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Tag: Dalia Dangerfield

  • Odessa church hosts Blue Christmas service for those who are suffering

    ODESSA, Fla. — At Keystone United Methodist Church, Christmas joy is everywhere. But on this day, Pastor Pamela Bowden is lighting candles for those who are in pain.

    What You Need To Know

    • Keystone United Methodist Church is hosting its first Blue Christmas Service

    • The Blue Christmas Service is for those who have lost a loved one or are experiencing some sort of sadness this holiday season

    • The pastor said there will be music, prayer and candle lighting

    • The service will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20 at Keystone United Methodist Church in Odessa


    “These are folks that really are not feeling the joy of Christmas. They’re not feeling the ‘Fa la La La La,’ and their hearts are heavy,” Bowden said.

    Maureen Hames understands how hard it can be. She has lost two children — one to brain cancer, and the other to drugs. And in August, her best friend, Von Evert, passed away.

    “That was difficult because she was who I could confide in,” Hames said. “So I don’t have that anymore.”

    For 43 years, Von Evert was part of Hames’ family.

    “The loss is harder now because the holidays are starting to come up a little bit, and I would normally spend a lot of time with her,” Hames said.

    That sort of loss is why Bowden decided to hold a special Saturday service, a way to comfort those who were hurting.

    “It is OK,” Bowden said. “They don’t have to be jolly. They don’t have to smile and laugh with other family members. They can really be sad. And this particular service, they are actually given permission to be whoever in this moment they wanna be.”

    It’s called a Blue Christmas service. And this is the first time they’re having one at Keystone United Methodist Church. There will be music and prayer. And Bowden said they will light candles in memory of loved ones.

    “There’s something about lighting the candle and looking at the candle and then seeing all the other people come and light candles,” Bowden said. “That we’re in this grief together.”

    Bowden knows how it feels to lose someone special. She lost her first husband. She lost her dog. And last year, her sister passed away.

    “That one hasn’t truly hit,” Bowden said. 

    But she said it’s important for people to know they are not alone. The Blue Christmas service brings them together.

    Hames believes that will help.

    “Oh, I know it will,” she said.

    Because even through grief, there’s hope.

    The Blue Christmas service will be held at 5 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Keystone United Methodist Church at 16301 Race Track Rd. in Odessa.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Oldsmar City Council to discuss making elementary school K-8

    OLDSMAR, Fla. — Next week, Oldsmar City Council members will vote on whether to formally support making Oldsmar Elementary a K-8 school.

    What You Need To Know

    • On Tuesday, Dec. 2, Oldsmar City Council members will vote on a resolution to formally support the idea of making Oldsmar Elementary, a K-8 school

    • Oldsmar Mayor Katie Gannon said the idea has received lots of support from residents in Oldsmar. Pinellas School Board member Eileen Long is a long-time supporter of the idea too

    • The idea of adding middle schoolers to Oldsmar Elementary is not new, but there is a new sense of urgency to the proposal because of a new state law

    • A new Florida law allows charter schools, known as “Schools of Hope”, to co-locate with certain public schools that have low enrollment or are in low performing areas
    • A spokesperson for Pinellas County Public Schools said there has not been a request to co-locate at Oldsmar Elementary. But community leaders said it would be a bad idea and they want to be prepared – just in case there is a request in the future
    • YouTube: Watch the council meeting live on December 2nd


    Currently, students at Oldsmar Elementary leave the community to go to middle school after the fifth grade. But recently at city council, the mayor of Oldsmar brought up the idea of adding middle schoolers to Oldsmar Elementary. Many residents support the potential change.

    “To have middle school here and to have that option for us to keep our kids here locally and not be on the bus two hours a day, I’m all for it, “said Oldsmar mother Pammy Grear- Florence.

    After Oldsmar Elementary, Florence said she sent her youngest son to a private middle school because she did not like the zoned public school option.

    “I would have done it all over again if I had that K-8 option,” Florence said.

    The proposal for a K-8 school comes as a new state law allows charter schools to take over space in unused or underperforming public schools. So far, a spokesperson for Pinellas County Public Schools said there has not been a request by a charter school to locate at Oldsmar Elementar, but community leaders said it would be a bad idea and they want to be prepared – just in case there is a request in the future.

    “I think it’s difficult to conceptualize how a charter school and an elementary school can operate literally out of the same set of buildings,” said Oldsmar Mayor Katie Gannon. “How does that work as far as administration how do those schools interact with each other? Who has the decision-making authority of who is using the lunchroom? Who’s using the library? I’m sure those logistical problems have answers, but I’d rather avoid them entirely and give our families an option that is proven to work better for them.”

    This is not the first time the community has talked about adding sixth, seventh and eighth graders to Oldsmar Elementary, but Mayor Gannon said the new state law is bringing more urgency to the idea. And they already have support from Pinellas School Board Member Eileen Long – who has long advocated for it.

    “We all have a stake in this,” School Board Member Long told residents and council members at a recent Oldsmar City Council meeting.

    Next Tuesday, council members will vote on a resolution to formally support making Oldsmar Elementary a K-8 public school.

    “The goal at this point is to find out more information and get this idea into a format of more than an idea,” Gannon said. “We need solid information, logistical plans on how this would really work and operate and to start working on it.”

    The mayor is hoping to work with Pinellas school leaders to organize a community town hall in the near future.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Jesuit student launches project to honor veterans at American Legion Cemetery

    TAMPA, Fla. — At the American Legion Cemetery in Tampa, Drew Garcia is saving lives. He’s piecing together the stories of veterans who are on the verge of being forgotten.

