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Church leader seeks to start first ministry in Forest Hills

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FOREST HILLS - For Keith Babb III, the opening of the Way Church of Tampa Bay, represents the fulfillment of a calling.

When Babb, 35, rededicated himself to Christ in 2005, he committed to sharing the Gospel in underserved communities.

For more than a decade, he volunteered assisting youth and families in East Hillsborough. He earned a Bachelor's in social work from the University of South Florida and a Masters of Disciples Ministries from Liberty University. He became a licensed minister in 2011.

Babb knew he wanted to lead a church. He waited for God to reveal to him the when and where, he says. He drove around Tampa Bay looking for a community in need. His search led to the Forest Hills area.

The Way Church will launch with a Family Fun Day at 11 a.m. on Saturday (Jan. 13) and its first official service at 10:45 a.m. Sunday (Jan. 14) at 12703 N Florida Ave.

I spoke to Babb about his vision for the church and the Forest Hills neighborhood.

You spent the last year planning the church opening. Can you tell me about the process?

We have been evangelizing and doing community outreach. We hosted pre-launch services and family events. We started meeting at a hotel but then I was driving one day, it was like 10:45 a.m., and I drove by Faith Lutheran Church. I saw there was nobody there so I reached out to the pastor. It turned out they do their services earlier so we partnered together. We are sharing the space. We have our own ministry and leadership. But we are also going to be working together on community outreach. They, like us, do work with Miles Elementary. They have a community garden and we want to become involved with that so people in the area can grow fresh produce.

What inspired your work with Miles Elementary?

One day I was driving I-275 and my eyes shifted toward Miles. I went and talked to the principal and assistant principal about the school's needs. I realized the area was a great place to start a ministry. We want to provide families and kids with services they need.

What are your goals for the Way Church in 2018?

We want to be a church the reaches outside its four walls. Our three pillars are evangelism, education and empowerment. We are going to have every 5th Sunday where we go out into the community instead of hosting a service. Whether we visit local nursing homes or nearby apartments, we don't want people to just come to church, we want people to become the church. A church is not a building. It's the people.

What do you see as the biggest challenge of starting a church today?

For me, speaking from an African-American perspective, the biggest challenge is planting a church in the hurting African-American community. A lot of people have become disheartened with the church, especially the African-American Church, because many think it has come to focus on money and putting pastors on pedestals. I am interested in restoring the respect once held for the African-American Church.

At events and pre-launch services, has attendance been promising?

It's gone really well. We had events at Palm Square Apartments. We reached out to the management and the residents came out. Between kids and adults, it's been about 175 people each time. We give out free food and clothing. At our first pre-launch service we had about 80 people. We have had between 45 and 60 at services since then. It's important to us to be a community church. We don't want to be the world's church or even the city's church. We want people to be able to walk to church. We are here for Forest Hills.

For more information, visit waytampabay.org.

Contact Sarah Whitman at sarahrothwhitman@gmail.com.


Howard Altman: Gasparilla to honor first female four-star general

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The military's first female four-star general will serve as the Community Hero for the 2018 Gasparilla Pirate Fest.

The Community Hero is an individual living in the Tampa Bay area who offers courage, strength and self-sacrifice in the service of others, according to event organizers. Ann Dunwoody was the military's first female four-star general.

She joined the Army in 1974, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Women's Army Corps in 1975, according to the Army. Her first assignment was as supply platoon leader, 226th Maintenance Company (Forward, Direct Support), 100th Supply and Services Battalion (Direct Support), Fort Sill, Okla. She later served at every level of command.

She earned her fourth star in 2008.

"Ann is a leader who lived our Army values, who always led from the front, who dedicated herself to the profession of arms," said Ray Odierno, at the time an Army four-star general and chief of staff, during Dunwoody's retirement in August 2012. "In my mind, Ann Dunwoody is the epitome of the Army professional."

"Her true legacy and reward will be the thousands of soldiers and civilians whose lives she has touched through the span of her career," Odierno said then.

Dunwoody last served as commander of the Army Materiel Command, or AMC, one of the largest commands in the Army. The command employs more than 69,000 people across all 50 states and 145 countries.

"It was Ann's most recent role, as commander of the AMC, in which she unified global logistics in a way (that has never) been done," Odierno said. "She capitalized AMC's fundamental logistics functions to maximize the efficiency and services they provided of supply, maintenance, contact support, research and development, base and installation support, and deployment and distribution."

Dunwoody, the fourth generation of her family to serve in the Army, also encountered male supervisors who were not pleased that a woman was climbing with such perseverance.

After retiring, Dunwoody wrote A Higher Standard, which chronicles her life and career. She tells stories of fellow military leaders - men and women - who inspired and mentored her. She does not gloss over the challenges she faced in such a male-dominated institution.

Though a memoir, the book is very much a manual for business leaders. Dunwoody offers a variety of advice, from how to not let people slide to embracing diversity.

"We're grateful and humbled by General Dunwoody," said president Joe Lupo of Seminole Hard Rock Tampa, Gasparilla Pirate Fest sponsor, "and what she has accomplished not only in our community, but also in our country."

Dunwoody, in a news release, said, "This is a wonderful partnership between Seminole Hard Rock Tampa, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and EventFest, Inc. that supports the City of Tampa and the beautiful community that we live in. I'm genuinely thrilled to be part of the team."

The 2018 Gasparilla Pirate Fest is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 27, and will feature the historic Gasparilla Invasion, the Parade of the Pirates presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, and the Gasparilla Pirate Fest Street Festival presented by Budweiser.

•••

The Pentagon last week announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.

Spc. Javion Shavonte Sullivan, 24, of Fort Mill, S.C., died Jan. 8 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, from a non-combat related incident. Sullivan was assigned to the 16th Signal Company, 11th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. The incident is under investigation.

There have been 2,347 U.S. troop deaths in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; 49 U.S. troop deaths and one civilian Department of Defense employee death in support of the followup, Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan; 43 troop deaths and two civilian deaths in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the fight against the Islamic State; one troop death in support of Operation Odyssey Lightning, the fight against Islamic State in Libya; one death classified as other contingency operations in the global war on terrorism; and four deaths in ongoing operations in Africa where, if they have a title, officials will not divulge it.

Contact Howard Altman at haltman@tampabay.com or (813) 225-3112. Follow @haltman

Editorial: Welcome steps toward cracking down on dangerous teen parties

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Getting to the bottom of the shootings that left two people dead after a New Year's Day teen party, one a 15-year-old girl, is the job of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Investigators so far have said that the two security guards who fired the fatal shots feared for their lives.

But the job of discouraging the opportunity for such a tragedy to unfold falls to the Hillsborough County Commission, whose members Thursday signalled they'll take a welcome fresh look at ordinances designed to protect the safety of young people.

Whether any law could have prevented these particular deaths can never be known. Investigators say that in a search of the car occupied by the two victims, they found two handguns that had just been fired. But this incident joins a sad litany of reminders that the potential for danger is high when people get large numbers of teens together to party.

In 2010, a high school graduation party at an event venue in Brandon ended in tragedy when the 70 invited guests ballooned to 300 - some from rival high schools - and a fistfight quickly turned into a shootout. One graduate was fatally shot and another was arrested on murder charges.

Teens hold no monopoly on the potential for danger posed by large, unregulated parties. The same security firm that employed the two guards in the New Year's Day shooting is facing two lawsuits in connection with violence that erupted at adult clubs where it had been hired.

But County Commissioner Ken Hagan spoke for many parents at Thursday's commission meeting when he indicated that the dangers teens face warrant special consideration: "Having a 15-year-old 10th-grader," Hagan said, "you can imagine this issue concerns me."

Commissioner Sandy Murman suggested working with the city of Tampa to deal with this through uniform ordinances.

