Local News

Jonas Brothers expand concert series

TAMPA – The Jonas Brothers will bring The Burning Up Tour All Over Again to Benchmark International Arena at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11.

Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas expanded the concert series into a 45-city North American tour after sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. Magnus Ferrell and Deleasa will join the band as special guests.

The tour revisits the Jonas Brothers’ original Burning Up Tour.

“The response was so overwhelming announcing the MSG shows that we knew we couldn’t stop at New York,” the Jonas Brothers said. “We’re taking The Burning Up Tour All Over Again on the road so we can relive it with all of you, city by city.”

 

Chelsea Handler books comedy show in Tampa

TAMPA – Comedian Chelsea Handler will bring The High and Mighty Tour to Tampa Theatre at 8 p.m. Dec. 18.

Handler hosted E!’s “Chelsea Lately” for seven years and later launched the Netflix documentary series “Chelsea Does” and talk show “Chelsea.” She has written seven New York Times best-selling books. Her latest is “I’ll Have What She’s Having.”

Handler earned a Grammy nomination for her 2020 comedy special “Evolution.” She also hosts the “Dear Chelsea” advice podcast. Her third Netflix comedy special, “The Feeling,” premiered in March 2025.

Tickets range from $99 to $139 plus taxes and fees. They go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 21 at the Tampa Theatre box office and online.

 

Public radio hits the Tampa Theatre stage

TAMPA – WUSF will present “This American Life” creator and host Ira Glass in “Stories for a Saturday Night” on Dec. 5 at Tampa Theatre.

The live show gives audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the public radio program and podcast. Glass will explain how producers find stories and create the show. He will also recreate its sound on stage through narration, prerecorded quotes and music.

“This American Life” reaches more than 3 million public radio listeners each week. It became the first radio show or podcast to win a Pulitzer Prize.

WUSF members can purchase tickets beginning Sept. 28. Remaining tickets go on sale to the public Oct. 5 through Tampa Theatre.

 

Suncoast celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

TAMPA – Suncoast Credit Union will present Juntos y con Ritmo, a concert celebrating Hispanic culture, Oct. 17 at the Yuengling Center.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. A pre-concert celebration begins at 5 p.m. with entertainment, nonprofit showcases and community activities.

Latin Grammy-winning Cuban duo Gente de Zona will headline. Grupo Manía and Alexandra “The Bachata Queen” will also perform.

Suncoast is partnering with Hispanic Chambers of Commerce across Florida. Participating chambers will nominate local nonprofits to receive a portion of concert proceeds.

“Juntos y con Ritmo is a phenomenal celebration of culture, connection and community impact,” Suncoast President and CEO Kevin Johnson said.

Suncoast members will receive 50% off eligible concert tickets.

 

GeckoFest returns to Gulfport on Sept. 5

GULFPORT – The 26th annual GeckoFest will bring live music, food, art and street performers to downtown Gulfport from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 5.

The free festival takes place along Beach and Shore boulevards. This year’s “Gecko Music Awards” theme celebrates Gulfport’s music and arts scene.

Activities include live music on two stages, street theater, artisan vendors, food trucks and Gecko Skateboard Races. Acrobats, magicians, dancers, aerialists and fire eaters will perform throughout the festival.

Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes and participate in a walking parade at 6 p.m. A birthday celebration for the G. Gordon McFly sculpture will follow.

Admission and parking are free. Courtesy shuttles will serve designated off-site parking areas.

 

Model train rolling into Brooksville

BROOKSVILLE – Regal Railways will host a model train show and sale with more than 70 tables of vendors offering model trains, toys and other items. 

The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Hernando Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St. It will also feature a running train layout, test track and food vendor.

Admission costs $6 for adults. Children ages 12 and younger are admitted free. Credit cards will be accepted for admission.

Visit regalrailways.com for advance tickets, vendor information and additional details.

 

Steve Lacy to perform … Oh yeah?

TAMPA – Grammy Award-winning artist Steve Lacy will bring his Oh yeah? Tour to the Yuengling Center at 8 p.m. Oct. 28.

The North American tour marks Lacy’s first run of headlining shows since his sold-out Give You The World Tour in 2022.

Lacy recently released “Oh yeah?,” his first album in four years. The self-produced, 10-track album features collaborations with SZA, Erykah Badu and Cecile Believe.

The 28-year-old artist has two songs in Spotify’s Billions Club and has won two Grammy Awards.

Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster.

 

Stage West Playhouse hosting New Works Festival

SPRING HILL – Stage West Playhouse will showcase 11 original plays during its second annual New Works Festival Aug. 21 to 23.

The festival features nine 10-minute plays and two full-length productions written by members of the Stage West Playwriting Group. The short plays will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 and 2 p.m. Aug. 22.

Brian Brijbag’s “One Seat Over” premieres at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22. Lil Barcaski’s Dinner for Six closes the festival at 2 p.m. Aug. 23.

Other activities include an improv battle, showtune karaoke and food trucks.

Tickets cost $15 per show. An all-access pass costs $35. Stage West Playhouse is at 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd.

 

Live Oak Theatre staging ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’

BROOKSVILLE – Live Oak Theatre will present five performances of “The Diary of Anne Frank” from Sept. 11 to 13 at the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortez Blvd.

Matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The theater will offer a special Sept. 11 matinee for school and homeschool groups. Groups receive one additional seat for every 10 seats purchased.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play is based on the diary of Anne Frank and was written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.

Tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 13 and younger with the purchase of an adult ticket.

SPRING HILL – A deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office killed his ex-girlfriend and then himself, according to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. 

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said the victim and her two children were returning home to Hudson from the beach around 5:30 p.m. Aug. 10 when they saw her ex-boyfriend standing in their yard. They started arguing over his TV. 

The victim tried calling 911, but the suspect took the phone from her hands. She told her children to go inside and call 911. One of the children identified the suspect to dispatch as Deputy Troy Savetz with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. 

Deputies arrived at the scene but Savetz and the victim were gone. The sheriff’s office learned that Savetz was using a rental vehicle. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office alerted neighboring jurisdictions to the kidnapping. 

A deputy spotted the rental vehicle around 7 p.m. on Platinum Drive in Spring Hill. Deputies found both bodies inside.

Savetz worked for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for 14 years. Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri described the situation as horrific. 

“There is no reason to have a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” Gualtieri said. “The fact that he made that kind of a decision to leave two kids, 12 and 9 years old, without a mom for the rest of their lives is just awful. Our hearts go out to her family.”

Nocco praised the cooperation of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

“The moment this individual committed a crime, he was no longer a law enforcement officer,” Nocco said. “He was a criminal.”

Nocco credited the children for listening to their mother by going inside to call 911. After listening to the 911 audio, he was struck by how brave and calm they were as they relayed information to the dispatcher under pressure. 

“We’re so proud of you and I know your mom is,” Nocco said in a message to the children. “But know this entire community is praying for you and our arms go around you. We’re going to do everything we can because we know that you’re going to be going back to school and we’re going to make sure the resources are there for you.”

 

LAND O’ LAKES – NexMetro Communities has opened its third Avilla Homes community in the greater Tampa market. Avilla Silver Palm sits on 26 acres at 11334 Zion Narrows Trail. 

The 180-home leased community features mostly detached, single-level homes with private fenced backyards, front porches, optional garages and resort-style community amenities. 

“Opening Avilla Silver Palm is a meaningful milestone for our Florida platform,” said Jack Riddle, vice president of development for NexMetro’s Tampa Division. “The conventional apartment supply wave that pressured Pasco County in recent years is cresting, and the demand for a private, professionally managed, single-family rental experience remains as strong as ever.”

Avilla Silver Palm joins two existing NexMetro communities in the broader Tampa Bay region: Avilla Suncoast in Odessa and Avilla Cypress Creek in Sun City Center. The three communities together reflect a geographic strategy spanning key growth corridors on both sides of Tampa, from Pasco County’s SR-52 corridor in the north to Hillsborough County’s southern suburbs.

NexMetro is expanding its presence in the Tampa market with an additional Avilla Homes community in development in Apollo Beach. Sitework is expected to begin in late 2026.

“Greater Tampa has proven itself as one of the most durable (build-to-rent) markets in the Sun Belt,” Riddle said, adding that the community’s differentiated offering appeals to diverse consumers from professional millennials, midlife renters in transition and baby boomers.

Avilla Silver Palm offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans designed for residents who want the experience of homeownership without a mortgage. 

Homes feature 10-foot ceilings, wood plank-style flooring and upscale interior finishes with washers and dryers. Lanais are available on selected home sites.

Community amenities include a resort-style pool, outdoor lounge and barbecue areas, dog park, walking paths, electric vehicle charging stations and on-site professional management. 

Visit AvillaSilverPalm.com for leasing details.

TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Sun Foundation is launching a new season of free soccer clinics across Tampa Bay, thanks to support from Tampa Electric.

Kids can turn their enthusiasm for soccer into opportunities to get active, learn skills, and create friendships through 19 free programs that develop character on the field. TECO’s support also powers Gear Goals, a year-round effort to get quality soccer gear into the hands of kids who need it.

“Soccer gives kids something powerful. It’s a sense of belonging and a little more confidence every time they step on the field,” said Rachel Jolley, director of the Tampa Bay Sun Foundation. “Thanks to TECO’s support, we get to share that fantastic feeling with even more kids across Tampa Bay this year.”

Last season, in the first year with TECO’s support, Tampa Bay Sun Foundation clinics reached 1,292 children.

Through the spring of 2027, TECO’s sponsorship will support:

• 10 Energize the Bay Youth Clinics: open to girls and boys ages 7 to 13 at fields throughout Tampa Bay, including Suncoast Credit Union Field.
• 6 Shine Soccer Clinics: bringing the game to girls and boys at Title I schools and youth-focused community organizations.
• 3 Rise Up Soccer Club School Sessions: four-week partnered program for girls at Title I schools, blending soccer education with leadership and life skills.
• Gear Goals: ongoing, year-round program that pairs coaches, players and teams in Tampa Bay with the soccer gear they need to participate.

Every clinic includes a free Tampa Bay Sun Foundation x TECO jersey. Kids can collect three different jerseys by attending three different clinics.

Players from Tampa Bay Sun FC will take part in some of the clinics. All programs are led by U.S. Soccer Licensed Coaches with support from the foundation’s team of volunteers, the Sunshine Squad.

“At TECO, we believe in investing in the communities we serve and that means investing in the next generation,” said Stephanie Smith, vice president of state and regional affairs at TECO. “These programs give kids a place to build friendships, stay active and grow as people, whether it’s in the classroom or on the field.”

 

TAMPA – The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s Office will begin mailing Truth in Millage Notices to property owners on Aug. 13.

The TRIM Notice is not a tax bill. It is a Notice of Proposed Property Taxes containing information about a property’s market value, assessed value, exemptions and proposed property taxes.

Property owners are encouraged to carefully review their TRIM Notices upon receipt. The notice reflects proposed tax rates and budgets established by the various taxing authorities. The reverse side includes the dates, times and locations of public budget hearings at which comments regarding proposed tax rates and budgets may be presented directly to the appropriate taxing authorities.

Questions concerning a property’s market value, assessed value, exemptions or classification should be directed to the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s Office. If any information appears incorrect or requires clarification, property owners are encouraged to contact the office promptly to request a review.

“Property values and tax information can raise questions, and our goal is to ensure property owners have accurate information and access to a team ready to assist them,” Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez said.  “If you have questions or believe information needs clarification, we encourage you to contact our office so we can review the details and help provide answers.”

Reviewing the TRIM Notice upon receipt provides an opportunity to address questions or concerns before property tax bills are issued in November.

Property owners may contact the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s Office at 813-272-6100 or visit any of its four locations in Downtown Tampa, Brandon, Plant City or Ruskin, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the week of Aug. 17, the Downtown Tampa office will offer extended office hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

NEW PORT RICHEY – ​​Pasco-Hernando State College’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter has been building a high profile on the state and national scene through its performances at leadership conferences this year. 

At the Florida FBLA State Leadership Conference, PHSC’s program was named Florida Chapter of the Year. 

Two students were also honored for their service as outgoing state officers: Krista Knowles, former vice president of membership, and Emmalise Feliciano, former vice president of finance. 

Two members were also offered state officer positions for the coming year: Krista Knowles as state president and Teanna Hill as vice president of membership.

Megan Flavin was named Christopher Heider Scholar Honoree.

Several PHSC students performed well at state competition: 

• First place: State of Chapter – Emmalise Feliciano and Krista Knowles
• First place: Future Business Leader Executive – Krista Knowles
• First place: Public Speaking – Kyla Flood
• First place: Digital Design & Communications Case Competition – Kaylee Smith
• First place: Marketing & Sales Case Competition – Bryce Widman, David Hennes and John Lias
• Second place: Customer Service – Josbel Marcano-Reyes
• Fourth place: Hospitality Management Case Competition – Elizabeth Capitoni & Michael Widman
• Fourth place: Foundations of Computer Science – Amanda Campos
• Fourth place: Parliamentary Procedures – Krista Knowles
• Fourth place: Business Presentation – Emmalise Feliciano
• Fourth place: Business Communications – Kyla Flood
• Fourth place: State of Chapter – Teanna Hill

Competitive wins weren’t the only measure of the chapter’s year. FBLA members organized a donation drive for the Bobcat Food Pantry, an on-campus resource that provides food and essential items to students in need.

PHSC’s FBLA students carried the momentum onto the national stage, placing among the best chapters in the country, including a third-place finish for Largest State Chapter in Florida.

Students placed in several other categories: 

• Second place: Digital Design and Communications Case Competition – Kaylee Smith
• Second place: Stock Market Game – John Lias, Elizabeth Capitoni, Mark Calderon, Tyrese Brown and Jacob Majorana
• Fifth place: Outstanding Chapter Award – North Campus
• Sixth place: State of Chapter – Emmalise Feliciano & Krista Knowles
• Ninth place: Foundations of Computer Science – Amanda Campos
• Ninth place: Future Business Leader Executive – Krista Knowles
• Top 12: State of Chapter, Pasco County – Teanna Hill

PHSC members also swept a full slate of Excellence Award distinctions, recognizing outstanding competitive individual testing performance:

• Gold Distinction – Emmalise Feliciano and Krista Knowles
• Silver Distinction – Kyla Flood
• Bronze Distinction – Josbel Marcano-Reyes