Justin Vick

WESLEY CHAPEL – Pierre-Etienne Boisvert encountered a pair of challenges that could have derailed his education. Instead, they became brief mentions in his salutatorian speech June 4 at Wesley Chapel High School.

Boisvert shared with fellow graduates how he moved from Canada to Florida with very little knowledge of English when he was 10 years old. He overcame the language barrier in about a year thanks to Google Translate and Duolingo.

During the COVID-19 pandemic. Boisvert thrived in virtual learning, earning A’s for a whole year. This motivated him to try to get all A’s throughout high school, bringing the honor of salutatorian within reach. 

Boisvert encouraged classmates to reach their goals. 

“In the future, let’s move forward towards our dreams no matter what,” he said. “Through sheer perseverance and overcoming any obstacle in our way, we will be able to become something greater.”

The Class of 2025 is off to a great start, earning more than $4 million in scholarships, according to Principal Matt McDermott. Among the graduates, McDermott said, 259 graduated with honors, 23 received AP Capstone diplomas, 20 earned associate degrees and nine are enlisting in the Armed Forces.

“I have no doubt in my classmates’ abilities to carry through with their goals because I’ve seen the devotion that brought them here today to walk across this stage with pride in more than just their academic and athletic accomplishments,” Valedictorian Sean Donahue said in a humor-infused speech. “I do, however, doubt their ability to park in between the lines.”

McDermott also recognized the 18 student-athletes that signed scholarships to compete at the collegiate level. 

The Class of 2025 won conference, district and regional titles in various sports, including baseball, basketball, cheerleading, golf, tennis, track, volleyball and weightlifting. 

Then there was the Wildcat band that won superior ratings in several state assessments.

Speaking of music, McDermott channeled a verse from Canadian singer-songwriter Josh Ross: “Life is short and time is swift, do what you love and love what you do.”

“These words hold a profound truth,” McDermott told students. “They remind us that our journey through life is fleeting. And it is essential to pursue your passions and find joy in your endeavors.”

McDermott reminded graduates how they showed resilience, creativity and a commitment to excellence as they faced challenges. He encouraged them to carry those qualities with them into the next chapter of their lives. 

 

TAMPA – The Tampa Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 10 by staging as speakeasy at The Columbia Restaurant in the Ybor City area.  

Co-chaired by Tampa Chapter Regent Sarah Hughes and Honorary Regent Bobbie Schofield, the speakeasy was complete with green door and password (Sparkle). Most guests appeared in Roaring 20s attire.  

Greeted by songs from the 1920s, guests were immediately immersed in the speakeasy atmosphere, enhanced by appearances by (flat) Al Capone, Colleen Moore, Don Lockwood and Lena Lamont and Charlie Chaplin.  

Other special guests included Florida State DAR Regent Cindy Addison from Fleming Island, State Vice Regent Kim Zeman from Deerfield Beach, State Registrar Jennifer Marks from Lithia and State Recording Secretary Laura Marriott from Longwood.  

The 120 guests included members from 15 other DAR chapters.  

Led by the Hillsborough River Unit of the Florida SAR Son’s of Liberty Brigade, the festivities began with a procession of color guard, chapter officers and state regent.  

Florida State Regent Cindy Addison’s remarks complimented chapters that lasted long enough to celebrate 100 years, with many of Florida’s chapters celebrating that milestone in the 2020s.  

The program also included presentations of gifts to each Tampa Chapter member in attendance, a check for $750 for the Florida state regent’s project and a skit starring Chapter Regent Sarah Hughes, Corresponding Secretary Madison Wise and Chapter Treasurer and Honorary Regent Bobbie Schofield.  

The Regents, State and Chapter, then lit the sparkling “candles” on the spectacular cake. 

Hughes then presented a moving and heartfelt toast to the past and the future of the Tampa Chapter doing Great Things in Tampa.  

A proclamation signed by Mayor Jane Castor was on display that declared May 10, 2025 as Tampa Chapter NSDAR 100th Anniversary Day in Tampa.  

