Tag: APP Human Interest

Behind Busch Gardens’ coaster thrills is extensive maintenance and safety
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TAMPA, Fla. — National Roller Coaster Day is Friday, Aug. 16, and Kevin Berube, who oversees the care and maintenance of all Busch Gardens’ rollercoasters, takes his job seriously.
What You Need To Know

National Roller Coaster Day is Friday, Aug. 16

Busch Gardens family coaster Phoenix Rising travels 44 miles per hour with zero inversions

Iron Gwazi goes up to 75 miles per hour

Montu has seven inversions
Every chassis weld is checked, every scratch is painted, and every inch is inspected. The whole process takes months.

And that is in addition to daily, weekly and monthly protocols.

Berube’s been at Busch Gardens for nearly 40 years and he’s watched technology climb to safer heights.

“The biggest change would be in engineering and development,” said Berube. “What you see is these guys have gotten so advanced with their design. Like we are sitting in a seat that is so comfortable.”

All to make sure riders are even more relaxed when plummeting.

“It’s outstanding to see the smiles on their faces. Watching them enjoy the ride,” said Berube.

Berube puts his own safety in the hands of the mechanics he oversees — a true vote of confidence.
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Virginia Johnson

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August 14, 2024
Former Red Box employee has thousands of DVDs after company files for bankruptcy
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LAKELAND, Fla. — One of the largest DVD rental chains in the country, Red Box, has ceased operations after its parent company filed for bankruptcy.
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Red Box’s parent company filed for bankruptcy in July, initially filing for chapter 11 and then chapter 7 after claims of alleged mismanagement

One former employee who lives in Lakeland says he’s still owed about $1,000 for fuel costs but hasn’t been repaid

That employee delivered Red Box DVDs from Winter Haven to St. Petersburg to different kiosks

Nick Bergmann now has thousands of DVDs sitting in his apartment, with no place to deliver them
It’s left many now former employees with no direction on what will happen next, including one previous worker living in Polk County.

Nick Bergmann of Lakeland has been working for years to save enough money to buy a home.

With a competitive real estate market and interest rates higher than usual, Bergmann decided to get a secondary job at Red Box. He’s part of a growing trend — a recent BankRate survey showed 36% of U.S. adults earn extra money through a side hustle.

Things were fine when he started in 2022, but now Bergmann has thousands of Red Box DVDs sitting in his hallway.

Red Box’s parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of June, switching it to a chapter 7 bankruptcy filing in July following claims of alleged mismanagement.

As a result, Bergmann said he’s one of hundreds of employees across the country with money still owed to them, which is partially why he now has a hallway full of DVDs with no spot to deliver them.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with them,” he said. “I guess I have a lifetime’s worth of media to entertain myself with.”

That could be fun, but Bergmann doesn’t even have a DVD player.

“Essentially,” he said, “they are assets of the company, but the company doesn’t exist anymore. So, I guess we’re waiting. We’re just waiting. And I don’t know what we’re waiting for. I don’t know who’s going to tell me what, and I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Bergmann said he’s still owed about $1,000 for fuel used to deliver DVDs to the dozens of kiosks from Winter Haven to St. Pete.

He posted a video on YouTube to voice his frustrations and the complaints of many other co-workers.

His video, as of this writing, has amassed more than 300,000 views.

“Our rent’s going up,” Bergmann said. “Things aren’t getting cheaper, so we have to work a little harder, and we work every single day.”

Until he figures out what is going to happen to the 2,300 DVDs in his hallway, he will keep representing the Swan City of Lakeland through his ceramics company, Swan City Ceramics, hoping for some direction on what to do with pieces of media from a now-defunct company.
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Nick Popham

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August 13, 2024
5 things to know about the Venardos Circus

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The circus is in town, and this “small but mighty” one is touted as having a whole lot of heart.

1. The Venardos Circus is taking place right now in Kissimmee. Kevin Venardos is the owner and ringmaster. At 22, he was the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey ringmaster.

2. After living on a train and seeing “a piece of America that will never exist in the same way ever again,” life happened. “I made a lot of dumb personal choices,” he admitted. “Ultimately, I am incredibly grateful for (that).”

3. Now owning and starring in his own production, he says is has “heart” bigger than the rest because of the cast. They work and live together. “The affirmation, to me, that people at this kind of a (talent) level would want to spend that time with me; that they would commit the families and all their resources and get on the road under this little tent, means the world to me.”

4. Speaking of family, one of the 20-year-old athletic performers, Angel Ramos, is a seventh-generation circus performer. “You’d be amazed with what we can do in such a small space,” Ramos said.

5. The Venardos Circus is at the Westgate Vacation Villas Resort in Kissimmee. Its last show here is Wednesday, Aug. 14.

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Allison Walker

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August 7, 2024
Some urged to relocate during Lake Manatee strategic release
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MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — After record-breaking rainfall, officials in Manatee County said Monday a strategic release of water from Lake Manatee was needed.
What You Need To Know

Water is being released downstream from the Manatee Dam in a strategic move

Manatee County Emergency Management said this began Monday afternoon

County officials said high-water vehicles have been placed around the county to assist with potential rescues
Manatee County Chief of Emergency Management, Matt Myers, said the Manatee Dam has done what it’s supposed to do, but the release is needed so there won’t be any future problems.

