Meteor Showers, Confederate Memorial, Sales Tax Holiday

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 week:

Summer Meteor Showers: Peak Dates For Watching In Tampa Bay

Two meteor showers are expected to put on quite a light show in the skies above Tampa Bay before the summer comes to a close. The Delta Aquarids began making cameo appearances in the night sky last week while the much-anticipated Perseids are expected to get under way starting Monday night.

Land O’ Lakes Sinkhole: How To Help Victims

Pasco County and United Way are teaming up to make it easier for people to help the families who lost their homes when a sinkhole opened up in Land O’ Lakes on Friday. The kickoff of a special local fund meant to directly benefit the families was announced on Monday.

Florida’s Most Stressed Cities Ranked

The folks in St. Petersburg and Tampa are pretty relaxed compared to others, but residents of Miami are among the most stressed in the country. That’s according to a recent study that dove into national data to uncover the most- and least-stressed cities across the country.

Florida’s 2017 Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday: Dates, Details

As the countdown begins for the start of the 2017-18 school year, parents will find a financial break is on the way to help them prepare their children for hitting the books. Florida’s 2017 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday takes place the first weekend in August.

Ybor City Growth Sign Of The Times, Business Owner Says

Ybor City’s appeal extends beyond the shops, restaurants and bars that line the main Seventh Avenue drag. As more entrepreneurs recognize this, Bob Burmaster says the historic neighborhood’s potential for growth and transformation is significant.

Tampa Confederate Memorial Removal Gets Green Light

The Confederate memorial that sat outside the Hillsborough County courthouse in downtown Tampa for years will soon get a new home. After much debate, commissioners voted Wednesday to remove the statue and give it back to the Florida Daughters of the Confederacy for relocation.

‘Frozen’ On Ice Skates Into Tampa This Fall

Tampa Bay area “Frozen” fans who just can’t get enough of Anna, Elsa and Olaf will have the chance to see their favorite characters live this fall. Disney On Ice has announced plans to skate into the Amalie Arena with six performances of “Frozen.”

5 Rare Baby Skunks On The Mend At Owl’s Nest

The folks at the Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife have embarked on what might be the most odoriferous, but stinking adorable rescue in the organization’s history.

Prostate Cancer Doc Practiced Without License: Cops

A Sarasota doctor whose license was revoked by the state in April faces criminal charges after police say he kept seeing patients. The arrest of Ronald Wheeler, 70, was announced Friday.

Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment