Counting coronavirus cases Find out how many COVID-19 cases, deaths are in Pinellas. … Page 6A New film hearkens back to ‘The Twilight Zone’ Do you love the famed television and UFOs? Our fi lm critic says ‘The Vast of Night’ might be for you. … Page 3B June 4, 2020 www.TBNweekly.com Volume 42, No. 11 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FROM DOWNTOWN ST. PETE TO THE BEACHES Also Inside Project hits the fast lane PSTA gets $21.8M in federal funds for region’s fi rst bus rapid transit project public transportation in Pinellas County’s p.m. May 28. history. By SUZETTE PORTER Local and state offi cials gathered at Pi- Tampa Bay Newspapers St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman nellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s head- thanked everyone involved and talked quarters in St. Petersburg for a press ST. PETERSBURG — President Donald about why the project was so important. conference the next morning amid an at- Trump used his Twitter account to share He said the Central Avenue BRT project mosphere of excitement. was about economic development, quality the news Pinellas County has been waiting “This is huge,” said PSTA CEO Brad to hear for years. of life and climate change. It will help the Miller, adding that it represents a “major, “@USDOT is committing $21.8M for county be more competitive with attracting Pinellas County received surprise major investment” in the Tampa Bay re- Seminole the FIRST transit project of this kind in businesses and it will help with affordable news May 28 when President Donald gion and Pinellas County. housing, he said. Piece by piece, the long-awaited the Tampa Bay region. It will connect St. Trump announced funding for 10 proj- Trump used his Twitter account to Petersburg to popular beaches through In addition, the mayor said it will help ects in 10 cities on Thursday and PSTA’s announce that PSTA had received Waterfront Park is beginning to come state-of-the-art transit buses with FREE St. Petersburg residents that work on the was the smallest; however, Miller pointed federal grant funding for its bus rapid Wi-Fi. Will be a major help to heavily pop- together. A few of those pieces — an out that it was the most important. He transit project. ulated parts of the Great State of Florida!” See BUS, page 4A observation boardwalk, access trail said it was the single largest investment in the president said in a tweet about 5:43 and restroom — have moved forward to coming to fruition. 2A * Visit TBNweekly.com/coronavirus County parks TRACKING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS Pinellas County recently completed PINELLAS COUNTY mechanical thinning work at four county parks, and some residents aren’t happy. Paul Cozzie, director of Limits at Parks and Conservation Resources, explained why the work was done at Lake Seminole Park, War Veterans beaches Park, Boca Ciega Millennium Park and Walsingham Park. 3A relaxed Madeira Beach By SUZETTE PORTER Tampa Bay Newspapers The city of Madeira Beach is facing a $700,000 shortfall because of the CLEARWATER — Pinellas County coronavirus pandemic, and Mayor commissioners voted unanimously May 28 to extend the local state of emer- John Hendricks wants to better utilize 7A gency until June 5 and, in a separate the marina to make up for it. unanimous vote, passed a resolution that lifts local restrictions on beaches, pools and playgrounds. Also Online The plan is to use the restrictions contained in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ state- Visit TBNweekly.com for plenty more wide order that address social distanc- from around Pinellas and updates ing and sanitation recommendations about the coronavirus crisis, including: from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Restrictions at the beaches, play- grounds at daycare centers and pools at hotels were lifted before the weekend. Restrictions at public playgrounds and Photo by LOGAN MOSBY See LIMITS, page 4A McGough Nature Park volunteer Carol Waltz feeds Sarge, an American bald eagle, May 30. The park, which operates solely on donations, is facing fi nancial hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic. FIREWORKS Clearwater More shows Clearwater Marine Aquarium recently (but not all) was selected by National Marine Park still has Fisheries Service to be the forever are canceled home to a new rescued male dolphin. The new dolphin will provide a By CHRIS GEORGE & WAYNE AYERS Tampa Bay Newspapers companion for CMA rescued resident Nicholas, another male Atlantic mouths to feed ST. PETE BEACH — The coronavirus bottlenose dolphin. pandemic has forced Tampa Bay area cities and towns to cancel dozens of events the past few months. E-edition McGough Park and its birds of prey