ReportWire

Tag: APP Community

  • Marc Rimes appears as the ‘Hulk’ to support children

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Polk County man is devoting a lot of his time to appearing as “The Incredible Hulk” at local events. Most of the appearances are for charities. Underneath that huge Hulk outfit is a man with a big heart for kids. Marc Rimes has a couple of reasons for that big heart.

    What You Need To Know

    • Marc Rimes appears as the “Hulk” at Bay area charity events. He also works to promote autism awareness

    • Rimes’s son Chance, who is on the autism spectrum, appears with Rimes as Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies

    • Rimes often appears at events with Superheroes for Hire characters

    • Rimes grew up in foster care and boys’ homes and has a special heart for children who need to feel loved


    On a recent Saturday evening, Rimes appeared as the “Hulk” at the Auburndale Speedway. Lots of small children wanted to give his massive Hulk character a hug. Rimes said he loves seeing the smiles and children’s faces when they see him.

    “I don’t do it to get recognized. I don’t do this for recognition,” said Rimes. “I do this to put a smile on someone’s face.”

    Rimes’ girlfriend Candice Holiday is a big believer in Rimes’ efforts. “It’s mostly the lower-class kids who need that extra boost in life,” she said. “That’s what we do. We come out and put smiles on faces.”

    Rimes said he grew up in boys’ homes and foster care, so he is sensitive to a child needing to feel love. “I grew up in a life where I fought to be loved. And I want to be there for a kid who needs a smile or a hug. I want to be there to give hope,” he said.

    Rimes has a son named Chance who is on the autism spectrum. Chance appears with Rimes at events dressed as the character Groot from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. Rimes is dedicated to autism awareness. “Everybody needs the awareness. Everybody needs to know we can include our children. Not one child is the same on the spectrum. But they don’t have to be treated differently,” he said.

    Rimes has a sports car decked out with superhero logos and autism awareness messages that he takes to his events. “When you see it come down the road you can’t miss it. It also has my son dressed up as one of the superheroes on the side of the car.” Rimes said his car is part of the Cars Racing for the Dream organization.

    Rimes often appears with other local residents who dress up superheroes. They are called Superheroes for Hire. The group held parades for a terminally ill boy named Braxton Criss. Braxton passed away. At the Auburndale Speedway event, Chance dressed as Groot presented Braxton’s mom Jessica Criss with one of his previous Groot outfits.

    Criss is thankful for what all the superheroes did for her son before he died. “Honored that they gave us memories that we wouldn’t have had otherwise, and they made Braxton’s last moments incredibly special,” she said.

    Rimes was also hailed as a hero recently for running to a neighbor’s home that was on fire and using a garden hose to fight the flames before firefighters got there.

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Pasco County launching new hurricane relief assistance program

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    DADE CITY, Fla. — Pasco County is preparing to roll out a major relief program funded by a $585 million federal Community Development Block Grant, which was awarded following last year’s hurricane season. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County is launching a new hurricane relief assistance program using $585 million from the federal Community Development Block Grant Program targets low- to moderate-income families 
    • The application period opens in December 
    • Funding will help cover past hurricane-related expenses or repairs, and the cost to make new repairs 
    • There is also the Better Future Individual Housing Program, which is designed for residents of Pasco County


    More than half of that funding will go directly to homeowners who have been unable to make essential storm-related repairs.

    For residents like Christopher Rosakranse, the assistance cannot come soon enough. Hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through his property, downing 15 trees, damaging fences, and flooding his yard.

    “The water got so high,” he recalled. “One tree landed on our little mother-in-law suite, and the flooding pulled up our septic a bit.”

    Rosakranse had purchased the home just two months before the storms hit and was left with thousands of dollars in damage. To make matters worse, he says he was unable to secure help from FEMA.

    “I kept getting the runaround,” he said. “It was really hard to get through that system.”

    Pasco County officials say homeowners like Rosakranse are exactly who the county hopes to help through its new Better Future Housing Program.

    “We are trying to explain the opportunity to the public — how we can help them, how they can get involved,” said Chuck Lane, the county’s director of Disaster Recovery Resources. Lane and his team are hosting informational meetings this week to outline eligibility requirements and the types of expenses the program can cover.

    “We really saw devastation county-wide,” Lane said. “We are still seeing a lot of people who are displaced, and those are the people we are going to try to prioritize and get help to more quickly.”

    The Better Future Individual Housing Program is a program designed for residents of Pasco County. It is scheduled to open for applications in December. Qualified homeowners may receive funding for repairs that have already been completed, repairs that are still needed, or other storm-related expenses.

    For details on this week’s public meetings or the application process, go right visit here. 

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Federal Shutdown Raises Concerns Over Childcare Funding

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — A brief pause in federal funding left early learning centers across Ohio scrambling to maintain operations, prompting school leaders in Columbus to call for more stable childcare funding to prevent future disruptions.

    What You Need To Know

    • A federal funding pause caused closures and uncertainty at early learning centers across Ohio

    • School leaders said childcare should be funded like infrastructure to withstand federal disruptions

    • Economic losses tied to childcare shortages in Ohio are estimated at $5.4 billion annually, according to the Ohio Chamber of Commerce

    During the freeze, some early childcare programs closed while others struggled to stay open. Staff at the Columbus Early Learning Center said families and educators felt the effects immediately.

    Antywanna Williams, a teacher’s aide whose son attends the center, said the uncertainty would deeply affect young children if access to schools were suddenly cut off.

    “How do you explain to your four-year-old that there is no school?” Williams said. “You have to wait until you’re five years old to go to kindergarten.” 

