The Tampa Bay 100 - 100 word stories & 100 second videos on topics of intrigue

Making Time for Vacation

Publisher Missy MacFarlane, APR, at the Falls of Bruar in Scotland last year. She managed to fully unplug during three of the five workdays away.

I normally love to see a list ranking the Tampa Bay region at the top. But a new report isn’t a reason to rejoice: Tampa ranked third among 30 metro areas for workers who don’t use time off.

This hit close to home: I’m guilty of not taking vacation time and often not unplugging when I’m away from the office. Once, I checked a job candidate’s references while sightseeing on the National Mall.

But I’m working on it, and I’ve found that pre-planning and communication with staff and clients helps me do better at unplugging and enjoying time off.

– Missy MacFarlane, B2 Communications

Please share:

The Environment

Restoring the Bay

Tampa Bay Watch's "Bay Grasses in Classes" program helps get young people involved in habitat restoration efforts. The Bay is at its highest level of seagrass since the 1950s due to these types of programs. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Watch)

Tampa Bay covers 2,700 square miles of open water and watershed, and as development has increased, its wetlands have suffered. One answer? Plant seagrass.

In a major step forward in this effort, Tampa Bay Watch, a nonprofit that protects and restores area estuaries, recently received $10,000 from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay for its “Bay Grasses In Classes” program.

Students plant and harvest salt marsh grasses in their schools’ wetlands nurseries to replant. The program has planted nearly 295,000 plugs, helping restore over 150 acres of habitat since 1995.

– Matt Spence, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay

Please share:

Pets

Teach Kids How to Greet Dogs Safely

Avoid yelling or screaming around dogs. Excessive noise can scare, excite or just annoy pets.

Many kids instinctively run to a dog they don’t know with outstretched arms, but it’s important to teach kids to approach unknown animals with caution and respect.

Children should never put their hands in a dog’s face, as that may scare the dog and cause it to react poorly. Teach children to ask the owner’s permission first. Then, if the owner approves, they should stand still, look down, pat their leg and say something like “Hi, puppy.”

This allows a dog to choose to greet the child or walk away. It also teaches a child to respect an animal’s space.

– Meagan Montmeny, SPCA Tampa Bay

Please share:

Your Next Home

5 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

Think of buying your first home as a first step on the path to owning your dream home.

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but it also can seem overwhelming if you don’t know where to start.

Follow these tips to make it easier:

1. Make sure you’re in good financial shape. Save up for a down payment and budget for closing costs.

2. Get to know the neighborhood. Can you see yourself living there?

3. Work with a knowledgeable real estate professional to help guide you.

4. Stick to a reasonable budget. Make sure you’re comfortable with the mortgage payment.

5. Don’t limit your search. Tour models, attend open houses and keep an open mind.

– Steve Seeger, Lennar Homes

Please share:

Food & Drink

St. Pete Brunch Hot Spots

Shrimp and Chorizo Benedict is a favorite at Engine Rose on Central Avenue in St. Pete.

St. Pete has so many great brunch options. Here are some to consider for this weekend, all on Central Avenue:

Rae Raes Café ($): Casual diner. The “have-it-all” is only $6.95 and the name says it all. Go early for no line. Open 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Engine Rose ($): A variety of benedicts and $3 mimosas. Caution: opens at noon on weekends.

Urban Comfort ($$): Made-from-scratch biscuits and gravy with shuffleboard courts for added fun before or after eating.

The Mill ($$$): Creative menu including apple fritters, baked eggs, banana bread french toast and funky cocktails.

– Leah Saunders, B2 Communications

Please share:

Economy

Are Low Gas Prices Here to Stay?

Normally, gas prices are up 25 to 35 cents a gallon in the summer. But that isn’t the case this year.

It’s an exciting time to be driving, especially if you’re planning a summer road trip. And while gas prices historically rise in the summer, that’s not the case this year.

The price of oil has fallen since January because new technology has allowed the U.S. to produce an excess of oil, pushing the cost of production down.

Americans are also driving fewer miles, and as people shop more online, they are taking fewer trips to the store. These factors are combining to keep demand low, and, in turn, lowering prices – a trend that should continue for the foreseeable future.

