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  • Therapy dog helps Palmetto first responders de-stress on the job

    Therapy dog helps Palmetto first responders de-stress on the job

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Friday, May 10, marks First Responders Mental Health Awareness Day.


    At least 30% of first responders experience stress, anxiety, and depression while on the job, according to the Journal of Emergency Medical Services.

    One Palmetto fire station is changing the game when it comes to helping their team overcome mental health struggles.

    Steve Garrity starts his work the same way every day.

    “Checking the monitor in the morning. Making sure the batteries are charged. Check to see if all the equipment is in there,” he said.

    He’s a firefighter and paramedic at Station 5 for North River Fire District in Palmetto, a job he’s been in for 20 years.

    Each call is different. Garrity says it’s like walking into the unknown.

    “Some days, you know, it’s an easy day and some days it can be really stressful, different types of calls,” he said.

    He says his job affected his mental health.

    “I was just kind of ready to get out of the job. It was a lot. I have a young family, and it just wasn’t really dealing with things in the best way possible, and it’s isolating if you are having mental health issues,” he said.

    But his mindset changed when he started working at this fire station.

    Drew is the facility therapy dog that joined the force two years ago, from Dogs Inc in Palmetto.

    “It’s the best feeling in the world, second to your kids. But dogs always know what’s going on, especially when you are trained. He can pick up on little things and make your day. You don’t have a choice but to be happy,” he said.

    Having a therapy dog present can lower stress and anxiety symptoms, according to the National Library of Medicine.

    “A lot of us compartmentalize everything. You might not want to explain or add a burden to your family, so with a dog, you don’t have to explain. They are full of joy and compassion for you,” Garrity said.

    He says Drew helps the crew overcome mental struggles after responding to a difficult call.

    “He has a job to do. He will brighten the mood on any day.”

    But more importantly, it’s given the team a chance to be stronger together.

    “It’s my second family. I count on them, they count on me,” he said.

    The leader of the family is Fire Chief Joseph Sicking. He wanted a therapy dog to alleviate stress, and he says he’s noticed a big change.

    “Having the dog present takes your mind off of what you just dealt with or seen. It loosens up the room. It lets you feel the setting is more informal and more of a discussion to get this stuff off our chest,” he said.

    Garrity says it’s refreshing working somewhere that makes mental health a priority, something he hasn’t always experienced.

    “Coming here, it was right off the bat with conversations with the chiefs,” he said.

    One step at a time, moving forward with the help of a trusting friend.

    Chief Sicking hopes more fire stations incorporate therapy dogs to help with mental health. He says, on average, the North River Fire District goes to more than 700 calls a month, and 64% of those are EMS related.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Pasco County nurse calls for ceasefire after 2nd trip to Gaza treating injured

    Pasco County nurse calls for ceasefire after 2nd trip to Gaza treating injured

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    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A critical care registered nurse who works at a Wesley Chapel med spa recently got back from her second trip to Gaza where she helped treat wounded patients.

    What You Need To Know

    • Registered critical care nurse Rana Mahmoud returned from Gaza on April 10 

    • It was her second trip this year with the Palestinian American Medical Association 

    • Mahmoud said most of the wounded she treated were women and children 

    • The nurse has called for a ceasefire to protect the lives of the children

    In October 2023, the terrorist group Hamas crossed Gaza’s border and into Israel, killing more than a 1,200 people and kidnapping others. Israel followed with a campaign of air strikes on targets in Gaza, killing both Hamas members and civilians.

    Many civilians in both Israel and Gaza have been caught in the middle of this war.

    “I felt the need to go,” said Rana Mahmoud, 47. “It’s such a humanitarian call.”

    Mahmoud said both of her 14-day trips this year were with the Palestinian American Medical Association. She got back from her last trip on April 10. Mahmoud said because she had been to Gaza before she was the “facilitator” for the group of 11 doctors traveling with her.

    “I was the only nurse with them,” she said. “I feel like all the medical providers should go and help out.” 

    Mahmoud’s heritage is Palestinian, but she has lived in the United States for 37 years. She brought 30 suitcases full of medical supplies with her to Gaza. She said most of the wounded she treated were women and children.

    “Every single night, when we had a mass casualty, there would be children without parents,” she said. “Those are orphans automatically.”

    Mahmoud said she feared for her life the entire time due to the frequent bombing. The nurse said she stayed at a hospital with 15,000 refugees and started a wounded care team.

    “Just trained some nurses there because that’s my specialty in the hospital, is that I’ve done wound care,” she said. “I’m a critical care nurse. So, I trained local nurses there to help to facilitate with wound care in Gaza.”

    After seeing so many injured and orphaned children, Mahmoud said she felt the need to speak out.

    “I just want (a) ceasefire because I want to save these children’s lives,” she said. “When I first started this mission, my whole goal was just to be medical. I’m non-political.”    

    Mahmoud plans to go back to Gaza in June. She wants to support the wounded care team she created.

    “Just seeing all those people being displaced and all of these children getting sick,” she said. “I know that I helped out twice before and I know that I can help out again.”

    Mahmoud wants to return with books and puzzles for the children in Gaza and has started a fundraiser called HEAL Palestine.

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    Josh Rojas

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  • Hope Services in Pasco County expanding with new programs for students

    Hope Services in Pasco County expanding with new programs for students

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    LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — A Pasco County nonprofit is helping those with disabilities live independently.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hope Services, a Land O’ Lakes nonprofit, is expanding their operation with new programs on the way

    • The nonprofit teaches students life skills and offers vocational programs with training in areas like culinary arts, as well as construction and hospitality

    • It’s also giving those who volunteer and work at the center a sense of purpose

    Hope Services was founded more than 20 years ago but recently added a new program to its curriculum.