“It is still releasing, controlled through the channels in the dam,” he said. “So that is to keep it pressurized from what’s coming into the dam and what’s coming out. We want to keep that level so that we don’t have any problems.”

As part of the water release, some residents were sent notices encouraging them to relocate, including Mike Jacobs.

After all the rain Hurricane Debby brought, he said he was not surprised.

“The river is just beyond these mangroves but you can see here the water has encroached in this low-lying area which rarely do you ever see water here,” said Jacobs. “It’s usually bone dry.”

Driving along the golf course near his home, Jacobs said only once in his 20 years living in the area had he seen the water reach such heights.

When the evacuation notice arrived Monday, he wanted to make sure his family would be safe at home.

“We were a little bit nervous,” he said. “My wife and I talked about it and tried to decide whether we were going to go or whether we were going to stay.”

Manatee County Emergency Management said high-water vehicles have been placed around the county to assist with potential rescues.
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Matt Lackritz

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August 5, 2024
Pass-a-Grille beach will triple in size after renourishment project
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ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — The Pass-a-Grille Beach renourishment project is scheduled to be complete in November and will triple the size of the current beach, according to Pinellas County Coastal Management Coordinator Dr. John Bishop.

“It’s nice to see some progress,” he said. “Get some sand placed on the beach again.”
What You Need To Know

Pass-a-Grille Beach is currently undergoing a $5.8 million renourishment project

Officials say the project will ultimately triple the size of Pass-a-Grille Beach

Phase 2 began in July is expected to wrap up in November
About two weeks ago, a contractor began dredging the Pass-a-Grill inlet after getting a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Bishop said it’s much cheaper and environmentally beneficial to pump sand onto the beach from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico versus having it trucked in from Polk County.

“The truck haul method can be double or more in cost,” he said. “It also keeps our passes clean. So, right now we’re actually pumping it out of the federal channel.”

Pinellas County paid $30 million to truck sand in for emergency dune restoration after Hurricane Idalia brushed by the coast last August.

The total cost for the Pass-a-Grille beach renourishment project is $5.8 million, which also includes dredging the Grand Canal during Phase 1 in June. Most of the cost is being paid for with tourist development tax money, and more than $1 million is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Historically, the federal government has paid for most of the cost to regularly renourish the Pinellas County beaches, but the county has been in a standoff with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since 2015 over required perpetual easements. Around half of the beachfront homeowners won’t sign the easements, which forced the county to do the renourishment alone with bed tax funds.

“We’ve been fighting to solve our beach renourishment issues for a long time.” Bishop said. “It’s nice to see some progress where we can actually start putting sand ourselves.”

While other Pinellas beaches have passed their regular 10-year beach renourishment cycle due to the impasse, the federal permit came just in time for Pass-a-Grille. Bishop said it won’t need to be renourished again for another 10 years.

Up to 10,000 cubic yards of sand was pumped onto Pass-a-Grille Beach from the Grand Canal dredge. The Pass-a-Grille inlet dredge will add an additional 140,000 cubic yards.

he volume of sand will extend the beach 170 feet from the edge of the sand dunes to the waterline and raise the elevation about 5 feet.

Construction on the section of beach south of 10th Avenue is expected to be complete by the end of August. Beach access points from First Avenue to Ninth Avenue will be closed, but the rest of the beach remains open. Bishop said visitors should avoid the construction area for their own safety.

“I know people like to go shelling and they think all the best shells would be the ones that just put on there, but we don’t want people entering the construction site at all,” he said. “It’s dangerous. They’re actively working and they’re using heavy equipment.”

In September, the project will move north from 10th Avenue to 22nd Avenue, and is scheduled to be complete in November.

“This is going to be a 24/7 operation,” said Bishop. “That is to let them finish as quickly as possible.”

Public works has a website for up-to-date closures and the contractor has been working with their partners to minimize disruptions to sea turtle nests.
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Josh Rojas

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August 2, 2024
‘Aquamation’: N.C. funeral home sees growing interest in water-based cremation
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HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — Aquamation, or water-based cremation, is growing in popularity as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cremation. The National Funeral Directors Association reports that interest in green funeral options is up 55% since 2021.

A funeral home in Hillsborough, North Carolina, is one company making the switch to the water-based cremation.
What You Need To Know

Interest in green funeral options is up 55% since 2021

Aquamation is a water-based alternative to cremation

Cremation accounts for 1.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year, according to the American Chemical Society
“With aquamation, we’re not burning the body. We’re circulating an alkaline solution around it for about four hours so there’s no combustion and there’s no release of any toxic or carcinogenic gases,” said Hunter Beattie, owner of Endswell Funeral Home in Hillsborough.

According to a publication by the American Chemical Society and the Green Burial Council, cremating one corpse emits about 418 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air, accounting for 1.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

The large amount of carbon dioxide emissions are almost entirely eliminated through aquamation and are also a factor into why a Hillsborough couple opted for the method.

“The thing about the cremation process is, it does so much damage to the climate and to the atmosphere and to everything. And so I found this to be a very peaceful way to say goodbye,” said Gwen Claire. Claire lost her husband earlier this year and he was cremated through aquamation.