The commissioners were responding to a story by staff writer Anastasia Dawson of the Tampa Bay Times pointing out differences in city and county ordinances that apply to large gatherings of teens.

In the city of Tampa, for example, event permits must be designated as "juvenile," with no one 18 or older allowed entry, or "adult," no one 17 or younger allowed, while Hillsborough County requires no separation. The city also requires hiring off-duty law enforcement officers - the county, only security guards.

The promoters of the New Year's Day event violated existing zoning and event ordinances, county officials say, so it is clear that enforcement needs attention as well as getting the right laws are on the books. One challenge is the fleeting nature of one-night, pop-up gatherings such as this one - advertised and over with before anyone has a chance to check on them.

Going forward, it's important to hone in on what's reasonable and effective. Teens, of course, have always enjoyed independence and one another's company. They will gather, and they will party, to ends that are sometimes rewarding and sometimes devastating. Their parents are ultimately responsible for their actions.

Where public policy enters the picture, in part, is dealing with those who would grow and regionalize teen parties to a commercial level - sometimes teens themselves, but especially promoters and landowners who would profit from them.

A visit to the scene of the New Years's Day party is an argument for following up on the commissioners' suggestions to do something.

It's in a cramped, gritty, rundown neighborhood on a skinny, two-lane street ill-suited for the residential area that runs along one side let alone the industrial uses on the other. The dingy event hall is tightly surrounded by storage units with roll-up doors housing various repair shops.

Yet some 200 teens paid $10 each to welcome 2018 here with a "New Year's Teen Pajama Jam," drawn through Facebook groups like "Tampa Teen Clubs" and "Tampa Talent" with glitzy promotions that belie the grim reality.

"Dub D Dance Hall" is what promoters called the place.

This venue's days as a party hall may be over. But let's hope that heading off its successors won't require more people to die.

Excellence in Education: Hillsborough school district celebrates best

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Teacher of the Year

Bonnie Bresnyan

Lewis Elementary

Bresnyan has taught for 31 years, 20 of those in Hillsborough County, and currently serves Lewis as an ESE specialist. Her accomplishments include National Board Certification, 2006-07 Ida S. Baker Distinguished Educator of the Year finalist and 2002-03 Teacher of the Year - Shaw Elementary/District Finalist. Bresnyan also trains for the district, mentors new teachers at the University of South Florida and teaches Sunday School. Her student escort will be former student David Soto.

Jennifer Jackson

Stewart Middle

A seventh grade science teacher, Jackson has taught in the district for the past five years. Some of her proudest accomplishments include working as a teacher research fellow at Northwestern University and the University of Massachusetts. For the past three years, she has led a service learning project that requires maintaining student created libraries in local community barbershops. Her student escort is Alief Radava, an eighth grader at Stewart.

Lisabeth Leist

Steinbrenner High

Leist, a math teacher at Steinbrenner, has worked in the district for five years. She strives to help other teachers incorporate technology, promoting a growth mindset, and engaging the broader professional learning community. She is most motivated by helping her students achieve their potential. Leist is married, with three children who attend Steinbrenner. Her student escort will be Skyler Anderson, a sophomore at Steinbrenner.

Nicole Meyerson

Carrollwood Elementary

Meyerson, a fifth-grade teacher at Carrollwood, has taught in Hillsborough County for the past 11 years. Last year, Meyerson was named one of the top 500 highly qualified teachers in the state of Florida by the Department of Education. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree at the University of Tampa in Educational Leadership. Her student escort will be Steven Vargo, a fifth grader at Carrollwood Elementary.

e_SClBAlexa Trafficante

Gorrie Elementary

Alexa Trafficante, a Tampa native, has worked in the school district for five years and currently teaches fourth grade at Gorrie. She's served as a team-leader, Social Studies Lead, Mentorship Program Chair and Sunshine Committee Chair during that time. She's also been recognized as a High Impact Teacher by the State of Florida. Her student escort will be Sadie Pierce, a fifth grader at Gorrie.

e_SClBIda S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year

Christine T. Campbell

Van Buren Middle

Campbell, a U.S. Army veteran, has served the school district as a social worker for the last seven years. She started an on-site Community Clothing Closet and has established community partners to provide students with school supplies and holiday food assistance. She also encourages student attendance through motivational groups. She also is co-creator of a pilot program called Social Work Attendance Team (S.W.A.T.). Her student escort will be Ja'ri Gray, a sixth grader at Van Buren.

Jonathan Collier

Spoto High School

After teaching middle school for three years, Collier joined the school district in 2014 and now serves as an exceptional student educator at Spoto. He founded the school's Special Olympics program. The Riverview High graduate strives to create opportunities to help students build character, find academic success, and prepare them for life after high school. His student escort will be Amanda Pagan, a senior at Spoto.

e_SClBAlicia Fojaco

Sessums Elementary

Fojaco, an ESE specialist at Sessums, has worked in the district for seven years. She's a strong advocate for all students. The Hillsborough High graduate works to teach students, staff and the community how to embrace differences. In her free time, she enjoys spending time on the soccer field with her husband and two children. Her student escort will be Loudan Torrez, a fifth grader at Sessums.

e_SClBMeredith Mullin

Lockhart Elementary Magnet

Mullen, a New Jersey native, serves Lockhart as a writing resource teacher. She takes pride in the relationships she builds and maintains with Lockhart's students and families. Mullen works closely with Where Love Grows, a nonprofit whose mission is to combat childhood hunger. When she is not working or giving back in the community, she is writing curriculum for Tembo, a social enterprise that educates children 0-6 via text message. Her student escort will be Ki'yrra Polite, a fifth grader at Lockhart.

Instructional Support Employee of the Year

Cindy Nunez

Claywell Elementary

Nunez, a Tampa native, has worked for the school district for 32 years, having spent the last 25 years as a kindergarten assistant at Claywell Elementary. Cindy works with kindergarten classes, inclusion classes, and bilingual students. Nunez has been nominated three times and is very honored to be a finalist for this award twice. Her student escort will be Brittany Dupre, a Hillsborough High graduate.

Leonard Snead

Lockhart Elementary Magnet

Snead, a certified master custodian, has worked for the school district for 26 years : 16 at Westshore Elementary and 10 at Lockhart Elementary. His certification comes in handy when running a hurricane shelter and transitioning an entire elementary school, Lee Elementary, onto the Lockhart campus. He is inspired by his father's words, "Be the best you can be and be consistent." His student escort will be Mario Jackson, a fifth grader at Lockhart

Talina Ugarte

Muller Elementary

Born in Mexico City, Ugarte recently graduated from Hillsborough Community College with an associate's degree in education. She has worked for the district since 2013, serving Muller as a bilingual aide. Ugarte organizes the annual Multicultural Recycled Fashion Show. Her biggest accomplishment is raising two daughters as a single mother, while continuing her professional career. Her student escort will be Jacqueline Reyes, a fourth grader at Muller.

Miriam Velez-Hernandez

Dover Elementary

Velez-Hernandez has served Dover as a paraprofessional since 1993. She is committed to helping ESOL students achieve their potential and has been instrumental in raising funds for them in times of crisis as well as for providing stimulating experiences. She has arranged for free funeral services for parents, and free bus transportation for a Disney World dream trip. Her student escort will be former student Carlos Penilla.

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Carrollwood Cultural Center names new curator

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The Gallery at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, welcomes new art curator Evie Zimmer.

Zimmer is an American artist and educator in Tampa.

She is active in the arts community both locally and nationally. Her work has been shown, sold, and published across the country including New York City, Art Basel Miami, Palm Springs, Calif., and shown in various publications and online shows and digital billboard displays in Baltimore and on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.

Her early work consists mainly of traditional portrait paintings, although she has always been drawn to the intricate design and beauty of op-art. Eventually, Zimmer began to explore her op-art fascination and her work blossomed into her current mesmerizing style.

