Epic Chef Masters + SharkCon 7 + Petition For Hillsborough Masks

Good morning, neighbors! It's me again, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Tampa Daily.

First, today's weather: Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 92 Low: 80.

Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. SharkCon 7 is coming to Tampa next week from August 7th to August 8th at Florida State Fairgrounds. Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss from "Jaws" will be in attendance. It will feature more than 130 vendors of shark and ocean-related merchandise and a number of speakers. Tickets are now available online. (Patch)

2. Feeding Tampa Bay's "Epic Chef Masters" kicks off next week on Monday at the Epicurean Hotel in South Tampa. It will be a 3-week affair and competitors include Chef Ferrell Alvarez, Chef Michael Buttacavoli, Chef Ted Dorsey, Chef Eric McHugh, Chef Marty Blitz, and Chef Tyson Grant. Tickets are limited and cost $300 for a pair including food and drinks. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

3. A petition circulating online is urging Superintendent Addison Davis and the Hillsborough County School Board to make masks mandatory in the classroom. Broward County voted earlier this week to make masks mandatory in the fall despite opposition from Governor DeSantis. (WFLA)

4. More than 1,000 Florida adults are being hospitalized daily with COVID-19. The overwhelming majority of hospitalized patients at BayCare Health system in Tampa Bay are unvaccinated and ages 20 to 50. (Fox 13 Tampa Bay)

5. A Tampa man was sentenced Wednesday to five years in federal prison for torching a Champs sporting goods store during racial justice protests in 2020. (Wink News)

Today in Tampa

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (8:00 AM)
• Caffeine and Chrome-Classic Cars and Coffee, FL at Gateway Classic Cars of Tampa. (9:00 AM)
• Tampa Bay Comic Convention. (9:00 AM)
• Back 2 School Health Clinic at Middleton High School. (9:00 AM)
• Sensory Saturdays at Community Roots Collective. (10:00 AM)
• Flag Series Art Exhibit At Glazer Children's Museum. (10:00 AM)
• Back-to-School Fair at WestShore Plaza. (10:00 AM)
• Florida Penguin Back to School Extravaganva - Citrus Park. (10:00 AM)
• Back-to-School Bash Backpack Giveaway. (10:00 AM)
• Black Tot Day at The Honu Restaurant and Tiki Bar. (12:00 PM)
• Rosé All Day Saturdays w/ Bass Jackers at WTR. (12:00 PM)
• Family Fun Farmers Market and Fruit Tree Sale Extravaganza Strawberry Capital. (1:30 PM)
• The Wandering Hours, ASTRO, Leon Majcen at Shuffle (6:00 PM)

Tampa Patch Notebook

• City of Tampa: "Keep an Eyes out for this Tampa Olympian! 17-yr old Erriyon Knighton is a Hillsborough High School senior competing in the #TokyoOlympics! He broke Usain Bolt’s under-20 world record 2x, earning a spot on Team USA. His first competition will be on Aug 4." (Twitter)
• Hillsborough County: "Hillsborough County's state of local emergency enacted in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is extended for another seven-day period..." (Twitter)
• Tampa Parks & Recreation: "Only one month left to make your voice heard. Share Your Vision for Our Tomorrow by completing the #TamapParksandRec Master Plan survey at http://YourTampaParksPlan.com. We want your feedback to help shape the future of our parks and programs!" (Twitter)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Gov. DeSantis' calls with key legislators and others has fueled speculation about a special session on banning mask m..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Florida reported 17,589 new COVID-19 cases and 56 deaths Wednesday, accounting for a fifth of all new cases. https://..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Breaking news: Gov. DeSantis signed Florida onto a brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and an..." (Facebook)
• The University of Tampa: "Where's your favorite spot on campus for a selfie?? Check out Sparty's in our newest TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM..." (Facebook)
• TAMPA Downtown Magazine: "It’s National Chicken Wing Day what’s your favorite spot to eat wings? Photo here is from @hattrickstavern - - -..." (Instagram)
• Tampa Bay Times: "In June, there were only six positive COIVD-19 cases among inmates at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center. In July, th..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Hillsborough County adds nearly $20 million in projects for the propsoed 2022 budget. The Straz Center, transportatio..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Here's a chance to score $20 tickets for some of the biggest upcoming concert tours." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "John Mayer is coming to Tampa in 2022." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "Florida's spring test results are out." (Facebook)
• Clean Recovery Center: "For more information on seeking treatment with Clean Recovery Centers, contact our team. Call us at 866-595-5340 or v..." (Instagram)
• Tampa Bay Times: "“The State of Black Mental Health” roundtable discussed how the Black community processes the traumas of the past and..." (Facebook)
• Tampa Bay Times: "A new position at USF's St. Petersburg campus hopes to bring the school closer to the city." (Facebook)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Huge Opportunity - Steel Grating and Cast Iron Water Pipes (August 4)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Hillsborough Community College (August 5)

For sale:

• Grill, Ceramic, Primo Kamado, Custom (Details)
• $349 Custom Website, Social Media, CRM, Text/Email Marketing (Details)
• Diamond Wedding Ring set (Details)

Gigs & services:

• Want a 501 c 3 charity or internet Cafe? (Details)
• FundRaising (Details)

You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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 Daily? Reach out anytime to SouthTampa@Patch.com.