– David Ide, USAmeriBank

Please share:

the arts

Collaboration Highlights Artists Across Tampa Bay

The "Palpable Blur" by artist Walter Matthews is on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, as part of the “Skyway” exhibit. Image courtesy of the artist.

Three local museums have teamed up to showcase the work of more than 50 Tampa Bay artists.

“Skyway: A Contemporary Collaboration” highlights the diversity of artistic practice and talent in the Tampa Bay region. The exhibition includes paintings, installations and murals from a range of artists from four counties: Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsborough and Sarasota. Artists featured include Ya’ La Ford, Nathan Beard and Elisabeth Condon.

“Skyway” can be seen through Sept. 24 at the Tampa Museum of Art; through Oct. 1 at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg; and through Oct. 15 at Sarasota’s Ringling Museum of Art.

– Susana Weymouth, Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts

Please share:

safety

Safe Stress Relief for Caregivers

Infants who survive head trauma from being shaken can suffer the consequences for the rest of their lives.

Shaking an infant – even once – can be fatal. In most cases of shaken baby syndrome, the caregiver responsible cannot handle the stress of a baby crying. Follow these steps to make sure anyone caring for your child is prepared:

– Help the caregiver understand common reasons infants cry and how to respond. For example, the baby may be hungry or need a diaper change.

– Recommend soothing methods that usually work for you, such as rocking or humming.

– Let the caregiver know it’s okay to take a break when tension runs high, as long as the baby is in a safe place.

– Kelley Parris, Children’s Board of Hillsborough County

Please share:

Events

Bringing Together Gender Equality & Live Art

Beth Houghton, executive director of the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, is one of the panelists who will discuss gender equality.

The United Nations Association of Tampa Bay is hosting an event to raise awareness of gender equality and women’s empowerment called UNIFIED.

UNIFIED is an interactive, live-art fundraiser that includes a panel discussion with local leaders on how to collectively drive tangible change in gender equality. The panelists include Lorna Taylor of Premier Eye Care and Beth Houghton of St. Petersburg Free Clinic.

The July 27 event at the Morean Center for Clay will showcase local and international artists. Proceeds from a live auction will benefit CASA.

Tickets are $100 each; or $90 for groups of five or more.

– Olivia Kresic, B2 Communications

Please share:

Health Care

Health Center for Uninsured Adults Expands

Dr. Ajoy Kumar is the medical director for St. Petersburg Free Clinic’s Health Center.

Pinellas County’s uninsured adults now have access to a wider range of free medical services with the expansion of the St. Petersburg Free Clinic’s Health Center.

Its new location at 5501 Fourth St. N provides additional space for the Free Clinic to add specialty medical services like dermatology, physical therapy, wound care and chiropractic care. The facility also has room for specialized equipment to diagnose and treat patients, especially those dealing with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Future plans call for expanding oral health and health education services there. Last year, approximately 13,000 free health and wellness services were provided.

– Beth Houghton, St. Petersburg Free Clinic

Please share:

History

Florida Orchestra Bridges Bay for 50 Seasons

Lyman Wiltse conducting the Tampa Philharmonic (then known as the Tampa Symphony Orchestra) at the McKay Auditorium in 1949. (Photo courtesy of Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System)

Before the Florida Orchestra formed in 1966, there were two Tampa Bay area orchestras: the Tampa Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg Symphony.

Talks of a merger had started a few years before, and that year representatives from both organizations met in a boat at the center of the bay for a “marriage” ceremony signaling their intent to form one orchestra. The Florida Gulf Coast Symphony’s first season opened Nov. 14, 1968.

The orchestra was renamed in the ’80s, and today is led by Music Director Michael Francis. The orchestra will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, starting in September.

– Keeley LaForme, B2 Communications

Please share:

Local Culture

Super Hero Pups in St. Pete and Tampa

Duke, sponsored by Dr. David and Kathy Nateman, is placed at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. (Photo courtesy of Southeastern Guide Dogs)

To raise awareness for the heroic work done by Southeastern Guide Dogs, the organization has unveiled a community art campaign called Superheroes on Parade, placing 50 colorfully painted and caped sculptures throughout Tampa Bay.

Southeastern Guide Dogs trains and cares for over 1,000 guide dogs that give independence and support to people with vision loss and veterans with PTSD, providing life-changing services to those in need.

