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NFL QB Baker Mayfield gifts luxury watches to offensive line

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NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield bought luxury watches for members of his offensive line recently at the TAG Heuer boutique at Tampa International Plaza. Photo courtesy of TAG Heuer

 

TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not win Super Bowl rings this past season but quarterback Baker Mayfield made sure his lineman felt appreciated with the next best thing. 

Mayfield stopped by the TAG Heuer boutique at Tampa International Plaza recently to buy his teammates the latest Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport timepieces. 

Tampa Bay center Graham Barton just finished a rookie season in which he started 16 games for the Buccaneers. Barton shows off his new TAG Heuer timepiece next to the boutique’s new Buccaneers autograph board. Photo courtesy of TAG Heuer

Luke Goedeke, Tristan Wirfs, Robert Hainsey, Cody Mauch and Graham Barton were among teammates to receive the luxury watches, each featuring a skeleton dial to display its mechanics.

TAG Heuer Carrera’s brand pays tribute to the Carrera Panamericana auto race of the 1950s. And its Chronograph Extreme Sport watches are “inspired by the thrill of high-performance and adrenaline-fueled excellence” – something NFL players on the line of scrimmage can relate to.

Mayfield is coming off the best season of his career. His 4,500 passing yards ranked third among all quarterbacks while he threw the second most touchdown passes at 41. 

Tampa Bay’s 10-7 record was the best in the NFC South Division. The Buccaneers returned to the NFL Playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.

The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport’s skeleton dial showcases the timepiece’s mechanics. Photo courtesy of TAG Heuer

This was in spite of losing receiver Chris Godwin in Week 7 for the rest of the season to an ankle injury. Receiver Mike Evans also was sidelined for three games as he nursed an injured hamstring from that same game. Other players also made the injury report. 

“To me, it still goes up to the guys up front,” Mayfield told reporters at the end of the season about his team’s success. “Relying on those guys, leaning on them and trusting everybody else – just doing our job trying to find ways to win.”

Heading into the NFC Wild Card Round against the Washington Commanders, Mayfield shared with reporters his thoughts on his offensive line.

Mayfield described Wirfs’ growing comfort in his second year at left tackle as huge for the team. Wirfs earned his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection this past season. 

Rookie center Barton and second-year Mauch showed growth over the season while Mayfield believes third-year tackle Goedeke is one of the most underrated linemen in the NFL. 

Tampa Bay center Robert Hainsey has played four years with the Buccaneers. He shows off his new timepiece at the Tampa TAG Heuer Boutique. Photo courtesy of TAG Heuer

Mayfield also credited fourth-year center Hainsey for helping everyone behind the scenes with communication. 

“It’s a full group effort,” Mayfield said. “It’s fun to see the chemistry and how they work together.”

Mayfield surprised his offensive line with timepieces to thank them for protecting him throughout the season. 

Barton and Hainsey liked the gifts so much, they visited the TAG Heuer boutique for themselves to see the collection. Their signatures joined Mayfield’s in what has become the Buccaneers autograph board.  

 

Zephyrhills celebrates opening of Hercules Park

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Children enjoyed playing at the splashpad after the park opened. Photos courtesy of Joe Potter
City Manager William C. “Billy” Poe Jr. talks about the cost to plan, develop and build Hercules Park. Photos courtesy of Joe Potter

ZEPHYRHILLS – The City of Zephyrhills held a grand opening Feb. 13 for its first new community park in 40 years.

Hercules Park is adjacent to Zephyrhills High and Woodland Elementary schools at 38100 County Road 54. 

Entrances to the park are from U.S. 30 (Gall Boulevard) northbound near Culvers and from east- or westbound County Road 54 near Zephyrhills High School. 

Hercules Park features a nature-based playground, splashpad, open play field, restroom, sidewalk around scenic trails, bike trails, picnic areas and enough parking spaces to accommodate 54 vehicles.

It cost $7.6 million to plan, develop and build what City Manager William Poe Jr. called the “showcase park.” Poe said Zephyrhills’ citizens would say, “wow,” after they saw the park and all that it had to offer.

