Student achievements
• Avery Mars of Tarpon Springs has been named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2026 semester at Hofstra University.
Students on the Dean’s list have achieved a GPA of at least 3.5.
• Layla Palmisano of Safety Harbor, a freshman biology/health major at Grove City College, has been named to the Dean’s List with Distinction for the spring 2026 semester.
• Several Pinellas County students attending Samford University have been named to the school’s Dean’s List for the spring 2026 semester. They are: Hakan Rudd of Palm Harbor, Summer Chastain of Palm Harbor, Alyssa Tutas of Palm Harbor, Isabelle Doce of Palm Harbor and Lindsay Neufarth of Safety Harbor.
• Two area students, Laura Berry of Palm Harbor and Cristian Castro of Holiday, have been named to the Dean’s List at the University of Maryland Global Campus for the spring 2026 term.
Three Pinellas students attending the University of Alabama have been named to the school’s honor rolls for the spring 2026 semester. Zachary Goldman of Palm Harbor was named to the President’s List. Hope Shankle of Palm Harbor was named to the Dean’s List. And Aliya Griffith of Tarpon Springs was named to the Dean’s List.
Choral music to mark U.S. Independence Day
PALM HARBOR — St. Alfred’s Episcopal Church will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation with a musical presentation on Sunday, July 5, at 7 p.m.
Attendees will sing, pray, and hear music that brings to mind who we are, our history, and hope for the future. The service will include familiar patriotic hymns and prayers for our nation.
The two canticles sung at Evensong, the Song of Mary (Magnificat) and The Song of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis), are metrical settings of biblical texts that were composed by Francis Hopkinson, an American Founding Father. Hopkinson was a representative from New Jersey to the Second Continental Congress, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a designer of early versions of both the American flag and the National Seal. He was also a musician and vestryman at Christ Church, Philadelphia.
Also included in the service will be a Native American chant, a Spiritual, a contemporary patriotic song by Eugenie Rocherolle, and two selections from Randall Thompson’s A Testament of Freedom.
Thompson, an American composer born in New York City, was an eminent American composer educated at Harvard University. He is known for his settings of texts by well-known Americans, notably Robert Frost and Thomas Jefferson. A Testament of Freedom is a four-section work, each based on a different text by Thomas Jefferson, and written in celebration of the 200th anniversary of Jefferson’s birthday.
The church is located at 1601 Curlew Road, Palm Harbor.
Duke Foundation grant to aid Dunedin exhibit
ST. PETERSBURG — The Duke Energy Foundation has distributed grants totaling $77,500 to seven nonprofit organizations across Florida that are working to expand access to civic learning and remembrance.
Locally, the Dunedin History Museum received a $20,000 grant in support of its “Freedom in Focus: Florida’s Legacy of Liberty” exhibit.
The exhibit is on display through Nov. 13. It invites visitors to explore the moments, ideas and documents that have shaped the nation and Florida’s constitutional history, including interactive displays, interpretive panels and a guided timeline. The Foundation’s grant also enabled the museum to launch a traveling Declaration of Independence signing project that culminated in a special reenactment event on June 20.
“Just as energy has powered our homes and businesses for generations, civic engagement and education power the future of our community,” said Danela Gutierrez, Dunedin History Museum operations manager. “Partnering with Duke Energy on Freedom in Focus: Florida’s Legacy of Liberty for America250 reflects a shared commitment to keeping our community strong by connecting residents to both their history and their role in shaping what comes next.”
These grants represent the third round of funds awarded under the Duke Energy Foundation’s America250 initiative, a more than $1 million investment in community‑driven projects throughout the company’s six-state service area to recognize America’s 250th anniversary. In Florida, the awards totaled $150,000, including $22,500 to help strengthen Florida communities and $50,000 to honor and support the state’s veterans.
MarineMax names Garland Chief People Officer
OLDSMAR — Recreational boat and yacht retailer MarineMax, Inc. has named Beth Garland the company’s Chief People Officer.
Garland joined MarineMax nearly five years ago as senior vice president of people strategy.
“Beth has played an essential role in shaping our culture and strengthening team member engagement as MarineMax has grown,” said Brett McGill, chief executive officer and president of MarineMax. “Her passion for our people and her leadership make her the right choice to lead our people strategy as Chief People Officer, and we’re excited to see the continued impact she’ll have across the organization.”
Library receives $1,500 to expand America250 Book Collection
PALM HARBOR — Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, has awarded Palm Harbor Library $1,500 to expand its circulating collection with more than 30 new titles that encourage readers to reflect on America’s past, present, and future as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
With this grant funding, PHL will also be giving away over 70 books for all ages based on U.S. historical figures and events.
In total, Florida Humanities awarded more than $78,000 to 23 libraries and library systems statewide, supporting the purchase of more than 4,000 books in communities across 25 Florida counties.
Several of the library’s upcoming America250 events will include giveaways for these awarded books.