🌱 New Tampa Patch: Everything Going On Today (Wed, Jan 25)

Hi all. It's me, Celeste "Pirate Queen" Wetzel, your host of the New Tampa Patch newsletter — here to impart all the most important things happening locally. Including news on:

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But first, today's weather:

Breezy this afternoon. High: 83 Low: 55.

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Here are the top stories in New Tampa today:

1. Italian singer Andrea Bocelli announces first performance in NOLA (OffBeat Magazine)
2. New York investment bank opening Florida HQ at Water Street Tampa (Tampa Bay Times)
3. The Black Dahlia Murder Announce New Tour 2023 (New Noise Magazine)
4. Life Safety and Emergency Management Summit (Florida Health Care Association)
5. Florida's Anthony Richardson a top-10 pick in ESPN's new mock draft (Tampa Bay Times)
6. Madonna's life story might be delayed on the big screen because of ... (Audacy)
7. Honoring Sergeant Travis Miller (City of Lakeland)
8. Alligator abandoned in New Jersey finds new home in Florida (The Hill)
9. More younger people turning to rehab to get clean (Bay News 9)
10. B2Digital's B2 Sports Network (B2SN) Expands Distribution (GlobeNewswire)
11. Lindberg's retrial on bribery, fraud charges delayed past March (Carolina Journal)
12. New Bosnian government approved 3 months after elections (Bay News 9)
13. Daboll, Pederson, Shanahan up for AP NFL Coach of the Year (Bay News 9)
14. Alligator abandoned in New Jersey finds new home in Florida (KOLR - OzarksFirst.com)
15. Specificity Surpassed Goals in 2022 and Sets Higher Targets to Reach for 2023 (Yahoo Finance)
16. Florida schools start removing books amid reviews prompted by ... (Tampa Bay Times)
17. Manatee parents split on new school library rules (Bay News 9)
18. Hillsborough County Commissioners to decide which transportation projects penny tax money will be used for (ABC Action News Tampa Bay)
19. Zoo Tampa | CEO Joe Couceiro talks expansion plans (blooloop)
20. Edmunds: The pros and cons of software running your car (Bay News 9)
21. 2 charged with vandalizing anti-abortion health facilities in Florida (Tampa Bay Times)
22. Porfiris Porfiriadis Obituary (1954 - 2023) (Legacy.com)
23. New Zealander killed in Ukraine helped hundreds, parents say (Bay News 9)
24. Zoo Tampa concerned about manatee death toll: 'It's very disturbing' (Fox News)
25. Letang gets OT game-winner, leads Penguins over Panthers 7-6 (Hopkinsville Kentucky New Era)
26. The Perfect Pair! Mini Charcuterie & Valentine's DIY Workshop ... (www.813area.com)
27. Local non-profit creating new program for youth gun offenders (FOX 13 Tampa)
28. Farrell's Latest Recruiting Rumors: Justin Scott, Nyckoles Harbor, Ryan Wingo, and More (Yardbarker)
29. Valentines's Day Bouquet Workshop and Drinks at Dwell Home ... (www.813area.com)
30. New educational installation at ZooTampa lets guests know more about Florida wildlife (WTSP.com)

Today in New Tampa:

From my notebook:

