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- Issue #610: June 9 Pebble Creek Vote, 2026 Hurricane Forecast, Busch Gardens Closure & Rays Party Atmosphere
Issue #610: June 9 Pebble Creek Vote, 2026 Hurricane Forecast, Busch Gardens Closure & Rays Party Atmosphere
5/28/2026
Ted Grellner
28 May
GOOD MORNING
Two days after I watched the StL Cardinal fans stripped off their shirts to move their Birds into the win column, sure enough, Tampa Rays fans couldn’t be outdone.
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.
— Hurricane Experts Predict Calmer 2026 Season — But Florida Still Faces Risk
Local News
— June 9 Vote Could Decide Future of Pebble Creek Golf Course
— Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Faces Second Restaurant Closure in Less Than a Year
Of Interest
— America’s 250th Anniversary Gets Special Commemorative Quarter
Sports
— ‘Tarps Off!’ Craze Turns Tropicana Field Into Rays Party Central
Hurricane Experts Predict Calmer 2026 Season — But Florida Still Faces Risk
Forecasters say the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be less active than normal, offering cautious optimism after several destructive years across Florida. Experts point to a developing strong El Niño pattern, which typically weakens tropical systems by increasing wind shear over the Atlantic.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates a 55% chance of a below-average season, while Colorado State University predicts 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. Although those numbers fall slightly below historical averages, meteorologists stress that it only takes one storm to create major damage.
Forecasters also caution that warm Gulf waters could still fuel rapidly intensifying storms, especially near Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Emergency officials are urging residents to prepare now rather than rely on seasonal predictions alone.
June 9 Vote Could Decide Future of Pebble Creek Golf Course
The battle over the future of the Pebble Creek Golf Course is heading back before Hillsborough County commissioners.
Developer GL Homes wants to turn the former golf course into a residential community, while many residents continue pushing to preserve the property as green space.
Community members say recent meetings with developers left them frustrated about concerns involving traffic, flooding, and possible soil contamination.
“Save Pebble Creek,” a neighborhood opposition group, says nearly 400 residents have submitted forms opposing the project.
GL Homes says it remains encouraged by recent legal victories and community discussions, arguing some neighbors are concerned about living beside a closed golf course with an uncertain future.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Faces Second Restaurant Closure in Less Than a Year
A restaurant inside Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has been temporarily shut down after health inspectors reportedly discovered evidence of a rodent problem in food preparation and storage areas.
According to inspection findings released May 26, Zagora Cafe received an emergency closure recommendation after inspectors documented more than 20 rodent droppings throughout the kitchen and dry storage sections of the restaurant.
The theme park immediately complied with the order and closed the dining location pending further inspection.
The closure marks the second emergency restaurant shutdown at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay within the past year. In August 2025, Dragon Fire Grill temporarily closed after inspectors cited roach activity, food safety violations, and improper employee food handling practices. That restaurant later reopened after passing a follow-up inspection.
No reopening timeline has been announced for Zagora Cafe.
America’s 250th Anniversary Gets Special Commemorative Quarter
The U.S. Mint is preparing to release a new commemorative quarter celebrating America’s 250th birthday, with the special coin officially entering circulation Monday.
The new quarter features Thomas Jefferson on one side and the Liberty Bell on the reverse, honoring the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial celebration in 2026.
The Mint says the release is part of a broader initiative authorized by Congress to create coins with designs symbolizing the nation’s 250 years of independence. Two commemorative quarters are already circulating, with two additional designs expected later this year.
In addition to the quarter program, the Mint has also introduced a special half-dollar featuring the Statue of Liberty and earlier released the Emerging Liberty Dime, which portrays Liberty with winds of revolution flowing through her hair.
‘Tarps Off!’ Craze Turns Tropicana Field Into Rays Party Central
A spontaneous idea between two friends has turned into one of the hottest fan movements in Major League Baseball.
The viral “Tarps Off!” craze began when high school friends Shawn Lukavec and Justin Fry decided to attend a Tampa Bay Rays game and encourage fans in left field to remove their shirts and rally behind the team.
What started with a handful of people quickly exploded into a packed cheering section at Tropicana Field, with fans chanting “Tarps off, Rays up!” during recent Rays home games against Baltimore.
The growing movement has even gained attention from Rays players, including Richie Palacios and Shane McClanahan, who have embraced the fan energy on social media.
Fans say the atmosphere has helped energize both the crowd and the team. The Rays are currently 3-0 at home since the craze began, and the dedicated “Tarps Off” section is expected to expand Friday night when the team returns to The Trop.
Tampa Bay Area Live Music Events | Things to Do in Tampa Bay this W/E | TB Weekend Entertainment Guide |
|---|---|---|
May 27-30 | May | May |
Source: wusf.org | Source: | Source: |
Top Events | |
|
Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links
The Arts
- The Exhibiting Society of Artists (new)
- USF College of the Arts
- USF Steinway Piano Concert Series
Theater
- NTPAC - New Tampa Performing Arts Center
- New Tampa Players
- USF School of Theatre & Dance
- Wesley Chapel Theater Group
- Carrollwood Players Theatre
Misc
- Carrollwood Center Events
- Craft Festivals (new)
- Fall (Farmer’s) Market Guide for Tampa Bay (new)
- The Krate, WC
- The Shops at Wiregrass, WC
- visitflorida.com
For Kids
- Fun4TampaKids
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