Today, Claire fills her homes with pictures of trips she and her late husband took, both serving as foreign service officers.

“My husband was also fascinated by other cultures and we wanted to do in my case, we wanted to do what John F. Kennedy said, ‘do something for your country,’” Claire said.

Claire said she also plans on using the aquamation service when the time comes.

“Eventually, my ashes will be mixed with Dan’s and will go into a lovely granite bench we have in Hilton Head under live oaks and surrounded by azaleas, so I just can’t say enough about what a peaceful process this is,” said Claire.

At Endswell, Beattie said water cremation mimics the natural process that occurs in the soil at a faster pace and uses 90% less energy than traditional cremation.

“We open the door to the vessel, which is sterilized after each use. This basket slides out, we place the body in the basket, covered entirely. We push the body back into the machine, we close the door and then we rotate the machine at a 45 degree angle. This allows us to use less water, and it keeps the potassium hydroxide off the seal,” said Beattie.
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Claudia Puente

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August 2, 2024
Organization helps veterans find jobs after military career
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TAMPA, Fla. — A new Florida law appointed the nonprofit Veterans Florida to help veterans start businesses and train for jobs once they leave the military.
What You Need To Know

Veterans Florida said House Bill 1329 will allow them to help more veterans each year

Omar Fuentes said without the assistance of Veterans Florida, his company wouldn’t be where it is today

Veterans Florida estimates around 200,000 people leave the military every year
Veterans Florida Executive Director Joe Marino said with the passing of the law, they’ll be able to help around 5,000 veterans and their spouses a year.

“The signing of HB 1329 allows us to better align veteran training and educational resources towards the state’s workforce strategy of making sure Floridians have industry certifications and licenses that are marketable and transferable that they can take anywhere within their career,” he said.

One business Veterans Florida has helped is accel-EQ. The Tampa-based company’s co-founder, Omar Fuentes, said the transition out of military life was not an easy one.

Without Veterans Florida, he said his company wouldn’t be where it is today.

“They started putting me in touch with quite a few resources to do that and even giving me access to mentors,” he said. “In a community to other veterans that said, ‘Hey, we want to do something as well.’”

Now, three years into the business, Fuentes said his company has evolved from the idea of helping doctors write notes to machine learning.

With House Bill 1329 now signed into law and allowing Veterans Florida to assist more veterans and their spouses, Fuentes is hopeful more people like him will get the direction they need.

“I struggled for 12 years regaining my purpose again because when you’re in the military, you’re serving something that’s much greater than yourself,” he said. “Then when you get out, you want to continue to fulfill that purpose. I think Veterans Florida and their programs that they have and seeing this law into place now is going to be a humongous benefit to us.”

Veterans Florida estimates around 200,000 people leave the military every year.
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Matt Lackritz

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August 2, 2024
Did you know Columbus is home to one of the largest distilleries in America?
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s population is growing and so is its spirits.
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They say everything is bigger in Texas, but the possibility of Ohio taking the top spot is *brewing*

Many industries continue to expand as businesses like Intel call central Ohio home

A distillery in Ohio aims to increase the state’s tourism and give the Kentucky Bourbon Trail a run for its money

The founder also aims to continue contributing to the agricultural vitality of the region
Columbus’ own Middle West Spirits launched in 2008. Since then, Ryan Lang, the CEO and head distiller at Middle West Spirits has been creating an expansive line of craft alcohol, all highlighting the unique flavors of the Midwest.

“We’re Ohio born and bread,” Lang said. “We buy all of our agriculture here. We buy the majority of our barrels from Ohio.”

Ryan Lang, the CEO and head distiller at Middle West Spirits, Taylor Bruck/Spectrum News 1

A new 75,000 sq. ft. distillery in East Columbus makes Middle West Spirits the largest distillery in Ohio and one of the largest in the nation. It’s an addition to their smaller distillery and restaurant called Service Bar located at 1230 Courtland Ave. in the Short North. The larger distillery is located at 1165 Alum Creek Drive on a lot that also hosts a grain recycling center and a packaging and bottling plant.

“This plant primarily has whiskeys,” Lang said. “The other plant can make all of our other stuff so vodkas, gins, brandies, all the other things that we would normally want to make.”

Lang said the addition has increased the distillery’s production capabilities tenfold. The company currently makes 15 branded products and distills for other clients. But they have even bigger goals for future development.

“Eventually this will get developed more into a hospitality site, more like an actual whiskey campus,” Lang said. “So you can come here, you can eat here, you can work at the bar here, there are barrel selections that’ll happen here, there’ll be events here. So yeah, there’s a lot planned for our future here.”

The larger distillery located at 1165 Alum Creek Drive, Taylor Bruck/Spectrum News 1

As central Ohio continues to grow with Intel and other businesses calling it home, Lang hopes to grow with it and increase Ohio’s tourism.

“Similar to what you have in California for very large wineries or similar to what you have in Kentucky for large distilleries, we’re going to have something here that people can enjoy year-round, and hopefully have a spot to go to on a regular basis,” Lang said.

By expanding his business, Lang also aims to continue contributing to the agricultural vitality of the region.

