ReportWire

Tag: Erin Murray

  • 75-year-old Clearwater physical therapy tech has no plans to retire

    [ad_1]

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — With physical therapy you get out what you put in. Sonny Harriel, 75, doesn’t just tell his patients that, the physical therapy tech lives it in his career.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sonny Harriel has worked at BayCare’s Morton Plant Hospital for 51 years. He is a physical therapy tech

    • The average that Americans have worked at their current job is four years. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics that is the lowest tenure average in more than 20 years

    • Harriel says he has no plans to retire anytime soon

    • To see more Black History Month stories, click here


    He has put in a significant amount of time during that career.

    “I felt so good. I wouldn’t have thought that I would be in the hospital, or anywhere working for 50 years. But once I got 20 and 30, I said, that is it. I am not going anywhere,” said Sonny.

    51 years now at BayCare’s Morton Plant Hospital, and it’s a place that has shaped his life in many ways.

    Sonny Harriel has his own parking space at BayCare Morton Plant Hospital dedicated to his over 50 of service. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

    Sonny even found love at the hospital.

    “I said no for a couple of weeks, I kept saying, no, no, no. Then finally he kept being so insistent,” said Janice Harriel.

    “It was it was 4:20, right outside the door at 4:20 we started talking,” said Sonny, who remembers the place and time he first talked to his now wife.

    The pair married in 1991. Like Sonny, Janice has worked at the hospital a long, long time. 

    “This year is 45 years for me. From a child, to now 62 years old. This is my only place I have worked,” she said. 

    Janice smiles when she reminds everyone, she was born in this hospital, on the day former President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. 

    For many African Americans, career longevity at one place of employment has proved more difficult. It is well documented that workforce challenges and discrimination have been a big part of history for Black Americans. 

    For Sonny and Janice, that was not the case. They both say it was the acceptance from their first day working at Morton Plant that played a role in both staying so long. 

    “Patients come up to us, they will come up to Sonny, and they will say you worked with me in therapy, and they will say, I remember you, you prayed for me,” said Janice. “And it’s such a good feeling, giving back to our patients in our community to let them know we love what we do here at Morton Plant hospital.”

    Combined these lovebirds have worked 96 years for Morton Plant Hospital. 

    They don’t plan to retire soon either. 

    “People ask me, when do you retire? I told them they shredded my paper, so I don’t have retirement paper. That’s a trick I play on people, because I like having fun and I just enjoy working here and I don’t know anyone leave, right? No plans,” said Sonny. “As long as I can walk, I’m coming to work.”

    Sonny is actually not the longest tenured employee at Morton Plant. A clinical nurse that started in 1973 has two years more on Sonny. 

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • Paloma House, a women-centered community, opens in St. Pete

    [ad_1]

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For a long time, Paloma House owner and founder Sophie Moenter had a goal: create a space where motherhood, wellness, work and connection could co-exist. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Paloma House is a women-centered community in St. Petersburg

    • The idea is for women to have a place to bond over motherhood, wellness and work

    • Sophie Moenter opened the business with her best friend, Melissa Darr, in January 2026

    • While women can participate in day-to-day events and classes, there is a monthly membership for wanting more access


    “This is the non-judgmental zone as well. Your kid has a meltdown. That’s OK. We’re used to it,” said Moenter.

    Moenter and her best friend, Melissa Darr, started small with this dream. 

    “We originally started this concept out of my photography studio, which was 500 square feet,” said Moenter. “And we very quickly realized how much moms and women need community. And it blew up pretty much overnight.”

    It grew into a space in St. Petersburg they named the Paloma House. 

    “We are listening and we are looking for feedback. We’re hoping that this checks boxes for the women in the community. You don’t have to be a mom. You just have to be a woman. You know, someone who’s looking for support,” said Darr, co-founder of Paloma House.

    Inside the large black and white building, there are health and wellness rooms, cozy social meet-up spots, even quiet areas to work. All of this, with the understanding that children are welcome. There is even a play-care area where children can be watched if a mother needs to have time to work in a room nearby. 

    Play-care area at the Paloma House in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Spectrum News)

    Health and wellness room at the Paloma House in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Spectrum News)

    “Community. That is mainly why I joined. I literally became a member yesterday,” said new member Nicole Waters.

    “It felt very divine because we’ve just moved down to St. Pete from Boston this past fall, and I was always hoping that by the time I became a mom, something like this would exist,” said Emma Compagna, member. 

    Kids are everywhere, and the chaos that comes with children is embraced. Even Moenter’s son is there in the building. 

    “He’s been the inspiration behind everything here,” said Moenter, smiling at her son, Remy. “I feel very, very lucky that I get to bring him everywhere I go with me, and I wanted other moms to feel, you know, that ability as well.”

    “I have a two-year-old, and this type of environment was not around for me,” said Darr. “And when I kind of started learning more about our vision, it was a no-brainer.”

    But this space is not just for moms or moms to be — it is a place for working women, too.

    “So, as an entrepreneur, this space has been great because there’s a lot of other entrepreneurs here as well. So a lot of like-minded women. It is very community-oriented,” said Compagna.

    Working area at the Paloma House in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Spectrum News)

    For Moenter and Darr, it is a space for women to pause, breathe and grow in life in a calmer way. 

    “It kind of reminded me who I am again, because I have somewhere to flex my personality. And it’s not just small talk,” said Compagna. 

    Paloma House does have different memberships for those interested. 

    On Sunday, February 22, there is a grand opening celebration. It is happening at the Paloma House at 10787 Oak St. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33716 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

    Moenter said it is free for families to attend, including dads.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • AI helping more medical offices improve patient interaction

    [ad_1]

    TAMPA, Fla. — A new part of a doctor’s greeting with a patient now involves a bit of a new explanation. 

    More medical offices are implementing the use of artificial intelligence to summarize patient visits to help reduce documentation, time, and improve patient interactions. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Orlando Health interventional cardiologist confirmed AI use has immensely helped office efficiency and understanding from patients of their current state of health

    • Dr. Jesal Popat, cardiologist at Orlando Health, said the AI app used is HIPPA compliant, and patients are told and asked for their consent before it is used for information
    • Some patients have been hesitant about AI use in professional, medical settings, but Popat said after understanding how it works that almost all patients in his office are on board 

    “We are using artificial intelligence today in the office,” said Dr. Jesal Popat, an Interventional Cardiologist with Orlando Health.

    Popat said his office at Orlando Health has begun to use AI to summarize his visits with patient, like Maureen Cravey and others. 

    Popat’s cell phone utilizes a secure application with Orlando Health to listen and understand what is said during appointments. 