    Williams said the situation also raised concerns about her own job security and what a shutdown would mean for her family. She said her work is rooted in close relationships with the children in her classroom and their families, and losing that stability would affect them as much as it would affect her.

    Columbus Early Learning Centers CEO Gina Ginn said the funding pause highlighted how dependent early learning providers are on federal dollars and how vulnerable families become when that support stalls. She said the instability also carries a broader economic cost.

    “We are missing out in the state of Ohio on $5.4 billion a year in our economy because families can’t go to work because they can’t find affordable, high-quality childcare,” Ginn said.

    Ginn said the disruption underscored the need to treat childcare as core infrastructure—similar to roads, water systems and K–12 schools—so centers can withstand fluctuations in federal support. Without stable options, she said, families face long-term barriers.

    “It really is the foundation and the backbone of families being able to work. And then also create pathways out of poverty,” she said.

    School leaders said they are now evaluating how local funding structures could be modernized to prevent future shocks to early learning programs.

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    Saima Khan

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  • Bay area center offers counseling as mental health diagnoses spike in seniors

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — With an increase in the number of senior citizens being diagnosed with mental health conditions, the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas wants those 60 and older to know free mental health counseling is available.

    What You Need To Know

    • Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas offers free mental health counseling for 60 and older

    • The program provides screening, assessment, in-person and virtual mental health counseling

    • Fair Health reports 57.4% increase in mental health diagnoses for seniors 65 and older 


    “There’s a lot of pressures that seniors are dealing with or experiencing, whether that’s cost of living, isolation or loneliness, especially since COVID, grief, losing a spouse, a loved one,” said Director of Programs at Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Christine Didion. “Seniors can receive talk therapy with a licensed mental health counselor. We’re able to do either telehealth or meet with them at a senior center that might be close to them.”

     Pinellas County resident Robert Palin, 81, has been seeing a mental health counselor through the program since 2022.

    “I just felt that a mental health counselor would be helpful in adjusting to the aging process for me, because I have a neuromuscular disability and hearing loss and sight loss, and even my voice is changing. I have difficulty negotiating large groups, public spaces,” he said.

    Palin is not alone. There’s been a more than 57% spike in mental health diagnoses in those 65 and older between 2019 and 2023, the most recent data from Fair Health. The most common are anxiety and depression. And there was a nearly 36% increase in adults 51 to 64.

    “When we lose our ability to do what we did for decades, we get depressed often,” said Palin, who says support has made a difference. “I feel more accepting of what it means to decline.” 

    He adds it has made a difference in self-confidence.

    “Bringing out what you can do. I can still play the piano. I still play chess. I still am fascinated and curious about so many subjects,” said Palin.

    The free mental health counseling program is provided through funding from the Older Americans Act.

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    Melissa Eichman

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  • Bay area foster mother provides safe space for young human trafficking survivors

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Karen Bowen is preparing for a busy Thanksgiving. The foster mom has been a caregiver to more than 300 kids over the years and many return for the holidays.

    “I want them to feel that this is home, no matter what,” said Bowen. “This is home.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Children’s Home Network provides in-depth training so parents can support young victims of human trafficking
    • Karen Bowen helps foster children find themselves again after recently receiving Safe Home Licensing
    • Nine children that were recovered during “Operation: Home for the Holidays” were placed in a Hillsborough County group and safe homes


    Bowen recently completed in-depth training through Children’s Home Network that concentrates on caring for young victims of human trafficking.

    “I have to make sure that you feel safe, so when you walk back through this door, I’m giving you a hug,” said Bowen. “I’m not asking you any questions, because when it’s your time to talk with me is your time. My goal is also to help bring back the dignity that you think that you may have lost.”

    Bowen helps her foster children find themselves by providing more than a bed to sleep in.

    “I’m here to give you the support, the guidance, the love and the opportunity to rebuild yourself,” Bowen says of making sure to connect foster children with support services that include mental health counseling and connecting with case managers and peer support from those with lived experience in human trafficking. 

    Some of the 122 missing and endangered children recently rescued during Operation Home for the Holidays are rebuilding with help from a designated Safe Home like Bowen’s.

    Tianay Lewis with Children’s Home Network helped place nine of those children in a Hillsborough County group and foster homes. She said the in-depth training that Safe Home Parents receive is essential.

    “All of our training focuses on trauma and loss and risk factors that our kids have from trauma in their lives,” said Lewis. “They would learn about what potential indicators are of a child who might be trafficked. Safety, obviously, is a huge part of it, responding to trauma responses.” 

    Bowen’s hope is that foster kids get support they need to find new confidence and start a new life.

    “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t survive through this,” said Bowen. “You’re a survivor. You’re survivor.”

    Survivors, Bowen wants to make sure have a place to call home.

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    Melissa Eichman

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  • Florida SNAP benefits officially resume, officials say

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — After weeks of waiting, SNAP recipients across the Bay area should soon see their benefits.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida officials say all delayed November SNAP benefits have now been issued, following delays caused by the government shutdown

    • Some recipients, including Hannah Hendry, say the Propel app showed conflicting information, leaving many unsure whether benefits would arrive before Thanksgiving

    • State officials advise residents not to reapply for benefits, noting that doing so will slow processing


    The Florida Department of Children and Families recently announced that all previously scheduled benefits that were delayed due to the government shutdown have now been issued.

    The mother of three, Hannah Hendry, keeps up with the latest SNAP benefit updates through Propel — an app for recipients. While Hendry says some of the information has been discouraging, she has kept a brave face for her daughters with help from family and local pantries.

