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Tag: Community news

  • Bradenton teacher helps students find a love for reading

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — Ann Hunsader is the fourth-grade reading teacher at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School. 

    And for her, the best part of the job is her students. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Ann Hunsader is a fourth-grade reading teacher at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School in Bradenton 

    • She’s been a teacher for 30 years, spending almost half that time in Bradenton
    • Would you like to nominate an A+ Teacher? Click here

    “They’re just so curious and they just want to learn,” Hunsader said. “And especially I would say because I teach reading, we can have some really great discussions. They’re just starting to come into their own and I love that about them.”

    She’s been a teacher for 30 years. She’s spent half of that time teaching in Bradenton where she grew up. Hunsader said she builds relationships with every student and that helps them learn.

    “Our promise is that every child should be known and every child should be valued,” said Hunsader. She went on to say, “I know which kids like chess. I know the strengths of the kids. I know where the kids need help. And they’re not just a number to us.”

    Hunsader’s husband also works at the school as the Athletic Facilities Director.

    “I keep telling her, you touch these kids’ lives more than you think,” said Dan Krone.

    A parent reached out to nominate Hunsader to be featured as an A+ Teacher for her commitment to her students and the school.

    “That’s the type of teacher that I strive to be and to know that she saw that in me,” Hunsader said. “(It) just really touches me.”

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    Jorja Roman

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  • K-8 plan met with support, questions at Oldsmar Elementary

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    OLDSMAR, Fla. — Oldsmar Elementary parents and students heard what a possible K-8 expansion could mean for them at a meeting Monday evening.

    That recommendation is just part of what Pinellas County Schools is considering to adjust for a declining student population. If approved by the Pinellas County School Board, Oldsmar would add sixth grade next school year, then seventh and eighth in the following two years. 

    At a meeting held at the school Monday evening, Pinellas County Schools Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Dull told parents the county’s birth rate and kindergarten enrollment trends have been declining for decades.

    Her presentation included data from the Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Education.

    It showed 10,264 children were born in the county in 1990 and kindergarten enrollment in the 1995-96 school year, the year those 1990 babies would have enrolled, was 8,346. In 2020, data showed 7,609 babies were born in Pinellas County, and 5,208 kindergarteners enrolled in 2025-26.

    Dull cited a University of Florida report that found Pinellas County’s school-age population is expected to decrease through 2050, then plateau. 

    “As the district and board started looking into this, we were really looking at solving, ‘What can we do for now?’ and to future-proof and look at through 2050,” Dull said.

    She said that with 383 current students, Oldsmar is at 53% utilization. She told meeting attendees that if every current third, fourth, and fifth grader stayed at the expanded K-8 instead of moving onto Carwise Middle School, that number would increase to 97%.

    “I really support Oldsmar turning into a K-8,” said Alisha Reith.

    Reith said she’s not only a former student and employee, but her third grader was once a student there.

    “It’s such a family environment, and for the people who get nervous about going to middle school, the family environment really helps,” Reith said. “It really keeps the kids comfortable.”

    “We like the proximity,” said Emily Fuchs, whose child is in fourth grade at Oldsmar. “It’s a five-minute drive from the house. We’re zoned for Carwise, and it’s just — it’s far.”

    Fuchs told Spectrum News that without traffic, the middle school is a 20 minute drive from her home.

    Matin Norozzy, who has a daughter in kindergarten at Oldsmar, said the presentation left him with questions.

    “It seems like the county’s plan is not very clear,” he said. “As we heard tonight, a lot of their fundamental aspects of this school are still in the ‘We’ll figure it out when we get there’ stage. Who the teachers are going to be. What the courses will be. What the potential electives will be. We still don’t have any of those answers.”

    He was also among those who brought up concerns about adding older students to the school.

    “Oldsmar is not an outlier that needs to be fixed,” Norozzy said. “So, why Oldsmar? Why make my kindergartener go to school with sixth graders when she’s in first grade?”

    Dull said older and younger students would be separated.

    “What a kindergarten space looks like, or a pre-K space looks like, has very different needs than what a middle school space looks like,” Dull said. “That doesn’t mean that the climate and the culture of a campus isn’t supportive throughout.”

    As for questions about courses and activities, Dull told parents during the meeting that’s going to depend on student interest. She said the district would survey parents and students to find out what they’d like to see at the school, but there may be fewer options than at an established middle school because there will be a smaller number of students.

    Dull also said if the expansion is approved by the School Board, students who live in the Oldsmar Elementary zone would be able to choose to stay at the school or move on to Carwise. They would also still be able to apply to other schools through the choice/district application program process.

    The school board is expected to vote on this and other possible changes at its meeting on Feb. 24.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Duke Energy warns of scam targeting consumers

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    Duke Energy said it’s aware of a scam going around that’s trying to trick customers.

    Related: Track and report power outages in your area

    Customers have reported receiving a text claiming to be from Duke Energy, saying they will be affected by a scheduled outage. 

    It then asks the recipient to click on a link. 

    “This message did not come from Duke Energy,” Duke Energy wrote in a Facebook post. “Customers should avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from businesses or individuals they do not know, and they should contact Duke Energy directly to discuss their account or visit company communications channels for the latest updates.”

    Duke Energy said it will only use official communication channels to communicate grid conditions. 


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    Lydia Taylor, Spectrum News Staff

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  • Elisha Belden promotes arts for children and young people in Citrus County

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — A Citrus County woman is making sure kids and teens in her community get a chance to experience the arts.

    Elisha Belden said she saw a need for young people and started a nonprofit that runs out of the same building as her tattoo business.

    What You Need To Know

    • Elisha Belden started the Twistid Arts Initiative in Citrus County

    • It all started with a sidewalk chalk art contest for children in 2022

    • The Twistid Arts Initiative provides art classes and stages theater productions in Inverness.

    • The latest production set to debut is called Story Island


    Belden’s business called Twistid Ink is located on Highland Boulevard in Inverness. That’s where there are three tattoo artists working including her husband, Danny Belden. The building also includes rooms for art classes and a former small church sanctuary that now acts as a theater.

    Belden started to promote arts for young people by having Twistid Ink sponsor a sidewalk chalk art competition in 2022.

    It was such a hit that community members asked her if she could do more for the arts. She then started art classes for children, art shows and putting on theater productions in a city-owned theater. But the theater was so busy with other community productions that she made the move into her current building in February 2025.