    “I kind of saw it as sort of a court stenographer,” said Cravey. “Just somebody taking notes, which allowed then my provider, which of course is Dr. Popat, to stay focused on me.”

    The entire visit, Popat never looks at a computer screen or any other technology, keeping his full attention on Cravey. The two discuss her current medical heart needs and future procedures.

    When Orlando Health first launched this, Popat admits some of his clients were wary for their safety.

    Dr. Jesal Popat, an Interventional Cardiologist with Orlando Health, talks with patient Maureen Cravey. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

    “There was apprehension about privacy concerns and just reassuring the patients that all of the technology that we use is HIPPA compliant and health care quality grade. If it wasn’t, we would have nothing to do with it,” Popat said.

    Once the visit ended, the information gathered via AI is turned into a summary and printed out. Cravey was given the printout when she checked out. 

    On the paper it showed everything discussed including medications and doses, upcoming procedures, and any lifestyle modifications she may need to make. 

    “Since we started using AI in the office, the phone calls to our office from patients or patients’ family members has gone down by about 50%,” said Popat.

    Popat said that AI has helped in a big way with family of patients who cannot attend checkups with their loved ones, keeping ever the furthest family members up to date with instant information. 

    “It’s just a wonderful thing to be able to look at that hard copy, because it’s hard to retain everything when somebody is telling you something about your health,” said Cravey. 

    Popat said the AI recording from appointments is deleted instantly after a patient’s visit, ensuring none are saved for client privacy, and no identifiable patient information is entered into the AI application other than a person’s name. 

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • All Children’s shares latest on $7.5 million pediatric cancer research grant

    [ad_1]

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — To Mia Morrison, 5, the rooms on the seventh floor of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital have become almost a second bedroom. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator was created in 2025 by the Florida Legislature as part of the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program

    • The state initiative was designed to advance pediatric cancer research and care in Florida

    • For five years, the hospital and three others will receive $7.5 million a year

    • Mia Morrison is 5 and was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia


    She is comfortable here, even though this is where she gets ongoing cancer treatments. 

    “Mia is actually on a clinical trial right now for an immunotherapy drug that she received. It has already done incredible things for the outcome of children with B-cell ALL. And so we are always very excited to hear about new trials, participate in new trials,” said Callie Morrison, Mia’s mother.

    New and expanded trials are a big part of the Florida Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator grant, giving this hospital and three others in Florida $7.5 million a year for the next five years. 

    “We are trying to attract and grow the research in Florida so people do not have to leave Florida to go get that care,” said Dr. Cassandra Josephson, director of the Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

    Mia has acute lymphoblastic leukemia and this grant will help her and others in five main ways. 

    First, it expands current clinical trials, it also will develop a statewide clinical trial database, create a network to move research discoveries into the trial-phases faster, implement more immune system studies, and will create more testing for the next generation of gene and cellular therapies. 

    “Getting more kids to be on study and to be enrolled in studies is part of this grant. And that will lead to bigger cures and bigger survival rates in different places,” said Josephson. 

    It also will help more complex cases, like Mia. 

    She is non-verbal living with autism. Callie said that being neurodivergent sometimes creates barriers with being included in long-term trials. 

    “So the fact that we have this grant, this renewable grant that we have access to for the next five years, I can’t wait to see what the opportunities are for kids like Mia,” said Morrison. 

    Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital was one of four specialty hospitals in the state for this five-year grant. 

    Nicklaus Children’s in Miami, Nemours Children’s in Orlando, and Wolfson Children’s in Jacksonville were also awarded this funding.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • Ladies first jiu-jitsu helping women find strength and purpose

    [ad_1]

    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The reasons for learning a sport are endless.

    For some, it is to get stronger and faster. For others, it is all about feeling better, healthier, or more confident.

    In some cases, like with jiu-jitsu, some want to learn to feel safer.

    What You Need To Know

    • She-Devil Jiu-Jitsu was founded by Michele “Bella” Milo. She is a black belt in jiu-jitsu

    • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is still a male-dominated sport, but Milo met women who were not comfortable because of past trauma training with men

    • Michele Milo, founder of She-Devil Jiu-Jitsu, firmly believes women deserve consistent, reliable training spaces where they can learn and grow alongside other women

    • She-Devil Jiu-Jitsu is located at: 4051 Madison St STE 7, New Port Richey, FL 34652. Phone: (727) 504-8414


    “I do think it’s really important for girls in particular to learn jiu-jitsu. It’s a ground grappling sport and it can help you. It can save you,” said Amanda Gambone, She-Devil Jiu-Jitsu student.

    Gambone trains at the New Port Richey studio called the Den alongside her daughter.

    “It’s really important to know how to defend yourself. There’s predators everywhere,” said Eveeana Cortez, 13.

    The teen spars with women double and sometimes triple her age.

    Inside the Den, it is about more than just sport or defense. The women who take the classes say it is a safe place for women.

    “It’s hard to find a women’s-only class or even women in a class,” said Michele “Bella” Milo, founder of She-Devil Jiu-Jitsu.

    Milo opened the dojo in June 2025 after a conversation with a woman who was interested in jiu-jitsu, but was uncomfortable with the idea of training.

    “I met a woman who was watching her child’s class, and she just wouldn’t start. She said, ‘It looks so much fun, but I have been in a domestic violence situation and I don’t think I would ever feel comfortable doing that with a man,’” said Milo. “And so then the light bulb went off and I was like, this is something that a lot of women need.”

    The Den is a place that puts women first. Women like Ren Lee.

    “It really saved my life coming here, to be honest,” said Lee.

    She lives with ADHD and Autism and admits she struggles to regulate her emotions.

    “This has been my saving grace, especially for things where I don’t feel like I should be talking or I feel like I don’t really fit in anywhere. I can always come here,” said Lee.

    Milo says men are not excluded, with co-ed classes available. But there is an understanding that women come first here.

    “I kind of found a found family here,” said Lee.

    This month there is a Galentine’s Grappling Weekend. It is two days of ladies-only training with eight local female black belts. To sign up, click here.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • SPC offers free SMART Tech certifications for students

    [ad_1]

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In a room with more buttons than a pilot’s dashboard, Jose Rivera shows prospective students different training systems they will learn in two new SMART Tech courses.

    “So this room is going to be one of the newest labs for the program that we have here at SPC,” Rivera said.

    Rivera is one of the instructors. Each box-like system teaches a different manufacturing skill.

    “Pneumatics, AC/DC electronics, robotics,” said Rivera, listing just a few.

    St. Petersburg College Dean of Workforce Development and Corporate Partnerships Belinthia Berry said those courses will lead to employment.