    Last year, the nonprofit opened its very own training center to teach students life skills and offering vocational programs with training in areas like the culinary arts as well as construction and hospitality.

    Executive Director Cindy Bray said they are learning everyday life skills.

    “Everything in our center is centered around not only teaching them life skills but also vocational skills,” said Bray. “So they leave us learning how to live on their own and also to become employed.”

    Bray said they are in the process of finishing a retail training room, which will be a big addition to their program.

    The program is already helping shape students’ lives. For inside one culinary classroom, students are getting a taste of food prep.

    “It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh — I’m doing cooking class!’” Cheyenne Stoltz, a student at Hope Services, said. “I don’t get to cook at home, so it’s a lot of fun for me.”

    Stoltz has been taking classes like this for the last year, honing her culinary skills and making delicious meals, like chicken stir-fry.

    “It’s fun to get to know people and have that feeling that you’re doing something good,” she said.

    It’s all under the watchful eye of chef and teacher Brent Belcher, a local business owner taking time to teach these eager students.

    “It’s kind of flexing a muscle that I don’t get to use on a daily basis in the kitchen,” Belcher, assistant director of Culinary Operations at Hope Services, said. “As far as like teaching and breaking things down and showing someone who is totally green to the industry, the baby steps to getting involved. That’s been very rewarding and challenging at the same time.”

    And the impact Belcher’s lessons have on his students is clear.

    “The teachers are amazing. They’re really kind and respectful,” said Stoltz. “They’ll help you out if there’s a problem and me taking this class here was amazing. It was life changing for me.”

    The nonprofit provides them with the necessary life skills to live independent lives.

    “These classes are changing my life and it’s a lot of fun, like I said,” Stoltz said. “I would do it again if I could.”

    All while making lasting memories and lifelong friends.

    You can learn more about Hope Services and their available classes on their website.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Suncoast Remake Learning Days a 15-day festival of free education

    Suncoast Remake Learning Days a 15-day festival of free education

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Several Florida counties are coming together for a 15-day festival called Suncoast Remake Learning Days after the country saw a decline in 2023.

    Students and families will get resources and hands-on learning opportunities at various locations across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, starting April 20 through May 4.

    One organization in Manatee County is working with parents to get their kids the materials they need to boost their reading levels. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Organizations across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties are coming together for a 15-day festival called Suncoast Remake Learning Days
    • Students and families will get resources and hands-on learning opportunities at various locations from April 20 through May 4

    • Soar in 4, a Manatee County nonprofit, provides free literacy tools and resources to parents who need financial aid
    • They help roughly 800 families a day with free materials

    Amanda Quirino is teaching her kids something new through a game of hopscotch.

    Playing hopscotch isn’t the typical way to improve literacy, but it works for her family. Quirino has her kids focus on enunciation.

    “This is a game we don’t see anymore to show them what we grew up with. It’s simple like hopscotch or writing their name,” she said.

    Quirino has a table filled with learning materials, like arts and crafts, she received from Soar in 4, a nonprofit that provides free literacy tools and resources to parents who need financial aid.

    “I became a mom at the age of 20. So I was a very young mom, and I just wanted to be able to find the right resources,” she said.

    For the past 10 years, Quirino has received about a dozen items each week. Her children are bilingual, and she says those supplies have helped them overcome the hurdles of learning two languages.

    “My third grader, the testing is non-stop sometimes. So she needs to be that fluent reader and she needs to be able to comprehend the questions. My kindergartener, they have sight words. So anytime I can expose them to that, it will help them,” she said.

    According to Soar in 4, 50% of Manatee County students are reading below their grade level. Sheila Halpin, one of the organization coordinators, said the materials they provide help kids improve their reading and writing skills.

    “Soar in 4 has been in existence for 10 years. We have grown and grown and grown. We are seeing that the kids who attend preschool are getting better in 3rd-grade assessment,” Halpin said.

    They help roughly 800 families a day with free materials. Halpin says more than 90% of families who have attended a Soar in 4 event are using the at-home material and are reading more to their kids.

    “Families just don’t have the funds to purchase all of these items. We teach our families that when we are jumping rope, we talk about counting again. How many? 1, 2, 3, once again. Counting leads into literacy,” she said.

    Quirino’s chidlren read every day, and she says their skills have improved with the help of the hands-on tools Soar in 4 provides.

    “I’ve seen them pronouncing the sounds, putting it together, and connecting them. Maybe they would just know one sound, and now if they have the two sounds that go together or we count out syllables, and it’s helped them in their school life,” Quirino said.

    For Quirino, having these free resources is like connecting the pieces of a puzzle.

    “We barely just became homeowners last August. We rented for 10 years with our family, so we are finally able to do bigger and better things with our family. But it was hard, so it was through our programs that we were able to connect and get resources that we needed. It was a journey,” she said.

    Community resources that help families so their kids can have bigger and brighter futures.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Florida Farm Finder group connects people with local farms around the state

    Florida Farm Finder group connects people with local farms around the state

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    BARTOW, Fla. — A woman in Polk County is helping connect people across the state with local farms in their area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Farm Finder is a Facebook group that connects people with local farms in the state

    • One of its users, S&S Micro Farm, says they’ve been able to extend their reach, in part, because of Florida Farm Finder

    • As a result of using the group, farms have been able to save money on marketing and let people know of the different events they have going on

    It’s all on a Facebook group called Florida Farm Finder, and farmers say the page has brought tons of business to them, saving them loads of money in marketing.

