Streetlights to light future of downtown Palm Harbor
PALM HARBOR — Some 95 decorative lights are now bringing life and light to downtown Palm Harbor, in an effort by Pinellas County, Duke Energy and Palm Harbor business leaders to re-energize the community’s business district.
The improvements include underground electrical infrastructure to make the lighting more welcoming and enhance their resilience in storms. The improved lighting will brighten more streets downtown, bolstering safety and accessibility for residents and visitors.
“It’s a breath of new life for this area to brighten an already vibrant community for residents, visitors and businesses,” Board of County Commissioners Chair Dave Eggers said in a ceremony at which the lights were switched on.
Pinellas County spearheaded the creation of the Downtown Palm Harbor Street Light District as a part of a long-term investment in the safety, walkability, character and economic vitality of the community. This new district is supported by the Downtown Palm Harbor Merchant Association and the Chamber of Commerce.
Register for 33rd Ride, Run with the Stars
SAFETY HARBOR — Registration is now open for the 33rd annual Ride and Run with the Stars (RRWTS) at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park.
For 32 years, RRWTS has been the largest law enforcement sponsored holiday fundraiser in the Tampa Bay area. This year, the event is being reimagined with a new date, new venue, and new races.
This year’s event will be held Nov. 21. The traditional 5K Run, 1-mile Family Fun Run, and 10-mile Bike Ride will return. The new venue allows for the addition of a 10K Run and 62-mile bike ride.
An early bird rate of $50 will cover the individual registration for the 5K Run, 10K Run, 10-mile Bike Ride, or 62-Mile Bike Ride through Aug. 31. The rate increases to $60 Sept. 1 through the day of the event. The Family Fun Run is priced at $45 for adults and $35 for children 12 years of age and under.
Proceeds from RRWTS fund the Sheriff’s Christmas Sharing Project. In 2025, participants raised enough money to provide food, clothing, books, and toys to 482 children and 201 families.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/5k7fmjz3 for more information and to register.
Student achievements
• Payten Hall of Tarpon Springs has been named to the chancellor’s honor roll at the University of Mississippi for the spring 2026 semester. Hall is in the B.A. in Allied Health Studies program. The chancellor’s honor roll is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.75-4.00.
• Vasiliki Provatas of Palm Harbor has been named to the dean’s list at the University of Albany for the spring 2026 semester. To qualify for the dean’s list, students must earn a grade point average of 3.25 or higher in their first semester of study and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in subsequent semesters.
• Four north Pinellas students have graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology at the Institute’s commencement ceremonies in May. The graduates were: Tijana Igic of Palm Harbor, David Neal of Tarpon Springs, Ayush Pai of Palm Harbor and Shailesh Pai of Palm Harbor.
• Lauren Gualtieri of Palm Harbor has been named to the dean’s list at Miami University for the 2026 spring semester. The Dean’s List recognizes students who are ranked in the top 20% of undergraduate students in their division.
Elections office sets ballot mailing schedule for August primary
CLEARWATER — The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections has released a tentative schedule to mail ballots to registered voters for the Aug. 18 primary election.
• July 2 (statutory deadline July 4) — Mail ballots to military and overseas voters who have requested mail ballots to date. State law requires ballots for absent military and overseas voters to be mailed at least 45 days prior to an election.
• July 14 (statutory deadline July 16) — Begin mailing ballots to domestic voters who have requested ballots to date. State law requires domestic ballots to be mailed between 40 and 33 days prior to an election.
Absent military and overseas voters include all active-duty military, their spouses and dependents currently absent from their places of residence, and civilians who are U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. Domestic voters are civilian voters residing within the United States and active-duty military voters residing in Pinellas County.
Additional mail ballot requests will be fulfilled as received. To request a mail ballot, visit VotePinellas.gov or call 727-464-VOTE (8683). The deadline to request that a ballot be mailed is August 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Mail ballots must be received at one of the Supervisor of Elections Offices by 7 p.m. local time on Election Day. Domestic voters are advised to allow at least one week for their ballot to be returned by mail to the Supervisor of Elections Office.
Mail ballots may also be dropped off to any Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office or secure ballot return location.
Florida has closed primary elections. Only voters registered with a political party may vote in that party’s closed Primary Election. All registered voters may vote in nonpartisan races, including judicial and school board contests, as well as the universal primary contests. The deadline to register or change party affiliation is July 20.
BayCare to deliver healthcare by drone
CLEARWATER — You will soon be able to get your prescriptions and medical supplies delivered directly to your home by drones following a partnership announced July 1 between BayCare and Zipline.
The drone delivery network has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, BayCare said. It will be operated by Zipline, the world’s largest autonomous delivery service,
The delivery process is fast and simple, according to a press release. A provider places an order into a Zipline Dropbox at a designated BayCare site. Zipline’s electric drone autonomously retrieves the order then quietly flies to its destination, whether it’s a patient’s yard or another facility. Upon arrival, the drone stays up to 300 feet in the air while a pod containing the order descends to the ground on a tether. The pod makes precise deliveries even in high winds and bad weather conditions, leaving the order behind while it flies back to charge for its next delivery. When not in use, the drones will be housed at two charging stations in Pinellas County.
For patients, prescription delivery by Zipline will be optional as the program is designed to make it easy to receive medications and supplies without requiring a trip to a pharmacy or care site.
The network is expected to launch in late 2027, beginning in the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area before expanding across Tampa Bay.
Clearwater unveils history walk at Coachman Park
CLEARWATER — The city of Clearwater, in partnership with the Florida chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, unveiled a new history walk at Coachman Park June 26.
The history walk features a series of historical plaques installed around the lake at Coachman Park that commemorate the American Revolution and honor the nation’s founding.
The unveiling is part of the city’s broader Clearwater Celebrates 250 initiative, which brings the community together through patriotic events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The city has also partnered with the Daughters of the American Revolution to unveil a patriotic signal box at the corner of Fort Harrison Avenue and Seminole Street.
For a complete list of Clearwater Celebrates 250 events, visit MyClearwater.com/250.
Tax collector, nonprofit to collect for foster kids
The Pinellas County Tax Collector’s Office is partnering with Suncoast Voices for Children throughout July to collect new socks, underwear, and monetary donations for local children in foster care.
The drive addresses basic yet often overlooked needs of children entering foster care. Many children arrive in care with few personal belongings, making new socks and underwear among the most requested essentials. Customers are invited to drop off new socks and underwear for children ages toddler through teen at all tax collector locations in July.
Monetary donations directly support children and families in foster care by providing essentials such as birthday and holiday gifts, safe housing, tutoring, enrichment programs, clothing, hygiene items, and car seats. Residents may also make a monetary donation via QR code at a Pinellas tax collector’s office.
Suncoast Voices for Children is a nonprofit organization addressing the unmet needs of abused, abandoned, and neglected children in Pinellas and Pasco counties. Through programs offering clothing, educational support, enrichment opportunities, safety equipment, and other essentials, the organization helps children and teens in foster care build brighter futures.