    “And not just any job, a high skill, high wage job,” Berry said.

    The equipment is all to support SPC’s SMART Tech program, which is offering a variety of certifications.

    “Semiconductor, mechatronics, artificial intelligence, your robotics, your technician-type courses that are in your advanced manufacturing,” Berry said.

    Two new courses starting in February include electronic board assembly operations and robotic and semiconductor technician operations.

    For SPC student Kalon Houston, who spent his 20s working in the culinary world, these skills equate to a future with more financial stability.

    “It gives you an opportunity to find, skill-set a job that people are paying you that 20 threshold or more. Like as soon as you get the degrees for it,” Houston said.

    But the biggest selling point for these new courses at SPC — they are all free. They are funded through the Florida Job Growth Grant.

    “So the state says, you know what, we’re going to give scholarships to everyone for the first two years. And so we’re in our first year all the way up until next year of 2027. All of our courses are free,” Berry said.

    For Houston and others, these free certifications are a step toward finding more than just a job. He is on the hunt for a career. 

    “I think it’s good for people to know that, like, it doesn’t really matter your age or what route you took in life. Like, it’s never too late to take another route,” Houston said.

    Coming later this year, SPC said it will also launch an Automated Production Technician Program.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • Local businesses find success following SPC ‘Grow Your Business’ program

    [ad_1]

    TAMPA, Fla. — Jennifer Hill is not bashful about talking shop.  

    “My rent in downtown cost me more than five years here,” said Hill.

    She runs Peterbrooke Chocolatier Tampa Carrollwood, a franchise she and her daughter have owned for five years. 

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg College (SPC) just launched another Grow Your Business program. It is designed to provide entrepreneurs with the tools, strategies and confidence to scale their businesses and achieve measurable growth

    • Jennifer Hill and her daughter run Peterbrooke Chocolatier in Tampa Carrollwood. They said the course has brought them increased revenue and helped them with tough business choices

    • SPC says the last cohort of entrepreneurs gained an average of eight to 17 new clients and achieved revenue growth ranging from 20 to 40%, with some businesses experiencing peak increases of up to 86%

    • For more information about upcoming entrepreneurial programs at SPC, visit Entrepreneurship Certificate || St. Petersburg College


    They are experts in all things chocolate. 

    “Like water and chocolate do not get along at all, so you need to make sure they are extremely dry before you dip them,” said Sydney Morton. 

    The pair knows how to make the perfect chocolate covered strawberry, but when it came to running the business, they admit recently they were at a crossroads. 

    “We needed a little guidance, a little nudge,” said Hill. 

    That is where St. Pete College came in. They currently offer a sponsored Grow Your Business Course for small business owners. 

    “Lifelong learners are the ones who succeed. So any time that you can take a skill set and upskill, it’s going to it’s going to lead to success,” said Shawn Partin, St. Petersburg College. 

    He runs the course and said they program can help business owners in four key areas: growth, operational improvements, skill development and expansion. 

    It can also connect owners who may feel alone. 

    “Not only we helped them increase and improve their operations and their finances, which is always great, but also that sense of belonging and a sense of belonging to the community and to the college,” said Emmanuel Hernandez, Ph.D., Dean, SPC College of Business. 

    SPC says on average owners who took the course gained eight to 17 new clients and had a revenue growth range of 20 to 40%.

    For Hill and Morton, the class helped them with a key decision to relocate from downtown Tampa to Carrollwood. 

    “We saw the dollars per customer go up. We saw the clientele in six months repeating and repeating and repeating. We heard zero complaints about parking Is downtown parking was it was awful,” said Hill. 

    A choice that has paid off in many ways, thanks to that eight week course. 

    As a small business owner, you have to be able to do many things well and they will help you sort out what your weaknesses are and help you figure out if can you get stronger or can you delegate, which they did for me,” said Hill.

    Now her shop talk is back to all things sweet. 

    The class is for small business owners. 

    The next course starts the week of January 19th, 2026 on SPC”s Clearwater Campus. 

    To sign up, contact: Hernandez.Emmanuel@SPCollege.edu

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • ‘We Are The Essentials’ helps find the missing

    [ad_1]

    HOMOSASSA, Fla. — In missing person’s cases, the most important question is not ‘why’ or ‘how,’ but ‘where?’

    What You Need To Know

    • We Are the Essentials is a rescue and recovery nonprofit helping families find missing loved ones. 

    • Made up of former law enforcement, private investigators and military members, the group of volunteers has located dozens of missing persons over the past few years. 

    • This story is part of a series of reports connected to the 20-year mark of Jennifer Kesse’s disappearance.


    “So her body was discarded in this pond,” said Shelley Croft, pointing to a murky creek that flows parallel to Suncoast Boulevard in Homosassa.

    Croft, Amanda Reece and Billy Lane stand along the creek. The three have spent hours in and along this small creek in rural Citrus County.

    “We came back out just recently and found another three bones,” said Lane.

    The trio are the founders of We Are the Essentials, a rescue and recovery nonprofit whose mission is to find the missing.

    “You always remember their names. You always remember where you recovered them from. Always,” said Lane.

    In a creek is where Jaime MacDonald’s body was dumped after she was murdered. It sat submerged for 44 days before she was found by police.

    Hope Yates looks down at the spot her mother was found. She is MacDonald’s eldest child. She came back here in January to meet Croft, Lane and Reece because they had recently uncovered more missing bones that belong to MacDonald.

    Made up of former law enforcement, private investigators and military members, the group of volunteers has located dozens of missing persons over the past few years. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Erin Murray)

    “This is so special, thank you guys,” said Yates.

    Like most missing person cases, MacDonald’s started with missed phone calls. Her two children knew something was wrong and called the police.

    “It was very frustrating,” remembers Yates. “And the 44 days before she was found, we were kind of left in the dark. So we weren’t really aware where the case was going.”

    Yates said the police did not continually communicate, so she and her brother turned to the internet searching for help. That is when they found We Are The Essentials.

    “It was just so comforting just to have somebody responding when we were at such a time of silence,” said Yates.

    Silence that often happens when search efforts stall.

    “Because a lot of time and not knowing, I think can also destroy a life,” said Reece.

    That is just one of many reasons the nonprofit was started by private investigators and former law enforcement.

    Their first big case is one most people across the United States know.

    “Because of Gabby, we exist,” said Lane.

    The group played a role in the search efforts after Gabby Petito was found murdered.

    “A group of former law enforcement, military guys, we all worked together,” said Lane. “We decided, let’s go out. Let’s use our skills to see if we can help find Brian Laundrie.”

    Though after that case, the purpose of We Are The Essentials became more clear.

