Category: COMMUNITY

BY MATTHEW LIDDELL
NNB Student Reporter

SARASOTA – Joey Panek may be on the Monday noon news like many others, but he’s far from an ordinary reporter.

“I don’t really want to have, like, a news voice,” he told his assistant recently as they prepared to shoot a segment by the Ringling Bridge in Sarasota. “I still want to sound like myself… which I hope is very charming.”

It’s apparent from his joking manner that Panek approaches his work with a lot of levity.  But he isn’t goofing off. It’s the reason why he is a social correspondent on WWSB’s ABC 7 News in the first place.

Panek, 36, grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., and earned an associate degree at Onondaga Community College. He spent 13 years on the professional stage before moving to Sarasota in 2006.

Panek, a self-proclaimed “man about town,” is a social media guru for a media group called the HuB, where he makes online content like ads and web series. He also covers pop culture on his own website, HowBoutJoey.com.

His talent comes from his jovial personality and his eye for social events, which is exactly what the managers at ABC 7 thought when they approached Panek last year.

He started at the TV station by reporting on weekend events for the noon Monday program. But he soon wanted to branch out.

“Practically, there aren’t as many events now that the (winter) season is over,” Panek said. “Personal reason was that it was exhausting. I was becoming a run-and-gun cameraman, sometimes covering three events in a single night. They realized they could send a cameraman to get footage for the news and that it was a waste to have me doing that.”

Now, Panek goes to the ABC 7 studio every Monday to introduce his series “What’s Up, Joey.” He covers trends – in health, food, weddings and travel – with Florida-centric spin and tries to keep the tone conversational and light.

This became evident recently as Panek and his crew worked on a few stories.

“Do it again, but this time with a smile!” yelled his assistant, Christine Alexander, after a bland take for a story at the Florida Studio Theatre. Panek’s face, voice and gestures immediately came alive, changing everything about his delivery and on-screen presence.

It’s no wonder that theater and acting are among Panek’s great interests. With his experience on the professional stage, he knows how to present himself to an audience.

Panek was wrapping up on his next piece, a story about a couple of online health fads – adding butter, not cream, to coffee and “oil pulling,” or swishing a tablespoon of oil in the mouth for better oral health. He also went to the Perq Coffee Bar to learn about proper coffee shop etiquette.

It may not be hard-hitting or traditional journalism, but Panek strives for professionalism in his material.

“They’ve given me the freedom to go outside the box,” he said. “I didn’t (do that) immediately because I wanted to show them I could do a professional package, and that’s what solidified me there.”

BY KIM DOLEATTO
NNB Student Reporter

ST. PETERSBURG – The homeless guy throwing the hotel room parties had amazingly fresh breath. His Social Security checks financed both the parties and his disability: alcoholism.

His drink of choice? Mouthwash.

Another man lived in a 6-by-8-foot hole in the ground because, he told the reporter, “it just felt better” there.

In 27 years as a reporter for the Tampa Bay Times, Curtis Krueger has covered the silly as well as the solemn.

Krueger , 55, is from Bloomington, Ind., and has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University. After working at the Fort Wayne, Ind., Journal Gazette for four years, he asked his wife, Vicky, a copy editor, where they should seek new jobs.

“Nowhere where it snows,” she replied. She is now director of interactive learning at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg.

Krueger has covered the homeless, social services, politics, space and science, and natural disasters. Now he covers the courts beat, following 60 to 80 cases at a time.

“When I write, I feel like I’m shining a light on something people should know,” he said.

He has shined a light on St. Petersburg’s juvenile gun problem. In 2011, 16-year-old Nicholas Lindsey murdered a police officer. In 2013, police say, an armed 13-year-old shot a 15-year-old three times for taunting him.

But perhaps Krueger’s highest-profile story was the murder of an 8-year-old girl: Paris Whitehead-Hamilton, who died in her home in a gang-related shooting in 2009.

“This story raises questions about where we live and why a little girl died,” he said.

He covered the trial two and a half years after the murder. “Unlike cop shows, it takes months to figure things out,” he said. Three men, all 21, were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. A fourth defendant, also 21, testified against the others and was later sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Shortly before the trial, Krueger got an interview with Paris’ aunt and guardian, Shenita Williams, who was at home with a sleeping Paris when the shooting – 56 bullets from two assault rifles – broke out.

