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Saint Petersburg, FL (December 07, 2024) – A fatal crash occurred at the intersection of 58th Ave N and 49th St N in Saint Petersburg on Thursday afternoon. Emergency responders were alerted to the scene at 15:00 and arrived by 15:16. Tragically, one person was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have confirmed that the crash has led to a roadblock, and traffic is being diverted around the area as the investigation continues.

At this time, the identity of the deceased has not been released, and details surrounding the circumstances of the crash are still under investigation. Local law enforcement agencies are working diligently to determine the cause of the crash and are asking anyone with information to come forward. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the individual who lost their life, and we extend our deepest sympathies during this difficult time.

Fatalities in Florida

Fatal crashes are devastating events that affect not only the individuals involved but also their families, communities, and the first responders who work tirelessly to assist those in need. Intersections such as 58th Ave N and 49th St N in Saint Petersburg can be busy, and accidents in these areas can have severe consequences. The tragic loss of life in this incident highlights the critical importance of safe driving practices and the need for continued awareness on the road.

Emergency responders from Saint Petersburg Fire and Rescue were on the scene quickly, and although the fatality is deeply saddening, their swift actions in managing the scene helped prevent further harm and provided support to those involved. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the precise cause of the crash. Whether it was due to driver error, road conditions, or other factors, authorities are working hard to piece together the details.

The roadblock in place due to the crash is expected to cause significant delays, and drivers are advised to seek alternate routes. Local law enforcement is asking drivers in the area to remain patient and respectful of the ongoing investigation.

Local Accident Reports encourages all drivers to stay focused, obey traffic laws, and adjust their driving habits to ensure safety for all. In the event of an accident, it’s important to report the incident to local authorities, follow legal protocols, and reach out for support if needed. We offer our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and continue to stand with the Saint Petersburg community during this tragic time.

HOLIDAY CHEESE WHEEL

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The holiday season can be measured in a myriad of ways in Florida.

What You Need To Know

For some, it’s the cooler weather, for others it’s Christmas lights.

At Mazzaro’s Italian Market in St. Pete, the crowd of people there measure it by one thing.

“It’s a big ol’ piece of cheese,” said Mazzaro's manager Ben Radich.

Radich spent Friday morning cutting a wheel of provolone cheese that weighs more than 916 pounds.

“You don’t see a lot of those,” Radich said. “It’s just really fun.”

This is an annual thing Mazzaro’s do for the hundreds of customers that come to see and taste.

“You don't get to cut these things every day,” Radich said. “There's not a lot of these in the world. They don't make cheese this big every day.”

The giant wheel is shipped in a giant crate across the ocean from Italy to St. Pete.

It has been aged about three years and weighs about half a ton, which is why many people call off work just to watch this moment.

This daring dairy delight then gets cut up even further inside the market, wrapped up and then put out for people to buy — and boy do they buy.

“We go all out on everything, and Christmas is no different for us,” said Robert Smith, general manager at Mazzaro’s.

According to Smith, just the smell of the cheese transports him back to his childhood in Brooklyn.

“I just remember one day, actually in the store as a customer saying, 'I'm going to work here some day,' and now I've been here for 15 years,” he said.

This time of year can be busy with people always on the move looking for presents, setting up decorations or making travel plans to visit loved ones.

For the people here, amidst the hustle and bustle inside the market, taking a moment to stand and watch something like this makes this time of the season as special as 900-plus pounds of provolone.

According to Radich, they order the cheese about seven months to year before the holiday season.

It arrived in October and was hanging inside the market until Friday morning’s cutting.

Rhonda Shear, known as the host of "USA Up All Night," as well as a founder of a massively successful lingerie company, and quite a few notable roles in the '80s, has sold her Snell Isle Mediterranean-style home in St. Petersburg.

Nicknamed "Casa de Palm Ahh," after Shear's popular Ahh Bra line, the home is located at 2020 Brightwaters Blvd NE and was sold by Smith & Associates realtor Justin Smith on Dec. 5 for $6.8 million, which is "one of the highest Pinellas County residential sales of the year," says the brokerage.

According to property records, the waterfront home was purchased by Shear in 2011 for $3.2 million and has been on and off the market for years, reaching its highest asking price of $13 million in 2023.

Built in 1995, the 9,722-square-foot home comes with five-bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as a heated saltwater pool and spa, a deepwater dock, a ballroom, three powder rooms, a 2,000-pound capacity elevator, a gym, a theater, a billiards room and more.

Besides taking a "Lunafish" order at Gus' Galaxy Grill in "Spaceballs," Shear also played the neighbor in "Married ... With Children," and also had appearances in "A-Team," "Dallas," "Chips," "Dukes of Hazzard," "Full House," "Silk Stalkings" and "Happy Days."