“We buy our grains primarily from the state of Ohio,” Lang said. “What we can get here, but it’s the vast majority. Then that material goes through our distillery, it goes through our recycling plant, it’s outside. And then we take the recycled material, which is spent grain, and we send it back to the farms that we bought the grain from where they have cattle and hog. Now our hope is to bring that material back here to the site for people to eat. So yeah, that’s the full circle we’re working on right now.”

He said he wants to give people opportunities to come to Ohio, play here and stay here as he believes in his products and he believes in the state.

“We’re still telling our story in the state of Ohio for people to know who we are and we hope to get a little louder with that over the next, you know, five, ten years and hopefully we have a destination for people to come to help with that.”

For more information on Middle West Distillery, visit here.
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Taylor Bruck

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July 28, 2024
Pedaling across Ohio raises money for cancer society
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CLEVELAND — Janet and Chris Winston love all the outdoor opportunities that Ohio has to offer.

They’ll get to see a whole lot of it when they bike ride 328 miles from Cleveland to Cincinnati.
What You Need To Know

Nearly 300 riders took part in Pan Ohio Hope Ride across Ohio

The ride raises funds for the Hope Lodge

Cyclists will ride for four days and stay the night in college dorm rooms
The Winstons are riding in the 18^th annual Pan Ohio Hope Ride.

The ride is hosted by the American Cancer Society. Its goal is to raise $1 million for the Cleveland Hope Lodge which provides free, temporary housing for people receiving cancer treatment in Cleveland.

“We all have people that have been touched by cancer. My bro passed away a couple years ago. My wife, both her mother and father passed away from cancer,” Chris said.

The Winstons will be the only ones doing the ride on a tandem bicycle and there’s no taking it easy for the one in the back seat.

“I can tell when she’s cheating,” Chris said with a laugh.

“When he pedals, I pedal,” said Janet.

Riding tandem is a true team effort.

“I’m a foot shorter, so I can’t see if there’s a stop sign coming up, so he has to let me know,” Janet said.

Participants will take off from John Carrol University. They’ll make stops at College of Wooster, Otterbein University and Wright State University. They’ll spend the night in dorm rooms that go unused during the summer months.

Chris said people join for the ride but stay for the cause.

“It’s like bicycle summer day camp. All you do for four days: wake up, ride, drink, sleep, repeat for four days,” Chris said.
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Kimberly Perez

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July 25, 2024
Unique plane to represent St. Pete at international airshow
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If you are in or around St. Pete, you might notice a small aircraft with a very unusual paint job — one that has gained a lot of attention on social media and from people around town.
What You Need To Know

The “Mooney Anomaly” is a 1967 Mooney aircraft that owner Liam Hawkins purchased two years ago

When Hawkins first bought the plane, he says it didn’t look like much, until he teamed up with local artist Matt Kress

Hawkins has gained a large following on social media and has been invited to take part in air shows
The plane is called the “Mooney Anomaly,” and it’s owner, Liam Hawkins, has taken it to Wisconsin for the massive EAA AirVenture show.

The plane is a 1967 Mooney aircraft that Hawkins purchased more than two years ago. When he got it, he said it didn’t look like much.

“Just basic, uninspired,” he said. “Everything looks the same — white with a stripe. It was a 50-year-old paint job.”

He is friends with local artist Matt Kress, who has done a lot of work around the Bay area, including some huge murals. Hawkins asked for something special, and Kress said he was more than happy to take up the challenge, saying he has never worked with a canvas like this before.

“I am always up for a challenge,” Kress said. “I have done some of the tallest murals in Tampa Bay.”

He had to learn how to work with aviation paint and then learn how to actually paint an aircraft. Kress said it took him a couple of months, and during that time, Hawkins had no idea what he was doing with the plane or how it would turn out.

“I wanted total blackout,” Hawkins said. “I wanted to be totally surprised.”

When it was revealed, Hawkins said he was blown away by the finished paint job, saying there was nothing else like it in the sky. He said it gets attention from other pilots, and even air traffic controllers.

“Fifty percent of the time, air controllers talk me about the paint,” Hawkins said. “One of the air traffic controllers calls it ‘Skittles.’”

Hawkins has gained a large following on social media and has been invited to take part in air shows. Next year, it will be a headliner at the one of the country’s largest aviation events, the Sun-n-Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland.
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Jeff Van Sant

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July 24, 2024
Bay area delegate preps for RNC with creative headwear
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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — When the Republican National Convention (RNC) begins, delegates will be wearing their pride on their heads.

It’s part of a longstanding hat tradition at political conventions.
What You Need To Know

Polk County delegate Kat Gates-Skipper prepares for the Republican National Convention (RNC) by making political hats

It’s part of a longstanding hat tradition at political conventions

Back in 2016, Smithsonian curators asked her to donate her headwear to the National Museum of American History

The RNC begins July 15
Polk County resident Kat Gates-Skipper spent time adding pins and buttons to the hats she’ll wear in Milwaukee. This is her third convention.

“I’m really excited about going back,” Gates-Skipper said.

The alternate delegate said she loves the creativity that goes into crafting her convention hats.

“It kind of tells a story about who I am and what I do, and of course, supporting President Trump,” Gates-Skipper said. “And it’s a lot of fun.”

Gates-Skipper has three original political hats she’ll take to the Republican National Convention this year.