    “This was food bank. That was food bank. All of this was food bank,” Hendry said, pointing at the food in her cabinets.

    Over the past few weeks, in addition to her own trips to food banks, Hendry says she has also shared a lot of the food she received with her neighbors. She says many of them are still without their benefits.

    “So I’m hoping my food stamps come on time, especially if theirs still hasn’t so I can grab some sides for Thanksgiving,” she said.

    According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, all November SNAP benefits have been issued to eligible recipients as of last week. Residents scheduled to get their benefits after Nov. 14 will receive them on their normal date. However, Hendry says she and her neighbors received different information through the Propel app.

    “The most recent update said that it would probably be November/December,” she said. “So I hate to say it, but I don’t find it surprising that it might be after Thanksgiving.”

    With that said, Hendry plans to hold on to faith that she’ll receive her benefits before then. If anything changes, she says she’ll be one of the first to know.

    Florida SNAP benefits are released between the first and the 28th of each month, depending on your case number. State officials say if you’ve already submitted an application or renewal, there’s no need to reapply. Doing so will slow down the process.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Bonnet Springs Park postpones annual light show

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Bonnet Springs Park hit pause on its annual holiday light show this year.

    What You Need To Know

    • Bonnet Springs Park is postponing its popular Light Up BSP event this year due to major parking and traffic issues seen during last year’s crowds

    • The park is building two new parking lots with nearly 400 additional spaces to help handle the surge in visitors for future events

    • Light Up BSP is expected to return in 2026

    Light Up BSP is one of the park’s most popular events, bringing in thousands of visitors. It’s the one event CEO Josh Henderson says takes the longest to prepare.

    “We start putting the lights up in November,” Henderson said. “It’s a huge event. We have about a third of a mile of lights that go through the Ag America Heritage Gardens as well as the Crenshaw Canopy Walk.”

    Light Up BSP also includes festive music and food. But with the number of people the free event drew last year, Henderson says parking became a hassle. He says his team decided to postpone it this year after hearing from residents.

    “The guests said how hard it was to get into the park last year. We had huge attendance growth, and the local area — the roads were backed up for an hour and a half to two hours every night,” he said.

    To prevent that from happening again, the park is building two new parking lots that will add nearly 400 spaces. Phase one is already underway just across the street from the Family Welcome Center.

    “We’re really looking forward to getting that open,” Henderson said.

    Henderson expects construction to be complete just in time for Light Up BSP 2026. In the meantime, he says not all is lost. Staff will be sprinkling holiday cheer throughout the park.

    “But there’s not going to be lights and major decorations,” he said. “We are getting in the spirit; we’re just not holding a major event this year.”

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Farmers ready to showcase this year’s bounty at 10th Annual Sweet Potato Roundup

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A local community is not only home to several sweet potato growers, but also what’s believed to be the state’s only sweet potato festival. 

    What You Need To Know

    • New Port Richey will be hosting the 10th Annual Sweet Potato Roundup this Saturday, showcasing the dedicated work of local growers

    • Tucked away under the trees along Sawgrass Alley is East Madison Gardens — a network of residential and community gardens
    • The community garden will serve as a main source for sweet potatoes that will be on display at this weekend’s Sweet Potato Roundup
    • The event takes place from 11 a.m.  to 1 p.m. in the New Port Richey Public Library Courtyard off Main Street


    New Port Richey will be hosting the 10th Annual Sweet Potato Roundup this Saturday, showcasing the dedicated work of local growers.

    “You just kind of dig around a little bit and then you find this guy,” says Dell deChant, director of New Port Richey FarmNet. “That’s the beauty.”

    Tucked away under the trees along Sawgrass Alley, there sits a secret garden, growing an abundance of life’s richest vegetables.

    “We have kale here,” says deChant. “We have some tomatoes. That’s a loquat and one of the season food festivals that we do is the loquat festival. The mockingbird, the state bird of Florida, especially love these beauty berries. And they are disappearing from the state. So we’re doing everything we can to reinstall them wherever we have or wherever we have gardens. And that’s another part of the project.”

    East Madison Gardens is a network of residential and community gardens in the East Madison neighborhood of New Port Richey. It’s led deChant.

    “A city, residential lot that’s been transformed into an agroecological learning center and food production center,” says deChant. “We’ve been doing this in this particular area, the East Madison area, for about 12 years.”

    It’s also a main source for sweet potatoes that will be on display at this weekend’s Sweet Potato Roundup, planted with love and handpicked with care by deChant and volunteers.

    That includes Amanda Zborek, joined alongside her daughter Lilly.

    “That’s our biggest goal is to bring people in and to teach them about growing their own food,” said Zborek, regional outreach director of New Port Richey FarmNet. “Different ways that you can prepare food that grows very well here and has high yields and just getting really creative with it.”

    For years the event has showcased the hard work of local growers, displaying how sustainable food can come from just about anywhere — like residential areas.

    “Once I was introduced to gardening and farming and having them fresh off the stalk, there’s nothing like it,” says Zborek. “They’re good. Your body notices the nutrition that it’s receiving and the love and care that’s put into growing them yourself.”

    Aside from the sense of accomplishment one gets from growing these beautiful vegetables, there might be one feeling that tops it all.

    “Tasting the food,” said Lilly and Zborek. “Absolutely tasting the food and bringing the community together.”

    Coming together for the love of food.

