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Tag: Matt Lackritz

  • Recovery from Helene ongoing as FEMA begins accepting applications

    Recovery from Helene ongoing as FEMA begins accepting applications

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    PALM HARBOR, Fla. — FEMA announced Sunday that President Biden approved federal disaster assistance for hard-hit areas in Florida.

    This means people in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties can start applying.

    Residents that applied to FEMA after Hurricane Debby and have additional damage from Hurricane Helene will need to apply separately for Helene and provide the dates of their most recent damage.

    Apply for either storm online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

    Applications can also be submitted by using the FEMA mobile app or by calling FEMA’s helpline toll-free at 800-621-3362.

    For people like Tina Granata and others in her Palm Harbor neighborhood, the recovery is still in its early stages.

    Describing the condition of her house, every part of Granata’s home ended up multiple feet underwater because of storm surge.

    “All of this stuff was just toppled on top of each other.”

    The water marks left from the flooding remind Granata of the moment she knew that she needed to escape with her daughter from her home Thursday night.

    “Mainly the thing that goes through my mind is me running out this door with my daughter, with my 12-year-old-daughter and the water was up to here and she was really scared,” she said.  

    Holding her daughter’s hand with one arm and her cats in the other, she did everything she could to get away.

    “My tires were fully submerged in water as I’m driving down the street to the stop sign,” she said. “I wasn’t sure that we were going to make it.”

    Despite cleaning since Friday, there’s no end in sight, as nearly everything in the home has to be thrown out.

    Granata does not have flood insurance.

    She’s hoping that with FEMA accepting applications for those affected by the hurricane, she’ll be able to receive assistance.

    “It’s life changing,” she said. “You see, the things that you’ve worked really hard for just all gone in a matter of hours. It’s just devastation.”

    Granata wanted to emphasize that she is not the only facing this kind of damage.

    Almost everyone on her street has belongings lined up on the curb that need to be thrown away.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Pinellas reopens access to barrier islands to some

    Pinellas reopens access to barrier islands to some

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    TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — Pinellas County officials reopened access to beaches and barrier islands to residents, business owners and employees at 4 p.m. Saturday. A Barrier Island Re-Entry Permit is required.


    Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy said early restrictions were necessary because of the extensive damage.

    “Since the onset we were conducting rescues,” he said. “We had several structure fires, some related to EVs, we had several people that we found floating on mattresses in their homes that didn’t evacuate.”

    Gandy said they’ve rescued upwards of 60 people and Saturday afternoon there were still people being picked up from the area.

    From a jet-ski on the sidewalk to furniture lining street corners, there’s little that escaped Helene’s wrath.

    Gandy said the storm surge led to more problems than just the damage. It restricted the movement of first responders, so even when they became aware of fires in the area, they had no way to get there.

    “Everything they own is burned to the ground because we had five feet of water over this road and no ability to put out the fire,” he said.

    Cars line up ahead of a checkpoint to return to Clearwater Beach in Pinellas County. (Spectrum News/Randy Levine)

    From properties to the beach, each area is facing unique problems.

    Several residents in the nearby communities, including Treasure Island, have been working to clean up since the storm surge from Helene caused massive flooding.

    “It’s so pretty, the sunsets out there. I mean, this is the Florida life,” said Peter Van Aartrijk. “There’s reward and then there’s risk, and I guess we ran out of time.” 

    Although water got into his home, his house was for sale, so no items were inside.

    His work is currently picking up debris that washed up onto his property.

    For others like Bob Bernetski, he’s got a lot of work ahead of him.

    Bernetski has lived in Pinellas County for seven years and, little by little, worked to construct his dream home. He was one of the few in his neighborhood that wasn’t home when the storm hit.

    “When my neighbor called me and told me there was a boat in my yard, I was OK until I heard that,” he said.

    Despite the damage he came home to, he’s staying positive.

    “Everything can be fixed, nobody got hurt,” Bernetski said. “That’s the thing I am glad. He made it, these guys made it, I’m glad nobody got hurt.”

    Just a few blocks over, Francisco Candelaria has been depending on a gas station for food and water.

    Francisco was one of many who decided to stay on Treasure Island, and it was one of the scariest hurricanes he’s ever been in.

