By Times staff writer, Times wires
Published September 3, 2004
SCHOOLS
Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Manatee County schools are closed, in some cases so schools can be used as shelters. District offices in some counties will be open.
St. Petersburg College and its charter school will be closed today and Saturday. Nonacademic personnel will work today until noon.
Stetson University College of Law has closed both the Gulfport and Tampa campuses. Libraries at both sites will remain open with limited hours.
All campuses of the University of South Florida will be closed, although some personnel will work. All USF medical and outpatient clinics will remain open. USF's Monday football game with Pittsburgh will be played as scheduled until further notice.
The University of Tampa will be closed today. All student-related services will maintain normal weekend hours.
Hillsborough Community College will close at noon today.
Pasco-Hernando Community College will close at noon today.
St. Leo University will close at noon today.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
All games scheduled for today in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties are postponed.
COURTS
Federal courts will be closed today.
The state appeals court in Tampa will close today.
ENTERTAINMENT
Ozzfest in West Palm Beach is canceled. Refunds available at point of purchase.
Hanson, scheduled for Saturday at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, is postponed. A new concert date has not be set.
The Pioneer Florida Days Festival at the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City has been postponed to Sept. 11 and 12.
The Native American Festival at Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City has been canceled.
The Iron Girl 5K at John Chestnut Sr. Park in Palm Harbor has been rescheduled for Sept. 12.
The "Doing the Deuces" street festival in St. Petersburg has been canceled.
The "Feet on the Street" photography project in St. Petersburg has been rescheduled for Sept. 10-12.
The Pagan Festival in Pinellas Park has been postponed until Sept. 18.
All performances today and Saturday of the Disney on Ice production Finding Nemo at the Lakeland Center have been postponed. For more information call (863) 834-8111.
Gay Days Tampa Bay Weekend will be postponed until further notice.
ATTRACTIONS
The Florida Aquarium, the Lowry Park Zoo and Busch Gardens will be open until further notice.
STATEWIDE
NASA: The Kennedy Space Center planned to close today.
UNIVERSITIES: The following canceled classes today: University of Miami, Florida International University, University of North Florida, University of Central Florida, and the University of Florida, which will close its administrative offices at noon. The dormitories will remain open and the university may open hurricane shelters Saturday. Stetson University is closing its campuses in DeLand and Celebration today. Nova Southeastern University canceled classes through Monday at its Davie, North Miami Beach and East campuses, and at the Oceanographic Center and Student Education Centers in Kendall, West Palm Beach and Daytona.
SPORTS: Monday's Florida State-University of Miami college football game is postponed until Sept. 10 at the Orange Bowl. The Florida Marlins have postponed tonight's game against the Chicago Cubs; it has not been rescheduled. The University of Florida's game Saturday against Middle Tennessee was postponed to Oct. 16. Saturday's game between Jackson State and Hampton University will be played in Hampton, Va.
THEME PARKS: Walt Disney World theme parks will have an abbreviated schedule today and close Saturday. Those who bought packages will get automatic refunds. Those who bought tickets to the Saturday party should contact the point of purchase for refunds. Universal Orlando and Sea World plan to close at 3 p.m. today and remain closed Saturday. Park officials will evaluate Saturday whether to reopen on Sunday.
CRUISES: Carnival Cruise Lines canceled a three-day Bahamian cruise from Miami today and changed the itinerary of a three-day Bahamian cruise Thursday from Port Canaveral, leaving it at sea. Royal Caribbean International was changing itineraries for several of its ships to avoid the storm. Norwegian Cruise Line's ship Dawn will now be calling in Freeport, Bahamas, instead of Nassau, before heading back to New York.
AIRPORTS: The Melbourne International Airport will close at 8 a.m. today. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will close at 10 a.m. today and all arrivals and departing flights will be canceled after that time. Airports in Miami, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa are open until further notice. TOLLS: Suspended on the Turnpike from Florida City to Wildwood; in both directions on the Sawgrass Expressway in Broward County; on Westbound I-75/Alligator Alley between Naples and Fort Lauderdale.; and on Card Sound Road in Monroe County.
