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  • Florida Strawberry Festival 2026: Dates, entertainment, food and more

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    PLANT CITY, Fla. — The 91st annual Florida Strawberry Festival will make its return to Plant City on Thursday. Guests can celebrate the history of the Florida strawberry while enjoying plenty of entertainment, rides, agriculture, fine arts and food — including the St. Clement “Make Your Own” Shortcake Booth.

    Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival.

    What You Need To Know

    • View the guide to the 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival below
    • Follow Spectrum Bay News 9 for coverage and download our app to track the weather before heading out


    When is the Florida Strawberry Festival? ⏰

    The Florida Strawberry Festival is scheduled to take place from Feb. 26 through March 8.

    Festival Hours:

    Administrative Office:
    Open Daily

    Amscot Main Ticket Gate, Gate 1:
    Open Daily

    Solution Source Construction Box Office Hours:
    Open Daily

    Midway Hours:

    SUN ‘n FUN Kiddie Korral:
    Open Daily

    Tuesday-Friday:

    • 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. (*On Friday, March 6, Midway closes just before 10 p.m. and reopens from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. for Moonlight Magic. Moonlight Magic wristband purchased for $30 includes gate admission.)

    Weekends & Monday:

    Ticket Prices 🎟️

    • Adults (ages 13+): $15
    • Children (ages 6-12): $5
    • Children (ages 5 and under): Free with paid adult admission

    Discount Gate Admission:

    (Available Feb. 1 through March 8 at these participating Publix Super Market stores throughout Central Florida.)

    • Adults (ages 13+): $10
    • Children (ages 6-12): $4
    • Children (ages 5 and under): FREE with paid adult admission

    Purchase tickets for the Florida Strawberry Festival.

    Special Days and Discounts 🍓

    THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026

    Florida Blue Senior Citizens Day | Lazydays RV Ride-A-Thon Day

    Patrons 60 years of age or older will be admitted at a discounted gate admission ticket for $10. From noon – 11 p.m. A wristband purchased at the Midway for $25 will entitle the wearer to ride most mechanical rides for this one low price. Visit the Lazydays RV display on the festival grounds to receive a $5 off voucher. Take this voucher to any Midway ticket booth to receive $5 off the $25 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for this one low price of $20. Vouchers will be available at the Lazydays RV display on Feb. 26 and March 5.

     

    FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, 2026

    Publix Food & Fun Friday | Special Smiles Day

    Present any Publix branded or GreenWise non-perishable and receive a voucher for $5 off the $30 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $25. Special Smiles Day is sponsored by Rotary Club of Plant City and welcomes all individuals with special needs from 9 a.m. to noon. This unique event is reserved for celebrating and serving our most treasured guests in a safe, fun and sensory considerate environment. All Special Smiles attendees and one companion will be admitted FREE. Entry at Gate 5.

     

    SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026

    Mid Florida Credit Union Free Kids Day | Circle K Super Saturday Wristband Day

    Kids through high school age admitted FREE. Just stop by any Festival ticket booth and receive a complimentary voucher on this special day. From 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Present a Circle K register receipt and receive $5 off the $35 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $30. One receipt required per wristband.

     

    SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2026

    Coca-Cola Family Day

    Present any empty Coca-Cola brand can or plastic bottle product at the entry gate to receive a voucher for $5 off the $35 wristband and ride most mechanical rides from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. for only $30. One voucher required per wristband. Can or bottle is not valid for gate admission. Only one can per person.

     

    MONDAY, MARCH 2ND, 2026

    TITAN’s Grand Parade Day | Chick-fil-A Ride-A-Thon Day

    Grand parade begins at 1 p.m. and passes by Festival grounds at approximately 2 p.m. 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. – Present a Chick-fil-A register receipt or any proof of purchase and receive $5 off the $25 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $20. Home Depot Kid’s Workshop starts at 3 p.m. located near The Bank of Tampa Berry Big Wheel.

     

    TUESDAY, MARCH 3RD, 2026

    Tampa Bay History Center TWOSDAY | FREE Kids Day

    All kids up to age 17 are admitted free with a paid Adult. From noon – 11 p.m. Ride any single ride for only $2 or ride all day with a $25 wristband.

     

    WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2026

    Grow Financial American Heroes Day | Hungry Howie’s Ride-A-Thon Day

    All active, reserve, and retired military veterans, law enforcement, first responders and healthcare professionals are admitted free with valid ID. Ride-A-Thon from noon – 11 p.m. Present a Hungry Howie’s register receipt or any proof of purchase and receive $5 off the $25 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $20.

     

    THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2026

    Florida Blue Senior Citizens Day | Lazydays RV Ride-A-Thon Day

    Patrons 60 years of age or older will be admitted at a discounted gate admission ticket for $10. From noon – 11 p.m. A wristband purchased at the Midway for $25 will entitle the wearer to ride most mechanical rides for this one low price. Visit the Lazydays RV display on the festival grounds to receive a $5 off voucher. Take this voucher to any Midway ticket booth to receive $5 off the $25 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for this one low price of $20. Vouchers will be available at the Lazydays RV display on Feb. 26 and March 5.

     

    FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH, 2026

    Tampa Bay Times Day on the Midway | Moonlight Magic Night

    The Tampa Bay Times Day on the Midway noon -10 p.m. Receive $5 off the $30 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $25. Moonlight Magic – Ride most mechanical rides for one special price of $30 per person. All patrons entering the Midway will be required to purchase a $30 wristband., 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

     

    SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH, 2026

    Farm Worker Appreciation Day sponsored by Astin Farms | Circle K Super Saturday Wristband Day

    Farmworkers receive free admission with a voucher from Astin Farms. Super Saturday Wristband Day from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Present a Circle K register receipt and receive $5 off the $35 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $30.

     

    SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH, 2026

    Coca-Cola Family Day

    Present any empty Coca-Cola brand can or plastic bottle product at entry gate to receive a voucher for $5 off the $35 wristband and ride most mechanical rides from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. for only $30. Can or bottle is not valid for gate admission.

    Information provided by the Florida Strawberry Festival

    Location 🗺️

    The Florida Strawberry Festival is located at 2209 W. Oak Ave., Plant City, FL 33563.

    Festival Parking 🚗

    There are 11 festival parking lots (cash only) surrounding the grounds. These are manned by local churches and nonprofit organizations who benefit from the profits. The lots are easily accessible to gates 1, 16, 14, 13, 10 and 5, depending on where the lot is located.

    • All festival lots are $10, including the Red, Gray, Pink, Purple, White, Tan, Yellow, Green, Orange and Magenta Parking Lot. Additional parking lots can be located off Ritter Street, Highway 92 or Highway 574.

    In the Red lot only:

    • Cars, pickup trucks and vans under 20 ft: $10 cash
    • Vehicles over 20 ft. to 39 ft.: $20 cash
    • Vehicles or buses over 40 ft.: $20 cash

    The T-Mobile tram runs daily from the Red parking lot to the Festival’s entry Gate 10 and 14 as well as the corner of BerryFest Place and Oak Avenue near Gate 1 and Gate 5. There will also be parking available in independent lots around the festival grounds.

    View additional information about directions and parking (including a parking map) for the Florida Strawberry Festival.