Most recently, Shear starred as "Teri" in the indie comedy "The Throwback."

Every house has a story, and our mission is to tell Tampa Bay's story through the lens of our community's historic and colorful homes. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay's real estate features are not ads, and are strictly operated through our editorial department. But we love public input. Do you know of a unique Florida home that we should highlight? Let us know, and email cwolf@cltampa.com.

Rhonda Shear, known as the host of "USA Up All Night," as well as a founder of a massively successful lingerie company, and quite a few notable roles in the '80s, has sold her Snell Isle Mediterranean-style home in St. Petersburg.

Nicknamed "Casa de Palm Ahh," after Shear's popular Ahh Bra line, the home is located at 2020 Brightwaters Blvd NE and was sold by Smith & Associates realtor Justin Smith on Dec. 5 for $6.8 million, which is "one of the highest Pinellas County residential sales of the year," says the brokerage.

According to property records, the waterfront home was purchased by Shear in 2011 for $3.2 million and has been on and off the market for years, reaching its highest asking price of $13 million in 2023.

Built in 1995, the 9,722-square-foot home comes with five-bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as a heated saltwater pool and spa, a deepwater dock, a ballroom, three powder rooms, a 2,000-pound capacity elevator, a gym, a theater, a billiards room and more.

Besides taking a "Lunafish" order at Gus' Galaxy Grill in "Spaceballs," Shear also played the neighbor in "Married ... With Children," and also had appearances in "A-Team," "Dallas," "Chips," "Dukes of Hazzard," "Full House," "Silk Stalkings" and "Happy Days."

Most recently, Shear starred as "Teri" in the indie comedy "The Throwback."

Every house has a story, and our mission is to tell Tampa Bay's story through the lens of our community's historic and colorful homes. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay's real estate features are not ads, and are strictly operated through our editorial department. But we love public input. Do you know of a unique Florida home that we should highlight? Let us know, and email cwolf@cltampa.com.

Rhonda Shear, known as the host of "USA Up All Night," as well as a founder of a massively successful lingerie company, and quite a few notable roles in the '80s, has sold her Snell Isle Mediterranean-style home in St. Petersburg.

Nicknamed "Casa de Palm Ahh," after Shear's popular Ahh Bra line, the home is located at 2020 Brightwaters Blvd NE and was sold by Smith & Associates realtor Justin Smith on Dec. 5 for $6.8 million, which is "one of the highest Pinellas County residential sales of the year," says the brokerage.

According to property records, the waterfront home was purchased by Shear in 2011 for $3.2 million and has been on and off the market for years, reaching its highest asking price of $13 million in 2023.

Built in 1995, the 9,722-square-foot home comes with five-bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as a heated saltwater pool and spa, a deepwater dock, a ballroom, three powder rooms, a 2,000-pound capacity elevator, a gym, a theater, a billiards room and more.

Besides taking a "Lunafish" order at Gus' Galaxy Grill in "Spaceballs," Shear also played the neighbor in "Married ... With Children," and also had appearances in "A-Team," "Dallas," "Chips," "Dukes of Hazzard," "Full House," "Silk Stalkings" and "Happy Days."

Most recently, Shear starred as "Teri" in the indie comedy "The Throwback."

Every house has a story, and our mission is to tell Tampa Bay's story through the lens of our community's historic and colorful homes. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay's real estate features are not ads, and are strictly operated through our editorial department. But we love public input. Do you know of a unique Florida home that we should highlight? Let us know, and email cwolf@cltampa.com.

Rhonda Shear, known as the host of "USA Up All Night," as well as a founder of a massively successful lingerie company, and quite a few notable roles in the '80s, has sold her Snell Isle Mediterranean-style home in St. Petersburg.

Nicknamed "Casa de Palm Ahh," after Shear's popular Ahh Bra line, the home is located at 2020 Brightwaters Blvd NE and was sold by Smith & Associates realtor Justin Smith on Dec. 5 for $6.8 million, which is "one of the highest Pinellas County residential sales of the year," says the brokerage.

According to property records, the waterfront home was purchased by Shear in 2011 for $3.2 million and has been on and off the market for years, reaching its highest asking price of $13 million in 2023.

Built in 1995, the 9,722-square-foot home comes with five-bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as a heated saltwater pool and spa, a deepwater dock, a ballroom, three powder rooms, a 2,000-pound capacity elevator, a gym, a theater, a billiards room and more.

Besides taking a "Lunafish" order at Gus' Galaxy Grill in "Spaceballs," Shear also played the neighbor in "Married ... With Children," and also had appearances in "A-Team," "Dallas," "Chips," "Dukes of Hazzard," "Full House," "Silk Stalkings" and "Happy Days."

