Disaster Relief, Free Lunches, Hurricane Maria

Patch operates 24 daily news sites in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. The following are some of the top stories from the past day:

Come Home To New England Style, Clearwater Beach Views

Tampa Bay house hunters who aren’t ready to give up on waterfront dreams after Hurricane Irma’s run through the region may find this Clearwater Beach beauty to their liking. The home boasts “near perfect ‘open water’” views and its own slice of paradise in the backyard.

66 Jobs: Yacht Sales, Groundskeeper, Fitness Instructor

In the market for a new gig in the Tampa Bay area? There’s good news on the employment front! Employers throughout the region have put out help-wanted signs in recent days.

FEMA Disaster Assistance: What You Need To Know After Irma

As Floridians continue to pick up the pieces of their lives following Hurricane Irma’s devastating visit last week, officials from Polk County are offering advice about FEMA Disaster Assistance that applies to residents across the state.

Hurricane Irma Aftermath: Bryan Adams’ Concert Off

For diehard Bryan Adams fans, the city of Clearwater’s news on the singer’s planned Coachman Park performance may cut like a knife. It seems the Hurricane Irma-postponed Sept. 10 concert will not be put back on the venue’s calendar.

Plane Makes Emergency Landing On Sand Key

Mechanical issues forced the pilot of a small plane to make an emergency landing on Sand Key Monday afternoon.

Missing Child Alert Issued For Sarasota Boy, 14

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a statewide missing child alert for a teenage boy from Sarasota. Jabez Spann, 14, has been missing since Labor Day.

Tampa Bay Weather: Sunshine, But Hazards Remain

As Tampa Bay residents strive to get back into their normal routines post-Hurricane Irma, forecasters at the National Weather Service say they can anticipate sunny skies at least for a few days. That doesn’t mean, however, that hazards don’t remain. Several rivers across the region continue to cause flooding concerns, prompting a Monday morning Hazardous Weather Outlook report to go out.

Free Lunches For Florida Kids After Hurricane Irma

As children in many counties across Florida return to classes following Hurricane Irma’s devastating run across the state last week, they’ll be greeted with free meals courtesy of the National School Lunch Program.

Hurricane Maria Reaches Category 5 Status

While all eyes in the northeast are on Hurricane Jose, folks across Irma-battered Florida are wearily watching the development of Hurricane Maria. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said Maria had strengthened enough to earn Category 5 status by Monday night.

Photo courtesy of the Clearwater Police Department