“It’s traditional to talk to the family of the victim right before a trial,” he said. “It reinforces what it’s all about, and (why) we should feel that pain again.”

The family’s emotional state is usually still raw, and Krueger’s advice to young journalists is this: “Just say you want to talk, not for an interview – just talk.”

Williams was angry that the news media’s account of the murder included police suggestions that there was some gang involvement in her household, he said. But most “people will want to talk, tell their side of the story outside of the cold facts.”

Krueger and Williams talked over lunch at the Olive Garden. He learned about Paris the little girl, not the victim. He learned that the girl’s late mother – Williams’ cousin – had named her after the famous French city, which she visited while in the military. And he learned that Paris had read more than a thousand pages during a book-a-thon.

It was rich detail that – with Williams’ approval – Krueger put in subsequent stories.

“I like to see something most people won’t (see) and bring that image to life,” he said.

His coverage of the case included a slide show of images of the bullet-riddled home where Paris died, accompanied by recordings of multiple 911 calls to police that night.

“Appeal to the senses – the look plus the smell, the look plus the sound,” Krueger said. “Then you really get a full image.”

BY JACOB COONFARE
NNB Student Reporter

ST. PETERSBURG – The desk sits in a corner framed by two large windows with a view of St. Petersburg rooftops. Cartoons and drawings that illustrate stories from a range of categories hang on the wall between the windows. Well-thumbed books with titles like Art Deco and News Design sit neatly on a shelf.

The desk belongs to Don Morris, assistant news art director for the Tampa Bay Times.

For 26 years, he has illustrated stories in the Times with work that ranges from simple, one-column maps to extravagant, multi-day sketches that dominate the paper.

Regardless of the topic, Morris believes the most important thing about every piece is the story it tells the reader.

“People see images everywhere they look,” said Morris, 59. “When you look at a newspaper it better look good, but those pictures and illustrations better tell a story.”

It often starts with a place and a photo.

Morris begins the illustration process by going to the location of the story and taking photos. Then he returns to his desk to sketch out the photos and begin brainstorming.

“I love to go out and sketch things and write down what I’m sketching,” Morris said.

For a story on Greenlight Pinellas, a proposed project that supporters say would improve public transportation in the county, Morris could be found traveling on the bus daily to get a feel for how the bus system worked. He then sketched ideas on his pad.

While the story easily lends itself to visuals, Morris said, there was another reason for riding the bus.

“I admit I’m not the most objective about it (the Greenlight Pinellas proposal),” he said. “I want to go out and find the facts and report them.”

In 2013, Morris and reporter Michael Kruse collaborated on a three-day series on the final voyage of the Bounty, which sank off the coast of North Carolina during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, killing two of the 16 crew members. He, Kruse, Lee Glynn, Alexis Sanchez and Maurice Rivenbark built an interactive, scrolling website that is organized into chapters to read like a book. Morris’ sketches and paintings of the ship dot the pages as if taken from a ship engineer’s notebook.

Morris says it was rewarding to get a month to work on the project.

That “was a real joy,” he said. “It is the epitome of what the Times can do.”

Morris doesn’t work exclusively for the newspaper. He also freelances. One of his art projects was for Chick-fil-A. He illustrated the Virtue Valley Tales, children’s books that tell the stories of animals that discover their inner courage, initiative and joy.

The Chick-fil-A project and other freelance art projects were arranged by Morris’ agents.

“As artists, we tend to downgrade ourselves and not ask what we’re worth,” he said. “That’s where agents come in. My agents are kind of the middle man in the whole thing.”

As a news artist, Morris wants to continue to use his gift as a way to tell stories. He hopes to see more long-term projects. He also wants to see more interactive websites and graphics.

He says this would help push art at the Times in a new direction – something he hopes to lead.

“I want the last years of my career to be devoted to pushing art at the Times in a new direction,” he said. “Use what you’re good at as your tool to tell a story.”

BY SAMANTHA MESERVEY

NNB Student Reporter

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The small storefront bursts with incense and candles. As you walk through the door you are immediately greeted by a fiery smell and sunlight bouncing off crystals.

The Looking Glass is a new-age shop located in Midtown that specializes in metaphysical supplies and spiritual healing.

