🌱 Tampa Santa Claus Guide + Local Fans React To U.S. World Cup Loss

Hello all! Carlos Hernandez here with your Sunday edition of the Tampa Daily, filled with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Including updates on:

• 🎅🏻 Patch Tampa has you covered on where to find Santa Claus in the area this holiday season.
• ⚽ Fans in Pinellas County reacted to the U.S. loss to The Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup.
• 🍽️ Stone Soup owner and CEO Ilya Benjamin Goldberg is selling his business to his employees and retiring.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 81 Low: 63.

Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. Wondering where to see Santa Claus to Tampa? Tampa Patch has a great guide up with options including Photos With Santa At Florida Aquarium, Storytime With Mrs. Claus, Visit Santa At Westshore Plaza, and more. (Tampa Patch)

2. Students at Newsome High School are raising money to help the head custodian's husband in the fight against lung and brain cancer. Students held a car line at school and in the FishHawk community to help Butler. (ABC Action News)

3. Soccer fans in Pinellas County reacted to the loss of the United States at the FIFA World Cup on Saturday to The Netherlands in a 3-1 loss. "We’ll be back in 4 years baby," Auscin Ziug said. He continued, "I love our country; I loved the way our team played, we played with so much heart man through the whole thing." (WFLA)

4. Stone Soup owner and CEO Ilya Benjamin Goldberg is selling 100% of his company to his employees with the help of a company called Teamshares and will retire from the popular Ybor City business. Teamshares is described as "a hybrid of a software company, an education company, an investment company, and a support network." (Creative Loafing Tampa)

5. The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, located at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd., is welcoming new tenants to the destination in Fabletics, BoxLunch, and Body Details. The tenants join over 100 businesses. (Tampa Bay Newswire)

Today in Tampa:

• Tampa Bay Jingle Bell Run at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (9 a.m.)
• Fresh Market at Hyde Park. (10 a.m.)
• Tampa's Holiday Market at Water Works Park. (11 a.m.)
• Christmas Contigo at Stageworks. (3 p.m.)
• Holiday Classics Film Series at Tampa Theatre. (3 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Midtown Tampa shared: "Bring on the merry in the Midtown Commons! Join us this Sunday at 11 am for a rip-roaring Toys for Tots rally, followed by a full day of festivities the whole family can enjoy." (Midtown Tampa via Facebook)
• Tampa Councilman Luis Viera shared: "Great time at today’s Tampa Christmas/Santa parade. I invited my friends Rafael Pizano and Roberto Pizano to march with me and pass out Little Debbie’s and Twinkie snacks to kids." (Twitter)
• The City of Tampa's Official Tree Lighting Ceremony was held on Saturday, officially kicking off the holiday season in downtown Tampa. (WFLA)
• HCA Florida Northside Hospital caregivers collected and donated food to Lealman and Asian Neighborhood Family Center (LANFC) for the holidays, according to a release. "Our caregivers never cease to amaze with the extent of their generosity in supporting the needs of LANFC and our community," said Valerie Powell-Stafford, CEO of HCA Florida Northside Hospital. (Tampa Bay Newswire)

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Events:

• Estate Planning Webinar (December 6)
• Champagne and Candy Canes - "Celebrating 2022 Successes" (December 6)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (December 8)
• Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay (December 10)
• The Florida Wind Band "Tis The Season!" (December 10)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (December 17)
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Housing:

• NEWLY LISTED Amazing senior independent living community in Valrico! (Details)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another 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 Daily? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com