    Sam Longster’s farm, S&S Micro Farm in Bartow, has rows of fresh blueberries with many of them ripe for the picking.

    “I like the sort of big fat round ones. The dark blue makes some really sweet,” Longster said. “I just really, really enjoy this time of the season. Just being out here and meeting people.”

    But when she and her husband, Scott, first bought this farm, this time of year wasn’t always kind.

    They purchased the land in August 2019 and blueberries bloom in February and March.

    So, right as they were about to sell their berries in 2020, things took a turn.

    “The first week of us realizing we were ready to go, and we had all these blueberries, the whole planet shut down,” Longster said.

    Rather than sticking with wholesale markets, she and Scott converted the farm to a “u-pick” model, where people can come to the farm in person to pick their own berries.

    “We really had to pivot quickly or else we were going to go broke,” Longster said.

    But getting the message out to the public wasn’t easy until Jillian Childs came into the picture.

    “It just kind of clicked that there was this huge disconnect,” Childs said.

    According to Childs, she saw during the height of the pandemic in 2020 that fresh produce was tough to come by, especially since millions of pounds of things like blueberries are imported from other countries, like Peru.

    So, she started Florida Farm Finder to let people know about local farms in the state where they can pick their own fruits and vegetables.

    “At that time,” Childs said, “I was like, ‘yeah, this is great for emergencies.’ And we thought, you know, it would die down and slow down, but it never really did.”

    Four years later, they have 70,000 members and 500 farmers regularly participating on the page, including Longster.

    “We really wouldn’t have the confidence to do only, you know, commercial if it wasn’t for Jillian’s site,” Longster said.

    Especially with inflation doubling the cost of fertilizer and diesel fuel, she said having thousands of people see the latest events and activities at S&S has been beneficial.

    “Jillian really helped us connect with the public on that. So, she was a great help,” Longster said.

    It’s a partnership that’s proven to be fruitful.

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    Nick Popham

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  • Nature Coast serving as backdrop for new film

    Nature Coast serving as backdrop for new film

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    CITRUS CO., Fla. — A slice of Hollywood has found its way to Florida’s Nature Coast. Citrus County is taking center stage as the prime location for a new movie being shot.

    What You Need To Know

    • Citrus County and the Nature Coast are taking center stage as the prime locations for a new movie being filmed

    • The movie, titled “Skinwalker Island,” is an indie horror film set in the deep south

    • One of the film’s leading roles is played by social media influencer ‘Too Turnt Tony’ alongside his popular duck sidekick ‘Baby Girl’

    • Plans are to have the movie premiere in this summer

    The movie is called “Skinwalker Island” and is an indie horror film set in the deep south. But the movie is going beyond its unique genre.

    In the remote woods of Citrus County, a movie set and its crew have set up in producer Nick Tamposi’s very own backyard.

    “I can’t imagine doing this anywhere else and having the comfort of doing it at our own home,” he said.

    Tamposi has been making movies for five years. He and his wife have their own talent agency, managing fashion models from New York to Miami. With a background in photography for many years, the transition, he says, was seamless.

    “Just fell in love with the whole process of the filmmaking side,” said Tamposi, a producer of the film. “I’ve been a photographer for many years and it was just a natural progression to move over onto this side. Being able to do it with my kids and my family is just a complete blessing.”

    Like with any movie, the crew is pretty extensive, including writer and director Jon Carlo.

    “We always really wanted to do a horror film because we love the genre, also because it’s just so popular right now and they sell well, and this area lends itself so perfectly to a horror film,” Carlo said.

    And what’s a movie without its cast? One of the leading roles is played by social media influencer ‘Too Turnt Tony.’ Well-known across the internet for his quirky videos featuring him and his duck, ‘Baby Girl.’

    “It’s almost come like full circle, because she’s been in all of the videos since we started, and now we’re doing a movie together, so it’s cool,” said Tony. “I’m glad they put her in a cameo and she’s loving it. She’s quiet right now, so she must be happy, but yeah, it’s been cool to have her along the journey for sure.”

    It’s a different approach to movie-making. One that Carlo says could be a game-changer for the industry.

    “We have someone that has more power than any PR company can bring on or an advertising company,” he said. “We have someone that if one percent of his followers convert and rent the movie, that’s real box office money. We’re really excited to see what this non-conventional approach to marketing a movie turns into.”

    It’s also an opportunity for Citrus County. A community, Carlo says, that has been so welcoming to them. A favor they would like to return.

    “If we can eventually figure out a way to train and hire locally across the board, that’s how I feel like we can really give back to the community.”

    Which could extend beyond the camera lens.

    “Putting it on camera and letting people see the real natural beauty of the area and the charm of the deep south setting that we have, it’s almost a character itself: Citrus County,” said Tamposi. “So we’d love to have more film here and we’re going to continue to do more filming as we go.”

    Shining the spotlight on the idea of more show biz along the Nature Coast.

    Carlo says they plan to have the movie premiere in early summer. Exclusive streaming rights are still being negotiated.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Suncoast Remake Learning Days a 15-day festival to help improve student literacy

    Suncoast Remake Learning Days a 15-day festival to help improve student literacy

    [ad_1]

    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Several Florida counties are coming together for a 15-day festival called Suncoast Remake Learning Days to help improve student literacy rates after the country saw a decline in 2023.

    Students and families will get resources and hands-on learning opportunities at various locations across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, starting April 20 through May 4.

    One organization in Manatee County is working with parents to get their kids the materials they need to boost their reading levels. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Organizations across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties are coming together for a 15-day festival called Suncoast Remake Learning Days
    • Students and families will get resources and hands-on learning opportunities at various locations from April 20 through May 4

    • Soar in 4, a Manatee County nonprofit, provides free literacy tools and resources to parents who need financial aid
    • They help roughly 800 families a day with free materials

    Amanda Quirino is teaching her kids something new through a game of hopscotch.