Back in 2016, she said the hat she wore gained national attention. Smithsonian curators asked her to donate the fancy headwear to the National Museum of American History. Gates-Skipper said she received that hat as a gift — and she’s not ready to hand it over to a museum.

“I said no, I got more work to do,” Gates-Skipper said, laughing. “I wouldn’t give it up.”

The RNC kicks off July 15.
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Dalia Dangerfield

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July 14, 2024
Gentleman Joe’s Mobile Barbershop changing the landscape of running a business
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INVERNESS, Fla. — A young entrepreneur is changing the landscape when it comes to running a business.

This Citrus County barber has taken the old-school concept of a classic barbershop and putting it on wheels. It’s a business venture with higher hopes to expand in the future.
What You Need To Know

From growing up in Inverness to joining the British Royal Navy, Joe Kelly has returned home to start his own unique business

Kelly, a Citrus County barber, has taken the old-school concept of a classic barbershop and has put it on wheels with his own “Gentleman Joe’s Mobile Barbershop”

It’s a passion project now turned into a full-time job that Kelly is proud to be doing in his hometown

Gentleman Joe’s is in Inverness every two weeks for three days, you can learn more on his Facebook page
“It’s a warm feeling inside to be able to make a difference and an impact in someone’s day, because you really just can’t put a price on looking good and feeling good,” said Joe Kelly.

Inside his decked-out utility trailer, Kelly perfects his craft and proficiency as a barber. But Kelly is more than that — he’s an artist. His canvas? The hair of paying customers. And this trailer is his studio.

“For me, to be able to create a barbershop atmosphere in a trailer with one person, that was just the most important thing to me,” said Kelly, owner of Gentleman Joe’s Mobile Barbershop.

This passion project of his all started when he joined the British Royal Navy. He made a spur-of-the-moment purchase before being shipped out.

“I walked past a $20 pair of clippers and I was like, ‘I guarantee nobody is going to bring a pair of clippers,’” he said. “So, I bought the clippers and was on the ship, did my first ten haircuts for free. I messed a lot of people up and then the rest I watched YouTube videos. I was self-taught for two years. Done over a thousand haircuts before I’d even went to school in London.”

Every snip and every cut has led to this: Kelly’s very own mobile barbershop. Hand-built by him with some added help, of course.

“It’s more realistic for your average barber that is trying to get out from working for someone paying commission, paying booth rent,” Kelly said. “Just the flexibility of it and just being able to travel. My background in the Navy on traveling the world, I was like, ‘How can I do what I love and not be stuck in a shop all day for 8 hours?’”

It’s his passion now, turned into a full-time job. And to be doing it in his hometown is rather stylish.

“People would have seen me leave this town and come back and then build this,” said Kelly. “I’ve got a good reception from the community and I have a lot of support here and it means the world to me.”

One day, Kelly says, he wants to return the favor. But until then, he’ll keep doing what he loves, one cut at a time.

“Having this trailer is just opening so many doors for people to make a lot of money, to be their own boss, and I just think everyone deserves to be able to tap into that,” he said. “To have the potential to own their own trailer and travel across America and give out haircuts.”

Gentleman Joe’s is in Inverness every two weeks for three days. You can learn more about Kelly’s mobile barbershop on his Facebook page.
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Calvin Lewis

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July 14, 2024
Agencies partner with Second Harvest to help feed kids through summer
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FOUR-CORNERS, Fla. — As we enter the dog days of summer, officials with Second Harvest Food Bank say hunger is becoming a heightened issue for kids and families, especially if they rely on school cafeterias.
What You Need To Know

Second Harvest Food Bank say hunger is becoming a heightened issue for kids and families in the summer, especially if they rely on school cafeterias

Hands of Hope America is a partner of Second Harvest, working with the community to help those in need

Evelisse Bookhout founded the nonprofit, noting the lack of resources in the Four-Corners area
“Some cafeterias are closed, some kids don’t have transportation to their school,” said Second Harvest spokesperson Erika Spence. “They rely on community centers to access a free meal, breakfast and lunch.”

The agency helps seven counties throughout Central Florida, partnering with smaller agencies and food banks to funnel resources to those specific communities.

Hands of Hope America, founded by Evelisse Bookhout, is one of those many partners.

“Partnering with Second Harvest really helps prevent those food insecurity barriers out in the community,” said Bookhout. “It allows access to free food for those who may not have a meal.”

Bookhout is on the frontline, working with the community to get them fed, especially in the summer.

“The kids can have a place where they can get free meals,” she said. “We have some families that come to the community center during the summer months and breakfast and lunch here … is the only meal they eat throughout those summer months.”

Opening the door to endless possibilities, the potential for greatness wasn’t done on an empty stomach.

“Growing up, I was a child that was raised by a single mom trying to raise three kids. She worked 16 hours plus in law enforcement trying to put food on the table,” said Bookhout.

Bookhout has always had a heart for giving back and lifting her community. Back in 2019, she saw the lack of resources in the Four-Corners area, that includes an intersection of Orange, Osceola, Lake and Polk Counties. She wanted to be part of the solution.

