Plus, a new oyster bar is opening.
 
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💦 Waste not, want not

Construction is complete on Tampa’s new wastewater facility
Tampa's new wastewater facility sits under blue skies. The structure has three open stories with vehicles and pipes inside, and it is made of mostly metal and concrete.
The project is part of a citywide $2.9 billion infrastructure investment. | Photo by City of Tampa
The City of Tampa’s Wastewater Department just announced the completion of its new facility. The new Sludge Dewatering Building is intended to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and cost of the city’s wastewater treatment process.

Here’s what you need to know:

💰 The numbers

The $31.5 million project is part of Tampa’s PIPES (Progressive Infrastructure Plan to Ensure Sustainability) program, which was launched in 2019 by Mayor Jane Castor and her administration. The program has $2.9 billion lined up for water, sewer, and wastewater improvements, as well as funding adjustments to aid future work.

Upgrades and improvements through PIPES will help the Cigar City’s ~100-year-old water system, which serves ~700,000 people. The new facility is 15,000+ sqft, and is set to save the city $500,000 annually on operational costs alone. Let’s find out how.

🤔 How it works

Simply put, the Sludge Dewatering Building, which does exactly what it says. Bear with us here.

Sludge is a term used to describe the solid matter left over after sewage water is treated + removed. Also known as biosolids, this matter is sent to EPA-approved sites for agricultural use, such as fertilizer. This process reduces the need for and use of landfills.

Tampa’s new facility has state-of-the-art technology with the capacity to remove more water than before, meaning the resulting sludge is smaller + weighs less, making it less costly to transport.

So the city is benefitting from the project, but so are you.

👍 It’s all about you

Officials say the facility will decrease the city’s material agricultural purchases, such as inorganic fertilizers and mined phosphate. In turn, this means our area’s soil will contain more organic + natural materials, which is meant to improve soil quality.