Most recently, Shear starred as "Teri" in the indie comedy "The Throwback."

Every house has a story, and our mission is to tell Tampa Bay's story through the lens of our community's historic and colorful homes. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay's real estate features are not ads, and are strictly operated through our editorial department. But we love public input. Do you know of a unique Florida home that we should highlight? Let us know, and email cwolf@cltampa.com.

The weather outside won’t be frightful this weekend, and it just might be cool to enough to help out the snow that’s supposed to arrive in St. Petersburg's North Straub Park for Snowfest, this annual day of toboggan slides, holiday crafts and more.

Wristbands—available online or on day of the event—get folks into all the activities. If you need more holiday fun in the ‘Burg, a screening of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” happens just over a mile away at Huggins-Stengel Field.

It's $5 for an activity wristband during Snowfest happening Saturday, Dec. 7 at North Straub Park in St. Petersburg. Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar. Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters. Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

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Ray Roa

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Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief in August 2019. Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The...

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One of Tampa Bay’s most celebrated chefs, Ted Dorsey, will debut a new throwback neighborhood restaurant and bar early next year with fellow restaurant industry veteran Teddy Skiadiotis.

Sunshine City Tavern, which will pay homage to the history of St. Pete, will be located at 4351 4th Street North, most recently home to Oaks on 4th which closed in late 2023.

The tavern will be a dream realized for Dorsey, who has wanted to open a neighborhood bar in St. Pete for 20 years.

“In my early years, I wanted to be bougie and pretentious, but as life changes and as I grow older, I’ve realized that I just want to put out amazingly delicious food that makes people happy,” said Dorsey, who has helped open some of the area’s most popular restaurants including Sonata, The Mill, Ciro’s, Boca, and Copperfish.

“What excites me about this concept is it will be a throwback to an era where people felt like they belonged and were able to let life slip away for a moment or two,” said Dorsey. “Think of it as a modern-day Harvey’s.”

The interior of the 3,500-square-foot tavern will be a mash-up of “Saved by the Bell meets Vice City,” according to Dorsey, evoking a sense of the 1990s era while also incorporating a taste of old St. Pete.

Dorsey doesn't want to reveal too much of what he will whip up in the kitchen but said everything will be made in-house.

There will be a huge smoker in the back and a meat carving station in the dining room, which will feature the daily special. For instance, Friday’s special will always be a smoked prime rib plate that will be available for lunch and dinner.

“I've incorporated a fair amount of barbeque into the menu without it becoming a smokehouse,” Dorsey said. “I want to have fun with food again and do more slow cooking with a focus on flavor more so than presentation.”

The inclusion of barbeque at the tavern is also a nod to the previous restaurants that have occupied the space, including Fred Fleming's Famous Bar-B-Que, Luckie B's Bar-B-Que, and Quickies Scratch BBQ.

In addition to barbeque, Dorsey is also working with a local seafood purveyor to serve fresh fish.

One of the appetizers will be a house-smoked amberjack fish spread.

Also on the menu will be Crispy Florida Gator Bang Bang with a Pineapple Jalapeño Slaw, which Dorsey served at this year’s Frogman Feast supporting the Navy SEAL Foundation. He will donate a portion of the proceeds from each dish sold to the Navy SEAL Foundation.

As for drinks, there will be a full liquor bar that will have the “most aggressive happy hour in the city,” Dorsey promises.

The tavern will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and will offer a robust brunch menu on the weekend including ten of Dorsey's award-winning dishes.

Sunshine City Tavern will also offer family meals to-go for two, four, or six people featuring the daily special, salad, sides, and dessert. Customers can call ahead and use the building’s drive-thru window to pick up their family meal on the way home.

It may surprise people that Dorsey is opening a casual restaurant. After all, he’s made a name for himself helming some of the area’s best fine dining establishments. For Dorsey, it’s a culmination of long-time pursuits: build a legacy for his kids and work with his friend and fellow restaurant lifer Teddy Skiadiotis.

“This is going to be a sanctuary for me and my children. This is where I'm going to retire,” Dorsey said. “And I’m so excited to finally have an opportunity to work with Teddy after 12 years of friendship.”

Skiadiotis, who owns Craft Kafe and is a co-owner in Sunshine City Tavern, shares Dorsey’s enthusiasm. “I’ve wanted to work with Ted for years, but our timing has never been right. The stars really aligned on this one for us.”

The building is undergoing renovations including exterior painting, signage, kitchen construction, and a new bar top.

The work is expected to wrap up in December in time for a January 2025 opening.