    “It was important for us not to seek out suspects, but we flipped it from suspects to actual victims and those who were missing,” said Lane.

    To date, they have found dozens of people, augmenting law enforcement efforts.

    Croft points out that there are several gaps when it comes to missing person’s cases. A big one Reece and Croft say is the usual rule to wait 48 hours before police will pick up a missing person’s case.

    “Those are the most critical, important times is when that person goes missing initially. And I believe that there needs to be a streamlined approach,” said Croft.

    They are now pushing for a federal law to create a stronger national database for missing person’s investigations.

    “Our goal is to come up with a No Wate Bill. The ‘WATE’ being W-A-T-E, for We Are The Essentials,” said Croft.

    They group firmly feels it would help with the cases that go cold or fall through the cracks.

    “Everybody deserves answers,” said Croft “And I think that unknown is the hardest part because so many families like the Kesse’s, you know, they’re going on 20 years. And they don’t have those answers.”

    Yates agrees. Parts of her mother’s hand were never found, and she said she will not stop looking until they are all discovered. 

    “I will not,” said Yates. “I’ll be looking for Mom until we find all of her.”

    Nonprofits like We Are The Essentials do not charge families. Lane said their services are always free. 

    To keep going, the group relies on sponsors and private donations. 

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • More hospice care options expand into Pinellas County

    [ad_1]

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Linda Boyd’s home is decorated to perfection. From joyful Christmas decorations to meaningful mementos, everything has a place in her home.

    What You Need To Know

    • Linda Boyd’s husband, Mike, was told by doctors in 2024 there were no options left. They decided to use hospice care to make Mike comfortable in those last remaining days

    • VITAS Healthcare expanded into Pasco County a few years ago and into Pinellas County at the end of 2025. Their goal is to bring compassionate end-of-life care to families

    • While hospice care is a covered Medicare benefit, only 61% of eligible Floridians use it


    Some of those decorations bring back memories, like a blanket with pictures across it.

    The pictures are of her and her late husband Mike, who died much sooner than anyone planned.

    “He was in denial for the leaky valve, so he didn’t want to get it fixed, unfortunately,” said Boyd.

    In October 2024, he ended up in the hospital with congestive heart failure.

    “He was in St. Joseph’s for over two weeks, and they did everything that they could,” said Boyd.

    The hospital connected Linda and Mike to hospice care, a benefit no one is really ready for but made all the difference.

    “I think the thing that meant the most to me was the fact that I could get him home here because that’s what he wanted,” said Boyd.

    Mike was brought home on a Tuesday, and he was gone by Saturday.

    An urn containing the ashes of Mike Boyd. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

    The hospice care benefited the Boyd’s in a big way, but data from the Research Institute for Home Care shows close to 40% of people eligible for the hospice care benefit in Florida are not using it.

    “One of the most common things we hear is, I wish I knew about this benefit sooner,” said Kathleen Coronado, who is the vice president of VITAS Healthcare’s operations in South Florida.

    Coronado said VITAS just recently began offering services in Pinellas County, after it was identified as having an underserved population.

    “Hospice is a benefit covered by Medicare Part A, and it’s covered at 100%,” said Coronado.

    Linda did not have to pay a thing for all the care Mike was given by hospice care.

    “It was totally covered. And like I said, I mean, they were amazing,” said Boyd.

    Amazing in a time full of stress and heartbreak.

    While Linda works to keep living her life, she keeps Mike’s memory with her always. She wears a necklace that is etched with a small print of his hand.

    “I wanted his hand close to my heart,” said Boyd. “I wear it all the time. I’ve got that and I’ve got my cross and he’s with me every day.”

    Linda Boyd’s necklace that is etched with a hand print of her late husband. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

    Linda Boyd’s necklace that is etched with a hand print of her late husband. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

    VITAS Healthcare leaders say they are working to close the gaps in Pasco and Pinellas counties when it comes to hospice care coverage.

    They said they provide 24/7 care, grief support and other specialized services.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • Access to fresh produce helping stop food insecurity across Pasco County

    [ad_1]

    ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — The signs of urban sprawl are apparent across Pasco County. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Following the government shutdown and the pause in SNAP benefits, several schools in Pasco County reached out to the nonprofit Access to Fresh to help feed their students whose parents were struggling

    • In the four weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday break, Access to Fresh delivered fresh produce and other food to 15 elementary schools, two low-income senior housing facilities, two Boys & Girls Clubs, and the Food Pantry Thanksgiving Distribution at Life Church

    • To fund this effort, AdventHealth, along with other major hospital systems across the Tampa Bay area, supported the four-week effort

    • AdventHealth said in total, the effort reached 3,700 families. They estimate 63,000 pounds of food or 160,000 servings were distributed


    The growing pains of development in some areas are leading to loud stomach pains for low-income families. 

    That is one reason why an assembly line of volunteers spent four weeks packing fresh food to help 15 elementary schools, along with two Boys & Girls Clubs and some senior living facilities.

    The organizers of the food drive say the Zephyrhills community faces a big problem: food insecurity. 

    “We’re rural America and we’re a small but very close community,” said Leortha Lloyd, social worker at West Zephyrhills Elementary School.

    Lloyd says the bags of fresh food packed up will help feed students at the Title I school she works at, where she says 70% are low income. 

    She shared one story of a family receiving a bag of fresh food.

    “A dad looked and he actually saw that it was fresh produce, he turned away from me and there was a tear in his eye,” said Lloyd. “Because he said he was trying to remember the last time they added fresh produce to their groceries.”

    The food drive is spearheaded by the nonprofit Access to Fresh. 

    A few area schools called them asking for help when SNAP benefits were paused during the government shutdown. 

    “Especially Dade City, Lacoochee, Zephyrhills, those are all very rural areas. Even though Pasco County is developing kind of more of that center of the county, these outskirts are still in dire need of support and help,” said Nichole Dube, the Executive Director of Access to Fresh. 

    When she got the call, she made two more calls of her own. The first was to area hospital systems, like AdventHealth, to fund this massive food distribution mission. 

    “Advent Health — they said yes, I called Orlando Health, and they said yes, and then I called Johns Hopkins and they said yes,” said Dube. 

    BayCare also gave money too in support. 

    Dube’s next call was to enlist local farmers to provide the fresh produce needed. 

    “This is going to affect so many people. But then to also be able to pull in farmers that are local as it’s a big deal,” said Alicen Morency, a local farmer.

    She and her husband Jesse Morency are co-owners of Shady Oaks, a hydroponic lettuce farm in nearby Dade City. 

    They provided 3,500 heads of lettuce. To these local farmers, this food drive hit close to home. 

