Issue #166: Saharan Dust Brings 'Dirty Rain', Florida Schools Rank 11th, Hemingway's Key West Legacy, Meet Tampa Bay Olympians

07/25/2024

Author

Ted Grellner
25 Jul

Keep your finger on the Pulse!

GOOD MORNING

Dr Ted
USAF Retired

SUBSCRIBE: Share us with your friends here —> https://pxl.to/NTWCLP

In this issue of

NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

Local News

— Saharan Dust: A Natural Phenomenon Bringing 'Dirty Rain' to Florida

— Florida's School System Ranks 11th Nationwide, Excels in Digital Learning

Of Interest

— Hemingway’s Enduring Legacy in Key West

Sports

— Meet the Tampa Bay Olympians Competing in Paris

🎵Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links

This Month’s Events in the NewTampa Wesley Chapel Live Events Calendar

See Calendar: CLICK ON this link to open our community calendar (or Copy & paste code to the url above): https://pxl.to/NTWC-LIVE-event

Subscribe to receive texts of events you’re interested in (by clicking the RED “Get Event Notifications”) on the calendar

*After you subscribe, you will receive a text from Think Gig, LLC (my agency). Please accept it to complete your registration. TG

Saharan Dust: A Natural Phenomenon Bringing 'Dirty Rain' to Florida

Florida is experiencing waves of Saharan dust, bringing "dirty rain." Despite its name, dirty rain is harmless, consisting of rain droplets mixed with dust particles. South Florida has already seen this, and the panhandle may be next.

Saharan dust is carried across the Atlantic by trade winds, peaking in June and July. Improved weather predictions have increased awareness of this annual event.

Dirty rain forms when droplets gather around dust particles, causing streaks on cars. While harmless, those with respiratory issues should monitor air quality as high dust concentrations can affect lung health.

Besides dirty rain, Saharan dust enhances sunsets and sunrises and can reduce tropical storm formation by absorbing moisture. June and July typically see fewer storms due to this effect.

Despite this, the hurricane season is expected to be active, so residents should prepare storm supplies.

Florida's School System Ranks 11th Nationwide, Excels in Digital Learning

As Florida students prepare to head back to school in just three weeks, a recent study brings promising news. According to WalletHub's latest rankings, Florida's school system is among the best in the nation, securing the 11th spot.

The study evaluated 32 key metrics, including performance, funding, school safety, class size, and instructor credentials. Florida excelled particularly in digital learning platforms, ranking first in the country. Despite this, local leaders in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties highlight the need for better teacher compensation to match these high standards.

Brittni Wegman, director of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, pointed out the challenge of filling teacher vacancies despite the state's strong educational performance. "In Hillsborough alone, we were over 500 teacher vacancies," she noted. This issue underscores the importance of addressing teacher pay, with Florida currently ranking 50th in this category.

While the state's overall ranking is commendable, it did fall short in some areas, notably in the pupil-to-teacher ratio, where it ranked 47th nationwide.

One particularly striking and little-known fact about the Summer Olympics is that the longest-running continuous Olympic event is not one of the athletic competitions, but rather the tradition of the Olympic torch relay.

This tradition began in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, inspired by ancient Greek practices. The relay covers thousands of miles and involves thousands of torchbearers, symbolizing the connection and unity among nations.

Each relay route is meticulously planned to include significant historical, cultural, and geographical sites, making it a fascinating blend of sports, history, and international cooperation.

Hemingway’s Enduring Legacy in

Key West

Hemingway Days celebrated Ernest Hemingway’s 125th birthday in Key West, where he spent the 1930s. The festival, which began in 1981, features a look-alike contest and a short-story competition, highlighting Hemingway's literary and adventurous legacy. Stephen Hemingway Adams, the author’s great-grandson, explores Hemingway’s life through family projects.

Hemingway first visited Key West in 1928 and eventually bought a home in 1931. He embraced local life, engaging in fishing, boxing, and socializing. Notable works like "A Farewell to Arms" and his novel "The Old Man and the Sea" were influenced by his experiences there.

The Hemingway Home & Museum, purchased by his great-aunt Bernice Dixon in 1961, preserves his memory and houses polydactyl cats. The Hemingway Look-Alike Society, formed through the festival, has raised over $350,000 in scholarships for local students. The event honors Hemingway's impact on Key West’s culture and heritage.

Does Your Business Have an Interesting Story to Tell?

Future Business Directory:
(Logos of local businesses w/links to their websites)

Meet the Tampa Bay Olympians Competing in Paris

The Summer Olympics in Paris begin this Friday, with Tampa Bay athletes prominently featured. Florida has 37 Olympians competing, including several from Tampa Bay. The Paralympics will follow on August 26.

Athletes to Watch:

Danielle Collins: Tennis St. Petersburg native Danielle Collins will compete in singles and doubles in her first Olympic Games. Despite planning to retire this year due to health issues, Collins has had a successful season with wins at the Miami Open and Credit One Charleston Open.

Austin Krajicek: Tennis Brandon's Austin Krajicek is entering his second Olympics after a strong doubles performance in Tokyo 2021. Trained at Bradenton's IMG Academy, Krajicek nearly left tennis before finding success in doubles.

Noah Lyons: Sailing Clearwater's Noah Lyons will compete in the iQFoil windsurfing class. A USF graduate, Lyons started sailing at age six and is sponsored by Hooters.

Bobby Finke: Swimming Clearwater native Bobby Finke will defend his two gold medals from 2021. He began his swimming career with St. Petersburg Aquatics.

Victor Montalvo: Breaking Kissimmee's Victor Montalvo, known as "B-boy Victor," is the top-ranked American breaker, competing in the new Olympic sport of breaking.

The Ultimate Tampa Bay Summer Market Guide 

Things to do in New Tampa and WC 7/25 - 7/31

(Please support this great resource!)

Things to Do Brought to You By:
NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

What Did You Think of This Issue?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.