Seven seniors earn perfect K-12 attendance
TAMPA — If you think your child is perfect (and what parent doesn’t, right?) and he or she is one of seven particular high school seniors who graduated this spring from Hillsborough County schools, you could be right. At least in one sense.
Seven seniors have been honored for an extraordinary achievement – maintaining perfect attendance throughout their entire educational path, from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The students were recognized at the June 2 School Board meeting. Suncoast Credit Union also honored each student with a $500 scholarship.
The students are:
• Julius Montalvo, Gaither High School
• Matthew Mason, Sickles High School
• Sadie Jones, Sickles High School.
• Nathan Jorden, Lennard High School
• Noah Jorden, Lennard High School
• Amanda Harris, Newsome High School
• Darius Donaldson-Dunphy, Plant City High School
Deputies to train for active school threat
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is conducting active threat response training exercises at local schools this week.
Training exercises have already been conducted at Mulrennan Middle School in Valrico and Ben Hill Middle School in Carrollwood.
The remaining training schedule is:
• Wednesday, June 10, at Bloomingdale High School in Brandon and Sickles High School in Tampa.
• Thursday, June 11, at Sickles High School.
These exercises are part of HCSO’s ongoing training to strengthen rapid-response tactics and enhance communication among school resource deputies, patrol deputies, and specialized units during high-stress situations.
Residents in the area can expect an increased law enforcement presence, including marked patrol vehicles and specialized units, throughout the training exercises.
Tax office brings, vision, hearing resources to neighborhoods
TAMPA — This June, the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office is bringing basic health services directly to the community through strategic partnerships: free vision screenings and eyeglasses for children, free hearing screenings for all ages, and safety information from trusted organizations.
As part of its Safety Awareness Month initiative, HCTC is hosting outreach events at office locations across the county, partnering with Lions World Vision Institute and the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida to deliver services that can make a difference in people’s lives.
Free vision screenings and free eyeglasses will be provided for children ages 5 to 17 by Lions World Vision Institute.
Free hearing screening will be provided for all ages by Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida.
All screenings will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following dates and locations:
• Wednesday, June 10 — HCTC Plant City Office: 4706 Sydney Road, Plant City
• Wednesday, June 17 — HCTC Brandon Office: 3030 N Falkenburg Road, Tampa
• Thursday, June 18 — HCTC Southshore Office: 406 30th St. SE, Ruskin
• Wednesday, June 24 — HCTC Drew Park Office: 4100 W Martin Luther King. Jr. Blvd., Tampa
• Thursday, June 25 — HCTC North Tampa Office: 3011 University Center Drive, Suite 150, Tampa
Visitors will also find safety information and resources from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Tampa Fire Rescue, and the Hillsborough County Children’s Board.
No appointment is necessary for any of the free screenings. These services are provided at no cost and require no proof of income or insurance.
Expo to prep for 2026 hurricane season
County officials and community groups will conduct a one-day free community expo to aid residents in preparing for the current 2026 hurricane season.
The event will be held Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at Feeding Tampa Bay, 3624 Causeway Blvd., Tampa.
The one-day, free Disaster and Recovery Community Expo will allow residents and families to engage with local experts on hurricane preparedness, safety, and recovery.
Residents can see firsthand the essential vehicles, tools, and apparatus that Hillsborough County Fire Rescue uses to assist during storm and disaster recovery, and tools and technology used by county departments to get the county storm and disaster ready. There will be giveaways of essential hurricane and disaster kits, dehumidifiers, five-gallon potable water containers, portable Pack ‘N Plays, outdoor work boots, and more.
The expo also will offer an opportunity for residents to have one-on-one conversations with Office of Emergency Management staff and representatives from a number of county departments.
There will be two breakout sessions – scheduled for 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – where residents will get expert advice on new flood insurance updates, revised FEMA rules, and learn about rapid storm intensification. There will also be opportunities to learn how to apply for the Rebuilding for Tomorrow federal funding for housing recovery.
$1 million raised to turn wishes into realities
TAMPA — An intimate concert by country music’s Old Dominion was just one of the highlights from a special evening May 16 at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. The occasion was “A Night in the Tropics,” the 2026 Wishmaker’s Ball hosted by Make-A-Wish Southern Florida that raised more than $1 million to grant life-changing wishes for critically ill children in the Bay area.
Presented by RIPA and The Baldwin Group, the event also featured a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, auctions and inspiring stories from families whose lives have been forever impacted by a wish experience. More than 500 supporters attended the event, helping raise enough to grant 100 more wishes for the child and their entire family at no cost or obligation.
Other top sponsors included PNC Bank, Transportation Control Systems, Signature Aviation and Badger Construction.
The Southern Florida chapter – which includes Tampa Bay, the Suncoast, southwest and southeast Florida as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands – has granted more than 15,000 wishes since 1983.
County schools offer free summer meal for children, teens
TAMPA — Hillsborough County Public Schools is offering free meals to children and teens throughout the summer so students have access to nutritious food while school is out of session.
Meals will be available at more than 150 sites across Hillsborough County. All meals are free and available to any child 18 years and younger, regardless of enrollment status. No registration is required.
For weekday on-site meals:
• Children must be present to receive meals
• Meals must be consumed on-site during scheduled mealtimes
• Community members should check in at the school’s front office before proceeding to the cafeteria
Visit summerbreakspot.org and enter your address to find a nearby meal site and serving time.
The school district is also offering a weekly meal box option at the South County Career Center, 2810 John Sherman Way, Ruskin, until July 22. Families picking up meal boxes at this location do not need to bring children, and meals do not need to be consumed on-site, making it a convenient grab-and-go option.
Pick up is on Wednesdays between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Families will receive seven days of breakfast and lunch meals plus a gallon of milk.
Water treatment to change temporarily
TAMPA — Customers of the Tampa Water Department may notice a slight change in the smell and taste of their drinking water while the department temporarily changes its water disinfection process. The change will be in effect through Friday, June 19.
During this time, the water remains safe to drink and use. The department is using chlorine instead of monochloramine (a mix of ammonia and chlorine) in its water treatment process. Chlorine is a strong disinfectant that inhibits the growth of bacteria in our water mains, service lines, and water.
This is a routine measure that is practiced throughout the Tampa Bay region, and by other public water systems around the country.
Customers who are sensitive to chlorine may notice a stronger smell or taste of chlorine during this switchover period. To minimize this effect, the Tampa Water Department recommends:
• Run the tap for a few minutes before using water.
• Fill a pitcher of water and let it sit for several hours to allow any residual chlorine to evaporate.
• Consider installing a carbon filter on kitchen/bathroom faucets or shower heads, or replacing existing filters with new ones.
Nominations open for outstanding young student awards
Hillsborough County is now accepting nominations for the Youth Excellence and Achievement Awards (YEA! Awards).
The awards recognize positive contributions by young people in the community in three categories: leadership, “success despite difficult odds,” and volunteer or community service.
Nominations will be accepted through Sept. 8.
The nomination form is available online at HCFL.gov/YEA. Nominations will be reviewed by the Hillsborough County Commission on the Status of Women.