    The event takes place this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The location is in the New Port Richey Public Library Courtyard off Main Street and is free to attend.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Foster Power app helps youth in foster care around Florida

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    SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. — A local attorney is helping foster children across the state find the answers to all of their legal questions with the Foster Power app. It’s the only app of its kind, and has the potential to help thousands of foster kids who otherwise may not have the opportunity to even talk to an attorney.

    What You Need To Know

    • Foster Power is a free app that easily explains all the benefits, protections and legal rights for children in foster care.

    • Florida is one of 13 states with no universal right to counsel for children in foster care

    • There are plans to expand the app nationally


    Foster Power is free and easily explains all the benefits, protections and legal rights for children in foster care.

    “For instance, you can go to the ‘all about court’ page, you can go on this page and see a chart of who is in the courtroom, the types of case plans you may have, and goals, and here you can type in where your case plan is working towards,” explained Taylor Sartor.

    Sartor is a senior staff attorney at the L. David Shear Children’s Law Center, where she represents youth in foster care. She says that during a fellowship with Equal Justice Works, she realized how many legal questions children in foster care have, so she created a place they can easily find answers.

    “Kids in foster care, they have so many things happening to them when they’ve been taken from their families and they’re put in a system that is very confusing,” she said. “It can be very isolating and there’s not someone there to explain what their rights are.”

    Nicolaus Reynolds is one of her clients. He was put in the foster care system twice when he was younger.

    “Throughout foster care, I dealt with quite a bit of stress, abuse, neglect. (The) foster care system in Florida really isn’t that great; however, I was lucky enough to be assigned an attorney, and that has helped quite a bit,” he said.

    He says friends in foster care who didn’t receive any legal advice didn’t have as positive of an outcome as him, and he thinks an app like Foster Power will help.

    “Even now at 21 years old, still struggling with some things, but having an attorney is one of the best things I’ve had because I know a little bit about the law, but I don’t know everything,” he said. “However, through my time in foster care and the guidance of my attorney, Miss Sartor, I was lucky enough to actually understand what was going on.”

    Which is Sartor’s goal with this app — connecting children in the foster system with the information and programs available to them with one simple download. 

    Sartor is currently working on expanding the app nationally.

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • Booming agritourism business helps small Florida farms

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — More farmers and ranchers are embracing agritourism opportunities on their properties. It’s a way to incorporate recreation and educational experiences. The agritourism industry has helped generate billions in Florida alone, according to the latest census of agriculture.

    What You Need To Know

    • Farms and ranches generated $1.26 billion in agritourism in the U.S. in 2022, the latest Census of Agriculture
    • Fancy Farms was started in 1974, and its market opened six years ago
    • The market, open October through June, is located at 5204 Drane Field Rd. in Lakeland


    What started as a strawberry farm has now transformed into a spot the community can enjoy.

    Kristi Grooms Barnes is the president of the Fancy Farms Market. She and her brother Dustin Grooms opened the market six years ago to continue to share their parents’ legacy and her family’s homemade goods.

    She says something they pride themselves on is sharing things she and her brother grew up with. “We have branded this after my mother DD, as Fancy Dee’s preserves, jams and relishes,” Barnes said.

    The market has since expanded to serve lunch, and recently they decided they would open two months earlier than prior years.

    They consider the market a form of agritourism for the farm.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes agritourism as a commercial enterprise that links agricultural production with tourism.

    For Fancy Farms, this concept has been a plus. “It’s another revenue stream for our farm, and we’re able to get more people to the farm,” she said.

    The latest Census of Agriculture reports that about 57% of U.S. counties reported agritourism income.

    Barnes said the farm is a member of the Florida Agritourism Association, and the family serves on the board, because they see the growing demand.

    “We’ve seen a shift in this agritourism, and people want to get outside. They want to see where their food comes. They want to connect with the land,” she explained.

    Simon Bollin is the Agribusiness Development Manager with UF IFAS extension.

    He said agritourism has increased on small to medium-size farms, rather than on large-scale properties.

    “It does definitely help out local farms. It gives them another source of income and direct to retail, direct to consumer ability to market,” Bollin said.

    Barnes said agritourism is helping shape the future of farming, making more people aware of what goes on behind the scenes.

    “The education side is really important to us to show people there’s a lot more that goes into farming than it just showing up on your plate at dinnertime,” she said.

    Sharing what the farm has to offer so that everyone can enjoy it.

    The menu at Fancy Farms Market changes to incorporate new flavors, and in December, they will kick off the strawberry season.

    The market is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Jesuit student launches project to honor veterans at American Legion Cemetery

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    TAMPA, Fla. — At the American Legion Cemetery in Tampa, Drew Garcia is saving lives. He’s piecing together the stories of veterans who are on the verge of being forgotten.

    “I’m putting their stories back together,” Garcia said.

    American Legion Cemetery President Alyse Duffy said the need to remember these veterans is critical.

    “The quote is, ‘A person dies twice.’ Once when they give up their life and the second time when they’re forgotten forever,” Duffy said.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tampa resident Drew Garcia is on a mission to tell the stories of all 732 military members buried at the American Legion Cemetery

    • With the help of his partner, Paige Wilson, Garcia calls the project “American Bios“

    • Garcia and Wilson have uncovered the stories of about 20 veterans so far, but they’re hoping to find others who are just as eager to do some sleuthing of their own


    A year ago, Garcia began searching for a research project. Since he was a history buff, Duffy suggested Garcia research the lives of the veterans buried at the American Legion Cemetery. When he was younger, Garcia said he always wondered about the cemetery he would pass along Kennedy Boulevard.

    With the go-ahead from Duffy, Garcia started delving into the life of each military member. He thought he’d only tell the story of a couple of veterans.

