🌱 Dr. Jane Goodall Coming To Tampa + 'Spring It Forward' Initiative

Good morning, everybody! It's me, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Patch newsletter. Follow along to find out everything you need to know about what's happening around town, including updates on...

• Tampa will host Dr. Jane Goodall next week at The Florida Aquarium and Tampa Theatre.
• A member of the Italian Club and active participant in local city politics was arrested recently for failing to update his address as a sex offender, according to HCSO.
• Tampa's Solid Waste Department is bringing back its "Spring It Forward" initiative.

But first, today's weather: Record-tying temperatures. High: 88 Low: 63.

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Here are the top stories today in Tampa:

1. Tampa will soon host world-renowned conservationist and United Nations Messenger of Peace, Dr. Jane Goodall. Goodall will visit The Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa on Tuesday, March 28 for a special evening with vegetarian and vegan food on the menu and then head to the historic Tampa Theatre for a sold-out engagement the next day on March 29. The speaking engagement is called, "Growing a Compassionate & Sustainable Future for All: An Evening with Dr. Goodall." (Tampa Patch)
2. City of Tampa's Solid Waste Department is bringing back its "Spring It Forward" initiative which is "designed to help reduce extra waste and its environmental impact during the spring-cleaning season." Local residents are being encouraged to repurpose and donate items not being used. One way to repurpose items is to take them to a local thrift or consignment store. (WTSP)
3. A 38-year-old Tampa woman has been sentenced to eight years and four months in federal prison and ordered to pay close to $350,000 in restitution for organizing a scheme to fraudulently obtain bank loans using counterfeit checks. The value of fraudulent checks exceeded $600,000, according to officials. Authorities accuse the woman of bank fraud, tax fraud, and credit card fraud. (WFLA)
4. A member of the Italian Club in Ybor City was arrested last week for failing to "register electronic mail address or internet identifiers" after a previous sex offender charge, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO). The board member is an active participant in local politics and has supported City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, as well as Tampa Councilmembers Joe Citro and Lynn Hurtak. (Creative Loafing Tampa)
5. Republican former Sen. John Legg is planning to launch is run for Pasco Superintendent on April 20. Legg is running to replace Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, who is retiring from the role. He has already raised almost $150,000 in the race. (Florida Politics)

Today in Tampa:

• Book Discussion: "The Personal Librarian," by Marie Benedict at North Tampa Library. (10:30 a.m.)
• Ceramics: Morning Class at Tampa Museum Of Art. (11 a.m.)
• Taste Of Water Street | The Wine Down at Small Giant Bar And Restaurant. (5:30 p.m.)
• Lagos Thursdays — An Afro Elite Experience at 7th + Grove. (9 p.m.)
• Cyclops at TK Lounge Tampa. (9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers shared: "We're excited to have been voted No. 1 in the league in Customer Service for the ninth time in the past 11 seasons. Thanks for all your support, Krewe! 🏟: bccn.rs/3yTol1k." (Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Lightning shared: "Forget about March Madness, we're looking at April with the Frozen Four in Tampa 🤩 Bolts players Ian Cole and Nick Perbix reminisce on their time vying for the trophy." (Tampa Bay Lightning via Facebook)
• Humane Society of Tampa Bay shared: "Calling Pit Bull Models. We are working with AGoldPhoto Pet Photo Studio on a special project. We're seeking 5 Pit Bull and Pit Bull Type Dogs who have been previously rescued from a rescue or a shelter." (Humane Society of Tampa Bay via Facebook)
• Visit Tampa Bay: "On March 19, a RECORD-BREAKING 90,000+ passengers travelled through Tampa International Airport in a single day. ✈️" (Visit Tampa Bay via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• TerraNova Grand Prix Brunch (March 25)
• Tour de Kerouac - Guided Bike Ride (March 26)
• Westchase Egg Hunt (April 2)
• Jazz at the Ballroom Presents "Accentuate the Positive" (April 16)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.

— 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