Library board seeks teen volunteers
The Hillsborough library cooperative is seeking high-school students interested in spending their summer as members of the Teen Advisory & Advocacy Board for the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative.
The five-month program will offer high school students ages 14 to 18 the opportunity to earn up to 100 Bright Futures and educational service hours at the library. The program is structured as a hybrid experience, featuring both virtual sessions and in-person engagement.
Virtual sessions will be held from 5-6 p.m. on the following dates:
July 8
Aug. 5
Sept. 2
Oct. 7
Nov. 4
An in-person certificate ceremony will be held Nov. 7.
This program provides teens an opportunity to provide feedback and influence library services for teens, and to advocate for the library in their community. Space is limited.
For more information, email LibraryInformation@HCFL.gov.
Explore energy solutions with new solar program
TAMPA — Residents interested in solar energy solutions for their homes can now get information and group-buying opportunities with a program that can potentially help them save thousands of dollars on solar installations.
In partnership with Solar United Neighbors (SUN), a national nonprofit focused on solar energy education and resources, the program — Switch Together — offers a collaboration that helps residents and small businesses learn about and access affordable solar energy solutions.
The program’s group-buying model uses the purchasing power of a collective to secure competitive pricing from qualified installers while also ensuring quality assurance, warranty, and guidance through the entire solar buying process from Solar United Neighbors. Participants in the 2026 program are expected to save an average of $7,475 on solar installations — approximately 24% below the market average.
In 2025, approximately 500 Tampa households registered for Switch Together, 141 accepted their personalized offers, and 68 signed contracts for solar installation projects.
Upcoming educational opportunities include a beginner-friendly in-person solar information session hosted by SUN and the city of Tampa Sustainability & Resilience Team on Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at City Center at Hanna Avenue, 2555 E Hanna Ave, Tampa.
Residents and businesses can learn more resources, register for Switch Together, and sign up for the information session at Tampa.gov/Solar. The deadline to register and receive a personalized recommendation is Sept. 2.
Alpha Alpha Theta Omega chapter sets scholarship fundraiser
TAMPA —Alpha Alpha Theta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will celebrate eight years of service, scholarship, sisterhood and community impact during a luncheon Saturday, June 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hunter’s Green Country Club.
The program will highlight scholarship initiatives, community partnerships, and the chapter’s collective achievements over the past eight years. The event is anticipated to bring together community leaders, elected officials, business professionals, supporters, fellow Divine Nine organizations, and residents from across the region .
“The story of Alpha Alpha Theta Omega Chapter is one of intentional service, unwavering sisterhood, and a steadfast commitment to excellence,” said Dionne “Dee” Jones, president of Alpha Alpha Theta Omega Chapter. “As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the lives impacted through our work while renewing our commitment to serving with purpose, compassion, and excellence for years to come.”
USF expands emergency maternity care training to rural areas
TAMPA — Faculty and staff at USF health have joined with state health officials and the Florida Center for Emergency Medical Services to bring medical and obstetrical care directly to people living in rural communities that often have limited access to medical treatment.
The program, funded a grant from FDOH, is designed for communities with little or no access to maternity care or with small hospitals lacking labor and delivery units. It will provide hands-on training to local emergency medical services and healthcare providers for those times when they must respond to time-sensitive complications involving pregnant patients, new mothers and newborns.
The program brings a simulation team and high-fidelity mannequins to participating communities for three days of training.
The first day focuses on preparing local hospital and EMS educators to lead future simulation exercises, while the following two days provide hands-on training for approximately 40 nursing and EMS personnel. The skills and scenarios practiced during the training are designed to prepare teams for real-life maternal and newborn emergencies.
The effort includes Florida’s Telehealth Maternity Care Program, which offers prenatal and postpartum services for women throughout their pregnancy and up to one year after birth at no cost.
Spearheading the effort are Lori Reeves, executive director of the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative (FPQC) at the USF College of Public Health and a faculty administrator in the USF College of Public Health; and Colleen Reiner, director of Education & Research Administration at the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS).
An early investment from an anonymous private donor made it possible to pilot the program in 2025 in Apalachicola, and the success of that initial effort laid the groundwork for future growth. With help from the FDOH, the training will now be expanded to 16 rural counties across the state. Any county without maternity facilities is eligible, and so far the team has completed training in Calhoun, with DeSoto and Taylor next on the schedule.
“The number of hospitals in Florida with maternity units has been declining in the past few years,’’ said Reeves. “We’re concerned about access to appropriate care for women in communities without those facilities, especially for care related to emergencies that occur during pregnancy and the year following a birth.’’
“Our hope is that this training will reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in Florida, as more providers in rural areas will now be trained to recognize and respond to obstetric emergencies,’’ she said. “We also hope that more women will receive the care they need through being referred to the telehealth program.’’
Two students win top honors at invention convention
TAMPA — Two student innovators from Hillsborough County Public Schools recently received national honors at the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, hosted by The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Ishanvi Sabniveesu, a 10th-grade student at Steinbrenner High School, and Daniel Park, a 2026 graduate of King High School, were recognized among the nation’s top young inventors after advancing through competitive regional and state-level competitions to reach the national stage.
Sabniveesu took second place nationally in the 10th Grade Category for her project “AI Enabled Smart Cane for the Visually Impaired: CareCane.”
Park was the winner of a patent application for his project, “Psamacross: A Venom-Derived Anxiety Depression Medication.”
The RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals brings together top K–12 student innovators from across the country. It is the culmination of Invention Convention Worldwide, a K–12 program designed to foster creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking through hands-on invention education.
Tampa‘s top building official named ‘official of the year’
TAMPA — J.C. Hudgison, the chief building official for the city of Tampa, has been named the 2026 Building Official of the Year by the Building Officials Association of Florida. Hudgison was formally recognized at the BOAF Conference in Jacksonville this month.
This recognition highlights Hudgison’s leadership, technical expertise, and consistent dedication to excellence in building safety and code enforcement, Tampa officials said in a press release.
“JC’s commitment to quality, consistency, and service—whether through plan review, inspections, or code interpretation—has made a lasting impact not only within DGM, but across the city of Tampa,” said Abbye Feeley, Tampa’s Development and Economic Opportunity Administrator. “This achievement comes at a fitting time, as JC also celebrates his six-year anniversary with the city this spring. Both milestones reflect the dedication and professionalism he continues to demonstrate in his role.”
Hudgison is currently leading the effort as the city’s Building Department works to receive its accreditation with the International Accreditation Service (IAS). This certification proves a city meets strict national standards for permitting, plan reviews, inspections and more.
SWFWMD to set fires in preserve to cut wildfire risk
The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting prescribed burns now through September on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve.
Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control.
The preserve is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard near Thonotosassa. Approximately 500 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
The District emails and/or texts prescribed burn alerts directly to members of the public who sign up through the District’s website. The prescribed burn alerts explain where and when the burns will take place and how many acres will be burned. Sign up to receive email and/or text alerts about scheduled prescribed burns by visiting WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurns.
The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 35,000 acres each year.