    “Being able to get back is something huge for us,” said Morency with tears in her eyes. 

    The tears are memories from her childhood. She and Jesse both grew up in rural Illinois and also did not have access to fresh produce often as a kid. 

    “We grew up, both of us kind of on boxed dinners and a bag of potatoes, and that’s the best that our moms could do. I was raised by a single mother,” said Alicen. 

    “It was hard growing up underserved when it comes to food,” said Jesse. “I was at food pantries. I don’t ever remember getting anything fresh.”

    It is this pipeline of local volunteers, local farmers, funded by local hospitals that is starting to chip away at the very large issue of food insecurity in this area. 

    In total over four weeks, they helped roughly 3,700 families. 

    The kids these bags of fresh produce were given to had big reactions. 

    “I’ve had students say, Mr. Lloyd, these are so fresh, these carrots and cucumbers are so big,” said Lloyd. 

    “So the kids are used to seeing us, so they trust us. They tell us what they like, they tell us what they dislike. So then we know what to put in the bags. But we’re creating relationships and our mission is to build community through food,” said Dube.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • New blood flow restriction treatment shows promise with adolescent patients

    [ad_1]

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Strength training, if done right, shouldn’t be easy. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Asher Crouse, 12, lives with cerebral palsy

    • For six months, Crouse has been trying blood flow restriction therapy, a form of physical therapy

    • Blood flow restriction therapy is a rehabilitation modality where a blood restriction cuff is used to reduce arterial inflow and occlude venous outflow in the setting of resistance training or exercise

    • For years, this type of therapy was not used with children. But recently, with certain patients there has been great success


    Asher Crouse has one word for the burn he feels as he pushes a sled across a 25-yard space. 

    “Intense,” he said, trying to catch his breath. 

    He is 12 and is pushing himself hard. The reason partly comes from a self-given nickname. 

    “I call myself ‘Crasher,’” said Crouse. 

    He came up with the name because at one time in his life, he would fall and crash a lot. He lives with cerebral palsy. 

    “There are kids with this diagnosis who never walk by themselves at all,” said Allie Benson, a pediatric physical therapist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

    Crouse walks independently, though his gait has changed over the years. 

    “It was not what you would call a safe or pretty walk, but he could get from place to place. It was more like he was falling quickly, but would catch himself,” said Benson. 

    Benson has worked with Crouse for more than half of his life. He has spent hundreds of hours doing rehabilitation therapy sessions to improve his walking and mobility. 

    While Crouse has found success in those sessions over the years, the last six months have produced some of his biggest gains. 

    “He is one of the first kids here that we have really focused on it with the pediatric neuro,” said Benson. 

    Crouse is trying a therapy only recently introduced to kids  — blood flow restriction therapy. 

    A large blood pressure cuff is placed around his leg as part of this therapy. 

    “It is occluding a certain percentage of his blood flow depending on the exercises that we are doing, to basically make an easier exercise harder with less work,” said Benson. “So, we can do like 10 reps of something, instead of a 100 reps of something and get the same effect.”

    Crouse began doing blood flow restriction therapy in the summer of 2025, and after an intensive three weeks, he saw clear results. 

    “His right was almost equal to his left,” said Benson. 

    She is talking about his feet, which turn in and hinder his gait. 

    The blood flow restriction therapy has created a big change. 

    “My foot almost went 90 degrees that way,” said Crouse, pointing left. “And now I can easily put my foot straight.”

    While it has shown great results, it is not for everyone. The therapy comes with some pain. 

    That is a big reason why up until recently, it was not deemed appropriate for kids. 

    “But really, I think kids like Asher, who have gone through so much in their lives, have just a different pain tolerance than everybody else. And really, they can tolerate so much more than anyone gives them credit for,” said Benson. 

    “I know I can do more than people say I can do it,” said Crouse. 

    Nowadays, he does not use the name “Crasher.”

    “I am just Asher,” said Crouse. 

    Fully embracing himself and his new confidence with walking. 

    Blood flow restriction therapy has been used for several years with athletes. 

    Research continues with its use with children, but Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital says it has shown great success among patients so far. 

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • You’re pregnant, don’t eat for two, health experts say

    [ad_1]

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sitting on an exam table inside Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, Sabrina Correa is waiting for her 34-week checkup to begin. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Eating for two doesn’t mean eat more. It truly means eat smart, health experts say

    • Most expecting mothers are recommended to have a high-protein, low-fat diet. Though always do what the medical provider recommends

    • During the holidays, remember to stay hydrated when pregnant

    • Sabrina Correa is 34 weeks pregnant. She said she works to eat small meals throughout the day


    “Sabrina, hey good morning. How are you?” said Jaida Taylor-Herring walking into the room, who is an advanced registered nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife. 

    She measures Correa’s stomach and checks the baby’s heart rate. 

    “Alright, baby sounds great,” said Taylor-Herring. 

    “I get so emotional every time I hear it,” said Correa. 

    During the visit, a topic expecting moms might not think about this time of year is brought up intentionally. 

    “So, what are your plans for the holidays?” asks Taylor-Herring. 

    “Going to spend it with friends and family and eating,” said Correa.

    “Eating?” questions Taylor-Herring. 

    She wanted to know because often mothers are told they are now eating for two. But that is a myth, said Taylor-Herring.

    “I tell patients all the time, weight is like trouble, easy to get into, hard to get out of,” said Taylor-Herring. “You don’t really need to eat for two because that’s really overeating. You eat for one and the baby will take what it needs from you.”

    Correa smiles and says that is easier said than done. 

    “It’s actually very hard, like trying to control yourself and like eating a lot, but it’s been actually really good. I’m still trying to eat small meals,” said Correa. 

    “Cabbage, broccoli, all those things are good for you,” said Taylor-Herring, going over a high-protein, low-fat diet. 

    Though all expectant mothers should remember, no pregnancy is the same, and they should always take the nutrition advice given to them by their medical provider. 

    “I usually tell pregnant patients instead of doing like three large meals a day, especially around the holidays, try and do like little small meals in intervals,” said Taylor-Herring. 

    Correa agrees that is doable for the remainder of her pregnancy. 

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • Brain surgery helps 7-year-old become seizure free

    [ad_1]

    BRADENTON, Fla. — It is hard to pick who will get to read the Lewis family’s favorite book sometimes. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Miles Lewis had his first seizure at 4 years old. He was diagnosed with epilepsy after those seizures kept happening

    • He was put on medication, but eventually a team of doctors at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital felt surgical intervention was his best chance to live a seizure-free life

    • Miles underwent a surgery called an anterior temporal lobectomy. Dr. Neel Parikh said it gave him close to an 80% chance of eliminating his seizures

    • Since his surgery, Miles has not had a seizure and has been taken off all epilepsy medicine.


    Mariah Lewis, 5, crosses her little arms, mad that her older brother Miles, 7, gets to read it out loud today. 

    Not only getting the role of the narrator, Miles is also the main character in this story. 

    It is called “Miles and the Colorful Capes of Feelings.” It is a book about emotions. 

    Mariah and the youngest brother, Micah, instead choose to act out the book while Miles reads. They take on and off different colorful capes to demonstrate emotions like courage, cheerfulness and sadness. 

    Constance Lewis with her kids, Mariah (lower left), Micah (upper right) and Miles. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

    Those are just some of the emotions the Lewis family felt when their lives hit a plot twist a few years ago. 

    “We didn’t know what had happened, and we didn’t know why,” said Miles’ mother, Constance Lewis, thinking back. 

    Out of nowhere, Miles had what they thought was a fever-induced seizure when he was 4. Then a few months later, he had another seizure, then another. 

    His family saw several specialists searching for answers. 

    “It was just why, why is this happening? And it took a while to figure that out,” said Constance. 

    “In his brain is what we call focal cortical dysplasia. These are clusters of cells that are just abnormally grown,” said Dr. Neel Parikh, a neurologist and epileptologist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. “He was born with that.”

    Parikh points to side-by-side scans showing Miles’ brain. 

    “The initial brain MRI showed a concerning abnormality, which was seen on the left side of the screen,” said Parikh. “The scan shows the focal cortical dysplasia in the left mesial temporal region of Miles’ brain. This was large enough that Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LiTT) would not cover the entire location, so the epilepsy surgery team decided to do an open craniotomy to remove the abnormal brain tissue.”

    Miles had been put on medication after being diagnosed with epilepsy. But the frequency of his seizures kept increasing to a point that he would have one every 10 to 14 days. 

    “He would always say to me, ‘The nightmares are coming.’ And that breaks my heart to think about it now,” said Constance. 

    Those nightmares were the family’s sign, along with headaches and nausea, that Miles was about to have another seizure. 

    Parikh and a team of specialists at Johns Hopkins All Children’s proposed brain surgery as the solution. 

    “Surgery, in a way, actually offers a lot more percentage of becoming seizure free,” said Parikh. 

    The surgery was a complete success. 

    “This was a perfect surgical outcome. We do not expect the area that was removed to cause any trouble for Miles in the future,” said Parikh.

    Miles’ scar post-surgery. (Photo Courtesy: Constance Lewis)

    For over a year now, Miles has been seizure-free. 

    “We are off of the medicine,” said Miles with a smile. He stopped with medication three months ago — another positive step. 

    Even the scar from his surgery is getting covered by fast-growing hair. 

    “I like to show how I got the brain, the brain surgery,” said Miles. “It was a battle scar, like I battled it.” 

    His family and doctors are feeling confident that this is a chapter of his life’s story.

    Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital said it is on the forefront of epilepsy treatment with kids. From using a third-generation epilepsy medication that is showing high efficacy, to a newer technology called Responsive Neurostimulation. That is a procedure currently used on adults, but is now being used on kids who suffer from bad epilepsy. 

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • Better Together looking for host families in Bay area

    [ad_1]

    TAMPA, Fla. — For the last year, Shelevia Dawson has volunteered with Better Together to mentor and open her home to families in crisis. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Better Together is a statewide nonprofit that works to keep families together and out of the foster care system

    • It is facing a critical shortage of volunteers in the Tampa market, which includes Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties

    • In Tampa Bay, Better Together urgently needs 33 host families and 41 mentors to meet the current demand

    • These volunteers provide short-term care for children while parents work through crisis situations, as well as one-on-one mentorship and community support to help families restore stability


    Dawson’s first mentee was a young mother of two named Danaee. 

    “It’s been a wonderful journey,” said Dawson. “We still keep in contact, even though the mentorship is only three months. She wanted to just maintain a relationship afterward. So we still keep in contact and, you know, touch base from time to time.” 

    Better Together, a statewide nonprofit, and Dawson helped Danaee navigate through some tough times and helped her find stability in new housing. 

    “I was there when she got her keys and got all settled in,” Dawson said. “So that was a wonderful experience to see the progress that she made from being homeless in a homeless shelter to now having a space for her and her daughters to share with their own beds and their own rooms.”

    Better Together’s mission is to help before families require the foster care system. The nonprofit offers professional support, resources and a network of trained volunteers to help families in crisis find stability.

    The organization said it has served thousands of children statewide, preventing family separation and building stronger, more resilient communities.

    “Individuals who maybe are experiencing job loss or medical emergencies or incarceration or homelessness, we try to step in and be able to provide a community for those individuals to help prevent foster care and to just help them navigate their way outside of that crisis,” said Joy Harris, executive director of Better Together Tampa.

    This year, Better Together is facing a critical shortage of volunteers in the Tampa market, which includes Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. 

    Harris said this year in the Tampa Bay area, Better Together has served 310 children through hosting and mentoring. 

    “And that can’t happen without an army of volunteers,” said Harris. “Right now, unfortunately, the need is really urgent. We only have approximately seven families who are able to step in and host children in Hillsborough County, and about 15 mentors who are able to step in and provide mentoring support to families.”

    Better Together needs 33 host families and 41 mentors to meet the current demand. 

    Hosts provide short-term care for children, while the parents work through crisis situations. Mentors work one-on-one with families to restore stability. 

    “Better Together is a great start. And again, you don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have the perfect home setup. You know, like, it just needs to be a safe space,” said Dawson. 

    Dawson wants those interested to know, she also was provided with training before she began hosting and mentoring. 

    Families in need do not pay Better Together for this help — everything is free. 

    For those interested, they will need to go through a level two background check and home study to make sure their living space is safe. 

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • SPC student veterans see business growth through Veterans Florida

    [ad_1]

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Inside the St. Petersburg College Clearwater library, Syanika Porter-Trumbull and Georgianna Dotson are working hard on expanding their business. 

    They both are SPC students and just completed their first cohort of the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program at SPC. 

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg College and Veterans Florida partnered up for the third year to offer the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program, a free course designed to help veterans launch their business ideas

    • Funded by Veterans Florida, the program provides workshops, mentoring, networking and online training to guide participants through the essentials of launching and growing a business

    • Georgianna Dotson and Syanika Porter-Trumbull are both veterans and went through the last cohort at SPC. Dotson is the owner of W3 Tribe Fitness and Porter-Trumbull owns SMPT Business Consulting. 