    “But I realized that’s not fair,” Garcia said. “It’s important all their stories are told.”

    Now, he’s on a mission to tell the stories of all 732 military members who are buried at Tampa’s American Legion Cemetery.

    “We have a spreadsheet and I just scroll, scroll, scroll and I click them,” Garcia said.

    After randomly picking a veteran to research, Garcia goes through census data, military records, marriage documents — whatever he can find. He even reaches out to family members. Then, Garcia shares each story with whoever will listen.

    “Not all of them served for the same amount of time, but their service is so incredibly important in making America what it is today,” Garcia said.

    He calls the project “American Bios.”

    His partner, Paige Wilson, came up with the name. She’s now in charge of the online Instagram presence. 

    “I feel so connected to each of these veterans that I research because I learn their life story,” Wilson said.

    But sometimes, there are gaps.

    Like Private Frank Marson, for example. He fought in the Spanish-American War in the late 1800s and there are not a lot of records about his life.

    “I see evidence right there of someone’s story who isn’t as properly told as it should be because it’s been so long, and so it really drives me to want to get things done now,” Garcia said. “Research them today.”

    So today, the work continues.

    “I feel so humbled to be surrounded by these heroes,” Garcia said. “I want these people’s stories to be so famous that someone can just be looking online and stumble upon the story of their great grandparent. That’s how popular I want these people to get.”

    Garcia and Wilson have uncovered the stories of about 20 veterans so far.

    They have put the pieces together like a puzzle.

    “It’s so cool,” Garcia said. “There’s no other word for it.”

    But the couple needs some help. They’re both graduating next year.

    And while Garcia will continue to lead the project, they’re hoping to find others who are just as eager to do some sleuthing of their own.

    Garcia said he wants to make all 732 veterans famous. And one day, he wants their stories shared in the Library of Congress. It’s all an effort to keep the veterans buried at American Legion Cemetery alive.

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    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Arrival of manatee season generates excitement among residents and visitors

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    HOMOSASSA, Fla. — As the weather starts to cool, manatees are migrating toward warmer waters.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee season has arrived in Citrus County as cooler temperatures sweep across Tampa Bay

    • It’s an important time of year for the local economy, with well over a million people expected to visit Citrus County this year
    • Just in time for the season is the newly renovated underwater observatory at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Wildlife State Park, a fixture that has been at the park since 1964
    • Citrus County is the only place where visitors can get in the water and swim with manatees


    It’s a big boost for business and the local economy in Citrus County. The arrival of manatee season is generating a lot of excitement.

    Near the waters of Homosassa Springs, visitors try to catch a glimpse of one of Florida’s most beloved marine mammals. 

    “Last week started manatee season for us — November 15,” said Auvis Cole, Director of Tourism for Discover Crystal River. “At a place like Ellie Schiller Homosassa Wildlife State Park, you can come here and not only see manatees, but you can see an assortment of animals and everything.”

    Manatee season has arrived at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Wildlife State Park. An important time of year, says Cole. He expects they will see well over a million people visiting this year.

    “We bring in a lot of people and the good thing is it’s all about being sustainable and eco-friendly,” he said.

    Just in time for the season is the newly renovated underwater observatory, a fixture that has been at the park since 1964. It’s an engineering marvel for its time and still today.

    “The schools of fish and then, of course, when the manatee comes in, it’s great,” said Cole. “It’s a way to experience it on a different level.”

    Elsewhere in the park are other prime viewing areas.

    “I think we’re the only industry that looks forward to having cold weather,” said Traci Wood, owner and captain of Homosassa Manatee Snorkeling Center.

    Wood knows these waters better than most, including where the manatees like to gather.

    “They come in here and they have a sanctuary that is right over here, where humans don’t get to go,” Wood said. “So the manatees get to go in there and stay warm and stay away from humans if they want to.”

    It’s also the only place where visitors can get in the water and swim with the manatees.

    “When you get in the water, right in front of them or right next to them, you really get an idea of one — how big they are, two — how gentle they are, and three — they can be really silly and playful and fun,” she said. “It really blows people away. It’s really amazing.”

    An experience unlike any other.

    You can see manatees up close for yourself at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Wildlife State Park. Manatee season runs now until March 31.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Treasure Island commissioners discuss tackling overgrown lawns, pests

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    TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — Nov. 26 will mark 16 months since Hurricane Helene flooded Pinellas County communities with several feet of storm surge.

    Now, the city of Treasure Island is looking at changing a city ordinance to deal with an issue some say has gotten worse since the storm. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Treasure Island commissioners have discussed changing the city’s lawn-mowing ordinance

    • Changes could include specifying that grass 10 inches or longer is a nuisance, and hiring a new employee to help with the caseload

    • The city’s code compliance supervisor says there are about 200 overgrown lawns in the city

    • Residents and city leaders say this is a public health concern since rats and other pests have taken up residence at some of the problem sites


    At a Tuesday workshop, commissioners discussed the city’s mandatory lawn-mowing program. Treasure Island’s code compliance supervisor said at the meeting that there are about 200 overgrown lawns in the city. It’s an issue that has come to the forefront as homes sit vacant following Helene, with officials and residents saying the properties are creating health and safety issues.

    “Nhora, I don’t even know where this water’s coming from. Here’s the hallway,” Timothy Vanek can be heard saying in a video he sent to his wife during Helene.

    He rode out the storm in their Isle of Palms home. The footage shows water pouring into their home between the baseboard and wall.

    “This is how much water’s outside the front door. The streets have flooded. Probably got three feet of water,” Vanek continued as the video shows the water rising outside a window.