Most of the funding for the park came from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, Poe said.

“I could have never dreamed what I’m seeing today,” Mayor Melonie Bahr Monson said during the grand opening. 

Monson described Hercules Park as a place where families could come together to build stronger bonds; a place where kids could create memories that last a lifetime; and a place where people could gather to commune with nature, to step away from the stresses of the world and to renew and refresh their lives.

“It’s been truly a team effort for all of us to work together,” said James Pankonin, vice president of Kimley-Horn, the company that designed the park. “Without the participation of everyone working together and working as a team we couldn’t really done what we did here.”

Johnny Santos, of Wharton-Smith, emphasized the commitment the company made to build Hercules Park. He said the company put some extra benches into the park so parents would have a place to sit and watch their children play.

Pasco County had previously operated Hercules Aquatic Center where Hercules Park is now located. That facility, including its swimming pool, was closed in 2009 due to budgetary constraints. 

The property’s ownership was then turned over to Pasco County Schools. Zephyrhills obtained control of the 12-acre site in June 2018.

The actual planning for Hercules Park began in late 2022 when Kimley-Horn sat down with city officials and came up with designs that would honor the history of the land.

Hercules Powder Company’s Camp #39 had produced pine oil, resin and turpentine from trees on the site while in business from 1946 to 1962. It was at one time the city’s largest employer with 150 people. 

Several of the employees rented rooms in company-built prefabricated homes on the property. There was also a commissary on the site and Hercules Park Camp #39 even had its own baseball team.

Saint Leo University celebrates opening of nursing floor

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Bella Romeo, a junior nursing student, gives Saint Leo University trustees, donors, county commissioners, health care representatives and other guests a tour of the nursing floor in Benedictine Hall. Photo courtesy of Saint Leo University

 

Kathleen Van Eerden, Ed Narain, Ed Dadez, John Picciano, Dewey Mitchell and Susan Kinsella cut a ceremonial ribbon Feb. 6 for Saint Leo University’s nursing floor. Photo courtesy of Saint Leo University

ST. LEO – Saint Leo University celebrated the grand opening of its new nursing space Feb. 6 on the second floor of Benedictine Hall.

The grand opening featured a ribbon-cutting, prayer, blessing, opening remarks and tours.

“Our repurposed, state-of-the-art simulation and learning space on the second floor of Benedictine Hall continues the caring legacy of the Benedictine Sisters [of Florida] who once resided here [Holy Name Priory, 1960-2014],” said Dr. Kathleen Van Eerden, dean of the College of Health Professions. “The new high-tech nursing classrooms and simulated clinical settings provide immersive learning environments that prepare graduates for safe practice.”

The second floor is devoted to the university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program with 2,158 square feet renovated out of 4,256 square feet, allowing for more spaces to be created and dedicated to health care in the future. 

The second floor includes two conference rooms, two classrooms, five offices, three simulation rooms, one assessment room and one simulation control room.

The simulation rooms are complete with human patient simulators including a child, a pregnant mother and newborn, and an adult model that Saint Leo nursing students use to practice their skills. The  life-size simulators mimic human appearance. They are mechanical and computer-controlled to show symptoms and the way diseases affect a body.

“The simulators have blinking eyes; heart, lung and bowel sounds; pulses; blood pressure; and more,” Van Eerden said. “Faculty can adjust the simulator to mimic various diagnoses and conditions.”

The mom simulator can go into labor, experience difficulties and give birth to the newborn simulator.

Bella Romeo, a junior nursing student, describes the new nursing floor as “home.”

“I feel welcomed and at home here,” Romeo said. “We all come together here, we share ideas and we work as one. This is a no-judgement zone. We know we can make mistakes and learn from them.”

Romeo is interested in becoming a geriatric nurse with the hopes of one day owning a small facility for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

State funding as well as private donations helped build the nursing program and pay for renovation costs as well as equipment, hiring of faculty and staff, and other needs. 

