September 29: CareFest St. Pete

Groups can still Register and Adopt a Project Today! Neighborhood and community-based groups, houses of worship, corporate teams, school clubs, businesses, fraternities, sororities, and individuals are invited to participate in a variety of one-day projects on Saturday, September 29. For the annual citywide work day, volunteers are needed for home repair projects, painting, mowing, weeding, yard work, cleanups and more throughout St. Petersburg neighborhoods. CareFest St. Pete kicks off and ends with volunteer appreciation at Lake Vista Park, 1401 62nd Ave. S.

More INFO: carefestusa.com

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Submit Nominations for Local 'Honored Veteran Award'

For the fifth year in a row, Mayor Rick Kriseman will host the Veterans Day celebration, on Sunday, November 11, and honor a local veteran at Williams Park Veterans Memorial. The Mayor is currently seeking citizen input on who will receive this year's Local Honored Veteran Award during the ceremony.

To submit a nomination for the 2018 Honored Veteran Award, visit www.stpete.org/localvets. Submissions are due to the City by close of business on Wednesday, October 24.

More details about the ceremony to come.

Red Tide Update

According to Pinellas County officials, several county beach locations have tested positive for Red Tide.

This week, City of St. Petersburg officials have seen dead marine life close to shore at three city park locations – Maximo, Jungle Prada and Abercrombie Parks.

While Pinellas County is the lead agency responsible for red tide testing and cleanup, City staff will be monitoring city property and conducting their own daily cleanup. St. Petersburg areas that are currently being tested are the waters near Maximo Beach and near Bayboro (roughly between North Shore and Lassing Parks). Daily cleanup and dumpster pickups are already occurring at the three affected parkland areas.

Residents experiencing the effects of red tide on their personal property or abutting waterway have the following options:

Report red tide issues to Pinellas County via their website, http://www.pinellascounty.org/reportanissue/, or email watershed@pinellascounty.org. The County is currently only conducting dead fish removal of large quantities.
Residents can double bag any dead marine life and dispose of it in the regular trash bin. Sanitation will collect it during regularly scheduled trash pickups.
Residents can also elect to dispose of dead marine life at designated containers currently located at Maximo Park and Jungle Prada boat ramps.

Residents seeking more information about the County’s procedures for red tide issues can visit http://www.pinellascounty.org/environment/watershed/red-tide.htm.

Free 'Get Fit St. Pete' Classes in September

Get Fit St. Pete aims to increase opportunities for residents to engage in physical fitness through free and affordable programming.

The programs for the month of September are:

9/8: Yoga in the Park at Crescent Lake Park
9/15: Boot Camp at Lassing Park
9/22: Fun Run at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
9/29: Dance Fitness at Lake Vista Recreation Center

All classes are from 9 to 10 a.m. each week.

For more information, about Healthy St. Pete visit HealthyStPeteFL.com.

NACOLE National Conference Sept. 30 - Oct. 4

The National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) brings its 24th Annual Conference to St. Petersburg September 30 to October 4. Held for the first time in Florida, more than 426 attendees from all across the U.S. and nine countries are registered for the four-day national conference at the waterfront Vinoy Renaissance Resort.

Join us September 30 to October 4 in St. Petersburg, Florida as NACOLE and the greater oversight community come together to discuss the continued need to work toward change and the methods by which we can all work to affect real and sustainable reform. Themed “Sustaining Reform. Advancing Justice,” this year's conference will feature four tracks that contain information that touches on all of the Core Competencies for Civilian Oversight Practitioners.