    When the water subsided, repairs began.

    “We all worked very hard to get our homes rebuilt after the storm, after the hurricane,” said Vanek. “It took us seven months. That’s pretty much 14 hours a day for seven months.”

    The Vaneks said they had to deal with another challenge post-hurricane at a property near their home.

    “Pretty bad to where the grass was probably two feet or higher. Then, you have rats. We’ve had rats that come over,” he said. “At first, I thought it was a cat. So, they’re pretty big.”

    “It’s an issue because of safety and health when we’ve got snakes, when we’ve got rats,” Mayor John Doctor said. 

    The city’s code compliance supervisor said he and two other employees have a current workload of 401 cases. Eighty-one of those involve landscaping violations, while 80-100 are landscaping along with additional violations.

    Doctor said a number of the properties are homes bought by investors and developers after Helene who aren’t maintaining them. He told Spectrum News that can create additional issues.

    “Once you see a yard that’s going from six, and all of a sudden to 10 inches … people that are coming by are actually dumping bricks and debris and everything else,” he said.

    The city commission discussed proposed changes to the mowing ordinance. Changes could include specifying that grass 10 inches or longer is considered a nuisance, streamlining case timelines, and hiring a new employee to help carry out the program. There could also be additional costs for owners who don’t maintain their lawns. 

    Vanek said he is in favor of tougher penalties.

    “I understand it’s traumatic for everybody, but it’s been a year now,” he said. “I think it’s time you either gotta bulldoze your house, sell it, or cut the grass, because it affects all of us and our property values.”

    The commission decided it wants to move forward with possibly changing the ordinance. Doctor said it will appear before the board for additional readings before anything is finalized.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Durham City Council approves $44 million bond for major redevelopment in Hayti

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    DURHAM, N.C. — City leaders, housing officials and longtime residents say the Fayette Place project site marks a major step toward rebuilding a neighborhood that has awaited revitalization for decades.

    What You Need To Know

    • The 20 acres of land has sat empty since 2009 after old buildings were torn down

    • Durham City Council approved a $44 million bond that will support the components for the mixed-use development

    • More than 250 affordable homes are planned to be built 

    • Construction for phase one can begin as early as next year


    For nearly 16 years, 20 acres in the heart of Hayti have remained empty, a silent reminder of the once-thriving Black neighborhood.

    But now, the Durham Housing Authority, a partner in the project, says the redevelopment will help reconnect the community with its roots.

    “There are efforts underway to reclaim the life of what once was there,” said Anthony Snell, interim CEO of DHA. “I’m not saying that we can reclaim all of it with this initiative, but what we are doing, certainly, I think is in the right direction.”

    The redevelopment plan includes over 250 affordable housing units, which would serve families earning 30% to 80% of Durham’s area median income. It’s a decision that project leaders say is critical at a time when housing costs are so high.

    Just blocks away, longtime Durham resident and business owner Angel Greene says she knows firsthand how challenging it has become to find affordable housing in the city. 

    Greene now owns a flower shop, Angel World of Flowers, that has served the community for nearly three decades. She took over the business earlier this year and says she wouldn’t be able to live in Durham today if she hadn’t purchased her home years ago.

    “If I hadn’t purchased my home years and years ago, I don’t know that I would be able to even live in Durham,” Greene said.

    Despite the challenges the community has faced over the years, Greene says she is optimistic.

    “I’m hoping in a few years, with the revitalization and all the money that’s been poured into this community, I’m really looking forward to the business booming,” she said.

    Snell says that is the goal, to rebuild Hayti in a way that benefits the people who have long called it home.

    “Give us an opportunity. I’m not saying that we have the panacea here,” he said. “We are not, going to be the one project that’s going to tilt the community back to its original state, but I think we are a critical piece of it because of our commitment.”

    DHA estimates the total cost of the development at $86 million, and officials say phase one of construction could begin as early as next year.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Ryan Hayes-Owens

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  • Viva Polk magazine makes transition to being bilingual

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Viva Polk magazine is giving readers the opportunity to learn English through its pages. This year, the magazine made the transition to become a bilingual magazine, while still preserving Spanish stories.

    What You Need To Know

    • Both languages are offered in the same article side by side
    • The magazine also underlines words that are similar in both English and Spanish so that readers can learn


    Teresa Martinez is an educator at heart. That passion to teach is evident within the pages of her magazine, Viva Polk.

    As the editor-in-chief and publisher, she says the magazine is a source of education for many.

    “An informed community is an educated community; it is a better community,“ she said.

    The first edition was printed in 2019. She says the magazine shares the stories of Hispanics in Polk County.

    Originally, it was tailored to the Spanish speaking community. 

    They recently made a change, though. The free magazine now offers readers two versions of the same article — they appear side by side.

    Martinez says it’s a way to immerse more readers in a new language — either English or Spanish.

    And it takes a lot of time to get it done. “We start working on the next issue as soon as one comes out because we put a lot of love into it and a lot of thought.”

    She says it can’t be done without a team. Michelle Peña Shoe is the graphic designer for the magazine. She says the switch has been positively received by the community. “When we publish in two languages, we are addressing and uniting the community,” she said.

    Martinez believes her magazine is helping preserve her native language, while introducing others to a new one. “This is my legacy to Polk County,” she said.