The university recognized the need for nurses and launched the bachelor’s degree program in 2021. It also created the College of Health Professions, which includes the bachelor’s and master’s programs in social work. 

The Florida Legislature designated $740,000 for the nursing program and building in its 2023-24 budget.

Data from the Florida Hospital Association shows Florida is experiencing a shortage of nurses and projects a deficit of about 59,000 by 2035 while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the country will need more than 200,000 registered nurses from now through 2031. 

By the end of its first five years of operation, Saint Leo’s nursing program is expected to add nearly 200 nurses to the workforce.

“Thank you for helping us strengthen the future of health care, one nurse at a time,” University President Ed Dadez said to those gathered for the grand opening.

Saint Leo has introduced measures to help nursing students succeed. 

The university provided free housing to more than 70 students during the fall 2024 semester through its Nursing Housing Award.  An annual financial aid award of $7,680 covers on-campus housing costs. Saint Leo is accepting applications for the Nursing Housing Award for fall 2025. Students must meet eligibility criteria to qualify. 

In spring 2024, Saint Leo University’s nursing program formed a partnership with AdventHealth Zephyrhills, creating a Dedicated Education Unit to train future nurses. Students were paired with a nurse preceptor or mentor from AdventHealth. The students worked side-by-side for 12-hour shifts with their mentors and university nursing instructor Paige Porter.

The DEU program has expanded this year, and Saint Leo nursing students now are assigned to AdventHealth Dade City in addition to AdventHealth Zephyrhills. 

“AdventHealth has such a culture of care, for the employees as well as the patient,” Porter said. “This pairs with the core values of Saint Leo.”

With the opening of the new dedicated nursing space, “Saint Leo is positioned to prepare a new generation of nurses for our region, state and nation,” Van Eerden, the dean said. “With our new contemporary learning space and our program focus on the core values and caring, we know that our Saint Leo nursing graduates will make a difference.”

 

Project Vendors

Vendors who assisted with the project were S3 Design Inc. & Consultants, Cooperative Building Solutions, Sound Interiors Inc., GreenTeam Building Services (Plumbing), A&G Electrical Technologies, Total Building Solutions Inc., Skywatch Signs, Cintas, Prodigy Flooring Inc., Miller Electric Co., and AVI-SPL.

Tax collector’s office spotlights Special Olympics

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Tax Collector Mike Fasano, Special Olympics of Pasco Director Val Lundin, athletes, family members and tax collector staff were all on hand to deliver a check for $9,382.04 to the Special Olympians in April 2024. Photo courtesy of Greg Giordano

NEW PORT RICHEY – Special Olympics of Pasco is the featured charitable giving organization at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office in February. 

Special Olympics of Pasco is a sports and training program for people with intellectual disabilities. In Pasco, 1,500 students participate in Special Olympics. Training in almost two dozen different sports is provided free of charge to participants.

Funds raised in a prior year helped the Pasco team attend the 2022 National Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando. The Pasco County flag football team, the Dolphins, won gold. 

All funds raised during this charitable giving effort will support the improvement of athletic programs for participants, including updating uniforms, and will help offset costs of trips to Special Olympics games.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and everyone in his office,” said Jessica Ott, regional director for Special Olympics Florida. “The tax collector fundraiser helps provide uniforms, equipment and training for our amazing athletes. It also helps provide training for our volunteer coaches who make our work possible. The support for our athletes is truly inspiring, and we’re honored that Tax Collector Mike Fasano and his office has embraced our mission.”

Fasano said Special Olympics of Pasco holds a special place in his heart.

“I’m proud that our staff and our community support this organization that helps bring purpose to so many lives,” Fasano said. “The athletes and the volunteers who work with them are some of the kindest, most positive people I have ever met. So many of the athletes have intellectual challenges that make life difficult. To see the joy on the face of an athlete as they cross the finish line is indescribable. Special Olympics of Pasco provides a respite from the difficulties many face daily. It also provides a place to be with others who also aspire to do their very best.”

Donations can be made at any of the five tax collector locations in Pasco County. 

