Issue #251: Pasco Charter High Faces Roadblocks | Tampa Bay’s First Surf Park Opens | Thanksgiving Travel Tips 2024

11/21/2024

Author

Ted Grellner
21 Nov

Keep your finger on the Pulse!

Learn How to Become a Headline Sponsor This Week or Month

GOOD MORNING

Dr Ted
USAF Retired

 
SUBSCRIBE (& Access Past Issues):
Share with your friends here —> https://www.NTWCLP.com

NOTE to New Subscribers:
— If Gmail cuts off your newsletter, click “Read Online” in UR corner
— Despite minimizing sources that require a 3rd party subscription to read, we’ll use stories from these sources that are very informative: ($) tampabay.com 

In this issue of

NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar

Local News

— Patel Charter High School Plan Faces Hurdles in Pasco County

— Surf’s Up: Tampa Bay’s First Surf Park Coming to Pasco

Crime

— Phobos Ransomware Mastermind Faces U.S. Charges After Global Hunt

Of Interest

— Thanksgiving Travel 2024: Best and Worst Times to Hit the Road or Skies


🎵 Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links


Our NT|WC Live Events Calendar:

https://pxl.to/NTWC-LIVE-event or click the image below:
Problems submitting? Email me by replying to your newsletter

Patel Charter High School Plan Faces Hurdles in Pasco County

Plans for Dr. Kiran Patel High School in Pasco County hit a snag as the school board approved its five-year charter but raised concerns about a 2023 land deal for its site.

Board members questioned Patel’s push to increase enrollment from 1,000 to 1,500 students and extend its contract to 15 years. Originally, the district agreed to sell 20 acres near State Road 54 to address overcrowding. Now, some members, including former supporter Megan Harding, want out of the deal, citing strained collaboration.

Chairperson Cynthia Armstrong called for renegotiation, but the charter’s future remains uncertain. Meanwhile, the board approved a separate Pinecrest Academy charter for 594 students in Land O’Lakes.

The Patel school, planned for a fall 2025 opening, remains in limbo, leaving its role in easing crowding unresolved.

Surf’s Up: Tampa Bay’s First Surf Park Coming to Pasco

WESLEY CHAPEL — Tampa Bay’s first surf park, Peak Surf Park, is slated to open in 2027 in the Two Rivers master-planned community.

The 35-acre attraction will feature a cutting-edge surf lagoon powered by Surf Lakes technology, pristine beaches, entertainment venues, restaurants, and wellness amenities, offering fun for surfers and families alike.

The park is expected to generate 700 jobs and contribute $1.3 billion annually in economic output, according to an impact study. Over a decade, state and county tax revenue could grow by nearly $150 million.

Founder Tony Miller finalized a land deal after a two-year search. He envisions the park as a unique destination blending adventure, community, and lifestyle.

Phobos Ransomware Mastermind Faces U.S. Charges After Global Hunt

Editor’s Note:
While this is not a story that is locally-based, you and I both know of people whose businesses have been hacked and hit with malware and extortion and may have wondered whether these bad actors would ever be caught:

Evgenii Ptitsyn, a 42-year-old Russian national, faces charges in the U.S. for allegedly orchestrating the sale and operation of Phobos ransomware, a malware strain linked to over 1,000 cyberattacks worldwide. Ptitsyn, extradited from South Korea, appeared in a Maryland federal court on November 4. Prosecutors claim his scheme extorted more than $16 million from victims, including schools, hospitals, and government entities.

According to the indictment, Ptitsyn operated a darknet platform to distribute the ransomware to affiliates, who used it to hack into networks, encrypt data, and demand ransoms. Affiliates allegedly paid fees to Ptitsyn for decryption keys, often through cryptocurrency transactions.

Justice Department officials highlighted the collaborative global effort that led to Ptitsyn's capture, with assistance from South Korea, Japan, Europe, and others. If convicted, Ptitsyn faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and other charges.

Authorities emphasize the importance of securing networks, offering resources at StopRansomware.gov.

Thanksgiving Travel 2024: Best and Worst Times to Hit the Road or Skies

This Thanksgiving, travel is set to break records, with nearly 80 million Americans journeying 50+ miles from home, according to AAA. Lower gas prices, projected to dip below $3 per gallon, add to the appeal.

Driving? Avoid roads Tuesday (Nov. 26) and Wednesday (Nov. 27) afternoons, the busiest times. Thanksgiving Day itself offers minimal traffic. For returns, leave early on Sunday or Monday to avoid congestion.

Flying? With 5.84 million expected to fly, the busiest airport day is Sunday, Dec. 1. Thanksgiving Day is the least crowded.

Popular destinations include Florida hotspots Orlando, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale, followed by New York City and Anaheim/Los Angeles.

AAA urges travelers to use apps for real-time updates, especially in traffic-prone cities like New York and Los Angeles. Plan smart to avoid stress and make the most of the holiday!

 
Out of sight - Out of Mind


Click Here to
Put Your Business Logo & Link
in front of our subscribers
every morning!

The Ultimate Tampa Bay Fall Market Guide 

Things to do in New Tampa and WC
11/21 - 11/27

Source: Tampa Beacon

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.

—> Comments are welcomed after voting