Memorial Day Service + Black Bear Sightings + Teacher Retirement

Good Morning and Happy Memorial Day! My name is Carlos Hernandez and I am back to update you on the latest happening in the Tampa area with Patch News.

In this issue, you’ll learn about the retirement of a local teacher with decades of service, Memorial Day volunteers, bear sightings in Pinellas County, and more. Now, let’s get started.

Today’s weather: The high is 91 and the low is 71 with scattered thunderstorms.

Here are the top 5 stories happening around Tampa:

1. Volunteers placed flags on veterans’ graves at Bay Pines National Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day. The Pinellas County Boy Scouts showed up to volunteer at the event joining locals remembering veterans who have passed. (WFLA)

2. Black bear sightings have been reported through Pinellas County according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They have been monitoring the movements and asking people to leave bears alone and give room for the wildlife to pass through. (ABC Action News)

3. A long-time Tampa teacher has retired after 52 years of service. She taught at Madison, Jefferson, and Blake High schools and says she always thought of herself as a student and not a teacher. (WFLA)

4. Bay to Bay Hardware, a part of South Tampa community since 1947, has been sold to Ace Hardware. They will keep their pool business running. (Fox 13 Tampa Bay)

5. A promotion group called Leadfoot Promotions with pop-punk band called Teenage Bottlerocket, MakeWar, and Rutterkin is supporting vaccinations with a new idea that is making national and local headlines. $18 tickets if you are vaccinated for COVID-19 and $999 tickets if you are not. That’s one way to make a splash. (Bay News 9)

Today in Tampa:

• Memorial Day Clean-Up Gandy Beach. (8 a.m.)
• Memorial Day Family 5K Star at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park. (9 a.m.)
• Happy Lao New Year. (9 a.m.)
• Memorial Day Ceremony at American Legion Post 5. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Facebook for those who cannot attend. (10 a.m.)
• PCI Rocks the Beach. Tickets are required and parking is not included. (12 p.m.)
• Memorial Day Monday with Gordo (Carnage) at WTR Pool. (12 p.m.)
• Memorial Day Concert at Armature Works. (1 p.m.)
• Veterans Race on the River. (4 p.m.)
• Veterans Alliance Council Memorial Day Sunset Tribute sponsored by the City of Clearwater (6 p.m.)

Tampa Patch Notebook:

• St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman reflected on his 18 years supporting St. Pete Pride with Creative Loafing Tampa.
• The Tampa Bay Rays continue their win streak.

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured Events: $23 Million Mansion Online Downsizing Auction, Hillsborough Library Kicks Off Summer Reading Program

Featured Classified: Gigs and Services - All in 1 Handyman / Landscaper

That's all for today. I will be back tomorrow with the latest happening in Tampa. My inbox is open if you have any tips to send or want to reach out: tampadaily@patch.com

-Carlos Hernandez

About me: I have lived in Florida since 1999 and covered the Tampa area for nearly 10 years, mainly with a focus on food through my blog at CarlosEats.com.