For those who would like to give online, the tax collector’s office’s charitable giving arm Pasco TC Gives has a webpage through which donations for the Special Olympics of Pasco (Charity of the Month) can be made: https://www.govhub.com/fl-pasco/tc-gives/donate

 

Want to learn more?

  • Contact Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at 727-847-8179 or visit pascotaxes.com for details regarding the charitable giving program or services provided by the tax collector’s office.
  • Contact Amy Selvey, Pasco Special Olympics director, at 727-492-8413 or visit specialolympicsflorida.org/westcoast for details about Special Olympics of Pasco.

 

Tampa Bay Lighting honors dad that saved son’s life

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Derek Stock and his son, Levi, 11, received a signed Andrei Vasilevskiy jersey from AdventHealth. Photo courtesy of AdventHealth
AdventHealth is also providing 100 CPR Anytime Kits for the American Heart Association in Derek Stock’s name. Derek stands with his family. Photo courtesy of AdventHealth

TAMPA – Derek Stock was honored by the Tampa Bay Lightning as an AdventHealth Goal Getter for spreading awareness about the importance of CPR in the community, after he saved the life of his son, Levi.

Levi was struck by lightning 2.5 years ago while boating. 

The family was enjoying an afternoon on their boat but noticed storm clouds off in the distance, so they decided to be proactive and head back in. When they were getting ready to dock, Derek saw his son struck by lightning.

“I saw the strike go through him,” Derek said. “Never forget the moment, it’s the most powerful force I’ve ever felt in my life. It just rocked me back sitting on the little center console boat.”

Derek, who was CPR trained and certified, saved his son’s life.

“I started compressions and CPR immediately, he wasn’t breathing, he wasn’t responding. My wife dialed 911. In that time and it kind of felt like an eternity going through that, but it was only four minutes before the ambulance showed up,” Stock said. “My wife stayed there (at the hospital) and at 2 a.m. she texted me, ‘he said three words,’ so that was a blessing, and a prayer answered.”

AdventHealth was not only the presenting sponsor of Health and Wellness Night but the company also serves as the team’s health and wellness partner. Photo courtesy of AdventHealth

Levi has since made a full recovery.

Since the incident, Stock has made CPR training and education his mission and he continues to work across the Tampa Bay area to share how important it is for people to know how to do it.

“You can watch a lot of videos online and see how CPR is done but I’m so thankful, it was almost like it was second nature,” Stock said. “I really support the goal of the American Heart Association to have one person in each household trained in CPR. There are things where a perfectly healthy person could need CPR and you just don’t want to not be equipped.”

The family received a standing ovation from the crowd of thousands in attendance to see the Lightning play the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 4 at Amalie Arena. Levi was also surprised with an autographed jersey of star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, his favorite player, from AdventHealth.

To further honor Derek, AdventHealth is also providing 100 CPR Anytime Kits for the American Heart Association in his name.

Hundreds of AdventHealth team members and their families came out to the Feb. 4 game, which was designated as Health and Wellness Night.  

 

Pasco County hospitals receive high recognition from Healthgrades

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AdventHealth Wesley Chapel in Pasco County made Healthgrades’ Best list. Photo courtesy of AdventHealth

WESLEY CHAPEL – Pasco County’s AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills have received recognition for clinical excellence from Healthgrades. 

Both AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills are in the West Florida Division of AdventHealth.

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel is on Healthgrades’ America’s 250 Best Hospitals list for the second year in a row and is in the top 10% in the nation for Critical Care. 

Among its accolades, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel was named a Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for the third consecutive year, a Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke for the sixth year in a row, named among the Top 10% in the Nation for Overall Pulmonary Services for the third year in a row, a Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of GI Bleed for the seventh consecutive year.

“There is nothing more important than providing the best medical outcomes for our patients,” said Dr. Robert Rosequist, chief medical officer for AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. “That is why we do what we do, and to be recognized for the hard work of our doctors, nurses, and staff is very special.”

