All lanes of Gulf to Bay Blvd BLOCKED at Keene Road due to an accident involving a pedestrian in Clearwater. A medical helicopter has been called to the scene. Plan for delays and alternates including Druid Rd, Cleveland St, and Drew St but watch for another crash along Drew St at Highland Avenue
*** UPDATE: Eastbound Gulf to Bay has been reopened; Westbound only one lane gets by. The crash at Drew St and Highland Ave has been cleared.
*** UPDATE: The accident has been cleared by investigators remain on-scene. All lanes are currently open in both directions.
Today is Cyber Monday and the first Monday after Thanksgiving has typically has seen some of the highest online dollar revenues leading up to Christmas.
And despite this year’s expected 1% drop in holiday shopping overall, online sales are anticipated to jump 3% from last year… triggering online retailers to up the bargains to entice shoppers.
This morning, I’ve got your how, when and where to go to get the best deals and stay safe while shopping online.
First, check out CyberMonday.com which features promotions and deals from more than 700 of the most popular online retailers - including deals of the hour for the super savy Internet shoppers.
And before you buy, do your homework. Price compare using sites like pricegrabber.com which allows you to comparison shop.
Also, check to see if your credit card has cash-back programs… some are even offering double cash back for Cyber Monday.
If a deal seems too good to be true, experts say be wary. And did you know, web retailers are not yet required by law to maintain the privacy of people who order from their sites meaning they could sell your private information to other merchants and telemarketers so only shop on sites with a detailed privacy policy.
And finally, to help avoid computer viruses from those preying on cyber shoppers, make certain your anti-virus software is up-to-date.
So what will you be buying online… let me know what deals you snag. Happy shopping 
If you have spent much of 2009 pinching every penny possible, here’s something that may make this year’s Thanksgiving feast taste a little more delicious.
After five years of price increases, the cost of a classic Thanksgiving dinner dropped 4% this year—down $1.70 to $42.91 for a feast for 10… that’s according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, which has conducted the annual survey since 1986 as an informal gauge of national price trends.
The menu starts with a 16-pound turkey at $18.65 which is now 3 cents per pound cheaper than last year.
The AFBF meal includes bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and beverages of coffee and milk.
The largest price drop was milk, at $2.86 per gallon, down 92 cents.
Three products had price increases: pumpkin pie mix at 11 cents more; two pie shells up 8 cents; and cube stuffing up 8 cents.
Of course, these prices do not reflect organic food options, which often cost double, triple or more when compared to traditionally produced goods.
As NYMEX crude oil lagged toward the end of last week while the dollar strengthened against the euro, oil futures lost some appeal to investors. Bottom line: consumers may enjoy lower gas prices despite the 38 milion Americans expected to travel this Thanksgiving weekend. It has been 3 years since pump prices jumped during the week of Thanksgiving. Local analysts believe that trend will continue throughout the Christmas season as well, as crude oil prices appear to relatively stagnant for the remainder of 2009. As of Sunday, AAA reports the national average of a gallon of regular unleaded registered at $2.64 which is 14 cents higher than Florida’s average, $2.50.
We want to know, has the economy changed your Thanksgiving plans? Will you be driving instead of flying or not headed to Grandma’s house at all?
Thinking about last minute Thanksgiving travel? Experts agree this is a good year to do so. Prices remain down thanks to a 4% drop in travelers. But act now since airlines are also cutting flights in the deepest reductions since 1942. Having flexible travel dates can save you some money too and avoid the peak days: Monday, Nov. 30; Sunday, Nov. 29; Friday, Nov. 20; and Wednesday, Nov. 25. Finally, pack light and carry-on so you don’t have to shell out extra cash on bag fees. Alicia
This morning I took a closer look at the debate over medical marijuana and why local physicians remain concerned. Let us know what you think… should it be legal here in Florida?
Alicia Roberts Takes a Closer Look at the Medical Marijuana Debate
UPDATE*** Bloomingdale now reopened with the exception of one EB lane in through John Moore Road as TECO crews remain on scene making repairs to a downed pole as a result of the overnight crash.
Bloomingdale Avenue remains blocked in both directions in Hillsborough County between Bell Shoals and John Moore Roads with the exception of the shoulder. Earlier this morning, a crash occurred which also took down power lines at the intersection. Drivers, plan for extensive delays and alternates including Boyette Road to the South or Lumsden Road to the North.
Jen has been keeping tabs on the fog across the region all morning… be extra careful on the notorious fog roadways especially I-4, 1-75, near the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport, and along the bridges. Don’t forget to use your low beams and crack your windows so you can hear any potential hazards before you may be able to see them.