    Playing hopscotch isn’t the typical way to improve literacy, but it works for her family. Quirino has her kids focus on enunciation.

    “This is a game we don’t see anymore to show them what we grew up with. It’s simple like hopscotch or writing their name,” she said.

    Quirino has a table filled with learning materials, like arts and crafts, she received from Soar in 4, a nonprofit that provides free literacy tools and resources to parents who need financial aid.

    “I became a mom at the age of 20. So I was a very young mom, and I just wanted to be able to find the right resources,” she said.

    For the past 10 years, Quirino has received about a dozen items each week. Her children are bilingual, and she says those supplies have helped them overcome the hurdles of learning two languages.

    “My third grader, the testing is non-stop sometimes. So she needs to be that fluent reader and she needs to be able to comprehend the questions. My kindergartener, they have sight words. So anytime I can expose them to that, it will help them,” she said.

    According to Soar in 4, 50% of Manatee County students are reading below their grade level. Sheila Halpin, one of the organization coordinators, said the materials they provide help kids improve their reading and writing skills.

    “Soar in 4 has been in existence for 10 years. We have grown and grown and grown. We are seeing that the kids who attend preschool are getting better in 3rd-grade assessment,” Halpin said.

    They help roughly 800 families a day with free materials. Halpin says more than 90% of families who have attended a Soar in 4 event are using the at-home material and are reading more to their kids.

    “Families just don’t have the funds to purchase all of these items. We teach our families that when we are jumping rope, we talk about counting again. How many? 1, 2, 3, once again. Counting leads into literacy,” she said.

    Quirino’s chidlren read every day, and she says their skills have improved with the help of the hands-on tools Soar in 4 provides.

    “I’ve seen them pronouncing the sounds, putting it together, and connecting them. Maybe they would just know one sound, and now if they have the two sounds that go together or we count out syllables, and it’s helped them in their school life,” Quirino said.

    For Quirino, having these free resources is like connecting the pieces of a puzzle.

    “We barely just became homeowners last August. We rented for 10 years with our family, so we are finally able to do bigger and better things with our family. But it was hard, so it was through our programs that we were able to connect and get resources that we needed. It was a journey,” she said.

    Community resources that help families so their kids can have bigger and brighter futures.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Countryside High graduate Rocco Simonelli makes big splash in college diving

    Countryside High graduate Rocco Simonelli makes big splash in college diving

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    LARGO, Fla. — When Rocco Simonelli is diving, he says nothing else can compare to the thrill.

    “You’re just in a free fall. You can’t do anything except do what you know. It’s a fun rush,” Simonelli said.

    His mom, who’s a former collegiate diver and coach, introduced Simonelli to the sport at a young age.

    But for Simonelli it was just for fun. 

    “When I started diving, I was actually little, you know, going to a local pool,” Simonelli said. “We had fun on the dive boards. My mom was a coach, so she always got me to try something new every time we went.”

    It wasn’t until high school that he decided to pursue the sport.

    What You Need To Know

    • As a youth, Rocco Simonelli was the national champion in taekwondo. He represented team USA at the Pan-American games 

    • Simonelli started diving at a young age for fun, but didn’t pursue the sport competitively until high school 

    • The Countryside High graduate recently added another accolade. He’s the National Junior College men’s champion in the 1 meter 

    • This fall, he’ll continue his training at Florida Atlantic University 

    His first love was martial arts, where he racked up many medals and awards. 

    “As a youth, he was a national champion for taekwondo. He represented team USA at the Pan-American games in taekwondo,” Ann Simonelli said. “He’s been on USA national team, AAU national team and then he started with the diving and he’s won the county. He’s won districts.”

    Although Simonelli got a later start competing in diving, he quickly found success, and decided it was the sport for him. 

    “It was tough to see him step away from some of the other sports that he was also really excelling in and continue with the diving, but because he said this is what he was loving, this is what I had to let him do and he’s proven to me that this was the right choice,” his mother said.

    The Countryside High graduate recently added another accolade. He’s the National Junior College men’s champion in the 1 meter. 

    “It means a lot. It really shows to me that all the hard work really does pay off,” he said.

    This fall, he’ll continue his training at Florida Atlantic University. 

    He’s following in his mom’s footsteps, while making a big splash of his own.

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    Olivia Stacey

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  • St. Pete museum offers comprehensive look at 20th Century American movement

    St. Pete museum offers comprehensive look at 20th Century American movement

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Imagine being part of a museum as it begins. That’s how it happened for Andrea Morgan, the Director of Operations at the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement is at 355 4th St. N., St. Petersburg

    • Nearly 1,000 works are on display

    The Clearwater native traveled through half a dozen states before her studies and career landed her teaching Tampa Bay residents about decorative art.

    “So the Arts and Crafts Movement comes at the rise of the Industrial Revolution as an answer to not only factory made mass-produced objects, but also as an answer to highly ornate Victorian objects,” Morgan said.

    It was to be simplified designs inspired by nature and one-of-a-kind objects — functional as well as beautiful.

    “And so you can see that they have been used, whether it’s some staining on the top of a table or on top of the sideboard over here,” said Morgan. “And that really just shows that these pieces had a life before they came here with us.”

    Morgan says her return to town is framed by the continuing rise of the arts in St. Pete.

    “And to be part of this museum, which really is one of a kind. We are the only museum in the world dedicated to the American Arts and Crafts movement,” said Morgan. “So to be part of that, I think is really special.”