    “When we were running around town using other buildings for the arts center it was very stressful, very stressed,” said Belden. “Here if we have a break, we can walk into the back and do anything we need to.”

    Belden started a nonprofit called Twistid Arts Initiative to promote and fund the arts projects for young people. She says much of the funding comes from her Twistid Ink business.

    Twistid Arts Initiative has put on a number of productions for the community.

    “We do a lot of kids’ shows. But we do balance it out,” said Belden. “We do some teen and some adult stuff as well.”

    That includes a production of Macbeth, Beetlejuice, Snow Queen, The Wizard of Oz and an original production called The Cursed. The current original production in rehearsal is called Story Island.

    “We are just fine-tuning at this point,” she said. “They’ve got it all down. They’ve got their lines. They’ve got their blocking. Most of it. Ha. Ha. They are doing a great job.”

    Story Island will premiere the last weekend of January and the first weekend of February.

    “The arts are important,” said Belden of the theater productions with young actors. “I feel like it helps them learn critical thinking skills. They get to bond and experience emotional roller coasters through different characters and empathize.”

    Danny Belden, who is the artistic director of the Twistid Arts Initiative, echoed Elisha’s thinking.

    “We are putting everything we can into these kids and what they are doing because it’s changing their lives like it changed mine.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Tax season starts Monday, here’s what’s new this year

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    HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — It’s about that time of year that many Americans dread.

    The first day of tax season is Monday, Jan. 26.

    According to Intuit Turbo Tax, nearly half of Americans dislike or hate filing their taxes.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Big Beautiful Act has brought new tax provisions

    • New provisions include no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and more

    • Experts said if you are hoping to get your refund quickly, e-filing is your best option

    • Tax season runs from Jan. 26 – April 15, 2026


    After the passage of the Big Beautiful Act, there are many changes this filing season.

    It’s that time of year to start gathering your tax documents to get ready to file.

    “Just don’t overlook the simple stuff. I know folks have not a lot of patience for this process, and you kind of want to be done with it as fast as you can, and it’s worth slowing down just a little bit. Make sure you’ve got everything in place,” said Luke Richardson, associate professor of instruction at the University of South Florida.

    That’s because Richardson said there are more changes than usual this year. The Big Beautiful Act has brought new provisions, including no tax on tips.

    “That doesn’t necessarily mean that tips are not taxable. They remain taxable. What you now have is an opportunity to take a deduction for your tip income that offsets the tip income up to a certain amount,” Richardson said.

    The IRS said you can deduct qualified tips with a maximum deduction of $25,000.

    As for no tax on overtime deduction — if you make time-and-a-half for overtime, then just the half-portion can actually be deducted.

    The max deduction for that is $12,500 for single filers.

    There’s also a new senior deduction and a new no tax on car loan interest. These provisions have eligibility requirements and certain deduction maximums. 

    “Most of the tax software you might be using is going to have all those changes in there,” he said.

    There are free options available to help you file your taxes. There’s the IRS free file, which provides tax software for taxpayers who made $89,000 or less. There’s also the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), which is offering free filing help from Tampa Bay experts. 

    “So, plenty of ways to not pay to file your taxes and those programs are vastly underutilized,” Richardson said.

    Whichever option you choose, federal taxes are due by April 15, 2025.

    According to data from the IRS, over 60% of people who filed taxes last year did get a refund.

    For filers hoping to get that money back quickly, experts said e-filing your return is the best option.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Indian Rocks Beach Library readies for grand re-opening after hurricane damage

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    INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. — After being destroyed by hurricanes in 2024, work has been going on for more than a year to reopen the shuttered Indian Rocks Beach Library.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Indian Rocks Beach Library grand re-opening is scheduled for Saturday  

    • Of the 22,000 books and materials in their collection, only 7,000 could be salvaged after Hurricane Helene

    • Roughly $300,000 in renovations were made to the building 


    After a $300,000 renovation, librarians are ready to reopen and share their love of books with the community. 

    Set to launch with a grand re-opening on Saturday morning, librarian Lee Miller is thrilled that the day has come. 

    “I really didn’t know whether or not the library would be open again,” Miller said. 

    Miller has worked at the Pinellas County library for the last eight years and is passionate about her job. But after the storm surge from Hurricane Helene, she says the future seemed bleak.

    The memories of walking back into the building for the first time after the storms are still with her No power, water lingering on the carpet and books fallen off the shelves. 

    Of the 22,000 books and materials in the library’s collection, only 7,000 could be salvaged after the storm.

    “We had to remove everything from inside the building,” Lee said. “And that required filling dumpsters of wet books and hauling them out.”

    The journey to recovery has been slow, but the renovations were made possible with the help of insurance and community donations.

    Indian Rocks Beach Mayor Denise Houseberg said the library is an integral part of the community.

    “It took a lot of people, a lot of manpower, and a lot of volunteers to pull this beautiful library back together,” she said. “It is something the community really adores.” 

    The library’s hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Parents plan to push back against Cross Bayou Elementary closure

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    PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — A number of parents plan to speak out at Thursday’s community meeting regarding the proposed closure of Cross Bayou Elementary in Pinellas Park.

    The family and community meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday in the cafeteria of Cross Bayou Elementary.

    Citing declining enrollment district wide, Pinellas County Superintendent Kevin Hendrick recommended a handful of school consolidations and closures in order to cut down on costs and reduce the amount of student seats available.

    What You Need To Know

    • Family meeting set for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Cross Bayou

    • District says the Deaf/Hard of Hearing program, which is run out of the school, would be relocated to Walsingham Oaks K-8

    • Low enrollment, aging building cited as reasons for potential closure 

    • MORE: Full breakdown of proposed closures, consolidations 


    Hendrick recommended Cross Bayou Elementary close at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, and students be rezoned to nearby Pinellas Central and Bardmoor elementary schools. The Deaf/Hard of Hearing program, which is run out of the school, would be relocated to Walsingham Oaks K-8.

    The decades-old school building is in need of roughly $5.1 million in capital improvements in the coming years, Hendrick said. In order to keep the school up and running it would need a new roof, front office expansion, and refrigerator replacements. The district hopes to sell or lease the property as-is after student depart for the final time in May. The district expects to save about $3 million a year by closing the school.

    Cross Bayou Elementary currently has 245 students with a maximum capacity of 610 students. This is a steep drop from its peak of 427 students during the 2018-2019 school year.

    Parent and school volunteer Michael Gerke says he plans to speak at Thursday’s meeting and plead with district officials to reconsider.

    “The principal has a better chance of having a relationship with 300 kids than she does with 600 kids,” he said. “That’s what matters to me most is the children, it’s more than any budget. More than any bill. I just really hope they change their minds.”

    Parent James King says his son loves his teachers and friends he’s made at Cross Bayou.

    “One fear he does have is going to a new school and losing his friends, he’s made friends here,” King said. “Parents are real nervous, they don’t know what direction it’s headed.”

    A second family and community meeting on the recommended closure is set for Feb. 5 at 6 p.m.

    The closure is pending a school board vote, which is set for late February.

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    Angie Angers

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  • The long and winding road of the Rays stadium pursuit

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The winding road that has been the Tampa Bay Rays pursuit of a new stadium in the Bay area, specifically St. Petersburg, reached one conclusion when Stuart Sternberg announced he “cannot move forward” with the previously agreed upon deal. 

    A team sale followed before Jacksonville-based businessman Patrick Zalupski and his group purchased the team for a $1.7 billion sale.

    After spending the 2025 season playing outdorrs in Tampa, the Rays will be back at the repaired Tropicana Field for the 2026. 2027 and 2028 seasons. 

    Beyond that, the team’s future remains to be seen but news of serious talks of a move to Tampa’s HCC site continues to progress. 

    So…how did we reach this point? A quick look:

    January 2026 

    The Tampa Bay Rays’ quest for a new ballpark took a step forward when the Hillsborough College board of trustees voted Tuesday to unanimously approve a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the team for a redevelopment of the school’s Dale Mabry campus that would include a baseball stadium.

    A non-binding memorandum of understanding lays out some of the terms as the Tampa Bay Rays consider the Hillsborough College site as a spot for a new baseball stadium.

    The school’s six-member board of trustees held a meeting Tuesday to hear from the Rays and gave its unanimous support to the plan.

    A parking lot on the southwest corner of the property, which faces North Lois Avenue, is where Hillsborough College will build a new tower.

    On the southeast corner – directly across the street from Raymond James Stadium – is where college buildings will be demolished to make room for the new baseball stadium.

    December 2025 

    The last ofthe new Tropicana Field roof panels was installed in December. 

    The last roof panels were replaced late last month, and now some finishing touches are taking place on the field, in the stands and around other areas of the venue.

    Crews are working on drywall and painting the seats, and the air conditioning and lights are working.

    A new stadium sound system will be installed this month and tested in January. 

    Flooring on the Viva deck will also be installed this month, along with backstop netting.

    Officials said there was mold and mildew to contend with as part of repairs. The city is working with Greenfield Environmental, and the Rays also have an industrial hygienist.

    A remediation company has also been on site.

    November 2025 

    Crews with the city have completed the installation of the final roof panel on Tropicana Field Stadium, with city leaders saying the work was done ahead of schedule. 

    The roof was damaged by Hurricane Milton last October. 

    All stadium repairs, including inside, are currently scheduled to be complete by April 2026.

    “This project was a massive undertaking, but we have an outstanding team working on it and making sure we’re prepared for opening day. We look forward to completing the remaining repairs and welcoming fans back for the 2026 season,” said Mayor Ken Welch.

    Internal repairs will include projects like turf installation, audio visual repairs and replacement, sports lighting and more.

    City Council has approved a total of about $60 million for Tropicana Field remediation and repair expenses.

    April 2025 

     St. Petersburg City Council has approved funding to fix the hurricane-damaged roof at Tropicana Field.

    The council voted 7-1 to approve $22.5 million in funding to repair the stadium’s torn-off roof. Councilman Richie Floyd was the lone no vote.

    The city was contractually obligated to make repairs to the facility.

    The council will still have to vote on additional repairs to walls, panels, tiles and electronics inside the stadium.

    March 2025 

    Prior to Thursday’s announcement, Rays officials had not been clear about their intentions. City and officials had encouraged the team to follow through on the previous stadium deal and Historic Gas Plant redevelopment.

    The St. Petersburg branch of the NAACP called on the city to honor and move forward with the Gas Plant District redevelopment plan.

    This latest news on the years-long Rays stadium saga comes as multiple groups have come forward in recent days saying they are prepared to purchase the team and pursue a local stadium deal.

    The latest group is being led by Dex Imaging CEO Dan Doyle Jr., who reportedly pulled out of a previous process to buy the Rays in 2023. Attorney Carter McCain is representing another group of investors mostly outside of Florida and former New York Yankees minority owner Joe Molloy is leading a Tampa-based group, according to our partners at the Tampa Bay Times.

    Gas Plant District rendering from Hines-Rays team. Plans are for a new domed stadium to open in time for the 2028 season. (Hines-Rays)

    February 2025

    Mayor Ken Welch spoke about the deal during his State of the City address in February, blaming the holdup entirely on the Rays.

    “The only thing we need to move forward … is for the Rays to honor the agreement that we signed just six months ago,” Welch said. “I remain hopeful that that will happen. I also believe in transparency, so to the citizens of St. Pete, let me be clear: As I’ve stated throughout this process, this plan can only be successful with partnership.”

    December 2024

    Tampa Bay Rays officials say they would like a repaired Tropicana Field being their home for the 2026 season.

    In a Dec. 30 letter to St. Petersburg City Administrator Rob Gerdes, Rays president Matt Silverman said that the team had been open to considering a settlement that would buy the city out of its obligation to repair the ballpark.

    In mid-December, Pinellas commissioners approved bonds to finance a new stadium for the Rays.

    The 5-2 vote unlocks $312 million in funding the county had pledged for the new ballpark. This was the third time the Rays bond vote has gone before the commission since October.

    Dec. 12: St. Pete OKs pre-construction costs for damaged Tropicana Field; County commissioners hold workshop on deal

    Early December:  Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred met Monday with Pinellas County Chairwoman Kathleen Peters and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch to express his desire to resolve recent disputes and keep the team in Tampa Bay.

    the team released a statement in the wake of that meeting.

    “We anticipate that the Pinellas County Commission will authorize the bonds at their next meeting. As we stated in our letter three weeks ago, we remain ready to work with all key stakeholders to fill the funding gap their delay has created,” Rays president Matt Silverman said.

    A look at the Trop damage from Hurricane Milton from inside the stadium. (Courtesy Hennessy Construction Services)

    November 2024

    The Tampa Bay Rays, without Tropicana Field available next season because of Hurricane Milton damage, will play their 2025 home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

    A damage report released this week indicates repairs would run past $55 million and not be completed before the 2026 season.

    Nov. 25: ‘Categorically false’: County pushes back against the Rays’ claims and demands a decision

    Nov. 22: ‘This deal doesn’t work anymore:’ Rays future in St. Pete takes more hits with city council votes

    Nov. 21: Rays president says new park deal is dead; St. Pete Council then reverses course on Trop repairs

    Nov.18: PHOTOS: Rays release post-Milton photos of inside Trop

    October 2024

    Oct. 31: City approves $6.5M to clean up and protect Rays stadium after Hurricane Milton

    Oct. 9: Tropicana Field roof damaged by Hurricane Milton

    Aug. 2024

    Citing ‘unintended response,’ St. Pete mayor rescinds bonuses given after Rays deal

    July 2024

    Pinellas County commissioners agree, by 5-2 vote, to help fund new Rays stadium

    2023

    Sept. 19, 2023: ‘Major League Baseball is here to stay’: Rays announce new stadium

    A decade-long odyssey involving the Tampa Bay Rays, the City of St. Petersburg, Hillsborough County, Major League Baseball and even Montreal, among other parties, appears to be nearing an end. The Rays, joined by officials with the city of St. Pete and Pinellas County, announced on Tuesday plans for a new stadium to be built near the current Tropicana Field. 

    St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch speaks during a Sept. 2023 stadium announcement. (Angie Angers/Spectrum Bay News 9)

    Early 2023

    Former St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman said that he previously allowed the Rays to search for sites in Hillsborough County because he was confident St. Pete was the best place for a new ballpark and he wanted Sternberg to come to that conclusion too.

    “I felt like a deal couldn’t have gotten done until the Rays believed it too,” he said. “It has been a long road but we’re at the point now because we had to go through that with (Rick) Baker, Foster and me.”

    Former Mayor Bill Foster was the mayor in 2010 when the Rays were pushing for a new waterfront stadium at the Al Lang Field site along the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg. The former mayor said they never had a term sheet because Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg would not commit to a dollar amount.

    “Mr. Sternberg was non-committal when it came to how much he would pay for a stadium in St. Pete,” he said. “This whole idea with the redevelopment of Al Lang trying to fit this Major League Baseball stadium in five acres where there’s no transportation, no parking, no infrastructure, that was a disaster.”

    2022

    The Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed plan to split the season between Florida and Montreal has been rejected by Major League Baseball.

    Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg announced the news on Thursday.

    “Today’s news is flat-out deflating,” Sternberg said.

    The idea of playing in both the Tampa Bay area and Montreal has been discussed over the past several years after attempts to build a new full-time ballpark locally failed.

    2021

    St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman announced that Midtown Development has been selected to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site.

    This came after years of talk, rumors and speculation about stadium sites at a variety of locations in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco counties and even some mentioning Orlando.

    July 2019

    The Tampa Bay Rays have been given permission by Major League Baseball to explore splitting future seasons between Tampa Bay and Montreal.

    2018

    July: The Rays announced they would vacate Tropicana Field and relocate to the Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa, between 15th Street and Channelside Drive from east to west, and between Fourth Avenue and Adamo Drive from north to south.

    By December, the project was called off.

    2009

    May: The idea of a waterfront stadium at the Al Lang site quickly came and went.

    The sail-designed stadium targeted for the Bayshore Drive/1st Street South area was supposed to have a sail style design with an open air  vista down left field to center field. 

    2005

    Since Stuart Sternberg took control of the Rays in October 2005, the once-struggling franchise has been a success on the field but not at the box office.

    Despite reaching the World Series in 2008 and 2020, the Rays have ranked annually near the bottom in attendance. The Rays averaged about 9,500 for home games last season, 28th in the majors and ahead of only Miami and Oakland.

    Sternberg purchased controlling interest in the Rays in May 2004 from original owner Vince Naimoli. He became managing general partner in October 2005.

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    Rod Gipson

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  • Pinellas Supt. gives update on possible school closures, consolidations

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County Superintendent Kevin Hendrick gave his recommendations on possible school consolidations and closures during a school board workshop Tuesday.

    What You Need To Know


    The workshop began at 9:30 a.m. at the district headquarters, which included a presentation and discussion led by Hendrick. He provided an overview of Planning for Progress and gave recommendations, which have been months in the making.

    Earlier this year, the district shared that they have been losing students at a steadily declining rate over the last 20 years. Pinellas County Public Schools has just over 3,600 fewer students enrolled this year compared to the start of last school year, which includes a 9% drop in kindergarten enrollment.

    Recommendations from Hendrick:

    Bay Point Elementary and Middle combined to make a K-8 school

    • Beginning 2027-2028, consolidating two sites into one
    • Housed at the middle school campus 
    • Elementary school would remain a magnet school
    • Looking at potentially leasing elementary campus, potentially child care
    • Elementary school has 302 students, 47% utilization rate. Middle school has 35% utilization rate. Combining raises to 60%.
    • Opened as a K-8 in 1962 before splitting
    • Savings in $2.8 million per year 
    • Leasing elementary campus could increase revenue for district 
    • This was done at Walsingham Oaks last year

    Expand Oldsmar Elementary into a K-8 school

    • Beginning 2026-2027
    • 53% utilized currently
    • Add one grade per year 
    • Students who live in Oldsmar Elementary’s zone can stay for middle school or attend another zoned middle school
    • The city of Oldsmar made a resolution to support this plan 

    Expand employee child care program to McMullen Booth Elementary

    • Expand employee child care program in 2026-2027
    • No other change or impact to school

    Cross Bayou Elementary closing

    • Close at the end of May 
    • 245 students pre-K through 5
    • Includes Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing program, which would relocate 
    • 40% utilized campus 
    • West side of zone to Bardmoor Elementary, east side to Pinellas Central
    • The building is older and needs millions in upgrades to keep it going. Looking to sell or lease property as is.

    Disston Academy closing

    • Close at the end of 2025-2026
    • Has 52 students in person 
    • 52 students reassigned to other academic programs; more like 38 students. Could go to a number of different schools 
    • Needs $2 million in renovations 
    • At 17% capacity 
    • $1.9 million in savings annually

    A final vote is set for a Feb. 24 school board meeting. Multiple smaller school meetings at affected schools will happen before then.

    Last fall, the district held five community meetings they called “Planning for Progress.” In all, roughly 275 parents attended. Each meeting included a debrief from district staff that included data on declining enrollment, and also gave parents the chance to leave written feedback on what’s important to them when it comes to a school community.

    The district compiled the written feedback into a 33-page document of recommendations. It’s not clear how the district plans to use that information when making decisions about school closures or consolidations.

    Reagan Miller has an eighth-grade student and says the lack of clarity from the school district on what the possible changes could be has created a lot of fear for parents.

    “Everyone thinks their school is on the chopping block,” she said. “Because of the declining birth rate and because there are fewer students in the schools… everyone’s wondering, ‘Is it me? What’s going to happen?’ Everyone is trying to plan and prepare for that.”

    Pinellas County operates 116 schools, not including charter schools.

    At a school board workshop earlier this year, Hendrick said the district is looking at building capacity, current utilization and improvements a school building might need, as they assessed the next best steps.

    “I think it’s made people look at alternatives. Is there stability outside of the public school system?” Miller explained. “Which is unfortunate, because we have great public schools here in Pinellas County and I think the uncertainty is scaring people, and they’re looking for stability and reassurance from the district that their school is going to be around and exist in its current state.”

    Tuesday’s workshop will be followed by a formal school board meeting set for Jan. 27.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Needs increasing in the mountains as cold weather moves in

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    BOONE, N.C. — With low temperatures in the mountains and some snowfall expected in the next few days, a pantry meant to help Helene victims is now seeing people in need of all types of help.

    What You Need To Know

    • Foscoe Home Team helped more than 600 people in five days

    • The nonprofit was started after Helene to help victims but has grown fast

    • They are in need of donations as temperatures are dropping in the mountains


    In just one hour, Foscoe Home Team Executive Director Sherrye Trice said two conversations had already brought her to tears. One, a woman calling to say she had no running water and no one to help. Another, a family in need with a 9-month-old baby.

    “It’s -11 degrees, wind chill faster and there’s tent communities in Foscoe,” Trice said.

    These are just two examples of what she says are the many people in need every day, which is why she is working tirelessly for the Foscoe Home Team. The team says it served hundreds of people in just five days last week.

    Trice started Foscoe Home Team after Helene. It started with food and grew fast. Now, people can come get food, diapers, hygiene items, blankets, heaters and warm clothing to get through the winter.

    “We need warm shoes, we need thick socks, we need sweaters; lined leggings would be great,” Trice said.

    They only have a handful of heaters left and three packs of water, according to Trice, and are in need of donations, fast.

    “This is the first interview. I’m begging, I’m begging someone to pay attention. I’m begging someone to take this up the chain to someone who has influence and funding,” Trice said.

    She says people here are struggling.

    “How many people in Foscoe have to live in a hot tent before people pay attention?” Trice said.

    The weather could make the struggle even more severe.

    “This is constant. There is no running water. There is no heat. Can you help us with our septic? We lost it during the flood. We applied with FEMA, we applied with Renew NC, we are paying our rent. Can you help us?” Trice said.

    Distribution and receiving worker Brandi Karlick said the organization has seen hundreds in need just in the last two days.

    “It’s not just hurricane relief; it’s life storm when you were originally financially fragile before the storm and then you lost the little bit you have. What is the plan for recovery here?” Trice said.

    Any donations can be sent directly to Foscoe Home Team.

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

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    Rose Eiklor

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  • Ms. Wheelchair Florida and her mom inspire children with their books

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The reigning Ms. Wheelchair Florida and her mother are taking a message of joy and hope to kids through their books and public appearances.

    Schuyler Arakawa and mom, Meridith Alexander, have published a series of children’s books about overcoming obstacles.

    In 2016, Arakawa was on a fellowship from Yale to South America, working to expand opportunities for women, when she took a trip to Colombia. She went rafting with a group and then not long after that while exploring a grotto, a boulder fell on her. It caused injuries in many parts of her body, including a traumatic brain injury.

    She was taken to a hospital in Columbia for treatment and later flown to a hospital in Miami, where she underwent multiple brain surgeries. She also underwent rehab. It has been a long road to recovery.

    On a recent morning, Arakawa and Alexander appeared together at the Southshore Montessori School in Apollo Beach to read to a group of children.

    “So, we are going to read our newest book, which is all about fear and doubt and doing hard things even if you are not sure you can do them,” said Alexander.

    A few minutes later, about two dozen children came into the room, where the mom and daughter greeted them enthusiastically. “We are so glad to see you,” said Alexander.

    “Welcome in, guys,” said Arakawa.

    Then Alexander started reading from one of their books that includes Arakawa in a wheelchair. She is called “Princess Happiness.” The books feature children overcoming obstacles like a boulder.

    The life-changing event of being struck by the boulder in Columbia resulted in limits to Arakawa’s speech and mobility, but she turned those limits into a purpose for her life.

    “It is hard. But the way I see it, some people say I’m positive in my recovery,” said Arakawa. “But I really think there is no other way to be, because if you were upset you would just hurt yourself. I have learned that you can not control the outcome. So, I might as well make the best of it.”

    Alexander said she and Arakawa try to stay focused on looking for the positive and life. That is what they hope people get from their appearances.

    “Joy is all around us the same way the oxygen is around us. You don’t always see it,” Alexander said. “But you have access to it.”

    Would you like to nominate an Everyday Hero? Click here and fill out the submission form.

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Lakeland recovery home looking to expand to serve more residents

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — One recovery home is looking to expand its services to help both its residents and the community.

    What You Need To Know

    • Addicted to God Ministries was founded in 2024 to help people facing addiction, homelessness and mental health challenges

    • Residents participate in recovery while giving back, helping operate the organization’s food pantry

    • The recovery home is looking to expand its services to better support residents and increase food pantry outreach in the community

    Pastor Lazaro Castellon opened Addicted to God Ministries in 2024 after experiencing a relapse. Since then, he said the faith-based recovery home has helped dozens of people struggling with addiction, homelessness and mental health challenges.

    “I’ve sold my jewelry, I’ve sold things that I have, because for me it’s materialistic things that I don’t need no more, just to see another life change and go in a new direction. The righteous direction,” Castellon said.

    From an early age, resident Chad Case struggled with addiction. After a more than 30-year battle, he said his girlfriend forced him to make a difficult decision in November.

    “Like, ‘A hundred times was a hundred times ago. I love you enough that… if you have to go somewhere, if I got to get you in somewhere and us be not together anymore,’” he said.

    With the help of loved ones, Case found Addicted to God Ministries. While completing the 12 steps of recovery, each resident helps with the organization’s food pantry.

    Donations are currently stored at the recovery home. Recently, Castellon turned to Lakeland city commissioners and asked for help expanding the ministry.

    “Specifically helping securing a warehouse, storefront, or facility, a box truck, or a 15-passenger van. These resources would immediately and directly translate into more food, more outreach, and more lives transformed right here in our city,” he said during a commission meeting.

    Castellon said that includes the lives of those in his home, ultimately providing individuals like Case with a new source of happiness.

    “This is really a place touched by God man. It is,” Case said.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Gulfport Mayor: Lions Club building is coming down

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    GULFPORT, Fla. — After spending nearly 60 years at its clubhouse located at the Gulfport Marina, the Gulfport Lions Club is moving out and the building is coming down.

    The clubhouse was built in 1967 and has been the home of hundreds of fundraisers, events and parties. The Lions Club hosted its biweekly meetings out of the large brick building for decades. The building holds a long history of camaraderie and fond memories for the hundreds of Lions Club members who spent time there over the last few decades.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lions Club owns its building, city of Gulfport owns the land

    • Following input from community meeting, city plans to knock down the building and use land as green space and boat launch area with public access

    • Lions Club let lease expire, moved to 49th Street Center

    President Tommie Bixler says the Gulfport chapter is down to a few dozen members, and he and his wife, Kat, are working hard to bring in new faces to help grow and continue the Lions Club legacy.

    “We’ll still exist, we just have a lot of older members now. We just need to figure out how to do some more fun things… so it’s not just work, work, work,” Bixler said.

    Due to the dwindling membership, Bixler said paying to keep the large building on the waterfront property running wasn’t feasible anymore. In December, the Lions Club let its most recent five-year lease expire and relocated to a shared space at the 49th Street Center.

    The Lions Club property is in a unique situation. The city of Gulfport owns the land that the building sits on, while the Lions Club owns the physical building.

    Gulfport Mayor Karen Love said that per the lease agreement the city is getting an MAI appraisal for the building. Once the appraisal comes back, they will buy the building and knock it down.

    “It’s coming down,” Love said. “It was damaged by the floods, and it’s a year and half later and there really hasn’t been repairs made to it. I did do a walk through and even though it’s a large building… you could smell mold.”

    Bixler said that in an inspection following the 2024 hurricanes, the building was deemed not to be substantially damaged. He was hoping the city would continue to use the building as an event space.

    Love said that will not be happening, and the city is moving forward with plans to make the area into a green space that allows small boat and kayak access from the beach area.

    “Let’s let the public start using it,” Love said. (And) get rid of the pavement and let some of the green space start developing naturally,” Love explained.

    At a community meeting last Thursday, roughly 25 residents shared their feelings about what they wanted the area to look like. Love said the consensus was the community wanted a green space, with beach access for boat launching, as well as public restrooms.

    She says no formal decisions have been made, and details will be discussed at city council.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Manatee County resident voices concern about trash pickup

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — As trash piles up, at least one Manatee County resident is raising a stink.

    The county’s Big Bin Advantage program was meant to save the Solid Waste Department time and resources. It provided larger bins, but decreased the frequency of trash pickup

    What You Need To Know

    • The Big Bin Advantage program gave residents 96 gallon bins but only once a week trash pick ups causing frustration, with one resident saying she has overflowing bins and no where to put it
    • The county hosted its first two community cleanup events last weekend as part of the county’s Big Bin Advantage program contract
    • A representative from Manatee County Solid Waste said more than 1,000 cars dropped off more than 100 tons of material during the cleanup

    • The next community clean up event will be in April

    But, according to Amanda Vouglas, that formula is not working.  

    “We have so much trash generated that the trash can is overflowing,” she said.

    Vouglas lives in Parrish in a household of four people and says trash accumulates quickly.

    “By the time Friday comes around, I’m sure we’ll have, like, an extra three or four more bags,” she said of her trash pickup day.

    When the Big Bin Advantage program started in Manatee County last October, it came with a bigger bin — 96 gallons — but pickup was scaled back to once a week.

    Vouglas said the worst experience was this past Christmas, when it took two weeks to get rid of their trash.

    “Every week we put a little bit more in, a little bit more in, and then we sent some with my daughter to put in her trash at home, because it’s just her and her boyfriend,” she said.

    When Vouglas’ trash starts piling up, she said it becomes a problem, because the haulers won’t take trash that isn’t in the bin. She said she relies on friends and family to help get rid of it.

    Jim Renneberg with Manatee County Solid Waste said residents do have other options.

    “One option is to contact the county, and we can coordinate a bulk pickup,” he said. “There is a fee associated with that. For those that would prefer not to take that approach, we have the community cleanup event.”

    The county hosted its first two community cleanup events last weekend. Renneberg said more than 1,000 cars dropped off more than 100 tons of material. He said the county expects to host more events moving forward and hopes they will help prevent illegal dumping.

    “Looking at December compared to previous years, there’s a slight increase, but our team is quick to respond to that,” he said.

    According to the Manatee County Solid Waste Department’s website, residents also have the option to pay a $13.32 monthly fee to receive a second trash bin.

    But Vouglas said less frequent trash pickups create a health concern.

    “It’s sat in my garage,” she said. “Every time we opened up the door to the house — the smell, the heat in the garage. Florida. You know, it’s not really sanitary.”

    She hopes the county will return to twice-a-week trash pickup.

    The next community cleanup event will be in April. The county plans to host the events throughout the year..

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    Julia Hazel

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  • 2026 events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day around Tampa Bay

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    BY

    Spectrum News Staff

    Tampa


    PUBLISHED 12:33 PM ET Jan. 14, 2026
    PUBLISHED 12:33 PM EST Jan. 14, 2026

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Duke Energy announces early removal of customers’ storm-related charges

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – Duke Energy announced Wednesday it is dropping storm recovery charges for customers a month earlier than originally scheduled.

    The utility company said storm cost recovery charges were results of costs associated with the company’s approximately $1.1 billion response to hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.