This week, the campaign added 16 new sculptures in locations ranging from Florida CraftArt in St. Petersburg to the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser office in Tampa. Find a superhero pup near you.

– Jacob Lynn, B2 Communications

Please share:

Public Policy

Special Session Brings Framework for Medical Marijuana

Florida patients may soon be prescribed medical marijuana.

Voters had high expectations after the 2016 elections when Floridians approved the legalization of medical marijuana by 71 percent. In late June, Gov. Scott signed SB 8A, laying the framework for Florida’s medical marijuana regulations.

The bill calls for the Department of Health to develop regulatory rules for full implementation, which were just set last week. At least 10 Florida companies will now be allowed to legally grow marijuana and doctors can begin prescribing marijuana to patients by October 3.

Patients may be prescribed medical marijuana in the form of pills, oils, edibles or vaping. The law still prohibits smoking.

– Michael Williams, CoreMessage, Inc.

Please share:

Recreation

Get Your Scalloping On!

Bay scallops are bottom dwellers that live in four to eight feet of water. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Prater)

Scallop season has begun for Big Bend coastal areas and will continue until September 24.

Scallops are part of the mollusk family found in shallow seagrass beds along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Locally, Crystal River is one of the most popular scalloping spots where you will find boaters throughout the season hunting for these delicious little sea creatures.

With a mask and snorkel, people of all ages can easily spot and catch the scallops. Each person is limited to two gallons of scallops per day—which is more than enough to create your perfect summer scallop dinner. Find more information here.

– Amanda Prater, Cooperative Strategies

Please share:

marketing

Podcasts: Changing the Game

Apple's plans to make analytics available for podcasts could be a game-changer.

In today’s digital marketing age, analytics are everything.

And soon, the power of analytics to shape and rank content is coming to podcasts – already a medium with millions of listeners. Until now, podcasts have had few metrics, but when Apple launches podcast analytics later this year, marketers will gain valuable insights into how a podcast’s audience is engaging, such as:

– when and where people listen;

– if and when they stop listening;

– and whether they stay tuned for ads.

Analytics should make podcasts more appealing to marketers, in turn increasing financial support for podcasts – a win for marketers, producers and listeners.

– Kyle Parks, B2 Communications

Please share:

Startup Scene

App Makes Home Maintenance Easy

Homee’s maintenance service is available for any type of property, from homes and condos to offices and restaurants.

You can use an app to order a car, lunch or cocktails to your door.

Now Tampa-based Homee is changing how homeowners and property managers find, schedule and pay for qualified services. The on-demand property maintenance app delivers service providers for heating & air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and handyman services in approximately 30 minutes – no appointment necessary.

Florida Funders, a Tampa-based venture capital firm with an equity crowdfunding portal, was the lead investor in Homee, providing $760,000 in a $1.35M round. The funding will support expansion from 10 Florida cities plus Cincinnati, Ohio into new markets.

– Alana Siceloff, B2 Communications

Please share:

Startup Scene

Local Startup Peerfit Gets $2.3 Million Infusion

Peerfit co-founders Scott Peeples and Ed Buckley, III, Ph.D. are working with carriers, brokers and employers to redefine corporate wellness.

Tampa-based digital health startup Peerfit recently closed a $2.3 million investment round that drew notable local business leaders.

Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Colliers International Florida Executive Chairman Lee Arnold were among the investors who backed Peerfit in the round. Investors from Florida Funders and PAR/ARK Applications, along with healthcare and digital health veterans, also contributed.

With this funding, Peerfit will continue its national expansion efforts. More than 30,000 people have access to Peerfit’s network of local fitness studios in more than 30 cities, which includes New York City, Los Angeles, Tampa and Atlanta.

– Missy MacFarlane, B2 Communications

Please share:

Pets

Protect Your Pets From Heatstroke

Plenty of fresh water can help keep your pet cool during the hot summer months.

Summertime heat in cars, on the beach or during daytime walks can be dangerous for your pet. Keep your pets safe with these tips to avoid heatstroke:

– Leave pets at home while running errands. If you must take your pet, keep the car running with the air conditioning on. It’s not enough to crack a window.

– Recognize signs of heatstroke, like if your dog stops barking, becomes lethargic or pants heavily.