Shop owner Chris Otazo met his wife Sara Otazo in the little store. With similar interests in Holistic qualities both enjoy working there together. The mission is to empower others by helping them on a spiritual journey.

The Looking Glass concentrates on a form of healing called Reiki which is a Japanese technique that uses energy and small amounts of touch to create stress reduction and relaxation.

“We only touch the customers’ shoulders and then the energy goes where it needs to,” Chris Otazo said.

The shop has a varying group of customers including people living with HIV or Lupus. Chris Otazo explains how about 30% of first time customers are skeptical the holistic healings will produce results.

“Most costumers are referred to us by friends and family, they wouldn’t have come on their own,” Chris Otazo said.

He also explained how many people who tried countless different forms of western medicine come to The Looking Glass hoping an alternative healing will cure them.

Sara Otazo recently realized how popular new age healing has become.

“It is the new thing, people you wouldn’t think would ever come in here are here all the time,” she said.

The Looking Glass provides customers with numerous types of healing. One popular form of healing is Chelation.

Chris Otazo describes Chelation as bringing the lines of life through mother earth then through the body for detoxification. The process allows toxins and waste to leave the body.

Polarity healing is different from Chelation but just as popular. This form of healing focuses on balancing out energy fields. By balancing a person’s energy stress and disease are thought less likely to occur.

Other forms of healing offered at The Looking Glass are sound healing, crystal bed healing, and life coaching.

Sara Otazo admits that the life coaching has less to do with healing and more to do with advice giving. She understands that some people hit a cross road in life and just need some spiritual, outside guidance.

“We try to help people on their path, we look inside them and use our intuition to help,” she said.

Both Chris and Sara Otazo believe the healing is done by God, not themselves. Through them God is able to channel energy and heal the patients. Chris Otazo believes once a customer is healed they should not have to be healed again, unless they mentally allow the sickness to redevelop. Life coaching and balancing therapies are a routine procedure while healing should only be done when a disease or anxiety manifests again.

The Looking Glass allows customers to take control of the experience by charging a fee of $1.00 per minute for healings. The customer is permitted to choose how long they want a session to last. Chris Otazo suggests at least 15 minutes for a proper healing experience.

“We try to make it as affordable for everyone as possible,” he said.

Along with healing services The Looking Glass also provides hundreds of different healing products including crystals, candles and jewelry. Sara Otazo, who grew up with a fascination for crystals explained how their healing is recognized by western medical professionals.

All the inventory at The Looking Glass is special to the two owners, they agree there is a special reason why it produces such strong healing.

“We put love into all our inventory which enhances the healing properties,” Sara Otazo said.

BY LORI CASTELLANO

NNB Student Reporter

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Most days you will find Antwon Fowler sitting in his front yard relaxing with friends and family and enjoying some of the fruits and vegetables of his labor.

Fowler’s garden is located on 3rd St. and 20th Ave. S. in St. Petersburg, Fla., and while it might not look very big, it packs a wallop feeding his family for two growing seasons.

Fowler, who grew up in St. Petersburg, has only lived at this location a year but knew when he saw all of the earthworms, it was going to be a perfect area for planting his crop.

“I knew I had a good garden to plant,” he said. “When I started, I planted cabbages, but right now I have mustard greens, collard greens, and pineapples for the cooler season.”

Fowler grew up appreciating the importance of growing your own food from his father, and he wanted to teach this to his family.

“My youngest granddaughter helps me the most in the garden. She likes to keep the other kids out,” he said. “She’s very protective of it.”

She’s not the only one who is protective of the garden.

“Cocoa, my Chihuahua, stands guard and chases any animals away, if there are any brave enough to venture close enough,” he said.

There usually aren’t.

The food from the harvest not only feed his daughter and her three children, all of whom live with him, but friends as well.

Garfield Anderson, a friend and fellow gardener, can be seen often sitting out front with Fowler talking about their plants.

“I have a small garden, but since I am from Jamaica, I like to grow yams, bananas, collard greens and sugar cane,” Anderson said.

Fowler does get his share of curious visitors.

“I just had a couple of people who just stopped by and asked how to grow plants in the sandy soil. A lot of people stop by to talk about the garden,” Fowler said.

Todd Pardoll walks up to ask Fowler about it.