• City of Tampa: "SHIVER ME TIMBERS! 😬 Gasparilla pirates stormed into City Hall, kidnapped the mayor, and DEMANDED the key to the City today. But rest assured, Tampa, Mayor Jane Castor stood her ground and defended the key. 🗝Now, pirates say they'll be..." (City of Tampa via Facebook)
• MacDill Air Force Base: "CONGRATULATIONS from TEAM6 Brigadier General Select Benjamin Jonsson and the entire Jonsson family." (MacDill Air Force Base via Facebook)
• Hillsborough County Public Schools: ""Benito pride is hard to hide!" 💙 Benito Middle School teachers, staff, and former administrators gathered last night to celebrate the school's 25th anniversary. As part of their celebration, they also recognized four employees who have..." (Hillsborough County Public Schools via Facebook)
• City of Tampa: "BREAKING: Pirates have invaded City Hall! Tune in LIVE to see what these scallywags are up to." (City of Tampa via Facebook)
• City of Tampa: "Tampa Riverwalk was nominated as one of the best riverwalks in the nation by USA TODAY 10Best! 😎🌴 We're currently in 3rd place for People's Choice, so we need your help to snag the number 1 spot! Vote daily through Friday, Feb 6th: 10b..." (City of Tampa via Facebook)
• Hillsborough County Public Schools: "Reading is more fun with a buddy! 📚 The older students at Temple Terrace Elementary stopped by the K-2 classrooms today, where they partnered up and dove into a good book! #FLCelebratesLiteracy #LiteracyWeek2023" (Hillsborough County Public Schools via Facebook)
• Tampa Police Department: "𝒜𝐻𝒪𝒴 𝐵𝒰𝒞𝒞𝒜𝒩𝐸𝐸𝑅𝒮! 🏴‍☠️ Thousands of pirates will be invading Bayshore Blvd this weekend, so if you do get separated from your krewe, plan ahead! Have a meeting spot so you can reunite with your fellow lads & lassies. #YourT..." (Tampa Police Department via Facebook)
• Hillsborough County Sheriff: "☠️𝘽𝘼𝙏𝙏𝙀𝙉 𝘿𝙊𝙒𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙃𝘼𝙏𝘾𝙃𝙀𝙎☠️ Keep your loot locked up! While you're enjoying the invasion and the parade, make sure you lock your car doors and hide your valuables from plain sight. #DailyTreasure #teamHCSO" (Hillsborough County Sheriff via Instagram)
• Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office: "☠️𝘽𝘼𝙏𝙏𝙀𝙉 𝘿𝙊𝙒𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙃𝘼𝙏𝘾𝙃𝙀𝙎☠️ Keep your loot locked up! While you're enjoying the invasion and the parade, make sure you lock your car doors and hide your valuables from plain sight. #DailyTreasure #teamHCSO" (Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
• City of Tampa: "Save this number! Call (813) 231-6130 to report non-emergencies to the Tampa Police Department. Remember, if you see something suspicious, say something. Alert a nearby officer or dial 9-1-1 in an emergency. We want everyone to have a fu..." (City of Tampa via Facebook)
• Hillsborough County: "Sure. We'll share our cake. 🎂 These may pirates have stolen a slice, but we're happy to celebrate our 189th birthday and @gasparillatampa during the same week. ☠ #MyHillsborough" (Hillsborough County via Instagram)
• MacDill Air Force Base: "What would you say if we told you we were flying two 60-year-old aircraft around the entire globe? Well we’re doing it… and we’re already here. Want to follow along with us while we circumnavigate the Southern Hemisphere? Make sure to tu..." (MacDill Air Force Base via Facebook)
• Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library: "The Hillsborough County Hiking Spree is a great way to get active in the new year, and we've got the perfect soundtrack for your outdoor adventures. Find a new audiobook or some fresh tunes with Hoopla, all downloadable for offline use. ..." (Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library via Facebook)
• City of Tampa: "HAPPENING NOW: Mayor Jane Castor and Bloomberg Associates are celebrating safety and roadway improvements on the Cass Street Bridge. This "quick build" project added new protected bike lanes, improved crosswalks, and new scooter hubs to ..." (City of Tampa via Facebook)
• City of Tampa: "Every small swashbuckler left the 2023 Children's Gasparilla Parade with a bounty of beads! 🏴‍☠️ We had a blast celebrating with Tampa's tiniest pirates, and stand ready to defend our fair city again this weekend!" (City of Tampa via Facebook)
• Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library: "HCPLC is calling all community members! Do you love to read? Here's your chance to be featured in our 2023 Summer Reading campaign! Share your favorite photo that shows you reading with your friends, family, or furry friends. Tell us why..." (Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library via Facebook)
• Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA: "Did you know you, your child or your organization can receive CPR training and a certification at the YMCA? Contact your local Y today to reserve your spot for an upcoming class and learn how to save a life ⛑️ https://fal.cn/3vmqo" (Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA via Facebook)
• City of Tampa: "Are you looking for a career in construction? 🛠 DPR Construction and many of its subcontractors will be at the NFL YET Center - 3310 E. Lake Avenue on Friday, January 27 beginning at 9:00 a.m. until noon. This is a wonderful opportunity..." (City of Tampa via Facebook)
• Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library: "With every new year comes newer possibilities! Kids can learn new skills and develop a new hobby with our selection of books to make 2023 a fun year: ow.ly/ehhE50Mk49e" (Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library via Facebook)
• North Tampa Athletic Association: "We are in need of Team Managers for our 6U Coach-Pitch, T-Ball and our 3 Year-Old T-Ball Divisions. Please register today if you are interested https://ntaa.sportngin.com/register/form/351203400. If you would like additional information ..." (North Tampa Athletic Association via Facebook)
• Hillsborough County Public Schools: "HCPS families, friendly reminder, all middle and high school students can log in to Paper to access FREE, unlimited, 24/7 tutoring through Live Help chats and a Review Center for written work via Clever!" (Hillsborough County Public Schools via Facebook)
• Freedom High School PTSA: "FHS PTSA would like to thank one of our wonderful Business Sponsors for their continued support, Infinite Edge! Infinite Edge Learning Center specializes in academic enrichment and intervention, home-school classroom support, distance le..." (Freedom High School PTSA via Facebook)
• New Tampa Family YMCA: "REMINDER! Our Community Health Fair is TODAY from 11 - 1pm! This event is free and open to the public - so invite a guest! Loads of vendors, raffles for prizes, goodies, quality information, and FUN so what's not to love? Stop by today! ..." (New Tampa Family YMCA via Facebook)
• Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA: "Another great Charity Golf Classic - with individuals working to strengthen diverse youth golfers ⛳" (Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA via Facebook)
• North Tampa Athletic Association: "Today is the day! Spots are filling fast and a few divisions are already on a waitlist. If you haven't registered please do so before it's too late. We don't want anyone to miss out! https://ntaa.sportngin.com/register/form/720162398" (North Tampa Athletic Association via Facebook)

That's it for today. I'll see you around!

— Celeste "Pirate Queen" Wetzel

About me: The original Pirate Queen and QA engineer for Patch. Did you know that this week I have worked at least two fourteen hour days? This sprint has been nuts and the engineering team has been keeping me hopping non-stop. I'm exhausted and very close to needing a vacation.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming New Tampa Patch newsletter? Contact me at celeste.wetzel@patch.com