AdventHealth Zephyrhills received accolades for neurosciences, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and critical care. Its honors include being named a Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke for the second year in a row, honored among the Top 10% in the Nation for Overall Pulmonary Services for the third consecutive year, a Five-Star Recipient for Colorectal Surgeries for five years in a row, and it was named among the Top 10% in the Nation for Critical Care for the fourth consecutive year.

“Our community depends on us to deliver quality care in their time of need,” said Dr. Ryan Reed, chief medical officer for AdventHealth Zephyrhills. “All of us at AdventHealth Zephyrhills are proud to provide these life-saving services to our community each and every day.”

Healthgrades helps consumers find and select a hospital that excels in providing the care they need.

As part of its 2025 hospital assessment, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for over 30 of the most common conditions and procedures at 4,500 hospitals nationwide to determine the top performers in specialty care. 

On the web: healthgrades.com 

LEGOLAND Florida Resort has park, hotel upgrades in store

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One of the most popular attractions at LEGOLAND Florida Resort is the Water Park, which is reopening in February with some upgrades. Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND Florida Resort

WINTER HAVEN – LEGOLAND Florida Resort is rolling out new attractions and revamped hotel rooms in 2025.

In 2024, LEGOLAND Florida unveiled a new attraction, LEGO Ferrari Build & Race. Guests can hop into the driver’s seat of a life-size LEGO Ferrari 296 GTS model, made up of 424,000 LEGO elements. 

Families are also inspired to create their own LEGO Ferrari race car in the Build Zone. At several large building stations, children and adults can turn their ideas into reality with all the LEGO bricks possible. 

Ultimately, visitors can head to the Test Zone to race their car against three extreme test tracks, each with different obstacles plus participate in a virtual race by scanning the model they created. For the littlest builders, there’s a DUPLO section specially designed for tiny hands to engage with LEGO fun at their own pace.

LEGOLAND Water Park is making a comeback, bringing families waves of fun with fresh renovations in mid-February. The Joker Soaker and Twin Chasers are getting a vibrant new color scheme as part of its refurbishment. Experience the return of 14 epic slides and the chance to craft your own LEGO raft to float down the lazy river.

SEA LIFE Florida opens this spring at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. This immersive aquarium invites guests to explore vibrant exhibits featuring blacktip reef sharks, moon jelly fish and clownfish.

Highlights include the interactive rock pool, a sunken pirate treasure ship and the main ocean exhibit, a “Theme Park Under the Sea” complete with a coral castle and a sea-inspired Ferris wheel. 

Perfect for families and marine life enthusiasts, SEA LIFE Florida blends education with fun to inspire love for the ocean. Tickets will be launching soon.

 

LEGOLAND Florida Resort offers fun themed hotel rooms for adults and children. Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND Florida Resort

Hotel upgrades

The LEGOLAND Hotel is undergoing a creative refresh, with new room concepts debuting in the spring. 

This revamp will include 20 new themed rooms, designed to immerse families in the LEGO fun. 

Among the refreshed offerings, there will be:

  • Six DUPLO Rooms – Featuring an all-new concept that brings the colorful and creative world of DUPLO to life, designed especially for younger builders.
  • Six LEGO Friends Rooms – Updated with today’s LEGO Friends characters and stories, guests can step into the world of Heartlake City and have the ultimate sleepover inside a LEGO Friends Creative Clubhouse.
  • Eight LEGO NINJAGO Rooms – Newly themed rooms that take families into the action-packed world of NINJAGO, complete with bold designs inspired by Lloyd and his ninja friends.

 

Seasonal Events

All activities below are covered with general park admission.