– Take walks in the early morning or late evening when it’s slightly cooler. Even a walk or run in the middle of the day can be dangerous for pets.

– Dr. Rizal Lopez, SPCA Tampa Bay

Please share:

Real Estate

Why Tampa Lacks New Office Space

The owners of Park Tower have major updates planned to reposition the 44-year-old building as a modern office option. (Photo courtesy of Colliers International)

Tampa’s office market has seen little to no new development in recent years despite low vacancy rates, rising rents and healthy job growth.

Several interconnected factors contribute to this:

– Rental rates for existing Class A office space are about 20% lower than what developers require to justify new construction.

– Office users’ uncertainty over space needs makes them hesitant to pre-lease space in an undeveloped building.

– Lenders have tightened underwriting requirements for developers to secure financing for new office properties.

– New technology, condensed office spaces, and more flexible work environments allow tenants to improve the utility of their current spaces.

— Ryan Kratz, Colliers International Florida

Please share:

Food & Drink

New Twist on Classic Tom Collins

A Tom Collins is traditionally made with gin, but Marlow’s Tavern uses Tito’s vodka in its Pom Collins. (Photo by David Danzig)

Nothing screams summer cocktail like an infusion of fresh fruit. The mixologists at Marlow’s Tavern in Carrollwood created a summer cocktail that’s a refreshing play on a tried-and-true classic.

The Pom Collins is a spin on Tom Collins, created from a practical joke in the late 1800s. The Tom Collins is traditionally made with gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda water, with a citrus garnish.

The cocktail at Marlow’s Tavern combines Tito’s vodka, PAMA Liqueur, homemade sour mix and simple syrup, finished with a mint leaf and pomegranate seeds. It’s a perfect drink on a hot day.

– Rick Blumberg, Marlow’s Tavern

Please share:

Sports

Growing Hockey in the Sunshine State

Lightning Made Summer Camp attendees learn hockey fundamentals and get to meet Lightning players like J.T. Brown. (Photo courtesy of Lightning Community Hockey)

The Tampa Bay Lightning and USA Hockey are working to grow the game of hockey with a series of summer camps held in locations across the state.

Players participate in two on-ice sessions per day and receive instruction in the weight room on endurance skills and plyometric training to build strength. Campers will learn from Lightning alumni and other VIP guests, and interact with current players.

Camps are available for players of all skill levels and ages. The next session in Tampa Bay will be held July 17-21 at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum. Registration starts at $475.

– Jacob Lynn, B2 Communications

Please share:

Events

Summer Classics Return to Tampa Theatre

See "Young Frankenstein" on July 23 as part of the Summer Classics Movie series at the Tampa Theatre. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Theatre)

For the 26th year in a row, Tampa Theatre will give movie-goers an opportunity to see some of their favorite films the way they were meant to be seen – on the big screen.

The Summer Classics Movie Series features a different film every Sunday at 3 p.m. through Sept. 3.

Check out “The Sting” on July 9, and stay after for a short discussion and Q&A about the movie with USF film professor Harriet Deer. Alfred Hitchcock’s “Saboteur” is next on July 16, followed by “Young Frankenstein” on July 23. Tickets: $10 for adults, $7 for members.

– Jacob Lynn, B2 Communications

Please share:

the arts

Dalí Museum Exhibit Showcases Sculpture

Eduardo Chillida is well known for public art, including the Parc de la Creueta del Coll in Barcelona, Spain. (Zabalaga-Leku, Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VEGAP, Madrid Eduardo Chillida, 1987, Barcelona: Photo: Archivo Eduardo Chillida. ©2017 Zabalaga-Leku, Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VEGAP, Madrid)

Spanish sculptor Eduardo Chillida’s work reflects his interest in space and organic form. Known for his monumental abstract works, he created massive pieces for public spaces, in places like Barcelona, Paris and Dallas. He also crafted smaller pieces, like delicate collages.

More than 60 of Chillida’s works are now on display at St. Petersburg’s Dalí Museum. The exhibit “Memory, Mind, Matter: The Sculpture of Eduardo Chillida” includes sculptures, a mural, drawings and paper collages he called ‘gravitations.’

The exhibit is the museum’s first dedicated to sculpture since its new building opened in 2011, and is on display through Sept. 24.

