ST. PETE BEACH â Itâs just a matter of time before someone walking or bicycling to Gulf Beaches Elementary Magnet School, at 8600 Boca Ciega Drive, gets hit by a speeding motorist, residents told city officials.
During the April 13 City Commission meeting, parents with children who attend the school, and residents living along the two-lane residential roadway between 87th and 75th avenues, said something has to be done to stop speeding motorists before someone gets hurt or killed.
Those who commented during the meeting told commissioners the most reckless speeding drivers are actually parents taking their children to and from school.
ST. PETE BEACH â The city has been forced to suspend its memorial bench program after it became the victim of its own success and popularity.
Public Works Director Mike Clarke said over the years the program has been so successful that there are now 87 city-approved memorial benches on the beach, mostly in Pass-A-Grille.
âBench spacing on the sand has become quite crowded and, for that reason, the program has been suspended,â Clarke reported. âHowever, Public Works continues to receive requests for consideration. The emotional attachment families have with the beach and loved ones who have passed is very evident.â
During a March 23 commission meeting, City Manager Alex Rey told commissioners that âwhile the city is still getting requests for memorial benches, all the possible places on the beach where a bench can be placed has been saturated.â
Help is needed at businesses along the beaches
Justin Matthews reports
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is hosting a series of job fairs to help fill positions in the hospitality industry.
Businesses are starting to bounce back after a tough year because of the pandemic. We ve been building back now for over six months and it s just time to finalize a team and get some good team players, said Jacob MacDonald, the director of operations at Sunset Vistas.
The Job Fairs will be held at two locations on the following dates:
Monday, March 8th from 12 to 2 pm: Boca Ciega Ballroom at the St. Pete Beach Community Center 7701 Boca Ciega Drive St. Pete Beach FL 33706