    “It was carrying so much water. I have never seen so much water coming out of a hurricane,” he said.

    Like many others, he is trying to find the positive in so much damage.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Prisoners of war and those missing in action honored at Pinellas County ceremony

    Prisoners of war and those missing in action honored at Pinellas County ceremony

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Friday is National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

    What You Need To Know

    • Thursday’s ceremony recognized prisoners of war and those missing in action

    • According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, there are nearly 1,600 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam war

    • National POW/MIA recognition day was established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter


    It’s a day meant to bring attention to our veterans that are prisoners of war and missing in action.

    Thursday, a ceremony was held at the campus of Bay Pines Veterans Hospital to pay homage to prisoners of war and those missing in action.

    It’s a tradition David Miller has been a part of for decades.

    “I had a lot of friends who were prisoners of war and MIA’s,” he said.

    Setting up before the ceremony starts, Miller remembered his comrades from over the years.

    A veteran himself, Miller said there are still far too many missing Americans.

    That’s why he set up the missing man table.

    Each item is meant to remind people of the fallen, the missing, and those still imprisoned. “The salt on the plate is the bitter tears caused by the families, and the lemon as well takes care of the tears and the bitterness of a P.O.W. and M.I.A. missing from their family,” he said.

    According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, there are nearly 1,600 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam war, a number David wants to see hit zero. 

    “There are our forgotten heroes that we’re remembering,” he said. “They were never brought home. They were left or forgotten, and you know what? Our country has a duty to bring them back.” 

    National POW/MIA recognition day was established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Guardians play vital role in Honor Flight program that takes veterans to D.C.

    Guardians play vital role in Honor Flight program that takes veterans to D.C.

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A few times a year, veterans from across Tampa Bay get the chance to fly to Washington D.C. to see veteran memorials in our capital.

    What You Need To Know

    • Honor flights pair guardians and veterans who travel to Washington D.C. 



    • Only around 20% of veterans know there guardians before the trip



    • The next honor flight takes off on Oct. 22




    Organized by the local nonprofit Honor Flights of West Central Florida, 75 veterans along with 75 guardians go on each trip.

    Tracy Luchtenberg, Honor Flight president of the board, said without the guardians, these day trips would look very different.

    “This is a very emotional day for many of our veterans,” she said. “The guardians offer a valuable support system.” 

    Guardian and veteran Stephan Gonzalez met veteran Peter Perron for the first time just a few days before the trip.

    Organizers say only around 20% of the guardians and veterans know each other before the trip.

    “I’m looking forward to seeing his reaction when he gets to the monuments,” Gonzalez said.

    All the guardians are volunteers, and organizers said more are always needed.

    Another group of veterans and guardians are going to Washington, D.C. on Oct. 22, with around 30 guardians still needed for the flight.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Urban planner, USF expert weighs in on recent Tampa Bay flooding

    Urban planner, USF expert weighs in on recent Tampa Bay flooding

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — There has been a lot of flooding in our region the last few months, but it’s not only the amount we’ve seen this year that has people worried.

    What You Need To Know

    • Steven Fernandez, an Associate Instructor at the University of South Florida, analyzes flooding in Florida communities. 

    • Fernandez said in the last 50 years, the sea level in Tampa Bay has risen eight inches

    • Fernandez is worried about rising sea levels


    It’s that people who have lived here for years without being affected are seeing flooding, too.

    Steven Fernandez, an Associate Instructor at the University of South Florida, said this flooding has him worried about the future.

    He has spent 10 years analyzing flooding affecting Florida communities and is worried about multiple Tampa Bay communities.

    “In certain low-lying areas, a lot of man-made islands,” he said. “Especially Shore Acres, in St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach has a lot of flooding issues.”

    From new buildings, paving over more areas, to the removal of trees, Fernandez said all of this contributes to flooding.

    He said in the last 50 years, the sea level in Tampa Bay has risen eight inches, making flooding much more common when a storm comes through.

    “If the sea level keeps rising even just an inch or two, it just gets worse and worse,” he said.

    “Cars will not be able to pass through intersections and emergency vehicles will also have a lot of issues.”

    Fernandez said to see a decrease in flooding, more drainage areas are needed, such as retention ponds.