Also on display were several images of Tampa in 1925.  

Of special note in the silent auction was a decades-old copy of “The Famous DAR Murder Mystery” by Graham Landrum.  

All the guests expressed themselves as having had a great time.

 

As we enter what’s predicted to be a dynamic hurricane season, many Tampa Bay residents may have an emergency plan, but it’s just as important to make sure you are financially ready.

Here are five tips to help you financially prepare ahead of the significant impacts of a storm:

• Create a financial first-aid kit. Put copies of any important physical financial documents that might be needed immediately in a waterproof “go-bag,” such as financial statements, utility bills, credit card statements, insurance policy account numbers, health insurance cards, medical records and more. Consider switching to secure electronic delivery for bank, credit card and other financial statements to prevent misplacing hard-copy financial records.  
• Protect and preserve important documents. Store other key papers you’re likely to need in the future, such as recent tax returns, property deeds, and brokerage and retirement account information, in a safe-deposit box or home safe that can resist fire, water or structural damage. You may also consider scanning important documents and uploading them to a reliable cloud-based storage service.
• Evaluate your insurance. Your current homeowner policies may not give adequate protection around certain natural disasters such as floods. Whether you rent or own, it’s good practice to take pictures or a video of the property – inside and out. Also note the make, model, serial number and purchase date of big-ticket items such as electronics, artwork or jewelry you may have to leave behind. Lastly, be sure to upgrade your insurance whenever you update your home.    
• Establish a source of ready cash. Even with insurance, disaster-related out-of-pocket costs – including unplanned living expenses, if you’re displaced for a time – can be high. To bolster your emergency savings, consider talking with a financial advisor about potentially opening a flexible line of credit such as a home equity line of credit that you can tap in the event of an emergency. You could also consider obtaining a line of credit secured with other assets, such as your investments, or see if your bank has low-cost, short term loan programs.
• Share information with family members. In many households, one person may manage most financial activities. It’s important that other family members know what expenses or bills have to be paid, where to locate the checking and savings accounts and how to access other important documents. Having regular family financial meetings to discuss where stuff is stored, and how your filing system works can prevent potential confusion and miscommunication.  

No one wants to consider the possibility of a hurricane disrupting their life, but taking practical steps and having a solid financial plan can help you stay resilient when the next storm hits.

Michael Esposito serves as president of Bank of America Tampa Bay.

TAMPA – For more than three decades, the community has flocked to Tampa Theatre on Sunday afternoons to enjoy Summer Classics as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, with a bag of popcorn and a cold drink as a shared, communal experience.

Now in its 34th year, the Summer Classics Movie Series celebrates more than a century of extraordinary filmmaking.

The oldest offering, a collection of silent comedy shorts from the 1920s, takes Tampa Theatre back to its roots of presenting silent films with live musical accompaniment on its original Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. Others, like “The Blues Brothers,” “Psycho” and “Monty Python” are celebrating milestone anniversaries. 

Most of these iconic favorites, like “The Wizard of Oz,” “Casablanca” and “The Princess Bride” have been named to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for their cultural, historical or aesthetic significance.

To kick off the season, Tampa Theatre will present a special engagement of Jaws (1975) over Memorial Day weekend, offering audiences a chance to experience “the original summer blockbuster” on the big screen, May 23 to 27.

After that, the Summer Classics lineup includes:

• “The Princess Bride” (1987) – 3 p.m. June 1
• “The Blues Brothers” (1980) – 3 p.m. June 8
• “Dr. Zhivago” (1965) – 3 p.m. June 15
• “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) – 3 p.m. June 22
• “Moulin Rouge!” (2001) – 3 p.m. June 29
• “Top Gun” (1986) – 3 p.m. July 6
• “Psycho” (1960) – 3 p.m. July 13
• “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975) – 3 p.m. July 20
• “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) – 3 p.m. July 27
• “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” (1966) – 3 p.m. Aug. 3
• “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) – 3 p.m. Aug. 10
• “Roman Holiday” (1953) – 3 p.m. Aug. 17
• “Casablanca” (1942) – 3 p.m. Aug. 24
• “The Silent Clowns” – 3 p.m. Aug. 31

“The Silent Clowns” shorts provide a unique opportunity to see these silent films exactly as audiences saw them back in the 1920s, presented in their original format with live accompaniment on the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. Tampa Theatre’s Artist in Residence Steven Ball will write and perform an original score for each of the films.

Audiences are also invited to stick around after select shows for Film Talks with some of the community’s most knowledgeable movie experts. They will examine the films’ themes, structure and cultural significance as well as answer questions from the audience. 

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Bank of America’s sponsorship of the Summer Classics Movie Series.

“At Bank of America, we are dedicated to supporting local cultural institutions that have a positive impact on our lives,” said Michael Esposito, president, Bank of America Tampa Bay. “For 10 years, we’ve supported Tampa Theater’s Summer Classics Movie Series and their goal to bring beloved classics to our community. This program has become a local tradition that brings people together each year.”

Tickets for “The Silent Clowns” event are $14.50 ($11.50 for Tampa Theatre members). The rest of the Summer Classics films are $10 ($7 for members).

With summer upon us, seasonal foods such as squash, watermelon, blackberries and peaches may come to mind.  

But another staple that is ubiquitous with summer is s’mores.  

My first s’mores experience was indoors, in Florida, roasting a marshmallow over the stove.  

But my true s’mores encounter was in upstate New York, using a firepit in a relative’s backyard one summer, surrounded by fireflies.  

I finally felt like I got to partake in a true summer tradition, as opposed to the makeshift firepit on the stove.  

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with indoor s’mores – you can make them in an air fryer, microwave, oven or even enjoyed raw (unroasted marshmallow).  

But the experience and memories of the outdoor version eclipsed the times I’ve made them indoors.  

Who can we thank for this delectable, addictive treat?  

The Girl Scouts of course – and the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution allowed for marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers to be mass produced in the late 1800s and early 1900s, leading to chocolate and marshmallow treats, such as Mallomars and Moonpies, which are closely related to s’mores.  

Before that, marshmallows and chocolate were only for the wealthy because it took so long to make.  

With machinery, they could be cheaply made and became widely available.

But the history of the graham cracker is an interesting one.  

Their original taste and ingredients have no semblance to the version we know today, as they were actually considered a health food initially.  

They were invented by a Presbyterian minister from Connecticut, Sylvester Graham.  

He believed that one’s diet was connected to their moral purity, and therefore, encouraged people to eat cleanly to maintain a pure lifestyle.  

In the 1830s, he created an unsifted flour that used all the parts of the wheat (basically, a whole wheat flour).  

The graham cracker had this flour, bran, oil, molasses and salt.  

That was it – no honey, cinnamon, or other flavoring agents.  

He thought this bland cracker would be good for the soul.

However, they did not become popular until much later, once bakers started experimenting with other ingredients and adding cane sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon.  

Essentially, the opposite of what Mr. Graham was going for.  

By the 1890s, the National Biscuit Company (now Nabisco) introduced the first mass-produced graham crackers, according to Redstone Foods.    

Now we use graham crackers not just in s’mores, but in pie crust, cheesecake, topped with peanut butter, cream cheese, cookie bars, parfaits and so much more.  

I’m sure Sylvester Graham is rolling over in his grave.

As for s’mores, they came around about 30 years after the graham cracker was first mass produced.  

The original name was Some More, as described in a 1927 Girl Scout manual.  

A troop leader named Loretta Scott Crew is credited for the official recipe published in this book, and it took off from there.  

The name “s’more” was first found in the 1938 book “Recreational Programs for Summer Camps.”  

Today, there are s’mores flavored Pop Tarts, martinis, cereal, protein bars, ice cream and more.  

Clearly, Americans love their s’mores.

So the next time you’re making s’mores, whether it’s around a campfire or in your home kitchen, you have a little history lesson to share.

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County, An Equal Opportunity Institution.