    Bridging language barriers, so that more people are inspired to learn.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Pinellas County votes to continues partnership with UF/IFAS

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A pathway toward a more sustainable Pinellas County has a clear vision after county commissioners voted to continue their long-time partnership with the county’s UF/IFAS Extension office. There was a lot of community support to preserve the relationship.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County commissioners voted to preserve their relationship with the UF/IFAS Extension office at their meeting on Tuesday
    • UF/IFAS provides programs to the community, helping to promote a more sustainable community
    • Several people were in favor of continuing the program and spoke at the commissioners’ meeting


    If you ever meet Jan Allyn, you’ll soon find out she has a green thumb.  

    She’s been a lover of plants since she was a little girl. It’s something she said her parents instilled in her. Now, she has a garden of her own.

    “Originally, it was mostly just grasses with some wildflowers, and then I’ve added more shrubs because I am trying to provide more for habitat,” she says.

    Allyn is the treasurer of the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. She said they partner with the UF/IFAS Extension to promote the education the center provides to the community.

    She said the extension office provides information on how to maintain a native garden.

    She believes the resources that the office provides are important. That’s why she spoke at the county commissioner meeting and voiced her support for continuing the partnership between the county and the extension office.

    “We earnestly believe that the county is getting a lot more money back than what they’re spending,” Allyn said.

    The UF/IFAS Extension offers programs such as 4-H youth development, green infrastructure workshops and more.

    Jeffrey Gellermann is the director of the extension office. He said preserving the partnership was important as more people engage with its outreach programs.  

    Gellermann said the master gardener volunteer program has grown to 140 county residents.

    “It’s a very intense program that provides a lot of information that creates volunteers who are amazing people that can go out to the community and really provide a lot of information to the citizens,” he said.

    Suzanne Hassell is a master gardener volunteer trainee. She said the program piqued her interest because it helps people create a more sustainable environment.

    “This is the type of program that really brings the community together and that the county benefits, but also all the citizens,” she said.

    Allyn said it’s a move forward to continue learning, and she’s excited to keep sharing her knowledge with others about native plants. 

    UF/IFAS offers programs virtually or in-person.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Applications open for Tampa’s $2 million hurricane recovery program

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa residents seeking assistance with hurricane recovery can now apply for the city’s Homeowner Hurricane Assistance program. 

    Applications opened Monday morning for the new city program that awards up to $30,000 to eligible homeowners hit by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton. Homeowners in the hardest-hit zip codes, including Forest Hills/North Tampa, Palmetto Beach and South of Gandy, will be prioritized. 


    The city of Tampa has $2 million from the city’s general fund they plan to use for this new program. Residents who still need to make home repairs or want to be reimbursed for prior hurricane-related repairs are encouraged to apply. 

    To be eligible, you have to be a homeowner with homestead status living within Tampa’s city limits. Household income cannot exceed 140% of the area’s median income, though the city is willing to accept applications for those who make up to 10% more. That means the cap sits at roughly $128,500 for two-person households and just over $160,000 for a four-person household. 

    Forest Hills resident April Self said many of her neighbors are still trying to repair their homes and are at varying stages of recovery.

    “I know so many people… including us, to keep things moving we had to tap into our 401K and IRA,” Self said. 

    She added that her home flooded with a mix of rainwater and sewer water. She says the city’s storm pumps failed to turn on when the power went out, a separate issue the city is currently working on. 

    In July, the city confirmed they will rent eight backup generators for hurricane seasons to ensure storm pumps will remain running when the grid loses power. 

    Looking at the income restrictions of the new Tampa program, Self says she and some of her neighbors in need won’t qualify for the funding. 

    “When you actually see the numbers you’re deflated again,” she said. “Everything we’ve applied for we’ve been denied… we’ve only been able to get a little help from FEMA and we had to take out a second mortgage that’s higher than our first mortgage.” 

    She’s hoping the city takes a second look at property values in the area and how they compare to income requirements. 

    Those looking to apply for funding or see if they quality can do so through the city of Tampa directly.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Funeral to be held Monday for WakeMed officer killed in line of duty

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    Funeral services for WakeMed Officer Roger Smith will be held Monday, Nov. 17, officials announced on Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Officer Roger Smith was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, Nov. 8

    •  Smith was shot during a struggle, officials said, at WakeMed Garner Healthplex

    •  The suspect has been arrested and charged with murder, officials said

    • A memorial service will take place Monday, Nov. 17, at noon in Raleigh, N.C., followed by interment in Clayton, N.C.


    The service will start at noon at Providence Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

    Smith’s casket will be taken by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol’s Caisson Unit, starting at 10:45 a.m., down Glenwood Avenue from Mitchell Funeral Home to Providence Church.

    Following the service, Smith will be buried at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Clayton, N.C., officials said.

    A visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov. 16, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park, according to Smith’s obituary.

    Smith, 59, served as an officer with WakeMed Campus Police for 14 years.

    He was shot and killed on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 8, while on duty. Officials say the shooting happened during a struggle at the WakeMed Garner HealthPlex.

    The suspect has been arrested and charged with murder, officials said.

    Authorities have not released many details as to what led up to the shooting. The Garner Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are investigating.

    “He will be remembered for his compassion, his dedication to others, his kind smile, his friendship and his heroism,” WakeMed Health and Hospitals said in a statement earlier this week. “Officer Smith lost his life while protecting the lives of others – and we will forever remember and honor his memory.”

    A spokeswoman for WakeMed Health and Hospitals said there will be a memorial in Smith’s honor soon.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Paul Mazzapica brings joy to assisted living center residents through karaoke

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A Pinellas County man has made it his mission to lead a group of church volunteers to be a blessing to their community. Paul Mazzapica’s joyful spirit really shines as he leads his team.