For more tips on staying safe when driving in the fog, visit the link below:
Driving In Fog
The Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3, presented by Ford will impact Pinellas County traffic on race day, Saturday, Nov. 14. Lane and road closures will start at 5 a.m. throughout the county. Clearwater Beach road closures will begin at 3 a.m., and drivers will not be permitted to travel south of the roundabout due to closures on Coronado Drive and South Gulfview Boulevard.
Estimated Times of Impact
The bike route, which travels 56 miles throughout northern and mid Pinellas County, will affect the following areas:
•Coronado Drive at the Clearwater Beach Roundabout, 3 a.m. to 5 p.m.
•Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Court Street, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•NE Cleveland Street and Drew Street, 7 to 9:15 a.m.
•Drew Street and Keene Road, 7 to 9:25 a.m.
•Drew Street and Belcher Road, 7 to 9:30 a.m.
•Sunset Point Road and Belcher Road, 7:15 to 9:45 a.m.
•Countryside Boulevard and State Road 580, 7:15 to 10 a.m.
•Countryside Boulevard and Curlew Road, 7:15 to 10 a.m.
•Countryside Boulevard and Lake St. George Drive, 7:15 to 10:15 a.m.
•Lake St. George Drive and Tampa Road, 7:15 to 10:15 a.m.
•Tampa Road and Off ramp to East Lake Road, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
•East Lake Road and Keystone Road, 7:30 to 11 a.m.
•East Lake Road to Trinity Oaks Boulevard and back, 7:45 to 11 a.m.
•McMullen Booth Road and Curlew Road, 7:45 to 11:15 a.m.
•McMullen Booth Road and Enterprise Road, 8 to 11:30 a.m.
•McMullen Booth Road and Drew Street, 8:15 to 11:45 a.m.
•McMullen Booth Road and Roosevelt Boulevard, 8:30 a.m. to noon
•East Bay Drive and Belcher Road, 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
•Belcher Road and Belleair Road, 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
•Belcher Road and Gulf to Bay Boulevard, 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
•Gulf to Bay Boulevard to Clearwater Beach, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The run route, which travels 13.1 miles from Pier 60 throughout Clearwater Beach, across the Memorial Causeway Bridge and into downtown Clearwater, will affect the following areas:
•Fort Harrison Ave., from Chestnut St. to Jeffords St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•Bay Ave., from Druid Rd. to Jeffords St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•Magnolia Dr., from Pinellas Trail to Druid Rd. South, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•Druid Rd. South, from Jeffords St. to Orange Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•Orange Ave., from Druid Rd. to Turner St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•Turner St., from Orange Ave. to Oak Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•Oak Ave., from Turner St. to Chestnut St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To access Morton Plant Hospital, drivers will have to use Pinellas Street.
Detours and Road Impacts
Belcher Road
If you live along east side of Belcher Road please use U.S. 19 as your north-south route. It will be difficult to exit your neighborhoods onto Belcher Road to go north bound or to turn left out of your neighborhoods and travel south.
East Lake Area Detours
The median openings along East Lake Road between Tampa Road and Trinity Boulevard will be blocked throughout the duration of the bike portion of the race. If you live in the area or know someone that does, plan ahead and learn the detour routes.
•Residents living west of East Lake Road will be able to travel south on East Lake Road to access Tampa Road.
•Residents that live east of East Lake Road can travel north on East Lake Road, turn right on Trinity Boulevard and make a U-turn at the second median opening to go south.
•Residents living east of East Lake Road can also utilize East Lake Woodlands Parkway to access Tampa Road.
•At McMullen Booth Road and State Road 580, traffic traveling on McMullen Booth Road will be detoured east on State Road 580 to Tampa Road where cars will able to access East Lake Road.
Bayside Bridge Detour
Traffic traveling south bound on the McMullen Booth will be unable to use to Bayside Bridge during the race. Cars will be detoured to go west on Drew St., south on U.S. 19. When cars get to Roosevelt Boulevard, exit and make a U-turn under the over pass and go east on Roosevelt Boulevard to get onto 49th Street.
North Pinellas County
•Keystone Road will be shut down at East Lake Road from 7:30 to 11 a.m., find an alternate route and avoid the area if you can.
•All eastbound and westbound intersections along East Lake Road will be blocked between Tampa Road and Trinity Boulevard. If you need to cross East Lake Road, you will have to travel south to Tampa Road or north of Trinity Boulevard.
Full Road Closures
Most roads along the route will have only partial lane closures. Soft closures allow the police officers to let cars through when there is a break between the bicycles. Cars may have to wait for an extended period of time until they are permitted to travel through the intersection. Full road closures on race day include the following:
•Most of South Gulfview Boulevard will close on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 8 a.m. and re-open Monday, Nov. 16, 8 a.m.
