Residents can get a chance to grill candidates for city council tonight.
The NAACP St. Petersburg Branch City Council Candidate Forum is at 7 p.m. at the Enoch Davis Center.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early in order to submit written questions for the candidates.
All candidates running are expected to attend.
District 1: Charlie Gerdes and Monica Abbott; District 5: Phillip Garrett and Steven “Steve” L. Kornell; and District 7: Lisa Wheeler-Brown and Winthrop “Will” Newtown.
If you go:
What: NAACP St. Petersburg Branch City Council Candidate Forum
When: 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 26. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Award-winning journalists Cynthia Barnett and Craig Pittman shared their experiences covering environmental issues with NNB reporters Wednesday.
About Neighborhood News Bureau
Neighborhood News Bureau is a working newsroom, staffed by University of South Florida St. Petersburg undergraduate and graduate students under the guidance of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies faculty members. The newsroom opened in Midtown, St. Petersburg March 2006. Its mission is to serve the Midtown and surrounding communities of St. Petersburg. For more information, visit http://www.nnbnews.com/ or email nnb@usfsp.edu.
John Joyce, 83, walks 2.5 miles to mow the lawn at the Norton’s house. They started a GoFundMe to get Joyce a truck. Photo GoFundMe.
John Joyce is getting a truck.
Joyce, 83, has mowed the lawn at Robert Norton’s house for eight years and after recently getting sick and spending three months in the hospital, his truck broke, according to USA Today.
When his daughter is not able to give him a ride, Joyce walks the 2.5 miles to mow the Norton’s lawn.
“That broke my heart, especially when I found out how he was getting here to do what he was doing,” Nikki Norton said to WTSP.
So the Nortons set up a GoFundMe to buy a truck for Joyce. The account has raised more than $6,200, more than the $4,000 goal, since it started two weeks ago.
“I think anybody who is 83 years old who works as hard as he does, as loyal and faithful as he is, his work ethic and character, should have a vehicle to drive and do his work in,” Robert Norton said to WTSP.
Middle school students are working on stories, developing probing questions, recording interviews and editing video.
“I knew I would want to film things,” said Jazmine Cunningham, who hopes the experience leads to further fame. “I thought it was fun because I want to make things perfect.”
Cunningham, 11, said she has learned about taking multiple shots, how to pick up good audio and the importance of stability.
“You have to have control of yourself and the camera, everything,” she said.
Academy Preparatory Center is a non-profit, private school that offers students a rigorous 11-hour school day. There are about 100 schools across the country involved in the PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs program. Academy Preparatory Center is one of the few middle schools selected to be part of the program.
Students in the PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs program set up a camera with help from NNB reporters.
The Student Reporting Labs program pairs students with news professionals in the community.
Students in Academy Preparatory Center’s media club are learning the tips and guidance from NNB reporters, said Laura Manke, the media club teacher at Academy Prep.
The students know how to handle the equipment and are taking leadership roles, she said.
“I’ve seen great growth with the class,” Manke said. “(The students are) excited about it.”
NNB reporters helped the class discuss future projects and scout and film an assignment already.
Danielle Von Dreele, 24, has seen their growth as reporters while working with them twice weekly since the start of the school year.
“It makes me feel confident about where journalism is going in the future,” she said.
The students rearrange desks to get space to film interviews for their story recently. They all have assignments and work together.
Cheyenne Romero, 11, enjoys taking photos and already has learned the importance of organization, how to properly set up the camera for filming and how to give direction to get the best out of the on-camera talent.
“I want to learn how to become a better director,” said Cheyenne Romero.
With the help of NNB student-reporters Romero and the other students are well on the way.
About Neighborhood News Bureau
Neighborhood News Bureau is a working newsroom, staffed by University of South Florida St. Petersburg undergraduate and graduate students under the guidance of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies faculty members. The newsroom opened in Midtown, St. Petersburg March 2006. Its mission is to serve the Midtown and surrounding communities of St. Petersburg. For more information, visit http://www.nnbnews.com/ or email nnb@usfsp.edu.