“I have been riding down here and checking this out for at least a year and wanted to stop by,” he said. “I am trying to grow a garden myself and would like to get some ideas.”

Fowler’s outdoor area is usually a gathering place. Marcellus Morris drops off some mangrove snapper he just caught.

“My dad and Antwon are best friends, and I have my garden in pots,” he said. “I have four boys, and they all plant with me. It absorbs into them.”

Pardoll is taking pictures while he is talking to Fowler.

“It’s really good for the community. If you nourish the earth, you get repaid with the seeds from the garden. We take that with us,” Morris said.

BY COURTNEY PARISH

NNB Student Reporter

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Many people rely on caffeine as fuel to power them through daily responsibilities. LaVerne Feaster-Johnson, on the other hand, is fueled by a desire to make a difference in people’s lives. She works as the Program Manager at Department of Veterans Affairs for Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.

As one of the first people to graduate with a Masters in Social Work from the University of South Florida, social work is in Feaster-Johnson’s blood. Her mother was a Licensed Practical Nurse at the state psychiatric facility in Philadelphia, Pa.; she worked with individuals who had mental health problems.

“I remember picking my mother up from work one day and a patient tried to follow her home. She coaxed him back into the building by reassuring him that he wasn’t different or dysfunctional, he just functioned differently,” Feaster-Johnson said. Her mother’s kind and accepting attitude is something Feaster -Johnson admires and wants to pass on to the people whose lives she touches.

Feaster-Johnson moved from Philadelphia to St. Petersburg, Fla. in 1974 after receiving her undergraduate degree in Social Work. Fresh out of college, her first job was as a paraprofessional for Wildwood Elementary School where she taught remedial reading and math. She enjoyed working with children but desired a job in her field.

In 1975, Horizon Hospital, a private hospital opened in the St. Petersburg area which later hired Feaster-Johnson as a Clinical Social Worker. As part of her responsibilities she recorded patient’s medical and family history, performed psychological assessments and conducted individual and group counseling.

The University of South Florida launched their masters degree program for social work in 1981. Feaster-Johnson participated in a task force that conducted a survey on the bay area to see if there were enough people interested in social work to keep start a masters program in social work. After participating in the task force, they asked her if she had considered attending to graduate school. She was part of the first class to graduate from USF with a master’s degree in social work in 1983.

After graduating USF, Feaster-Johnson left Horizon Hospital to work for a residential treatment program for emotionally disturbed children. Children with emotional problems, aged 6-16 were housed in the facility. Feaster-Johnson conducted individual and group therapy and family therapy. She enjoyed working with the children and their families to communicate openly and find ways to improve the child’s environment.

“The needs of the children spoke to me. I enjoyed seeing the gratification of the individuals who I served. Especially when they learned that funding and services were available to help improve their quality of living,” Feaster-Johnson said. While she enjoyed working with the children and families, she desired job security.

Feaster-Johnson left the residential treatment program she was working for to work for Bay Pines VA hospital. In the 30 years she has worked for Bay Pines VA, she has built her career. Feaster-Johnson has worked as a Medical Social Worker, an Inpatient Psychiatry and a Family Therapist. She is currently serving as Program Manager at the Department of Veteran Affairs.

During this time, Feaster-Johnson was inspired to create a rehabilitation program that helped homeless veterans get back into a working environment. She went through the grant podium program and drafted a grant for the homeless program.

She was awarded funds and a team of people who focused on hiring homeless veterans for oddball jobs around Bay Pines VA Hospital. The Veterans were offered stiffen in exchange for their labor. Some of the veterans who went through the program were offered a job at Bay Pines VA Hospital. Others used the opportunity as a chance to build up their resume and network to get jobs elsewhere.

Feaster Johnson is serving her last year at Bay Pines VA Hospital as Program Manager at the Department of Veteran Affairs.

“As a 30 year employee who is now planning her retirement, it is amazing to see how effective she can be to resolve problems,” Patricia Frederick, Suicide Prevention Coordinator for Bay Pines VA Hospital said. “Just this morning she was able to assist a veteran with something very complicated and she knew exactly who to speak with and was persistent until she learned that the problem had been resolved. When she informed the veteran he was delighted.”

Though Feaster-Johnson plans on retiring this January, she is not hanging up her hat and will continue her leadership role as President of Blacks in Government. An organization that helps young people in the Midtown community make connections to earn jobs working for the Federal Government.

