🌱 Cross-Bay Ferry Celebrates 300,000 Riders + Black Radish Closed

Morning, everybody! It's me, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Tampa Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town these days. Including news about:

• The Cross-Bay Ferry is celebrating its 300,000th rider in the Tampa Bay area.
• Hillsborough County officials are tackling public safety on the roads by lowering speed limits and changing traffic light timing.
• An avid Tampa Bay Rays fan that is 106 years old was able to attend a game this week with her retirement community.

But first, today's weather: Humid; an afternoon t-storm. High: 89 Low: 71.

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Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. The Cross-Bay Ferry, Tampa's only ferry service across the Tampa Bay area, is celebrating its 300,000th rider as ridership continues to grow and Tampa booms with new residents. The transportation project is a partnership between Hillsborough County, City of Tampa, City of St. Petersburg, and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). (Tampa Bay Newswire)
2. Tampa doctor Dr. Rachel Rapkin said that the new 6-week abortion law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that covers Florida will lead to doctors and health care professionals fleeing Tampa and the state. Rapkin and her husband, both obstetrician-gynecologists, will leave the state themselves due to the law. (WTSP)
3. Hillsborough County officials are battling traffic accidents in a push for more safety on the road. Just on Sheldon Road there were nearly 300 crashes in 2018. One way the county is addressing the problem is by lowering speed limits by a few miles and is also re-timing traffic lights. (ABC Action News)
4. 106-year-old Agnes Ingles of St. Petersburg is an avid Tampa Bay Rays fan and was surprised with a visit to Tropicana Field this past Thursday. Ingles has lived in the Tampa since the 1980s. It just so happened to be her first time at a Rays game, and she was treated with her retirement community to a day of fun. (WTSP)
5. Popular vegan concept Black Radish has shut down in St. Petersburg. The concept was located at 246 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St. N. The closure was announced on social media, according to CL Tampa. The news comes amid news of numerous recent closures of local businesses in the Tampa area. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

Today in Tampa:

• Fest Italiana Winefest Of Italy at The Italian Club. (9 a.m.)
• Seltzerland Festival at Willa's. (9 a.m.)
• 3rd Annual Pasco Beer & Burger Festival at Land O' Lakes Heritage Park. (noon)
• CRISP & GREEN Water Street Grand Opening. (10:30 a.m.)
• Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival: Saturday's Grand Tasting at Curtis Hixon Park. (1 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Bay Lightning shared: "50 goals this season for Brayden Point!" (Tampa Bay Lightning via Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers shared: "Nine years ago, we drafted M1K3. The rest was history. 📽️: NFL Draft starts April 27 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC." (Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Facebook)
• The University of Tampa shared: "Spend the summer with us. You can do so in one of four ways: in-person, online, hybrid, or Zoom. For more information, visit ut.edu/continuing-studies/summer-session." (The University of Tampa via Facebook)
• Tampa International Airport shared: "NEXT STOP, GRAND CAYMAN 🏝️ Our friends at Cayman Airways offer nonstop flights from TPA to Grand Cayman. Book your trip to this island paradise today: https://www.caymanairways.com/tpa-to-gcm." (Tampa International Airport via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• 3rd Annual Pasco Beer & Burger Festival (April 15)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (April 17)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (April 17)
• Social Security and Retirement Taxation Workshop (April 17)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar on April 18 and 20 at Hillsborough Community College (April 18)
• Astral Tequila: 'This Round's For The House' Tampa (April 19)
• Uptown Music Festival (May 6)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday! I'll see you soon.

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Tampa Patch newsletter? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com