    “I’m putting their stories back together,” Garcia said.

    American Legion Cemetery President Alyse Duffy said the need to remember these veterans is critical.

    “The quote is, ‘A person dies twice.’ Once when they give up their life and the second time when they’re forgotten forever,” Duffy said.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tampa resident Drew Garcia is on a mission to tell the stories of all 732 military members buried at the American Legion Cemetery

    • With the help of his partner, Paige Wilson, Garcia calls the project “American Bios“

    • Garcia and Wilson have uncovered the stories of about 20 veterans so far, but they’re hoping to find others who are just as eager to do some sleuthing of their own


    A year ago, Garcia began searching for a research project. Since he was a history buff, Duffy suggested Garcia research the lives of the veterans buried at the American Legion Cemetery. When he was younger, Garcia said he always wondered about the cemetery he would pass along Kennedy Boulevard.

    With the go-ahead from Duffy, Garcia started delving into the life of each military member. He thought he’d only tell the story of a couple of veterans.

    “But I realized that’s not fair,” Garcia said. “It’s important all their stories are told.”

    Now, he’s on a mission to tell the stories of all 732 military members who are buried at Tampa’s American Legion Cemetery.

    “We have a spreadsheet and I just scroll, scroll, scroll and I click them,” Garcia said.

    After randomly picking a veteran to research, Garcia goes through census data, military records, marriage documents — whatever he can find. He even reaches out to family members. Then, Garcia shares each story with whoever will listen.

    “Not all of them served for the same amount of time, but their service is so incredibly important in making America what it is today,” Garcia said.

    He calls the project “American Bios.”

    His partner, Paige Wilson, came up with the name. She’s now in charge of the online Instagram presence. 

    “I feel so connected to each of these veterans that I research because I learn their life story,” Wilson said.

    But sometimes, there are gaps.

    Like Private Frank Marson, for example. He fought in the Spanish-American War in the late 1800s and there are not a lot of records about his life.

    “I see evidence right there of someone’s story who isn’t as properly told as it should be because it’s been so long, and so it really drives me to want to get things done now,” Garcia said. “Research them today.”

    So today, the work continues.

    “I feel so humbled to be surrounded by these heroes,” Garcia said. “I want these people’s stories to be so famous that someone can just be looking online and stumble upon the story of their great grandparent. That’s how popular I want these people to get.”

    Garcia and Wilson have uncovered the stories of about 20 veterans so far.

    They have put the pieces together like a puzzle.

    “It’s so cool,” Garcia said. “There’s no other word for it.”

    But the couple needs some help. They’re both graduating next year.

    And while Garcia will continue to lead the project, they’re hoping to find others who are just as eager to do some sleuthing of their own.

    Garcia said he wants to make all 732 veterans famous. And one day, he wants their stories shared in the Library of Congress. It’s all an effort to keep the veterans buried at American Legion Cemetery alive.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • 50-cent thrift store book nets special find for veteran’s family

    TAMPA, Fla. — A simple purchase at a thrift store turned into a very special find for one veteran’s family.

    Theresa Sutton was putting books away at a thrift shop in Lakeland when a book caught her eye. It was an aviators log book, dated 1945, during World War II.

    “It’s just so unique,” Sutton said. “So interesting.”

    Sutton paid 50 cents to buy the book. Then, she spent five years trying to find out who that book belonged to.

    She was excited when she was able to finally pinpoint someone who could help at the American Legion in Lake Wales.

    “I looked so long,” Sutton said as she wiped away tears. “Sorry. I looked so long for the right person to hand it to. It made me feel better.”

    The book was dated 1945, during World War II. (Spectrum News/Dalia Dangerfield)

    With the help of Kathryn Gates-Skipper with the American Legion of Lake Wales, they found out more about the veteran. His name was Sgt. Henry Hajenian. He was a Marine stationed in Cherry Point, N.C.

    Sgt. Hajenian served two years. The flight book belonged to him.

    Recently, Skipper and Sutton delivered the book to his daughter, Katia Moore. She lives in Tampa.

    Moore said she didn’t know a lot about her dad, who died when she was just 8 years old.

    “There’s not a lot I have of his,” Moore said. “It’s very sparse.”

    Having the book gives her something to treasure.

    “I love it,” Moore said. “It’s amazing. It’s wonderful.”

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • USF Crescendo Lab presents jazz song inspired by scientific data on oysters

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A USF St. Petersburg anthropologist is using music and song to share scientific data. It’s a way to educate those who may not understand the science. It’s called the CRESCENDO Lab.

    What You Need To Know

    •  A USF St. Petersburg anthropologist has come up with a musical way to get non-scientists interested in complex scientific data

    •  It’s called the CRESCENDO Lab. CRESCENDO stands for “Communicating Research Expansively through Sonification and Community-Engaged Neuroaesthetic Data-literacy Opportunities”
    •  The latest research focuses on a declining oyster population. USF student musicians will perform “Oyster’s Ain’t Safe” on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at the IPAC Theater at Pasco-Hernando State College in Wesley Chapel

    • The concert will be part of a series called “Water Works” that begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free


    CRESCENDO stands for “Communicating Research Expansively through Sonification and Community-Engaged Neuroaesthetic Data-literacy Opportunities.”

    “If I were to invite you over here on a weekend night saying, ‘Let’s look at this data together,’ I’m probably going to get, ‘No way, I got other plans,’” said USF St. Petersburg anthropology professor Heather O’Leary. “But if we look at this — not like an economist and not like a social scientist — and like a musician, now we’re talking.”

    O’Leary said she got the idea for the CRESCENDO Lab after going to the orchestra with her toddler. She saw how engaged her child was with the music and thought it would be a great way to get more people interested in science. 

    Over the last couple of years, O’Leary has worked with student researchers on musical projects regarding Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and Red Tide. Her latest project features jazz and oysters.

    “Florida used to be one of the biggest hotspots for the most delicious oysters on America’s coasts,” O’Leary said.

    She was fascinated by how polarizing the delicacies have become over the years. Some people like them. Others don’t. O’Leary wanted to know the financial impact.

    “People are suspicious of them because of their hard work, they are powerhouses that clean our waters. So they are afraid or grossed out about eating them. It seems like it ‘ain’t safe,’” O’Leary said.

    After conducting research, some students made a jazz song about what they discovered. The song is called, “Oysters Ain’t Safe.” The title was taken from a response on one of the surveys conducted during the research.

    “I think what’s really interesting is that it comes with two sides,” O’Leary said. “On one side, oysters aren’t safe. There are a lot of people suspicious about eating oysters, but on the other side, oysters have so many different shocks right now, that they themselves might be safe.”

    O’Leary said the issues oysters face include over harvesting, oyster acidification and the changing amount of freshwater available. The song focuses on some of the challenges.

    “It’s a really interesting way to interpret data,” said AJ Gross, a graduate student with the College of Marine Science.

    Currently, there is a five-year ban on wild oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay, Florida. The goal is to allow the oyster population time to recover. That ban ends at the end of 2025. Reopening is expected to be limited in the beginning of 2026, and O’Leary said it all has a financial impact.

    “I don’t think we think about how economics plays into marine science and marine biology,” said USF music student Emma Urbanski, one of the students singing the new scientific melody.

    Student musicians will perform “Oysters Ain’t Safe” in a concert at the IPAC Theater at Pasco-Hernando State College in Wesley Chapel on Tuesday, Nov. 4. It will be part of a series called “Water Works,” which begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.   

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Fundraising soon begins for St. Pete Pride parade as Tampa cancels celebration

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — While Tampa’s Pride celebration has been canceled for 2026, St. Pete Pride will soon kick off fundraising efforts for their annual parade next year. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Tampa Pride’s former president Carrie West said a lot of sponsors told him they could not financially support the 2026 Tampa Pride parade because of the policies against Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

    • West said the decision was made to cancel Tampa’s pride celebration in 2026 because of a shortage of funds and the current political climate

    • The head of St. Pete Pride, Byron Green-Calisch, said some companies want to support, but don’t want to be publicized

    • Fundraising for St. Pete Pride kicks off in October. Green-Calisch said while fundraising efforts will look different, the St. Pete Pride parade will definitely go on next year


    The head of St. Pete Pride said the parade will go on, despite the tense political climate and the backlash against Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

    “We started as a protest,” said Byron Green-Calisch, the president of St. Pete Pride’s Board of Directors. “The first pride was a protest, and I believe the spirit lives on.”

    The St. Pete Pride parade has been around for nearly 25 years, and it’s considered the largest in the Southeast.

    The president of St. Pete Pride said the organization lost $150,000 in sponsorships last year, but the community helped to fill in the gap. This year, he said, fundraising will be even harder.

    “Last year, we had some conversations with sponsors about the political rhetoric, how does that look, their return on investment and are they concerned about any backlash – and that was last year,” said Green-Calisch. “Their conversations have only continued with continued political violence and the temperature has only been ratcheted up. I fully anticipate having these conversations with our sponsors.”

    On Friday, Tampa Pride’s board posted that they were canceling their parade in 2026 because of a loss in sponsorships and the current political climate.

    “A lot of sponsors told me, DEI, is the reason they can’t do it,” said former President of Tampa Pride Carrie West. 

    Tampa’s mayor said it’s unfortunate, but she understands.

    “Hopefully, calmer voices will prevail, and we’ll be able to pick up next year,” Mayor Jane Castor said.

    Others believe Tampa Pride should have worked harder to bring in cash for a parade in 2026.

    “We are 6-7 months out,” said former Tampa Pride Vice President Trevor Rosine. “They couldn’t have raised enough money for a community celebration? We don’t necessarily need to be paying $100,000 to close off city streets and rezone liquor licenses to throw a one-day party. We can bring it back to its roots.”

    Rosine helped with fundraising efforts for Tampa Pride after COVID. He said he knows it’s trickier to fundraise this year, but it can be done. Rosine said other groups have been discussing other events next year.

    “I do not see a world where there won’t be a Tampa Pride celebration next year,” Rosine said. “It will go on, with or without Tampa Pride.”

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Gulfport man saves driver from burning semi-truck

    GULFPORT, Fla. — A Gulfport man is being praised as a hero after he saved a driver from a burning semi-truck.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Gulfport man was exiting I-275 near SR 690 in Pinellas County when he spotted a truck on fire along the exit ramp

    • According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver failed to negotiate a curve and the vehicle overturned, erupting in flames

    • Chase Thalheimer said he immediately jumped out of his vehicle to rescue the driver from the burning truck

    • The driver was transported to a Bay area hospital with serious injuries. His wife said she is thankful he is alive


    “I’m just a good man,” said Chase Thalheimer. “At the right place, at the right time.”

    Thalheimer was driving Tuesday morning when he saw a truck overturn on its side, along the exit ramp of Interstate 275 and SR 690.

    Thalheimer said he immediately stopped.

    “Maybe it was God’s calling,” he said. “I can’t explain it. I just felt like I had to run and help him.”

    As others drove by, Thalheimer said he could hear screams inside the truck. So he searched for a way to rescue the driver.

    Thalheimer said he went to the passenger side. The driver was trying to open the door.

    According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver failed to negotiate a curve and the vehicle overturned, erupting in flames. (Florida Highway Patrol)

    “And I’m like, ‘Just grab me,’” Thalheimer said. “And he put his arms around me, around my neck and I just put my arms under his armpits and I pulled as hard as I could. At that time the door went down on him and I just pulled him out. And then he fell on top of me.”

    The wife of the truck driver said her husband has a long healing journey ahead, but she is grateful he’s alive. 

    Wednesday afternoon, she sent a text to Thalheimer:

    “Thank you. I am just beyond grateful he is alive. It is nothing short of a miracle. I am so happy that he is able to talk and looks strong considering everything. He has a healing journey to go through, but I know with God it’ll be a rapid recovery. I appreciate you more than you know. You saved my husband’s life.”

    On Wednesday, Thalheimer said he was a little sore, but he would do it all over again. He said he wishes the driver a speedy recovery. He just wishes he could have gotten to the scene sooner.

    By the way, this is not the first time Thalheimer said he made a rescue. Years ago, he said he rushed into a burning house to save someone’s pet. 

    Thalheimer said he hopes his actions are a message to others.

    “All we have is the time at hand,” Thalheimer said. “Live in the now, make a difference.”

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • A look inside Tropicana Field as council gets ready to vote on repairs

    TAMPA, Fla. — As the Rays settle into their temporary Tampa home, the baseball diamond in St. Pete is only an outline.

    What You Need To Know

    •  St. Petersburg City Council will meet Thursday to discuss replace roof of Trop.

    •  Tropicana Field roof replacement will cost $22.5 million

    •  City leaders said environmental experts have tested and there are no “mold issues” inside the Trop.

    • City leaders said all of the major issues at the Trop have been identified.


    What was once turf is now concrete.

    Piping on the ground helps to drain the water when it rains. When you look up, all you see is metal and sky.

    (Spectrum News/Eddie Jackson)

    City of St. Petersburg City Architect Raul Quintana said, for $22.5 million, the roof can be replaced using tensile fabric. It’s the same sort of material that was ripped off of the Trop.

    “It’s the same material, but it’s designed to today’s codes,” said Quintana. “So it’s a much stronger material. It’s thicker than what it was. So it’s designed to the wind loads today that far exceed the wind loads we had in 1995.”

    Quintana said Major League Baseball had certain concerns they wanted addressed: the lighting, the acoustics and the ability to track a baseball. Quintana said they’ve checked all the boxes with their proposal.

    But the material would be made and assembled overseas.

    “The material is fabricated in Germany, then it’s shipped to China where it is assembled and those bundles are going to be sent in groups to the city,” Quintana said.

    With President Trump’s talk of tariffs, Quintana said the price could go up, but they believe the funding proposal would cover that possibility.

    If approved by the city council, the work would get underway during the 2025 hurricane season. The council is meeting Thursday to vote on funding the repairs.

    “We’re going to be putting this back in the heaviest storm period of the year, between August and November, so what we’ve done is try to protect the area behind the seating from the eventuality of rain still happening through the summer,” said Quintana.

    (Spectrum News/Eddie Jackson)

    (Spectrum News/Eddie Jackson)

    City of St. Petersburg City Development Administration Managing Director Beth Herendeen said there are no mold issues in the building.

    “We have had environmental people come out multiple times,” Herendeen said. “They do testing, air testing, so no mold issue.”

    But she said there are still areas with water intrusion, and they have removed drywall, carpeting and ceiling tiles.

    All of which will need to be replaced, and means even more money to request.

    “Every little piece of the puzzle is being looked at very carefully,” Herendeen said.

    It’s an enormous undertaking during the Rays 2025 baseball season.

    The roof repairs are one of several packages that Mayor Ken Welch’s administration will request from the city council. They will also need funding for metal panels, sports lighting, audio/visual and architectural work.

    And while city leaders acknowledge there are no guarantees, they believe it’s doable to get fans back in the seats at the Trop by next spring.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • New Oldsmar Mayor Katie Gannon leads a city in need of healing

    OLDSMAR, Fla. — There is a new mayor in Oldsmar. Katie Gannon has been sworn in to lead the city.

    What You Need To Know

    • Katie Gannon has been sworn in as the mayor of Oldsmar

    • Gannon was raised in Oldsmar and previously served on the city council

    • She said the city is in need of healing after back-to-back hurricanes


    “Feels incredible to say that,” Gannon laughed after saying she was the mayor of Oldsmar. “Not many people can say they returned to their hometown since the third grade and have successfully run for mayor.”

    Gannon was raised in Oldsmar and previously served two terms on the City Council as Vice Mayor.

    “My priority in the next three years is not to leave Oldsmar better than I found it, but to leave Oldsmar better than it’s ever been,” she said. “My goal is to make our city, the destination.”

    Gannon said there is a lot of work to do in her hometown. After last year’s back-to-back hurricanes and flash flooding, Oldsmar residents are still trying to recover.

    Gannon said more than 500 homes were damaged in Oldsmar. Neighbors helped neighbors get back on their feet.

    But Gannon said the healing process is far from over.

