Issue #539: Snow Watch in the Sunshine State | Pelican Sculpture Takes Flight | Rivalry Night Heats Up | Rays Add International Talent

1/16/2026

Author

Ted Grellner
16 Jan

In partnership with

Keep your finger on the Pulse!

GOOD MORNING

Dr Ted
USAF Retired

 
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar 

Please post events of interest to our NT|WC Live Events Calendar; its easy to do.

— Snow Watch: Rare Cold Front May Bring Flurries to Florida

Local News

— From Storm to Symbol: Pelican Art Rises from Tropicana Debris

Entertainment

— Heated Rivalry Night Brings Fiery Hockey Romance to Tampa

Sports

— Rays Land Victor Valdez in Blockbuster International Signing Class

Our NT|WC Live Events Calendar:


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Snow Watch: Rare Cold Front May Bring Flurries
to Florida

Snowfall in Florida for the second year in a row? It’s not impossible, say FOX Weather meteorologists, who are tracking a cold front that could bring snow to the Florida Panhandle this weekend.

Tampa’s forecast calls for highs only in the 50s and lows in the upper 30s, but the northern part of the state may see snow Saturday night into Sunday. This comes after January 2025’s rare snowfall that closed parts of Interstate 10 and prompted Florida Highway Patrol to post snowy roadside photos near Pensacola.

The snow would result from an Arctic blast colliding with Gulf moisture, though it’s still uncertain whether a low-pressure system will form strongly enough to produce flakes.

Tampa last saw snow in 1977, when a .20-inch dusting fell.

Residents across the Southeast are urged to monitor weather updates, especially in northern Florida, southern Georgia, and the Carolinas.

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From Storm to Symbol: Pelican Art Rises from Tropicana Debris

Art can rise from disaster — that’s the message at the heart of Roy Peter Clark’s column reflecting on a Christmas gift with deep local meaning: a pelican made from vinyl torn off Tropicana Field during Hurricane Milton in 2024. The pelican is more than décor—it’s a symbol of resilience and transformation. Clark’s home brims with pelican-themed art, ever since he successfully campaigned to make the brown pelican St. Petersburg’s official bird.

Clark draws a powerful parallel to his 1968 visit to Coventry, England, where a bombed cathedral became a canvas for postwar art and peace, including the now-iconic Cross of Nails. Back home, the hurricane not only damaged Tropicana Field but also destroyed the Tampa Bay Times building, once Clark’s workplace. Yet from the wreckage emerges hope: Clark now helps reimagine the Poynter Institute's new space, salvaging books and memories.

Even ruin can be reborn—into art.

Read More: tampabay.com — see photos in article

Heated Rivalry Night Brings Fiery Hockey Romance to Tampa

The viral Heated Rivalry Night dance party is making its Tampa debut for two nights only at The Ritz Ybor on February 5 & 6, with the original date already sold out. Themed after the hit hockey romance series Heated Rivalry, the party promises high-energy music, queer anthems, a photo booth, and giveaways.

Inspired by the series’ cult-favorite characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, fans are encouraged to come dressed in themed attire—vintage hockey jerseys or even Ilya’s iconic leopard print. While cast members won’t attend, the vibe is pure fandom celebration.

The six-episode series—streaming now on HBO Max—has become a global sensation, praised for its emotional depth and stellar performances by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. One episode even tied Breaking Bad for a perfect 10/10 IMDb score.

Tickets are limited, with general admission and VIP options. For Tampa fans, it’s time to ask: “Will you come to the cottage this February?”

Rays Land Victor Valdez in Blockbuster International Signing Class

The Tampa Bay Rays are making waves in the 2026 international signing period, headlined by the signing of shortstop Victor Valdez, the No. 11 prospect in the class. The 6’1” Dominican standout boasts elite bat speed, power, and a rapidly improving glove and base-running toolset.

Valdez leads what may be one of the deepest international classes Tampa Bay has ever assembled. The club also landed two more seven-figure prospects: switch-hitting Venezuelan shortstop Fabricio Blanco (No. 44 overall) and Dominican outfielder Jean Paredes, a high-upside, toolsy athlete with center field potential.

Also joining the system are Luis Almanzar, an under-the-radar slugger with 104+ mph exit velocities, and Colombian pitcher Emmanuel Hernández, who’s already hitting 97 mph and drawing praise for his polish and poise.

Armed with over $7.3 million in bonus pool funds, the Rays have added a crop of young, high-ceiling talent to a farm system that’s already among MLB’s best.

Top Events in Tampa Bay for week of January 12
Source: tampabay.com


Best Things to do Around Tampa Bay
1/15 - 1/22
Source: cltampa.com

Things to do Around
Tampa & WC:
1/15 - 1/21
Source: tampabeacon.com

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