    Mazzapica said he was meeting with some fellow members of Countryside Christian Church seven years ago when they came up with the idea for a volunteer team called Operation Influence. That grew to include giving blessing baskets to local businesses, bags filled with necessities to homeless people, handing out hundreds of wood crosses and recently something called Shine Your Light.

    What You Need To Know

    • Paul Mazzapica leads the Shine Your Light team from Countryside Christian Chuch.  

    •  The team sings karaoke songs with residents of the Collier’s Assisted Living facility. 

    •  Mazzapica and other church members started Operation Influence seven years ago. 

    • Operation Influence does a number of good works in the community. 


    Shine Your Light team members go to assisted living centers to sing karaoke with residents. On a recent evening at Collier’s Assisted Living, Mazzapica was setting up his karaoke gear inside a large meeting area. There was a computer for streaming music and some large speakers.

    “We wanted to put our faith into action. So, we said what better way to do that than to share love. And there’s no better place to do that than this place, Colliers,” said Mazzapica. A few minutes later Mazzapica was playing some music and gathered residents were clapping to a song.

    Team member Ken Vasquez was getting the elderly residents into the spirit of the evening. “We are here to love on you and let you know you are not alone. God has us. God has you,” he said.

    The idea behind the karaoke night is the bring joy from the outside world to the residents who might feel forgotten. Team member Bob Elliot kept the energy going with leading much of the singing.  It’s a fun filled experience for everyone.

    Team member Ken Vasquez was getting the elderly residents into the spirit of the evening. (Spectrum News/Rick Elmhorst)

    “I’ve seen them dancing. I’ve seen them singing along,” said Mazzapica. “One thing I see is a lot of smiles.”

    Resident Eileen Mcaulay said the karaoke sessions bring residents out of their rooms at night, and everybody has a good time.

    “The whole idea of operation influence is to get out and be the hands and feet. That’s what we want to be,” said Mazzapica. “Not just sitting there in church wanting to do it. We do it.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • 360 Eats expands meal program to bridge food waste and hunger in Pinellas

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A Pinellas County nonprofit is expanding its reach to feed more families in need — all by transforming surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away.

    360 Eats, a local organization dedicated to rescuing excess food and turning it into nutritious, chef-prepared meals, has launched a temporary emergency meal hub. The expansion is supported by a new grant from United Way Suncoast and strengthened by a partnership with the St. Pete Free Clinic.

    What You Need To Know

    • 360 Eats, a local organization dedicated to rescuing excess food and turning it into nutritious, chef-prepared meals, has launched a temporary emergency meal hub at the St. Pete Free Clinic

    • The expansion is supported by a new grant from United Way Suncoast and strengthened by a partnership with the St. Pete Free Clinic.

    • Inside the standalone kitchen, chefs and volunteers work daily to recover and repurpose fresh ingredients from grocery stores, farms, food distributors and local businesses. 360 Eats Executive Director Cameron MacLeish says their mission is about addressing two problems at once: food waste and food insecurity

    • As part of the expansion, the 360 Eats food truck will now be stationed outside the St. Pete Free Clinic every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 2. Families can walk up and receive fresh meals at no cost


    Inside the standalone kitchen, chefs and volunteers work daily to recover and repurpose fresh ingredients from grocery stores, farms, food distributors and local businesses. 360 Eats Executive Director Cameron MacLeish says their mission is about addressing two problems at once: food waste and food insecurity.

    “So it’s a great way to bridge the gap between food waste and hunger right here in Pinellas County,” MacLeish said. “The second largest category of waste is food waste, actually, as reported by Pinellas County Solid Waste Department. You’re talking millions of pounds of fresh food that’s needlessly tossed away every single year. This makes zero sense when you’ve got thousands of families who don’t know where their next meal is going to come from.”

    MacLeish says the model works because they’ve built relationships with local food sources that often have surplus for reasons outside their control.

    “So we partner with a variety of local food businesses, food distributors, grocery stores, farms that have surplus food for whatever reason that they don’t plan on selling.”

    Instead of that food ending up in landfills, it’s transformed into healthy meals that families can take home the same day.

    A Mission Rooted in Family and Experience

    360 Eats was founded by MacLeish and his mother, Executive Chef Ellen MacLeish, whose years in New York City restaurants and later in soup kitchens exposed her to the struggles of working parents trying to put meals on the table.

    “The stress of watching her navigate that was excruciating and really inspired me to say I can’t fix everything, but I can certainly become a part of a solution.”

    The nonprofit’s expansion formally began during the federal government shutdown, when SNAP benefit delays left families suddenly without resources. Since then, the need has only grown — particularly for working families living paycheck-to-paycheck.

    That’s why 360 Eats operates with a no-barrier approach.

    “You don’t have to qualify. You don’t have to show ID. You don’t have to make an appointment. Just show up to the truck when we’re there, and we’ll give you as many meals as you need — no questions asked,” said Ellen MacLeish.

    Beyond helping families meet basic nutritional needs, the founders say the meals are intentionally high quality.

    “Everyone deserves a meal with dignity. And so we really try to make our food as elevated and gourmet as possible,” said Cameron MacLeish.

    For the MacLeishes, the goal is not just filling stomachs — it’s building community, reducing waste and offering comfort during difficult times.

    As part of the expansion, the 360 Eats food truck will now be stationed outside the St. Pete Free Clinic every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 2. Families can walk up and receive fresh meals at no cost.

    Through its partnerships, rescued-food model and commitment to dignity, 360 Eats continues to show what’s possible when communities come together to tackle both waste and hunger — one plate at a time.

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    Fadia Patterson

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