Five Things We Learned on Patch this Week

:The Cigar Republic located on 155 107th Avenue on Treasure Island, hosted a complimentary wine and cheese tasting on Thursday July 21, starting at 7p.m. More than a dozen locals attended the event to sample the wines and chat about their favorites. 

: With the heat index hitting over 100 degrees, it’s time to figure out good ways to cool off. Luckily, there are many unique and fun ways to beat the heat out at the beaches.

: This past week, I took a couple days away from working on Patch to enjoy a little bit of vacation time. In all honesty, it wasn’t really a vacation. I took more of a stay-cation and planned out a couple of day trips with my wife, Candy and stepsons, Leo and Ollie. One of the days I had off, we decided to give our miniature pinscher, Gracie, a trip and took her down to Fort De Soto beach.

: Swimming in the gulf, lakes and pools almost seems synonymous with summertime. Water is ubiquitous in Florida and it’s not difficult to find swimming hotspots in Pinellas County. Experts agree that swimming offers an excellent way to stay fit and live well. Yet it's not without risks.

: In mid-May, a study from Canada alerted the medical community that bedbugs might carry pathogens. While it’s an incredibly small study, the results could be far-reaching, said Philip D. Shenefelt, physician and associate professor at the University of South Florida’s Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, who urged caution.