Issue #366: Farewell to Cross Bay Ferry • $40M Busch Gardens Upgrade • Tampa’s TV Spotlight • Pricey “Free” Checkups

5/1/2025

Author

Ted Grellner
01 May

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Dr Ted
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar

Local News

— End of the Line: Cross Bay Ferry Makes Final Voyage

— $40M Overhaul Brings Rides, Animals, and Flavor to Busch Gardens

Of Interest

— Tampa Producer Champions True-Florida TV Adaptation

OMG!

— When “Free” Checkups Cost Over $1,400

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End of the Line: Cross Bay Ferry Makes Final Voyage

The Cross Bay Ferry will make its final trip yesterday, April 30, ending service between Tampa and St. Petersburg after Hillsborough County voided its contract with HMS Ferry Services. The ferry operator allegedly breached a four-year agreement by using a slower vessel instead of the promised high-speed one.

The route, which ran for over three years, gained popularity among commuters and tourists for its convenience and stress-free alternative to bridge traffic.

Local residents like Christy and Mike Sesser, who regularly used the ferry, expressed disappointment, calling it an affordable and relaxing way to cross the Bay.

Officials from Hillsborough County and the City of St. Petersburg say they are actively searching for a new ferry operator to revive the service in the future. However, no replacement has yet been identified, leaving the Bay Area without its only water-based commuter transit link—for now.

$40M Overhaul Brings Rides, Animals, and Flavor to Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is undergoing a $40 million transformation under new park president Jeff Davis, bringing new rides, animal exhibits, food, and interactive experiences. The upgrades aim to reinforce the park’s reputation as a "premier destination" for families.

Major additions include Wild Oasis at Jungala, opening in May, featuring Tree Top Drop, climbing structures, an immersive splash pad, and a scavenger hunt.

Animal lovers can expect new habitats and arrivals, such as capybaras, squirrel monkeys, meerkats, and a chimpanzee climbing zone. Enhancements for existing animals include a new giraffe barn and elephant accessibility features.

Culinary expansions include Treetop Kitchen, offering African and South American cuisine, while the Food and Wine Festival adds new artists and Friday concerts. Adventure Island adds Castaway Falls, a splash area with slides.

With live shows during Summer Nights (May 23–Aug. 10), Busch Gardens is gearing up for an epic summer season.

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Tampa Producer Champions True-Florida TV Adaptation

A limited TV series adaptation of A Land Remembered, the beloved Florida novel by Patrick D. Smith, is in the works with Tampa-based producer Todd Wiseman Jr. Wiseman insists on filming entirely in Florida, despite challenges due to the state's lack of film incentives. The historical epic spans three generations of the MacIvey family from the 1860s to the 1960s, chronicling their journey from pioneers to land developers.

To keep the production authentic, Wiseman co-founded Tobias LLC with Tampa investors and may receive $500,000 in state funding, pending budget approval. Sets will be built locally, and cattle ranchers have already offered support. If successful, the show could help revitalize Florida's stagnant film industry.

“A Land Remembered” remains a cultural touchstone in Florida, taught in schools and exhibited in museums. Wiseman hopes to expand the series’ timeline into the modern era, while staying true to the book’s core themes of legacy, nature, and identity.

Here’s an astonishing but little-known fact about the Florida film industry:

In the early 20th century, before Hollywood rose to prominence, Jacksonville, Florida was known as the “Winter Film Capital of the World.”

Between 1908 and the early 1920s, over 30 film studios operated in Jacksonville, taking advantage of its warm climate, diverse scenery, and cheap production costs. Silent film pioneers like Kalem Company and Lubin Manufacturing Company shot hundreds of films there.

But after mounting tensions between filmmakers and local politicians—along with concerns over rowdy stunt work and disruption—Jacksonville officials eventually discouraged film production, leading many studios to relocate to California.

When “Free” Checkups Cost Over $1,400

Carmen Aiken of Chicago booked what they believed was a free annual checkup at a University of Illinois Health clinic. Instead, they received a $1,430 bill, largely due to lab work categorized as diagnostic rather than preventive.

While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates coverage for many preventive services, tests done for medication monitoring—like Aiken’s blood work—don’t always qualify.

Their insurer, BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, denied an appeal, insisting the services were billed correctly. Hospital-based labs also added to the cost due to higher fees.

The experience left Aiken wary of future care. Experts warn that such billing confusion could worsen if a pending Supreme Court case overturns ACA preventive care requirements.

Health policy advocates call for “site-neutral” pricing reforms to curb such disparities. Without changes, patients like Aiken may continue facing steep costs for what should be routine, preventive care.

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