    He hopes with the flooding seen this year, community leaders will take action.

    “This type of flooding will definitely continue,” he said. “It’s something that city officials across the Bay Area have to start to realize. Things have to be mitigated.”

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  • Parrish community members hold meeting about flooding

    Parrish community members hold meeting about flooding

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A desire for change is why dozens of people spent their Saturday evening at Parrish United Methodist Church for a community meeting. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Parrish community members gathered Saturday evening to talk about recent flooding in the community

    • Both meeting speakers and attending members have been affected by flooding the last few weeks

    • A petition has been started that will be sent to the county commission


    The meeting was organized by Parrish community members who want to see Manatee County officials take action. 

    Parrish community member Steve White is one of dozens of people who attended the meeting. He said his home has been devastated by flooding. 

    “All my furniture is destroyed. My walls in my house were destroyed, my appliances were destroyed — I’ve lost everything,” he said. “It’s just devastating. So depressed and scared, because I have kids, eight and nine. Just a good thing we had a two-story house.”

    One of Saturday’s speakers, Dalton Nelson, said the meeting was the first step that needed to be taken.

    “We’re trying to raise awareness for the community and tell them that somebody is here and somebody is looking into the problem,” he said.  

    Nelson said the purpose of the meeting is to educate the community on the current situation and to let everyone know what it may take to avoid future flooding.

    “We’re going to have an online petition,” he said. ” We’re trying to get all the facts down of what we’ve experienced and everything like that. We’re also trying to get people to fill out an affidavit, which essentially is going to document their experiences with the storm.”

    In a statement received from the Manatee County Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker about the recent flooding, he said:

    “This was a massive rain event that simply overwhelmed all of our streams and tributaries. In some areas, the rainfall amounts were up to five times greater than the built systems were designed to handle.

    It was and is a rain event. The county is currently working on enhanced communications protocols to better inform those who may be impacted from any events downstream from Lake Manatee.”

    White and Nelson said this response is not enough and it’s part of the reason they and everyone else is at this meeting. 

    Organizers are hopeful this will be the first of future meetings, and that down the line, the flooding they’ve seen recently will become a thing of the past. 

    Those interested in signing the petition can visit manateeflooding.org.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Bay area residents, governments cope with flooding after recent storms

    Bay area residents, governments cope with flooding after recent storms

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Areas across Tampa Bay are dealing with the aftermath of flooding from recent storms, including Wednesday night.


    Pasco County, for example, is working around the clock to clean up residential areas.

    In Zephyrhills, those at the Silverado Golf and Country Club have seen a significant amount of rainfall this week — rainfall that has turned into flooding. Yards of drainage lines and orange traffic barrels greeted visitors Thursday.

    It was a sight that Silver Oaks resident Carleen Heim had to see for herself.

    “It’s the engineering. It’s poorly planned,” Heim said. “They’ve got to get back to the drawing board and get it figured out.”

    After past flooding events, the county built Geiger Pond as a mitigation measure. But residents there say more needs to be done.

    Heim says she hopes these flood levels don’t get any higher.


    “Being in the middle of peak hurricane season, I mean obviously things are kind of quiet right now for the next week,” she said. “But if we get a major hurricane or tons of rain more, I mean, it’s not going to be a pretty picture.”

    A spokesperson with the city of Zephyrhills says they are working with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Pasco County emergency management and Pasco County government to manage the current flooding.

    Public works has placed a water pump extending to Twin Bridges Road to alleviate flooding in the Silverado golf course and Silver Oaks area.


    ABOVE: Spectrum Bay News 9’s Fallon Silcox reports on flooding in Hillsborough County

    FLOODED ROADS IN ST. PETE

    In St. Petersburg, city officials said they have stormwater maintenance teams inspecting facilities to handle any additional rainfall, and police and fire will be out shutting down roads when they flood.

    Near the intersection of 8th Avenue and 63rd Street North, the water rose so high it made the road nearly impassable. By Thursday afternoon, however, most of the water had receded from Carol Lachance’s home, but the aftermath remains.


    Her backyard still has standing water, and water remains in the street as well.

    “Yesterday, it was really the highest it has ever been in our neighborhood here in several years, even with a hurricane coming through,” she said.