  • LEGO NINJAGO Weekends (select dates in February) – Families can enjoy high-energy shows, interactive activities and meet LEGO® NINJAGO heroes. Master elemental powers on the Path of the Dragon, join the Thunderfang Scavenger Hunt and fuel up with ninja-inspired treats.
  • World Play Day (June 11) – LEGOLAND Florida Resort is creating a summer surprise. Follow the family theme park on social media for updates and get ready to play.
  • Red, White & BOOM! (July 4) – The summer heats up at LEGOLAND Florida Resort with a star-spangled 4th of July celebration: Red, White & BOOM! Throughout the day, kids of all ages can participate in all-American family picnic games and building activities. At night, the evening fireworks show combines patriotic music with dazzling pyrotechnics.
  • Brick-or-Treat (select dates in September and October) – 

Grab your costumes and get ready to “boo-gie” down! Brick-or-Treat is back and will bewitch LEGOLAND Florida Resort with sweet treats, spellbinding shows, exclusive LEGO characters, and more! LEGOLAND Florida will transform into the ultimate family-friendly Halloween celebration on select dates throughout September and October.

  • Holidays (select dates in November-December) – Jingle all the way to LEGOLAND Florida Resort this holiday season. Live entertainment, twinkling lights and festive cheer await! Families can meet the jolly LEGO Santa, enjoy a series of seasonal activities and embark on bricktastic holiday adventures throughout the resort. Don’t miss the resort’s three-story-tall LEGO Christmas tree – the perfect backdrop for capturing unforgettable family photos.

 

Want to go?

LEGOLAND Florida Resort is offering a $9.99 Bronze Pass Monthly. Enjoy unlimited visits, monthly perks and first-to-sea access to 2025’s newest attractions with a LEGOLAND Florida Annual Bronze Pass. Start the adventure today with a $30 down payment. Guests can also buy single-day tickets or annual passes with or without a hotel stay. 

MOSI’s Nikon Small World exhibit offers unique perspective 

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Nikon Small World is not just an exploration of science, but also a celebration of art. People with an interest in science and photography will get something from the exhibit. Shown are octopus eggs. Photo courtesy of Nikon Small Summer

TAMPA – Discover a hidden world of beauty and science at the Nikon Small World exhibit, which opened Jan. 18 at MOSI, Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry. 

This temporary exhibit celebrates “microphotography,” showcasing award-winning photos of creatures and objects that are tiny or microscopic blown up to larger-than-life size.

The exhibit will highlight the winners of the 50th Nikon Small World competition, offering guests a chance to peer into the ultra-tiny universe that surrounds us. From the intricate details of slime mold to the mesmerizing patterns of octopus eggs, each image captures a unique and awe-inspiring aspect of the microscopic world.

“This is science and art, coming together, to create absolutely extraordinary images,” MOSI CEO John Graydon Smith said. “There is beauty all around us, but it’s in a microscopic world that’s normally beyond our sight. Nikon Small World captures the best of this unseen art and takes us literally 100 times closer so we can connect with it for the first time.”

These images will be presented at a scale that allows you to see every detail, offering a new perspective on the things we can’t normally observe with the naked eye. 

The exhibit includes a variety of subjects – from the beauty of brain cells (the first-place winner at 100-times magnification) to the peculiar intricacies of algae and insects.

The Nikon Small World exhibit is included with MOSI admission and will be on display at MOSI in North Tampa through March 8. 

Black Love series celebrates superheroes of ‘Black nerd’ culture

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TAMPA – Tampa Theatre’s Black Love classics series will explore “blerds.” Shorthand for “Black nerds,” blerd culture celebrates those heroes – both super and everyday – who stir the imagination and spark creativity. 

This year’s series, presented by Tampa Electric, reflects Tampa Theatre’s commitment to representation and the magic of the movies with “Rise of the Blerds” every Sunday in February:

“Movies have the unique ability to turn an intimately personal story into a shared experience,” said John Bell, Tampa Theatre president and CEO. “Watching a movie as a group with other members of your community invites conversation. It gives us the space to compare our own experiences with what we see on the screen and find those emotions that connect us as human beings.”

Tickets for the Black Love classics series cost $10 ($7 for Tampa Theatre members) and are available at the historic Franklin Street Box Office and online at www.TampaTheatre.org.

 

Black Panther (2018)                            

2h 14m / PG-13 / Superhero
3 pm Feb. 2 

The groundbreaking Marvel movie follows T’Challa, the newly crowned king of Wakanda, as he faces challenges to his throne and must protect his nation from external threats. The OSCAR-winning film is celebrated for its rich cultural representation, visuals and performances, particularly by Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa.

