A new Stadium for the Rays, Tampa Approves a Budget, and Old Florida Growth Rules Thwarted Development That Would Have Made Idalia Worse
Plus, new restaurants to visit and a dog for you
CURRENTS
Tampa-St. Pete up next with taxpayer dollars funding half a stadium project. The Center Square
Report: Rays will get $600M in public funds for new $1.2B stadium. The Center Square
Tampa City Council agrees on budget, with emphasis on affordable housing and fire department. 10 Tampa Bay
Opening statements to begin Thursday in ‘Maya’ lawsuit against All Children’s. Tampa Bay Times $
DeSantis ‘on life support’ in N.H., plummets in new poll. Politico
DeSantis' energy plan: Midland over Moscow. The Center Square
DeSantis delivered Covid booster warning as Florida led the nation in hospitalizations. Politico
National freedom-to-read group: Florida leading the spike in book bans. Florida Politics
Five former Florida Supreme Court justices back reinstatement of State Attorney Monique Worrell. Creative Loafing
Man arrested for impersonating officer to assault women, police say. ABC Action News
Seminole Heights residents worry construction project could set bad precedent for future developement. ABC Action News
Hillsborough County reviews plans to grow sports tourism. Spectrum News
Fort De Soto's new pier opens to the public next week. Creative Loafing
1 big thing: Report warns of a real estate "climate bubble." Axios Tampa Bay
The are now more Citizens policies in Florida than there are residents in New Hampshire and nine other states. Creative Loafing
NFL Week 3 expert picks, odds for Buccaneers vs. Eagles, Saints vs. Packers and every game. The Athletic
Orioles, Rays clinch playoff berths, but still more at stake in AL East race. The Athletic
Sarasota-Manatee campus housing rates to be most expensive across all campuses. The Oracle
On campus with UF President Ben Sasse as he seeks a ‘north star’ beyond rankings. Tampa Bay Times $
Expert Predictions: Gators Wire expects landslide victory over Charlotte. GatorsWire
Huge art installation stretching 500 feet will illuminate Water Street Tampa. That’s So Tampa
3 ways to celebrate World Car Free Day in the Tampa Bay area. TBay Today
Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida grills Space Force’s top brass on red-state policy, politics. Tampa Free Press
Got news? Send it here.
REPORTER
Old Florida growth rules thwarted development that would have made Idalia worse
Now there’s nothing that could stand in the way of a project like one that would have remade Taylor County’s coast
By Craig Pitman / Photo via Lynette Senter / Florida Phoenix
Last month, when Hurricane Idalia clobbered the sparsely settled coast of Taylor County in Florida’s Big Bend region, it sent my memory spinning back nearly 20 years to the first time I visited that area.
I was there to report on what was happening to hundreds of acres of swamp and salt marsh in an area that was aptly called “Boggy Bay.” This undeveloped acreage lay in the middle of the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve, the state’s largest such preserve and one of the largest stretches of uninterrupted sea grass in North America.
On that warm May day in 2006, the only sounds I heard were the wind riffling through the Spartina and needle rush, the cry of a passing osprey, and the scuttling of thousands of fiddler crabs as they scurried across the mud flats.
But the bulldozers weren’t far off.
Boggy Bay had been targeted for a massive development called the Magnolia Bay Marina and Resort. There would be a marina, of course, and also thousands of condos, a hotel, a helicopter landing pad, a public aquarium, a marine science laboratory, and 280,000 square feet of commercial space.
Read more at the Florida Phoenix
TODAY’S SPONSOR
The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959.
Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.
Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We need to talk.
BITES
There is no shortage of new restaurants coming to the Tampa Bay Area. Here’s a list of places. Some are now open; others are coming. Call ahead before visiting.
New Restaurant Openings
The Sommelier Hideaway: This Carrollwood newcomer is as warm and friendly as the Lutz original. Just days after its Sept. 16 opening, the newbie was already attracting gaggles of gals celebrating with snacks and multiple bottles of wine and romantic couples sharing dessert with a dessert wine nightcap. Very interesting wine choices here from around the world, so indulge and try a flight of with a small plate, handheld or cheese and charcuterie plate from the kitchen. Our Manuel Olivier Chardonay from Burgundy, France, was crisp and went well with the trio of hummus and warm pita. Open 3-10 p.m. Tue.-Thu., 3-11 p.m. Fri., 2-11 p.m. Sat., and 12-8 p.m. Sun. 14351 N. Dale Mabry, 813-444-4569.
Chuck Lager America’s Tavern, 5224 S. Bridge St., Westshore Marina District, Tampa: Chef Fabio Vivani’s rustic tavern fare, such as burgers, grouper sandwiches and pulled chicken tacos (first location is at The Shops at Wiregrass, 2001 Piazza Ave., Wesley Chapel)
Dutch Bros. Coffee, 3616 Ballast Point, Tampa: drive-through with coffee and coffee concoctions, smoothies, freezes, teas and energy drinks. Tampa Magazine
Paleta Mia Icepops, 5854 Goldview Parkway, Krate at The Grove, Wesley Chapel: popsicles and waffle sticks. That’s So Tampa
Pepper’s Island, 1701 E. 4th Ave., Ybor City: roti and hearty curries from Trinidad. That’s So Tampa
Rene’s Mexican Kitchen, 2802 N. 16th St., Ybor City: tacos, burritos and tortas (take-out only)
Streetlight Taco, 4004 Henderson Blvd., South Tampa’s Palma Ceia: “hyper traditional” tacos from Michael Brannock. Creative Loafing
Got restaurant news? Send it here.
BRIEFS
Tampa Bay Derby Day: Help clean up Tampa Bay at the Tampa Bay Debris Derby where trash collectors can win the title of Debris Derby Heavyweight Champion. Participants receive raffle tickets for prizes donated by Power-Pole, Costa Del Mar, and others for every bag of trash they collect. Power-Pole, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, and Skinny Water Culture are partnering up for this event, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat., Nov. 4, E.G. Simmons Regional Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin.
Medicare Assistance: Elderly Floridians can get free help understanding Medicare’s open enrollment period from Oct. 15-Dec. 7 by signing up with a counselor with Florida’s Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders Program, of SHINE Program. Learn more at www.FloridaSHINE.org.
ABOUT US
Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel
Contributing editors: ???
YOU NEED A PET
Say hello to adorable Nova. She came to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay when her family was moving and couldn't take her with them. She’s about 2, weighs 60 pounds, is a retriever mix, and comes with some virtual training. Can you be her furrever home? Meet her at SPCA Tampa Bay, 9099 130th Ave. North, Largo, 33773, 727-586-3591.
WHAT THEY SAID
