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Mayor Jane Castor and OnBikes hosted their annual “Caroling with Castor” event last week, delivering over 120 free bikes and holiday cheer to children at three Parks & Recreation community centers. Learn more from FOX13. (https://www.fox13news.com/news/more-than-100-bikes-given-children-tampa-ahead-christmas-so-wonderful)
GET INVOLVED
Shop Small Tampa Directory

Last minute holiday shopping? Check out our Shop Small Tampa Directory (http://tampa.gov/ShopSmallTampa) to support a local, small business this holiday season!

ReliaQuest Bowl

Before the big Alabama vs Michigan football game on December 31, join all the fan fun on December 30 at 5:30 pm at the ReliaQuest Bowl Parade & Pep Rally (http://reliaquestbowl.com/) in Ybor City. There will be plenty of bands, beads & floats! This event is free and open to the public.

Chanukah in the City

Chanukah in the City (https://www.facebook.com/share/1GS8AE6Y6t/) returns on December 25, the first day of Hanukkah, at 5:30 pm at Old City Hall (315 E Kennedy Blvd). Join us as we light the first candle on the giant menorah with Chabad of South Tampa. There will be food, family-friendly activities, music, games, a photo booth, and more! This event is free and open to the public.

20th Annual 3R’s Art & Poetry Contest

All Tampa young artists and poets are encouraged to submit an art or poetry piece, inspired by environmental stewardship, into our 20th Annual 3R’s Art & Poetry Contest. Submissions are due February 7. Not only will the winner have their piece displayed on a recycling collection truck for one year, the winner will also receive four free tickets to ZooTampa at Lowry Park. See submission details & eligibility requirements at tampa.gov/3Rs.

City Offices Closed for Holiday

City of Tampa offices will be closed on December 24 and 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. There will be no changes to the residential solid waste collection schedule (https://www.tampa.gov/Solid-Waste) . Residential trash pickup will operate on its normal schedule. Note: All City of Tampa parks will be closed on Christmas Day (December 25) and will reopen on December 26.

2nd Annual Dia de Reyes Celebration (Three Kings Day)

All Tampa residents are invited to join the 2nd Annual City of Tampa Dia de Reyes Celebration (Three Kings Day) on January 4 at 11 am – 2 pm at Al Lopez Park. There will be food, entertainment & community resources, and presents for children under 12 years of age accompanied by an adult, while supplies last.

Saturday Session

Class is back in session! On January 11 at 9 am, join the next Saturday Session to learn how to protect your information from the experts at the Tampa Police Department and take advantage of free document shredding services from Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union. See tampa.gov/SaturdaySession to register and review the list of permitted items to shred.

New: Natural Resources Advisory Committee

The City of Tampa is seeking arborists, developers, businesses, and neighborhood representatives that are passionate about trees to join the newly-formed Natural Resources Advisory Committee. The committee will serve to advance and protect the benefits of Tampa’s urban forest. See details & qualifications at tampa.gov/NRAC.

New: Interactive Bike Map

The new, interactive bike map (https://tampa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/interactivelegend/index.html?appid=33522328b6664ee3b935d5bc00e1fe4e) outlines low-, moderate-, & high-stress roadways to help bikers safely navigate the city. You'll see how greenways and paths like the Tampa Riverwalk and Green Spine are connecting our neighborhoods like never before.

Job of the Week

The City of Tampa is hiring a Chief Planner (https://www.jobapscloud.com/Tampa/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1=241126&R2=427765&R3=003) to serve as the team lead on planning projects, regulatory policy amendments, coordination of the planning process, community engagement, and more. Applicants should have a master’s degree in planning, public administration, engineering, or a related field and five years of experience in urban program or project planning or a related field, including one year in supervisory or project manager experience.
LAST WEEK'S HEADLINES
Christmas came early for TPD thanks to donation (https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/christmas-came-early-for-tpd-thanks-to-donation/)
WFLA NewsChannel 8
Kuhn Automotive donated a brand-new 2024 Volkswagen Atlas to the Tampa Police Department.