    “In many ways, we need literal healing,” Gannon said. “We have people who are still working to get permits getting back into their homes. Some people have decided to move or sell their homes. And that’s a big change for our city.”

    For those who are rebuilding their homes, Gannon said she wants to make sure they follow regulations, no matter how frustrating the process may be. Gannon said if they choose to go another route, their homes could be deemed unsellable.

    Meanwhile, Gannon said the city has been reimbursed $2.88 million from FEMA so far for recovery efforts.

    Gannon said her next three years as mayor will be one of transition for Oldsmar, and possibly one of development. Sometime this spring, Gannon said the city will sell the property next to the Oldsmar library and add more housing and small businesses to the landscape.

    “I would hope that we can see something in the next three years,” Gannon said.

    What is uncertain is the future of the land next to Oldsmar City Hall. For two decades, there has been a back and forth about what to do with the eight acres. In November, after the hurricanes, an Ohio company indicated they were still interested in developing the site.

    The mayor said she’d love to see the right project go up there.

    “We don’t want just a building, we want a public space, maybe park space, maybe we can have shade structures, Saturday markets there, a dog park, somewhere that our residents can go to,” Gannon said. “It has to be symbiotic.”

    She mentioned outdoor dining or a park area. But Gannon said in the past, neighbors have not had enough of a voice on what will happen. Gannon pledges transparency during her time in office.

    “I do hope that we see some movement in my term, although they say it takes a year to plan and a year to permit before you even put a shovel in the ground,” Gannon said.

    Gannon said the priority right now is recovering from those storms and preparing for yet another hurricane season.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Nonprofit sees increase in women needing bikes for transportation

    TAMPA, Fla. — Sometimes riding a bike is a lot more than just riding a bike. For Nikita Hultin, it’s been a lifeline. 

    What You Need To Know

    • After Nikita Hultin moved to the Tampa Bay area, she got a bike from Bikes for Christ to get to work 

    • The nonprofit’s founder says Hultin part of an increase their seeing in bike donations to women 

    • Bikes for Christ has helped thousands of people throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Pasco counties

    “It was there when I needed it,” Hultin said. “Just when I needed it. Like perfect timing.”

    Before she got the bright red bike, Hultin was mentally in a dark place. She struggled for sobriety.

    “I wasn’t happy,” Hultin said. “Wasn’t happy with who I was. Who I had become.”

    She moved to the Tampa Bay area for a clean start. Hultin got a place to stay. She found a job. Then Bikes for Christ founder Pat Simmons gave her a bike to get to work.

    “Man, the blessing that I get for just being able to do this is overwhelming for me,” Simmons said.

    His nonprofit recently built a new facility and has given away nearly 400 bikes this year. With the rising cost of living, Simmons said he’s seeing a lot more women request two wheels instead of four. This year, he said they saw a 10% increase in bike donations to women.

    “I think it’s a cost thing,” Simmons said. “It just makes more sense for women to go that route as opposed to buying the car, getting the insurance, buying the gas, getting the maintenance on the vehicle. It’s just a cost factor on the vehicle, I believe.”

    For Hultin, affordability played a big role. For almost three months, she rode her bike to and from work each day and the journey has helped her through the toughest of times. 

    She’s happier now.

    Just a couple of weeks ago, Hultin bought a car.

    “It feels like a great accomplishment too, from not having a place to live, to getting back stable again,” Hultin said.

    The fight is not over. Months sober, she is taking it day by day and no, she’s not ditching the bike.

    “Oh, it’s still my best friend, don’t get me wrong,” Hultin laughed.

    But she is looking forward to the road ahead, and she’s thankful her bike helped her get there.  

    Bikes for Christ has helped thousands of people throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Pasco counties.

    For more information about bike donations, head to their website.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Generous donors help Lakeland family get new roof

    Generous donors help Lakeland family get new roof

    LAKELAND, Fla. — The kindness of strangers is helping a Polk County family get repairs to their home.

    What You Need To Know

    • High winds from Hurricane Debby peeled part of the roof off of Mary and Jose Olmeda’s mobile home

    • On a fixed income with no insurance, the family was not quite sure how they’d pay to repair it
    • After Spectrum Bay News 9 shared their story, viewers pitched in to help

    • Stephen Brock of Graham Aluminum and Home Improvement said the Olmedas should have a new roof by next week


    High winds from Hurricane Debby peeled part of the roof off of Mary and Jose Olmeda’s mobile home.

    “It’s been stressful,” said Mary Olmeda. “Very, very stressful.”

    On a fixed income with no insurance, the family was not quite sure how they’d pay to repair it. Recently, rain has been getting into the home and black mold has begun to grow on their ceiling.

    “I lose this. I’m homeless,” Mary Olmeda said when it first happened.

    But after Spectrum Bay News 9 shared their story, viewers pitched in to help.

    Now the Olmedas have enough money to repair their home.

    “It’s amazing,” said Mary Olmeda. “I get teary-eyed. You always hear about the bad people, but you never hear about the good ones and they’re out there.”

    Along with financial help, one donor left encouraging words.

    “Mary, your faith is a testament to others who have no hope. God bless you,” the message said.

    Olmeda said she relied on her faith to get her through the problems that plague her home.

    The Olmedas have hired a contractor to begin work on a new roof.

    “Basically, what we need to do is take the old pans off, that are on there currently that already got ripped off, then we’re going to install a new metal roof on top,” said Stephen Brock of Graham Aluminum and Home Improvement.

    Brock said the plan is to seal the home so the family will be ready to go if another storm rolls in. He said the Olmeda should have a new roof by next week.

    “And hopefully this doesn’t happen again,” Brock said.

    The Olmedas do not have insurance because of the age of the property. They said they looked into buying a new mobile home, but it was too expensive.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • USF St. Petersburg professor prepares to be delegate at DNC

    USF St. Petersburg professor prepares to be delegate at DNC

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Some people have yard signs. Judith Ann McLauchlan has birds — lots of them.

    “We are putting pearls on my flamingos in honor of Kamala Harris,” McLauchlan said.

    What You Need To Know

    • Judith Ann McLauchlan, a USF St. Petersburg political professor, will serve as a delegate for the Democratic National Convention

    • McLauchlan has attended the DNC eight times before, but has never been a delegate on the convention floor

    • McLauchlan is so passionate, she plans to wear her special Kamala Harris socks while she’s in Chicago

    She ordered red, white and blue flamingos to show love for her country and to show her unwavering support for Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris.

    McLauchlan will leave the colorful display in her front yard as she travels to Chicago to serve as a delegate for the Democratic National Convention.

    “This will be my first time as a delegate on the floor and I’m super excited,” McLauchlan said.

    McLauchlan, a USF St. Petersburg political professor, has attended the DNC eight times before. Her first convention was in 1996 in Chicago. She even got engaged at a convention, but she has never been a delegate on the convention floor. McLauchlan said she can’t wait until the festivities begin.

    “It never gets old,” McLauchlan said. “It’s so exciting. It’s hard to describe how exhilarating it is being in a massive arena with thousands of people who are passionate about making America a better place.”

    McLauchlan is so passionate, she plans to wear her special Kamala Harris socks while she’s in Chicago. She got them as a Christmas gift.

    “I will be sporting them a lot between now and Nov. 5,” McLauchlan laughed.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Bay area delegate preps for RNC with creative headwear

    Bay area delegate preps for RNC with creative headwear

    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — When the Republican National Convention (RNC) begins, delegates will be wearing their pride on their heads.

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

    What You Need To Know

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

    • It’s part of a longstanding hat tradition at political conventions
    • Back in 2016, Smithsonian curators asked her to donate her headwear to the National Museum of American History

    • The RNC begins July 15


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The RNC kicks off July 15.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • St. Pete College aims to boost number of Black male graduates

    St. Pete College aims to boost number of Black male graduates

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg College is working to increase the college graduation rate among African American men.

    What You Need To Know

    • According to the Joint Center for Political Economic Studies, between 2019 and 2021, junior colleges nationwide saw a 23% decline in Black male enrollment
    • St. Petersburg College graduated first group of FAAME African American male scholars in May
    • St. Petersburg College will start its next freshman FAAME class in June
    • To find out more about the program, contact coordinator Steve Marshall at marshall.steve@spcollege.edu

    This month, the school graduated its first class of Florida African American Male Experience (FAAME) scholars. With a grant from the Helios Foundation, the students have been able to take classes, learn leadership skills and receive opportunities they never dreamed of.

    “I feel great,” said graduate and FAAME scholar Jo’el Hicks. “This is just a sign of what’s to come. It’s a sign that I’ve held up my word, that all I needed was an opportunity.”

    In recent years, the number of Black men attending college has dropped. According to the Joint Center for Political Economic Studies, between 2019 and 2021, junior colleges nationwide saw a 23% decline in Black male enrollment.

    “I always tell them, failure is not an option,” said FAAME coordinator Steve Marshall.

    Nearly two dozen FAAME scholars graduated from the program in May, and many in the group said they plan to continue their studies at a four-year university.

    “I plan to transfer to FAMU in August, studying computer science,” said FAAME scholar and St. Petersburg College graduate Adolfo Acevedo.

    “The end goal is to be a commercial airline pilot,” said FAAME scholar and St. Petersburg College graduate Lucas Fidelis. “I’m also a psychology major, because if I can’t be a pilot, I want to be a sports psychologist.”

    “I plan on transferring to USF for a Bachelor’s degree in journalism,” said FAAME scholar and St. Petersburg College graduate George Mention.

    Meanwhile, St. Petersburg College will start its next freshman FAAME class next month. To find out more about the program, contact Marshall at marshall.steve@spcollege.edu or call 1-727-712-5887.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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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

    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.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • A city in Polk County aims to revive historic Black business district

    A city in Polk County aims to revive historic Black business district

    HAINES CITY, FL — Haines City leaders are taking steps to revive a historic business district in the Oakland community.

    Eleventh Street, now Martin Luther King Way, was once a thriving area for African Americans. In the 1950s, there was a movie theater, an ice cream parlor, along with dozens of shops and restaurants. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Haines City leaders are taking steps to revive a historic business district in the Oakland community

    • 11 Street, now Martin Luther King Way, was once a thriving area for African Americans

    • In early February, the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency announced they would invest in the revitalization of the historic Oakland district

    “When I first got the place, it was pretty good,” said retired business owner Bennie Prichett. He owned a club and restaurant on 11th Street. “Down the line, it got a little worse. Things changed.”

    An economic downturn in the mid-1980s shuttered many businesses. Other business owners like Prichett retired. The street lost its luster.

    “We need to pass the baton,” said Lekia Johnson of the Haines City Community Redevelopment Agency.

    In early February, the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency announced it would invest in the revitalization of the historic Oakland district. The first step includes hiring a consultant who specializes in the revitalization of black-owned businesses.

    Many residents are happy to hear the city wants to help bring the area back to what it used to be. Prichett’s son Gregory said the shop owners were a vital part of the community.

