St. Pete Times

St. Petersburg Pier: Countdown to closing

The St. Petersburg Pier is scheduled to close on May 31. The inverted pyramid, which opened in 1973, is to be demolished later this year. As the days count down, here's where you'll find both the daily news and snippets and observations from the Pier.



Spain's role in Florida history will be celebrated at Heritage Village

Five hundred years ago this year, Ponce de Leon landed on the east coast of the state and gave the region a name: La Florida. Florida is marking the anniversary with a year-long, statewide celebration called "Viva Florida 500." Visitors to Heritage Village will find plenty of Florida history Sunday, including an exhibit and lecture.



  1. Talks, summer camps, senior dining and more

    Events

    Elder Resource Fair: Find out about health care options and get free tests for hand and arm functioning, skin integrity, blood pressure, vision, balance, neuropathy, diabetes and hearing from 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday at the Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N. Bag lunch available for $4.95. For information, call (727) …

  2. A quiet St. Petersburg mayor's race via Twitter

    Local

    Refresh, refresh

    St. Petersburg residents can now get daily updates on the future referendum to stop the Lens from moving forward.

  3. Social scene: Submit items for Social Calendar; charities can apply for funds

    Human Interest

    Get events listed in Social Calendar

  4. On the town: Star Power! benefits Children's Home; Sunshine Center presents honors; Go Red for Women luncheon

    Human Interest

    05.10.2013

    It's hard to top the annual "Star Power!" fashion show benefit presented each year by the Pinellas Auxiliary of the Children's Home, but Georgette and Tasha Diaz manage to build more excitement into the extravaganza every time they produce it.

  5. Young stars come out to Mahaffey for Mayor's Youth Showcase

    Columns

    The Sunshine City hosted the third annual Mayor's Youth Showcase of Achievement at the Mahaffey Theater last week.

  6. Kenneth City meeting turns into brouhaha over manager

    Local Government

    KENNETH CITY — The workshop was called to discuss the wisdom of hiring a city manager, and by the end, some residents said it was a prime example of the need for a professional to run the town.

  7. Treasure Island manager gets a raise

    Local Government

    TREASURE ISLAND — City Manager Reid Silverboard got his anniversary wish — albeit a little late — when city commissioners approved a 5 percent raise in a 3-2 vote.

  8. Railroad work to shut down intersections

    Roads

    Work to replace the aging rubber CSX Railroad cross ties at crossings throughout Pinellas County from Clearwater to St. Petersburg will begin soon, requiring weeklong road closures at some locations. This work, which involves 25 crossings, has been planned for quite some time, although solid dates to begin the first of …

  9. Pinellas Park fire official reprimanded for sexual comment

    Local Government

    PINELLAS PARK — A district fire chief was given a written reprimand and a 12-hour unpaid suspension after an investigation concluded he had made a sexually charged comment to a female firefighter.

  10. Pinellas considers special taxing districts for poor neighborhoods

    Local Government

    Encouraged by nascent plans for a special taxing district south of downtown St. Petersburg, the Pinellas County Commission is considering using the same method of stoking development in four other low-income areas of the county.

  11. Madeira Beach earns glowing financial report from auditors

    Local Government

    MADEIRA BEACH — In 2011, a new commission majority came to office intent on fixing what it viewed as major issues within the city's financial reporting.

  12. Ireland Nugent meets first responders who helped save her

    Human Interest

    LARGO — Christopher Jennings, a Sunstar paramedic not prone to tears, thought he was all cried out.

  13. Madeira Beach manager gets rave reviews and raise

    Local Government

    MADEIRA BEACH — To universal praise and a glowing review, City Manager Shane Crawford was given a 3 percent raise last week, bringing his annual salary to $120,510 and his total package, with benefits, to slightly more than $168,000.

  14. Paddleboard becomes weapon against cancer

    Health

    TREASURE ISLAND

    Gene Evans will celebrate more than two years of being cancer-free on Saturday with fellow paddleboard enthusiasts, raising money to fight the disease.

  15. Gulfport artists open homes, studios May 25-26

    Human Interest

    GULFPORT — If you've ever been the least bit curious about where artists live and work, Gulfport's SoStudio Tour is your ticket to browse. This Saturday and Sunday artists are opening their homes and studios and offering art aficionados a rare opportunity to peer inside their personal space and even catch …