    What You Need To Know

    • Duke Energy announces early removal of storm recovery charges for customers
    • Duke said storm cost recovery charges were results of costs associated with the company’s response to hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton

    • Customers can expect a $33 reduction on the monthly bills to start

    Residential customers can expect an approximately $33 reduction on their monthly bills, when compared to January, for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity they use.

    Commercial and industrial customers’ monthly bills will be lowered between 9.6% and 15.8%, also when compared to January, though the specific impact will vary depending on several factors.

    “We understand all of our customers have been affected by the rising costs of living, many may be facing financial challenges, and some are even having to decide which bills they can afford to pay every month,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “It was important to us that our customers get this significant rate relief as soon as possible while we continue to deliver the safe, reliable power they expect and deserve.”

    Duke officials also said additional savings are on the way.

    In March, residential customers will experience another approximately $11 decrease (per 1,000 kWh) on their monthly bills, creating a total $44 decrease.  

    Duke Energy Florida supplies electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across 13,000-square miles in west central Florida, including Orlando, St. Peterburg and Clearwater. 

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Cleveland Museum of Natural History makes USA Today top 5 list

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    CLEVELAND — While it may not be brand new, visitors thought the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s $150 million renovation made it feel like new, according to USA Today Readers Choice awards.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Museum of Natural History was voted No. 4 on the list

    • “The Cleveland Museum of Natural History now tells Earth’s story through a visitor-centered lens,” USA Today said 

    • For more details, click here

    These museums were nominated by a panel of experts and voted by readers as the best new or newly transformed venues on the scene, representing the top openings of the past two years. 

    The Cleveland Museum of Natural History was voted No. 4 on the list for its renovation and expansion. 

    “The Cleveland Museum of Natural History now tells Earth’s story through a visitor-centered lens,” USA Today said in its rankings. “The reimagined galleries place you inside prehistoric Ohio, where you can handle real fossils and gape at ‘Happy,’ the 72-foot-long Haplocanthosaurus, in a setting that matches the gentle giant’s magnitude.”

    The full list of museums includes:

    1. National Medal of Honor Museum: Arlington, Texas
    2. Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University: Mantua, New Jersey
    3. National Public Housing Museum: Chicago, Illinois
    4. Cleveland Museum of Natural History: Cleveland, Ohio
    5. Museum of Art + Light: Manhattan, Kansas
    6. Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream: Washington D.C.
    7. The Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium: Paterson, New Jersey
    8. Door County Granary: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
    9. The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College: Lakeland, Florida
    10. Museum of BBQ: Kansas City, Missouri

    For more details, click here.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Cavaliers close out another ‘Season of Giving’ to surrounding community

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    CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers announced another successful Season of Giving throughout November and December. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Throughout the two months, the Cavs hosted 23 events to uplift the community

    • This past season, more than 54,000 community members were served, over 60,500 meals were provided and 470 hours of volunteer service was done

    • For more information on initiatives, click here

    Throughout the two months, the Cavs hosted 23 events to uplift the community through volunteering or providing meals. 

    “The Cavaliers Season of Giving, championed by Cleveland-Cliffs, is a tradition that reflects our shared commitment to support and uplift our neighbors across Northeast Ohio,” said Pam Frasco, Cleveland Cavaliers Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Executive Director of the Cavaliers Community Foundation. “As one organization, from the players to front office team members and community partners, we are able to make a meaningful impact during the holiday season and beyond. The joint collaboration that drives this yearly effort highlights the power that can come from our exceptional community.”

    This past season, more than 54,000 community members were served, over 60,500 meals were provided and 470 hours of volunteer service was done by team members.

    Some highlights included:

    • Thankful For ALL Holiday Dinner: Where the Cavs served 150 students and families from Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Project ACT at Rocket Arena
    • Cavaliers Annual Holiday Hospital Visit: Team members brought gifts to patients throughut Cleveland in hospitals
    • Holiday Pajama Party: The Cavaliers visited 100 women and children at Laura’s Home with a celebration that included pajamas for all, milk and cookies, holiday story time and additional holiday festivities
    • Holiday Meal Packing: More than 52,000 meals were prepped for distribution by the Children’s Hunger Alliance through the Cavs, Cleveland-Cliffs and Greater Cleveland Food Bank

    For more information on initiatives, click here.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Buddhist monks captivating U.S. on ‘Walk for Peace’ to arrive in North Carolina

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    A group of Buddhist monks and their rescue dog are striding single file down country roads and highways across the South, captivating Americans nationwide and inspiring droves of locals to greet them along their route. On Thursday, Jan. 15, the group is expected to arrive in Charlotte, North Carolina.

    What You Need To Know

    • A group of Buddhist monks is getting viral attention with their 2,300-mile Walk for Peace from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C.

    • The monks say their aim is to promote mindfulness and healing and finding inner peace

    • When they reach the nation’s capital, they plan to request official recognition of Vesak, the day which marks the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha, as a federal U.S. holiday

    • Their journey has already attracted large crowds across five southern states and they are expected to arrive in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday


    In their flowing saffron and ocher robes, the men are walking for peace. It’s a meditative tradition more common in South Asian countries, and it’s resonating now in the U.S., seemingly as a welcome respite from the conflict, trauma and politics dividing the nation.

    Their journey began Oct. 26, 2025, at a Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Texas, and is scheduled to end in mid-February in Washington, D.C., where they will ask Congress to recognize Buddha’s day of birth and enlightenment as a federal holiday. Beyond promoting peace, their highest priority is connecting with people along the way.

    “My hope is, when this walk ends, the people we met will continue practicing mindfulness and find peace,” said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the group’s soft-spoken leader who is making the trek barefoot. He teaches about mindfulness, forgiveness and healing at every stop.

    Preferring to sleep each night in tents pitched outdoors, the monks have been surprised to see their message transcend ideologies, drawing huge crowds into churchyards, city halls and town squares across six states. Documenting their journey on social media, they — and their dog, Aloka — have racked up millions of followers online. On Saturday, thousands thronged in Columbia, South Carolina, where the monks chanted on the steps of the State House and received a proclamation from the city’s mayor, Daniel Rickenmann.

    The physical toll of the monks long walk

    At their stop Thursday in Saluda, South Carolina, Audrie Pearce joined the crowd lining Main Street. She had driven four hours from her village of Little River, and teared up as Pannakara handed her a flower.

