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  • N.C. animal shelter suggests doing research before giving pets as gifts

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — Every year thousands of pets are given as holiday gifts, but some get returned to shelters.

    What You Need To Know

    • The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says a pet should only be given to those who have “sustained interest” and the “ability to take care of it responsibly”

    • ASPCA data from 2024 shows that more than 4 million cats and dogs were adopted from shelters nationwide 

    • Since Jan. 1, Guilford County Animal Services has helped nearly 2,100 dogs and 1,800 cats find homes 


    In North Carolina, shelter officials are urging caution when giving a pet this time of year.

    Jorge Ortega, director of Guilford County Animal Services, says some of the reasons for surrendered animals include housing concerns and lack of veterinary care.

    “I think the big key here is the family,” Ortega said. “The individual has to be ready for a new pet in the family.”

    According to the nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society, as of 2024, only 48 North Carolina shelters were listed as no-kill. 

    To help more pets stay with their new families, Guilford County Animal Services, which is recognized as a nearly no-kill shelter, uses a voucher system.

    “If you’re interested in giving a pet as a gift, we ask you to come here, get one of those vouchers, and then give the voucher as a gift and have the receiving individual come to the shelter and then pick the love of their life,” Ortega said.

    The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says a pet should only be given to those who have “sustained interest” and the “ability to take care of it responsibly.” The nonprofit says parents that give children ages 12 and under pets as gifts should be ready to assume care for the animal.

    Ortega says it’s important to do your research before bringing a pet home.

    “If they’re looking at a dog that’s really active, how much time do they have to give to that dog, so they can work on that energy level,” Ortega said. “Or are we looking at probably adopting a cat if they have long hours.”

    ASPCA data from 2024 shows that more than 4 million cats and dogs were adopted from shelters nationwide. More than 600,000 animals were euthanized.

    Since Jan. 1, Guilford County Animal Services has helped nearly 2,100 dogs and 1,800 cats find homes. 

    “To be able to find homes for these pets, it’s not only rewarding for me, but it’s rewarding for the whole team that works here,” Ortega said. 

    Officials urge owners to have their pets microchipped and to make sure that the information is updated, so that if they ever get lost or go missing they can be reunited with their family.

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

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    Zach Tucker

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  • Catching up with Floridians whose stories inspired us in 2025

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    FLORIDA — As we get closer to the end of the year, we look back at a year that brought happy times for some, but major struggles for even more. These stories are of those who found the strength to overcome adversity often make the most inspiring impression.

    Spectrum News catches up with some of the incredible individuals who taught us all a little bit about the best of humanity in 2025.

     

     

     

    Finding Your Passion

    — Apopka, FL —

    In the middle of February, Delia Miller shared her journey of finding her passions and purpose. Combining her love of art, concern for the environment, and newfound passion for aviation, she has turned all of this into an inspiring project.

    Her journey began with an opportunity to paint a mural in her hometown. Her path took a turn in an airport bathroom where she met a young, Black, female airline captain. The encounter spurred Miller to pursue aviation as a career path.

    Watch Delia’s story to witness how she turns dreams into reality and encourages others to discover their greater purpose.

     

    Act of Kindness

    — Orlando, FL —

    Watch her story to see how her acts of kindness reached kids in Geneva and Belize.

    In September, young Gracelynn “Gracie” Decelles shared her story with us. Two years ago, the now 8-year-old girl began selling eggs from her family’s chickens at a small stand outside her home. The proceeds of those sales went toward the purchase of hundreds of backpacks for children in need.

    Watch her story to see how her acts of kindness reached kids in Geneva and Belize.

     

     

     

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    Dan Trotter

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  • Left hooks and life lessons: East Tampa Boxing Gym offers both

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    TAMPA, Fla. — As you walk into the East Tampa Boxing Gym, you walk under a sign that reads, “It Is Better To Bleed In The Gym, Than In The Street.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • Odeon Esson launched East Tampa Boxing Gym almost 10 years ago 

    • He’s there every Monday through Saturday offering boxing lessons to kids as young as six

    • Esson’s bigger goal is to teach the kids life lessons and help them “be somebody” 

    • Esson, a former boxer himself, is joined by a handful of coaches helping in his effort


    It’s one of the many mantras of owner Odeon Esson, for his boxing facility off East Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa.

    “You’re in East Tampa. It’s rough over here, you know,” Esson said. “Out there in the street, you might not come back from it. But in here, you got a chance.”

    Esson gives children as young as six years old the chance to come boxing at his gym Monday through Saturday nights.

    It’s a three-hour boxing practice where the lessons are more about lifestyle than about left hooks and right jabs.

    “Help these kids — a lot of these kids in this neighborhood — become somebody,” said Esson, talking about his goal for the gym. “Let them know, ‘You have a dream, you can do it. Whatever you set your mind to, you can do it.’”

    Hanging on the walls of the gym are signs that reinforce those life lessons:

    • “If You Can Accept Losing, You Can’t Win”
    • “Life Has Got To Be Lived”
    • “Winners Are Simply Willing To Do What Losers Are Not”

    And those lessons on the wall are clearly making their way to the intended audience.

    On a Tuesday night, the gym is packed. A mixture of elementary, middle and high school students jump rope, do push-ups, spar with a coach, pummel a punching bag, practice punching combinations and even get into the ring to face off against Esson himself.

    “Things that you learn in here, teach you things in the real world,” said Vince Clavizzao, a friend from Esson’s boxing days who he recruited to coach here.

    When the young boxers were asked what they learned by coming to East Tampa Boxing Gym, responses varied from heartfelt to real skills.

    Some young people there that night cited boxing strategy and technique. Fifth grader Cody Amos said he’s learned “you have to punch to win.” Sixth grader Jayden Gilbert said Esson had taught him “how to jab” and get his stance right.

    But Gilbert also said his nightly trips to the gym taught him “not to give up.” Fifth grader Pedro Ruiz said the gym helped him learn to “stay focused.” Third grader Alantis Howard, the only female boxer we met at the gym, said the practices had instilled in her the idea that “you have to work hard to get rewarded.”

    Esson launched this place nearly a decade ago, and he has no plans to stop. For Esson, teaching life lessons — and boxing — will continue.

    “They could have been doing anything else. They could have been caught up in the street. But they’re here. They’re in a safe place. They’re here,” Esson said.

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    Jeff Butera

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  • Spreading Christmas cheer one child at a time

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    HIGH POINT, N.C. — Children are again getting to experience the joy of choosing their own gifts this holiday season. As shopping carts roll through Target aisles, for these kids, this isn’t just another trip to the store. 

         What You Need To Know

    • The Kiwanis Club of High Point carries on its mission this holiday season, hosting shopping sprees at Target where kids picked out gifts 

    • The organization’s leaders say roughly 260 kids spent around $150 to get any toys, clothes or shoes, just in time for Christmas

    • This Christmas Cheer Event is funded by community donations

    • In 2024, a report from the American Community Survey found that in North Carolina, 16% of children were experiencing poverty


    The Kiwanis Club of High Point carries on its mission this holiday season, hosting shopping sprees at Target where kids could pick out their own gifts. 

    The organization’s leaders say roughly 260 kids from various community groups were able to spend around $150 to get any toys, clothes or shoes, just in time for Christmas.

    This is Jeff Bullock’s first year volunteering at the Christmas Cheer Event. Bullock is a pastor at a High Point church.

    “It’s amazing what they do investing in these kids,” Bullock said.

    His church partners with one of those local nonprofits called Growing the Distance, providing the space for the group’s after-school program.

    “They’ve been in our facility for about four, five years and 30 or 40 kids, and they just help assist kids with after-school programing and pick them up, and they’re amazing,” Bullock said.

    This Christmas Cheer Event is funded by community donations.

    In 2024, a report from the American Community Survey found that in North Carolina, 16% of children were experiencing poverty.

    Bryson holds the toy at the top of his Christmas wishlist that he was able to receive at this year’s Christmas Cheer Event by the Kiwanis Club of High Point. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley Van Havere)

    For 8-year-old, Bryson, there’s one toy that he’s been wanting for a while now, he says. It’s called a Tonies box, and it’s a music player he was able to receive at this year’s event.

    He also received two Tonie audio characters, slime and a fidget toy. 

    Bullock says its events like this, that are so important to kids during the holiday season.

    “Who knows what the insecurities or the difficulties in life that they’re having or their families and all that, and so it’s great to give back,” Bullock said.

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

     

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    Ashley Van Havere

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  • St. Petersburg Jewish Experience aims to bring community together

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The first St. Petersburg Jewish Experience is arriving in just a few weeks. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The St. Petersburg Jewish Experience is on January 11

    • The event is being held at The Floridian Social

    • Local rabbis said this event is the perfect way for community members to express their Jewish pride 


    Bringing Jewish culture, music, food, and more, Rabbis Alter Korf and Mendel Lebovics said this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

    “We feel it’s just the right thing for the community now,” Korf said. “It’s just the right vibe, the right energy that the Jewish community needs.” 

    Lebovics agrees and said community members are looking for ways to express their Jewish pride.

    “It’s our job to say, ‘We’re here, we’re here to stay, and we’re going to be proud of who we are,’” he said. 

    The event isn’t only for people who are Jewish — it’s for everyone. 

    That’s part of the reason Korf said they’re hosting the party at The Floridian Social.

    “Our goal is that this Jewish experience would make everybody inside here feel like part of one big family,” he said.  

    An unforgettable experience is what Korf said they’re looking to create. 

    With the people they’re bringing in and the venue they’ve chosen, he has no doubt they’ll achieve their goals. 

    “It’s not an intellectual experience, it’s not a class, it’s not a lecture,” he said. “This is a moment to feel it in your bones.”

    The event is on January 11. You can purchase tickets here.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Ancient artifacts at MAPS Museum getting immortal lease on life with 3D scanning

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Ancient artifacts on display at the New Port Richey MAPS Museum are getting a new immortal lease on life.

    What You Need To Know

    • New Port Richey’s MAPS Museum is using 3D technology to scan those ancient artifacts on display in the museum

    • Every single artifact on display in the museum is being scanned, creating a 3D, digital twin that will then live in a digital database accessible worldwide

    • A team of research scientists with Global Digital Heritage are performing the scans

    • Those behind the work say they anticipate the work to take three years to finish


    The Museum of Archaeology, Paleontology and Science — or MAPS Museum — is using 3D technology to scan these historical artifacts. It’s creating a digital library and making the collection accessible worldwide. This endeavor is helping protect these rare and fragile pieces for future generations.

    “We normally do, probably, around six to ten positions per object,” said Bart Mcleod, research scientist with Global Digital Heritage.

    Set up in a backroom of the museum, the camera snaps away.

    “Basically, what this does is we use photographs to recreate objects in 3D,” said Mcleod.

    Every single artifact on display in the museum is being scanned, creating a 3D digital twin that will then live in a digital database.

    “We have a three-year agreement with MAPS, and I think it’s going to take every bit of three years to digitize everything that we can,” Mcleod said. “There’s a huge collection of objects and pretty impressive broad range of things, so it’s pretty exciting to work here.”

    Mcleod is part of a two-man team, which includes deputy chief scientist Jeffrey Du Vernay.

    “We’re working primarily with different-sized objects,” said Du Vernay. “For the handheld scanner, which I primarily use, we’ll do slightly larger objects. In the photogrammetry, we’ll do more smaller objects typically.”

    The handheld scanner Du Vernay uses records the surface of the object he’s scanning, and it also records the color.

    “It captures everything within its line of sight,” he said. “And this is what we will have.”

    Creating a raw, 3D scan of data. Once that’s done, the final product is put together and uploaded online.

    “What we’re really doing is creating a 3D digital library of the objects that we’re scanning,” says Du Vernay. “That has advantages not only for documenting the current state of the preservation of the objects, but also making them available online to researchers, educators, students, who maybe aren’t able to come to the museum.”

    It takes hours of work to scan thousands of objects. It’s work that museum director Charles Zidar says makes the art more shareable.

    “It’s really important that other individuals and scholars from around the world can access the collections online,” said Zidar. “So it’s been really helpful to have them here.”

    Helping pique the interest of a new generation of scientists.

    “After seeing them online, maybe they would be more motivated to come and explore what MAPS has to offer,” Du Vernay said.

    Preserving these once forgotten artifacts and helping them live forever in the digital realm.

    Du Vernay says that in between scanning objects at the MAPS Museum, they will be doing other projects around the world. This project with the MAPS Museum will take three more years to finish.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • After mural controversy, artist creates United Mural project

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — It’s been months since the controversial removal of street murals in the state and particularly here in the Tampa Bay area.

    What You Need To Know

    • John Gascot, artist and co-owner of Studios @ 5663, hand-picked six artists to create the United Mural project

    • The word “UNITED” will be spelled out on the wall of Studios @ 5663 on the busy Park Boulevard in Pinellas Park

    • In addition to their fundraising efforts, the community is also being invited out to help paint the background of the mural
    • That event takes place next month during UNITED Mural Fest at 5663


    In St. Pete, the removal of the Black History Matters mural and the Pride flag mural were met with pushback, including the arrest of two local faith leaders, protesting the night of the removal.

    A group of artists that helped paint those murals is using the same tools they used before on a new project — this time, their message will be spelled out to read “UNITED.”

    John Gascot, artist and co-owner of Studios @ 5663, hand-picked six artists to create the United Mural project.

    Each artist is assigned a letter, and inside the letter they will illustrate what being united means to them.

    Many of the artists helped paint the Black Lives Matter mural and the Black History Matters mural that replaced it.

    When the murals were removed, Gascot said he knew he had to do something to keep the importance of those murals alive and remind people of what truly unites them.

    “I’m more excited about it because it’s almost like continuing something that was erased. So, it’s almost like a second chance at it. It’s not a Black Lives Matter mural, but there’s Black artists involved,” he said. “It’s just like a continuation, if you will,” Gascot said.

    Artist Laura “Ms. Krit” Spencer was also involved in those projects.

    “One of the murals that I painted was removed in front of the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum. I had the distinct pleasure of not only painting the Black Lives Matter mural, but the Black History Matters mural,” she said.

    The word “UNITED” will be spelled out on the wall of Studios at 5663 on the busy Park Boulevard in Pinellas Park.

    “It’s very well-traveled, so it will have a lot of eyes on it, and hopefully, people will take the time to pull over and take it all in because it’s going to have a lot of detail. It’s a long, long wall,” Gascot said.

    To make this project happen, Gascot said it’s going to take a big budget of up to $20,000 to pull off.

    Gascot said they’re fundraising to make sure each artist is able to use a letter that represents what being United looks like to them. 

    “Miss Krit” already has an idea of what it means for her.

    “I just want everybody to remember the reason why we all get together is that art is this unifying force. It gives us identity. It gives us purpose, and it gives us motivation and inspiration and hope for a better future,” she said.

    In addition to their fundraising efforts, the community is also being invited out to help paint the background of the mural. That event takes place next month during UNITED Mural Fest at 5663.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • One month since Hurricane Melissa, N.C. group working to help Jamaica recover

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s been one month since Hurricane Melissa wreaked havoc on the Caribbean islands, and the people there still need support. Lincoln Wilmot is reminded of the devastation that hit his home country of Jamaica 

     “It was the most devastating thing I’ve ever seen,” Wilmot of Charlotte said. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  It’s been one month since Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean islands

    • The Jamaican American Cultural Association is gathering supplies for a mission trip to Jamaica 

    • According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the death toll across the Caribbean has reached 90 as of Nov. 12


    He was on the island when Hurricane Melissa tore through as a Category 5. 

    “You know, I’m ex-military and it was probably the only time I’ve ever actually been scared for anything,” Wilmot said.

    He was staying only 50 yards from the ocean and saw structures washed away.

    “I felt really bad because I felt that I had a home to go back to, but a lot of these people had nowhere to go,” he said.

    The Jamaican American Cultural Association is organizing supplies for a mission trip to the island.

    The group has collected food, clothing, hygiene products and received $50,000 in medical supplies. It will distributed primarily on the southwest side of the country, where the hurricane did the most damage. 

    “That side is known as the breadbasket of Jamaica. It supplies a lot of the food all over Jamaica, and it affected a third of the Jamaican population,” said Gaynor Russell, president of the association.

    According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the death toll across the Caribbean reached 90 as of Nov. 12.

    “The prime minister himself has spoken about the extent of the damage. Even though they had insurance policies to cover damages, it’s still not even a dent into what has happened on the island,” Russell said.

    Even though the journey is far from over, Wilmot knows his people will persevere.

    “People in Jamaica desperately need help, so they’re doing the best they can to survive, and you know they’re strong people. We are strong people. So they have not given up hope, but I’m hoping that the world would continue to send supplies and send help,” Wilmot said.

    The association trip is planned for Dec. 5, and the group has enough monetary donations to build eight houses for families in need. 

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

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    Arin Cotel-Altman

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  • Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation helps families fill their shopping carts

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    TAMPA, Fla. — For a lot of families, being offered a shopping trip with Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation is music to their ears. But the shopping trip they’re taking isn’t what one would typically think of when it comes to filling up shopping bags. But for Mickesha Leggett, it’s right on time.

    “Being that we just went through a government shutdown, it’s a big relief off of some of us parents that’s going through a lot,” she said.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation assisted 250 families at the Silver Oaks Apartment complex

    • Families could choose groceries ahead of Thanksgiving, alleviating financial stress

    • The foundation’s efforts are part of an ongoing commitment to the community since last year’s hurricanes

    With the help of the foundation, Legget was able to pick out the items she wanted ahead of time so she could get items her family would eat. She already had her menu planned out.

    “Macaroni, yellow rice, chicken, string beans, cornbread and a chocolate cake,” she said.

    Leggett is one of about 250 families from the Silver Oaks Apartment complex that the Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation is helping this holiday season. It’s part of a commitment organizers here made to those living in the low-income housing complex a year ago.  

    “We’ve been working with Silver Oaks since last year in October after the hurricanes,” said Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation Managing Director, Madison Gergely. “When we went to the community, the members and individuals really touched our CEO and founder, Taneka Bowles. A lot of the residents came to her about how much it meant.” 

    With this food market, the Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation is using an approach they know well — shopping in person and filling up grocery bags with what they need.

    “It doesn’t feel like charity. It feels like I’m able to support my family and I’m able to go shopping and get things for my family and for my kids without it being handed to them,” said Gergely.

    It’s a shopping trip Leggett says she couldn’t be more thankful for.

    “They have been amazing. They are great. I mean from the day we started this program until now. I can call on them for any and everything,” she said.

    The S.O.U.L. Food Market shopping experience accepted community donations to help fill the shelves for these families the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

    The Tampa Bay Fashion Experience was founded by Taneka Bowles, wife of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach, Todd Bowles.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Florida farm brings unique Gypsy Vanner horses and their story to life

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    OCALA, Fla. — Deep in the heart of Florida’s horse country, one farm is offering more than just beautiful pastures and photogenic horses — it’s giving guests a cultural and historical experience unlike any other.

    What You Need To Know

    • Gypsy Gold Horse Farm in Ocala is the first U.S. home of the rare Gypsy Vanner horse breed.
    • Visitors can take guided tours that provide education, history, and hands-on animal interaction.
    • The farm’s founder imported the first Gypsy Vanner after encountering the breed in Europe in 1995.


    Gypsy Gold Horse Farm is the first in the United States to introduce the rare and striking Gypsy Vanner horse breed to American soil.

    Known for their feathered hooves, flowing manes, and gentle temperament, these horses were originally bred by British and Irish travelers — often referred to as gypsies to pull their ornate caravans.

    “This amazing breed that Dennis has been preserving for over 30 years now. These are amazing, beautiful creatures, and a lot of people that come on these tours aren’t even familiar with the Gypsy Vanner breed,” said Eileen Mahoney, who works with the horses daily at the farm.

    Founded by Dennis Thompson and his wife, the farm is home to more than 30 Gypsy Vanner horses, each with a unique story and heritage.

    Thompson gives weekly tours where he not only introduces visitors to the horses but also shares the journey that brought them here.

    “My late wife and I, in 1995, saw one horse and learned it belonged to a gypsy,” Thompson told a tour group.

    “Spent that day in a gypsy camp and basically became obsessed.”

    The farm has earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence four times and remains one of the top-rated attractions in Central Florida. (Spectrum News)

    That encounter sparked a decades-long mission to preserve the breed and honor the culture behind it.

    For Thompson, it’s not just about the horses — it’s about correcting long-held misconceptions about the Romani people.

    “They don’t read and write — that is by choice because they don’t want to lose their culture,” he explained. “So, they have been treated with prejudice for a thousand years.”

    During the tour, visitors meet horses like “Little Big Man,” whom Thompson describes as “a grandson of Kushti Bok,” one of the original horses he imported.

    Guests can also interact with mules and exotic birds, like colorful macaws, all while walking the picturesque grounds.

    Visitors from all over the country have made the trip — some with a deep love for horses, others simply curious.

    “Yes, I’ve grown up with horses. I used to be a jumper — and then I got old,” joked Bonnie Mickley, a visitor from Georgia.

    “It’s so wonderful that people like Dennis are saving this animal,” added fellow visitor Chris Connolly.

    Thompson’s passion is simple.

    “When people come to Gypsy Gold, I hope they get a better understanding of the culture and a better understanding of the horses that they envisioned.” said Thompson

    The farm has earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence four times and remains one of the top-rated attractions in Central Florida.

    For more, visit the Gypsy Gold Horse Farm.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Plant City Chamber offers Ag tours for people to learn about the industry

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    PLANT CITY, Fla. — The Plant City Chamber of Commerce is immersing people into agriculture. Its Ag tour provides an inside look into the industry and the importance of preserving it.

    What You Need To Know

    • Each location provided an insight of the industry and how it supports the agriculture economy in Plant City


    Farming is a way of life for Marc Sewell. He shares his love for agriculture with people during Ag tours hosted by the Plant City Chamber of Commerce.

    “It’s very gratifying knowing that we started it from the dirt and we’re putting something on somebody’s plate,” he said.

    He’s a fifth-generation farmer who harvests watermelons, green beans and, of course, strawberries.

    It’s a process that starts early on. “We started planting for this crop last spring. I had to put my initial plant order in March,” he said.  

    He owns 75 acres of land he harvests conventionally, and most recently he’s purchased 40 acres, which he will harvest organically.

    It’s not the only change he’s had to make. Like many other farmers, he’s making the move to continue farming but in more southern areas like Manatee and Hardee counties.

    It’s an industry that’s changing as more people move to Plant City. The Chamber of Commerce wants to preserve that while educating more people on this Ag tour.

    Wesley Joyneris, the Chair of the Agribusiness Committee, says there have been a lot of changes and they want to provide an insight to that.

    “They’ve had to buy property in other places because of development but that’s also happening so that they can stay sustainable and to grow your food,” he said.

    The Ag tour is giving people the chance to learn where their food comes from and the impact it has on other industries.

    Florida has more than 40,000 farms and ranches that continue to produce a wide variety of food products. In Hillsborough County there have been more than 700 million agriculture products sold, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

    The tour also gave insight to the machinery used on farms.

    David McKeeman, the VP of Grove Equipment service, says he’s seen the change firsthand in the customers they serve.

    “We’ve transitioned a lot towards homeowners with acreage, so 2 to 15, 20 acres is the biggest market now,” he said.

    They’re working to keep families fed for years to come.

    The next Ag tour will take place in the spring.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • St. Pete College student chosen for exclusive veteran fellowship

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Petersburg College has joined some of the most prestigious schools in the nation in having a student veteran chosen for the VFW-SVA legislative fellowship. 

    What You Need To Know

    • SPC veteran student Giancarlo Gonzalez was one of six students nationwide chosen for this fellowship 

    • Giancarlo hopes that through the fellowship he will have a chance to raise awareness about issues that veterans face

    • This is the 12th year students could take part in this fellowship


    The semester-long fellowship provides those chosen, such as SPC student Giancarlo Gonzalez, with the opportunity to learn from professionals and receive training on how to become veteran advocates. 

    Giancarlo served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2012. 

    Now, he wants to bring more attention to student veteran issues like housing allowances, issues with the GI Bill not covering certain expenses, and more. 

    He sees being chosen for the fellowship as a step in that direction. 

    “I didn’t get the Leadership Institute, so I was a little upset about it,” he said. “Everyone in the office is like, oh, don’t worry about it. You’re going to get the fellowship, you’re going to get the fellowship, and a week later, I got the email, and I saw congratulations.”

    Trevor McGilvrey, SPC Student Veterans of America Advisor, said his team was thrilled to see Giancarlo chosen, and that being one of just six students selected nationwide shows the kind of person he is.

    “Feels like, almost like a David and Goliath type story where, you know, the guy from Harvard, he’s a White House Intern,” he said. “He’s a Navy SEAL. Some of these people are PhDs. Some of these people have ran, you know, they’re directors of military programs at high-level universities.” 

    Giancarlo recently got back from his first conference in Washington, D.C. as part of the fellowship. 

    He will attend two more, and he has a message that he wants to bring to the forefront.

    “Veterans deserve not just to come home, but to thrive as leaders, professionals, and community builders. I’m ready to bring that mission focus, discipline, and passion to Washington.”

    This is the 12th year students could take part in this fellowship.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • 3 Brothers Boards brings visitors face-to-face with wildlife on Silver River

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    MARION COUNTY, Fla. — For more than 10,000 years, humans have been drawn to the serene waters of the Silver River near Ocala — a place where Florida’s ancient past still lingers.

    What You Need To Know

    • 3 Brothers Boards offers guided paddleboard tours on the Silver River, showcasing its crystal-clear waters and abundant wildlife

    • Visitors frequently encounter manatees and rhesus macaque monkeys, making it a unique eco-tourism destination in Florida

    • The company was founded 17 years ago by Justin Murray and his brothers, who began building their own high-quality paddleboards

    • Each board features the signature of their late brother Jason, honoring his memory and keeping him part of every journey

    When mastodons and giant ground sloths roamed the peninsula, the river was already a source of life.

    While those prehistoric giants have long disappeared, Silver River has become home to a new, unexpected variety of creatures that continue to awe visitors.

    “This river just has a wow factor,” said Justin Murray of 3 Brothers Boards, a Daytona paddleboard outfitter and tour company.

    The water is so clear that few of its aquatic inhabitants can remain hidden — including the gentle manatees often seen grazing beneath the surface.

    “So, the manatees eat hundreds of pounds of grass every single day,” Murray explained.

    Every week, Murray and his team guide guests through this pristine spring-fed waterway, using custom-made paddleboards — some with transparent bottoms offering an unmatched view of the river bottom below.

    “Being able to see them on the paddleboard is definitely way easier than when you’re lower to the water in a kayak,” he said.

    Murray and his brothers began their journey 17 years ago, inspired by the natural beauty surrounding them and a growing need for quality paddleboards.

    That idea launched 3 Brothers Boards.

    “This is the largest artesian spring in the state of Florida. We have over 550 million gallons of water come out of this spring — every single day,” Murray said.

    Though his younger brother Jason has since passed, his legacy lives on in every board.

    “If you look at the bottom of every board we’ve ever made, we have his handwritten signature that we got off his schoolwork just so he can be part of making the boards and part of that process. Like to think he’s with us every time we hit the water,” Murray said.

    The wildlife visible along the trip on the river is abundant — including deer, birds and pigs.

    In addition to manatees and birds, one unexpected group steals the spotlight: rhesus macaque monkeys. About 400 of them roam the area — descendants of monkeys accidentally released in the 1930s, contrary to the myth that they were part of Tarzan film productions.

    “The monkeys that we have here are rhesus monkeys. And for many years, people believed that the monkeys were here from the Tarzan films,” Murray said. “However, after looking into every Tarzan film that was filmed here, there was never any rhesus monkeys used in those films.”

    For Murray, the river is more than just a tour destination — it’s a sanctuary of natural wonder.

    “Most people who even live in Florida (in) their entire lives have never seen such a diverse array of wildlife in one spot,” he said.

    The 3 Brothers Boards store is located in Daytona Beach.

    For more on its paddleboard adventures, visit 3 Brothers Boards.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Veterans from Polk assemble floats for annual Orlando’s Veterans Day Parade

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — A group of Central Florida veterans is working on a special project together — assembling floats for Orlando’s 26th annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Orlando’s 26th annual Veterans Day Parade is Saturday, Nov. 8

    • This year, the parade is relocating to Lake Nona from downtown and steps off at 11 a.m.

    • Festive Floats, based in Polk County, has a group of veterans who works on floats for the parade


    Bob Collins spent 22 years in the Navy. He enlisted in September 1971 and worked as a boiler operator before retiring in March 1993.

    Collins works for Festive Floats, a company based in Fort Meade in Polk County. This week, he worked on wiring electrical boxes for a float so speakers and lights can get plugged in.

    “After my military days, I’ve been a stationary engineer now for about the last 25 years working in hospitals, doing basically the same thing I was doing in the military,” Collins said.

    This year, Festive Floats co-owner Billy Attix said his team is working on floats for Commissioner Jim Gray and the Orlando Veteran Affairs office.

    “We’ve been working on the Veterans Parade for about three weeks,” Attix said. “We’re customizing some of our floats to make it military-based to honor those who have served, those who have lost their life.”

    The parade is a long-running event for residents to remember and honor those who served our nation.

    “We’re able to give back to the good, give back to humanity, bring that smile that somebody needs. Just an escape for five minutes of your normal life,” Attix said.

    Collins said he enjoys pulling the floats and seeing people have a good time, while connecting with other veterans along the way.

    “It’s kind of an honor, it really is, especially driving in the parade with the veterans on it and the Wounded Warrior people,” Collins said. “They do a lot of good work for the veterans.”

    The long-standing tradition is moving from downtown Orlando to Lake Nona for the first time.

    This year’s Veterans Day Parade will step off at 11 a.m. Saturday. The route starts at Laureate Park Elementary School and will finish at the Lake Nona Town Center.

    A ceremony and more activities for families will follow.

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    Emma Delamo

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  • A year after sudden cardiac arrest, young Tampa Bay man starts CPR nonprofit

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    BRANDON, Fla. — True second chances don’t come often. Andrew Emerton got his second chance at 26-years-old.

    Last year, when playing video games with friends, he went into sudden cardiac arrest.

    “One of them called 911 immediately and the other one started administering lifesaving CPR,” said Emerton. “And I believe she had to do CPR for 10 minutes straight.”

    He and several members of his family live with a rare, inherited heart gene mutation. It’s called Desmoplakin cardiomyopathy. It can increase the chance of unexpected sudden cardiac arrest.

    By luck, coincidence or divine intervention — Emerton survived.

    “And the very first thought was, ‘Dang, like a higher power is not done with me yet. I have more to do,’” said Emerton.

    Andrew Emerton lays in a hospital bed while being treated for cardiac arrest in 2024. (Andrew Emerton)

    He took months to think about what he would do with his second chance at life. While on a walk, an idea came to him.

    “Out loud I asked and I said, ‘God, if you think I’m ready, so do I.’ And within 30 seconds, the idea for Breathe Florida popped in my head… I was like, ‘This is like what I was brought back to do,’” said Emerton.

    He created Breathe Florida, a nonprofit that pays for lifesaving CPR training for high school students.

    “I was in ROTC all four years and in this high school,” said Emerton, at Brandon High School. “I can’t even count how many times I must have barged in and out of this hallway doing different things, whether it was a rifle team (or) four drill team.”

    Emerton’s picture is still on the wall outside the JROTC classroom. He was the 2017 Brandon High School JROTC Battalion Commander, the highest rank. 

    The 2025-26 school year cadets admit, they relate to Emerton and his story.

    All the current students could put themselves in Emerton’s shoes.

    “I think his story shows how real it is,” said Marielis Pena, JROTC senior.

    They also hope they could think as quickly on their feet as Emerton’s friend did with doing CPR.

    “Hanging out, playing video games, and then it just suddenly went wrong,” said Samuel Rodriguez, JROTC junior.

    There are several CPR classes now planned at Brandon High School. Emerton hopes this is just the beginning.

    “If I spread this far enough across Florida and do it for long enough, there simply will come a time where I believe this will save someone’s life,” said Emerton.

    In Hillsborough County Public Schools, hands-on CPR training is a graduation requirement.

    Breathe Florida’s classes are just additional training students can take.

    To donate to Breathe Florida, click here.

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    Erin Murray

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  • Visit rescued animals at Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge in Orlando

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s a place where the cute, the hungry, the mysterious, and smart often end up because their lives are in jeopardy. 

    “We’ve been receiving squirrels, at least ten each day, since last month,” animal technician Frida Acavedo-Sanchez said.

    Other animals attacked many of the squirrels brought to the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge.

    “A lot of them are either cat attacks or dog attacks. So, pets that are not, like, leashed or kept inside,” Acavedo-Sanchez said.

    What You Need To Know

    • Since 1989, the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge has rescued injured wildlife throughout Central Florida

    • An average of 3,000 to 4,000 annually — or 10 animals per day — are dropped off at the Orlando facility

    • The nonprofit rescues and rehabilitates a variety of animals, hoping to return them to the wild

    • The faculty is open to the public (by reservation) where guests can walk through and see many of their animal ambassadors

    Every day, one after another, people drop off injured animals at the front desk of the facility needing rehabilitation. 

    “But a lot of times they come in, they have injuries. And so, we have to assess the injuries that they have,” refuge executive director Debbie Helsel said.

    For over 25 years, Helsel has been treating injured wildlife. 

    It’s non-stop examining, moving creatures around the grounds, hand-feeding animals and making room for new patients. She said there is one reason animal injuries are not going away soon.

    “We’re doing so many things to the environment that it’s making it much more difficult for them to survive,” Helsel explained.

    Some 3,000 to 4,000 injured creatures end up at the refuge each year, which measures out to around 10 per day. Often, they don’t have enough cages and space for everyone.

    By appointment, guests can visit the facility and get to meet some of the ambassador animals.

    Those animals can’t return to the wild, and the Orlando facility gives them a permanent home.

    That includes owls, foxes, bobcats and tortoises. 

    Helsel hopes guests learn something about wildlife when they visit.

    “The goal really is for them to be in the wild where they’re supposed to be, not in a habitat where they have to spend the rest of their life,” she said.

    The nonprofit relies on donations.

    Self-guided tours and guided tours are available for $10 per adult, and children under 3 are free.

    Visit the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge for details.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Shepherd and amputee enters N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — Getting her sheep lined up and ready to go, Ellen Mabry is preparing for the livestock competition. She’s been showing sheep at the North Carolina State Fair for over 30 years and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Ellen Mabry has been showing sheep at the North Carolina State Fair for over 30 years

    • She’s an amputee and lost her leg in 2013 due to an infection

    • After losing her leg, she continued to show sheep competitively at the state fair

    • Mabry was inducted into the State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame 


    “I like to be competitive, and I like to see what we’ve grown and how it does against other people,” Mabry said.

    But she isn’t like most sheep show competitors. She’s an amputee and uses her scooter to show her sheep. 

    “I just went and took the sheep in the ring and … led him around. I got cheers that day for showing with a mobility cart,” Mabry said.

    She lost her leg over a decade ago due to an infection and has adapted to competing with one leg.  

    “I really don’t consider myself handicapped. I drive with my leg,” Mabry said.

    Showing sheep is a family affair — her husband, daughter and son-in-law all help out.

    “I’m so proud of her. Like, I remember when she lost her leg. I was afraid that she wouldn’t be my mom when she woke up, and she wouldn’t be able to do the things that she did prior. But that hasn’t been the case,” said Mabry’s daughter, Lauren Bell.

    Not only is her family proud of her but so is the state fair community. That’s why she was inducted into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame this year. 

    “I’m really excited. And being a female, even more excited because, you know, it’s been dominated by men for years. And it’s quite an honor, I think,” Mabry said.

    If you want to see Mabry’s sheep and other animals, you can check them out at the fair through Sunday.

     

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    Kennedy Chase

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  • Southport bar, restaurant workers receive checks as businesses remain closed

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    SOUTHPORT, N.C. — The Southport community continues to rally behind restaurant and bar employees who have been out of work since last month’s deadly mass shooting.

    What You Need To Know

    • Southport Cares raised money for employees who have been out of work since the deadly mass shooting in late September
    • The American Fish Company said it received checks for its employees from the nonprofit Southport Cares
    • Three people were killed and  six others were injured when a gunman opened fire at the American Fish Company 


    The management team for the American Fish Company said they have received checks from the local nonprofit Southport Cares, which have been distributed to employees at American Fish Company and Frying Pan.

    “Words can’t accurately express our gratitude for the continued support,” the management team said in a statement.

    Three people were killed and six others were wounded when a gunman opened fire at the American Fish Company on Sept. 27.

    The American Fish Company and Frying Pan have been closed since the shooting. 

    “Although it will take time, we are planning to return to our rightful place — serving our Southport friends and visitors to our town,” the management team said. “Every act of care and every prayer is a step in the right direction.”

     

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    Chloe Salsameda

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  • Parc Center helps employees with disabilities thrive long-term

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    TAMPA, Fla. — October marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the U.S. Department of Labor is shining a light on this year’s official theme: “Celebrating Value and Talent.”

    What You Need To Know

    • National Disability Employment Awareness Month has an official theme: “Celebrating Value and Talent”

    • Parc’s Supported Employment Services program has helped nearly 100 people with disabilities find competitive employment

    • Success stories like Michelle Burger show the long-term impact and benefits of supportive employment


    It’s an impactful mission that Parc Center for Disabilities strives to accomplish all year long with its Supported Employment Services program, which champions nearly 100 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities out in the community with competitive employment.

    “With Supported Employment, it’s truly a win-win for the person we’re supporting and the business or employer,” said Brian Rothey, the Assistant Vice President of Adult Community Programs at Parc. “The employer is receiving someone who is going to show up happy every single day to their shift and stay on the job a whole lot longer than their non-disabled peers. They’re highly motivated and a pleasure to work around.”

    Michelle Burger, one of their success stories with nearly 25-years on the job at the VA’s Patriot Café, credits her long-term success in the workforce to the partnership between Parc and the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System.

    “It’s great having this job – helping the canteen and helping customers – if they need help,” said Burger who serves as a Veterans Canteen Service Associate at the Patriot Café. “It’s wonderful and they help me out, too, if I need it. I have good friends and a lot of buddies out here.”

    Veterans Canteen Service Associate Michelle Burger preparing to serve a veteran at the VA’s Patriot Cafe. (Spectrum News/Erica Riggins)

    In 2001, Burger was looking for a job to live with independence and prove that she was more than capable of doing the work; and decades later, Burger’s drive and dedication are still paying off professionally and personally.

    “She’s 100% fully integrated in the community. She lives independently. She has a lifelong partner. She was able to purchase her own home, which for a lot of us is a very big deal,” said Rothey.

    Veterans Canteen Service Chief Michelle Florida also describes Burger as a standout employee who consistently exceeds all job expectations.

    “She loves her job every day, loves her co-workers and is happy to be here,” said Florida. “In fact, there was small talk about her possibly retiring, but she declined because she enjoys working here.”

    Parc’s Supported Employment Services program also provides weekly career coaching to help encourage and assist Burger on the VA’s campus in St. Petersburg.

    “There’s this whole hidden population and talent pipeline within the community that we can tap into and provide. One of the biggest ways that our community and employers can support our mission is through partnerships and collaboration; any opportunity to have our voices heard and offer employment to the people that we serve is what we’re seeking this month and all year long,” said Rothey.

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    Erica Riggins

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  • Metropolitan Ministries expanding; opening holiday tent in Pinellas County

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After providing a holiday tent assistance program in Tampa more than 40 years, Metropolitan Ministries is expanding its outreach and opening a tent in Pinellas County this season.

    What You Need To Know

    • Metropolitan Ministries expands iconic holiday tent site to Pinellas County 

    • The St. Petersburg location at Holy Cross Catholic Church is expected to serve more than 5,000 families

    • Organization hiring for seasonal staff to help support holiday outreach efforts


     “We’ve done distributions out of the back of a truck and giving people food but this is more relational,” said Tim Marks, Chief Strategy Advisor and Former CEO of Metropolitan Ministries. “My role is to take what we’ve done in Tampa (and) make sure we do our best here in Pinellas to serve.”

    The organization will offer hope, Marks says, to more than 5,000 families the organization is expected to serve.

    “Some are struggling still from the hurricanes from last year. Others have economic storms and other storms of life that they’re facing. We want to bring hope and happiness to families over the holiday season,” he said.

    Families can start registering online Oct. 20 for the tent that helps people through the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

    “You shop for the food you like for your family. You pick out the toys. It’s not Metropolitan Ministries that’s providing the toys; you want to give mom and dad the dignity of providing toys for their kids,” said Marks.

    Holy Cross Catholic Church in St. Petersburg says parishioners are also excited about the expansion and ready to volunteer.

    Metropolitan Ministries is also hiring for several temporary positions to help support what it calls Tampa Bay’s largest outreach initiative serving families in crisis over Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

    “We’ve been seeing about a 15% increase in seniors struggling and needing help because they’re on fixed income. Their rent’s gone up, their food costs have gone up, utilities have gone up,” said Marks.

    While setup is still in progress, the tent will soon be filled with people serving the community.

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    Melissa Eichman

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