Issue #664: Rays Stadium Could Break Ground Quickly, Rare Penny May Bring $600K, Aquarium Gives Teens Underwater Adventure, Freedom Taps USF Hall Of Famer

In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar - (Please post events of interest to our NT|WC Live Events Calendar) - Sorry - Out of Order

WEATHER 

Local News 

— Work Could Begin Immediately on Hillsborough College Campus for New Rays Stadium

Of Interest

— Check Your Change: Rare 1969 Penny Could Be Worth Up to $600,000

— Florida Aquarium Gives Tampa Bay Teens an Unforgettable Underwater Adventure

Sports

— Freedom High Turns to USF Hall of Famer to Lead Running Programs

Work Could Begin Immediately on Hillsborough College Campus for New Rays Stadium

Construction activity connected to the Tampa Bay Rays’ planned stadium could begin soon at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus, starting with a temporary campus called “The Nest.”

The facility will allow students to remain on the Dale Mabry campus while major construction is underway. Rays CEO Ken Babby said work on The Nest is expected to begin immediately, while Hillsborough College President Ken Atwater hopes the temporary facilities will be ready for the spring semester.

The broader $2.3 billion ballpark project still faces several steps before public money can flow. Hillsborough County’s bond validation process could take 60 to 90 days, and a community benefits agreement covering areas including affordable housing, workforce development and youth programs must also be finalized.

The Rays are targeting Opening Day 2029 for the new stadium, with the college campus undergoing a major transformation alongside the ballpark development.

Read More: fox13news.com

Check Your Change: Rare 1969 Penny Could Be Worth Up to $600,000

Before tossing that old penny into a change jar, take a closer look. A rare 1969-S Lincoln Memorial cent could be worth as much as $600,000 because of an unusual minting error.

The valuable version was struck at the San Francisco Mint and features a “doubled die obverse,” created when the die received a misaligned secondary impression during manufacturing. The mistake causes portions of the coin’s front design to appear noticeably doubled.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries estimates that only 50 to 60 examples may exist, making the variety highly desirable among collectors. Precious-metals dealer SD Bullion reports values ranging from $31,500 to $605,000, depending on condition and other factors.

Anyone who thinks they have discovered one should avoid cleaning or altering it and have the coin examined by a reputable professional dealer or grading service before assuming it is valuable.

Read More: livenowfox.com

Florida Aquarium Gives Tampa Bay Teens an Unforgettable Underwater Adventure

A partnership between The Florida Aquarium and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay is giving local teenagers an opportunity to experience marine life from an entirely new perspective.

Through the aquarium’s SeaTREK program, participants put on specialized helmets and wetsuits and descend into the 15-foot-deep Heart of the Sea habitat, where they can walk underwater alongside fish and other marine animals. No scuba certification is required.

The partnership began three years ago to make the experience available to young people who might otherwise never have the opportunity. Participants describe initial nervousness quickly giving way to excitement and wonder as marine life swims just feet away.

Organizers hope the experience creates more than lasting memories. The program is designed to build appreciation for the oceans, encourage environmental conservation and potentially influence young people’s futures. Youth leaders say a single extraordinary experience can sometimes change the trajectory of a child’s life.

Read More: fox13news.com

The U.S. once minted a coin worth $20 that contained nearly an ounce of gold — but in 1933, almost the entire production run was ordered melted down before the coins could officially enter circulation.

The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle became one of America’s most famous coin rarities. Although 445,500 were struck, virtually all were melted after President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration moved the country away from circulating gold coins.

A small number escaped. One legally owned example sold at Sotheby’s in 2021 for $18.87 million, making it the world’s most expensive coin at the time.

The astonishing part: a $20 coin went from being destined for the melting pot to selling for nearly 1 million times its face value.

Freedom High Turns to USF Hall of Famer to Lead Running Programs

A former USF track and field star is bringing her championship experience to New Tampa’s Freedom High School. Kerine Black, a five-time All-American and three-time Conference USA Athlete of the Year, has taken over the Patriots’ cross country and track programs.

Black is already familiar with many of her athletes after spending four years as a Freedom assistant and three years coaching track at nearby Liberty Middle School. Her own career included seven individual USF records and 12 NCAA qualifying marks from 1997–2001.

A native of Jamaica, Black also won multiple Florida high school state titles before walking on at USF. In 2010, she became the first track and field athlete inducted into the USF Athletics Hall of Fame.

Black says her coaching emphasizes confidence and helping young athletes recognize their potential. She believes several Freedom runners have the talent to advance to the state level this season.

Read More: tampabaybeacons.com

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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