Zimmer's work has been described as a "strange loop" of process and product. Her oil paintings radiate an inherent energy field not unlike traditional mandalas with acidic colors transforming into soothing pastels, and geometric patterns melting into exotically organic shapes.

Recently, Zimmer's paintings have become more floral and symmetric yet still maintain her unique and recognizable abstract style. Zimmer is constantly creating new work from her studio in Tampa where she welcomes visitors and students.

The Gallery has five areas to showcase visual art known as The Main Gallery, The Atrium, The Lobby, Corridor Gallery and Alcove Galleries. Admission is free to view the art. For more information about The Gallery, visit carrollwoodcenter.org, or email Zimmer at curator@carrollwoodcenter.org.

Hillsborough High tight-end earned Bill Minahan Award on, off gridiron

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TAMPA - Martha Minahan didn't just shake hands or give pats on the back to the award winners Monday night at the Columbia Restaurant.

She gave the winners big, sincere, heart-felt hugs, much like her husband, the late legendary football coach Bill Minahan, did back in the day.

Bold. Compassionate. Energized.

That's the way Minahan lived and that's the way it felt during the fourth-annual Bill Minahan Awards ceremony, held in honor of the man who coached high schools in the area for 38 years, including 28 for Jesuit, where he led the Tigers to a state title in 1968.

"I know Bill would have loved this," Martha Minahan said, "and he would have loved coaching this year's award winner."

Meet Hillsborough tight-end Wilson Morse.

The way Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia tells the story, Morse came into the Terriers' locker room four years ago as "a scrawny, 140-pound freshman with no experience and said, 'I want to play football.'"

Garcia said, "Okay, sure, now here's the weight room, which is a good place to start."

Four years later, Morse had grown tremendously stronger, put on 80 pounds and started as a tight-end, often blocking some of the most highly touted defensive lineman in the country. They include such as major Division-I recruits Malcolm Lamar of Armwood, with offers from a slew of top-20 universities, and Plant's Judge Culpepper, who signed with Penn State.

And yet there's more.

Morse was also a force in the classroom, never earning less than an A on his report card despite participating in the demanding International Baccalaureate program.

And then even more.

In between his football and studies, Morse created, planned and executed a monthly program with Hillsborough coaches and players called "Terrier Time" to help mentor kids at Robles Park Elementary. And, oh yes, he also found time to tutor fellow students in various subjects.

In the end, Garcia, a tireless coach of 44 years, was left no less than "amazed."

"Wilson Morse is a Heisman trophy winner in the game of life," Garcia said. "He's everything you want in a person. He's compassionate, industrious, intelligent, punctual, thoughtful, dependable and always has a smile on his face. There was never a doubt that he would be a unanimous choice for captain of our team from our players and our coaches."

Garcia paused and said: "As a coach you hope that you can make your players better people, but in the case of Wilson Morse, well, he is the one that made me a better person."

Morse was humble in accepting the award, which included a 1,500 go to each of the other four finalists for the award - Berkeley Prep offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere, Gaither offensive lineman Camden Roth, Steinbrenner linebacker Charles Stephens and Bloomingdale linebacker Zach Warhul.

Martha Minahan announced that more scholarships would be given out next year, this time to girls flag football players, as well.

"Bill was always a huge supporter of girls' athletics," she said. "He would be so excited to include the girls."

Contact Scott Purks at hillsnews@tampabay.com.

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Ernest Hooper: Restoring rights after prison is about redemption, not politics

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Desmond Meade says everywhere he goes in Florida, he hears the stories.

From whites and blacks, conservatives and liberals, blue collar laborers and white collar wage earners. People from all walks have walked up to him with a common request.

They're convicted felons in the state of Florida, and they want their voice back.

"They're being treated as second-class citizens," said Meade, who will speak at the Trinity Democratic Club's monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 24) in the Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway.

"People who made mistakes when they were teens are still being punished even though they paid their debt to society. Their dignity has not been restored. They aren't able to have their voices heard.

"The most telling characteristic of a democracy is to have your voice heard, but Florida permanently bars them from that."

Meade heads the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which is committed to removing Florida's civil rights ban on citizens with past felony convictions. This state is one of only three that strips all individuals with past felony convictions of their civil rights, including their fundamental right to vote, even after completion of their sentences.

To get it back, you have to wait five to seven years before you can apply, endure a backlog and then make an appeal to the state clemency board, which rejects more than 90 percent of those who apply.

A graduate of the Florida International University College of Law, Meade knows better than most how the state law unfairly impedes a person's quest for rights restoration because it impedes him. Meade, a recovered drug addict released from prison in 2004, traveled the road of redemption, entering drug rehabilitation after his release, and then a halfway house.

During the process, he made a promise to himself - and to the State of Florida.

"I dedicated my life to giving back to the community," Meade said. "I wanted to be an asset rather than a liability. I've channeled my efforts to give back to community, but to give back to the state of Florida.

"And the state of Florida says I'm not good enough to be an American citizen."

So the coalition is pushing to get an amendment on the 2018 ballot that will restore the rights of former felons after they've completed their full sentence. Meade argues that helping them reintegrate into the community will reduce recidivism and make them less likely to commit another crime.

Opponents argue its an effort driven by progressives to tilt elections in the favor of Democrats.

Meade says it's about democracy not Democrats, redemption not Republicans.

"We rebuke that this is about partisan politics," Meade said.

In fact, Meade is quick to point that all are welcome to attend his appearance in Trinity. The crusade to gain the needed 700,000 -plus signatures to put the initiative on the ballot involves persuasive education, not political debate. As of Jan. 17, they were within 20,000 of the target number because they've simply explained Florida's system doesn't help broken people heal.

"Deep in each of our hearts folks want to be forgiven when they make mistakes," Meade said.

Whether you're talking about Christianity, Judaism or Islam, the major religions of our nation promote forgiveness. Florida should be a place of faith, a state of second chances, a place where people can rebound.

I look back on my life and see it littered with mistakes. They weren't big enough to land me in jail, but in some cases only by the grace of God. I was given a shot at redemption, and I'm willing to give it to others.

Shouldn't we all be willing?

That's all I'm saying.

'Dream builders' mark MLK Day of Service by building new homes in Brandon

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BRANDON - Victoria Richards could think of no better way to spend the holiday than to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Richards, the volunteer manager of Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County, stood among a sea of nearly 60 volunteers who had enthusiastically gathered shortly after daybreak on Monday to raise the roof trusses of three new homes out of five in what is being called the Williams Glen community on East Morgan Street in Brandon.

It is the first time the organization, which has built or renovated more than 200 homes in Hillsborough County since 1987, has done a project in Brandon.

The occasion coincided with this year's national Day of Service in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Similar to King's dream of creating equal opportunity and prosperity for all countrymen, the volunteers, commonly coined "dream builders," were there to fulfill Habitat's mission of constructing homes, community and hope for homeowner candidates of the three-bedroom, two-bathroom dwellings.

The mix of men and women who turned out on their own time were people of diverse backgrounds with the same goal: brighten the futures of folks who never imagined the dream of home ownership.

Employees of Williams Automotive Group, an ardent Habitat for Humanity supporter for whom Brandon's Habitat community was named, Travelers Insurance and Johnson-&-Johnson, were among the volunteers who came together in a brotherhood of unity, an ideal King sought for all Americans.

Eric Johnson, Williams Automotive Group's community partnership director, said one of his company's core values is community involvement.

"Habitat is one of the best ways we get involved with the community and it's really good for our team to interact with the homeowners because it puts the reality into the reason we are here," he said.

"That's also when it really tugs at the emotional heartstrings, especially because most of the families have children and it brings opportunity to those children," Johnson added.

