What's Right with Tampa Bay

 What a great thing for Tampa to host the Women's Final Four this week.  Its a premier sporting event and a great time for the Tampa Bay area to shine.  April is usually one of the best months weatherwise... and we have so much to offer those who've come into town for the games.  I know Channelside hosted a pep rally this weekend that drew 1,500 people.   Its a great warm up for the Superbowl in 2009. Have fun!

I spent this afternoon at All Children's Hospital as 2 year old Lexi Antorino was taken from the hospital to her home in Palmetto.  Lexi's mother, Sarah and her father Nick were excited to be bringing their beautiful baby home.  But they were also apprehensive about the stress of caring for a baby in a coma at their home.   Sarah is due to give birth to a baby boy any day now but WOW does she have tremendous faith.  Sarah has put everything in God's hands... everything.  I asked her last week when she thought Lexi would be coming home and she said..."Its up to God."  For a 21 year old, she has extrodinary strength and it has to be her faith. 

Sarah and Nick have Sarah's mother to help, she's a nurse and they have also have medicade nurses who'll be helping around the clock as well.  They have turned her room into a sweet pink oasis.  Let's just keep their family in our prayers, that's what they want the most. 

     I feel tremendous sadness for the family and teammates of a young soccer player who was killed in Tampa this weekend while walking across the streeet.  The accident happened at the corner of Waters and Dale Mabry Highway.  One young high school soccer player from New York was killed and another young woman was injured.  Now those who came down here for such an exciting event will never look at Tampa the same way again.  I wonder why so many pedestrians are injured or killed on our streets in the Tampa Bay area.  Officials need to look at the statistics and find a way to make it safer.  Those young women had no idea how dangerous it is to try to cross Dale Mabry Highway, such a tragedy.

 

   I have young children and the other day my 8 year old asked me a very pointed question about Jamie Lynn Spears.  I did not want to have a conversation like that with her at such a young age!!!!   What is going on with these so called stars?  I'm so frustrated by the actions of Jamie Lynn, Brittany, Paris, Lindsay..... the list could go on and on.  I'm disappointed that  I am forced to have conversations with my children much sooner than they or I am ready!

When I came to Fox 13 20 years ago... Hugh Smith was a strong force in our newsroom. He anchored the main newscasts had a strong hand in the editorial direction of our station.  I remember giving him my scripts when I was a young reporter and being so afraid that he wouldn't think they were any good.  He was meticulous in everything he did, from ripping scripts to clearing the wires.  Tonight I think about his family and remember Hugh with such positive memories. He was the consumate journalist and I feel very blessed to say I knew him.

It's the time of year for holiday fun... Christmas parties, celebrations with friends and family.  So its important for all of us to remember to be careful. If you're going to a party and having a few drinks... get a cab or assign a designated driver.   Sometimes it's easy to get carried away... to have one too many... so don't let yourselves get in that position.  Bars and restaurants usually have programs in place if you need a ride home, just ask them.   Also there are so many people on the roads this time of year who may be impaired, so stay alert, don't text anyone while you're driving, and know your limits. Its something we all should be reminded of once in a while.

 

   A few days ago we traveled to the Good Samaritan Mission in Wimauma. It is a wonderful ministry that helps farm workers and anybody who needs help.  It's run by a special lady named Dora Cruz.  We go out there every year at this time to do promos for Thanksgiving, to remind people how important it is to give. 

This year I was overwhelmed by what I saw.  The shelves were empty, no food, no donations.  They will have almost 600 families coming to the ministry for Thanksgiving help and they may not make it. If you are interested in making a donation to the ministry this year, they need food, (bread especially), and they also need clothes, diapers, socks, educational items for the kids, dolls and balls.  Its important for us to remember how much we have to be thankful for... and how many people out there need our help.

  A debate is going on in Pasco County. A teacher in Zephyrhills was called into the principal's office because she has a tongue ring. The middle school principal felt the tongue ring violated the dress code policy for the school.  The teacher is fighting the policy... saying she has a right to wear the tongue ring.

I don't know anything about the teacher involved, but I know I wouldn't want my child's teacher to have a tongue ring.... or at least take it out when they came to school.   There are so many negative influences on our children these days, from billboards to advertisements... the last thing we need is a teacher, who we hold to a higher standard,  to show off her  body piercing... leading a child to think... "Hey, its OK."

 

 

I have just about heard enough!!!!  Now they tell us the lead test kits they've been selling are not reliable!!!!  What are parents supposed to do now.  Christmas is coming and lots of parents like to do their shopping early, but how do you know what's safe and what's not????  Just about every toy is made in China and  I don't know about you, but I don't trust anything from there.

They are recommending you take your children in for a blood test to see if there's lead in their system.  But I don't get it. Subject your child to that trama because someone can't figure out how to test for lead.  I guess I'll just hope my kids only put sports stuff on their Christmas list this year!

I've been driving around lately amazed at how much trash is on the side of the road.  Its everywhere, there's no way a road crew could clean it all up.  I find it hard to believe in this day and age that people still litter, but they obviously do.   My daughter had an idea.... when we see someone litter, honk our horn at them.  Simple thought from an 8 year old who may be onto something.