    “It saved me. It gave me a lot of details that I had no idea, so I am very thankful,” said Dotson, who is a U.S. Air Force veteran and owner of W3 Tribe Fitness.

    “This is my forecasting for three to five years. This is, you know, the good and the bad,” said Porter-Trumbull, a U.S. Air Force and Army veteran, and owner of SMPT Business Consulting. 

    The pair are deep into doing all they can to make their businesses sustainable. 

    “Veterans Florida is designed to help veterans with their next career,” said St. Petersburg College faculty member Greta Kishbaugh.

    Kishbaugh teaches the intense, but free, six- to eight-week entrepreneurship training course, which is a partnership between SPC and Veterans Florida. 

    Now in its third year at SPC, Kishbaugh said they see the local economic impact taking effect. 

    “More than half of them have gone on now to start a business, and they’re starting to hire individuals now to help them,” said Kishbaugh. “So, it’s not just about a solo. We don’t just focus on the solopreneur. We want you to start a business. We want you to start hiring.” 

    Dotson’s fitness business had only a handful of clients before the course. Now, she has dozens. 

    “I’ve already grown my business,” said Dotson. “Not huge, but it’s grown and I feel really energized, and it wouldn’t have happened, I don’t think … it gave me confidence.”

    For Porter-Trumbull it is the same, and they are both are expected to be mentors to future Veterans Florida cohort classes. 

    “Coming back to mentor, if we can help the next veteran, I want to do that,” said Dotson. 

    “I live by my favorite Bible scripture, ‘To whom much is given, much is required,’” Porter-Trumbull said. “So, much has been given to me by other people. So, I definitely want to give much to other people too.”

    The program will be offered twice this academic year — beginning Jan. 19 at The Greenhouse in St. Petersburg, and March 28 at SPC’s Clearwater Campus. Veterans ready to start or grow their business can apply on the SPC Veterans Florida website.

    The program is free for veterans, their spouses and their children at SPC.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • Early introduction drops peanut allergies in children nationwide, research says

    [ad_1]

    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — It has been known for a decade that giving babies highly allergenic foods young, in small amounts, can cut their allergy risk immensely.

    In October, a new study released findings showing this practice over 10 years has dropped the peanut allergy rates in kids by 43%. 

    What You Need To Know

    • New research shows peanut and other food allergies in children decreased when they were introduced to those foods as infants

    • Previous guidelines from the early 2000s had encouraged parents not to introduce children to hyperallergenic foods until toddler years. That all changed in 2015, when new guidance was released

    • Harper Wash is one, and her parents did introduce her to peanuts, eggs and other more allergenic foods young

    • Allergists at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg say giving kids those foods daily or multiple times a week between six and 11 months is a good practice


    “Come on Harper, let’s go play,” said Alyssa Wash, taking her 1-year-old daughter outside. 

    Wash always wanted to be a mother, and when she and her husband had Harper, they were over the moon. 

    They did what many new parents do — they read the baby books and tried to do all the things the experts recommend. 

    Once Harper hit four months, they started introducing her to highly allergenic foods. 

    “I did it four to six months. I gave her peanut butter. Yeah, little bits at a time,” said Wash. 

    The hope was for Harper to avoid developing food allergies. 

    “I never batted an eye after she never had a reaction, until she did,” said Wash. 

    After turning one, Wash gave Harper a single peanut from a trail mix. After a few minutes, Harper became itchy, got red bumps around her mouth and hives.

    The Washes called their pediatrician, who told them to get to the hospital. Harper was OK after receiving care, but their doctor suggested they do a nut allergy panel.

    “Her back had all these little dots, little red marks. But then there were two huge welts that were both peanuts,” said Wash. 

    Harper was diagnosed with a mild peanut allergy. 

    Harper is an outlier though, with more and more parents not getting this news. 

    “So, the study results show that when we introduced peanut proteins very early, when the infants are young, like four to 11 months old, actually the chance of them having food allergy is much less,” said Johns Hopkins All Children’s Food Allergy Clinic Allergist and Medical Director Dr. Panida Sriaroon.

    In the new study, peanut allergy rates fell by 43% and there was an overall child food allergy decrease by 36%. 

    Eggs are now the most common food allergen. It is no longer peanuts. 

    Sriaroon says if you give those foods early, it increases the chances of a child avoiding those allergies. 

    “The earlier we have the baby exposed to foods orally actually the chance of them having allergies to that food, it becomes lower because the body is used to that allergen,” said Sriaroon. 

    For Harper, her parents are working with an allergist and now have an EpiPen just in case. 

    Wash maintains she is glad she gave Harper those small food amounts early. 

    “I am happy that I know. It still is very scary,” said Wash. 

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • Pinellas Support Team expanded to reach more kids being bullied

    [ad_1]

    DUNEDIN, Fla. — One in five kids will be bullied in school, and of those kids, close to half think it will happen to them again. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Children’s Home Network’s Pinellas Support Team (PST) helps kids facing behavioral, learning, or social challenges both at home and at school

    • This year, PST saw a big increase in kids being referred by schools, and they asked for more funding

    • Children’s Home Network provides this service for free with licensed therapists and tutors who work together to help both the children and parents

    • It’s a short-term program that steps in for struggling kids for up to three months of services, but if they need more help, they contract out with other organizations in the area to get the children continued support


    Over the summer in Pinellas County, there was such an increase in kids needing help that the Children’s Home Network’s Pinellas Support Team was expanded to take on more students.

    Students like 12-year-old Elwood Rogers, who is in the sixth grade. 

    Last school year was very tough for him.

    “In fifth grade, kids started calling me more names, and some of them almost put their hands on me if I didn’t run away from them quick enough,” said Rogers. 

    Rogers was bullied. He is autistic, and it got so bad his mom, Amy Wright, reached out to teachers. 

    “You don’t want to hear this type of stuff going on, you know, and it breaks your heart and you think, ‘Gosh, what else can you do?’” said Wright. “You think, ‘Should I change schools or whatever?’”

    Wright said administrators did step in, suggesting Rogers and those involved receive mental health counseling through the Pinellas Support Team (PST). 

    “So we provide in-home and in-school services for kids who are having behavioral and emotional issues,” said Carol Hajdinak, a community counseling programs director at the Children’s Home Network. 

    PST connected Rogers with a licensed clinical social worker, Ginger Wells. 

    Rogers admits that at first, the thought of therapy didn’t sit well with him. 

    “I honestly thought it was going to be like an invasion of personal space,” said Rogers. “But then when the whole thing actually started, I thought it was more fun than I could have ever imagined.”

    Elwood Rogers and his mom, Amy Wright. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

    Over cards and other games, Wells and Rogers talked about the bullying that Rogers was experiencing. 

