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TAMPA – A couple celebrating a delayed honeymoon in Montego Bay, Jamaica, was evacuated with about 340 Americans Oct. 31 by Grey Bull Rescue, a veteran-led operation out of Tampa.

The couple survived the Category 5 Hurricane Melissa with winds in excess of 185 miles per hour by sheltering in the shower of their room at the hotel resort.

Carissa Lefley-McCauley and David McCauley, of Charlotte, arrived in Jamaica on Oct. 21 planning to enjoy some special time away together as a young, married couple – a time that had been interrupted for more than a year after their wedding vows on June 10, 2023. 

The couple’s honeymoon phase was cut short when Lefley-McCauley lost her ability to walk when her original spinal cord stimulator failed and it was forced to be surgically extracted shortly after their wedding. Lefley-McCauley has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a debilitating connective tissue disorder that affects joints, muscles, skin and blood vessels. 

It would take 12 months for McCauley, who works for the City of Charlotte, to shift roles into a caregiver; and for the couple to battle red tape to receive a new stimulator in May 2024.

The McCauleys were trying to make the most of their five-day, all-inclusive honeymoon trip to Montego Bay when their plans changed drastically and concern for Lefley-McCauley’s medical condition began to grow along with the approaching storm. They worried a prolonged power outage may interfere with the charging of her spinal cord device, making it difficult, if not impossible to walk.

Predictions as to the path of the hurricane were vague and based on past movement of other Caribbean storms. Many local sources and reports expected Melissa to turn north and move away from their small island. At that time, there was not a sense of urgency. Some of the catamaran excursions were canceled earlier in the week due to choppy waters but other guest activities continued up until Oct. 25.

When the couple received notice that their flight was canceled on Oct. 24, they, along with the 25,000 other visitors on the island, were left scrambling trying every option to re-book and get off the island.

“It was definitely not our choice to stay or be stranded as we’ve seen posted on social media,” McCauley said. “It was very misleading that some flights that were listed as available, were actually not even physically in Jamaica. They had been rerouted earlier but were still showing up on airline websites as departing outbound.”

Hopes of leaving early, however, faded Oct. 24 when the last two flights left the island for Toronto, Canada and London, England. All incoming flights were diverted. When the official hurricane warning was issued for Jamaica on Oct. 26, the airport officially closed.

McCauley said the couple took every precaution, completing all forms for the U.S. Embassy and ensuring Carissa had enough medications to ride out the storm.

“The sound was unimaginable as Melissa slammed into us on late Tuesday morning. It was so loud that it felt like my ears were splitting,” Lefley-McCauley described as they tried to keep calm on the shower floor. “We had the mattresses and furniture barricaded against the balcony sliding-glass doors and windows. We could see the frames and walls actually being sucked in and out with the gusts.”

The couple was able to notify family and friends on Oct. 29, in spite of no electricity, spotty cellular service and off-and-on again WiFi. The McCauleys described themselves as being safe but shaken. They, along with tourists from other countries, all faced yet another epic challenge as Jamaica began to assess the devastation. McCauley said they could see from the resort that the Sangster International Airport was severely damaged.

“The reality being in a foreign country and getting all of people like ourselves out before the hurricane made landfall was impossible no matter what people may think,” McCauley said. 

The Grey Bull Rescue team mobilized a complex rescue mission that landed in Jamaica on Oct. 29. They gathered approximately 340 Americans who were stranded at nearby resorts, used five buses to transport them from Montego Bay to Kingston, and finally chartered two aircraft.

The first aircraft carried about 170 passengers and the second one, carrying another 170 passengers, off the island for Tampa. Both flights arrived close to midnight Oct. 31.  

Grey Bull Rescue is a nonprofit that is experienced in mobilizing rescue missions around the world.

“Arriving in Charlotte Saturday morning, our hearts are with the Jamaicans whose lives and homes were lost so violently,” Lefley-McCauley added. “David and I had shelter, some communication and enough electrical power that enabled me to walk away stronger from the experience.”

 

TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned teamwork on the field into life-changing impact in their community Nov. 18 by donning hard hats with Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsborough to build two new affordable, hurricane-resilient homes for Brandon families in need.

For Habitat’s third annual Holiday Home Build with the Bucs, rookie cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish kicked off the first volunteer shift that morning, with veteran players defensive lineman CJ Brewer, offensive lineman Lorenz Metz, safety Rashad Wisdom and tight end Devin Culp continuing construction into the afternoon.  