“Laverne is a very unique leader she is very committed to the VA first and then to Blacks in Government as President of our chapter. She is very committed, very thorough, very organized and very hard to say no to. Her charm, caring, genuine personality and commitment to her beliefs make her hard to say no to,” Jonathan Wade, Vice President of Blacks in Government said.

Feaster-Johnson plans on investing the money she has earned into opening her own practice. She wants to focus on individual and couples therapy, since this has been her strong point through out her career. As a way of giving back to her struggling community, she wants to continue helping people in the Midtown community by opening her practice in St. Petersburg.

BY JENNA SHAW

NNB Student Reporter

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Terri Scott is much more than her title of Administrative Officer for the Office of City Council gives her credit for. She is a model member of the community who has a large heart and the determination and passion to make a difference.

As a leadership project, Scott came up with the idea to make a garden behind the Carter G. Woodson Museum of African American History.

Her idea was chosen for the class project. The idea was that the garden would attract more people to the museum and allow for gatherings such as wedding parties, celebrations, and other events that would generate income for the museum as the space was rented.

The garden behind the Carter G. Woodson museum is Scott’s masterpiece and sacred place. It’s natural beauty attracts people of all backgrounds and can be a place of solitude and reflection or a place for celebration and socializing.

Shortly after the creation of the garden, Scott fell in love with it and became a member of the museum board. The garden is her favorite place in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The museum not only contains African American history, but it represents African American history as well. Like many African American communities, a highway runs straight through it. It is the only museum in St. Petersburg that has windows you can just walk up to and look through. If you think about it, the Dali, Holocaust, Museum of Fine Arts, etc., all keep their history safeguarded behind thick walls and glass cases.

You cannot go up to the window and look inside, it is for those who want badly enough to see it, to take the time to digest the information, and see the significance of each thing, who can look upon them.

The Carter G. Woodson museum provides St. Petersburg with factual information on how and who was responsible for the start of St. Petersburg and how it came to be what it is today.

A lot of St. Petersburg history is wrapped up in African American history and they won’t tell you that over at the St. Petersburg Museum of History. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum gives the St. Petersburg citizens the opportunity to see exactly what was so influential about leaders such as Perkins and Gibbs and why schools have been named after them.

Scott said students arrive at the museum on field trips, not even knowing who Carter G. Woodson is and why he is important, let alone someone their own school is named after.

Scott sees history as an important thing for youth to know and stresses it’s importance in everyday life. She says history is now, it is happening every moment all around us. Every day we wake up, we enter the lives of others and are touched by the people around us, history depends on us. We should live as though we would want to be remembered. We must make every moment count.

A former Savannah, Ga. resident, Scott has made St. Petersburg home for her and her family. Of the thirty-three years in Florida, twenty-six have been spent working for the city.

Scott has organized other events to help people of all ages such as a tea party for young girls, a breast cancer awareness event, and a winter social in the garden.

Scott wanted to make a difference in the lives of the youth in St. Petersburg. Her goal was to change the outlook of as many as possible, but she would start with a dozen.

She created the Silver Spoon Tea Party. Her and some female friends each paired up with a young girl from a local girls group. The women sponsored the girls for their tea party event. They bought the girls all new outfits including slips, fancy dresses, shoes, accessories, and satin pajamas.

The girls were picked up in a limo, taken to the hair salon, dressed up in their new outfits, learned some basic etiquette, and went to Carrabba’s Italian Grill where they met the mayor. The girls felt and were treated more important.

After dinner they all went to a nice hotel where they stayed the night. Scott said the difference in attitude and behavior was remarkable between the time the girls were picked up and the time they were dropped off. Their whole attitude changed. They went from grumpy and low-self-esteemed girls to proper ladies.

It was a culturally enhancing and enriching activity for the girls. Lessons were learned and memories were made that will last a lifetime.

November will prove to be a promising month for more events planned at the Carter G. Woodson Museum with the help of Scott.

The first Saturday there will be a fashion show featuring work from 3 different designers featuring clothing on every sized model from petite to plus. It will take place in the garden behind the Carter G. Woodson museum.

On the second Saturday, the garden will feature Jazz Under the Oaks. There will be music and drinks from 5-9 p.m.