    “They played a role in our upbringing,” said resident Gregory Prichett “They were like a second father or a second mother. So that’s what I remember as a child growing up with all these businesses in the community.”

    The city hopes to hire a consultant by the spring.

    City leaders said they plan to keep the community informed throughout the entire process.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Polk County students compete in plane building contest

    Polk County students compete in plane building contest

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Middle schoolers in Polk County are competing in the inaugural Spirit of Flight.

    Sixth graders from Sleepy Hill, Lake Gibson and Southwest middle schools took used cardboard boxes to create their own model airplanes.

    What You Need To Know

    • Middle schoolers in Polk County are competing in the inaugural Spirit of Flight

    • Students from Sleepy Hill, Lake Gibson and Southwest middle schools took used cardboard boxes to create their own model airplanes

    • Vote for your favorite model plane

    The managing team at Browning Moving & Storage came up with the idea. Then, they gave students the boxes to compete. 

    “We were all thinking it was going to turn out so bad and it randomly turned out good and we were very excited about it,” said Khloe Oltmanns, a sixth grader from Lake Gibson Middle.

    The group with the winning model plane will get tickets to the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in April. The students are excited about the planes they’ve created.

    “This has just been an amazing experience to see what these kids can come up with,” said Michael Boyette of Browning Moving & Storage.

    A team of judges went to each school and scored the model planes. They will pick the overall winner.

    But the organizers want you to go online and vote for your favorite. Those students will receive the People’s Choice Award which also comes with an ice cream party.

    Vote for your favorite model plane.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Tours to remember leaders at Polk County’s oldest known Black cemetery

    Tours to remember leaders at Polk County’s oldest known Black cemetery

    BARTOW, Fla. — L.B. Brown. Dr. Ossian Sweet. The Longworth family. Andy and Tamer Moore. Those are just a few of the notable African American figures who are buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Bartow. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Evergreen Cemetery was originally known as Bartow Colored Cemetery

    • It is the oldest documented and continuously used Black cemetery in Polk County

    • Tours are available by the Polk County History Center
    • The next tour of the Evergreen Cemetery is on April 6 at 11 a.m. That will be the last one for the season with tours picking back up again in early fall

    The Evergreen Cemetery, located in the western portion of Bartow, is the oldest documented and continuously used African American cemetery in the county.

    Lawrence Bernard (L.B.) Brown, 1906. (Courtesy: Polk County History Center)

    Jayme Jamison, curator at the Polk County History Center, provides tours at the cemetery to share the rich history.

    “There’s magic in history,” Jamison said. “It is extremely important. I think what we’ve seen throughout COVID is this need to be connected to the community and it’s driving people to actually walk out of their doors and go to places they’ve never gone before.”

    Andy and Tamer Moore are buried at the cemetery. They were one of the first African American landowners in Polk County. They were brought to Bartow as slaves and freed at the end of the war.

    “I don’t think people realized, but one of the indignities of slavery was that you didn’t have the right to get married,” Jamison said. “So, at the end of the war, Andy and Tamer legally got married and lived their lives in Bartow.”

    Tamer Moore was the first documented burial at the Evergreen Cemetery.

    Moore’s son Patrick was one of four African American men who voted to incorporate Bartow.

    “This makes it real,” Jamison said, while walking the grounds. “It makes it tangible for people.”

    The burial ground was first known as the Bartow Colored Cemetery.

    “We know there are 800 visible monuments, markers and burials,” Jamison said. “There is another 1,000 that are partially visible and at least about 800 where there are suspected to be burials but are not visible on the ground surface.”

    Dr. Ossian Sweet and his family are buried there. The obstetrician left Bartow to study in France. Later, Dr. Sweet faced trouble after moving to an all white neighborhood in Detroit. A mob showed up at the house. The Sweets fired twice. An innocent bystander was struck and killed.

    Dr. Ossian Sweet (Courtesy: Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library)

    “What the police ended up doing is they arrested everyone in the house, even the mom and put them in jail,” Jamison said.

    With the help of the NAACP, Dr. Sweet was acquitted and a national precedent was established.

    “The happy ending is there is that doctrine now that whether you’re Black or white you get to defend your home,” Jamison said.

    Jamison said the county decided to take management of the cemetery to help preserve the history. The place that was once a spiritual site during slavery is now grounds for honor and respect.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • DeSantis sends more troops to border; GOP primary heats up

    DeSantis sends more troops to border; GOP primary heats up

    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has started to send additional troops to the Texas border, with the offer of a thousand more, and Republicans in South Carolina prepare for the state presidential primary. 


    DeSantis begins to send additional Florida troops to Texas border

    It’s been an eventful week for Gov. Ron DeSantis. Several bills are now on his desk, and despite broad support from the legislature, the governor’s recent comments have cast doubt whether he’ll actually sign them.

    While they wait for a signature or a veto, DeSantis is sending more troops and troopers to the southern border.

    As many as 50 Florida National Guard members will leave from Plant City Friday and dozens of state troopers from Pensacola are going with them.

    “This is part of a years-long effort for us to help do what the federal government has refused to do, which is to actually defend this country’s borders,” DeSantis said.

    In February, DeSantis said Florida will help Texas build barricades or lay down more border wire.

    “We wanna be a part of that,” he said. “We think this is an American issue — partially because we should have a secure country, and partially the effects of this border invasion go to all 50 states.”

    The governor is offering Texas up to 1,000 troops. The offer comes as border crossings in the U.S. near a record high. Border Patrol in December reported roughly 250,000 migrant encounters.