•Keystone Road will be shut down at East Lake Road/McMullen Booth Road from 7:30 to 11 a.m.
•McMullen Booth Road from Curlew Road to Tampa Road, Northbound lanes will be closed to traffic
•Bayside Bridge, from Drew Street to Roosevelt Boulevard, Southbound lanes will be closed to traffic
•Coronado Drive will be closed from the Clearwater Beach roundabout to Devon Drive starting at 3 a.m.
Clearwater Beach Traffic Impact
Because the majority of the event takes place at Pier 60, most of South Gulfview Boulevard will be closed from Tuesday, Nov. 10, to Monday, Nov. 16. and Coronado will be closed from the Clearwater Beach roundabout to Devon Drive starting at 3 a.m. on race day. If residents need to leave the beach on race day, they should plan to leave the before 7 a.m. to avoid the traffic impacts. Between 7 and 9 a.m. North Beach residents will have limited access to the roundabout. South Beach residents and those needing access to and from South Beach after 3 a.m. will need to use the Belleair Causeway.
Helpful Driving Hints for Race Day
To ease congestion on race day, drivers should leave early to allow for extra traffic and lane closures. The bike course will re-open at 12:30 p.m. and the run course will re-open at 3:30 p.m. Since the race route does not affect U.S. 19, use it as the main north-south route. Signalized intersections along the route will have police officers assisting motorists and will let vehicles through when and if it is safe to do so. Motorists who come upon a non-signalized intersection should yield to bicyclists as bikes have right-of-way on the course.
Drivers will have to share multi-lane roads with bicyclists. Throughout most of the route, cyclists will be in the outside curb lane and vehicles will travel in the remaining lanes. On McMullen Booth Road, cyclists will be traveling on the inside median lane, and vehicles will be traveling in the outside lanes.
About The Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3, Presented by Ford
The 2009 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3, Presented by Ford, is the culmination of over thirty global Ironman 70.3 events and takes more than 1,700 athletes along a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run. More than 90,000 athletes vie for slots to the event each year. The 2009 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 will air on NBC on Sunday, June 6, 2010. Check your local listings and stay tuned to http://www.ironman.com for additional details.
More information, including maps of the route, can be found at http://www.myclearwater.com/ironman or by calling the hotline at (727) 562-INFO (4636).
Ironman takes to the streets and seas this weekend in Pinellas County… and lots of traffic re-routes are and will be in place as the race kicks off.
Here’s some information to help you race through the county despite the added congestion and closures.
First, follow this link for a map of the course: http://ironman.com/events/ironman70.3/worldchampionship70.3/?show=maps
Also, check out Clearwater’s website for full updates on closures and detours: http://www.myclearwater.com/gov/depts/parksrec/news/ironman/ironman09/index.asp
And PSTA riders, here’s what you need to know about race day changes: http://www.myclearwater.com/gov/depts/parksrec/news/ironman/ironman09/pdf/PSTA_ironman_changes.pdf
Best of luck to all the athletes in town… Happy Ironman Weekend!
For one woman, the 950th try was the lucky one when it came to passing the written part of her driving exam. Imagine how long it will take for her to master parallel parking… Yikes!
Lucky #950
Ford has developed a new technology in its 2010 Sho that’s helping parents monitor their teen driver’s behavior even while they are not in the car. Good thing too, as auto crashes are the leading killer of teenagers nationwide. Watch the story by clicking on the following link and let us know what you think and if you have this technology.
Alicia
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Tampa-FL/News-Channel-8-Today/36041527514
A new ramp will open by 5:30 a.m. Monday morning (November 9), allowing for additional separation of traffic toward TIA and I-275 from the EB Courtney Campbell Parkway. Spruce Street/Cypress Street and the airport traffic will continue to use the current ramp. However, drivers connecting with I-275 or Kennedy Boulevard will have access to the new ramp, which will enter southbound Memorial from the left side and into a new lane, avoiding the traffic exiting to Spruce Street/Cypress Street or Tampa International Airport.
Hair for Hope- A “hairoic” cut-a-thon to benefit women battling cancer.
Date: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Michael Rose Hair Designs
Address: 3139 S. Florida Ave. in Scottsdale Plaza, directly across the street from Dunkin’ Donuts
Cost: Free.
Description: Participants are needed who are willing to cut at least 8 inches of their hair. All donated hair will be sent to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which has wigs made from the hair. Those wigs then are distributed via American Cancer Society wig banks throughout the country to women who are involved in cancer treatment and have lost their hair as a result.
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