Palm Harbor fire official named top fire safety educator
PALM HARBOR — Elizabeth Willi, public information officer for Palm Harbor Rescue, has been named the 2026 Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year by the National Fire Protection Association.
She will be formally recognized at the annual Stars at Night Awards gala during the NFPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas in June.
Willi brings more than 20 years of leadership in fire and life safety education, building a sustainable, community-wide prevention model grounded in NFPA programs and resources, the association said in a press release. “By integrating NFPA materials into lesson planning, outreach, and long-term initiatives, she has institutionalized prevention efforts beyond traditional campaigns. She has delivered targeted education to high-risk populations, including kitchen fire safety programs for older adults in low-income housing facing language barriers, and NFPA-based curricula for teens through her Safe Sitter program. Her innovative outreach, including quarterly utility bill inserts that brought NFPA messaging to every household in her community, demonstrates her commitment to making life-saving information accessible to all.”
Willi currently serves as past chair of the Florida Association of Fire and Life Safety Educators, chair of the Pinellas Council of Safe Kids Florida Suncoast, and vice chair of the Safe Kids Florida Suncoast Executive Board, overseeing safety initiatives across five counties. Through collaborations with the Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida State Fire Marshals Association, and the Red Cross, she has supported the distribution of carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms using NFPA messaging. A certified CPR instructor and Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Instructor, Willi leads car seat certification trainings, mentors technicians, and works to ensure families have access to certified assistance. During the 2024 hurricane season, she helped distribute nearly 300 car seats to families impacted by flooding — demonstrating her ongoing commitment to data-driven, community-focused safety.
Paint Out at the Guilt exhibit set
TARPON SPRINGS — An art exhibit reception will take place on Saturday, May 16, 5 to 7 p.m., at the Tarpon Art Guild gallery, 161 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs.
From May 1-3, artists set up and painted scenes at various locations in Tarpon Springs. Recording these sites in their own style, the dozen or more painters are saving these reminders of Tarpon for future visitors and citizens. Participating artists included oil painters, watercolorists, acrylic artists as well as pastellists.
Works created during Paint Out at the Guild will be featured in the exhibition, which will continue through the month of May.
The public is welcome. For information, call 727-940-2324
Libraries to host free music camps
A free music camp for children will be hosted this summer by the Pinellas County Library system.
The camps are a week and will be held Monday through Friday for 90 minutes each day. Musical instruments are provided. Class size is limited to 25 per camp
Instructors are from the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society.
Check with your local library for availability and ages taught.
County seeks applicants for Workforce Development Board
Pinellas County is seeking interested citizens to serve on the CareerSource Tampa Bay Workforce Development Board for a two-year volunteer term. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20.
This board provides policy guidance and oversight for workforce development activities for CareerSource Florida Region 28 (Hillsborough County and Pinellas County) in partnership with the Hillsborough Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium. Its activities include developing an annual budget subject to the approval of the Consortium; developing, ratifying and submitting or amending the local workforce plan subject to the approval of the Consortium; establishing and adopting policy for governance, administration and operation of the CareerSource Tampa Bay (CSTB) budget, programs, administrative costs and performance outcomes; identifying and selecting providers of training services, intensive services, youth providers and One Stop Operators as necessary and applicable. The Board meets bi-monthly.
The terms for six positions will expire on June 30. Positions will serve two-year terms ending June 30, 2028.
All nominees must reside in and be registered voters in Pinellas County. Appointments are voluntary positions; therefore, members serve without compensation. The membership of this board is voted on by the Consortium.
To apply, complete the mandatory online application at www.Pinellas.gov/boards by the deadline, Wednesday, May 20, 3 p.m.
All business applicants must upload a letter of nomination from a local Chamber of Commerce, industry or professional organization with the online application.