Moreover, the Mission Continues Tampa 1st Service Platoon - a local arm of the national nonprofit organization meant to help veterans find purpose following their time in the military through community impact projects - arrived with a separate contingent large enough to install the entire framework of wooden beams on the roof of one home.

"We are so honored to have the Tampa Platoon on our build sites, especially on this very special national Day of Service, said Nitza Rivera, procurement and grant compliance manager for Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County as well as a veteran associated with MCT.

In addition, Ada Colon and Gwen Smith, two of the Williams Glen community homeowner candidates, were on hand to help out and earn some of the 300 sweat equity hours required for ownership. It's also essential they have steady incomes, complete a series of home ownership classes and are capable of paying the closing costs on their zero-interest mortgages.

Colon, whose daughter and grandchildren live in Brandon, has amassed more than 200 service hours toward owning one of the homes, expected to be completed by April.

"This is a dream come true and these people are amazing," said Colon, who mainly works from home for a prison ministry.

Smith, the single mother of two grown children and a 13-year-old son, has already logged close to 100 hours although construction on her home has not yet begun.

"Without Habitat I wouldn't be able to afford a home so I was pleasantly surprised when my application was accepted," said Smith, who works for the Hillsborough County School District and whose daughter and sister reside in Brandon.

"It was one, two, three and boom, it happened," Smith said as she stood beside Colon in awe of the volunteers' selflessness.

Nearby, Richards applauded the fact they all are able to set aside their differences for the common good.

"It's a real tribute to Martin Luther King," she said.

Funding for the purchase of the Brandon property was provided by a $100,000 Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Community Development Block Grant.

Habitat's underwriting decisions are based on the applicant's income, debts and credit history. Income limits are 30 to 80 percent of Hillsborough County's median income, determined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Contact Joyce McKenzie at hillsnews@tampabay.com.

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Daniel Ruth: If it's time to move on from light rail, let's move faster this time

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Perhaps it was that noted existentialist philosopher Kenny Rogers, or maybe it was the post-modernist French thinker Michel Foucault, who first said, "You need to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em." But let's not quibble.

If you are one of those transportation geeks (read: Turanchik, Ed) who have long advocated for the creation of a light rail system linking greater Tampa Bay, it is time to put a fork in your vision. Light rail will never be implemented in our fair hamlet. It has now become too cost prohibitive. Too complicated. Too political. Too difficult.

The rail apostles gave it a good try. They did their best. And they came up short - by, oh, a few billions of dollars and hundreds of miles.

It is time to move on. And that might mean moving on aboard BRT, which is the latest mass transit plan unveiled in a $1.5 million study prepared by Jacobs Engineering that could mark the first real effort to create a regional transit model linking Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough Counties. It's about time.

As reported by the Tampa Bay Times' Caitlin Johnston, the Regional Premium Transit Feasibility Study (catchy title) envisions the creation of a modified bus system closely resembling light rail carriages that would service a 40-mile route connecting Wesley Chapel, to the University of South Florida, to downtown Tampa, to the West Shore area and into downtown St. Petersburg along Interstate 275.

The BRT would travel along mostly dedicated lanes and when (or if) fully implemented it would link up with other transit modes to get people where they need to go.

At first blush, the BRT concept has a lot going for it, not the least of which is that it would cost far less to launch and operate than the disruption that would be caused by the construction of rail lines throughout the proposed service area.

As well, politically, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn supports the concept of BRT, as does St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. And even Tampa Bay Lightning owner and the undisputed Viceroy of Tampa, Jeff Vinik, has noted he is well pleased by the BRT idea. And will someone please peel him a grape?

And the influential Tampa Bay Partnership is also supportive. Well, with so many hotsy-tots on board with BRT what could possibly go wrong? Give it time.

There are always a few grumps who will mutter than anything except a vast transportation network of rickshaws is a complete waste of time and money. This is Tampa Bay, after all, where, especially when it comes to transportation, the future goes to die.

Still, the BRT concept, as outlined by Jacobs Engineering, does hold out the promise of Tampa Bay finally addressing its long festering inability to develop a coherent transit strategy that doesn't involve simply adding more and more lanes to our expressways. That is a giant leap of progress. But don't spread it around. We have an image to protect.

The Tampa Bay area is decades behind the rest of the country in addressing its transportation demands as the region only has grown in population, exacerbating an already expanding daily gridlock of motorists stuck in traffic. What way big fun.

Still, as lovely as BRT might seem, the Florida Department of Transportation still must spend the next year or more rubbing their chins over the Jacobs study before anything happens. And nobody does navel gazing better than the DOT.

So, it is possible, just possible, the BRT system could begin operations somewhere around - eventually, more or less.

By state standards that amounts to a breakneck pace of thumb-sucking.

Joe Henderson: Leaders can't job-out responsibility for bad substitute teachers

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Sometimes, people in authority need a reality check before they can recognize a problem that should have been obvious.

In this case, it took a meticulously reported story last Sunday by education writer Marlene Sokol of the Tampa Bay Times to alert Hillsborough County public school officials to the verifiable fact that there must be vast improvement in how substitute teachers are hired and assigned.

Sokol used public records and old-fashioned shoe leather reporting to show that there is a chronic problem in how these pinch-hitting teachers find their way to the front of a classroom.

To at least partially explain that, I think you can revisit the decision in 2014 to partner with Kelly Education Staffing to hire and assign subs to cover approximately 170,000 classroom shifts every year.

The mantra "privatize, privatize" is written into the hearts and minds of every fiscal budget hawk. They believe private enterprise can do most anything better than the government.

Well, perhaps not in this case.

One teacher assigned by Kelly asked students to draw a dog eating a cat, or vice versa. Another cursed at a class and told one student she had a "stripper name."

There were physical threats and incidents. There was some creepy stuff. And there was more than enough to make one ask what kind of joint they're running there at the school district.

"We're opening ourselves to liability, poor perception of trust. I can't be asking for a referendum (to raise taxes for the schools) after something like this," School Board member Lynn Gray told the Times.

"I'm dumbfounded. It only takes one bad incident for a child to be really frightened."

In a district the size of Hillsborough, that opens the door for big problems. Regular teachers routinely have assignments that take them out of the classroom for field trips, professional requirements, and other things. Sometimes they just get sick.

There are about 230 schools and 15,000 teachers in Hillsborough. That requires a reliable army of subs ready to stand in. Although many of those shifts are staffed by retired teachers who know what they're in for, many others are filled by people who just need a gig.

Maybe they're between jobs. Maybe there are other reasons. But many aren't professional teachers. They don't have advanced degrees or full command of the classroom. Some can't even follow a simple lesson plan left behind by the regular teacher.

And some of them, obviously, aren't fully invested in the job. I can't think of anyone who grew up wanting to be a substitute teacher. Full-time teacher, yes. It can be a rewarding career.

But a sub? Get real.

The public still has a right to expect those who raise their hands for a job that tops out at $11 an hour to at least stay awake in class and not refer to students by derogatory names.

You know where this is going next, don't you?

Hillsborough is cash-strapped; you may have heard that. Regular teachers are screaming about being denied raises they say they were promised. There is not going to be a lot of consensus to throw more money at substitutes in hopes of attracting better candidates.

But in addition to requiring better oversight of Kelly's performance, solving the problem requires leaders to understand what it takes to run a classroom. It might help if more of them from the central office mimicked board member April Griffin. She ventured into a classroom last year as a sub math teacher at Riverview High.

In written comments to the Times about the experience, she noted, "I think anyone who has been out of the class for a long time could really benefit from being in front of students for a whole day, not just a drop in."

If nothing else, that might keep at least a few unqualified subs from doing any more damage.

Amy Scherzer's Diary: Weekly Wrap-Up of the Tampa Social Scene

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Winter White Wonderland Charity Gala

Realtors, lawyers, mortgage lenders, title companies and other guests swirled past the giant inflatable snow globe into the Winter White Wonderland charity gala hosted by the Greater Tampa Bay chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of America. They circled ramen, sushi and s'mores stations, played casino games and sampled Tom Ford make-up from Neiman Marcus at the Tampa Garden Club.

