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Tag: Cait McVey

  • Red tide detected in Pinellas County in the wake of Hurricane Helene

    Red tide detected in Pinellas County in the wake of Hurricane Helene

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Beachside residents recovering from Hurricane Helene now have one more thing to worry about, as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports low to medium levels of red tide off the Pinellas County coastline.

    This time of year is considered peak red tide season and low levels were already detected offshore ahead of the hurricane.

    University of South Florida Associate professor Yonggang Liu said it was possible the storm would break it up and cause it to disperse. However, tracking models used at the university’s Ocean Circulation Lab show instead, it’s now traveling north, with a presence in the water from Pass-a-Grille to points past the Dunedin Causeway.

    “Yesterday’s satellite shows it’s now even offshore from Honeymoon Island,” said Liu, who added the excess nutrients entering the water as the result of storm runoff could make it worse.

     “There’s red tide cells already existing on our coast and it could elevate it, given the favorable environment conditions of nutrients,” said Liu.

    The area saw similar conditions following Hurricane Ian in 2022, after which red tide persisted for months. 

    Liu said there’s a good chance it could happen again in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

    “This is a biological process. It could grow over time,” said Liu. “I would expect a bloom is possible.”

    While the county is not yet linking the hurricane to the increasing presence of red tide, officials are warning residents in beach communities of potential respiratory issues, especially when winds pick up.

    Visit the FWC website for red tide updates and a map with those locations.

    Cait McVey

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  • St. Pete Beach rehab center continues addiction services despite damage

    St. Pete Beach rehab center continues addiction services despite damage

    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Cleanup continues in St. Pete Beach, as residents and businesses deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

    The owners of Footprints Beachside Recovery say they are working tirelessly to clean out one of the organization’s housing facilities, where clients struggling with addiction stay during recovery.

    “It started slow and then just started rushing in,” said CFO Shane Templeton of the storm surge that made its way into the building.

    He said the team at Footprints evacuated residents at both its St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island locations ahead of the storm and arranged for alternative housing during cleanup.

    Templeton said the office space on Treasure Island received minimal water and should reopen in the next week. In the meantime, outpatient services are being held at the nearby Hilton Hotel.

    “Addiction doesn’t stop just because of natural disasters,” said Templeton. “They have to keep with their progress and keep getting well and we owe it to them to give them the help they need and they came for.”

    Cait McVey

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  • Endangered Florida panther spotted four times on trail cameras in Polk County

    Endangered Florida panther spotted four times on trail cameras in Polk County

    LAKE WALES, Fla. — A male Florida panther has been spotted on trail cameras in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest four times now since the spring.

    What You Need To Know

    • A male Florida panther has been spotted on trail cameras four times in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest



    • Loss of habitat is a big factor in the Florida panther’s decline. Considered critically endangered, it’s estimated that there are less than 240 left in the wild



    • ZooTampa helps to monitor the trail cameras, which belong to the F-Stop Foundation, a conservation nonprofit with more than 150 trail cameras throughout the state




    “He has that limp, which he has had every time he’s been sighted on the camera, but he has a really nice full belly, so it looks like he’s out there eating well,” described Lisa Smith, the animal care supervisor for ZooTampa.

    ZooTampa helps to monitor the trail cameras, which belong to the F-Stop Foundation, a conservation nonprofit with more than 150 trail cameras throughout the state.

    “It had been almost a year since we started working with F-Stop, so it was really, really exciting that we finally got that moment,” Smith said of the first sighting in April, which was followed by three more in August.

    Loss of habitat is a big factor in the Florida panther’s decline. Considered critically endangered, it’s estimated that there are less than 240 left in the wild, which makes this video that much more exciting.

    The F-Stop Foundation is able to set up its trail cameras through a special use permit with the Florida Forest Service, which helps the organization identify the locations for spotting wildlife.

    “We are a long way away from them, unfortunately, coming off the endangered list. But every underpass that’s built, every area of land that is protected for the future, is a huge step in the right direction, Smith said.

    One that will hopefully help the panthers regain lost habitat and lower the chances of them wandering into traffic or neighborhoods.

    In the meantime, should a rescue be needed, ZooTampa is ready.

    Cait McVey

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  • Renewable energy installations are on the rise in Florida

    Renewable energy installations are on the rise in Florida

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Florida Public Service Commission says there has been an uptick in renewable energy installations across the state.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Florida Public Service Commission reported a 31% increase in renewable energy installations last year

    • Dimmitt Chevrolet in Clearwater is among the businesses that turned to solar energy in 2023, installing 2,000 solar panels on nearly an acre of rooftop

    • CFO Bobby Johnson said the panels now generate enough energy to cover all electric costs and will pay for themselves in just a few more years

    The agency reports a 31% increase in renewable energy installations last year, with solar panels reigning as the most popular choice when it comes to going green.

    Dimmitt Chevrolet in Clearwater is among the businesses who turned to solar energy in 2023, installing 2,000 solar panels on nearly an acre of rooftop.

    “They’re really low profile and unobtrusive,” said dealership CFO Bobby Johnson. “We’ve utilized every spot that we could, within reason, to get solar panels on there.”

    Johnson said the initial price tag was about $3 million, but that cost was cut in half with tax breaks and incentives. He said the panels now generate enough energy to cover all the dealership’s electric costs, and will pay for themselves in just a few more years.

    “The estimate that appears to be true, without inflation factored in, will save us $3.1 million over 25 years,” Johnson said.

    Still, Dr. Yogi Goswami, the director of the University of South Florida’s TECO Clean Energy Research Center, said the nation as a whole has a long way to go in order to reach its carbon emissions goals.

    “Globally, solar power has been increasing at a rate of 38 percent per year for more than 10 years,” Goswami said. “In order to achieve our net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050, we are way behind.”

    According to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 20% of the country’s electricity is generated by renewable energy sources.

    Cait McVey

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  • Team Coverage: High tide in Dunedin’s St. Joseph Sound, heavy rain in Big Bend

    Team Coverage: High tide in Dunedin’s St. Joseph Sound, heavy rain in Big Bend

    DUNEDIN, Fla. — High tide at St. Joseph’s Sound produced 2-3 feet of extra water after Debby moved through, but it didn’t have quite the effect from a year ago when Hurricane Idalia crashed into the area.


    There were small waves over the seawall Monday as boats bobbed in the water, but many boaters had spent the weekend preparing for Debby’s onslaught.

    When Idalia hit last year, the storm sent water over the seawall and into the parking lots of local businesses.

    Elsewhere in Dunedin, a downed tree was reported on Glenn Hollow Drive as Debby roared through.

    Meanwhile, in the Big Bend area of Florida, the rural fishing village of Steinhatchee saw heavy rain and strong wind gusts. Drivers were spotted trying to drive though flooded roads Monday morning.

    That area was also hit hard by Idalia a year ago.

    Across the Bay area, residents started their work week with with flooded and closed roads, power outages and debris as Debby left is mark.

    Use the video player above for Team Coverage.

    Cait McVey

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  • Residents speak out against developer’s plans for a dock on Stevenson Creek

    Residents speak out against developer’s plans for a dock on Stevenson Creek

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater residents have once again started a grassroots movement to speak out against a luxury complex on Sunset Point Road.

    What You Need To Know

    • Local residents protested when the luxury condo complex Serena by the Sea was developed in the city

    • Now that it’s complete, the lake behind the deveopment is relatively quiet again

    • But residents are now preparing again to fight a planned nine-clip boat dock planned for Stevenson Creek

    Serena by the Sea is an 80 Unit, seven-story waterfront condo building that was completed just last year, with adjacent townhomes in the works. Before it was built, nearby residents protested its height.

    Now residents are speaking out yet again, this time against the developer’s plans for a nine-slip boat dock on nearby Stevenson Creek.

    Alexandra Nixon, founder of the Stevenson Creek Advocacy Group, said the estuary has been through a lot, including a dredging project years ago. Its natural beauty has slowly returned and Nixon said residents want to keep it that way.

    “We can hardly hear the traffic,” Nixon said. “The minute you’re on the creek, you feel like you’re in the countryside.”

    Now, Nixon and other residents in the advocacy group are worried plans for a boat dock by developer Valor Capital could lead to increased boat traffic and affect the wildlife.

     “Nobody wants that,” said Nixon. “The residents here already have to put up with motor boats and Ski-Doo’s racing down the creek to the bridge and coming back.”

    But the Clearwater Community Development Board already approved the plans earlier this year, after a review by the harbor master determined there would be no impact on safety on the water or for residents.

    Valor Capital must next get permitting from the county.

    “Our Water and Navigation division cannot comment on the application other than to say it is currently under review for all pertinent sections of the code, including environmental concerns,” said county spokesperson Tony Fabrizio.

    The state will also have to sign off with approval for an environmental resource permit by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

    “The review process of an environmental resource permit application ensures that the permit will authorize activities that are not harmful to the water resources or inconsistent with the public interest,” said SWFWMD Public Information Officer Susanna Martinez Tarokh.

    Application records show the agency requested both a wildlife survey and a public interest proposal from Valor Capital, and a site visit is scheduled for early August.

    According to Valor Capital, environmental considerations are being made. The dock won’t affect the oyster beds along the shoreline and boats won’t be allowed to fuel up or get repairs there.

    “The Sunset Point dock has been overwhelmingly approved by the Clearwater Community Development Board with strong support from city staff and the harbormaster,” said attorney Brian Aungst Jr., who is representing Valor Capital. “Designed with environmental protection as a priority, the dock incorporates features that safeguard our natural surroundings.”

    But members of the Stevenson Creek Advocacy Group call it little comfort when it comes to health of the creek. They say their biggest fear is the approval of this dock will only lead to additional construction on the waterway.

    “We will keep on fighting and we will fight harder if we have to,” Nixon said.

    Cait McVey

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  • Dunedin Golf Club gets eco-friendly upgrades

    Dunedin Golf Club gets eco-friendly upgrades

    DUNEDIN, Fla. — Renovations are well underway at the Dunedin Golf Club. The $6.3 million investment includes funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and a historical preservation grant.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Dunedin Golf Club is undergoing a $6.3 million renovation

    • The public can expect eco-friendly upgrades that will take the club’s historically renowned design into the future

    • Renovations include drought resistant turf and water efficient irrigation system

    In June, The Feinstein Group, which already owns several popular restaurants in Dunedin, including The Black Pearl and The Living Room, was selected to take over dining at the clubhouse. The new restaurant will be called Highland House.

    The public can also expect eco-friendly upgrades that will take the club’s historically renowned design into the future.

    “We were built in 1926. The great golf architect Donald Ross was the architect,” said General Manager Blair Kline. “This is all about honoring Donald Ross and we truly hope we make him proud.”

    Parts of the course will use TifTuf, a hybrid Bermuda grass developed at the University of Georgia, that uses nearly 40% less water.

    “TifTuf has the drought tolerance where it holds its green longer,” said Professor Brian Schwartz, who helped develop the grass. “It usually grows well in the wintertime for Florida, which is nice because that’s when a lot of your seasonal players are coming down from other parts of the country.”

    Along with drought resistant turf, the course irrigation system is getting an overhaul, to include more water efficient capabilities. Dead or diseased trees, as well as invasive species, were replaced with native trees.

    The Dunedin Golf Club is expected to reopen in November.