    Thanks to a cell phone video from her neighbor across the street, she got a good look at a driver who decided to try and avoid the flooding by driving through her property. He eventually had to stop.

    Near the intersection of 13th Avenue North and 65th Street North in St. Pete, John Liubscher says he was dealing with high water as well.

    “Water rose across the pond very quickly,” he said. “It was like, within two hours it was up to the top and starting to come over.”

    Drivers attempt to navigate flooded roads Thursday in Hillsborough County. (Spectrum Bay News 9)

    He’s lived in his home for 10 years and says he’s never seen flooding come so close to his home. The only time he remembers water rising from the pond at all is from the recent Hurricane Debby.

    Residents are hopeful that they won’t have to deal with any additional flooding, but with more rain in the forecast, they’ll be ready for whatever comes.

    St. Pete city officials say there are no plans to design systems that can handle additional rain because of the high price.

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • SAGES produces plays that focus on senior issues involving senior actors

    SAGES produces plays that focus on senior issues involving senior actors

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The Seniors Actors Guild and Education Services’ motto is “plays with purpose.”

    By mixing comedy and drama into plays around issues that affect seniors, SAGES aims to empower older adults through their performances.

    Letty Mendoza, who is starring in the play Defying Gravity, said acting in plays that are aimed at older adults is important to her.

    “We do plays with purpose about issues that affect seniors and nobody else was doing anything like that,” she said. 

    What You Need To Know

    • SAGES aims to empower older adults through plays with purpose

    • Their next performance of Defying Gravity in on Sept. 14 in Dunedin

    • All plays surround issues that affect seniors using senior actors

    From plays about falling to others about phone scams and driver safety, SAGES puts on plays that involved senior issues while using senior actors.  

    “People have had to take away grandpa’s car keys or their father’s car keys and they know how difficult it is,” she said. “So we try to present it in a funny way, but it’s a serious subject so we want to get a lesson in there.”

    SAGES Co-Founder Christine Hamacher said they put on these plays to empower seniors. 

    The topics may not be easy to talk about but by doing so, Christine said they can help older adults continue the quality of life they deserve. 

    “People don’t want to talk about aging and the things they are afraid of. Fear is a big part of that,” she said. “Working on this particular issue, defying gravity, which is about fall prevention, we’re able to help people stop falls. We’ve actually worked with 911 and our fire rescue to reduce the number of falls in Pinellas County for the first time ever.” 

    According to the CDC, around 3 million older adults are treated for fall injuries in emergency departments every year. 

    Letty said those watching their plays may know about falling risks, but through this medium, they’re educated in a much more entertaining way. 

    “You could stand up in a lecture hall, give a lecture on it and it would be so boring,” she said. “But people remember when it’s a play, when you got a little bit of humor and a little bit of pathos and a little bit of tragedy.” 

    The next performance of Defying Gravity will be on Sept. 14 in Dunedin, and it is free.

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  • Pinellas County Jail deals with capacity issues

    Pinellas County Jail deals with capacity issues

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    HIGHPOINT, Fla. — The Pinellas County Jail is meant to hold 3,000 people, but right now, they are over capacity. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Pinellas County Jail has around 300 inmates sleeping on the floor on plastic beds

    • HB 1627 created statewide bond recommendations and allows judges to increase bail amounts to what the Florida Supreme Court recommends

    • The sheriff supports HB 1627 but said a couple of tweaks are needed to fix the overcapacity in the jail


    Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said the reason may be connected to House Bill 1627, which took effect at the beginning of this year. 

    “We’ve seen the population creep up to about 3,300 inmates and we have about 300 or so on the floor, which is a problem operationally,” said Gualtieri.

    HB 1627 created statewide bond recommendations and allows judges to increase bail amounts to what the Florida Supreme Court recommends. 

    To lower bail now requires getting a petition for a court to approve it, making it harder for people to bail out. 

    However, James Brennan, the Owner of James Brennan Bail Bonds, said he hasn’t noticed much of a change to his business. 

    “I think it’s partly with the bail law, that I stand behind, but also in part with the growth of a city that has to understand that we’ve had a lot of people move here in the past, not just only ten years, but more importantly the last four,” he said. 

    The sheriff agrees the law is good but said a couple of tweaks are needed.

    He said judges part of a special docket recently looked at cases to try to move them along and they’ve already seen some progress.

    “I don’t know that we’ll ever get it back down to where it was at 3,000, but if we can just get it down by a couple hundred, we’ll be in better shape,” said Gualtieri.

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  • Clinic provides legal services to vets struggling with disability benefits

    Clinic provides legal services to vets struggling with disability benefits

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Thanks to Florida’s state’s budget this year, Stetson University College of Law received $438,000 for its Veterans Advocacy Clinic.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Veterans Advocacy Clinic opened in 2012.

    • With the new money from the state, the clinic plans to hire another attorney and partially pay for another to help more veterans.

    • The money awarded is part of the Florida state budget.

    The program provides free legal service to veterans and their families who are appealing decisions about their disability benefits.

    Veterans Advocacy Clinic Director Stacey-Rae Simcox said the money will go a long way.

    “We haven’t had the manpower to help everybody who needs it, but we expect that we’re going to make a big dent in that in the coming year thanks to the state of Florida’s appropriation.”

    Helping work these cases are fellows like LaTonya Lynn.

    Lynn spent the summer in the fellowship program assisting veterans struggling with their disability claims.

    Before heading to Stetson as a student, she served in the United States Army and said helping veterans is her passion.

    “That ‘aha’ moment was just going through the process myself as a new retiree and understanding that the system for veterans is wholly different from those who serve on active duty,” she said.

    The clinic opened in 2012 and has since helped hundreds of veterans navigate the VA disability system.

    With the new money, it plans to hire another attorney and partially pay for another to help additional veterans.

    “Sometimes they just don’t understand the processes that are required to help them get the disability and or benefits,” LaTonya said. “So this is an opportunity to do so, to bridge the gap between veterans and the VA.”

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  • Proposed changes to state parks bring out protesters

    Proposed changes to state parks bring out protesters

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    PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — A proposal from Florida’s Department of Environmental Protections that could change state parks is receiving a lot of criticism from residents, environmental groups and politicians. 

    What You Need To Know

    • In a proposal, pickleball courts, golf courses, log cabins and more would be built in state parks across the state

    • Protesters picketted at Honeymoon Island state park over the issue both Saturday and Sunday

    • Public meetings were originally planned for Aug. 27 but have since been pushed back to the week of Sept. 2


    In the proposal, pickleball courts, golf courses, log cabins and more would be built in state parks across the state.

    Protesters picketted at Honeymoon Island state park over the issue both Saturday and Sunday.

    “I’ve never ever heard a single person who’s come to this beach say we need pickleball courts,” said protester Michelle Birnbaum

    Kira Barrera, the Conservation Chair for the Suncoast Sierra Club said state parks are special places and she doesn’t want to see anything happen that may damage them and the wildlife.

    “The state parks motto is to experience real Florida and you still truly get to do that here,” she said. 

    Public meetings were originally planned for Aug. 27 but have since been pushed back to the week of Sept. 2.

    The DEP said the meetings were pushed back due to overwhelming interest.

    “I think the DEP was caught off-guard by the public’s outcry,” Barrera said. “The way they’ve handled this whole process seems to go against all of their best management practices for the state parks.”

    In a statement shared with Spectrum Bay News 9 from the governor’s office, they said there will be multiple phases of discussion and that “No administration has done more than we have to conserve Florida’s natural resources, grow conservation lands, and keep our environment pristine. But it’s high time we made public lands more accessible to the public.” 

    On the Florida State Parks website, there is a survey you can fill out to share your thoughts on the park proposals.

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  • Florida delegate returns home from DNC excited, optimistic

    Florida delegate returns home from DNC excited, optimistic

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Democratic National Convention may have wrapped Thursday, but the experience is sticking with Florida delegates, including USF professor Judith Ann McLauchlan. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The experience of the Democratic National Convention is sticking with one Florida delegate

    • It was the eighth DNC Judith Ann McLauchlan has attended, but the first as a delegate

    • McLauchlan said the atmosphere at this convention was much different from years past


    She said the four-day is experience is something she’ll never forget.  

    Returning to her Madiera Beach home Friday night, she described each day of the convention as better than the last, not just because of her duties as a delegate, but because of the people she got to see and hear speak from Oprah Winfrey to Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris. 

    “I have never experienced the energy and the enthusiasm and the unity behind a nominee as we felt for Kamala Harris and Coach Walz,” she said. 

    This was McLauchlan’s eighth convention, and she said it’s unlike any she’s been to in years past. 

    Since President Biden dropped out of the race, McLauchlan said she’s throwing her support behind Harris with full commitment. 

    “The energy in that area, thousands of delegates from across the country, it was just electrifying,” she said. “I’ve never experienced anything like that in all the other conventions I’ve been to. We always will say this is the most important election in our lifetime and mean it at the time … but this truly is the most important election in my lifetime.” 

    With all the mementos she brought home and the lingering energy from the convention, McLauchlan said she is hopeful for what the future holds.

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  • Local businesses want extension to Pasco County scalloping season

    Local businesses want extension to Pasco County scalloping season

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    PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Sunday marked the final day of scalloping in Pasco County, but for many who enjoy the activity, it’s felt like it’s been over for weeks. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Scalloping in Pasco County has been closed since July 24 due to unsafe levels of toxins in the water. 

    • That closure has continued into the official last day of scalloping in Pasco County

    • According to the Tampa Bay Times, the FWC is considering extending the season, but a final decision has not been made


    Since July 24, there’s been a temporary closure for scalloping after detecting unsafe levels of toxins in the water according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

    The Bait Depot Shop is one of the businesses affected by the closure.

    “If it was the last day today, and it was still open, we would be slammed all day,” he said. “They’d still be coming back in to get ice buckets and coolers to put scallops in.” 

    Shop owner Bill Kolokithas said there were a bunch of people when the scalloping season first kicked off.

    However, the amount of people coming has dropped significantly since it was put on hold because of the water conditions.

    “It was a good start, it was busy,” he said. “We were filling both parking lots full of trailers. A lot of boaters and scallopers more than buying bait. We were supposed to have the longest season ever for Pasco and it got cut short.”

    For now, business owners like Kolokithas are hoping the season gets extended and that the water reaches a level that is safe to scallop in so they can get the boost they were expecting this summer.

    “People are still ready to go and I read it online every day in all the scalloping groups and Facebook,” Bill said.

    According to the Tampa Bay Times, the FWC is considering extending the season, but a final decision has not been made.

    While residents can’t scallop in the area, you can still swim, use your boat, and fish in the area.

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  • Pass-a-Grille vendor says they’re seeing drop in business amid renourishment

    Pass-a-Grille vendor says they’re seeing drop in business amid renourishment

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    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — At Pass-a-Grill beach, there’s an ongoing renourishment project to increase the size of the beach and help protect it from storms. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Bridget Robison said they typically see many more people this time of year

    • According to Pinellas County Coastal Management, the Pass-a-Grille Beach renourishment project is scheduled to finish in November

    • The cost for the project is $5.8 million


    However, some vendors say the project is affecting their businesses, including Bridget Robison.

    Despite a large amount of people at the beach Saturday, Bridget said this season has been a struggle for her business Fish Head Threads Inc. and estimates a 50% drop in people compared to normal. 

    She believes the renourishment project is the reason. 

    “Maybe they think that the beach is closed, but we’re really not,” she said. “It’s the southern tip that’s closed.” 

    Robinson isn’t the only one thinking this way. 

    “Having dredging going on to extend the beach is definitely scaring people away,” said resident Cory Drescher.

    According to Pinellas County Coastal Management, the Pass-a-Grille Beach renourishment project is scheduled to finish in November. 

    The cost for the project is $5.8 million. 

    Most of the cost is being paid for with tourist development tax money, and more than $1 million is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act. 

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  • Presidential Lifetime Achievement given to Sarasota CEO

    Presidential Lifetime Achievement given to Sarasota CEO

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    SARASOTA, Fla. — From helping seniors stay active to making sure they don’t feel alone, Senior Friendship Centers have served those 50 years and older in all aspects of aging.

    What You Need To Know

    • Erin McLeod was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

    • According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Service Survey Data in 2023, around 30% of the Southwest Florida population is 65 or older

    • Senior Friendship Centers helps seniors at all stages of their senior lives


    They’ve helped thousands of people over the years, but one person is being recognized for their service. 

    Erin McLeod was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award Wednesday for her dedication in assisting the senior community. 

    “It’s really important that we know that there’s someone there for us and that’s what we are,” she said. “We’re there for older adults and their families, so they’re not going at it alone.”

    For the last 20 years, McLeod has dedicated her time to making the lives of seniors in her community better through her work with Senior Friendship Centers. 

    As the CEO, she tackles all sorts of senior issues, from health and wellness to isolation and hunger. 

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Service Survey Data in 2023, around 30% of the Southwest Florida population is 65 or older.

    “Every person should be seen and heard, respected, and treated with dignity,” she said. “Not just put down because of an age or number. I’m humbled and honored, and it doesn’t really belong to me. It belongs to everybody around me that makes this community a better place.”

    Speakers said it’s McLeod’s dedication to serving thousands of people over the years that led to her receiving this award.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Some urged to relocate during Lake Manatee strategic release

    Some urged to relocate during Lake Manatee strategic release

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — After record-breaking rainfall, officials in Manatee County said Monday a strategic release of water from Lake Manatee was needed. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Water is being released downstream from the Manatee Dam in a strategic move

    • Manatee County Emergency Management said this began Monday afternoon

    • County officials said high-water vehicles have been placed around the county to assist with potential rescues


    Manatee County Chief of Emergency Management, Matt Myers, said the Manatee Dam has done what it’s supposed to do, but the release is needed so there won’t be any future problems.

    “It is still releasing, controlled through the channels in the dam,” he said. “So that is to keep it pressurized from what’s coming into the dam and what’s coming out. We want to keep that level so that we don’t have any problems.” 

    As part of the water release, some residents were sent notices encouraging them to relocate, including Mike Jacobs. 

    After all the rain Hurricane Debby brought, he said he was not surprised. 

    “The river is just beyond these mangroves but you can see here the water has encroached in this low-lying area which rarely do you ever see water here,” said Jacobs. “It’s usually bone dry.”

    Driving along the golf course near his home, Jacobs said only once in his 20 years living in the area had he seen the water reach such heights.

    When the evacuation notice arrived Monday, he wanted to make sure his family would be safe at home. 

    “We were a little bit nervous,” he said. “My wife and I talked about it and tried to decide whether we were going to go or whether we were going to stay.”

    Manatee County Emergency Management said high-water vehicles have been placed around the county to assist with potential rescues.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Massive tree on home in Dunedin, conditions expected to worsen in Crystal River

    Massive tree on home in Dunedin, conditions expected to worsen in Crystal River

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    DUNEDIN, Fla. — The effects of Tropical Storm Debby are being felt throughout the Bay area, including in Dunedin, where a large tree fell on a home.

    It happened as Debby moved up the coast, spawning several tornado warnings.

    Rain and wind continued to get more intense in the area, with many flooded and closed roads, the reporting of airport delays, and power outages.

    In Crystal River, authorities were advising residents to leave the area if time allows or to hunker down.

    Use the video link above for team coverage from Spectrum Bay News 9’s Jason Lanning and Matt Lackritz.

    If you can safely do so, you can send your weather photos through the Spectrum News app.

    You can also view live cams here.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Flood prone Shore Acres prepares for Debby’s arrival

    Flood prone Shore Acres prepares for Debby’s arrival

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Spectrum Bay News 9 weather experts predict Tropical Storm Debby could bring lots of heavy rain to Tampa Bay.

    Residents in Shore Acres, St. Pete’s lowest lying neighborhood, are preparing for potential flooding.

    What You Need To Know

    • Residents in Shore Acres, St. Pete’s lowest lying neighborhood, are preparing for potential flooding

    • Shore Acres often floods, even during storms

    • Jeff Fuller said by using a caulk gun he’s been able to prevent flooding from previous storms


    Jeff Fuller went around the neighborhood Saturday showing his water-proofing techniques to those who live in the area in an attempt to stop potential flooding. 

    “This is my fourth or fifth trip here in Shore Acres,” he said. “We have yet to find a house that we can’t waterproof.” 

    Fuller said Shore Acres is an area that floods quite often, but helping prepare people’s homes isn’t something he thought he’d ever be doing.

    However, after his home didn’t flood last year, thanks to his preparations, friends encouraged him to show his technique with a caulk gun to others. 

    “Anybody can do this. I don’t care if you’re 80 or 24, or what age you are, you can do this,” he said.  

    One of the homes he helped prepare on Saturday belongs to Shelby Stagg. 

    Living in her home since 2018, she thought she was doing enough until her home flooded from Hurricane Idalia. 

    “I really don’t want to deal with nine months of not being in my house again,” she said. “It’s a pain in the butt. The construction, it’s not fun.” 

    Fuller said it’s about finding the areas on the outside of homes that are exposed.

    “This is a place that we can test these techniques and go in and refine it,” he said. “If Shelby doesn’t flood… Shelby will stay in this house for a very long time.”

    Fuller said his process with the caulk gun can be very quick and saves a lot of time compared to other water-proofing methods he’s tried in the past.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Organization helps veterans find jobs after military career

    Organization helps veterans find jobs after military career

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A new Florida law appointed the nonprofit Veterans Florida to help veterans start businesses and train for jobs once they leave the military.  

    What You Need To Know

    • Veterans Florida said House Bill 1329 will allow them to help more veterans each year

    • Omar Fuentes said without the assistance of Veterans Florida, his company wouldn’t be where it is today

    • Veterans Florida estimates around 200,000 people leave the military every year


    Veterans Florida Executive Director Joe Marino said with the passing of the law, they’ll be able to help around 5,000 veterans and their spouses a year.  

    “The signing of HB 1329 allows us to better align veteran training and educational resources towards the state’s workforce strategy of making sure Floridians have industry certifications and licenses that are marketable and transferable that they can take anywhere within their career,” he said. 

    One business Veterans Florida has helped is accel-EQ. The Tampa-based company’s co-founder, Omar Fuentes, said the transition out of military life was not an easy one.

    Without Veterans Florida, he said his company wouldn’t be where it is today. 

    “They started putting me in touch with quite a few resources to do that and even giving me access to mentors,” he said. “In a community to other veterans that said, ‘Hey, we want to do something as well.’” 

    Now, three years into the business, Fuentes said his company has evolved from the idea of helping doctors write notes to machine learning. 

    With House Bill 1329 now signed into law and allowing Veterans Florida to assist more veterans and their spouses, Fuentes is hopeful more people like him will get the direction they need. 

    “I struggled for 12 years regaining my purpose again because when you’re in the military, you’re serving something that’s much greater than yourself,” he said. “Then when you get out, you want to continue to fulfill that purpose. I think Veterans Florida and their programs that they have and seeing this law into place now is going to be a humongous benefit to us.” 

    Veterans Florida estimates around 200,000 people leave the military every year.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Lakeland VA Clinic aims to help Polk County veterans

    Lakeland VA Clinic aims to help Polk County veterans

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday morning for the Lakeland VA Clinic. 

    The 121,000-square-foot building expands on the resources and services available for veterans in Polk County.

    What You Need To Know

    • Construction for the Lakeland VA clinic began in April 2022

    • There are nearly 50,000 veterans in Polk County

    • Navy veterans George Bristol said with the clinic open, he won’t need to travel to Tampa as much


    George Bristol and many other veterans are thrilled the clinic has arrived. 

    “They did a fine job, and I watched this thing go up from day one,” he said. “So, I know what it took to make it and I like it.” 

    Bristol served in the U.S. Navy and lives less than a mile from the clinic.

    Construction began in April 2022, and Bristol said seeing the building rise from nothing has been amazing. 

    From mental health care, audiology, and an eye clinic are just a few of the services the clinic provides.

    Bristol said he no longer needs to drive far for most of the services he needs.  

    “I used to have to go to Tampa for everything I needed to get done,” he said. “Now I can come here and see my primary doctor.” 

    As Bristol checked out the clinic with other attending veterans, he thought of the nearly 50,000 veterans in Polk County and how this facility would help. 

    “It benefits me and a lot of other people because there’s so many veterans right around this area,” he said.  

    The VA said they’re hoping in the next two or three months, there will be approval to begin working on a similar clinic in Citrus County. 

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    Matt Lackritz

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