Saturday night highlight: Traditional Asian and pageant gown fashion show featuring San Diego designer Tommy Le."Every dress is a piece of art, hand-painted to tell a story," Le said, pointing out the yellow ochna flowers, symbols of Vietnamese New Year celebrations, on a gem-colored gown paired with an Asian conical hat Gala proceeds of 30,000 in the Dare to Hope appeal, thanks to a challenge match offered by her husband Geoff Simon and Duckwell Foundation chief Sandy Reif.

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BMX riders to showcase their artful sport on Gasparilla weekend

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TAMPA - There's more coming to pile on Gasparilla weekend than just the National Hockey League's All-Star Game.

On Sunday, the day after the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates and just as the world's top hockey players compete at Amalie Arena, stunt bike riders will vie for bragging rights from noon to 6 p.m. at the Gasparilla BMX Flatland Jam in the rustic, brick Rialto Theatre.

Tickets are $5 at the door.

One purpose of the event is to expose the city to the underground sport.

"It's like break dancing or ballet on a bicycle," organizer Jay Marley said.

Riders perform stunt routines to music, doing so without the use of ramps or other jump props but by manipulating a BMX into various positions, typically with just one wheel touching the flat surface that serves as the competition space.

"Expect to have your mind blown," said Orlando's Chad Degroot, 41, who will be one of the judges and helps Marley plan the event. "If you've never seen this before, you'll be amazed at what they can do."

Performers, for example, spin the bike in circles on either wheel, sometimes while standing on the handlebars or performing a handstand on the seat. And they seamlessly transition from one trick to the next.

"It is an interpretive thing," said Marley, 45. "Aside from being a sport, it is as art. It's why it stands out from other disciplines."

Marley began holding local competitions four years ago, hosting one annually on Labor Day weekend.

A few months back, Marley decided to add a second yearly challenge, scheduling it for Gasparilla weekend to show off the Tampa culture to visiting participants. "Let people see the craziness," he said.

Marley expects as many as 75 riders - a mix of professionals and amateurs ranging in age from 15 to 51 years old, with a third of the entrants coming from out of state and as far as California and France.

Amateurs will compete for five prizes - best front wheel trick, best back wheel trick, best front and wheel trick, best old school trick and best overall trick. Professionals will be ranked first, second and third based on their routine.

Still, Marley said, who wins and who loses is secondary to the art.

Paraphrasing surfing icon Laird Hamilton, Marley said, "Artists feel the need to be better than their previous selves whereas competitors feel the need to beat other people to make themselves feel better."

Degroot the judge echoed that sentiment. "From outside it looks like a sport but I consider it an art. It has personality. It has originality."

Marley discovered flatland BMX riding at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tenn. "I saw guys doing a tricks and wanted to do it," he said.

He performed for the next 15 years until work, personal relationships and "life in general got in the way," he said. "So, I took a break."

Then, 11 years ago, his father died and Marley returned to the sport to cope with the loss.

"Muscle memory is a great thing," he said, adding with a laugh, "It was like riding a bike."

But he realized many of his old riding buddies had also taken a long break and that the sport was attracting little new talent. He ascribed this, in part, to a "dearth of events."

"You still see it during NBA half time shows or at monster truck racing, but that's about it," Marley said. "So, I started my own thing."

The sport never had a large following in Tampa, he said.

But while his first event drew just 10 competitors, Sunday's has seven times that many.

"Hey, it never hit the mainstream like skateboarding. But we're still here having fun and creating. Why stop?"

Contact Paul Guzzo at pguzzo@tampabay.com. Follow @PGuzzoTimes.

Editorial: Saying 'thank you' helps Tampa police build needed trust

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The smiles, applause and at least one hug belied the grim impetus for a gathering last week at a neighborhood center in Tampa - the Seminole Heights killings.

The Tampa Police Department held a ceremony to thank those who helped in the investigation that led to an arrest Nov. 28. The four seemingly random killings within a one-square mile area terrorized the neighborhood for 51 long days last fall.

In circling back this way, police Chief Brian Dugan recognized an extraordinary response to an extraordinary time for the city - and took a step toward strengthening the community relations that can help police tackle a rising number of Tampa murders.

Thirty-nine people were slain in the city during 2017, the most in nearly 15 years, and 27 of them were African-Americans - including three of the Seminole Heights victims.

Dugan and Mayor Bob Buckhorn noted correctly that the whole city pulled together to help solve these serial murders.

"We showed the world what a community looks like," Buckhorn said. "We are a better place because we stood together."

They issued broad thanks to the citizens of Tampa and presented certificates in person to a number of individuals and institutions - those who contributed to the reward money, fed the round-the-clock law enforcement effort, and turned over home video.

They saved the most emotional presentation for the last recipient, Delanda Walker, the McDonald's manager who turned over a handgun in a McDonald's sack that a co-worker inexplicably entrusted her. The co-worker, Howell Donaldson III, awaits trial on four charges of first-degree murder in the case.

Walker got a hug from the mayor and a standing ovation, and told reporters later that the aftermath of her simple act - the promise of a six-figure reward notwithstanding - has been tough on her.

Persuading people to approach them with information is a major challenge for police, especially in a case that draws the international attention this one did. It takes a strong sense of civic duty to face the prospect of sworn statements, court appearances, media attention and community reaction that can follow.

Police help their own cause and build a better community when they foster the trust that makes people comfortable coming forward. Tampa police placed relations at risk in years past by pulling over people in African-American neighborhoods simply for riding bicycles - a "stop-and-frisk" style approach that positioned officers as people who harass without reason rather than as trusted partners in fighting crime.

That image, by all accounts, seems to be changing, helped by new bonds forged during the investigation.

As the investigation dragged on and the death toll mounted, Dugan took to the podium again and again to repeat two points - someone knows something they're not saying and the killer will be the agent of his own downfall.

Why Donaldson turned over what authorities say is the murder weapon remains a mystery - there were indications he was planning to leave town - but Dugan was proved right. This handoff led directly to the arrest.

Whether anyone came forward with information about Donaldson's actions before his arrest may become clear as the state builds its case against him. His parents face possible jail time for contempt now because they refuse to say what they might know.

But the community-wide focus on these serial killings points up the need for others to come forward so law enforcement may bring to justice the killers in the 17 homicides from 2017 that have not yet resulted in an arrest.

With so many people of color among those statistics, a number of investigations focus on the African-American community. People need to step up, as local NAACP president Yvette Lewis told staff writer Tony Marrero of the Tampa Bay Times.

Still, it's a responsibility shared by all who have a stake in keeping the city safe.

Finding ways to say thank you when people do is a commendable way for police to keep them coming forward.

Gasparilla may be a raucous party to you, but it's art to Charles Hessemer

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SOUTH TAMPA

Charles P. Hessemer, 90 years young and about as sharp as the palette knives he paints with, finds artistic inspiration in the costumed-clad revelers of Tampa's favorite annual event.

The details in Hessemer's oil painting series, the Spirit of Gasparilla, are striking: feathered hats and fishnet stockings, sunglasses and red Solo cups, beads and beer.

"People are going to recognize themselves," Hessemer said.

When the Krewe of Queen Anne's Revenge identified their members in a piece, they immediately posted the artwork on their website.

Each canvas is painted from a compilation of multiple photos Hessemer took along the parade route. Some paintings have as many as 12 figures in them.

"I couldn't pose anybody because they wouldn't let me on the street," he said. "So I took pictures and composed them on my computer."

GASPARILLA GUIDE:Complete coverage of the pirate invasion and festivities in Tampa

Hessemer, has captured Gasparilla scenes for two years, "for historical reasons and what it means to our community."