    Cait McVey

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  • Bay area man’s band helps him find peace with Alzheimer’s diagnosis

    Bay area man’s band helps him find peace with Alzheimer’s diagnosis

    SEMINOLE, Fla. — More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a brain disorder that slowly robs people of their memories. As Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month comes to an end, one Pinellas County resident shares his of perseverance and friendship in the face of the debilitating disease.

    Joel Bressler, 71, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s three years ago. Through it all, he said his band, Sloppy Joel and Friends, keeps him feeling like himself.

    Bressler plays with lifelong friends Jim Buxton and Bob Edwards. The trio meets every Wednesday at Bressler’s house for band practice, which they all consider music therapy.

    “I feel like if I keep doing what I’m doing and getting people and family and friends around me, I couldn’t wish for more,” Bressler said.

    Experts say a support system is important for both those living with the disease and for caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association has a number of resources available on its website, as well as a 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900.

    Cait McVey

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  • Dunedin parish takes fellowship outside of the church

    Dunedin parish takes fellowship outside of the church

    DUNEDIN, Fla. — Attendance is on the decline for most religious organizations in the United States, with numbers for young adults seeing the biggest dip over the past two decades. But one Bay area church is working to bring that age group and others back into the fold with a modern spin on fellowship.

    What You Need To Know

    • Attendance is on the decline for most religious organizations in the United States, with numbers for young adults seeing the biggest dip over the past two decades
    • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dunedin offers a program called “Tap into Fellowship,” which meets monthly at downtown’s House of Beer

    • Father Zach Brasseur says the focus is on making people feel welcomed into the church community

    Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dunedin offers a program called “Tap into Fellowship,” which meets monthly at downtown’s House of Beer.

    “If you can meet up with friends from work here, why not meet up with friends from church?” said Father Zach Brasseur.

    This month’s meeting had a large gathering, a good sign considering the most recent numbers from Gallup show fewer adults are regularly attending religious services, at 30% today compared to 40% two decades ago.

    Dr. Randall Woodard, a professor of theology at St. Leo University, points to cultural changes as a big factor.

    “A hundred years ago, and not every case, but you were more likely to be a black sheep and kind of cut out from your family if you left,” Woodard said.

    Now, he points out, it’s more acceptable, as parents are parenting differently and places of worship may not be the social hubs they used to be, making faith based outreach that much more important.

    “When people are loved and appreciated and welcomed, that ends up being just one of the greatest things that churches and other groups can do for people and especially young adults,” Woodard said.

    At “Tap into Fellowship,” Father Brasseur said the group takes that concept a step further.

    “I think even more important than welcoming is belonging,” Father Brasseur said. “When someone says, ‘These are the people I play kickball with,’ ‘These are the people I go to House of Beer with, that I go to the coffee shop with’ — these are my people.”

    Bringing faith outside the walls of church for conversations that, in turn, bring people back in.

    “Tap into Fellowship” is held by Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners on the first Monday of every month.

    Cait McVey

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  • FDOT celebrates opening of new wildlife underpass in Polk County

    FDOT celebrates opening of new wildlife underpass in Polk County

    POLK COUNTY, Fla. —  A major highway project was celebrated in Polk County Wednesday, as Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new interchange at I-4 and County Road 557.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new interchange at I-4 and County Road 557 on Wednesday

    • The interchange is meant to ease traffic congestion on that stretch of highway

    • A wildlife underpass was included in the design, connecting conservation lands on either side of I-4 for the first time in 50 years

    With Polk County one of the fastest growing regions in the country, the interchange is meant to ease traffic congestion on that stretch of highway.

    “This project is a great example of how we can bring congestion relief and show the rest of the world, show the nation,” said FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue.

    Environmentalists say it will also positively impact more than just drivers. A wildlife underpass was included in the design, connecting conservation lands on either side of I-4 for the first time in 50 years.

    The F-Stop Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on wildlife conservation, uses cameras to monitor the underpass and hopes it will allow for the return of the Florida black bear and even the endangered panther to the region. F-Stop has more than 150 cameras around the state.