– Susana Weymouth, Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts

Please share:

travel

Sipping Old and New in St. Augustine

The St. Augustine Distillery makes whiskey, rum, gin and vodka in a historic building that dates to 1907.

St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, is a cool mix of historic buildings and modern drinks.

On a haunted pub crawl, our guide showed us St. Augustine’s most haunted spots and shared the chilling stories behind them, with stops at local bars in between.

San Sebastian Winery offers beautiful river views from a rooftop bar. The building was constructed in 1923 by Henry Flagler, who built just about everything in St. Augustine.

St. Augustine Distillery, which opened a few years ago in what was the city’s ﬁrst power and ice complex in the early 1900s, offers handcrafted, small batch spirits.

– Keeley LaForme, B2 Communications

Please share:

History

History: Riverview’s First Building Boom

The Riverview Methodist Church was built around 1850. (Photo courtesy of Special & Digital Collections, Tampa Library, University of South Florida)

The recent housing boom in Riverview is not the area’s first boom. The area southeast of Tampa was a hot spot for phosphate mining in the mid-1880s.

The first phosphate mining company was the Peruvian Mining Company, named for the town of Peru on the Alafia River’s south bank. However, the town of Riverview on the north bank was more popular because the river could only be crossed by ferry.

A wooden bridge was built in 1900 to connect the two towns. Over time, people called the area Riverview. Today, the community spans both banks of the Alafia River.

– Olivia Kresic, B2 Communications

Please share:

Management

Use Background Checks With Caution

Many employers conduct background checks on potential employees.

Background checks, which have long been standard in the employment process, should be used with caution.

Problems often occur when employers don’t make it clear to applicants that a background check will be conducted and that information obtained could affect their hiring decision. Even web searches that show an applicant’s publicly-available information on social media could land an employer in legal trouble if proper steps are not taken.

Employers should be prepared to show how information obtained in a background check is relevant to the position or to the company. Review your hiring practices to ensure they are compliant.

— Steve Bernstein, Fisher Phillips

Please share:

Health

Screen Your Sunscreen

Read the labels on your sunscreen carefully. Although sunscreen is a great product to protect against harmful rays, it can contain harmful ingredients.

Sunscreen should be worn year-round. But, now that it’s officially summer, we’re more likely to apply the guard at the beach or by the pool to avoid the vacation-ruining sunburn! Now that the shelves are stocked with the latest and greatest sunscreens, what should you buy?

Tiffany Amorosino, CEO & co-founder of Bella Santé Spa, recommends checking the back of the bottle before committing. “Two chemicals you want to avoid are oxybenzone and octinoxate” Amorosino said. “And make sure you’re buying a broad-spectrum SPF lotion, not spray, that will protect your skin from UVA and UVB light.”

– JoJo Gutfarb, The Boston 100

Please share:

Business

Best Marketing Practices for Small Business

Small business doesn’t have to mean less business. Check out the best ways to promote your brand.

Small business marketing presents unique challenges. Budgets and resources are typically smaller but don’t have to be barriers for effective marketing. Here are some tactics to promote your name while growing your customer base:

Social Media: Vital in today’s digital world – it’s the best tool for communicating directly with customers, presenting your brand and reaching large audiences with boosted content.

Community Involvement: Engagement in local activities provide platforms for promoting your business, networking with fellow entrepreneurs and building customer connections.

Added Value: What can you give customers your competitors aren’t? Loyalty programs, personalization options, educational content? Go above and beyond.

– Natalie Ghidotti, The Arkansas 100

Please share:

public relations

Repurpose, Repurpose, Repurpose

Repurposing content can save time and resources when you are in a content rut.

Repurposing content is taking content previously used for one purpose and reusing it for another. It’s a useful strategy that allows you to reach a broader audience and diversify your content while maintaining consistent messaging. Try these repurposing strategies:

Create a social post out of an underperforming newsletter to address your audience directly, possibly catching the eye of a follower who dismissed your previously sent newsletter.

Repurpose old photos for new creative graphics to use on social media, a blog or eNewsletter.

Repurpose videos by cutting them into short videos to create an innovative mini-series to post on Facebook.

To learn more tips, visit here.

– Haley Haas, The Atlanta 100

Please share: