Local News

TAMPA – The Glazer Children’s Museum is launching Play for Everyone, a new initiative to ensure all families can experience the joy of play, regardless of income.

Play for Everyone will provide three different free or low-cost options for families to visit the museum on days and times that work for them—instead of only on a few, limited free days during the year.

Starting this fall, Play for Everyone will replace the museum’s Free Tuesday program and reinvest those resources to allow families to visit with an Access Pass, Partner Pass or Public Library Pass any day, at any time. 

The museum expects Play for Everyone to provide even more access to income-limited families, opening doors for tens of thousands of visitors each year.

“Our goal is to create an inclusive, welcoming space for every child,” said Sarah Cole, Glazer Children’s Museum president and CEO. “With Play for Everyone, we’re taking a thoughtful, community-driven approach to access so families can visit when it works best for them, without the barriers of scheduling or cost.”

Effective Oct. 1, the initiative includes a suite of financial access programs, tailored to different needs across the community:

• Access Pass: Families who receive SNAP, EBT, or WIC benefits can sign up for an annual Access Pass in person at the museum. The pass provides $5 museum admission per person, per visit – for up to four people. The pass is valid for 12 months. Guests are welcome to reapply annually.
• Partner Pass: The Museum will work with nonprofit partners to distribute thousands of free admission tickets directly to families they serve. Initial partners include: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Children’s Network of Hillsborough, Kennedy Cares Tampa Bay, Mary Lee’s House and Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation.
• Public Library Pass: Through Hillsborough Public Libraries, families can check out a four-person pass just like a library book free of charge. The Public Library Pass is also available at select locations in Pinellas, Pasco, and Polk counties. 

“Play is powerful. It’s crucial for raising curious, healthy, emotionally aware children in Tampa Bay. Our longstanding community partners know the power of play, and they’ve said, ‘I’m ready to help,’” added Cole. “So many of these organizations already serve families in crisis or transition. By partnering with them, we can get tickets directly into the hands of families that need a little extra support right now.”

Play for Everyone includes other ongoing efforts at the Glazer Children’s Museum to provide access:

• Title One Field Trip Scholarships: The Glazer Children’s Museum will continue to provide free admission for students and chaperones from Title I schools.
• Camp Imagination Scholarships: Up to 10% of spots in Camp Imagination summer camps are reserved each year for scholarship recipients.

The final Free Tuesday will take place on Sept. 2. The Glazer Children’s Museum thanks the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County for their longstanding support in funding the program.

The museum is seeking corporate sponsors, foundations and community advocates to support Play for Everyone. Contributions help underwrite ticket costs, outreach and scholarships to ensure all children can play, learn and thrive. Visit GlazerMuseum.org to learn more or get involved.

GULFPORT – The streets of Gulfport will be filled with live music, food and drink, arts and crafts, and street theater performances during the 25th annual GECKOFEST.

The family-friendly festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 30 along Beach and Shore boulevards in the heart of downtown Gulfport (3101 Beach Blvd. S.).

The theme for this year’s GECKOFEST is “Still Weird.” Organizers are putting a spotlight on Gulfport’s arts scene and bohemian vibe. 

“We’re a hub for artists, musicians, writers and all kinds of creatives, with streets bursting with colorful, independently owned shops, galleries and boutiques,” event organizer Suzzane King said. “GECKOFEST is a tribute to our beloved gecko mascot and will showcase this artistic and wonderfully quirky spirit.”

Organizers encourage everyone to come dressed in their most imaginative and eccentric attire. There will be a wacky walking parade at 6 p.m. to show off this quirky fashion. 

Immediately following the parade, there will be a birthday celebration for G. Gordon McFly, Gulfport’s newest sculpture, designed by local marine artist, Ray Domingo.

Admission and parking are complimentary with courtesy shuttles available. 

GECKOFEST is preceded each year by the Gecko Art Show, Gecko Crawl and Gecko Ball. All events are hosted by the non-profit Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce.   

A portion of proceeds from Gecko World events are donated back to the community each year. This year’s recipients include Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation, Sonia Plotnick Health Fund, St. Pete MAD and CANDL Corps.

On the web: visitgulfportflorida.com

Woman’s club to host Fall Flea Market

LAND O’ LAKES – The Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club will use proceeds from its annual Fall Flea Market to benefit the community through its many projects in support of local charitable groups and nonprofits.

The sale takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Heritage Park Recreation Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 

The club will welcome donations from the community from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Heritage Park Recreation Center. Donations of antiques, art decor, small working appliances, kitchenware, clothing, shoes, children’s toys, books, tools, etc. will be accepted on this day only. All donations must be clean and in working order.  

Call Pamela at 813-838-2974 for details or visit gfwclutzlandolakeswomansclub.org for details. 

Tiger Bay Club to honor former mayors

TAMPA – The Tiger Bay Club of Tampa will honor former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and former Plant City Mayor Rick Lott with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award recognizes exceptional leadership, integrity and long-standing dedication to public service in the Tampa Bay area community. 

“Mayor Iorio and Mayor Lott have each led with vision and purpose, and their leadership has left an indelible mark on the region,” said Debra Bellanti, club president. “We are proud to honor them for their lifetime of service and commitment to our communities. They will join a list of impactful leaders who have earned this honor.”

They will be honored during the ninth annual awards luncheon, presented by Suncoast Tampa Association of Realtors, Dec. 12 at the Hilton Downtown Tampa. A portion of the proceeds will support the club’s newly launched Tiger Bay College Scholarship Program.

On the web: https://tigerbayclub.com/laaevent/

 Castor, Bilirakis want to end zombie campaigns

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) have reintroduced the bipartisan Honest Elections and Campaign, No Gain (HEC No) Act. 

The bill would require former lawmakers and ex-candidates to close their campaign accounts within two years, ending so-called “zombie campaigns.” 

Castor cited reports of former members using leftover funds for personal expenses. 

The bill is supported by groups including Public Citizen, End Citizens United and Issue One. 

Castor has introduced similar legislation for four sessions, citing abuses such as ski trips, festivals and winery visits paid with campaign cash.

Tax office wins Sterling Award

TAMPA – The Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office has earned the 2025 Governor’s Sterling Award, Florida’s top honor for organizational performance. 

A new mid-year video highlights major accomplishments, including the launch of smart lockers for private dealers and expanded Saturday License Services to meet growing community needs. 

“Transparency and keeping our community informed about all of the ways our office is making enhancements to better serve the community is a big part of our mission,” Tax Collector Nancy Millan said. “These accomplishments reflect our team’s dedication to innovation and our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of Hillsborough County residents and businesses.”

LAND O’ LAKES – The Pasco County School Board has approved a tentative budget of $2,338,437,781 for the 2025-26 fiscal year, an increase of $53,462,164 over last year.

Superintendent John Legg reiterated to the school board July 29 that the general operating fund has grown from $1,099,842,895 in 2024-25 to $1,138,694,212 in 2025-26 despite a $3.6 million reduction in state funding due to a decline in student enrollment by 638 students.

Legg said $92 million in the budget is set aside for charter schools and $71 million for Florida Empowerment Scholarships (for area private schools). The budget also includes $66,726,372 in categoricals and set asides.

Other drivers include increases in health insurance and retirement rates, utilities, student resource officer contracts and the opening of Skybrooke K-8. 

The proposed capital projects fund is $671,563,602, an increase of $12,172,213 over the 2024-25 budget. 

Legg said major capital projects include construction at Gulf Middle, West Zephyrhills Elementary and the Kirkland Ranch K-8 gym; renovations at Cypress Elementary and Pasco High; and roof construction, HVAC system replacements and infrastructure upgrades at various schools. 

“The 2025-26 budget also reflects fiscal priorities which support student achievement,” Legg said. “Additionally, it’s designed to ensure the smooth delivery of effective school operations by prioritizing the needs of our students and the community.”

The budget includes a millage rate of 6.274 mills, a decrease of 0.057 from the previous year. District leaders say they have limited flexibility in setting millage and point to the state legislature. 

Legg said the owner of a $350,000 home, after the $25,000 homestead exemption, would pay $2,039 in taxes, an $18.53 decrease from last year. 

Legg described the budget as a living document that continuously changes over the course of the year. Budget amendments are submitted to the board to reflect changes. 

“We will continue to prioritize and make the best decisions we can for our students, teachers and staff with the funding that we have,” said Colleen Beaudoin, District 2 representative on the school board. “I am always reminded that the budget is fluid and that I remain committed to prioritizing our students.”

Beaudoin thanked Pasco County voters for passing the Salary Referendum in 2022. 

“Without this funding, it would be increasingly difficult to compete for the best teachers for our students,” she said. “That’s crucial for student success. Our community recognizes the importance and the value of public education.”

Megan Harding, District 5 rep on the school board, said she is also dedicated to ensuring the budget puts kids first. 

The school board set a final public hearing for the budget at 6 p.m. Sept. 9. 

ZEPHYRHILLS – The Zephyrhills City Council has added regulations for harboring backyard chickens. 

The regulations allow for residential units in single-family, estate, low density and medium density residential zoning districts to have up to five hens or pullets at a time. Roosters, capons or cockerels are not allowed. 

No chickens are allowed in other zoning districts, including duplex and multi-family lots. 

The intent of the ordinance is more about egg consumption than having pets.

“An interest in local food sources, food resilience and desire for fresher, more nutritious foods is being embraced by residents throughout the country,” according to the ordinance. “The City of Zephyrhills intends to integrate sustainability and resilience strategies that foster healthy communities, educate and empower residents to lead healthy, sustainable lifestyles, and invest in the wellbeing and success of our children.

“Many communities in Florida and throughout the United States have found in adopting ordinances to integrate the keeping of chickens in residential areas that up to four chickens are sufficient to meet the needs of the average family’s egg consumption.”

The ordinance does not allow breeding, slaughtering or the onsite sale of eggs, poultry or manure. 

Neighbor Brad Bush told the council that he supported the ordinance.
“I think it’s about as bulletproof as anything can get,” Bush said. “Obviously, at the end of the day, someone’s always going to try to take advantage of it, but it takes both the welfare of the chicken plus the individual freedoms of everyone into full account, along with holding up accountability for people to properly take care of said chickens.

Residents interested in having backyard chickens have to fill out an application from the city. 

Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson felt like the application needed more work. She wanted to see more specific language about what zoning districts the hens are allowed in. Staff assured Wilkeson that the districts would be added.

The ordinance has 16 bullet points to follow. Violators will be fined $500 per day. Residents can lose their ability to harbor chickens after three separate code enforcement violations. 

ZEPHYRHILLS – The Zephyrhills Daughters of the American Revolution has approached city leaders about allowing a permanent masonry burning pit to be built at Veterans Memorial Park to retire U.S. flags.

The Echebucsassa Chapter of DAR plans to pursue $40,000 through the America 250 Florida Grants program, according to Regent Marie Wunderlich. The program, offered through the Florida Department of State, is accepting grant applications through Aug. 6. 

“Currently, there exists no venue open to the public for them to witness such a ceremony, partake in such a ceremony by providing their flags, and educating the children about the U.S. flag,” Wunderlich told the city council July 28. “Not only why we raise it, why we salute it, why we pledge to it, but why we burn it.”

The U.S. Flag Code suggests burning a flag in a dignified way when it is no longer a “fitting emblem for display.”

Wunderlich said the grant would include eight benches, each representing the different branches of the Armed Forces.

“We would like to have signage educating the public on not only the Declaration of Independence,” Wunderlich said, “but Revolutionary period events – whether it would be the Liberty Tree, the different battles that took place – an educational experience devoted to the history of our veterans’ service, from Revolutionary War period to the current period.”

Wunderlich said these park upgrades can be used by all patriotic and civic organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

The council was receptive to the idea, saying that staff could make sure the grant proposal aligns with ongoing park plans. One member of the council offered to get his daughter, who has written grants professionally, to help with the application. 

Neighbor reports park abuse

Neighbor Michael Cooper has encouraged the City of Zephyrhills to do something about people riding motorcycles, ATVs and golf carts at Veterans Memorial Park. 

Cooper told the Zephyrhills City Council on July 28 that he and his wife enjoy walking at the park but people are driving on the grass and pavement all the time. 

“You call the cops – sometimes they show up, a lot of times they don’t,” Cooper said. “So I called the city manager, complained several times. He talked to them. When they do come out and catch them, they don’t do nothing to them. They just let them go. I don’t understand it. How are they going to learn not to do this?”

TAMPA – It’s easy to forget, down here where the change of seasons barely registers, that for most of the time humans have walked the Earth, to be cold was to die. And darkness was coldness. Every year, as the nights grow longer and the plants get browner and a chill starts to sharpen the air, our ancestors’ thoughts turned grim. But as lives got safer and we developed fear-as-entertainment, we learned to deploy that darkness to frighten  and thereby to thrill.

And yet if you’ve ever been on a Florida beach on an August afternoon, you know that light and heat can be shockingly scary too. Even dangerous. 

And because Tampa Theatre’s Big Picture series curators like being contrary, they’ve decided to lead into spooky season this year with a sampler of frightening films that all operate in the sunlight, though each in different ways:

• Aug. 6: This month opens with the new classic “Midsommar,” a discombobulating, trancelike nightmare that’s still the most straightforward horror film in the series. It’s a useful introduction to the vibe all these movies have in common: something about horrible things being completely visible makes them feel both more realistic and more surreal.
• Aug. 13: Next is “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” a groundbreaking and frequently imitated creature-feature that trades one kind of darkness for another. No matter how oppressive the heat and prickly the light is on land, go a few feet underwater and everything is dark and cold forever. The underwater scenes were filmed in Wakulla Springs, just south of Tallahassee, so this is practically a home movie.
• Aug. 20: Then we take a slight left turn to “No Country for Old Men,” not a typical thriller but a scintillating exploration of a much more recognizable kind of monster. Every shot is desiccated and sunbleached, with cinematography that’s lizardlike in its economy of motion. All you have to do is watch what happens.
• Aug. 27: And finally we wrap with “The Vanishing,” aka “Spoorloos,” a Dutch psychological stomach-churner about a woman who disappears at a rest stop during a sunny French vacation. It’s got the frank and wide-eyed perspective of security camera footage or a celebrity magazine profile, and Stanley Kubrick thought it was the scariest movie he’d ever seen.

Big Picture tickets cost $7 for Tampa Theatre members and $10 for others. Buy them at the Franklin Street Box Office and  at www.tampatheatre.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives has passed HR 900, the Sinkhole Mapping Act, introduced by Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) and Darren Soto (D-FL-09). 

The legislation directs the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct studies on the short- and long-term mechanisms that potentially contribute to the triggering of sinkholes, including extreme storm events, prolonged droughts leading to shifts in water management practices, as well as ongoing aquifer depletion, and other major changes in water use.

“In recent years, we have seen throughout Tampa Bay how dangerous sinkholes can be for neighborhoods,” Bilirakis said. “To improve public safety and consumer protection, we need to study the causes and remedies of sinkholes while developing geological maps to delineate the highest risk areas for sinkholes to occur.”

Sota also addressed the bipartisan legislation on the House floor. 

“It’s all about having a public website displaying maps depicting zones at greater risk of sinkhole formation, helping with communities, helping save lives, and getting us to have more resilient communities.”

Currently, there is no database displaying all sinkholes in Florida. Lawmakers say this presents challenges not just for land developers and residents but also for community planners and first responders. The Sinkhole Mapping Act also directs the USGS director to open a public website that displays maps depicting zones at greater risk of sinkhole formation, giving community planners and first responders access to critical information.  

The Sinkhole Mapping Act awaited a vote in the Senate as of the newspaper’s print deadline. 

In addition to Reps. Soto and Bilirakis, the bill was co-sponsored by Florida Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), as well as Reps. Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Josh Harder (D-CA-09).