The impressionistic style results from the knife pushing color into color, building depth with the point or the edge, unlike a brush. He paints in his bedroom studio, standing at his easel, listening to classical music.

"They're very difficult to paint. I'll spend 150 hours on one of them," said Hessemer, who has been called a modern Van Gogh for his brilliant color sense. "What it is, is we both paint from the heart."

The retired advertising agency art and creative director always has enjoyed Gasparilla since moving his family to Tampa in 1972, recruited from Chicago where he created trendsetting promotional campaigns at six prestigious agencies, including BBDO, the largest in the world, and MacManus, John-& Adams, where he was responsible for the American Oil, Meisterbrau Lite and other major accounts. The Republican Party of Illinois was also a client.

Disappointed with the ethics of the agency that lured him to Florida, Hessemer started his own firm, Village Adsmith, which evolved into HKLW and Hessemer Lawrence-& Ardelean (HLA) among others, serving clients such as the Tampa International Airport, Celotex, Malio's, Stamas Boats as well as several major banks.

In 2006, Hessemer retired from Creative Fields, the ad shop he started with his youngest son Eric.

"At one point, all three of my sons were in the ad business with me," he said.

Through the years, Hessemer estimates he's sold 300 paintings - figurescapes, nudes, still lifes and seascapes - in galleries from Maui to Sante Fe, N.M., to Dallas, Chicago and Palm Beach.

"He captures the light beautifully and his colors are amazing," said architect Sol Fleischman, who has known the artist for 40 years and owns three of his paintings.

But the Gasparilla originals are not for sale.

Digital prints can be ordered online at colorsofhessemer.com and they are available in bulk to local retailers. Hessemer expects to donate a percentage of the profits to a homeless charity.

"Not everyone can have a painting, but anyone can own a print," said his son Eric. "Ultimately, we'd like to find a home for them in one of the area museums for people to appreciate them."

Hessemer is absolutely convinced his dual degrees in fine arts and commercial art was divine providence. Having completed basic training, the U.S. Navy tapped him to work in an "ultra top-secret compound" in Washington, D.C., post-World War II. To this day, Hessemer will not speak of his sensitive government work but he'll gladly talk about finding a sketchbook "How to Draw the Figure," in a drawer of his otherwise-empty desk.

"Divine intervention ... that book was absolutely left there for me," he said. "I had no idea what I wanted to do and I really didn't know anything about fine art."

Within a week of opening that drawer, Hessemer was taking classes at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the art department of George Washington University. After his hitch in the Navy, back home in Jackson, Mich., he signed up for a Famous Artists correspondence course. His work took top prize in a county fair where a judge urged him to enroll in the American Academy of Art in Chicago.

Today, well over 150 canvases line the walls and fill the closets of his south Tampa home, including more than 50 of his favorite model and muse, his late wife Norine.

More are coming. The nonagenarian started a new Gasparilla painting, Beads Over You, just last week.

"I need to get a photographer's pass to be on the street," he said, "So I can truly continue the Spirit of Gasparilla."

William March: Tampa Bay Democrats line up for state legislative races

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A surge of Democrats seeking local legislative offices and hoping for a "blue wave" in the 2018 election continued last week, led by Bob Buesing filing to run again versus state Sen. Dana Young, R-Tampa.

In addition:

• Heather Kenyon Stahl of Tampa has filed to run against Rep. Jamie Grant, R-Tampa, in a GOP-leaning district that includes northwest Hillsborough and northeast Pinellas counties.

• Kathy Lynn Lewis of Wesley Chapel has filed to run for the District 20 state Senate seat that Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, plans to vacate to run for chief financial officer. Lewis could face Rep. Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa, or Rep. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, both interested in moving to the Senate.

• A Democratic primary is possible for the House seat of Rep. Sean Shaw, D-Tampa, who announced last week he'll run for attorney general. Community and political activist Dianne Hart, who narrowly lost to Shaw in a 2016 primary, has filed, and Tampa attorney Fentrice Driskell is considering running.

Democrats see Young's District 18 as one of their top chances to flip a GOP Senate seat, and one they must hold to regain a Senate majority some day. The Tampa and northwest Hillsborough district is one of two on the 2018 ballot held by Republicans but won by Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Republicans, meanwhile, spent more than $5 million last year to win the seat and will fight tenaciously to hold it. The result is likely to be a marquee race with heavy outside spending.

Buesing lost to Young in 2016 by 7 points, with no-party candidate Joe Redner taking almost 10 points. Redner says he won't run again and has contributed to Buesing.

Stahl, 47, making her first run for office, is a sales trainer and former Tampa Bay Technology Forum CEO, who was recruited to run by Ruth's List and local Democrats.

"There are disturbing things happening in Washington and Tallahassee, and I felt compelled to run," she said. "I think it's extraordinarily important for there to be more women's voices in government."

Lewis, 56, a writer and motivational speaker who moved here with her physician husband in 2009 from Baltimore, has been active in non-profit work related to developmental disability. She's running in part because of problems in state assistance programs affecting her autistic daughter.

The district, where Polk, Pasco and Hillsborough counties meet, votes Republican despite a Democratic plurality. But Lewis said she's accustomed to raising money, and, "It's not unwinnable if we can get our vote out."

April Schiff, Jim Waurishuk seek GOP party chair

Two candidates are running to replace Deborah Tamargo as Hillsborough County Republican Party chairman - veteran political consultant and party activist April Schiff and retired Air Force officer and Trump stalwart Jim Waurishuk.

Tamargo resigned two weeks ago after party members filed a grievance against her, while vice chairman Jeff Lukens, a Tamargo ally, had previously resigned in protest.

Lukens was returned to his post in an election last week, and the election for chairman will be next month.

Both candidates said their first priority will be to heal divisiveness in the party.

But the race also symbolizes the party's split. Schiff is a comparative moderate from Tampa, while Waurishuk is an east Hillsborough Tea Party supporter. He was recruited to run for the post by Florida Trump backers including Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, and Karen Giorno, Trump's Florida campaign director.

Schiff, who has held numerous party offices, said she hopes to "bring the party back to what it used to be - bigger, stronger and more successful ... We are in need of a great deal of sanity, civility and successes."

Waurishuk said he want to "make every effort to unite the party after the turmoil that's been going on, get our efforts going to support our candidates."

Tampa Democrats back Jennifer Webb in House

Just as they did in the St. Petersburg mayor's race, Tampa Democrats are working across the bay for St. Petersburg's state House District 69 candidate Jennifer Webb.

Tampa attorney Erin Aebel will host a Tampa fundraiser for Webb Jan. 31, with prominent Tampa Democrats including Betty Castor, Sam Bell, Ana Cruz, Alma Gonzalez and Alex Sink on the host list.

Webb, backed by numerous elected Pinellas Democrats, faces St. Petersburg attorney Javier Centonzio in a primary. Also running are Republicans Jeremy David Bailie and Raymond Blacklidge.

Contact William March at wemarch@gmail.com


High school Girl Scouts connect with mentors at 'Camp CEO'

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PALM HARBOR

Huddled in blankets with their pockets and gloves stuffed with hand warmers, high school Girl Scouts came together in Camp Wai Lani's main lodge in Palm Harbor on Sunday.

The final day of the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida's (GSWCF) "Camp CEO" was in its final hours, and the participants gathered together with coaches and mentors to collect some warm pearls of wisdom on the cold morning.

Camp CEO connects high school girl scouts with accomplished female business leaders through a camp setting and various team building, skill sharing and sessions offered at the camp.

Girls are given the opportunity to learn leadership and life lessons while executive women coach and connect the young leaders. The participants walk away with practical skills that will help them in pursuit of their Gold Award, and their pursuit of future careers.