Rolling up their sleeves alongside the players were Buccaneers staff, members of the Player Community Impact Board, season ticket holders known as the Krewe and future homeowners themselves. 

“Tampa Bay’s team has always believed deeply in our community,” said Kourtney Sanchez, chief impact officer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “We’re proud to partner with Habitat of Tampa Bay Hillsborough to make a real and lasting impact for these families who deserve safe, stable homes.”

Future homeowner Raul Johnson, who works in food service, said without Habitat and the continued community spirit of the Bucs, there was little chance his family would have ever seen their dream of homeownership come true. 

“Thank you for volunteering to make someone else’s life better,” Johnson said.  

Nichol Faber, a financial counselor, said the new home will mean peace and stability for her three children. 

“I will forever be grateful,” Faber said.

The new homes are part of the Windhorst Commons community in Brandon, a Habitat neighborhood with 23 hurricane-resilient homes.  

 

TAMPA – The Cowboy Boots & Community Roots Helping Hands Happy Hour, hosted by the Centre Club in Tampa, recently raised $8,151 for Better Together.

The western-themed event on Oct. 9 brought together community supporters and Centre Club members to learn about Better Together’s mission and how the nonprofit provides a safety net to help families in need. The evening consisted of cocktails, games and prize drawings.

Better Together works to prevent the need for foster care by building strong families and communities. When a parent needs support due to homelessness, a medical emergency or other crisis, Better Together volunteer host families provide a safe, loving home for the children short-term, while staff and mentors empower the parents to secure employment, housing and other needs. 

Because job loss is at the root of most family crises, Better Together’s workforce program provides opportunities for all job seekers through relational job fairs and volunteer job coaches.

“If you had a medical emergency right this minute and you opened your phone’s contact list, is there one person that you could call that would drop everything?” asked Isis LaRose, vice president of strategic partnerships and market development. “All of us have emergencies, but not all of us have someone to call. The heart of our mission is to help families build that support network so that they can thrive well into the future.”

To date, Better Together has served more than 15,000 children, and 98% of children served through mentoring and hosting remain out of the foster care system. 

The nonprofit has also connected more than 46,000 job seekers to employment opportunities through church-based job fairs across 24 states.

On the web: BetterTogetherUS.org

 

Woman’s club serves Sunrise

LAND O’ LAKES – The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club held a bunco and luncheon fundraiser to help support  Sunrise of Pasco County, a shelter for women and children victims of domestic and sexual violence.  

Club members also filled up the Sunrise representatives’ vehicle with supplies for the women and children at the shelter.  

Tamika Thomas Simpson, of the GFWC Plant City Woman’s Club, served as the guest speaker.  Visit gfwclutzlandolakeswomansclub.org to learn more about the club. 

 

Keep Pasco Beautiful collects 25-plus tons of trash

PASCO COUNTY – More than 1,100 volunteers rolled up their sleeves for the annual Keep Pasco Beautiful Cleanup in September.

According to the county, 1,170 volunteers cleared 51,320 pounds of litter from 52 locations in Pasco County, including roadsides, parks and waterways. The effort logged 3,499.25 volunteer hours, generating a cost-benefit of $121,738.90.

“Believe it or not, nearly 80% of the trash in our waterways actually starts on land,” Keep Pasco Beautiful President Alicia Hacker said. “When our volunteers collected around 25 tons of litter, they weren’t just tidying up. They were preventing all that debris from flowing through rivers and storm drains straight into the Gulf.  That kind of impact is huge.”

This annual event is part of the International Coastal Cleanup coordinated by Ocean Conservancy.  

On the web: KeepPascoBeautiful.org.

 

Wesley Chapel establishing an Elks Lodge

WESLEY CHAPEL – Wesley Chapel made a major advance toward establishing an Elks Lodge when more than 134 potential members signed the petition for a Dispensation to Institute the Lodge.

The action was taken during a meeting held Oct. 1 in the Harley-Davidson of Wesley Chapel meeting room. The petition has been forwarded to the Florida State Central District Deputy and the Florida State Elks Association’s State Sponsor. After review and approval, it will be submitted to the Grand Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks for final approval, according to Jerry Bianchi, chairman of the organization committee.

Those who signed the petition included residents from Wesley Chapel, Land O’Lakes, Lutz and New Tampa. Once the dispensation is received, a date, time and location will be scheduled for the institution of the lodge.

