Education

Bringing New Focus

For students with IEPs, charter schools make a difference. Article by Amy Walters | Photography by Pepin Academies When a child struggles at school, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom. It touches family routines, emotional well-being, confidence, and long-term hopes for the future. Academic struggles don’t have a demographic profile, they affect parents and children regardless of their financial stature or circumstance. Parents often find themselves navigating meetings, advocating for...

Life + Culture

Birds Eye View

The romance of soaring through the sky in a balloon! Article by JoAnn Chang | Photography by Brandon Wood & Naomi Wipert If you’re up early enough near the rural areas of north Pasco and southern Hillsborough counties, you might catch a glimpse. They rise majestically over the trees to soar through the sky. Lighter than air, they quietly float, pushed along by the breeze until they softly land in a nearby field. Flying in a hot air balloon is a special, awe-inspiring experience, perfect for...

Health + Wellness

Focusing on Family

Making challenging decisions rooted in love. Article by Michelle Numann | Photography by Catey & Maguire Law P.L.L.C. When a family is staring down a significant transition, the most challenging part often isn’t the paperwork — it’s the uncertainty. Separation. Divorce. A new parenting schedule. A step-parent adoption that’s been a long time coming. Even when the decision is rooted in love and the desire to do what’s right, it can still feel like everything familiar is shifting at once. In...

Food + Beverage

Fresh Flavors: H’ours Creole Smokehouse

Southern comfort NOLA style. Article by SaucyQueen aka Michele Northrup | Photography by Naomi Wipert It takes just a moment to realize you’ve been transported to New Orleans when you step inside H'ours Creole Smokehouse. Housed in a beautifully renovated home, the restaurant blends NOLA-inspired decor with a warm, inviting atmosphere that instantly sets the mood for authentic Creole cooking. The Clark family proudly brings the bayou to the bay, Tampa Bay that is, offering Tarpon Springs a...

Life + Culture

Local Legends

Check out these local legends! Article and Photography by Amy Walters Local legends, the places you take your friends when they come to town. Your favorite place to go when you need to feel a little nostalgia. However you see it, we see these places as legendary. Go and enjoy!   1.      Ksplitz Creamery From food truck to its own brick and mortar paradise of handmade batch ice cream, Ksplitz is serving up friendly smiles along with indulgent flavors like salted caramel and cookies &...

Life + Culture

Lifting up the Community

Giving back with integrity, compassion, and heart. Article by Amy Walters | Photography by Ed Burke State Farm When you hear love local, one word comes to mind: community. Talking about community is easy, but living it day in and out is more challenging. For Ed and Nikki Burke, owners of a local State Farm Agency, community is more than just a word. To them, our community is an extension of their family. “The way our community supports local is incredible, it has been the backbone of our...

Local Services

Turning Up the Beat on Community

The James P. Gills Family YMCA kicked off the new year with music, movement and meaningful connections during its Second Annual Open House Dance Party on January 9.The Open House is designed to bring families together while introducing them to all the YMCA has to offer.  This year’s Dance Party theme embraced a fresh approach focused on family engagement and connection.By creating a fun, inclusive environment, the James P. Gills Family YMCA aimed to not only share information about...

Health + Wellness

Prioritizing Wellness

You can’t pour from an empty cup. Local health and wellness experts share how to prioritize your health in 2026. Article by Amy Walters Heather Davis Renewal Day Spa For Heather Davis, the definition of self-care has expanded far beyond pampering. Today, it includes stress regulation, lymphatic support, sleep quality, inflammation control, and emotional recovery—critical components of preventive health. At Renewal Day Spa of Trinity, this shift is clear. Clients aren’t just booking...

Travel

Self Healing

Take a time-out from the madness to indulge. Article by JoAnn Chang | Photography by Naomi Wipert It happens every year like clockwork. As wonderful as the holidays are, the constant pull of events, parties and the extra time and effort to make them special take their toll. As the new year arrives, it comes with new focus—and often more tasks on your to-do list. It’s important to remember you can’t pour from an empty cup. To be your best at home and at work, you need to take time to recharge...

Food + Beverage

Fresh Flavors: Main Street Bakery

Experience the Restoring Property of Food. Article by SaucyQueen aka Michele Northrup | Photography by Naomi Wipert Self-care isn’t always rooted in grand retreats or indulgent luxury. More often, it lives in the small, soulful choices we make every day, in moments where we seek nourishment, comfort, and connection. In Tampa Bay, one woman has turned that philosophy into a delicious art form. Through every flaky pastry and lovingly seasoned creation, lifelong cook and bakery owner Reyna Giler...