The department has several other projects in the pipeline too. The rehabilitation of the Main Pumping station is under way, which will raise electrical control panels an extra 15 ft up, helping lower the risk of electrical outage in times of storm, flooding, and hurricane.
Events
Thursday, March 21
  • Career Exploration for Middle School Students | Thursday, March 21 | 4-5 p.m. | Arthenia L. Joyner University Area Community Library, 13619 N. 22nd St., Tampa | Free | Bring your kid to the library to get them thinking about what they’ll do in the future — registration recommended.
  • A CEO Conversation: “From Entry Level to Executive” | Thursday, March 21 | 6 p.m. | Palladium Theater, 253 5th Ave. N., St. Petersburg | Free with reservation | Listen to St. Petersburg College President Dr. Tonjua Williams and President of Duke Energy Florida Melissa Seixas discuss their journey to leadership.
  • Voices of Women Theatre Festival | Thursday, March 21-Sunday, March 24 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Powerstories Theatre, 3837 USF Holly Dr., Tampa | $15+ | The festival features 11 works by women playwrights of different backgrounds + genres in honor of Women’s History Month.
Friday, March 22
  • New York Yankees vs. New York Mets | Friday, March 22 | 1:05 p.m. | George M. Steinbrenner Field, 1 Steinbrenner Dr., Tampa | $70+ | Get a taste of this Big Apple rivalry as Spring Training continues in the Big Guava.
  • Streetcar Live | Friday, March 22 | 6-8 p.m. | Centro Ybor, 1600 E. 8th Ave., Tampa | Free | Boogie away to tunes while riding the TECO Streetcar through the Cigar City.
  • “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” in Concert | Friday, March 22-Saturday, March 23 | 7:30 p.m. | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Pl., Tampa | $54+ | Take a trip to Hogwarts as the Florida Orchestra plays the live score of the series’ sixth installment alongside a movie screening.
Saturday, March 23
  • Preserving Women’s History Tour | Saturday, March 23 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Meet outside Kahwa Coffee, 475 2nd St. N., St. Petersburg | $20+ | Learn about the women who helped shape the Sunshine City on this guided walking tour.
  • Nick Cannon | Saturday, March 23 | 12-8 p.m. | wtr pool, 7700 W. Courtney Campbell Cswy., Tampa | $25+ | Join the entertainer as you party by the pool, soaking in tropical vibes, good tunes, and sunset views.
Events calendar here
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Shop savings through Monday, March 25. | Graphic by 6AM City
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News Notes
Eat
  • Don’t spoil your appetite. The Friday Night Street Food Mega Market returns to St. Pete tomorrow, March 22. The event at 855 28th St. S. features 75+ vendors selling eats, drinks, and handmade crafts, plus a host of live performances. It starts at 4 p.m. and runs to 12 a.m. (I Love the Burg)
Opening
  • Aw, shucks. You’ll soon be able to get your oyster fix at a new Pinellas Park spot. Located at 8098 66th St. N., Welton Brewing Co. & Oyster Bar is opening its doors this Saturday, March 23. You may recognize the name — the company used to have a spot in Land O’ Lakes. (I Love the Burg)
Announced
  • She’s bringing thee heat. Megan Thee Stallion is coming to Tampa on her “Hot Girl Summer Tour” later this year. Thee rapper will bring her catchy tunes to Amalie Arena on Saturday, June 8. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, March 22 at 10 a.m.
Shop
  • Online shopping is a thing of the... past? Wayfair has opened a physical store in the Tampa Bay area for one of its specialty brands — Birch Lane. The International Plaza store is part of the Boston-based brand’s expansion into the brick and mortar space. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Kids
  • The Florida Aquarium is preparing for some Easter joy. Stop by from Friday, March 29 to Sunday, March 31, for photo ops with the Easter Bunny + an Easter egg scavenger hunt. The first of the three days will offer sensory-friendly fun between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Concert
  • The New Tampa Performing Arts Center is hosting a free concert to unveil its new Steinway & Sons concert grand piano. The event starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 5, and will feature a lobby reception, bites, tunes from acclaimed pianists + meet-and-greets with the musicians. Grab your free tickets.
Number
  • $1.25 million. That’s how much Tampa’s Jesuit High School just raised at its annual gala. The record-breaking funding will go toward the all-boys private Catholic high school’s financial aid program, which benefits around one-in-three students. It’s the third year in a row the event has brought in over $1 million. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Sports
  • There’s another injury on the Rays’ roster. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Rays with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
    Family
    Learn
    • Meet The Daily Upside, a free business newsletter that offers sharp analysis of the latest finance, economics, and market news. Navigate the complexities of inflation, rate hikes, and more without clickbait headlines. Join 1+ million subscribers when you sign up for free.*
    Job
    • Passionate about storytelling + news, and have some serious Orlando pride? ORLtoday (a new daily newsletter celebrating Orlando) is hiring a City Editor to plan, write, edit, and publish the most relevant and engaging daily content about our city. See details + apply.
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    City

    🗳️ The people have spoken

    Find out what happened in the 2024 Pinellas County municipal elections
    A shot of Clearwater Beach, taken from the ocean back toward the sand. There are high rises jutting out, with condos and apartment complexes lining the beach. The ocean is turquoise, and the skies above are cloudless and pale blue.
    The people of Clearwater have spoken. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
    Earlier this week, several elections took place across parts of Pinellas County. Three new mayors were chosen, as were several council members + commissioners.

    Let’s break down the results:

    Attorney Bruce Rector won ~62% of the vote to become the next mayor of Clearwater. The race between Rector and City Council Member Kathleen Beckman was an expensive one, with both candidates raising $125,000+ in their campaigns.

    Megan Zemaitis won the mayor’s race in Kenneth City with ~72% of votes against the incumbent Robert J. Howell. And in Indian Shores, current Vice Mayor Diantha Schear will take over from Patrick Soranno, who has served as mayor since 2016.

    Voters in Safety Harbor voiced their desire for a centuries-old oak tree’s preservation. The treasure has stood for an estimated 300+ years, and is believed to be the oldest living oak in the county.

    In Clearwater, people voted in favor of a run-off system to replace single winner-take-all elections starting in 2026.

    Check out the full results.
    The Buy

    The Buy 3.21.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
    These No. 1 best-selling women’s running shorts, because spring is officially here and that means more workouts outside (yay). Under Armour’s shorts have a built-in brief and are lightweight and breathable, thanks to sweat-wicking material.
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    The Wrap
     
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    Today’s edition by:
    Patrick
    From the editor
    In case you missed it, the Columbia restaurant’s Cuban sandwich was just voted No. 1 in Florida by readers of Southern Living Magazine. We tried it for ourselves, just to make sure.
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