Bianchi explained that everyone initiated at the time of the Institution will hold charter membership. He said membership rolls will stay open until then and meetings will continue to be held regularly to process membership applications.

The organizing committee voted to set the application/initiation fee at $25. The annual dues will be determined once the lodge’s by-laws are developed and approved. It was also announced that the new lodge will be officially sponsored by St. Petersburg Lodge No. 1224.

 

 

ZEPHYRHILLS – A new art initiative is taking shape in Zephyrhills, aiming to capture the city’s beauty and highlight its place within Pasco County’s cultural story. 

The Zephyrhills Art Heritage Project, led by local artist Abraham Albadawi, will feature two Impressionist-style oil paintings celebrating the city’s spirit. 

The first, “Pure Water,” reflects the calm of Zephyrhills’ natural springs, while the second, “Founders’ Day, Zephyrhills,” portrays the color and energy of the city’s annual heritage festival. 

The works are intended to serve as lasting tributes to Zephyrhills’ sense of place and pride. Albadawi said the goal is to keep local artistry visible and to show how creativity can help preserve the city’s story within the wider cultural landscape of Pasco County.

After showing early digital versions around the Historic District, Albadawi said the feedback was encouraging. “One person said it was refreshing to see something that truly represents Zephyrhills,” he said. “Another hoped the paintings would be displayed in a public space so everyone could enjoy them, and some mentioned they’d love to see familiar landmarks like the train depot or veterans park included in future works.”

Discussions with local organizations and community leaders are underway. Full oil versions are expected to be completed later this year.

“People care deeply about how their city is represented,” Albadawi said. “That kind of engagement shows how much pride Zephyrhills has in its story.” 

 

WESLEY CHAPEL – VantagePoint AI, LLC is expanding its footprint in Pasco County.

The trading software company specializes in artificial intelligence-driven financial market forecasting. 

VantagePoint is investing over $4.6 million in land acquisition, building renovations and equipment/technology infrastructure. It will begin renovations on its new location in Wesley Chapel in January 2026. 

Over the next three years, the company will hire 60 new full-time positions, more than doubling its current team of 51 employees.

“We’re thrilled to see VantagePoint AI continue to grow and invest right here in Pasco County,” said Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council. “Their expansion not only reinforces our region’s reputation as a hub for innovation and technology, but it also highlights how Pasco County companies are at the forefront of artificial intelligence. VantagePoint’s continued commitment to our community will bring high-quality jobs, cutting-edge technology advancements, and lasting economic impact to the area.”

The company was founded in 1979 by Louis B. Mendelsohn, a technical analyst and trading software pioneer, and has been headquartered in Wesley Chapel since 1987. 

VantagePoint was the first company to make commercially available AI-based trading software accessible to retail investors. It now serves over 160 countries globally.

The company is committed to giving back to the community by making quarterly charitable contributions to local nonprofits as part of its culture of accountability and community investment.

“After 38 years in this community, we’re more invested than ever in Pasco County’s future and ours is intertwined with it,” said Lane Mendelsohn, president of VantagePoint AI. “VantagePoint AI is experiencing growth, and we’re committed to ensuring that growth benefits Pasco County. With support from the Pasco EDC, we’re expanding our facilities and creating new opportunities for local talent.”

On Nov. 12, the Pasco Board of County Commissioners approved an economic incentive agreement which includes a job creation incentive for up to $240,000 for 60 new to Pasco County full-time jobs with salaries equal to or greater than 150% of the 2025 Pasco County average annual wage. 

The agreement includes a high impact job creation bonus not to exceed $61,047 over a 10-year period and discretionary training funds up to $30,000, which help to reimburse employers for training and upskilling their employees.

“Pasco County is proud to provide these types of economic incentives that support job creation and grow our property tax base,” Commissioner Seth Weightman said. “This agreement will help VantagePoint AI expand its economic footprint in Pasco through capital investment, high-paying, full-time jobs and a significant return on investment. I’m happy to support a local, family-owned business that’s such a great example of entrepreneurial heritage here in our business community.”

TAMPA – Hillsborough County’s Duffels of Dignity program is marking three years of providing hope, comfort and dignity to local children in the foster care system.

Launched in October 2022, Duffels of Dignity began as a simple idea: to replace the trash bags that many children in foster care use to carry their belongings with duffel bags filled with essential hygiene items and personal care products. Since then, the program has distributed thousands of duffel bags across Hillsborough County.

Since launching, Duffels of Dignity has collected 5,587 duffel bags and suitcases and helped thousands of children in foster care and those experiencing trauma.  