    But back in Florida, Democrats are calling the move a wasteful political stunt.

    This mission, they say, is all about DeSantis and his dream of running for the White House.

    “There’s so much to focus on here at home,” Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said. “We don’t need a governor who is continuing to focus on his own ambitions and just leaving Floridians behind.”

    Not only that, Florida Democrats say no state should send their troops down south. The border, they say, is federal business. 

    South Carolina GOP primary could reveal clear winner

    Saturday is the Republican Presidential Primary in South Carolina.

    And even though Nikki Haley is a former governor of the state, she is not expected to beat former President Donald Trump.

    Nevertheless, she is pledging to stay in the race for the foreseeable future.

    Hundreds of people lined up for hours in Rock Hill to hear Trump speak. Even as the former president faces a laundry list of legal troubles, his support remains strong going into the primary.

    “He’s been through a lot and he keeps going,” South Carolina resident Joe Kilpatrick said. “He’s a true patriot. Best president in my lifetime.” 

    “When he was president in 2020, he made everything better,” resident Katie Henson claimed. “And now, Biden, it’s going down the toilet.”

    Haley has been criss-crossing the state, arguing Trump and Biden are too old and that Trump is too chaotic to run the country, but Trump fans disagree.

    “I’ve always known the older, the wiser,” Latosha Parker said. “Age is nothing but a number. We need Nikki Haley to say what she’s going to bring,” 

    Something Haley does have is a pitch that is appealing to former Trump supporters who are exhausted by his unending legal troubles.

    In a call with reporters Friday, Haley’s campaign manager Betsy Ankney cited a Marquette Law School poll that found Haley would beat Biden by 16 percentage points but Trump would beat him by 2 points, within the margin of error. Ankney also rattled off the lengthy list of Republican election defeats since, she said, the “luster wore off” of Trump following his 2016 victory.

    “We know that the math is challenging,” Ankney said. “This has never just been about who can win a Republican primary. This battle is about who can win in November, defeat the Democrats and finally get our country back on track. And the reality is, no matter what all-caps rants Trump goes on on Twitter about the polls, he will not defeat Joe Biden in November, and he will drag the entire Republican ticket down with him.”

    Haley has shown no sign of being on the verge of bowing out. This week, her campaign announced its leadership teams in Super Tuesday primary states Michigan and Texas, and Ankney announced Friday a seven-figure TV and digital ad buy leading up to Super Tuesday, which is March 5.

    Haley and the super PAC supporting her had $15 million cash on hand at the end of January, according to Federal Election Commission.

    The former South Carolina governor has been attacking Trump on a number of fronts, including his court trials, his comments that he would encourage Russia to attack NATO countries that do not meet their financial obligations and his refusal to condemn Russia for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

    The Trump campaign, meanwhile, has been trying to paint Haley as someone who is weak on immigration and relations with China, and who would raise taxes.

    Republican strategist Rina Shah said it’s important for Haley to avoid an ugly blowout Saturday.

    “The delta can’t be so vast,” Shah said. “Because if it is, then it’s almost like a repudiation of her candidacy.”

    Shah added that Haley has “had her eye on the long game for months now” after receiving an influx of support from big-money donors and Americans for Prosperity Action, the political network founded by the influential billionaire Koch Brothers.

    USF students volunteer in South Carolina primary

    Students at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg headed to South Carolina this week to volunteer ahead of the Republican presidential primary.

    The trip is part of a course called “The Road to the White House 2024.” The students applied to be in the class. Each student chose to intern with Republican candidates Donald Trump, Nikki Haley or with the South Carolina Democratic Party.

    “The Democrats had their election, but now what?” asked USF St. Pete professor Judithanne McLauchlan. “They’re going to be doing their delegate selections, so these students will get the behind the scenes look at all of that process.”

    The students left for South Carolina on Friday and will stay for 10 days.

    “I really have no idea what the campaign is going to look like,” said student Dante Rubino, who will intern with former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign.

    “I’m looking at getting on the inside track and furthering my career,” said student and veteran Steven Brown. Brown, who already works with veterans, said he plans to intern with Trump’s campaign.

    While they’re in South Carolina, each student will blog about their experience.

    Ryan Chatelain

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  • Bay area students head to South Carolina to volunteer for presidential primary

    Bay area students head to South Carolina to volunteer for presidential primary

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Students at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg are headed to South Carolina this week to volunteer ahead of the Republican presidential primary.

    What You Need To Know

    • Students at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg are headed to South Carolina to volunteer ahead of the Republican presidential primary

    • The trip is part of a course called “The Road to the White House 2024”
    • Each student chose to intern with Republican candidates Donald Trump, Nikki Haley or with the South Carolina Democratic Party

    The trip is part of a course called “The Road to the White House 2024.” The students applied to be in the class. Each student chose to intern with Republican candidates Donald Trump, Nikki Haley or with the South Carolina Democratic Party.

    “The democrats had their election, but now what?” asked USF St. Pete professor Judithanne McLauchlan. “They’re going to be doing their delegate selections so these students will get the behind the scenes look at all of that process.”

    The students leave for South Carolina on Friday and will stay for 10 days.

    “I really have no idea what the campaign is going to look like,” said student Dante Rubino, who will intern with former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign.

    “I’m looking at getting on the inside track and furthering my career,” said student and veteran Steven Brown. Brown already works with veterans. He plans to intern with former President Donald Trump’s campaign.

    While they’re in South Carolina, each student will blog about their experience.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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