    “There’s something traumatic and heart-wrenching happening in our country every day,” said Pearce, who describes herself as spiritual, but not religious. “I looked into their eyes and I saw peace. They’re putting their bodies through such physical torture and yet they radiate peace.”

    Hailing from Theravada Buddhist monasteries across the globe, the 19 monks began their 2,300 mile (3,700 kilometer) trek at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth.

    Their journey has not been without peril. On Nov. 19, as the monks were walking along U.S. Highway 90 near Dayton, Texas, their escort vehicle was hit by a distracted truck driver, injuring two monks. One of them lost his leg, reducing the group to 18.

    This is Pannakara’s first trek in the U.S., but he’s walked across several South Asian countries, including a 112-day journey across India in 2022 where he first encountered Aloka, an Indian Pariah dog whose name means divine light in Sanskrit.

    Then a stray, the dog followed him and other monks from Kolkata in eastern India all the way to the Nepal border. At one point, he fell critically ill and Pannakara scooped him up in his arms and cared for him until he recovered. Now, Aloka inspires him to keep going when he feels like giving up.

    “I named him light because I want him to find the light of wisdom,” Pannakara said.

    The monk’s feet are now heavily bandaged because he’s stepped on rocks, nails and glass along the way. His practice of mindfulness keeps him joyful despite the pain from these injuries, he said.

    Still, traversing the southeast United States has presented unique challenges, and pounding pavement day after day has been brutal.

    “In India, we can do shortcuts through paddy fields and farms, but we can’t do that here because there are a lot of private properties,” Pannakara said. “But what’s made it beautiful is how people have welcomed and hosted us in spite of not knowing who we are and what we believe.”

    Churches, families and towns host the monks along their path

    In Opelika, Alabama, the Rev. Patrick Hitchman-Craig hosted the monks on Christmas night at his United Methodist congregation.

    He expected to see a small crowd, but about 1,000 people showed up, creating the feel of a block party. The monks seemed like the Magi, he said, appearing on Christ’s birthday.

    “Anyone who is working for peace in the world in a way that is public and sacrificial is standing close to the heart of Jesus, whether or not they share our tradition,” said Hitchman-Craig. “I was blown away by the number of people and the diversity of who showed up.”

    After their night on the church lawn, the monks arrived the next afternoon at the Collins Farm in Cusseta, Alabama. Judy Collins Allen, whose father and brother run the farm, said about 200 people came to meet the monks — the biggest gathering she’s ever witnessed there.

    “There was a calm, warmth and sense of community among people who had not met each other before and that was so special,” she said.

    Monks say peace walks are not a conversion tool

    Long Si Dong, a spokesperson for the Fort Worth temple, said the monks, when they arrive in Washington, plan to seek recognition of Vesak, the day which marks the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha, as a national holiday.

    “Doing so would acknowledge Vesak as a day of reflection, compassion and unity for all people regardless of faith,” he said.

    But Pannakara emphasized that their main goal is to help people achieve peace in their lives. The trek is also a separate endeavor from a $200 million campaign to build towering monuments on the temple’s 14-acre property to house the Buddha’s teachings engraved in stone, according to Dong.

    The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha himself as core for attaining enlightenment. It focuses on the mind-body connection — observing breath and physical sensations to understand reality, impermanence and suffering. Some of the monks, including Pannakara, walk barefoot to feel the ground directly and be present in the moment.

    Pannakara has told the gathered crowds that they don’t aim to convert people to Buddhism.

    Brooke Schedneck, professor of religion at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, said the tradition of a peace walk in Theravada Buddhism began in the 1990s when the Venerable Maha Ghosananda, a Cambodian monk, led marches across war-torn areas riddled with landmines to foster national healing after civil war and genocide in his country.

    “These walks really inspire people and inspire faith,” Schedneck said. “The core intention is to have others watch and be inspired, not so much through words, but through how they are willing to make this sacrifice by walking and being visible.”

    On Thursday, Becki Gable drove nearly 400 miles (about 640 kilometers) from Cullman, Alabama, to catch up with them in Saluda. Raised Methodist, Gable said she wanted some release from the pain of losing her daughter and parents.

    “I just felt in my heart that this would help me have peace,” she said. “Maybe I could move a little bit forward in my life.”

    Gable says she has already taken one of Pannakara’s teachings to heart. She’s promised herself that each morning, as soon as she awakes, she’d take a piece of paper and write five words on it, just as the monk prescribed.

    “Today is my peaceful day.”

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

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Steve Githens gives dictionaries to third-grade students in Polk County

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    BARTOW, Fla. — The former mayor of Bartow loves passing on his passion for the power of words. Steve Githens has been delivering thousands of special dictionaries to third-grade students in Polk County for many years.

    What You Need To Know

    • Former Bartow mayor Steve Githens takes thousands of dictionaries to Polk County third graders

    • It’s a project of the Bartow Rotary Club

    • Githens believes a strong vocabulary is a key to success in life

    • Would you like to nominate an Everyday Hero? Click here


    On a recent morning, Githens was loading up a dolly with boxes of the books from the back of his car and taking them inside Eagle Lake Elementary School. “So, they say there are 120 students here at Eagle Lake Elementary,” said Githens as he loaded the books onto his dolly.

    “I’ve probably been in and out of the school ten times over the years I’ve been doing this dictionary program,” he said. Githens raises funding for the Bartow Rotary Club project that he took over about 14 years ago. He was able to raise about $20,000 for this year’s program. That allowed him to purchase 5,000 of the books that cost about $4 each.

    Once inside the school’s media center, Githens started pulling the dictionaries from the boxes. “Although we call them dictionaries, they actually have a fair amount of information inside of them,” he said. That includes the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, maps and short biographies of U.S. presidents, among other things.

    Once the students arrived at the media center, teachers helped Githens pass out the books, and he delivered a one-hour presentation about them to the students who sat on the floor.

    “But if you want to dedicate yourself to educating yourself, there is no telling where you will go, right?” said Githens to the children.

    He had the children follow along with their books as he pointed out the contents. “A dot. You mean a period? I think a period works,” he said as he went through a section about punctuation.

    Githens believes that learning words in a dictionary will give the kids power to excel in the world around them. “I do hope that when they open it up, they will learn every time they touch the book,” he said. “And the more words, the bigger the vocabulary, the more the power.”

    Student Noah Green loved his dictionary and the presentation. “I think it was amazing. Because I read books a lot and this one is way better than any book I have read,” he said.

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    Rick Elmhorst

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