    Nearly 1,000 works are on display to honor this turn of the 20th Century American movement.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Myakka City rancher produces movie to bring more filmmakers to Florida

    Myakka City rancher produces movie to bring more filmmakers to Florida

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Why aren’t more movies filmed in Florida? Our state was at the top of the list for film locations, but since Florida no longer gives incentives, there have been fewer movies filmed in the Sunshine State.

    The film industry was at one time wildly successful in Florida. State data shows the industry generated $3.9 billion of revenue way back in 2000.  

    But the decision to end film incentives in 2016 has led moviemakers to leave the state.

    Film Florida estimates in the last ten years, Florida has lost at least 100 major film and television projects because of the lack of incentives.

    They estimate those projects would have created:

    • Close to $2 billion in money spent
    • 150,000 cast and crew jobs
    • And 300,000 hotel or short-term rental room nights

    What You Need To Know

    • Film Florida estimates in the last ten years, Florida has lost at least 100 major film and television projects because of the lack of incentives

    • Mark Pentecost wants to bring more filmakers to Florida

    • He says with his new movie “Florida Wild” it will show the public what Florida was like back in the 1880s and how vital ranching is for our lives

    Mark Pentecost is in love with what Florida offers.

    “I love it out here. This is my favorite place,” he said.

    He moved to Myakka City in 2011 from Michigan to start his own ranch, and since his initial purchase, his property has grown from 300 acres to 10,000 acres.

    “We got 1,200 beef cows and probably 7 or 800 calves on the ground right now. We feed so many of America, and people don’t realize that we do that in Florida,” he said.

    He’s wanted to be a cowboy for years, not just in real life but also on the big screen.

    “When I was a little kid, we would go to my grandpa’s on Saturdays and watch westerns. I’m doing this in his honor. Only in America, I believe if you have a big dream, you can go after it,” he said.

    So he brought the big screen to his ranch, producing a western movie called “Florida Wild” that takes place in the 1880s. Mark has invested more than $10 million to film the movie on his property.

    “It was my dream to do this movie here on our ranch. What I didn’t realize is that Florida has one of three states with zero incentives — no incentives to do movies here. We got 250 people on set every day and 100 people locally working on set. We are putting money back into the economy,” he said.

    He says if he had shot the movie in Georgia, he would have gotten 30% back in incentives, a $3 million rebate. But he was determined to film at his home despite the cost.

    “It’s a pricey endeavor, but it makes me laugh. I’m pioneering like they did in the old days to try to get more movies brought back to Florida. So hopefully,” he said.

    Mark also hired local residents to replicate a real western town and build about 10 structures like a jail, a saloon, and stores. He aims to show what ranching was like in Florida in the 19th century.

    “This is real Florida back after the Civil War. So many people moved to Florida and started new lives, and I want to show that, that’s where legacy comes from, and ranches. If we don’t bring attention to that and our ranches, we will close that like our citrus,” he said.

    Mark’s goal is to show people a different side of Florida.

    “Westerns really originated here. The Spanish brought horses and cattle here first. We are really trying to bring that to life and not let that be forgotten in a day of building so many developments, condos, and golf courses. We want them to remember what Florida was really about,” he said.

    He’s honoring the heritage of the state and hoping it inspires moviemakers to return to Florida.

    Mark says he plans on hosting field trips to his ranch to show students what a movie set looks like to inspire young minds to think about going into the movie industry. Mark says he anticipates the movie to be in theaters by 2025.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Nonprofit starts program to give free produce to seniors

    Nonprofit starts program to give free produce to seniors

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    PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — A nonprofit in Pinellas County is launching a new program designed to deliver fresh produce to seniors in the area.

    What You Need To Know

    • A nonprofit in Pinellas County, Saving Our Seniors, has created a new program called ProducePac

    • The program provides free boxes of fresh produce for seniors for every box that’s purchased by someone in the community

    • According to Saving Our Seniors’ founder Kelli Casto, she hopes the money that’s generated through ProducePac will lead to her to be able to help double the number of senior citizens she’s currently helping

    • ProducePac had its soft launch on April 6

    It’s called ProducePac, and it’s being started by the organization Saving Our Seniors, where every box of produce that’s purchased by a customer will lead to a free box going to a senior citizen.

    Kelli Casto is the founder of Saving our Seniors, a nonprofit organization that originally helped folks with finding durable medical equipment.

    Being an occupational therapist for 15 years, that was her expertise, but when the COVID-19 pandemic began, many of her clients were having trouble finding good produce.

    After some time just recommending places, Casto decided to add on produce delivery to saving our seniors, which has become the main thing for years now.

    “We started our farmers market, literally in our Chevy Malibu, and we’ve grown it, you know, from just like 50 spots to having over 180 different locations that we service monthly,” Casto said.

    Now, she’s upgraded from the Malibu, using a van to pack products for folks she’s delivering to and currently serving about 14,000 seniors a month.

    “Just in the last year or two,” said Casto. “We’ve really expanded.”

    But with that growth and the desire to purchase fresh produce from local farmer’s markets, fundraising and finances have gotten tight.

    So, Casto’s solution is through ProducePac.

    “This is a way for you to get fresh produce and then, in return, feed a senior in our community,” Casto said.

    According to Casto, there are two size options for these boxes of produce. Some of the money that a person spends on the box will be used to buy the exact same box to give to a senior citizen for free.

    “We’ll be able to have a little bit of money left over that will fund the ability to feed a senior in the community,” Casto said.

    Which means a lot to Casto, because she constantly is waking up at three in the morning to go buy these fruits and veggies to give away.

    “Being able to just help one person and helping others is key,” she said.

    Which is why so many people are lining up in a parking lot in Pinellas Park to get fruits and veggies from Casto, because her goal is to make sure no senior citizen goes hungry.

    Casto said she did a soft launch of ProducePac on April 6.

    She hopes to double the number of senior citizens she serves in the bay area from 14,000 to 28,000 with the introduction of ProducePac.

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    Nick Popham

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  • Oldsmar resident travels to New York to view the total solar eclipse

    Oldsmar resident travels to New York to view the total solar eclipse

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The rare total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, is attracting many Tampa Bay area sky gazers.

    Mike Tierney lives in Oldsmar. However, he is traveling to upstate New York on Friday to be in the path of the total solar eclipse.

    “This is more of a science thing,” Tierney said when trying to explain his fascination with the eclipse.

    He called it nature at its finest.

    “It’s a once in a lifetime thing and it just happened to be going through my hometown,” Tierney said.

    He was raised in Medina, near Buffalo, New York. That’s where he will spend about four minutes, watching the sun cover the moon.

    To get ready to watch the total solar eclipse, his wife purchased special glasses for him to protect his eyes.

    Tierney said he’ll wear them before and after the eclipse.

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    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Parents concerned over Pasco County Schools’ PIP policy for students with autism

    Parents concerned over Pasco County Schools’ PIP policy for students with autism

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Some Pasco County parents are worried about what may happen with their children’s PIP services, or “Private Instructional Personnel.” Primarily, families with children who have autism. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Parents want to meet with district leaders to discuss current PIP policy 

    • PIP services include things like ABA Therapy

    • The current policy allows for limits on when, where and how long services can be offered in schools

    Part of their treatment plan from their doctor often includes an ABA therapist, who goes to school with the child for a prescribed amount of time, giving them the one-on-one therapy they may need to be successful in the classroom. Now, parents are worried the therapists may not be allowed in the classrooms.

    Every day after school, Jessica Sibler and her son, Elliot, spend time together working on school subjects.

    “Elliot has autism, but he is the most intelligent kid I know. He’s wildly smart, and he loves to hug, he loves to cuddle, he loves everything else every five-year-old loves,” Sibler said.

    Before moving to Florida, Sibler worked for agencies serving children and adults with disabilities, so she knew the signs of autism, and says she had concerns early on with Elliot, but his official diagnosis came when he was four-years-old. His doctor prescribed ABA therapy, or Applied Behavior Analyst.

    “Every kid is different, they can get between 10 to 40 hours a week of therapy and so if you’re talking about a kid who is in school full time, plus they’re supposed to have 40 hours of prescribed therapy, that’s two full-time jobs, so being able to combine the two is beneficial,” she said.

    Right now, Elliot is in pre-K, and as the family prepares for him to enter kindergarten, Sibler started looking into Pasco County Schools’ PIP policy, explained in a packet.

    “This new policy says that the services are to be provided to students during non-core settings such as cafeteria, lunch, recess, bus and non-core academic subjects outside the classroom. That’s pretty significant because if you think of kids who need this ABA therapy, to say that they don’t need it in the classroom is pretty significant,” she said, as she read from the PIP packet.

    It also states the “best practice for observation is a maximum of two hours at one time in the classroom,” which concerns Sibler.

    She said right now they plan on doing Elliot’s ABA therapy after school, but if he struggles to transition to kindergarten, having his ABA therapist in school is the best option. But she worries that may not even be an option.

    “We want the option that if that doesn’t work, that we can move it into the school so he does get that therapy, or if he goes into kindergarten and struggles that he can get that therapy. Kindergarten is going to look a lot different,” she said.

    Sibler hopes to meet with district officials to review the PIP policy, so students like Elliot have access to the help they need to succeed. 

    Pasco County Schools said they follow state statute when writing the PIP policy. They say it’s a convenience to allow various therapies to be offered during school hours, and the policy doesn’t exclude a student from receiving those services, but it does give principals the right to decide when it’s appropriate to allow outside therapists into the school.

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • Safety Harbor family center received $1.4M for expansion project

    Safety Harbor family center received $1.4M for expansion project

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    SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. — The Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center has received $1.4 million from Pinellas County and the City of Safety Harbor for a much needed expansion project, according to executive director David Hale.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County and Safety Harbor donated $1.4M for center expansion  

    • Mattie Williams Center needs extra space for food pantry 

    • The need for food more than doubled during the pandemic   

    • The project is expected to be complete by late summer

    “We are so grateful to Pinellas County. They are the largest funder of this project at nearly $1 million,” he said. “This project would not have happened without Janet Hooper. This is her will and vision.”

    Janet Hooper, 73, has been with the center for 16 years and was its longest serving executive director. Hooper volunteered to chair the committee for expansion and said it was her vision two years ago to see the project happen before she retired.

    “I’m ecstatic. I can’t even tell you,” she said. “I almost cried when the county came through with extra funding.”

    Hooper said during the pandemic the need for food more than doubled from 10,000 to 23,000 people, and that number has not come down. Storing all of that extra food in the small facility at 1003 Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. has become overwhelming, according to Hooper.

    “It’s an incredible amount of food that you process through,” she said. “Everybody’s office wasn’t an office anymore. It became this storage area.”

    The 27-year-old center, which has been at its current location since 2000, added a big storage shed to the property during the pandemic but it too filled up quickly, according to Hooper.

    “By the time it was built it was already obsolete, so to speak,” she said. “We needed even more space.”

    County and city leaders gathered at the Mattie Williams Center on Feb. 28 for a groundbreaking ceremony. The project is expected to be complete by late summer and will add 1,545 square-feet of new building, which includes a multi-purpose room that can hold more than 100 people.

    “We are going to make sure this facility grows for the folks who are depending on us,” said Hale. “You can see where our current reception area becomes a much nicer welcome area for folks.”

    The center serves Safety Harbor, Oldsmar and eastern Clearwater. Last year, the center delivered 77,000 pounds of food to approximately 7,660 households where 7,400 kids live. The center also provides family services and utility assistance.

    “We are the lifeline for a lot of people in the community,” said Hooper. “We’re about feeding people, we’re about trying to give people an opportunity and give them hope.”

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    Josh Rojas

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  • Military high schooler honored during Women’s History Month

    Military high schooler honored during Women’s History Month

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Joining the Florida Army National Guard is a commitment that few take on. 

    It’s even more unusual to enlist while still in high school, but that’s the commitment Alexandria Goodin, a senior at Hollins High School in St. Petersburg, took on. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Alexandria Goodin joined the Florida Army National Guard at 17 years old

    • Goodin got to take part in a special ceremony as the shortest-serving member at the event

    • Phyllis Wilson, the President of the Military Women’s Memorial, is excited to see what Goodin accomplishes in the future

    She joined shortly after turning 17 years old.

    “I was told that I couldn’t, so I did,” she said. “That’s why I went to join the military. I wanted to push myself to the greatest point I could.”

    Now 18, she spent the night of March 28 surrounded by other women in the military who left their mark, like Phyllis Wilson. 

    Wilson, the President of the Military Women’s Memorial and one of the keynote speakers at the Tribute to Women in Defense event, is someone Goodin looks up to. 

    “These women have fought so hard in the challenges and breakthroughs that they have gone through to allow me to be in the army today, and to allow the comfortability and the safety of today’s society is something I’m so grateful for,” Goodin said. 

    As the shortest-serving member at the event, Goodin spent a special moment with Wilson, the longest-serving member, passing two coins between the two of them.  

    “To be recognized by her is something I’ll forever cherish,” Goodin said. 

    Wilson spent nearly 40 years in the military before taking on her current role for the Military Women’s Memorial. She said this is a special tradition and can’t wait to see what Goodin takes on in the future.

    “It’s so much fun to watch the wide-eyed, the excitement that she has in her eyes, what she’s looking forward to, and what she certainly can yet imagine she’s going to do,” she said. 

    Goodin said the coins shining in her hands are a reminder that her journey is just starting.

    Next up, she will be studying political science at the University of South Florida, followed by law school.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Polk County reading coach drives students’ success

    Polk County reading coach drives students’ success

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Renard Thomas wears many hats within Polk County Public Schools.

    He’s the reading coach at Auburndale Central Elementary and recently he started driving kids to and from school to help with the bus driver shortage.

    “I did that because I wanted to reduce the number of school bus referrals that we had at my school,” Thomas said. “So I did it to help with discipline as well as pursue my dream as well.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Renard Thomas, a reading coach at Auburndale Central Elementary, has jumped in as a bus driver this year

    • Thomas said it has helped him build stronger relationships with his students

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    He said he always wanted to become a bus driver, so when the district needed more, he stepped up. Thomas said it has helped him build stronger relationships with his students.

    “It has positively impacted my students. They come to school, they’re happy. When I pick them up, they’re happy and smiling when I get off the bus,” said Thomas.

    He said being happy helps them learn. When he gets to Auburndale Central Elementary to start the school day, he begins by reading a book over the loudspeaker. Then he works with students in small groups on their reading skills and meets with teachers individually to go over reading benchmarks for each grade.

    “Reading is fundamental. If you don’t know how to read, then you can’t really go far in life,” said Thomas.

    Thomas wants every student to go far and accomplish their goals. He is setting an example for them each day. Thomas says he became involved with the school district when he was 19-years-old in 2011. He’s held many roles since then. He’s been a para educator, a custodian and a teacher. He says those roles have helped shape him into who he is today.

    “It has been through my experiences working for Polk County Schools that I first began to understand that my life would be rooted in service and giving back to others,” said Thomas.

    Thomas says his goal is to become a principal one day.

    “The sky is the limit to me, but I know that education is where I want to remain because I can make a powerful impact,” he said.

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    Jorja Roman

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  • Emerson Point Preserve anticipated to be expanded by 97 acres

    Emerson Point Preserve anticipated to be expanded by 97 acres

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Emerson Point Preserve, known not only as a community favorite but also for its historical significance dating back to Native Americans, is set to expand by 97 acres following a vote by Manatee County commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting. The commissioners agreed to the purchase of the land for $15.5 million but still have a long road ahead before anything is finalized.

    “We’ve gotten pretty aggressive at going after parcels, that once they are gone, they are gone. So the Board of County Commissioners is doing everything we can to acquire more land for our natural resources,” said Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee County commissioners agreed to the price of $15.5 million to purchase the 97 acres of land adjacent to the preserve

    • Commissioners say expanding the preserve will be an investment for the future
    • It’s not all set in stone yet. There will need to be future meetings and negotiations with the seller before this is complete, which commissioners say could be months from now

    Many families find themselves coming to Emerson Point Preserve to enjoy nature. It’s that kind of interaction that brings cyclist Jon Dybik coming back for more.

    Dybik has been coming to Emerson Point Preserve for years and bikes every single day, hoping to stumble upon the next creature he might see.

    “Nature is my jam. I love biking on trails in nature and one of my favorite things is to stop and see the wildlife,” Dybik said.

    He says biking is a form of therapy for him.

    “Gives me balance and harmony in life,” Dybik said.

    Trails are one of the additions he says he hopes will be included with the 97-acre expansion to Emersion Point Preserve.

    “I’ve probably explored every inch in here possibly, and to see it grow conservation in nature, I’m a big fan of that,” Dybik noted.

    Many families make their way out there to enjoy not just nature, but the history these trails bring, dating back to when Native Americans lived there.

    “There’s a mound up there which is a great site to look at, all the trails, sometimes, you’ll see archeological stuff, and seeing it, knowing it was there for hundreds of years is absolutely awesome,” Dybik remarked.

    He says Emerson Point Preserve is a vital part of the community — a place where people can learn from.

    “I’ve seen people come up and down here, especially for conservation. This is their habitat — I think it’s fantastic. It’s the simple things in life. I put it on my reminders to enjoy the simple life,” Dybik reflected.

    It’s an investment for current and future generations to experience the simple things in life.

    It’s not all set in stone yet. There will need to be future meetings and negotiations with the seller before this is complete, which commissioners say could be months from now.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • ZooTampa opens Stingray Shores exhibit for guest experiences

    ZooTampa opens Stingray Shores exhibit for guest experiences

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    TAMPA, Fla. — ZooTampa is opening its stingray exhibit, Stingray Shores, for guest experiences.

    What You Need To Know

    • ZooTampa Animal Encounters now include a stingray experience

    • Southern and cownose stingrays populate the exhibit

    • Handlers trim barbs, and rays are raised hand-fed 

    • Stingray Shores offers daily interaction opportunities

    It’s another way the zoo is trying to connect people with the wild, taking a step into the 76-degree water habitat.

    That’s right — in it.

    ZooTampa’s Kayla Cary is one of the zoo professionals leading the way in this hour-long experience.

    It starts with educational components and preparations for meeting rays in the habitat.

    “So, while you are in the waters, they may come all around you and even straight up to you,” Cary said. “It’s completely OK. They are very curious animals. It’s OK, and we are entering their space.”

    Cary’s been working in their space for two years.

    “A lot people have misconceptions about stingrays,” she explained.

    And at ZooTampa, she said, it’s even safer than the wild. Zoo staffers trim each ray’s barb.

    Rays have their own dispositions. They are food-motivated. And their mouths feel like little vacuum cleaners.

    Because rays sometimes burrow in the sand on Tampa Bay’s beaches, Cary shows the stingray shuffle, shuffling her feet to move forward through the sand.

    “By doing this movement, this will alert the stingray we are coming near them and allow them to move,” Cary said. “They can sense vibrations in the sand.”

    Moving people from fear to understanding of the wild kingdom is part of ZooTampa’s mission.

    The goal is to change perceptions and help protect the future of the animals and their environment.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Daytona Beach’s 83rd Daytona Bike Week kicks off March 1

    Daytona Beach’s 83rd Daytona Bike Week kicks off March 1

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    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach’s 83rd Daytona Bike Week kicks off Friday, March 1, with the roar and rumble of engines making their way into Volusia County.

    The weeklong event draws in around 300,000 to 400,000 visitors across Volusia and Flagler counties, where bikers enjoy spring riding in Daytona Beach along historic Main Street to Midtown, Scenic A1A Highway and the Ormond Beach Scenic Loop.

    From bike shows and live music to cruising along coastal roads, there is something for everyone this week. Some of the top scenic areas for bikers to ride include:

    Bike Week festivities will take place at different locations throughout the county, including at Daytona International Speedway, Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley Davidson, and the U.S. 1 corridors.

    Some listed events include:

    Visit OfficialBikeWeek.com for the FULL list of events. 

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida Polytechnic University ranks most affordable for cybersecurity program

    Florida Polytechnic University ranks most affordable for cybersecurity program

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland is quickly becoming known for being one of the most affordable universities. It’s currently ranked No. 1 in the state for graduates with the lowest student debt, and its cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program is No. 1 for affordability in the country according to Cybersecurity Guide, an online resource that specializes in cybersecurity and cybersecurity education.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Polytechnic University ranked No. 1 in the state for graduates with the lowest student debt

    • Florida Polytechnic University’s cybersecurity program ranked No. 1 in affordability in the country

    • Cybersecurity program costs $12,600 for 120 credit hours

    Will Marshall is a senior at Florida Polytechnic University, and he’s making the most of his college years by preparing for his future financially, which is a reason he’s pursuing his degree in cybersecurity.

    “Not only being able to find a job, but having so many areas for growth in that job because cybersecurity is such a broad field where you have subdivisions of cybersecurity,” he said.

    Right now, he’s in a class that all seniors in the computer science program have to take to graduate. They’re working on their final project, with some related to game development, others building software or apps, like Marshall’s group. They’re building a computer code library right now.

    “Our project is building a 3D model app that scans a person and then builds a 3D model off of it so that way they can get body measurements and health data,” Marshall explained.

    Marshall said after being selected to attend a cybersecurity conference in high school, he knew computer science is what he wanted to major in. A Tampa native, he considered all his options, but ultimately, Florida Polytechnic University was the school for him.

    “It’s very affordable. It helps because it kind of lowers the barrier to entry, so that way, more people can get into the field. They can learn, they can grow,” he said.

    Cybersecurity Guide named the school’s cybersecurity program No. 1 for affordability with a cost of $105 per credit hour, and a total tuition of $12,600 for the 120 credit program, while other schools can cost over $60,000. 

    “It allows me to focus fully on a school without having to have a side job that takes up my time, to be able to support myself. That way, I can focus fully on learning,” said Marshall.

    And while he’s studying for his degree, he doesn’t have to worry about graduating with a bunch of debt. 

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    Fallon Silcox

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