Guests are invited to dress as their favorite superheroes for photo opportunities and an on-stage costume parade hosted by Tampa-based nerd-core rapper Swell Rell before the film. While the film celebrates fictional superheroes, guests are invited to come meet the real superheroes in our community with a family-friendly “Touch A Truck” event on Franklin Street from 2 to 3 p.m. featuring first responders, TECO line trucks and others who aided the clean-up efforts after the October hurricanes.

Fast Color (2018)                                   

1h 40m / PG-13 / Sci-Fi, Drama
3 p.m. Feb. 9

This superhero drama, directed by Julia Hart, follows Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a woman with supernatural abilities. When Ruth’s powers are discovered, she is forced to go on the run, leading her back to her estranged family.

Guests are invited to come early (2 p.m.) to meet some of Tampa’s blerd community and join in a conversation about centuries-old stereotypes, pop culture and claiming their space.

 

Nope (2022)                                              

2h 10m / R / Supernatural Horror
3 p.m. Feb. 16

Siblings OJ and Emerald Haywood encounter a mysterious UFO on their horse ranch in California. As they attempt to capture footage of the phenomenon, they uncover unsettling truths and face terrifying challenges. Writer/Director Jordan Peele (“Get Out,” “Us”) blends elements of horror, suspense and social commentary.
Guests are encouraged to stay after the film for a deep-dive discussion into Peele’s storytelling and directorial choices.

Hidden Figures (2016)                          

2h 7m / PG / Biography

3 p.m. Feb. 23

Based on a true story, “Hidden Figures” is the story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson: three Black women whose mathematical expertise at NASA played a crucial role in the success of early space missions. Despite facing racial and gender discrimination, their brilliance and determination helped break barriers and pave the way for future generations.

Guests are encouraged to stay after the film for a panel discussion featuring local Black women who are making waves in STEM-based careers.

Vendors to get a taste of entrepreneurship at food fair

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Action from last year’s food vendor fair. Photo courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council

DADE CITY – UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County and Pasco Economic Development Council present the fifth annual SMARTstart Food Vendor Fair on Jan. 16.

The event aims to support current food entrepreneurs’ businesses. Organizers say this is a great opportunity to buy food and arrange event catering or gifts.

“The SMARTstart Food Vendor Fair has been a great way for the community to come together and support local food entrepreneurs,” shared Dan Mitchell, SMARTstart program director. “Over the past five years, we’ve seen some amazing businesses get their start and grow through this event. It’s always exciting to see the creativity and passion these vendors bring to the table, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store this year.”

The East Pasco Incubator Kitchen features a commercial incubator kitchen where budding food entrepreneurs can produce food in a licensed commercial kitchen and then use the packaging and labeling station to create nutrition fact labels for their products. Members also get access to business coaching through the SMARTstart Program.

This center is co-located with UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County and features a community garden where SMARTstart members can grow their own ingredients.

Participating SMARTstart Incubator members include:

  • A Whole Lotta Nadas – Empanadas with a twist on familiar flavors.
  • Bee Ready 4 Anything LLC –  All your bee needs, including honey.
  • Blue Crow Espresso – Espresso from a mobile coffee bike.
  • Hey Mon Caribbean Cooking Magic – Fresh sauces and seasonings to spice up meals.
  • Kreyolli Flavors, LLC – Healthy spices, herbs, and seasonings.
  • Lett’s Kitchen – Home-cooked meals with a touch of soul and flavor.
  • Son’ni Boi & Petal, Inc – Sweet treats, such as Signature Cashew Brittle, for events, parties or gatherings.
  • The Bean Buggy – A stagecoach serving espresso, desserts and craft drinks across northern Tampa.

 

Want to go?

SMARTstart Food Vendor Fair takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at the SMARTstart East Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 15029 14th St., Dade City. Admission and parking are free. Item prices will vary.