"This is such a high-impact, life-changing experience for our girls," said Girl Scouts of West Central Florida CEO Jessica Muroff. "They tell me this is the best thing they've done in Girl Scouts. I'm over the moon because connecting our girls to incredible women in our community is such a wonderful thing. Magic happens in these relationships, I know the impact is long-lasting.

"I know this because I was lucky enough to be connected with incredible women at a young age and they changed my life. It was mentors (like those at Camp CEO) that opened my eyes to broader horizons and goals for myself."

East Lake High School senior Anne Bauer echoed Muroff's sentiment. She said connecting with her mentor was one of her favorite activities.

"That experience of just being able to talk with them and get to know them and hear their personal experiences and letting them get to know you, that's been a really cool thing," Bauer said.

In the morning panel, the girls warmed up to advice from Frameworks of Tampa Bay engagement director Tammy Charles, South Tampa Chamber of Commerce CEO Kelly Flannery, Women Entrepreneurs director Cami Gibertini and best-selling young adult author Patricia Wooster.

"Hearing how nervous they got during something like interviews made me relate more to them," said Sara Collins, a St. Petersburg Collegiate High School sophomore. "I came into the camp feeling shy and nervous, but came out more confident because of the coaches."

Seeing the perfection that surrounded the successful women on the panel, the girls never would have known that they are far from perfect, and those imperfections have helped shape their careers.

Gibertini shared a story from high school when she was bullied and had to keep pushing along.

"It made me more open and empathetic to others," Gibertini said. "I wanted them to know that [struggles] can shape you only if you allow it to."

Charles also shared her story of being physically and verbally abused and having to also face a cultural barrier of being a Haitian woman. With a bright attitude, Charles shared how her faith helped her muscle through, but more importantly, how she learned to embrace her quirks.

"Leaders struggle too," Charles said. "Obstacles will always be there, but what's important is to stay focused on your goals."

The panel ended with a small saying, a mantra that will strengthen them as they move into bright futures, despite obstacles they may encounter.

"Some people got it, some people don't, but baby I got it," with one coach leading the chant all the women started yelling it out simultaneous. The area transformed into a room full of inspiration.

By the camp's final panel discussion, the scouts had identified positive personality traits through the StrengthsFinders program, and met other women leaders.

"They just want to help us and it's very surprising that so many inspirational women want to come here just to help us," said Nina Shortt, a Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School sophomore.

Contact Katelyn Massarelli at kmassarelli@tampabay.com.

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Whitman: Palma Ceia Presbyterian promotes refugee ministry

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Refugees living in Tampa and surrounding areas need your help, says Will Wellman, ministry leader at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church.

Home to the second largest refugee community in Florida, Tampa Bay welcomed almost 6,000 arrivals in 2016. Families fleeing countries including Cuba and Syria continue to seek safety in Tampa, where the cost of living makes success possible. Many refugees are children and teens. Many need medical attention.

In partnership with local nonprofit organizations, Palma Ceia Presbyterian works to collect donations, secure housing and fulfill the needs of area refugees.

The church's refugee ministry, founded in 2016, works alongside the Department of Children and Families, Lutheran Services, RAMWI and other groups.

Palma Ceia Presbyterian will host a lunch and learn event from noon to 2 p.m. on Jan. 28, to educate the public on the refugee situation and offer information on volunteering.

I spoke to Will Wellman, Palma Ceia's director of adult education, about the upcoming event and the importance of welcoming refugees.

What inspired Palm Ceia Presbyterian leaders to dedicate a ministry to helping refugees?

We see the call throughout scripture to love both your neighbor and the foreign among you. We see where Israelites are constantly reminded they were once slaves, once foreigners. In Hillsborough County, there is this presence of refugees that need our love and support. That alone, a higher than normal population of refugees, is a call to action.

How does the ministry actively help refugees?

We collect furniture, clothing and household supplies which organizations provide to refugees. We received a grant in summer 2017 and in working with Lutheran Services, we are now able to identify and serve refugees in crisis by helping pay housing and utility bills. Our hope is to keep them from going into debt. At the lunch and learn we are going to talk more about how people can not just donate but volunteer working with refugees. There are opportunities for tutoring and to work directly with families, even if it's doing something as simple as taking them out to dinner.

What do you think is the most common misconception about refugees?

I think there is a fear of the unknown. People want to know why are these people here? It is important to walk with the stranger among us instead of greeting them with questioning and fear. All of the refugees I've met, these are people who want to be here, who want to be productive. They are overjoyed to be here. Many are coming from the most awful experiences, experiences most of us here in the United States can not even imagine. When you meet them, when you realize where they are coming from, it calls you to help.

All are welcome to attend the lunch-and-learn event. A $5 donation is requested. Palma Ceia Presbyterian is located at 3501 W Jose St. For more information, call (813) 253-6047 or visit palmaceia.org/refugee-ministry.

Contact Sarah Whitman at swhitman@tampabay.com.

Lithia Springs Elementary gets kids up with standing desks

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VALRICO - Fifth-grade math teacher Melissa Forsythe walked around her Lithia Springs Elementary School classroom on Tuesday with zeal.

She stopped at each station and listened with a big smile on her face as her students told stories about their new standing desks. Twenty-four LearnFit Adjustable Standing Desks were recently donated to her classroom and, in just a few months, the teacher had seen improvements in her students' efficiency and focus.

"When they're in here, if they're standing they seem to be more alert," Forsythe said. "A lot of the kids do sit because that's what they're more comfortable with, but now if they get uncomfortable they can just stand and it doesn't cause any distractions."

The desks, equipped with pencil and water bottle holders and bins to store books and supplies, can be rolled around the classroom - a timesaver, according to Forsythe, as the students often work in different groups.

Rather than lugging books and supplies to a new desk, which Forsythe says eats away at the hour the class has together, the students can easily move their workstations across the room.

"Before we'd have to move all our stuff out and then take it to the next class," said 10-year-old Aubrey Hastings. "With this one, you can take all your stuff to one place."

Ergotron, the global manufacturer of the desks, donated the equipment to the students in September in partnership with the Dairy Council of Florida and Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school nutrition activity program launched in conjunction with the NFL to encourage children to lead healthier lives. The partnership donated a total of 30 adjustable desks to the school.

"The ability to move is important for learning and so we're giving kids the opportunity to listen to their bodies and when they feel fidgety to stand up and move about," said Betsey Banker, wellness manager for Ergotron. "Kids are often taught to sit down and be still and that's not conducive to learning."

A June 2017 study by the American Society of Interior Designers found that standing desks in the workplace was linked to increased productivity, improved concentration and overall health. The study evaluated workers for a year and determined that participants using standing desks had increased their productivity by 65 percent.

In addition, research from the Mayo Clinic has shown that standing desks can reduce the risk for obesity, cancer, prolong life and improve posture.

Contact Crystal Owens at hillsnews@tampabay.com.

Sunday Conversation: Lightning VP Keith Harris strikes a chord for the Boys-&-Girls Clubs

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Keith Harris fondly looks back on some memorable days from his Tampa upbringing when he worked as a lifeguard at a pool next to a Boys-&-Girls Club. ¶Whenever it rained, he watched as the kids retreated to the safe haven of the club. They entered into a building that not only provided shelter from nature's storms, but protected them from life's storms.

"They had counselors, adults who supervised these kids and took the time to pour love and guidance into them," Harris said.

Now Harris, the Tampa Bay Lightning vice president of human resources, serves as the first African-American chairman of the 90-year-old Boys-&-Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay. He's helping the organization chart new initiatives and extend its mission of touching the lives of more than 20,000 kids in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties.

Harris, 52, recently spoke with Tampa Bay Times columnist Ernest Hooper about the organization's 2018 outlook, juggling the demands of work and philanthropy and the joy of raising his 2-year-old son with his wife, attorney Monica Williams-Harris, at a later stage in life.