“Being intentional. It’s sitting down with the families we serve and really hearing their story,” she said. “Not every family is the same, not every individual is the same. Everybody is unique and when we treat them in their uniqueness according to their situation, we’re able to understand their story, but then we’re able to supply their needs or connect them with resources and kind of fill in that gap.”

While the Four-Corners area grows, so does the need of the community. Which is why now more than ever, it’s important nonprofits carry these partnerships.

“That needs to be the eye-opener, these are not families that are not trying to overcome their challenges,” said Bookhout. “These are families that, despite their challenges, they’re overcoming. Yet the resources are not available for them to be sustainable.”
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Katie Streit

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July 13, 2024
Central Florida woman arrested in Turks and Caicos back home in Orlando
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ORLANDO, Fla. — A Central Florida woman arrived home in Orlando Thursday evening after being detained in Turks and Caicos for nearly two months.
What You Need To Know

Sharitta Grier arrived home in Orlando Thursday after being detained in Turks in Caicos for nearly two months

She was arrested on May 16 after airport authorities found two bullets in her carry-on during a routine search

She was fined $1,500 and given a 23-week suspended sentence before flying home

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Sharitta Grier was arrested on May 16 on one count of possession of ammunition when authorities at the Providenciales International Airport found two bullets in her carry-on during a routine search.

Grier, who said she didn’t know the ammunition was in her luggage, was on her way from a Mother’s Day trip and was leaving the islands at the time.

Since then, she had been staying at an Airbnb with two other Americans going through the same situation.

During her sentencing hearing Thursday, she was fined $1,500 before flying home and given a 23-week suspended sentence. She had faced a potential 12-year prison sentence.

Turks and Caicos tightened its gun laws in 2022 after a jump in gun violence and weapons trafficking.

Grier was one of five Americans accused of bringing various amounts of ammunition to the Turks and Caicos in recent months. The U.S. State Department has cautioned travelers to the islands to be vigilant about keeping guns and ammunition out of their luggage.

Grier was the last of the five to receive her sentence. The other four Americans had already returned to the U.S.

Grier’s return home was filled with emotion as dozens of family and friends gathered with signs at the Orlando International Airport for her arrival.

While some cried tears of joy, others thanked God that she made it home in one piece after more than 50 days.

Blessed and overwhelmed is how Grier said she felt after reuniting home to her loved ones. Her two priorities for the moment included spending time with her family and eating some good food, she said.

However, she did say they experience has made her think twice when traveling and encourages others to be extra careful to avoid getting caught up in a situation like hers.

“Take their time. Check their luggage. You know, just be careful. Be very careful because other states, other countries got different laws than we do so that’s very serious,” she said.

She said she was so scared from the overall experience, that she left her luggage at the airport in Turks and Caicos.

“I was scared to bring that luggage back. When I got to the airport, something just clicked. I just couldn’t do it,” said Grier.

Overall, Grier said she was satisfied with the legal outcome.
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Spectrum News Staff

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July 12, 2024
Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Inspire Program helping people with life challenges

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CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Clearwater Marine Aquarium attracts visitors from all over the country for unforgettable experiences with marine life, including several beloved dolphins.

But some adults and children who are facing adversity get a unique opportunity to be inspired at a higher level with up-close encounters.

“Our Inspire Program is designed to help people with all sorts of life challenges, and that includes children who are in the foster care system,” said Inspire Team Supervisor Karen Malo, who also spent several years advocating for Florida’s most vulnerable children as a guardian ad litem.

“We are really proud to be that safe, happy place for kids who are in the foster care system, or any child for that matter, so they can experience joy during their day with us. The Inspire Program was really born with Winter (the Dolphin) because she inspired so many people experiencing life challenges.”

Malo helped expand the Inspire Program to reach more foster children with the goal of providing hope and normalcy. The complimentary program connects with groups working with “underserved communities, those experiencing physical and/or medical challenges, and educational programs inspiring the next generation of marine conservationists,” according to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

“Recently, we’ve seen record numbers of children coming into the foster care system, especially in this region, which is the top area for the largest number of children in the system.” said Malo. “We really need people to think about what’s in their heart. Can you advocate for a child? Can you be a guardian ad litem? Can you foster a child and give them a safe landing spot?”

For Emily Westerfield, the Inspire Program would serve as the surprise of a lifetime for her two children recently adopted from foster care. Both Aubraya and Khaleesi, 8 years old and 6 years old, respectively, are huge fans of the Dolphin Tale movie and loved interacting and playing with Nicholas and Hope, the bottlenose dolphins, to celebrate their new family.

“I’m just excited that they’re happy and get to have this experience,” said Westerfield, a Pinellas County Schools educator. She just finalized both adoptions and still serves as a foster parent for other children in the system.

“Most of my career has been spent teaching in Title I school, so I’ve encountered a lot of foster children throughout my journey, and it just inspired me to say, ‘Hey, I could do this and help families, help the kids.’ So, teaching is what inspired me to become a foster parent,” Westerfield added.

She emphasized the importance of providing normalcy, a loving home and fun experiences for all her children to help cope with trauma from their past.

“My oldest had been in the system for six years, which came out to 2,080 days,” Westerfield said. “So, for the last several years, we practice and embrace normalcy. We go to the zoo. We go to football and baseball games. Aubraya has been in gymnastics since she was 3 years old. Khaleesi just started gymnastics. Sometimes it’s just visiting and experiencing a new park and playground,” Westerfield continued.