feeling fi nancial pinch from pandemic To the dismay of elected offi cials and reworks signifi cant portion of their time to its upkeep. residents, Independence Day fi Want to share the paper with family or By LOGAN MOSBY GEORGE Those larger crowds that were once a godsend before shows have been the latest. Most no- friends? Visit TBNweekly.com to check Tampa Bay Newspapers the pandemic now have proven to be an obstacle on the tably, Clearwater and St. Petersburg out an electronic version of this week’s park’s path to recovery. decided that mass gathering limitations LARGO — The day was bright, with a light breeze, and made it too diffi cult and dangerous to paper that you “When you have a bird out, it tends to draw a crowd, the temperature was already sweltering on the morning of and that’s just what we don’t want right now,” said sev- hold their displays. The shows must go on Ruth Eckerd Hall beginning to reschedule some of its shows. … Page 3B. May 30 as a group of volunteers met to care for the more Some cities along the beaches, how- can download Since you’re stuck en-year volunteer and Friends of Largo Nature Parks at home, it’s time to break out the books than 20 birds of prey at McGough Nature Park. ever, are not giving up just yet on cele- Our entertainment editor has put together a list board member Debbie Burns. “I think what we miss most or share. You’ll of novels about rebuilding civilization. … Page 1B. Volume 43, No. 43 www.TBNweekly.com April 2, 2020 CORONAVIRUS CONTINUES TO TAKE TOLL ON PINELLAS COUNTY The main deck behind the Narrows Nature Center had is probably being able to show the birds and get donations brating on July 4. also fi nd bonus Also Inside The Good The Bad Number of been taped off as workers mucked enclosures and fed the cases and — that’s what we survive on. We’ve had pretty slim pick- pages with more deaths not winged inhabitants of the multi-acre park. Public transit slowing ings for a few months now and it will probably continue St. Pete Beach Citing a lack of ridership, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority • County issues ‘safer at home’ order suspended service on its downtown • Schools to stay closed until May 1 St. Petersburg Looper and South By SUZETTE PORTER Clearwater Beach Jolley Trolley Tampa Bay Newspapers Closed to the public the past few months because of the 4A effective. As of press time March 31, Pinellas County’s coronavirus virus cases were up for a while.” community news to 144, according to information released Cancellations by the Florida Department of Health. Find out what Pinellas County DOH announced the death of a 58-year- St. Pete Beach commissioners, for old male Sunday night, events are canceled or facilities are « « bringing the county’s closed and for how long. 4A death toll to fi ve. TBNweekly.com Finding a way to keep people fed. 2A DOH Pinellas report- ed Saturday morning COVID-19 pandemic, the nature center at the park, which Business that three county res- Online idents had died due to For the latest Local restaurants face a daunting the coronavirus. Two of numbers from challenge of trying to keep their the dead are males, age the Department doors open after being forced to 52 and 64, and the third of Health, visit from around was an 83-year-old fe- TBNweekly.com close their dining rooms. 9A male. No additional in- See BIRDS, page 4A Kindness formation was readily available. More cases The county’s first death attributed to COVID-19 was reported on March 24. A is normally packed with visitors on a Saturday morning, A second case of COVID-19 also proves to be 67-year-old man in Pinellas died March 23. See SHOWS, page 4A The case was not travel-related and DOH is linked to a South Pasadena says the man did not have contact with a condominium complex. 7A confi rmed case. According to the latest report, 127 of the cases in Pinellas are in Florida residents Opinion and 17 are non-residents. Forty-fi ve were hospitalized. Eighty-three cases were men Pinellas. Our Pinellas County editor, Suzette Porter, says you should Contagious See PINELLAS, page 4A was mostly unoccupied, save for the few who dedicate a heed offi cials’ warnings because staying inside could help save a The Ugly life. 6A Much of Pinellas County may be under some degree of self-isolation, but that doesn’t mean those who are in need are alone. That’s the message Dear TBN Readers Pinellas is many residents have sent out to fi rst responders, health care workers, We want to thank all of you for your loyal readership and patronage. All of struggling businesses and at-risk seniors this past week. running low us at Tampa Bay Newspapers (TBN) are proud to publish one of the best and largest groups of weekly commu- nity papers in the country.