    Video from the organization’s other locations across Florida shows just how successful the wildlife crossings can be, capturing images of migrating black bears and even endangered panthers, a population that has dwindled down to less than 240 statewide.

    For conservationists like F-Stop’s chief content creator Max Freund, it’s the potential use of the wildlife underpass that could have the most meaningful impact.

    “When we check the cameras, it’s excitement,” said Freund. “We never know what we are going to get.”

    Cait McVey

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  • Shorebirds seek out rooftop nesting due to busy beaches

    Shorebirds seek out rooftop nesting due to busy beaches

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Shorebird and seabird nesting season is underway and wildlife experts say there has been an uptick over the years of birds nesting on rooftops instead of along Pinellas County beaches. 

    Holley Short, the shorebird program for Audubon, said it’s likely due to increased beach traffic.

    What You Need To Know

    • Shorebird and seabird nesting season is underway and wildlife experts say there has been an uptick over the years of birds nesting on rooftops

    • Shorebird program for Audubon, said it’s likely due to increased beach traffic.

    • Audubon credits its partnerships with area business like the Belleair Beach Resort with the success of rooftop nesting

    “Because they’re losing their natural habitat, we are seeing more birds moving to these alternative nesting sites along places like Gulf Blvd,” Short said as she pointed out a rooftop nesting site at the Belleair Beach Resort in Belleair Beach.

    Short said gravel rooftops are similar to the beach because the birds are able to push gravel around to build nests like they do with sand.

    Audubon credits its partnerships with area business like the Belleair Beach Resort with the success of rooftop nesting.

    The resort allows Audubon to monitor its rooftop and posts signage in front of the hotel to let visitors know about the exciting activity up above.

    Cait McVey

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  • Bay area rabbi and college students set sail to help clean the ocean

    Bay area rabbi and college students set sail to help clean the ocean

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Bay area faith-based conservation group is making waves internationally with its efforts to clean up our waterways.

    Repair the Sea was founded by Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, who is also a campus rabbi at Eckerd College.

    That’s where he started a scuba diving club called Scubi-Jew in 2010.

    The students go out diving twice a week to clean the waters off St. Pete.

    Their work inspired Rabbi Ed to create the nonprofit Repair the Sea in 2022.

    It encourages people of all faiths from around the world to make the same effort.

    Thousands of volunteers participated in the organization’s Reverse Tashlich last year, pulling an estimated 12 tons of debris from global waterways.

    “We like to see ourselves as the intersection between science and spirituality,” Rosenthal said. “So we see what we’re doing as protecting that which is God’s, yet we’re guided by the science.”

    Use the video player above to view the full story.

    Cait McVey

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  • Bay area foundation hands out free Narcan during spring break

    Bay area foundation hands out free Narcan during spring break

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — More than 100,000 people die nationwide each year from drug overdoses. That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also ranks Florida second in the country for overdose death rate.

    In the Tampa Bay region, the Recovery Epicenter Foundation is trying to bring those numbers down by distributing Narcan to businesses along beaches in Pinellas County just in time for spring break.

    This is the second year in a row staff have made this push, an effort that seems to have paid off. According to the organization, preliminary numbers for 2023 show that while overdoses in both Pinellas and Pasco Counties still followed the rising national trend, the number of deaths plateaued.

    Peer outreach specialist Andy Francis said businesses have really been receptive, a sign they are chipping away at the stigma that sometimes comes with having the medication on site.

    “It’s always encouraging, honestly. Because I think more people are becoming aware of how much this is needed,” Francis said.

    The Recovery Epicenter Foundation will be distributing Narcan in Pinellas County beach communities every Tuesday and Thursday from now until the end of April.

    Cait McVey

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  • Resilient home designs on the rise

    Resilient home designs on the rise

    BRADENTON, Fla. — The risk of hurricanes is often top of mind for residents along the coast, making more resilient construction an appealing option for home buyers.