    Food 🍰

    The Florida Strawberry Festival is known for its variety of food options. Here are some highlights to expect this year, which include many new offerings such as the viral Strawberry Dubai funnel cake, and of course plenty more strawberry-themed treats:

    Fresh Strawberries:

    • Parkesdale Farms – South side of Parke Exhibit Building
    • Wish Farms – Northeast corner of Parke Exhibit Building and just outside Gate 1/ Amscot Main Ticket Gate

    World-Famous Strawberry Shortcake:

    • St. Clement “Make Your Own” Shortcake Booth – In the middle of the Parke Exhibit Building, next to the Parkesdale Farms booth
    • Transforming Life Church – Inside the Entenmann’s Strawberry Tent
    • East Historical Society Shortcake Booth – South of the TECO Expo Hall near Pioneer Village

    Strawberry shortcake station from the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Fla. (Spectrum News)

    Strawberry shortcake station from the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Fla. (Spectrum News)

    Here are some of the new foods that guests can enjoy at the 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival:

    Strawberry BBQ Eggroll:

    • Double T Enterprises (formerly Piggy Palace, inside Gate 10)

    Strawberry Shortcake Snoball and Royal Strawberry Snoball:

    • Pelican’s Snoballs (on the west side of the Arthur Boring Civic Center)

    Penne Pickle Pasta:

    • Spaghetti Eddie’s (outside the Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Pavilion)

    Hot Honey Apple Fries:

    • Crumpet Concessions (by the Central Florida Exterior Comfort Zone)

    Strawberry Decker:

    • Plant City High School Raider Regiment (inside the Stadium Exhibit Building)

    Strawberry Campfire Crunch Melt:

    • Sunshine Concessions (north of the Wish Farms Soundstage)

    Strawberry Crunch Funnel Cake:

    • Prowant Specialty (on the west side of the GT Grandstands)

    Strawberry Cinnamon Bun à la Mode:

    • Cinnamon Bun Saloon (south of the Parke Exhibit Building)

    Strawberry Crunch Nachos:

    • Sweet Missions (in the Softub Carriage House)

    Deep Fried Uncrustable:

    • Plant City Black Heritage Concessions (north of the Tampa Electric EXPO Hall)

    Poor Porker:

    • Sandy Ann’s Fried Pies (by the Stingray Chevrolet display)

    Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Slush:

    • Moose Joose Slush (outside the Tampa Electric Expo Hall)

    Dubai Chocolate Truffles with Pistachio Cream:

    • Orme’s Deep Fried Treats (near the Stingray Chevrolet display)

    Strawberry Dubai Funnel Cake:

    • Best Around Concessions (north of the BayCare Center)

    Strawberry Dubai funnel cake from the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Fla. (Spectrum News)


    Dubai Strawberry Chocolate Cups:

    • Super Crunch (inside the TECO Expo Hall)

    Chicken Teriyaki Mac and Cheese, White Cheddar Truffle Mac and Cheese and Buffalo Mac and Cheese:

    • Brody’s Mac & Cheese (west of the GT Grandstands)

    View additional details about food at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

    Headline Entertainment 🎶

    The Florida Strawberry Festival has been long known for its popular entertainment lineups. This year, attendees of all ages can expect to see dozens of performers take the stage. Some performances are free with the price of admission.

    Here is the 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival entertainment lineup:

    🍓DATE 🍓TIME 🍓LINEUP   🍓COST  
    Thursday, Feb 26 10:30 a.m. Jimmy Stuff & His Orchestra FREE WITH PAID ADMISSION
    Thursday, Feb 26 3:30 p.m. The Oak Ridge Boys $40
    Thursday, Feb 26 7:30 p.m. Alabama $65
    Friday, Feb 27 3:30 p.m. Jo Dee Messina $40
    Friday, Feb 27 7:30 p.m. Jamey Johnson $45
    Saturday, Feb 28 3:30 p.m. Lonestar $35
    Saturday, Feb 28 7:30 p.m. Ty Myers $50
    Sunday, March 1 6:30 p.m. Riley Green featuring Hannah McFarland $110
    Monday, March 2 3:30 p.m. Gene Watson $30
    Monday, March 2 7:30 p.m. Legends of Love featuring Brian McKnight, Ginuwine & Ruben Studdard $40
    Tuesday, March 3 3:30 p.m. Sandi Patty $30
    Tuesday, March 3 7:30 p.m. Lauren Daigle $70
    Wednesday, March 4 3:30 p.m. John Foster $25
    Wednesday, March 4 7:30 p.m. Brantley Gilbert $50
    Thursday, March 5 10:30 a.m. Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets FREE WITH PAID ADMISSION
    Thursday, March 5 3:30 p.m. The Bellamy Brothers $30
    Thursday, March 5 7:30 p.m. Dierks Bentley $70
    Friday, March 6 3:30 p.m. The Marshall Tucker Band $35
    Friday, March 6 7:30 p.m. Forrest Frank $70
    Saturday, March 7 3:30 p.m. Pitbull Toddler FREE WITH PAID ADMISSION
    Saturday, March 7 7:30 p.m. The Offspring $70
    Sunday, March 8 7:30 p.m. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts $45

     

    View additional Florida Strawberry Festival entertainment details and tickets.

    On Grounds Entertainment 🎪

    The Florida Strawberry Festival has dozens of free on grounds entertainment, acts, and performers for all ages to enjoy.

    Here’s the schedule of events:

    EVENT TIMES
    Granpa Cratchet Daily at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. & 7 p.m., Puppet Mobile Daily at 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.
    K9s in Flight Daily at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 6 p.m.
    Rannels Rustic Wood Carving Show Daily at 11:30 a.m.,1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
    Robinson’s Racing Pigs Daily at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. 
    “Mr. & Miss Berry” Daily at 11- 11:30 a.m., 3:30-4 p.m. & 5:30- 6 p.m.
    Gizmo D Robot Daily at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m.
    & 6 p.m.
    Runa Pacha Daily at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.
    Kids Coloring Corner Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Pretty Bird Paradise Daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    The Berry Big Wheel Celebrating America’s 250 Daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. *Ticket required to ride.

    Information provided by the Florida Strawberry Festival

    View more free entertainment at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

    Florida Strawberry Festival official mascots, Mr. & Miss Berry (Courtesy of Florida Strawberry Festival)

    Agriculture 🐮

    The Florida Strawberry Festival will hold livestock shows each day, which give youth the opportunity to showcase the animals and plants they have been raising for months, some even years. Animals in the shows include cows, sheep, pigs, rabbits and chickens.

    Here is this year’s livestock show schedule:

    EXHIBIT TIME DATE LOCATION
    Poultry & Rabbit Exhibit Days   ALL DAYS Astin Pavilion
    Swine Exhibit Days   Thursday, Feb 26 -Friday, Feb 27 Astin Pavilion
    – Swine Show (Mosaic) 6 p.m. Thurday, Feb 26  
    – Swine Sale (Mosaic) 6 p.m. Friday, Feb 27  
    Dairy Animal Exhibit Days   Friday, Feb 27 – Sunday, March 1 Astin Pavilion
    – Dairy Judging Contest 1 p.m. Friday, Feb 27  
    – Dairy Showmanship 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb 28  
    – Dairy Show 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb 28  
    – Dairy Adult Showmanship 11 a.m. Sunday, March 1  
    – Dairy pee Wee Showmanship 11:30 a.m. Sunday, March 1  
    – Dairy Costume Ball 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1  
    Plant Exhibit Days   Sunday, March 1 Swindle Pavilion
    – Plant Silent Auction 11 a.m. –
    1 p.m.    		 Sunday, March 1  
    – Plant Sale 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1  
    Lamb Exhibit Days   Monday, March 2 – Tuesday, March 3 Swindle Pavilion
    – Lamb Jumping Contest 3 p.m. Monday, March 2  
    – Lamb Costume Contest 7 p.m. Monday, March 2  
    – Lamb Showmanship 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 3  
    – Lamb Show 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 3  
    Steer Exhibit Days   Wednesday, March 4 – Friday, March 6 Astin Pavilion
    – Steer Show (Mosaic) 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4  
    – Steer Sale (Mosaic) 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5  
    – Steer Showmanship (Mosaic) 6 p.m. Friday, March 6  
    Beef Animal Exhibit Days   Saturday, March 7 – Sunday, March 8 Swindle Pavilion
    – Beef Breeds Showmanship 6 p.m. Saturday, March 7  
    – Beef Breeds Show 11 a.m. Sunday, March 8  
    Livestock Judging 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7 (Registration – 9 a.m.)  

