new southeast U.S. regional headquarters. GVN is a system of researchers from around the world who study how viruses work and how they make people sick.
Read more HERE
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Port Tampa Bay okays lease deal for $160 million cardboard recycling plant
Port Tampa Bay officials have signed off on a land lease with a company that wants to build a new $160 million cardboard recycling plant in Tampa. Celadon Development Corp. will lease about 37.7 acres of port land on Hooker’s Point for 20 years, followed by two potential 10-year extensions. The port would receive $507,500 per year during a pre-development period of up to 18 months, then at least $1.3 million annually thereafter.
Read more HERE
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What's new in Tampa Heights? More than you may know
Tampa’s first suburb, Tampa Heights, dating back to the 1880s, continues to evolve and flourish in 2021, attracting new shops, restaurants, and more for residents and visitors.
Below are some new spots you won’t want to miss in this historic neighborhood.
Tampa Casita
2746 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, FL 33602
This lifestyle gift shop with a coastal clubhouse vibe opened up in the Heights in December of 2020.
Magnanimous Brewing
1420 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, FL 33602
Read more HERE
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USF Outstanding Young Alumni Awards
The Outstanding Young Alumni Award was established in 2004 to recognize alumni age 35 and younger for their professional accomplishments and engagement to the university. Selections are based on success in chosen careers; however, a demonstrated commitment to USF and opportunity for future involvement may also be considered.
Read more HERE
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M-PACT 2021: Women in Manufacturing
Career-Building Advice from Women in Manufacturing
Manufacturing Alliance of Hillsborough County
On March 30, we're hosting a conversation about the opportunities - and some of the challenges - facing women in manufacturing.
Sign up now to join our free M-PACT webinar and live Q&A, led by women making an impact on our industry. https://bit.ly/2Qj0iWx
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These female Eagle Scouts are blazing a new trail
Two years after the Boy Scouts of America opened its ranks to girls, two members of a Lutz troop have become part of the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts.
Crystal Ming Torres, 16, of Carrollwood, and Sianna Eldert, 18, of New Port Richey, were among 300 girls nationwide to officially earn the distinction on Feb. 8. They are members of Troop 339G, which is chartered by the First Baptist Church of Lutz.
It’s always notable when anyone earns the rank of Eagle Scout (only 6% of all Boys Scouts reach that level)
Read more HERE
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Bet you didn’t know
Here's a fun look at how to eat a kumquat and the types of kumquats grown locally near Dade City. Did you know that you're not supposed to peel a kumquat? Unlike an orange or a lemon, you just eat it whole! This is one of the many things we learned after talking to Greg and learning about all things kumquat.
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Fishing fundraiser set for family of fallen Pinellas Sheriff's deputy
A kayak fishing tournament created to raise money for the family of fallen Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Dep. Michael J. Magli will take place April 3.
Magli was killed in the line of duty Feb. 17 while taking action to stop an intoxicated motorist actively fleeing from law enforcement and driving recklessly on East Lake Road.
Reel Adventure Kayak Fishing and Osprey Bay Outdoors is hosting the open-boundaries tournament that targets redfish. A mandatory captain's meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, April 2, at Osprey Bay Outdoors,160 N. Belcher Road.
Read more HERE
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100 Conservation Challenge Continues To Make A Positive Impact
The Hillsborough 100 Conservation Challenge is taking place from Saturday, April 17 to Saturday, May 9 with the goal of encouraging residents to get involved. The period of the challenge covers Earth Day (Thursday, April 22), National Arbor Day (Friday, April 30) and National Stewardship Week (Sunday, April 25 to Sunday, May 2).
With the simple concept of conservation being everybody’s business, the Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District (HSWCD) established the Hillsborough 100 Conservation Challenge in 2017.
Read more HERE
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American Legion Post 147, Odessa Public "Car Show", Sunday, April 11th
Located at 17383 Gunn Highway, Odessa FL
Gates open at 9:00 AM and ends at 3:00 PM
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Florida among best states for remote job seekers
A recent report from CareerCloud found Florida is among the best states for remote jobs.
The report ranked states on three major categories: employment per 1,000, projected job growth and home broadband access. Those metrics were used to create a score between 1 and 5.
Remote work was already becoming a more popular option even before the Covid-19 pandemic. With a large chunk of workforces spending the better part of 2020 working remote, it is now becoming expected by employees. Remote positions can allow companies to recruit top-level talent without having to pay relocation fees. A recent report from FlexJobs highlighted Kforce as a top company for remote jobs. SmartAsset recently named St. Petersburg a top city for remote work as well.
An accountant is the best job for remote current in Florida, with 8.1 jobs per 1,000. The report expects information security analysts to be a popular remote job within the state by 2028.
Read more HERE
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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier turns 100 years old in 2021.
The Sentinels of the Army’s 3d. U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) are iconic figures at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. However, the Tomb was not always guarded. After its creation in 1921, the Tomb sat unguarded for several years. As the site became popular with tourists as well as mourners, instances of disrespectful public behavior led the Army to employ civilian guards. By 1926, many in Congress, the military, and the American public were calling for the establishment of a permanent military guard at the Tomb. (These first guards were not members of The Old Guard, which began its 24/7 watch at the Tomb in 1948.)
Learn more HERE
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