Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik is in discussions to sell a minority ownership of the team. Vinik says the sale would not affect his day-to-day operations of the Lightning, and would remain at the helm of the Vinik Sports Group. No other details were released, and that should happen once the sale is final.
Another one of Tampa Bay’s favorite places to find a bargain is closing. The Fun-Lan Drive-in And Flea Market on East Hillsborough Avenue has closed for good with very little notice to vendors. The property is owned by Florida Swap Shops in Fort Lauderdale who is reportedly selling the land to an unnamed buyer.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor sat down with Tampa Bay Ray’s owner Stu Sternberg on her birthday Tuesday to talk about a new home for the Rays in Tampa. The proposed location would be in the old Kforce headquarters in Ybor City. The Rays still have a contract at Tropicana Field through 2027 and are still looking at the option of a split-season with Montreal. Sternberg says Major Castor is keeping that option open as well.
Eric Piburn was just 14 years old but had touched countless lives in the Bay area, becoming known as the “Kindness Warrior.” He had four open heart surgeries in his short life but always made it a point to spread his mission of spreading kindness and hope to everyone. Eric died in hospice care on Wednesday, and now supporters and his family have set up a fund raiser to help with expenses, with more than $15,000 raised as of Wednesday afternoon. You can donate here.
Carol Jenkins Barnett, heir to the Publix fortune and a philanthropist passed away Tuesday. The cause of death was complications early-onset Alzheimer’, which she was diagnosed with in 2016. Her memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Lakeland. Instead of flowers, the family is asking for donations to Bonnet Springs Park, a park founded by Barnett.