October also marked a record-breaking month for Duffels of Dignity:

• During the 2025 International City/County Management Association Conference in Tampa, Duffels of Dignity was selected as the official service project. Thanks to a generous donation from Tampa Electric, volunteers filled more than 300 duffels with personal hygiene items for local foster youth.
• Compassion met craftsmanship when The Sewing Group at Arise Church in Brandon dedicated weeks to creating and donating 25 handmade quilts. These quilts will be distributed to children entering foster care.
• Multiple duffels filled with personal care items were picked up by the local nonprofit Madi’s Movement and distributed to young adults ages 16 to 25 who are aging out of the foster care system.  

What started as a county initiative led by the children’s services department has evolved into a collaboration among public agencies, faith-based organizations and residents. The program’s success is driven by volunteers who fill the bags, businesses that provide supplies and donors who help ensure every child receives the same message of dignity and hope.

Community members and organizations interested in supporting Duffels of Dignity can learn more at HCFL.gov/DuffelsOfDignity. Donations of new or gently duffel bags and personal care items are always welcome.

WESLEY CHAPEL – Sarasota-based neighborhood hangout Food + Beer is heading north with its eighth location and first in Pasco County opening the week of Nov. 10 at 25026 Wesley Chapel Blvd.

The new restaurant will seat 150 guests and feature an outdoor patio and a TV wall.

Just like every Food + Beer, the kitchen is scratch-made, serving food until 1 a.m. (or later). 

Guests can dig into house staples like fresh-cut fries, hand-breaded boneless nuggets, specialty burgers and the Korean Beef Bowl, alongside creative comfort food with a twist like Red Velvet Chicken & Waffles during brunch or Crab Rangoon Mozzarella Sticks that hit all the right notes. 

Food + Beer offers daily lunch specials starting at $8, plus a lineup of weekly events and deals, including Burger Monday, Taco Tuesday, Trivia Wednesday, 89¢ Wing Thursday and Weekend Brunch. 

The team keeps things fresh by rolling out a seasonal menu four times a year, spotlighting new, scratch-made dishes and limited-time cocktails, paired with a signature cocktail list and a rotating selection of local beers. 

Food + Beer’s story started back in the early 2000s, when co-founders Mike Whalen and Casey Daniels first crossed paths working in restaurants. Mike was a server. Casey was a kitchen manager. 

What began as a solid working relationship turned into a real friendship and eventually a shared dream: to create a place that serves good, scratch-made food in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. 

In 2018, they brought that vision to life in Sarasota’s Gulf Gate neighborhood. The brand is now expanding across the Gulf Coast with more locations on the way, including Ellenton and West Tampa coming in 2026.

 

Want to know more?

Stay tuned for updates, events and new openings at foodandbeer.com or on social @foodand.beer. 

 

LAND O’ LAKES – Land O’ Lakes resident Chris Garrido has released a book, “Fit by 50: My Yearlong Journey from Death to Life,” that explains how he transformed his health, mindset and faith to lose 130 pounds in one year.

A year before his 50th birthday, Garrido found himself at his lowest point. He was 440 pounds, exhausted and fearful for his future. 

With the support of his family, his faith and a commitment to change, he began a journey that would not only restore his body but also renew his purpose and spirit. 

“I called it ‘Fit by 50,’ but this wasn’t just about getting in shape,” said Garrido. “It was about coming back to life – physically, mentally and spiritually. I wanted to prove that no matter how far gone you think you are, there’s always hope. You’re not done yet.” 

The journey wasn’t glamorous. It was filled with setbacks, exhaustion, self-doubt and moments of pain that tested him. But with faith as his foundation and family as his motivation, Garrido pressed forward. 

As Garrido began sharing his progress publicly, something unexpected happened. His story began to spread beyond the gym. Messages started pouring in from people across the country who said they were inspired by his transformation and his honesty about the struggle. 

“That’s really where the idea for the book was born,” Garrido said. “The response has been overwhelming and humbling. I’ve had to learn to be OK with inspiring people in the very area I’ve failed at most of my life. But that’s where the redemption is – using your lowest moments to lift someone else up.” 

“Fit by 50” offers readers a look at how consistent actions guided by discipline, purpose and grace can lead to radical transformation. 

The book is available in paperback on Amazon (https://a.co/d/4ZeNDp7). Follow Garrido’s journey on social media at instagram.com/chrisgarrido_fit50.