Gasparilla Bowl will cap off record-breaking tourism year for Tampa (https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2024/12/16/gasparilla-bowl-will-cap-off-record-breaking-tourism-year-for-tampa?web=1&wdLOR=c152BB47F-1AC9-7843-B8CF-F4EF92478F50)
Spectrum Bay News 9
Visit Tampa Bay’s Santiago Corrada said the added revenue is great news for local governments, first responders and schools.

Long-time Tampa city worker brings holiday feel to her workspace (https://www.fox13news.com/news/long-time-tampa-city-worker-brings-holiday-feel-her-workspace)
FOX13
Eden has been decorating her cubicle for nearly a decade.

Tampa is a top Christmas city, according to WalletHub (https://thatssotampa.com/tampa-top-christmas-city/)
That’s So Tampa
Tampa ranked 26th overall.
Tampa officials report nearly 2 billion gallons of water saved through restrictions (https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/tampa-officials-report-nearly-2-billion-of-water-saved-through-restrictions)
ABC Action News
The average daily use of water has dropped by approximately 5.5 million gallons a day when compared to the same time last year.

Tampa approves $1.6M to offer free bus rides for a year on popular HART route (https://www.fox13news.com/news/tampa-approves-1-6m-offer-free-bus-rides-year-popular-hart-route)
FOX13
Tampa City Council approved about $1.6 million for the initiative at its meeting Thursday.

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Meet Melvin Teartt, Public Safety Manager at the Tampa Convention Center. He has worked for the City of Tampa for almost three years (after retiring from the US Air Force after 23 years of service) and enjoys that no two days are the same in his role. "Whether it’s a high-profile conference, a large convention, or a festival like Gasparilla, each event presents new challenges and opportunities. I also love working with our incredible team; their dedication, expertise, and teamwork make it all come together seamlessly, and that sense of camaraderie is what truly makes the job rewarding," he said.

What do you like to do in your free time? In my free time, I love spending time with my family, my wife Toya, my son Marcus, and my daughters Melaisha and Mariah. We enjoy taking trips together, whether it's a weekend getaway or a special family vacation. I’m also an avid football fan and enjoy watching games, and when I’m home, you’ll find me playing with our mini schnauzer, Cali, who’s always full of energy!

Where’s your favorite place in Tampa? My favorite place in Tampa is definitely my home, it's my sanctuary where I can unwind and recharge after the busy day. As for a restaurant, Charley's is my go-to restaurant; their steaks are truly world-class. But my favorite food truck is SnackTrap, due to his unique flavors of Wings, Soul Food and desserts.

Who's your favorite music artist? My favorite artist is Keith Sweat, and I’m a huge fan of R&B in general. The smooth melodies and soulful lyrics help me unwind and relax after a busy day. This music always puts me in a laid-back, "chill" mood, making it the perfect soundtrack to de-stress and recharge.

What's your dream vacation? My dream vacation destination is the Maldives. With its crystal-clear waters, tranquility and natural beauty of the Maldives is my ultimate vacation, offering a peaceful environment to recharge and reflect. Plus, it’s one of the places I have yet to visit.

What’s your favorite holiday? My favorite holiday is a toss-up between Christmas and Halloween. Christmas brings me so much joy because I love being a gift-giver, making sure my family feels appreciated and cherished. On the other hand, Halloween is a blast—it’s a time to break from the usual routine, get creative with costumes, and have fun with the family while enjoying the festive spirit.

SPECIAL FEATURE

** (https://youtu.be/kXXecWJJiB4)

Our City of Tampa Solid Waste team has successfully completed hurricane storm debris collection ahead of schedule! Many City of Tampa departments and hundreds of hired contractors have worked around the clock to ensure each neighborhood was swept through a total of three times.

Note: If you still have hurricane storm debris, call 813-274-8811 to report your address. A fee will be assessed for the curbside collection of non-hurricane related bulk waste.

A big building with an even bigger impact! Our Tampa Convention Center hosted 103 events in 2024. That meant 372,220 visitors through the center’s doors, and an estimated economic impact of $147,970,801 for the City of Tampa.
A big building with an even bigger impact! Our Tampa Convention Center hosted 103 events in 2024. That meant 372,220 visitors through the center’s doors, and an estimated economic impact of $147,970,801 for the City of Tampa.
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