Libraries Program: Revisiting the Founding Era

Join us for a moderated discussion of ideas and themes from America's Founding Era and how they are still relevant today.

Adult program:
Tuesday, 12/11 6:30-7:30 p.m.
St. Petersburg Main Library
3745 9th Avenue North

Teen, tween and family program:
Saturday, 10/15 3-5 p.m.
James Weldon Johnson Community Library
1059 18th Avenue South

For more information, call 727-893-7724 or visit splibraries.org.

Ice Skate St. Petersburg's Waterfront Starting 12/15

For the first time, the City of St. Petersburg will have ice skating at the downtown waterfront as part of Holidays in the Sunshine City.

Beginning Saturday, Dec. 15, you can ice skate in Albert Whitted Park, 480 Bayshore Drive NE. Sessions are $10 for an hour and includes ice skate rental. Bring your own socks, or you can purchase socks at the ice skating rink for $2 per pair.

Sessions run through Dec. 31 and is closed on Dec. 25. For a detailed list of sessions for ice skating dates, visit www.stpeteparksrec.org/holidayevents or contact the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department at 727-893-7441.

Apply to Be a Takumatsu Student Ambassador

St. Petersburg’s annual summer Sister City cultural exchange program is looking for local students interested in serving as Student Ambassadors in Takamatsu, Japan.

Prospective Student Ambassadors must reside in St. Petersburg and be currently enrolled as a high school junior.

Those chosen to serve as Student Ambassadors will live with a Takamatsu host family, attend high school, sightsee and share cultural experiences about life in the United States. Former Ambassadors have used the visits to further their cultural education by studying international relations, international business or Japanese studies.

For more information on the Student Ambassador program and the application, visit www.stpete.org/arts_and_culture/student_ambassadors.php or contact Lotta Baumann at SPIFFS, 727-552-1896 or folkfair@ij.net.

Progress With St. Pete Pier

Mayor Kriseman is pleased with how the process is going and construction progress. All 426 pilings have been placed over water and 75% of deck is poured. Site preparation for construction of Pier Approach continues. The old parking lots are being graded and trees onsite are cleared.

Above ground construction begins in October on several structures, including:
- Pier Head building
- Spa Beach Pavillion
- Tampa Bay Watch

RECAP:

All Major tenants have been secured including:
- Tampa Bay Watch, who will operate the Education Center
- Doc Fords, who will operate the restaurant on the south side of the Pier Approach
- Teak, Inc., who will operate the restaurant at the Pier head.
- United Park Services will operate the Pavillion Café at the Spa Beach Pavilion and Gator Jim’s Tackle and Bait Shop at the Pier Head Building.

Duke Energy will provide solar canopies to shade the parking area and provide solar power in the Pier District.

Public Art has been selected for the Pier. Three artists with varying styles will be represented including Nick Ervinck, Belgium, Xenobia Bailey, New York City and Nathan Mabry, Los Angeles. In addition, internationally acclaimed artist Janet Echelman will create a Net Sculpture in the Pier Approach, near the Family Park Area.

The St. Pete Pier District grand opening is late 2019.

Additional information about the St. Pete Pier™ is available on the Pier website at: newstpetepier.com