Latest reporting from the Community desk.
Community
Clearwater Marine Aquarium's Halloween Spookquarium on Friday, Oct. 30 features underwater pumpkin carving, a costume contest, trick-or-treat stations, free Dippin' Dots and a Creepy Sea Cavern exhibit open through Nov. 1.
Community
Extreme drought has disappeared from Florida's drought map after a dramatic one-week improvement, but Clearwater's one-day-per-week watering restrictions remain in effect through March 2027.
Community
Former Tampa-area Telemundo executive Jayme Neto and his wife Marina Coelho celebrated the grand opening of School of Rock Clearwater on Saturday, July 25, at 1530 McMullen Booth Road, with 85 students already enrolled and room for more than 325.
Community
Sushi Yama, an independently owned all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant seating 200, opened Saturday, July 18, at 7790 U.S. Highway 19 North in Pinellas Park after renovations to the 8,000-square-foot space vacated when WingHouse closed.
Community
The 47th Clearwater Jazz Holiday brings Sheila E., Chris Botti, Larkin Poe and The Wood Brothers to Coachman Park from October 15–18, with tickets starting at $39 and free viewing areas available daily.
Community
Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall, Bilheimer Capitol Theatre and BayCare Sound host five concerts between Friday, July 24, and Tuesday, July 28, headlined by the Australian Pink Floyd Show, Pablo Cruise and the Black Keys.
Community
The Homeless Empowerment Program is renovating a family transition home on its Clearwater campus as CEO Ashley Lowery reports record demand from families in crisis, driven by rents that leave 54% of Clearwater renters cost-burdened.
Community
The Largo Police Department warned on Monday, July 20, that scammers posing as high school athletes are using QR codes and payment apps to steal from shoppers at Pinellas County shopping centers, a scam relevant to Clearwater residents who shop in neighboring Largo.
Community
Five Clearwater businesses, including Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Sandpearl Resort, are among more than 100 Pinellas County locations offering exclusive deals through Visit St. Pete-Clearwater's free 727 Day mobile passport, with celebrations running from Sunday, July 19, through Monday, July 27.
Community
The SHINE program offers free, confidential Medicare and Medicaid counseling at Clearwater's Countryside Library, with the next session scheduled for Monday, July 20; residents who missed the registration deadline can call to check availability or schedule future appointments.
Community
A school supplies drive at three performances of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" at Ruth Eckerd Hall on July 31 and Aug. 1 aims to equip more than 400 students served by the Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center before Pinellas County Schools open Aug. 11.
Community
Two Clearwater families received keys to new townhomes on June 22 after Hooters and HMC Hospitality Group donated $151,500 and 252 volunteer hours to Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, marking the partnership's 11th home build since 2016.
Community
The Juvenile Welfare Board's ninth annual Summer Book Bus has two remaining Clearwater dates — Thursday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 22 — where kids can pick two free books from a converted school bus loaded with 10,000 titles across genres and reading levels.
Community
Clearwater Marine Aquarium staff say more than a dozen resident animals, including Izzy the bottlenose dolphin, can never return to the wild because of injuries from boat strikes, feeding, and entanglement, and they urge summer beachgoers to keep their distance.
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