You're involved in a number of philanthropic efforts, including the Boys-&-Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay. What drives you to be so active?

When you have the boss (Lightning owner Jeff Vinik) sending a clear message to his staff that he encourages and wants to see you involved in community activities, it makes my job as head of HR a lot easier to say this is stuff we're going to give our attention to. We don't have to ask permission to do it. He encourages it. We do it. That's opened the door for me to utilize such a high-profile brand and platform to impact my community. I'm a Tampa native. The point is not lost on me that they see me as one of the few African-American executives in this community, and with a brand like the Lightning, I'm challenged to say, "How can I utilize it to help?" So one of the things that drives me is that it's professionally supported.

The other thing that drives me is that I've come full circle professionally. I've always had offices where I traveled around to multiple sites, but as I've gotten older, what I've learned is that all you really have is the community that you live in. You can try to change the world by making philanthropic contributions, you can align yourself with all manner of initiatives, but at the end of the day, stick to the things that you care about that are close to you.

It's about having roots in a community, right?

Absolutely. I've got deep ties in the community. And it's about your interests. Cancer has affected my family so one of the ways I honor my mom's legacy is to try to fight cancer. There's the George Edgecomb Society that's been formed at the Moffitt Cancer Society. There's education, which was important to my dad, so my brother and I started a small scholarship fund. So it's the things that are close to me, including the Boys-&-Girls Club.

The Boys-&-Girls Club is realizing some new successes in Town 'N Country, in Wimauma, in Winston Park. Tell me about those successes.

The demographics of this community are rapidly changing. As Tampa grows, we know there's a strong drive towards turning our inner cities into vibrant hubs of business and commerce, living and working spaces, to improve the quality of life for the folks who are there and to bring in higher levels of income. What that has a tendency to do is drive people from the underserved population farther out, to the outskirts of the city and to the county. The club's philosophy is let's make sure we don't forget those kids. If those kids have started to sprawl, let's get the clubs close to them. That explains why communities like Clair-Mel and Wimauma and Dover have become hubs of club activity.

Lightning owner Jeff Vinik has been particularly supportive of the Winston Park Boys and Girls Club in Clair-Mel, even helping it overcome a damaging fire. Now the NHL will lend support this week as part of its All-Star Game legacy. How big a deal is that for the Boys-&-Girls Club.

It's huge. We've long seen the connection between sports and entertainment and community improvement. If you take the ideals and the mission of the Boys-&-Girls Club, it's not just an after-school, after-care program. It's a captive audience of kids where we get to have them play, work on school stuff and pour life skills into them. What better way to do that than using a brand as cool and exciting as Lightning hockey to be that draw. I think Mr. Vinik understands that.

While the outreach of the clubs is helping new communities, there has been conversation about potentially transitioning services at the West Tampa Club. Tell me about the challenges involved with that decision.

Our priority is and always has been to serve youth that need us the most. For 90 years, the Boys-&-Girls Clubs has had a strong presence in the West Tampa community; serving young people that are now some of the most prominent business leaders in the city. But, as the city continues to grow, neighborhoods are experiencing major transitions and West Tampa is one such community. We have experienced a decline in youth served at this particular Club and are now challenged with the task of deciding if the need in that area is as big as it once was. Though we are committed to serving the families that remain, we also have to keep in mind the resources available to continue operations. Ideally, we want to be available for every young person in every community. And as we continue to look at the broader scope of our focus and mission, we will take a hard look at every conceivable future plan for that site. For now though, we are open, five days a week, in West Tampa, and are serving the families there.

It's a matter of efficiency?

It absolute is. Sometimes we make these decisions that are tough decisions, obviously, in the public's eye, but we have not gone about it arbitrarily at all. It follows a pretty careful study on geography and demographics and economic realities. That's really the driving force behind the decision. We have to build and allocate resources to where the bulk of our kids are located.

And it doesn't reflect on the club's overall commitment to the community, right?

Our mission is to serve those in the community. Even though I talk about brick in mortar, the reality is we draw very soft lines around which Clubs serve communities. Those lines aren't so rigid that kids outside the immediate community can't get involved. We're never going to close our doors based on a kid's zip code.

In adddition to all you have going on, you and your wife have a 2-year-old son. What's that like?

I probably should have started with that (laughs). We decided to do this a little later in life, so he's really changed my focus from looking past child rearing to rolling around on the floor and tossing the ball again. That's had a huge impact and we're having a ball. I have daughters, they're all adults now. They still need some attention now and then, but clearly our son is our primary focus .

Sunday Conversation is edited for brevity and clarity. Contact Ernest Hooper at ehooper@tampabay.com. Follow @hoop4you.

Dan Ruth: Autopsy On A Stick? Six Feet Under Souffle? Welcome to the state fair!

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Well it's that time of year again, the arrival of the Florida State Fair, or as it might otherwise be known - the yearly gastronomical death march.

As always, the fair, which runs from Feb. 8-19, will feature the usual assortment of thrill rides, carny barkers, concerts and livestock exhibitions. And if you love the smell of indigestion in the morning, this is the place for you. Way, way big fun.

If the Florida State Fair is known for anything it is the informal annual tradition to see who can come up with the most potentially fatal menu that will attract hungry customers anxious to clog their arteries.

It fell to the Tampa Bay Times' Sharon Kennedy Wynne to review this year's latest myocardial infarction inducing taste treats to be found at the fair. And yes, there will be bacon.

You don't need to be a heart surgeon to figure out when something is called a "syrup-based pie," that no good is likely to come of this. Wynne also detailed an offering called a Frenkel Funnel Cake that includes bananas, spices, funnel cake and your choice of either chocolate or caramel drizzle. Yummers.

If your last will and testament is in order, you can sample the Southern Catfish Sundae, which features french fries, fried catfish and a spicy remoulade sauce. The Chicken and Waffles Pizza consists of fried chicken, waffles, bacon (always bacon), mozzarella cheese and the aforementioned syrup. And of course, many of the people ordering this stuff will also have a diet Coke in the spirit of healthy living.

For many years the Florida State Fair has promoted all manner of cheeseburgers - deep fried, deep deep fried and deep deep deep fried. Isn't variety the spice of life?

Burgers come with multiple cheeses, sauces, buns and condiments. There's probably a slice (or two) of bacon in there, too.

Yes, that howl you just heard was the sound of cardiologists screaming into the night.

A bit of advice to Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose agency oversees the fair. Do you think it might be a good idea to require all food vendors to also have a defibrillator next to each concession stand and/or a treadmill? Just a thought. After all, you do want to keep as many of these fair-goers alive so they can vote for you for governor.

To be sure, if you are planning to fall off the diet wagon, the Florida State Fair offers more temptations than an alcoholic finding himself locked inside a bourbon distillery.

But really now, shouldn't there be just a bit of truth-in-advertising for some of these foodstuffs? Let us not forget Putnam is also in charge of the state's consumer services department, too.

We can be reliably confident you'll probably not find a vendor selling kale du jour with a side of tofu and sprouts.

But patrons should also made aware of what they about to ingest is not exactly going to be found in the American Heart Association recipe book.

So shouldn't the food purveyors at the fair also be obliged to be more transparent about what they are selling to the public?

Why shouldn't that corn dog dripping with a bacon reduction and embellished with lard not be called Autopsy On A Stick? It ought not to adversely impact sales very much. Who doesn't love some adventure in their lives?

Last Rites Surprise - a finger-licking repast of slow-roasted fat, wrapped with more fat and served with a topping of fat. Butter optional. Best served with a chilled Mountain Dew and a milkshake.

And who could resist a plate of Six Feet Under Souffle, a mouth-watering delicacy of fried whipped cream atop raw cookie dough, lovingly arranged on a pile of ribs and finished off with a drizzle of two cups of raw sugar?

Bon appetit! Burp!

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