    *All shows and sales are held in the Patterson Arena located in the Grimes Family Agriculture Center
    Information provided by the Florida Strawberry Festival

    Festival App 📱

    The Florida Strawberry Festival has a mobile app where visitors can access food locations, event schedules, the grounds map and more. Guests can also purchase and download gate admission and headline entertainment concert tickets to their mobile wallets. The app is available on Apple iOS and Google Play.

    [ad_2] Anna Wronka
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  • Surplus food from the St. Pete Grand Prix to be distributed to those in need

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With the festivities around the St. Pete Grand Prix come a lot of food, but not all of it gets prepared and served.

    That’s where Positive Impact St. Pete steps in. They’ll be taking the surplus food and getting it to those in need.

    Executive Director Karen Rae said that before the partnership, much of the food her organization now collects would have been thrown away.

    “It’s such a blessing to be able to take food that otherwise would go to waste and provide it to our neighbors who may not have food on their dinner tables if not for this partnership,” she said.

    Rae said this is the third year they’ll collect the extra food and that they’ll be able to serve hundreds more families than they’re typically able to in the immediate days after the race.

    Still, she hopes the community understands the need is constant.

    “It’s one of our biggest weekends, but food insecurity affects families year-round,” she said. “So we are out here every single week, year-round, ensuring our neighbors have groceries.”

    This is a relationship Rae hopes continues for many years to come.

    The organization distributes food every weekend at Tangerine Plaza in St. Pete.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • FAMU’s Dr. Walter L. Smith’s lasting global impact on the Black diaspora

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    TAMPA, Fla. — This Black History Month, the legacy of former Florida A&M University President Dr. Walter Lee Smith is being remembered not only for strengthening one of the nation’s leading HBCUs, but for extending its reach across the African diaspora.

    What You Need To Know

    • During Black History Month, Tampa’s library honoring Civil Rights activist and FAMU 7th President Dr. Walter L. Smith lands an $800,000 grant, advancing a legacy that reached from Florida to Africa and Haiti

    • Smith led FAMU from 1977 to 1985 — a period marked by post-Civil Rights era expansion in higher education and political instability in parts of the Caribbean and Africa

    • At the invitation of Haitian officials, Smith traveled to Haiti multiple times to assist following a “brain drain” and intellectual exodus during the Duvalier Era

    • On Saturday, Feb. 28 at 8 a.m., the Walter Smith Library & Museum will hold its yearly Black History Month event titled “Fish, Grits & Black History“


    Dr. Smith led FAMU from 1977 to 1985 — a period marked by post-Civil Rights era expansion in higher education and political instability in parts of the Caribbean and Africa.

    His son says his father saw education as something far bigger than a degree.

    “Dad internationalized FAMU under his administration,” said Walter L. Smith, Jr. 

    Building bridges during Haiti’s Duvalier Era

    In the early 1980s, during the presidency of Jean-Claude ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier, Haiti was facing political repression and an accelerating “brain drain.” Professionals and university-educated Haitians were leaving the country in large numbers — many bound for the United States, France, and Canada.

    At the invitation of Haitian officials, Smith traveled to Haiti multiple times.

    His mission: strengthen academic standards and create partnerships that would allow Haitian degrees to be recognized internationally.

    “What that Dad did was help to establish that articulation so that when people who had degrees from those colleges would go to Western Bloc countries, their degree would be of the same caliber or the same validity,” said Smith Jr. 

    Smith’s work came against the backdrop of a dictatorship that began under François Duvalier and continued under his son. Despite political instability, Haitian officials sought educational infrastructure support.

    “Despite the despotic nature of the government and of the family, they wanted my father to come and help,” said Smith Jr. 

    Smith was often joined by his wife, FAMU’s seventh First Lady, Jeraldine Williams.

    “I’ve been to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien,” said Williams.

    She says Smith’s focus was not simply elite university access, but practical, workforce-driven education.

    “High on his (Dr. Walter Smith) list of agenda items was to install two-year schools, two-year colleges,” said Williams. 

    The goal was to create local two-year institutions that could provide credentials, workforce training, and pathways to four-year degrees.

    “So they got a degree, they have a certificate, and so they are qualified to perform at some level rather than not be,” Williams added. 

    Williams says Smith deeply worried about the long-term effects of intellectual migration and “brain drain.”

    “Those who had the brain power would go away, let’s say, from Haiti to the United States, or Haiti to France, or Haiti to England. And then they wouldn’t come back. So that’s a loss. There is an enhancement for them, but it’s a loss for the country,” she said. 

    A home for Haitian students at FAMU

    Some Haitian students did come to Florida, enrolling at FAMU during Smith’s presidency.

    Williams says many faced cultural and linguistic barriers. 

    They found opportunity and support. 

    “(Smith) was trying to deal with those people who were coming in, who probably felt more at a greater distance from success than he did because of the language, because of tradition, because of expectation,” Williams said.

    For Smith, education was about empowerment and nation-building. His work extended beyond the Caribbean.

    During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Smith also traveled to African nations, part of a broader effort by historically Black colleges to reconnect with the global Black diaspora following the Civil Rights movement.

    “Education was a sign of status and still is,” said Smith Jr. “If you had an education, especially a college education, you are big time. You’re doing something right. And that was the basis of the values, is to what was to create a society that could help them to grow that infrastructure.”

    And to his son, there was never a question about whether the work was worth it.

    “There’s never a time that I’ve ever witnessed my father not think the education of Black people was not worth it. He put it all on the line for more than half of his life,” said Smith Jr. 

    Smith’s lasting global impact on the Black diaspora

    Today, decades after his presidency, the influence of Dr. Walter Lee Smith’s legacy continues to cross borders.

    The Walter Smith Library & Museum in Tampa recently received an $800,000 grant from the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency. On Feb. 28,  the library will hold its yearly Black History Month event, titled “Fish, Grits & Black History.”
     

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • Night to Shine lights up Pinellas for third year

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was a Night to Shine at the St. Petersburg Coliseum Friday night. The Tim Tebow Foundation held its annual prom for people with special needs there for the third year.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tim Tebow Foundation held its annual Night to Shine on February 13 in St. Petersburg

    • It’s a prom-type event for people with special needs who are ages 14 and up

    • The coordinator said guests live with conditions ranging from learning disabilities to ambulatory impairments

    • Guests told Spectrum News they enjoy the event because they can let loose without feeling self-conscious


    “Epic,” said Kimberly Nash, coordinator of the Pinellas County event, when asked to describe the night in one word. “It’s amazing, it’s beautiful, it’s fantastic. There’s not one word that can actually describe tonight.”

    Nash said registration filled to capacity within an hour-and-a-half of opening, and this year’s waitlist was longer than the actual guest list.

    Invitees arrived in limos and were greeted by a red carpet lined with volunteer “paparazzi.”

    “This is my third year doing it, and I love it,” said volunteer Kim Heffner.

    “You get to cheer them on, blow bubbles, give them high-fives,” said six-year-old Liv, another volunteer.

    At one point, volunteers took part in an impromptu sing-along when one guest started singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by one of his favorite artists, John Denver.

    “Seeing what they have to go through day by day, I mean, it’s just amazing to see everyone show up for them,” said Heffner.

    Guests attending Night to Shine. (Spectrum News/Sarah Blazonis)

    Connor Deeb and Ashunti Teasley Dorsey said they wouldn’t have missed this year’s event for the world. It was the second time attending for both of them.

    “Honestly, I love it here,” said Deeb, 22. “It’s a great place to meet people, have some great music, dance.”

    “We get to be ourselves without having to worry about judging and things like that,” said Dorsey, 25.

    Dorsey told Spectrum News she has autism and chronic tic disorder. She said that means she makes movements that she can’t control.

    “I remember waking up one day, and I thought I was just having chills until it started progressing worse and worse until I found out it’s tics,” she said. “Even though I struggle, I continue to move on and live my life like no other.”

    Dorsey said tics aren’t something she has to be self-conscious of at Night to Shine, and that’s the point.

    “It’s a night that we invite those with special needs, and we remind them that it is not their disability that defines them, it is Christ,” said Nash.

    Nash said the 265 guests live with a range of conditions, from learning disabilities to ambulatory impairments. This night is about giving them and their plus-ones a chance to feel like royalty.

    “Whether you leave here as an honored guest with a crown on your head and a smile on your face and probably some feet that hurt from all the dancing, or a parent who has seen your child celebrated and loved tonight, I think that everybody just leaves here with joy,” said Nash.

    A Night to Shine is a worldwide event held in more than 700 locations. Nash said this is the third year Central Christian Church hosted the Pinellas event.

    Nash said they hope to hold next year’s dance at the newly repaired Tropicana Field. If that works out, she said that they can expand to inviting 750 guests.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Manatee and Sarasota residents compete in the Gulf Coast Games for Life

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — For Janet Rumig of Sarasota, the bowling alley is a second home.

    She is so comfortable walking up to the lane that it is hard to tell this is a competition, specifically the Gulf Coast Games for Life.

    What You Need To Know

    • Gulf Coast Games for Life is a program that encourages seniors to train and exercise year-round

    • Now through February 21, seniors will compete in sixteen different sports
    • Winners of the matches can qualify for the Florida Senior Games State Championships

    • Research from the National Institutes of Health reports that both men and women can add at least a decade to their life expectancy by prioritizing a healthy lifestyle


    “I think I am the only person in my age group, so I should win,” said Rumig.

    This is the qualifying match for the Florida Senior Games State Championships. Andrea King with Sarasota County Parks and Recreation says it has been a tradition for nearly 40 years, and the primary goal is not to necessarily come home with a medal.

    “They get to be together with other people. There is a social component which is as important as the physical side,” King explained.

    Whether it is bowling or another sport, the purpose of the Gulf Coast Games for Life is to incentivize seniors to train and exercise year-round.

    Research from the National Institutes of Health reports that both men and women can add at least a decade to their life expectancy by prioritizing a healthy lifestyle.

    For Rumig, bowling has always been a part of her routine.

    “As kids, we could go bowling, one game for a quarter. But if we were willing to set pins for somebody else, then we could bowl for free,” Rumig added.

    Competing, however, Rumig did not start until her golden years.

    “I would have done more competitive bowling, except we had kids,” she mentioned.

    She does not hide her age or her secret to staying in shape.

    “Just did it for fun. Being healthier is just a benefit,” said Rumig.

    Her true motivation for bowling multiple times a week is sharing the lane with her friends and husband, Mike.

    Bowling better than the boys is something her husband says she has done for the past 42 years of marriage.

    Just like getting a strike again and again, bowling is like taking her daily medication for life — a daily dose of life.

    The Gulf Coast Games for Life are far from over. Now through February 21, seniors will compete in sixteen different sports. Those who come home with a medal will qualify for the Florida Senior Games state championships, competing again against other amateur and aging athletes across the state this December.

    [ad_2] Claire Alfree
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  • The Deuces: Where Black community thrived, barred from other parts of St. Pete

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Before the end of segregation, there were two St. Petes: a white one and a Black one. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Segregation and Jim Crow laws restricted where the Black community could go in St. Pete 

    • The Black community created a mostly self-contained community around 22nd Street South 

    •  It offered houses, businesses, schools, healthcare and entertainment

    • Groups now strive to preserve the history of that area 


    Laws restricted Black residents from going to certain portions of the city except for work, limiting them to designated areas and neighborhoods.

    The most famous of those neighborhoods is the one centered around 22nd Street South, often called “The Deuces.”

    “It was more than a street. It was an ecosystem. It was our ecosystem,” said Latorra Bowles, executive director of Deuces Live. “It was the only place African Americans thrived.”

    It was also a self-contained area that tried to cover all facets of life.

    Housing

    The neighborhood offered housing options for African Americans, though early housing was built without formal planning. In 1941, the Jordan Park Housing Complex opened. It incorporated 446 apartments, the state’s largest public housing endeavor to that time.

    “He knew African Americans needed decent and affordable housing,” said Basha Jordan Jr., whose grandfather, Elder Jordan Sr., donated the land for the project. The housing complex is named in Jordan’s honor.

    Businesses

    At its peak, more than 100 businesses lined 22nd Street South and some of the streets that ran parallel and perpendicular.

    “Everything we need is in the corridor,” Bowles said. “You have your small businesses, you have your restaurants, you have your hotels, you have your clubs.”

    Churches

    Numerous churches lined the streets in the neighborhood, especially along 9th Avenue South, which intersected with 22nd Street South. The city notes that in 1939, 19 of the city’s 123 churches were located in the 22nd Street neighborhood.

    Schools

    Jordan Park Elementary opened in 1925, a segregated school located on 9th Avenue South. Gibbs High School, the first all-Black high school in St. Pete, opened in 1927.

    Healthcare

    Mercy Hospital was established in 1923, one of the few healthcare institutions that accepted Black patients during the segregation era. Jim Crow laws precluded some hospitals from treating Black people, while prejudice stood in the way as well.

    Entertainment

    The Royal Theater opened in 1948, one of just two theaters that African Americans could attend in St. Pete.

    Down the street, the Manhattan Casino Hall had launched in 1925. It was the focal point of entertainment, socializing, and music in the neighborhood. It was even a well-known stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit, a network of performance venues safe for African Americans to play during the segregation era.

    “This was a place where African Americans could come, feel at peace, feel human, in the midst of segregation and racism that was running rampant in the city,” Jordan said, sitting underneath a statue of his grandfather that stands on 22nd Street South.

    Deuces Live is attempting to “preserve, promote and revitalize” this corridor, preserving its history while promoting a rich future.

    “It’s extremely important to preserve the history of this area because if we don’t tell the story, it will be rewritten or untold,” Bowles said. “If we don’t tell our story, no one will.”

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    Jeff Butera

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  • Plant City church ‘explores untold stories’ of Black History Month

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    PLANT CITY, Fla. — This month, we take time to celebrate Black History Month, and one church in Plant City is doing that through an educational program known as “Exploring the Untold Stories of Black History.”

    What You Need To Know

    •  Terrie Strachan says the program includes members of the church to portray the stories told
    •  Many of the stories shared are not taught in school


    Inside Mount Olive Baptist Church in Plant City, history is being shared.

    Organizers present the program every February to honor Black History Month.

    Terrie Strachan started the program back in 2013. “I always try to explore new avenues of Black history,” she said.

    It’s a history that some may not even know about. The story told on the first Sunday of this month was about Joseph Ligon, who was the nation’s longest-serving juvenile offender.

    “(Trying) to familiarize our youth with things that they never heard of, not just our youth, even our adults,” she said.

    Strachan said it’s important to immerse the youth in stories they rarely learn about in school.

    For 11-year-old Cortlyn Fisher, it’s a program she looks forward to every year.

    “It reflects on what people went through back in the day, and it helps me learn about the people,” she said.

    The stories that are shared are also reflected in the sermons of the church.

    Ted Taylor took part in the program. He said it’s a story that he never heard of, that’s helped him reflect on the importance of celebrating Black history.

    “Informative, enlightening and spiritual to the church,” he said.

    Every Sunday throughout the month of February, a new story will be portrayed.

    Strachan said it’s one way she’s hoping to preserve Black history in her community.

    “If I can just continue to do that and touch my members and touch people in the community about topics that I bring forth, I’d be doing my job, and I’d be fulfilling what God wants me to do,” she said.

    Honoring Black history and how its shaped the lives of many one story at a time.

    On February 22, Mount Olive Baptist Church will also host a praise dance team as part of its Black History Month education.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Lakeland youth step team helps preserve cultural tradition

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — You may have seen it — the perfectly timed stomps, the chants and hand claps.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Lakeland-based youth step team is helping preserve the cultural tradition of stepping, an art form rooted in African history

    • Beyond competition, the team provides mentorship, sisterhood and a safe space for self-expression for middle and high school girls

    • The group is actively sharing the tradition on a national stage, hosting a step show this weekend with teams from across the country


    But where did it all begin?

    For centuries, stepping, a powerful ritual dance, has inspired generations, including the Lakeland-based step team Taken by Surprise.

    The group of girls, ranging in age, practices stepping inside Sleepy Hill Middle School’s gym about four days a week. While winning competitions is the goal, the steppers say they gain so much more.

    For 12th grader Aleyah Davis, it’s sisterhood.

    “It got me out of my shell because I am shy,” Davis said.

    Meanwhile, 11th grader Keyanah Colston says it’s a safe place to express herself.

    “If anything is weighing on my mind, I feel like when we come here, it’s just an open space to do you,” Colston said.

    Team sponsor Corey Tumer started Taken by Surprise 13 years ago to help build character in young people. As a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, he also wanted to expose them to Greek life — specifically historically Black fraternities and sororities known as the Divine Nine.

    “And that gives them more exposure than just being home and the possibility to network with other students across the country and get that experience of what life would be like as a college student,” Tumer said.

    Though stepping is widely used throughout Divine Nine culture, the art form didn’t originate there. Longtime dance instructor Andrida Hosey says stepping is rooted in African tradition.

    “So a lot of things, like celebratory things like naming ceremonies, and wedding celebrations, and going out for war, we used movement and rhythm, especially the drums,” Hosey said. “But as we came over to America, we couldn’t use the drums as slaves. They started using their body as instruments, and the clapping and the rhythm, and their voices as instruments.”

    She says those movements became a way to express feelings during a time when doing so was forbidden.

    Today, stepping gives young people that same freedom of expression, something the girls of Taken by Surprise say they don’t take for granted.

    Taken by Surprise will host a national step show this Saturday at Kathleen High School. Twenty teams from around the country will compete. Doors open at 2 p.m.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Group that helps grieving children marks milestone graduation

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A community organization is helping grieving children and young adults succeed. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  Connecting the Gap is a nonprofit organization that provides therapy, mentorship and educational resources

    •  The group is celebrating a milestone after a participant of the program graduated college

    •  Christopher Daylin Carter lost his mom and grandmother at age 17 but has persevered thanks to the support of the group


    Through partnerships and supports, Connecting the Gap is providing therapy, mentorship and educational resources. 

    The group recently reached a milestone when Christopher Daylin Carter graduated from East Carolina University.

    “After hearing people be proud of me, I kind of just start to resonate with me, like this is a big deal. You pushed through and you made it,” Carter said. 

    His mentor, Quaneka Falls, attended the ceremony and cheered for him as he crossed the stage.

    “Just to see how much throughout the years Christopher has grown so much,” Falls said. 

    Carter said he appreciates the support of his late mother and grandmother.

    “I think it’s closest I can really get to spending time with them and really having them with me throughout my accomplishments, whatever I do in my life,” Carter said. 

    He lost both of them in a car crash in Greensboro in 2020 after a driver hit them head-on. Carter, who was 17 at the time, survived.

    “If it was something that was powerful enough to take lives, how did I continue?” Carter said. 

    His family rallied around him, and he got support from Connecting the Gap.

    Since 2020, the Charlotte nonprofit has helped around 60 children and young adults who lost a parent around the state. The group links them to resources to ensure they are successful post-graduation while they tackle grief. 

    “I feel like the support is important because when kids feel that you really, genuinely care about them, that gives them motivation to keep going,” Falls said. 

    The mission is personal for Falls because she lost her mother when she was 14. 

    “She had me and she had my brother, and we took two different paths, and I feel like because I’ve had the resources, I had community, I had mentors in my life, I was still able to be successful,” she said. 

    Carter said after his mom and grandmother died, the organization supported him right away. 

    “I was still kind of in shock. I was still kind of going through the motions, but just having that support there was definitely helpful, and just another person that’s looking for my success,” he said.

    The support stayed with him through college.

    “Therapy and just my freshman year or even pretty much every year up until I moved out, college, [Falls] was helping me get anything that I need from my dorms,” Carter said. 

    He’s the first student from the program to graduate college, an accomplishment that exemplifies their motto. 

    “I’ve firsthand witnessed Christopher grieve, believe and succeed,” Falls said. 

    He credits part of his success to Connecting the Gap and his family.

    “It’s amazing. I feel like God put a lot of people up in amazing ways, and I feel like without the support system that I have now, most likely wouldn’t be where I’m at,” Carter said. 

    Thanks to his uncle, Carter said he graduated debt-free from ECU with a degree in psychology and nutrition.

    In previous years, the organization received funding from United Way and Canopy Housing Foundation.

    This year, they are hoping to secure grant funding and donations to continue their mission. 

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

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    Estephany Escobar

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  • Cynthia Henderson starts Citrus County group for female veterans

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — A Citrus County woman started a group for other female veterans like herself. She also spearheaded an effort to get a monument for female vets built and placed in front of the historic county courthouse in Inverness.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cynthia Henderson is a U.S. Air Force veteran

    • Henderson started the Female Veterans Network of Citrus County

    • Group members meet monthly and perform community service projects 

    • Members raised funds to have a monument to female veterans built and placed in front of the historic county courthouse in Inverness 


    Cynthia Henderson served in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s and is very proud of her service. She believed that there needed to be a local organization that was just for local female veterans. So, she started the Female Veterans Network of Citrus County.

    “Well, the camaraderie number one. We all get together for lunch once a month,” said Henderson.

    Group members talk about issues they face as veterans, while supporting each other through the struggles and helping the community.

    “We do various things for the community. We had a female veteran, and we replaced her roof,” said Henderson.

    They also offer a scholarship program for female high school senior JROTC members.

    The members of the group all take pride in their military service. “It’s a sisterhood. Even the sisterhood that we felt in the branch that we were in,” said Sigmond. “This is a bigger sisterhood because this is all the branches.”

    The network also spent several years planning the design and raising funds for the female veterans’ monument. They recently held a five-year rededication ceremony for the monument.

    Henderson said she makes sure to keep up with group members to make sure they are OK. “Well, it’s deep-rooted in the service we served in, even though we were in different branches. We were still serving in the same country,” said Henderson. “Every time I see the girls I find out something new about one or two of them.”

    “She has that compassion and always has that smile. And she loves us. We know she does,” said Sigmond.

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Central Florida Zoo’s Rhino Encounter offers hands-on experience with giant

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    SANFORD, Fla. — From immersive exhibits to intimate animal encounters, the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a busy zoo where learning comes to life.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens offers visitors a rare chance to get up close with a 2.25-ton rhinoceros, through its Rhino Encounter program

    • Guests can touch, feed and learn about rhinos while gaining insight into their care, diet and conservation

    • The program helps educate the public while supporting efforts to protect endangered rhinos in the wild, zookeepers say

    • The Rhino Encounter is available Friday through Monday, with pricing set at $25 for annual pass holders and $30 for non-pass holders

    It is focused on connecting people with wildlife in meaningful ways.

    One of the most unforgettable experiences is meeting PJ, the zoo’s 2.25-ton rhinoceros.

    Visitors can touch the massive animal and quickly realize just how unique the moment is.

    “It’s almost like hard, like stone. But you can, like, feel him breathing. It’s so warm. Still,” one visitor said during the encounter.

    Guests also get a behind-the-scenes look at how PJ is cared for, including feeding time.

    “And then he gets a few flakes of alfalfa hay,” a keeper explained.

    Rhinos may eat like horses, but on a much larger scale, consuming more than 100 pounds of food each day.

    Senior hoofstock keeper Maggie Funk describes PJ as far more approachable than many expect.

    “These guys are, like, gentle giants. He’s really sweet,” Funk said. “He really loves the interaction with people. And he loves getting scratches from them, too.”

    Visitors had their own creative ways of describing what it feels like to touch a rhino.

    “Imagine, like a mushy basketball,” Josh Brandel of Altamonte Springs said.

    Maggie Holley of Mount Dora added, “Hard to describe it. Rough. But, yeah, I feel the basketball kind of feel. I get that.”

    Emily Geist of DeBary shared a similar reaction, saying, “It’s actually kind of soft. Well, it’s hard to describe.”

    Like his wild counterparts, PJ loves to eat.

    Funk, who acts as both caretaker and chef, explained his daily diet.

    “So he gets two full bales of this coastal hay back here,” she said. “And then this alfalfa hay is his favorite food that we use for a lot of training.”

    That training happens inside PJ’s rhino chute, where he learns behaviors essential for his health and safety.

    Keepers guide him through actions like lifting his feet and opening his mouth for exams.

    “Pitch foot. Good boy. Good job,” Funk can be heard saying during one session.

    According to Funk, the training is critical for veterinary care.

    “He comes in here for all of his vet care that can include anything from a blood draw to foot care, to anything the vets need to look at,” she said.

    The Central Florida Zoo’s Rhino Encounter blends education, conservation, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, offering visitors a chance to connect with the second-largest land mammal on the planet while supporting efforts to protect rhinos for generations to come.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Buddhist monks, supporters battle freezing temperatures after winter storm

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    LOUISBURG, N.C. — The Buddhist monks aren’t slowing down despite the winter weather.

    For the past week the group journeyed across North Carolina on their way to Washington, D.C., through rain, sleet and sunshine. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Monday was Day 93 for the Buddhist monks on their Walk for Peace 

    • The monks will be out of North Carolina this week 

    • They are heading to Warrenton on Tuesday


    The monks were making their way through the state Monday, Day 93 of their Walk for Peace. The group has been welcomed and admired by thousands.

    “They’re walking in faith. They’re walking in faith,” said supporter Jeannette Bucher.

    Despite the road conditions after this weekend’s winter storm, the monks continue to walk while spreading their message. 

    Bucher said she and her friends were waiting at the airport in Louisburg for two hours. 

    “When I first saw them marching, I’ve been following them for months, and I just feel so blessed to be able to be here today. And I just can’t wait to be in their presence and just root them on,” she said.

    Louisburg native John Yarborough said he and his son grabbed their jackets and hats, then hit the road to see the monks.

    Yarborough said the group’s message, motivation and mission is nothing short of inspiring.

    “Because this world is about to be corrupt, there is so much hatred in this world, Black against white, that’s why we need peace,” he said.

    Yarborough said the Walk for Peace is the most exciting thing the area has seen in a long time. 

    “Something they have never been to here before, other than the civil rights stuff, when we used to march back in the day,” he said. “Other than that, that’s it.”

    Supporters seem to have one thing in common — they were ready to endure this weekend’s winter weather to support the message of peace for all.

    The monks are almost out of North Carolina but have a couple of more stops. 

    The group will be in Warrenton on Tuesday.

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

     

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    Jatrissa Wooten

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  • View wild birds at Marine Science Center’s expanded aviary in Ponce Inlet

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    PONCE INLET, Fla. — Sitting in the shadow of the iconic Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is the Marine Science Center, where birds native to Florida find a home to share their stories with visitors. 

    The expanded aviary allows guests to see seabirds up close, including pelicans, gulls, and other coastal birds recovering from injury or illness, or those that can no longer go into the wild.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet has expanded its aviary and added a new education center
    • The aviary is home to birds recovering from injury or illness and those that can no longer survive in the wild
    • Visitors get rare, up-close encounters with pelicans, gulls, owls, and other Florida wildlife
    • The center has helped tens of thousands of animals while educating the public about conservation
    • MAP: View more Florida on a Tankful locations


    Nearly every day, education manager Shell Rossi introduces wildlife to guests, turning each visit into a hands-on learning experience.

    “Look what he’s doing with his head,” Rossi said during a presentation. “What’s he doing? Oh, look at that.”

    She encourages engagement, explaining animal behavior in real time.

    “He’s going to grab his food with his claws, and he’s going to squeeze it,” she said. “Everybody, give me your best squeeze.”

    Rossi said the Marine Science Center’s number of rescues speaks for itself.

    “Because we’ve helped 19,000 birds since opening, and 28,000 reptiles,” she said.

    While rehabilitation and release is always the goal, Rossi said some animals can’t return to the wild and instead become ambassadors for education.

    One of them is Bubba the owl.

    Pelicans are among the most common patients at the center’s animal hospital.

    “We get a lot of pelicans that come in — 90% have fishing line injuries,” Rossi said, highlighting the impact humans can have on wildlife.

    The Marine Science Center is more than just a bird sanctuary.

    Inside the new education center, visitors can meet snakes and gopher tortoises, study animals under a microscope, and attend a variety of presentations throughout the day.

    “Try and do animal presentations during the day,” Rossi said. “So, people could spend half an hour or three hours here.”

    Among her favorite moments is feeding the seahorses, and Rossi hopes visitors leave with a deeper connection to wildlife.

    “I hope that people would walk away with a newfound love of an animal that they have never seen before, and never been able to touch before, and then want to continue learning about it and wanting to help it,” she said.

    The Marine Science Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

    Admission is $8 for anyone older than 13, $5 for kids aged 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Live venom extractions at Reptile Discovery Center in DeLand

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    DELAND, Fla. — A DeLand operation is quietly doing life-saving work one venomous bite at a time.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Reptile Discovery Center and Medtoxin Venom Laboratory in DeLand houses some of the most dangerous snakes on Earth, extracting venom used for antivenom, pharmaceuticals, and global research
    • Director Carl Barden says venom from “about 25 or 30 different species” is processed and shipped worldwide, turning deadly toxins into lifesaving treatments
    • The work comes with real risk—Barden has survived 11 snakebites, including a cobra bite that nearly killed him—but he says the danger is comparable to other high-risk jobs
    • The center is also open to the public, offering live venom extractions, educational exhibits, and up-close views of snakes responsible for bite problems around the world


    The Reptile Discovery Center and Medtoxin Laboratory is home to some of the most dangerous snakes on the planet, where venom is carefully extracted, studied, and transformed into life-saving treatments around the world.

    When you visit this laboratory, it’s a good idea to keep a safe distance.

    Here, some of the world’s most deadly snakes are laid out, and venom is methodically extracted from one dangerous snake at a time.

    “Venoms are produced here from about 25 or 30 different species, and they are processed and shipped all around the world,” said Carl Barden, director of Medtoxin Laboratories at the Reptile Discovery Center.

    Barden and his wife, Mara Barden, work as a team, safely guiding the reptiles to naturally bite down so venom can be collected.

    “We’re passionate about the work that we do here. It has a real-world impact—antivenom and a lifesaving drug,” Carl Barden said.

    That venom is used for antivenoms, pharmaceuticals, and research, with refrigerators full of compounds ready to be shipped.

    “This is the antivenom refrigerator,” Carl Barden said. “And this is where we store snakebite serums — antivenom from all over the world.”

    Some of that serum is kept solely in case Barden himself is bitten, and antivenom he would take with him to a nearby hospital to save his life, and it’s happened before.

    “I’ve had 11 snakebites in the last 35 years of collecting snake venom,” he said. “One of those was a cobra bite. That particular bite almost killed me, put me on a ventilator for 14 hours.”

    Despite the danger, Carl Barden believes the risk is no different from other professions.

    “If you look at the deaths from snake bites and snake handlers, the numbers are actually fairly low,” he said.

    Medtoxin is more than just a snake lab.

    Visitors are welcome to learn about reptiles and their role around the world, watch venom extractions from a front-row seat, and explore an outdoor walking trail home to various creatures.

    “So, things like king cobras and black mambas, kaboom vipers, puff adders,” Carl Barden said. “All of those snakes are on display at the Discovery Center, so people can come and see animals that are responsible for snake bite problems around the world.”

    Snakebites are a fascinating paradox: Snake venom, while deadly, holds the key to its own lifesaving treatments.

    The Reptile Discovery Center is open to the public Thursday through Sunday.

    Admission is $13.50 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 4 to 17, and free for children 3 and under.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Meet the 2026 Epiphany Dove Bearer, Sylvia Marakas

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    TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral announced Sylvia Marakas as the 2026 Epiphany Dove Bearer.

    “It’s a great honor,” said Marakas. “I don’t know the right words to articulate for what it means to myself, to my family, to the community.”

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral announced Sylvia Marakas as the 2026 Epiphany Dove Bearer
    • The person selected carries a dove in the procession to Spring Bayou and then releases it before the cross dive

    • Marakas said she’s been a member of the choir ministry for over three years

    • Marakas also said that family connection and her faith mean everything to her


    Marakas said she’s been a member of the choir ministry for over three years.

    “I’ve always been involved with music and enjoyed music,” said Marakas. “And my grandmother in the ’50s was actually a member of the choir. We have that connection.”

    Marakas said that family connection and her faith mean everything to her. The cathedral describes the Pinellas County native as a devoted member of church and community.

    Marakas said the church is special to her. She holds memories of attending with her family close.

    “My grandfather would always sit around this area, so anytime I’m in the choir singing, I think of him,” said Marakas pointing to the front pews in the cathedral, missing her grandfather, but knowing he is proud of her today.

    “I was selected for this for a purpose, and I’m so grateful for it,” said Marakas. “And I hope now that I can give back and be a positive reflection for the faith, for Tarpon Springs and for St. Nicholas.”

    One way Marakas is already giving back is by serving on the St. Nicholas Cathedral Restoration Capital Campaign Cabinet and the Oversight and Audit Committee.

    “I’ve seen water coming down and after during bad rains from the columns,” said Marakas, showing a part of the church that has fallen into disrepair. “We are entering a different phase, a new phase sort of this year,” said Marakas. “The church is undergoing a major multi-million dollar restoration.”

    While trying to preserve the church’s past, the 2026 Epiphany Dove Bearer is also proud to be part of its future.

    “That I can continue to be a representative for the Orthodox faith, as well as the Tarpon community, this community has been very important to my family,” said Marakas.

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    Melissa Eichman

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  • Tarpon Springs invites local artists to light up the Sponge Docks

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    TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — Local artists and photographers are being invited to showcase their work in one of Tarpon Springs’ most iconic areas.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tarpon Springs’ Public Art Committee is seeking submissions for illuminated art boxes that will be installed on lampposts along Dodecanese Boulevard

    • The display is designed to enhance the visitor experience both during the day and at night

    • There are 40 available display spaces across 20 double-sided illuminated art boxes


    The city’s Public Art Committee is seeking submissions for illuminated art boxes that will be installed on lampposts along Dodecanese Boulevard at the Sponge Docks. The display is designed to enhance the visitor experience both during the day and at night, adding another layer of visual storytelling to the heavily visited waterfront district.

    One artist preparing a submission is Shari Gaines, a painter based in Dunedin who has been creating and selling artwork for 17 years. Gaines is currently working on an oil painting inspired by a photograph she took in Tarpon Springs.

    She says she was immediately drawn to the scene, particularly the boats, which she describes as appearing to “have a conversation” with one another. Gaines says the flexibility of oil paints allows her to adjust the composition as she works, refining the piece until it feels right.

    Much of Gaines’ work is inspired by scenes she captures herself throughout Florida. She said that authenticity is central to her process, preferring to paint from real-life experiences or her own photographs rather than images found online. Her work often reflects Florida’s water, light, and vivid sunsets.

    City leaders say public art plays a significant role in reinforcing Tarpon Springs’ identity as a cultural and tourist destination. Vice Mayor Michael Eisner says the Sponge Docks already offer visitors a sensory experience through Greek music, food, and architecture and that public art adds to the feeling of being transported to another place.

    The submission criteria for the project is straightforward. Artists must depict something recognizable in or around Tarpon Springs, such as local nature scenes, beaches, parks or waterfront views. Selected works will be displayed for one year.

    If chosen, Gaines’ piece would be her second artwork featured through the city’s public art program. She says art helps reflect the character and beauty of Tarpon Springs and gives visitors another way to connect with the community.

    Gaines displays her work on her website.

    There are 40 available display spaces across 20 double-sided illuminated art boxes. The submission deadline is Jan. 2.

    Artists interested in participating should email their submissions to arbcreative@yahoo.com and include their name, email address, mailing address, and phone number.

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    Jeff Van Sant

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  • Benefit concert helping launch restoration efforts on Richey Suncoast Theatre

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A local landmark unique to New Port Richey is looking to get a little love in terms of restorative work.

    What You Need To Know

    • Touted as the “Heart of New Port Richey” and standing for nearly 100 years, the Richey Suncoast Theatre is in need of some restoration

    • A recent benefit concert titled “Letters With E” featuring Ed Roland of Collective Soul, is spearheading those efforts
    • The theatre has a long history of being a centerpiece of downtown, offering entertainment on the silver screen as well as community plays
    • Those at the theatre say renovations will begin with the roof in January, with plans for the theatre’s exterior afterwards


    The Richey Suncoast Theatre has stood for nearly 100 years, offering entertainment on the silver screen as well as community plays. But now, the theatre is in need of some restoration. A recent benefit concert is spearheading those efforts.

    At the corner of Grand Boulevard and Nebraska Avenue stands a landmark that has withstood the test of time.

    “This theatre is the heart of New Port Richey,” said Lia Gallegos, interim president of the board of directors for the Richey Suncoast Theatre.

    The near-century old monument in downtown New Port Richey is a place that’s dedicated to showcasing the arts. A place that has become like a second home for Gallegos.

    “The community absolutely loves the theatre and everything that she brings to the community,” she said. “It’s a place for kids and adults to learn new skills and become more creative.”

    But Gallegos said it’s in need of renovations, which was the inspiration for its first benefit concert, featuring Ed Roland of Collective Soul. The event raised over $42,000 from auctioned items.

    “Renovation is never a quick process, especially on a 100-year-old building,” Gallegos said. “But we’re looking forward to getting it started this year.”

    All sorts of relics from the theatre’s history are on display. History that board member Angela Sarabia knows well.

    “This is a series of programs from that first big season that they came out as the Richey Suncoast Theatre,” she said. “This is a movie poster from one of Thomas Meighan’s films. The theatre was originally built to showcase Thomas Meighan’s films, and he was the Tom Cruise of his day.”

    In order to understand where the theatre is going, she said, you need to know its past.

    “Some of the renovations that we’re really interested in doing are bolstering our windows and doors and the upper windows to hurricane proof us, because we know we live in an area that is going to continue to get these big storms,” said Sarabia. “So we don’t want that to be a problem for performers for the next hundred years.”

    Allowing the next generation of stars to take the stage, bringing in audiences both near and far.

    “For the ‘Letters with E’ concert, we had people flying in from all over the country who had never been to New Port Richey before,” said Gallegos. “So the theatre is that — it’s the draw to bring people from outside of the area to enjoy our downtown and get to experience it and, hopefully, keep them coming back.”

    And to keep breathing new life into this theatre.

    Those at the theatre say renovations will begin with the roof in January. They then plan to make renovations to the theatre’s exterior afterwards.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Workforce training in Charlote helping people in recovery find stability

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, employment is a key part of long-term recovery for people overcoming substance use disorders.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Workforce opportunities are helping residents in recovery open new career doors

    •  In North Carolina, a partnership is empowering more individuals overcoming substance use disorders through training for high-demand fields 

    •  One student shares how the workforce program is helping him 


    Research shows obtaining and maintaining meaningful work helps establish structure, income and self-esteem, which are linked to better recovery outcomes.

    This model is taking shape at the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives’ Vocational Training Center Charlotte, a nonprofit providing free, hands-on job training in HVAC-R installation and service, automotive repair and commercial driving.

    The Charlotte team has trained over 900 people for careers since its opening in 2020. 

    NCIA VTC Charlotte program director Christine Poltawsky said their reach includes residents identified as low-income, those who are justice-involved transitioning back into the community and people unhoused or in a recovery process.

    “What we’re really looking to do is reach anybody that does not have access to education and training,” said Poltawsky. 

    VTC Charlotte credits partnerships with the county and a local nonprofit for empowering more people facing barriers to education and workforce training. 

    Mecklenburg County awarded NCIA about $128,000 in opioid settlement funding for employment-related services tied to opioid recovery. 

    Poltawsky said those dollars are allowing them to expand workforce development reach to residents eligible for tuition-free training and support.

    “Most of the people in the county that got the funds – it’s been a lot of treatment centers. So we’re excited that we’re able to target things from a different direction,” Poltawsky said.

    “We are recruiting out in the community at all treatment centers, Charlotte Rescue Mission and others. It’s just allowed us to serve a larger number of their clientele because we have a different funding stream that we can bring them in under,” Poltawsky said.

    In 2023, VTC Charlotte partnered with the rescue mission, an organization offering residential recovery programs at no cost for individuals at the intersection of homelessness and addiction. This includes individuals overcoming alcohol and drug addiction.

    The rescue mission is connecting residents to career training and support at VTC Charlotte.

    “We started conversations on how we could refer people in their program, in order for them to continue to build on what they’re working on,” Poltawsky said.

    “They have steps they need to follow to move forward. What our program offers to the residents there is a pathway to get some industry-recognized credentials and then make some money so they can start paying the rent and move forward through that step process. Along with everyone else who comes through our doors, we’re just giving second chances,” Poltawsky said.

    Since 2023, over 50 rescue mission participants have enrolled in NCIA training programs, thanks to support from the opioid settlement funds. As a result of these partnerships, VTC Charlotte said many of the graduates are now working full-time jobs.  

    Graduate Kasey Lester was referred through the rescue mission and recently graduated from the HVAC program. 

    Lester said the workforce training has been a gamechanger for getting a job and for others seeking second chances. 

    Kasey Lester recently graduated from NCIA VTC Charlotte and credited its partnership with Charlotte Rescue Mission for opening new career doors. (Spectrum News 1/Jennifer Roberts)

    “I wasn’t aware of the opportunities that were up to grab, the things I could pursue, do for myself to get me out my regular routine of life,” Lester said. “That I could branch out and have more stability, more freedom, peace, knowledge. Through the Charlotte Rescue Mission, it has opened many doors.”

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services estimates over 1.4 million adults struggle with a substance use disorder.

    From 2000 to 2022, NCDHHS reports over 36,000 North Carolinians died from drug overdoses.

    Poltawsky said the data speaks to the importance of connecting those in recovery programs to workforce pipelines, so they can create lasting stability beyond treatment. 

    “It feels really good to contribute to the good news and changing somebody’s life for the positive,” Poltawsky said. 

    Walter Boseman is enrolled in VTC Charlotte’s HVAC-R program.

    “I have an associate degree in it already, but I got in an accident years ago which led me out of the workforce,” Boseman said. “I’m going back to what I know to get me up to par with new systems being used.”

    Boseman was also referred through the Charlotte Rescue Mission.

    Boseman said the combination of support and workforce training has helped create a pathway he needed. 

    “Put me back where God wanted me from the beginning,” Boseman said. “It’s working together just like an air conditioning unit. I’m just moving on up.”

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

     

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    Jennifer Roberts

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  • Son decorates home for Christmas to remember late mother

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    SUMMERFIELD, N.C. — The holidays are a time to gather and celebrate with family and friends. For some, annual holiday traditions have a deeper meaning, especially after loved ones pass away. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Sterling Nix of Summerfield keeps a tradition of putting up Christmas decorations each year

    • He started out as a young boy, helping his mother put them up at the family home

    • His mother died in 2023, and he says the tradition now helps him remember her

    “This is the accumulation of several years of just loving this hobby, and I enjoy sharing the spirit with others,” said Sterling Nix, a Summerfield resident. 

    Sterling Nix moved to Summerfield from Florida with his family in 2019. He has helped put up Christmas decorations at his family’s home each year since he was a young boy. It started out as a fun, annual chore with his mom. 

    “When I was young, I was obsessed with things that plugged in as a baby,” said Nix. “My mom always told me that I was getting into the lamps and stuff, just walking around, plugging them in and unplugging them, so I guess it’s just kind of a natural connection.”

    Things took a turn in March 2023 when Nix’s mom, Beth, passed away from heart failure.

    “Inside [our home] we don’t have nearly as many decorations as we did before, because I was always the outside person and he would take care of the inside,” said Nix. “There’s always a spot missing.”

    Each year since, Nix has carried on the family tradition. He says his mom’s favorite part was the nativity scene because it helped share the true meaning behind the holiday.

    “You can easily get lost in all the commercial aspects,” said Nix. 

    Nix says it takes nearly a month to set everything up. The display includes dozens of inflatables, lights and other festive decor including rare or hard-to-find items. 

    “I haven’t seen them in a while,” said Nix. “I plug them up and I’m like, dang, I forgot how big these things were.”

    When cars pass by to look at the display, Nix feels joy knowing that his work is appreciated by many and hopes they’ll take away something from it.

    “You don’t have to lose the magic of Christmas as you get older,” said Nix. “You can always look at the things that brought you joy. They don’t have to stop bringing you joy.”

    All while remembering his mother.

    “She loved bringing people joy, so this is what she would have loved,” said Nix. “She’d probably think it’s a little insane with the amount I’ve gone, but she’d love it.”

    Nix says power and wind can be the most challenging aspects when it comes to managing the display. He also sets up decorations for Halloween. He plans to buy more Christmas decor in the coming months and hopes to have a bigger display next year. 

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

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    Zach Tucker

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  • More than a meal: Charlotte nonprofit spreads hope on Christmas Day

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Christmas Day is often about tradition, family and celebration. But for many in Charlotte, it was also about community and compassion.

    Block Love Charlotte spent the holiday serving hot meals and offering support to people experiencing homelessness, turning a day that can be especially difficult into one filled with warmth and hope.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Block Love Charlotte served hot meals on Christmas Day to people experiencing homelessness across the city

    •  Volunteers also handed out toys, clothing, toiletries and books

    •  Founder Deborah Phillips says Christmas can be especially hard for families unsure where their next meal or paycheck will come from

    • Organizers plan to continue the tradition into the next Christmas


    The effort was marked by smiles, laughter and even a familiar holiday sound — the laugh of the Abominable Snowman — as volunteers worked to create a festive atmosphere for those they served.

    “It’s been big, like we’ve been crying literally all morning, everybody saying thank you,” said Deborah Phillips, founder of Block Love Charlotte.

    Volunteers spent the day handing out meals, toiletries, clothing and toys, focusing not just on providing necessities but on making people feel seen and valued during the holidays.

    “There’s nothing like waking up on a Christmas morning in, and you’re in a motel room. You don’t know where your next paycheck is coming from, you don’t know how you’re going to get the kids gifts, and you may not even know where your next meal is coming from,” Phillips said. “So we wanted to change all of that. Let’s give people their mind, give their minds some ease in knowing that somebody is going to show up today. So that’s why we do it.”

    For some volunteers, the event marked the start of a new holiday tradition.

    “We’ve supported monetarily. We’ve supported with food. And this was just an awesome time for us, to support in person and experience the reason for Christmas, and sharing gifts and just pouring out and reflecting God’s love to the community,” said volunteer Cindy Beasley.

    Beasley and her husband worked the toy table, helping children pick out gifts, something she says no family should have to go without during the holidays.

    “We’re able to do that, so why shouldn’t everybody be able to do that? And as a parent or grandparent, it’s just so special to be able to to give,” she said.

    Phillips said the children are often the most impacted by the outreach.

    “But the kids the most, like that toy table. Thank you all for everybody that donated. But it’s really big. This is bigger than Santa Claus,” she said.

    In addition to meals and toys, volunteers handed out clothing, toiletries and books. Organizers say the goal is simple — to show up when people need it most.

    Block Love Charlotte plans to continue the tradition next Christmas, continuing its mission to bring comfort and care to the community during the holiday season.

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

     

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    Jordan Kudisch

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