Greetings!

Hey there, amazing readers! 👋

Happy January 30, 2026! We hope your day is going splendidly. Dive into this month's edition as we bring you exciting updates, and, of course, sprinkle some joy into your inbox! Don't forget to stay curious and inspired! ✨

In Today's Bay Breeze Bulletin

The Local Lowdown

• Weekend Spotlight: Opera Tampa's 'The Shining' and St. Pete Opera's 'Giulio Cesare' Take Center Stage
  
• Florida Couple Warns of AI-Generated Scam After Missing Puppy Incident
  
• FTampa and St. Petersburg Achieve Historic Lows in Homicide Rates
  

Get Out & Go!

• St. Pete Zombie Crawl – Halloween Bar Crawl
  
• Haunted Fest Night 2” – Electronic Music Festival
  
• Walk Around Florida” Wellness & Outdoor Walk Event

Business Buzz

• St. Pete Chamber’s 127th Annual Event Highlights Momentum
  

• CFO: St. Petersburg Owes Property Owners $49 Million

Stay connected for more updates this week — let’s work together to make it a great one for St Petersburg, Florida. 🌴

What year did Saint Petersburg celebrate its centennial?

The Local Lowdown

🌟 Uncover the Essence of Your Community: Stay updated with the latest happenings, hidden gems, and exciting events right in your neighborhood, making you feel more connected than ever!

• Man Shot Multiple Times in St. Petersburg Convenience Store Incident; Motive Unknown
  
• Remembering "Mr. Baseball": The Legacy of St. Petersburg's Jim Olive
  
• Fostering Connection and Community through Third Places
  

Opera lovers are in for an exciting weekend across Tampa Bay, with standout productions on both sides of the bay.

Opera Tampa is staging Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’ in English at the Straz Center’s Ferguson Hall, with performances on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the St. Pete Opera Company presents Handel’s ‘Giulio Cesare in Egitto’ at the Palladium Theater, also with a Sunday matinee.

Theater fans can catch ‘The Scarlet Letter’ at American Stage through February 15, and Jobsite Theater is running Shakespeare’s ‘A Comedy of Errors’ at the Jaeb Theater until February 8.

The Florida Orchestra offers a lively concert weekend, featuring flamenco dance, vocals by Sarah Purser, narration from Michael Francis, and works from de Falla to Piazzolla at venues across Clearwater, Tampa, and St. Pete.

With so many choices, Tampa Bay’s arts scene promises a memorable cultural experience for every taste this weekend.

St. Petersburg, Fla. — A local couple is warning fellow pet owners after narrowly escaping a scam following the disappearance of their German Shepherd puppy, Hazel.

Dennis and Michelle Morida lost track of Hazel during training when she slipped through a fence gap.

After hours of searching and posting online, they received a late-night call from someone posing as a police sergeant who claimed Hazel was injured and needed emergency surgery.

The scammers even sent a staged photo of a similar dog to heighten the urgency.

Dennis tried to send $1,900 for the supposed surgery, but the transaction was blocked just in time.

The relief came when Hazel was safely found in their yard the next morning.

AI strategist Dr. Jill Schiefelbein urges everyone to verify urgent requests and stay alert, as scammers often target emotional situations involving pets.

Tampa and St. Petersburg have reached historic lows in homicide rates, signaling a major public safety milestone for the Tampa Bay area.

St. Petersburg documented just 10 homicides in 2025, its lowest since 1967, reflecting a dramatic 44% drop from last year and mirroring a broader 16% fall in total crime. Chief Anthony Holloway credits focused police work and advanced crime-fighting technology for this turnaround.

Meanwhile, Tampa saw homicides fall by 63% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, with overall violent crime down 19% and total crime declining by 22%. Chief Lee Bercaw highlights the role of community partnerships and innovative strategies in achieving these numbers.

Proactive policing, data-driven tactics, and strong community involvement are making neighborhoods safer and setting new standards for crime prevention in the region.

Today's Weather Outlook 

WEEKEND REMINDER

❄️ Weekend Reminder:

Temperatures are dropping, so bundle up and stay warm! Take this slower weekend as a chance to rest, reset, and recharge. Even small steps forward matter — be kind to yourself, enjoy something cozy, and remember that brighter days are always ahead. Stay safe, stay warm, and keep going. 🤍🧣✨

🌳GET OUT  & GO

🌟 **Feeling a little restless?** *It's time to switch things up, explore new places, and add some excitement to your routine with unique adventures and experiences.* ✨

• Neil Diamond Legacy Concert starring Jay White
  
• Jump – America’s Van Halen Experience
  
• Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular

Business Buzz!

We are thrilled to announce St Petersburg Florida's latest business addition! 🌟 Stay tuned for exciting updates on community initiatives and opportunities in the heart of Palm Coast!

• St. Pete Chamber’s 127th Annual Event Highlights Momentum
  

• CFO: St. Petersburg Owes Property Owners $49 Million
  
  

Nearly 400 attendees filled the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club for the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s 127th Annual Meeting.

Brian Glazer, owner of the Vinoy and Tampa Bay Buccaneers co-chair, praised the city’s ongoing growth and collective spirit, underlining St. Petersburg’s appeal to entrepreneurs and families.

Mayor Ken Welch echoed this optimism, celebrating robust public-private partnerships and lauding Chris Steinocher for his steadfast leadership of the Chamber.

Dr. Robin Roark of McKinsey & Company delivered a data-driven keynote, highlighting St. Pete’s economic, academic, and population growth, but noted persisting income gaps and housing challenges.

His proposals included nurturing local talent, promoting innovative collaboration, and harnessing artificial intelligence to sustain progress.

Award recognitions and leadership transitions capped the evening, reaffirming the city’s commitment to a vibrant, future-focused business community.

Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia has sharply criticized St. Petersburg for allegedly overtaxing residents by $49 million over the past six years.

Ingoglia underscored a striking 48% jump in the city’s budget since 2019, despite population growth of only 11,500 people.

He claimed this equates to an extra $46,228 in spending for every new family of four, fueling concerns about runaway government spending.

Highlighting the city’s hiring of 371 new employees—just 65 of whom were first responders—Ingoglia argued the bulk were administrative, signaling growing government bureaucracy over essential services.

He calculated that residents with a $400,000 home could have saved $535 annually if spending were held in check.

Mayor Ken Welch responded that officials are carefully reviewing the claims and urged residents to verify budget and tax data themselves.

Ingoglia’s comments support a statewide push for property tax reform on the November ballot.

Outdoor & Survival

Trivia Challenge!

"Congratulations to all who participated in this week's trivia! To enter our weekly drawing for a [local prize,
e.g., gift card to a local restaurant], email us your answers to all three trivia questions by January 30, 2026 at 8 PM."

💡 In 1992, the city marked 100 years since its incorporation with community celebrations.

🌟 Help us grow by sharing this email with a neighbor, and if you have a news tip, simply hit reply! 📩

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Check out our local business directory: https://zaarhub.com

Enjoy the weekend,

- Bay Breeze Bulletin Team