    “Some of the things that we worked on was learning how to express himself appropriately, using language that is appropriate and won’t get him in trouble and then also seeking help if it’s beyond his ability to handle himself,” said Wells. 

    The PST program is not new — it’s been around for 20 years helping Pinellas County kids. 

    “We’re funded to provide services to 250 kids a year,” said Hajdinak. 

    She added that this year the PST program was inundated with bullying referrals to the point kids were on a waiting list. 

    The PST program organizers turned to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, which funds the program. 

    Hajdinak said they asked to expand the program from 250 to 300 kids. 

    “They were gracious enough to provide us some additional funds so that we didn’t have long waiting lists of like, 35 people waiting for services,” said Hajdinak. “Currently, we still have some on the waiting list.”

    Rogers is a success story to a problem that is not going away. 

    “I’d say, you know, I don’t know the exact statistic, but I say the vast majority of kids that I work with at some point have experienced bullying,” said Wells. 

    For Rogers, therapy has worked tremendously. 

    “You shouldn’t let these other people define who you are. You need to be who you need to be,” said Rogers. “If other people don’t like you, womp womp, too bad. Too bad. It’s not my fault that I’m who I am. I’m not changing myself for you. Womp, womp.” 

    A new mantra for Rogers: “Womp, womp.” It is his way of putting bullying in its place. 

    The Pinellas Support Team services are short term, helping kids for three months. 

    The Children’s Home Network says it is also meant to help families without health insurance, or those who have barriers to obtain needed services, like a high co-pay.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • Bay area food pantry rescued by local moving company

    [ad_1]

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — An undeniable truth is that moving is stressful.

    What You Need To Know

    • With food assistance programs from the government being cut back, local food pantries are stepping up to fill the gap, including Love Thy Neighbor, which is expanding this week to serve more people

    • Love Thy Neighbor went from serving 1,000 people a month to 2,000 recently. They found a new, larger location just four blocks away

    • The problem – they had no way of moving the large freezers and refrigerators. The owner was panicked over what to do. 

    • 2 College Brothers Moving and Storage offered to move them free of charge


    “We’ve packed up most of this stuff,” said Joanne Braccio, pointing to stacked boxes with food inside.

    She is the owner of Love Thy Neighbor FL food pantry and thrift in St. Petersburg.

    The nonprofit serves anyone in need, but following back-to-back hurricanes last year, rising food prices this year and now a government shutdown, she said her customers have been struggling.

    “We’ve gone from a thousand people a month to almost two thousand. And I’m starting to watch the news this morning, and I’m really starting to get scared,” said Braccio.

    To help the increased need, they decided to move four blocks away to a larger space. But they had no way of moving the large freezers and refrigerators used in the food pantry.

    She admits she was starting to panic until she got an unexpected call.

    “God bless you, sir,” she said as she hugged Wade Swikle. “Thank you so much, this means a lot to me. I’m a little emotional now, but thank you for doing this. We couldn’t have done this without you.”

    Swikle owns 2 College Brother Moving and Storage. He heard that Braccio was struggling and knew he had a solution to her dilemma.

    He offered to move the entire food pantry and thrift store for free.

    “At the end of the day, I mean, it just makes you feel good about doing business,” said Swikle. “We’re all in business to help people. At the end of the day, we’re here to solve problems.”

    For Braccio, his kindness moved her to tears.

    “To have people help me with this, to have people that believe in what we are doing, and for the actions to be happening it’s like, I’ve prayed for this for a long time,” she said with tears in her eyes.

    The new location is on 7110 5th Avenue N in St. Pete.

    Braccio said they will be open on Thursday in their new location with the same hours. She said this was important to make sure those in need didn’t have any delay in getting food and other necessary items.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

  • Students with disabilities embrace work opportunities at The Florida Aquarium

    [ad_1]

    TAMPA, Fla. — October is Disability Employment Awareness Month. It is a time to recognize the positive impact people with disabilities have on the American workforce. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Pepin Academies Transition Program connects young adults to Tampa Bay area businesses to get internships and work experience post-high school. Students will spend 3-4 days a week at job sites with the guidance and supervision of a job coach

    • October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual recognition of the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce

    • The Florida Aquarium is a participating business and has even hired some of the students on part-time

    • Through hands-on learning experiences, students are equipped with essential life and job skills, helping them explore diverse career paths


    At The Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa, there are all kinds of jobs, from scuba-diving tank cleaners to animal experts. 

    There are even people in place to welcome guests. 

    “Hello, welcome to The Florida Aquarium,” said Casey Watson. 

    Watson is doing this as part of his internship. 

    “I meet and greet guests and I say, ‘Hello,’ like this,” as he waves his hand with a smile. 

    Casey lives with a disability. He was connected to the internship through a partnership between The Florida Aquarium and Pepin Academies’ Transition Program. 

    “It’s just a great opportunity for them to gain that confidence, to know what they can do and to be able to show others, you know, the excellent work that they can put in,” said Pepin Academies Director of Transition Program Janele Kilbey.

    The Transition Program is for students with learning disabilities. These are young adults, ages 18 to 22, who have deferred their diploma, but are looking to gain experience in a work environment. 

    There is a disparity in employment opportunities for those with disabilities.

    The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics shows the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 9.1% compared to 4.3% for people without disabilities.

    “It’s such a sad statistic to see because they can work and they’re dedicated employees and we just need community members out there to give our students and our student population a chance to be able to prove themselves,” said Kilbey.

    The Florida Aquarium is one of several Tampa Bay area businesses that know people with disabilities can add value to the workforce and the Tampa Bay economy. 

    “They’re the heartbeat of the aquarium,” said The Florida Aquarium Director of Volunteer Engagement Melissa Dude. “They’ve actually moved into paid positions with us, as a guest engagement personnel. They are hired there and then our cafe SSA is also very supportive of the program and hires on the students once they’ve graduated.”

    Aidan McCollum is one of those part-time hires. 

    He is 21 years-old and often helps with lifting windows, cleaning tables and sorting cafe supplies at The Florida Aquarium. 

    “I think it’s awesome,” said McCollum. “It’s teaching me new skills.”

    Skills he will add to his resume so that future employers can see his value and marketability. 

    Along with vocational training, the Transition Program students also spend one to two days a week with classroom instruction. 

    They work with job coaches to help with career preparation, social-emotional learning and self-advocacy.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link

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

    [ad_1]

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

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

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

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

    By luck, coincidence or divine intervention — Emerton survived.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    To donate to Breathe Florida, click here.

    [ad_2]

    Erin Murray

    Source link