Joined by her parents and best friend, Westerfield added that their family experience through the aquarium’s Inspire Program was an extra special celebration with incredible, unforgettable moments for her children.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent or adoptive parent, contact Family Support Services for Pinellas and Pasco counties, or the Children’s Network of Hillsborough.

The Heart Gallery has more information on children available for adoption in Florida.

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Erica Riggins

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July 11, 2024
‘Magical place’: Highland Games kicking off in North Carolina’s High Country
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The Highland Games kick off Thursday night at Grandfather Mountain and people from all over the world are coming to participate.

Beverly Baker has been coming to the Highland Games in Avery County for 18 years. She and her husband sleep in a cargo trailer turned camper.

“He put in windows, [a] ceiling fan,” Baker said.
What You Need To Know

The Highland Games kick off Thursday on Grandfather Mountain

The games will continue in Avery County all weekend

Organizers expect up to 30,000 people to head up the mountain for the games
They have everything they need, including friends that have become family. The campground even has its own street names made up by campers that are now on the map.

“It’s a celebration of our heritage. I don’t know, there are celtic festivals everywhere but there is something special about here,” Baker said.

The games feature vendors along with bagpipes and athletics, including the iconic caber toss, where competitors try to flip a log on the field.

“We are at the base of Grandfather Mountain and it’s a very magical place,” Baker said.

Operations Manager Levin Sudderth said he expects between 25,000 and 30,000 people will attend the games between Thursday and Sunday.

He’s been doing this his entire life. He took his first steps there at 9 months old.

People come in from all over the world for the annual event on Grandfather Mountain.

“We had people from Canada. We had people from the West Coast that drive out here from Utah, California,” Sudderth said.

The Highland Games will continue through Sunday. Organizers ask people attending the games to remember they must park at one of the designated lots and be shuttled in.
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Rose Eiklor

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July 11, 2024
PACK Summer Camp returns for kids with disabilities
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PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — For the 27th year, PACK summer camp is now in session.
What You Need To Know

PACK, Pasco Association for Challenged Kids, started in 1997

The summer camp takes in kids with disabilities that other camps can’t

PACK relies on state funding to keep it affordable for families and they also accept donations
PACK stands for the Pasco Association for Challenged Kids. The camp takes in kids with disabilities that other camps can’t.

The camp was founded by Paula and Barry Cohen in 1997. Their son with autism, Gregory, needed a place to spend the summer and so they started the camp.

“We said that Gregory can’t be the only special needs kid who needs something to do in the summer. And 27 years later, I guess we were right,” Barry Cohen said.

Now nearly 30 years later, they still keep the camp going as its need continues to grow in Pasco County.

This summer, PACK has 40 campers in a three-week session at Pepen Academies in New Port Richey.

Kids that need constant attention are able to get it. They get to take part in lots of activities with one goal: Just to have fun.

PACK relies on some state funding to keep it affordable for families and they also accept donations.

Cohen says they hope to keep it going as long as they can to help with the needs in the community.

“Can’t believe we’ve been doing it for that long. A lot of kids need this service in Pasco County. So we’re glad we can still do it,” Cohen sad.
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Tim Wronka

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July 11, 2024
Dunedin Golf Club gets eco-friendly upgrades
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DUNEDIN, Fla. — Renovations are well underway at the Dunedin Golf Club. The $6.3 million investment includes funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and a historical preservation grant.
What You Need To Know

The Dunedin Golf Club is undergoing a $6.3 million renovation

The public can expect eco-friendly upgrades that will take the club’s historically renowned design into the future

Renovations include drought resistant turf and water efficient irrigation system
In June, The Feinstein Group, which already owns several popular restaurants in Dunedin, including The Black Pearl and The Living Room, was selected to take over dining at the clubhouse. The new restaurant will be called Highland House.

The public can also expect eco-friendly upgrades that will take the club’s historically renowned design into the future.

“We were built in 1926. The great golf architect Donald Ross was the architect,” said General Manager Blair Kline. “This is all about honoring Donald Ross and we truly hope we make him proud.”

Parts of the course will use TifTuf, a hybrid Bermuda grass developed at the University of Georgia, that uses nearly 40% less water.

“TifTuf has the drought tolerance where it holds its green longer,” said Professor Brian Schwartz, who helped develop the grass. “It usually grows well in the wintertime for Florida, which is nice because that’s when a lot of your seasonal players are coming down from other parts of the country.”

Along with drought resistant turf, the course irrigation system is getting an overhaul, to include more water efficient capabilities. Dead or diseased trees, as well as invasive species, were replaced with native trees.

The Dunedin Golf Club is expected to reopen in November.
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Cait McVey

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July 10, 2024
Orlando announces names of Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee members
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ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando announced on Wednesday the selection of 18 members for the Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee.

The city first announced the creation of the committee on June 7, to consist of members representing victims’ families, survivors and community leaders.

The new movement comes as the city took over plans to build a memorial following the dissolution of the onePULSE Foundation originally tasked with the project.