    “The first thing you think about is hurricanes,” said William Fullford, who moved to Florida from Virginia Beach about a year ago. “Everybody does, and we wanted to make sure no matter where it was, the house was going to be safe.”

    What You Need To Know

    • A new development in Bradenton boasts hurricane resistant homes

    • It’s construction that experts are calling the wave of the future, as more and more builders factor in the effects of climate change

    • At the Florida Flood Hub, researchers are analyzing data on rainfall and sea level rise, with the goal of helping communities adapt infrastructure

    Fullford bought his home in the up-and-coming Hunter’s Point development in Bradenton.

    Designed by Pearl Homes, the new constriction boasts homes strong enough to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. Each one is built with 2×6 lumber, equipped with hurricane straps and powered by solar energy.

    “We have 2400 watts and the backup power buffer is 20 percent so we’re guaranteed pretty much having power all the time,” Fullford described of his system.

    Mark Gobuty, the associate developer for Hunter’s Point, said changes were even made to the land the homes were built on.

    “We added at least 6 feet of soil, packing it in and then having a design that gave us 14 feet above sea level before having what we call an enclosed space,” Gobuty said.

    It’s construction that experts are calling the wave of the future, as more and more builders factor in the effects of climate change.

    At the Florida Flood Hub, researchers are analyzing data on rainfall and sea level rise, with the goal of helping communities adapt infrastructure.

    Preliminary results from the Hub’s first ever sea level rise report show Florida can expect about a foot of sea level rise by 2050, based on data collected since the year 2000.

    Charles Jacoby, the Hub’s strategic program director, said that means the potential for increased coastal flooding, something to keep in mind when investing in a home.

    “It’s factoring in these changes that are coming,” Jacoby said. “If you really want to live by the water, you take all the steps necessary to keep yourself safe. Keep your home safe.”

    From his Hunter’s Point deck, Fullford said the construction of his home has given him just that — a retirement with both water views and peace of mind.

    “Just really lucky to have this and again, not worry about it,” Fullford said.

    Cait McVey

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  • Proposed bill would restore mangroves to help fight coastal erosion

    Proposed bill would restore mangroves to help fight coastal erosion

    TAMPA, Fla. — As climatologists predict more frequent and stronger storms, Florida coastlines face the risk of erosion. But now, there is a bill in the state legislature that aims to help our shores by expanding protections against mangroves.

    What You Need To Know

    • Bill in state legistlature aims to help with mangrove restoration 

    • SB 32 would encourage local governments to replant and restore mangroves

    • Promoting mangrove growth would help the shorelines and provide ecological benefits

    Mangroves are so important to coastline protection that there are laws protecting them. SB 32 calls for the expansion of state statute by encouraging local governments to replant and restore mangroves. It would also implement permitting incentives for local governments to install what are known as “living shorelines,” which are the use of natural elements that protect as they grow.

    “Any kind of measures we can do to promote mangrove growth along our shoreline areas really go a long way to help those communities that are built behind the mangroves,” said Peter Clark, president of Tampa Bay Watch.

    Clark formed Tampa Bay Watch 30 years ago, and for the past decade, staff and volunteers with the organization have been installing living shorelines in the Tampa Bay region. One of the most recent installments at Lassing Park in St. Petersburg includes oyster reef balls, oyster shell bags, marsh grass and mangroves.

    “Once you construct these things, they’re natural. So they can stay there and continue to grow for many, many years,” Clark said. “If you construct living shorelines and other green infrastructure, that not only helps protect those areas but provides ecological benefits back to the bay.”

    The bill would also require the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to partner with the state’s Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services to conduct a statewide feasibility study to determine how mangroves and other living shoreline projects could improve a community’s rating with the National Flood Insurance Program and ultimately lower insurance premiums.

    Cait McVey

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