The garden was just one of the many gifts Terri Scott gave to the community. Even though she doesn’t agree with the title of community leader, she is a voice of the people. She helps the community in whatever way possible and her contributions will continue to change the lives of others for years to come.

BY JENNA SHAW

NNB Student Reporter

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Hidden away from the city is a small community of its own in Campbell Park.

The 33.3 acres of land known as Campbell Park is located at 601 14 St. S., St. Petersburg, Fla., and features a playground, recreation center, outdoor pool with slides, outdoor fitness zone, a lit football/soccer field, 4 lit outdoor basketball courts, lit racquetball/handball courts, lit regulation sized baseball field, lit youth size baseball field, 4 lit tennis courts, 10 picnic shelters, a playcamp site, and restrooms.

The Campbell Park Recreation Center is where park and community merge.

The Recreation Center has a variety of programs available for everyone in the community including; elementary & teen camps, teen room activities, an art room, gymnasium, TASCO teens program, therapeutic recreation, tae kwon do classes, open gym Mondays from 6-8 p.m., and utilization or rental of Campbell Park facilities for cookouts, celebrations, or other events.

Park visitors can rent out shelters, the gym, pool, and sports courts.

Before and after school programs provide families with the child care needed to help families with working mothers and/or fathers who otherwise would have to find alternate transportation methods for their children to get to school. The children meet at the center for morning check-in and activities at 7:00 a.m. and are walked to school by a supervisor at 8:30 a.m.

The after school program is a little different. The children are picked up at school and checked in by the supervisor and then the group as a whole walks together back to the center. They have a designated book bag area with a no stealing policy.

A pool table, ping pong table, foosball table, arts and craft tables, a reading area, and video game area are some of the indoor activities the kids can choose from. Many days the group will do outdoor activities such as utilize the playground or play sports on one of the many fields. Some days they even take field trips to museums, Cici’s Pizza, or downtown. Vans are used for field trips. The after school program also includes snacks.

Verline Moore, Recreation Supervisor at Campbell Park Recreation Center, says “We like to give them a little say in what we do here,” so kids meet with an advisor at the center for ideas on how to spend their money and what kinds of activities to plan. Moore points out that Dance Dance Revolution, a video game that requires you to move around and dance, is definitely a favorite among the kids.

There is financial assistance available for those who qualify. The Early Learning Coalition Agency pays a certain amount of the cost, or grants are available for those families receiving DCF, reduced lunch, and other programs.

Teens are encouraged to use the workout zone and also work on homework.

Terrance Henderson, a frequent user of the workout zone says, “It’s not completely ideal because everything only uses your own bodyweight against you, but it sure beats paying a gym membership.”

TASCO Teens provides kids with learning and coaching experiences outside of school. It stands for Teen Arts, Sports, and Cultural Opportunities. Teens from grades 6 all the way through high school gather together for events, sports, technology, and other activities.

Their 6 core concepts; drug resiliency, community service, purposeful and meaningful activities and social opportunities, positive family interaction, educational and career development, and adult role and leadership models are meant to inspire and encourage the St. Petersburg youth, helping them on their way to success. There is a TASCO teen lounge at Campbell Park.

Although Campbell Park is not the main office for Saint Petersburg’s therapeutic recreation, you can learn more about it from the rec center and some activities do take place at the park. The goal is to provide citizens of all ages with positive and constructive activities to alleviate stress, reduce boredom, experience new things, gain emotional support, feel better, and become more of a community.

On the St. Pete website it says, “Education and recreation services help people with illnesses, disabilities and other conditions to develop and use their leisure in ways that will enhance their health, functional abilities, independence and quality of life.”

The outdoor pool – though now closed to the public – is open for swim lessons. During the summer, the pool is open to the public. Admission is $4.00 for an adult, and $3.50 for a child.

BY COURTNEY PARISH

NNB Student Reporter

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The weather is gradually starting to cool down. In anticipation of a few cold spells, people are starting to pull out the sweater boxes and seeing what needs to be updated in their fall wardrobe. Most of us cannot afford to revamp our closet with the latest from Tampa Bay Fashion Week. Lucky for us retro and vintage wear is still in vogue. Where there is a will, Goodwill has a way.