It’s been eight years since the Pulse Nightclub attack on June 12, 2016, that took the lives of 49 people in Orlando. Survivors and families have been waiting for a permanent memorial since then.

The new Pulse committee will help decide what the memorial looks like.

The 18 members selected include:
- Aracelis Maria Jimenez
  
  lost a family member in the tragedy
- Brett Rigas
  
  survivor and lost a family member in the tragedy
- Brian Reagan
  
  survivor, former Pulse employee, artist
- Carlitos Diaz Rodriguez
  
  family member of a survivor, architect/design professional, landscape architect, artist
- Cesar Rodriguez
- Felicia Burt
  
  lost a family member in the tragedy
- Jamie Reed
  
  lost a friend in the tragedy, architect/design professional, marketing professional
- Joshua Garcia
  
  former Pulse employee, provided services after the tragedy, mental health professional
- Keinon Carter
- Kelly Dawson
  
  lives in the Orlando area and felt the loss as a community member, architect/design professional
- Rev. Marcelino Rivera
  
  lost a friend in the tragedy, provided services after the tragedy, clergy and artist
- Mayra Alvear BenabeI
  
  lost a family member in the tragedy
- Norman Casiano-Mojica
- Nancy Rosado
  
  provided services after the tragedy, mental health professional, community advocate, former first responder
- Perry T Snider Jr.
  
  lost a friend in the tragedy, former Pulse employee, artist
- Siclaly “Laly” M. Santiago-Leon
  
  lost a family member in the tragedy
- Terrance Hunter
  
  regularly visited or patronized Pulse, educator and museum professional
- Tommy Connelly
More than 150 people submitted applications to join the committee by the June 23 deadline.

The city said a group of community leaders reviewed the applications without viewing names or personal identifying information, and made a recommendation to Mayor Buddy Dyer of which individuals should serve on the committee.

The group of community leaders who reviewed the applications include:
- JahKiya Bell, Ed.D, Senior Advisor to the President and CEO, Heart of Florida United Way
- Rev. Dr. Jose Rodriguez of the Episcopal Churches of Christ the King and Jésus de Nazaret
- Joél Junior Morales, Foundation Manager, Contigo Fund
- Jesse Arias, Director of the Orlando United Resiliency Services (OURS), LGBT+ Center Orlando
The committee will hold monthly meetings throughout the end of the year.

The first meetings will be on:
- Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Thursday, July 25, 2024, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Kia Center, Hourglass Room, 400 West Church Street
The community can attend the committee meetings virtually or in-person.
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Spectrum News Staff

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July 10, 2024
Grief center helps kids build up support
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MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A Children’s Grief Center in Manatee County is helping kids ages 4 to 18 heal and overcome loss with a new approach. They say their support structure is evidence-based treatment.
What You Need To Know

The Blue Butterfly Family Grief Center started a new grieving event for kids. Its called Finding Your Superhero Day

Each child gets to pick their superpower so they can be their own hero

The Blue Butterfly Family Grief Center launched a pilot program in Manatee County schools to train the mental health counselors on how to help with students’ grief
Danielle Wondrak is envisioning a world where she has special powers.

“I would fly so that I could fly around all of the kids that need help,” she said.

Wondrak is the program manager at Blue Butterfly Family Grief Center. Her goal is to help kids cope with their grief.

“I’m Mackenzie. I’m here to remember my brother. If I had a superpower, it would be to control all of the electronics,” she said.

It’s the first Superhero Day at the center. Each child gets to pick their superpower so they can be their own hero.

Wondrak knows what these kids are going through. She lost her father when she was 10 years old.

“He had thyroid cancer. A very rare type, and from the day of diagnosis to when he died was 65 days,” she said.

It was a shock to her, and she wishes people around her had done more to help her grieve.

“I went to a private Catholic school. So everyone’s way of dealing with it was just to tell me, like, ‘Oh, pray about it and he’ll get better.’ But that didn’t happen,” she said.

Wondrak helped create this day so that kids could be their own support system, learning how to handle grief through activities like writing uplifting words on a mirror.

“So we’re trying to teach the kids that they have this within them. They know that they’re brave, they know that they’re courageous and that they’re hopeful. But sometimes it gets lost. When we’re grievers, we’re vulnerable,” she said.

This day helped 9-year-old Savannah. She is grieving the loss of her father, who was a firefighter and served in the Army.

“He was very funny and brave,” she said.

The kids draw their superhero on a T-shirt so when they leave they can remember to be their own hero.

“It’s a doctor superhero because I really want to be able to help people feel better because my dad died from cancer. So I wanted to be able to heal things like that,” she said.

Wondrak says when kids are in a big group with others going through a similar situation, it allows them to understand themselves better.

“Grief doesn’t require mental health counseling. Our kids are not mentally ill. They don’t have a diagnosis. They are just grieving. They are missing someone that they love. And really, the best way to help them through that is support and love and to feel like, OK, I am not alone,” she said.

With the support of a superhero, Danielle makes sure these children persevere.

The Blue Butterfly Family Grief Center launched a pilot program in Manatee County schools to train the mental health counselors on how to help with students’ grief. The program was such a success that the organization is planning to expand to Sarasota County for the next school year. For those families who want to seek help, all of the Blue Butterfly services are free.
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Julia Hazel

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July 9, 2024