Carrollwood Day to host TEDx on life challenges
TAMPA – Carrollwood Day School will host its annual TEDx event Thursday, Jan. 15, at 6:30 p.m.
This year’s theme, Risk-Takers, explores how “stepping into the unknown can spark growth, creativity, and meaningful change,” the school said.
Student speakers will share moments from their own lives that required courage and conviction. Their talks “will reflect the bold spirit of today’s youth as they share their stories, challenge expectations, and pursue ideas that once felt just beyond reach.”
Carrollwood Day School is located at 1515 W. Bearss Ave.
Villa Madonna School to mark 90 years
TAMPA – Villa Madonna School will celebrate its 90th Anniversary on Feb. 7 with a 4 p.m. mass in the pavilion on the school grounds at 315 W. Columbus Drive. It will be followed by a tour of the school and dinner in the gymnasium.
Mayor Jane Castor is expected to attend the event, open to the public. Tickets are $50 each. For tickets go to https://qtego.us/qlink/salesianyouthcenter or call Theresa Anderson at 813-205-3195.
No REAL ID? Pay a fee
TAMPA – The Transportation Security Administration will soon begin charging a fee to air travelers unable to present a REAL ID-compliant form of identification at security screening checkpoints.
Starting Feb. 1, travelers will have the option of paying a $45 fee to use ConfirmID for a 10-day travel period. REAL ID was implemented in May 2025, and TSA says more than 94% of travelers currently use REAL ID or other acceptable forms of identification.
TSA recommends anyone without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card should upgrade their ID and avoid the fee.
Tampa to offer trash bin cleaning service
The Tampa Solid Waste Department is ringing in the New Year by offering a cart cleaning service as a way to help keep Tampa’s neighborhoods clean and healthy.
Residential and commercial customers can request professional cleaning of up to two carts for a $40 fee. The service is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., on one of the customer’s regularly scheduled collection days.
Cart cleaning can be scheduled as frequently as needed, and is available for city of Tampa issued 95-gallon and 65-gallon carts. For more information or to request service, contact Solid Waste Customer Service at 813-274-8811.
Customers will receive a confirmation call the morning of their scheduled cleaning.
Nominations sought for environmental champion
Nominations are being accepted for Hillsborough County’s Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award. The honor is given annually to an individual or group who exemplifies dedication to preserving the county’s natural resources. The award is named after Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the 26th president of the United States and noted conservationist who placed more than 200 million acres under public protection.
Nominees must live or work in Hillsborough County or have lived/worked in Hillsborough during the time of their achievements. They should be “someone who shows persistence and dedication to long-term conservation of the county’s natural resources, demonstrates integrity in performance toward conservation goals, and displays attributes of true conservation stewardship,’’ according to the award criteria.
Nominations will be reviewed by the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program General Committee, which will send a recommendation to county commissioners for approval. The Board will hold an award ceremony in the spring to coincide with National Arbor Day.
Deadline for nominations is Feb. 28. Nominations can be made online. For more information, call 813-672-7876 or email Ross Dickerson at dickersonR@HCFL.gov.
Portion of Upper Tampa Bay Trail temporarily closed
A portion of the Upper Tampa Bay Trail has been closed while workers replace a large culvert under the trail that was damaged during hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The area closed is east of Sheldon Road and north of the Channel A waterway near West Waters Avenue. The area undergoing repair will be clearly marked, and trail users will not be allowed to use the closed portion of the trail until work is complete. The nearest trailheads are at 9201 W. Waters Ave. and 10338 Wilsky Blvd. There also are several neighborhood trail access points between the two trailheads.
The trail segment was closed Jan. 7 and is expected to be closed for several weeks. Weather and other factors could affect the schedule.
Record 26 manatees released by ZooTampa in 2025
ZooTampa at Lowry Park has achieved a significant milestone by releasing 26 rehabilitated manatees back into Florida waters in 2025 — the highest number in its history.
The Zoo’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, the largest nonprofit facility of its kind in the U.S., has cared for over 615 manatees since 1991, with the majority successfully returned to their natural habitat.
The Zoo’s manatee rescue, rehabilitation, and release program consists of an expert team of veterinarians, including two USFWS certified manatee critical care veterinarians, and animal care professionals who are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
This spring, ZooTampa will unveil the Straz Family Manatee Rescue as part of the new Florida Waters expansion. The state- of-the-art facility will offer visitors immersive, eye-level underwater views of manatees, providing a unique opportunity to witness the Zoo’s life-saving efforts firsthand.
Florida’s manatee population faces challenges from sea grass loss and watercraft injuries. It is estimated that more than 620 manatees died with 97 suffering from boat strikes in 2025.