Thrifting, the act of shopping at thrift store has recently become popular among 15-25 year olds thanks to singer Macklemore’s hit song Thrift Shop. According to the book Fashion Marketing and Theory, by Gianpaolo Vignali and Claudio Vignali, this age bracket is heavily targeted by the fashion and retail industry.

“The Goodwill here in Midtown welcomes people of all ages through its door,” Ricky Smith, a Goodwill employee said. The different age groups approach the racks differently when it comes to perusing the clothing racks. “Older patrons tend to by the basics and lean towards some of the more generic looking styles,” Smith, said.

Janelle Kay, is a Journalism student at St. Petersburg College. She is a frequent thriftier and hunts the racks for whatever clothes fit the look she is going for that day. “I look for vintage and interesting pieces that I can either wear or alter,” Kay, said.

Sometimes Kay sells her reinvintaged clothes to Revolve Clothing Exchange in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. She gets inspiration for her reinvintage designs from Lucky and other fashion magazines. Altering clothing is just a hobby, but shopping at Goodwill allows Kay to enjoy the hobby without breaking the bank.

There is an art to thrifting if you are looking to score a deal on some sweet retro threads. Bloggers Elsie and Emma, of A Beautiful Mess have achieved pro status when it comes to thrifting. They shared ten thrifting tips with readers on their blog.

1. Keep a list of what you want and need. This will save you time if you are in a hurry and don’t have time to sift through all the racks.

2. Only buy what you love. It is easy to get overwhelmed with things you like. Only leave with what you love so you don’t get overwhelmed with iffy clothing.

3. Stay open minded. You never know what is going to turn up at Goodwill. Be patient and did through all the T-shirts and Moo-Moos to find that one of a kind gem.

4. Keep a schedule and shop frequently. Try going once a week in the middle of the week. You will have better odds and the beet the weekend crowd. Keep a schedule of the hours and sales for your favorite stores.

5. Prepare yourself. Some stores only take cash. Keep a mental note of who is plastic friendly and who isn’t so you are not surprised when you get to the register.

Samantha Harland is a first time thrifter and already addicted to the thrift store-shopping scene. “My friend introduced me to thrift shopping. I like looking for unique items that I can take home and alter. I am not afraid to play around and try new clothes here because everything is so cheap,” Harland said.

BY LORI CASTELLANO

NNB Student Reporter

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Every third Thursday of the month the Greater Mt. Zion Church located in St. Petersburg, Fla.’s Midtown area feeds the hungry and people who need some extra food supplies.

The program, which started two years ago in partnership with Feeding America, continues to drop off an average of 300 boxes of food ranging from meat, milk, fruit, vegetables, bread, snacks and juice, until it runs out. It never has food left over.

Bertha Searcy, a church member, has been donating her time since the beginning and is busy trying to organize all of the volunteers and the cleanup.

“I started two years ago, and we do this till we run out,” she said.

More than 20 volunteers show up today wearing green shirts that read “Greater Mt. Zion AME –Working For The Community.”

Helen Evans, church parishioner, knows it’s not just a church effort but a community effort.

“Alpine Health & Rehab comes out to help us too,” she said.

Evans asks people to sign their name on a log sheet to get a headcount on who is receiving the donations when a man walks up to sign in.

Gilbert Albritton, Midtown resident, “I drove by and saw all the green shirts and wanted to check it out,” he said.

Albritton looks over at the tables to see what food is left. One of the volunteers informs him all that is left are tomatoes and some juice.

“This is my first time here, and I’m going to get a couple of tomatoes,” he said.

Searcy, who is tired and starting to feel the sun’s heat, “We start at nine and go usually two hours and set up and take down. We do this once a month, the third Thursday of the month,” she said.

While it can be hard work for the volunteers, some see it as a rewarding experience.

Eva Williams, church member, “I really enjoy doing this,” she said.

Food has not kept up with demand. “We do run out of food sooner but have kept the same donations,” Searcy said.

Another resident who regularly picks up some food is James Gamble. “I come every time they have it; been here three times already,” he said.

Gamble, a retired cab driver and roofer, cannot work anymore because of health issues.

“I pick up little things at the food pantry about twice a week, but they have everything here,” he said.

It’s not uncommon to see people stay after picking up their food. Gamble sits down and talks to another member of the community.

“If you hang around here long enough, you will find a good story,” Gamble said.