Takeaways from Tallahassee — MVP Moms

The beautiful month of May is here and so far, it’s not wearing out its welcome. The weather is getting warmer, the pollen feels like it’s finally dying down, the NBA playoffs are raging on, all of the college students who clog up Tennessee Street are returning home, and the 2025 Session was SUPPOSED to be over.

But the height of May also means Mother’s Day is here. And unless your mother is as bad as Lucille Bluth from “Arrested Development” (and come on, even the Bluth kids at the end of the day loved her), it is crucial to spend some quality time with the one who cheered you on and raised you, especially if you are lucky enough to be still able to spend time with her. Whether celebrating your wife, who is a fantastic mother, or time with the one you personally call mom, we have a rundown of some things to take on this Mother’s Day in the 850 to make sure they feel appreciated.

Enjoy a delicious meal and a show? Well, JoEllen’s Restaurant & Bar, located at 215 West College Avenue #101 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is serving up a southern comfort breakfast buffet and select offerings from their Mother’s Day menu, all while being serenaded by the beautiful, silky timbre of “Aaron and Friends,” a smooth jazz group who will be playing from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. All this for $29.99 a person. But if brunch with a view is calling your name, Eve on Adams from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. will be offering their annual Mother’s Day Brunch, where everything from decadent crème brûlée French toast to their signature steak & eggs, washing it all down with Bloody Marys or mimosas.

And while on the subject of “adult beverages,” bars in the downtown area such as Amicus, Charlie Park, Proof, Ology, Liberty, or Oyster City aren’t bad options to enjoy a nice drink with great ambience and will all be open during the weekend. Blu Halo on the Northside of town will be a great option to celebrate with their Mother’s Day brunch priced at $45 a head. Northside too far? Casa Tapas and Cantina will have a “Coquette Celebration for all the lovely mamas,” with the promise that mimosas will be flowing and coquette glam available. A great way to celebrate madre while still getting your Cinco De Mayo on, because let’s be honest, it was on a Monday and that’s a bad day to get your “fiesta” on.

Already have food plans or making something at home? Luckily, there are still plenty of other activities this weekend in the capital city. “The Tallahassee Ballet” will be putting on a moving performance of the classic story “Cinderella” at the ever-impressive and historic Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. The performance is two hours long and will have a 20-minute intermission, so plan accordingly. There is a performance possibly when you are reading this at 10:30 a.m. (albeit it is abbreviated), a Saturday night performance at 7:30 p.m., and a show on Mother’s Day itself at 2:30 p.m. Ruby Diamond will open one hour before curtain and will have a cash bar before the performance and during intermission. Never been to a ballet? Why not take a chance on the classic story every child knows and be hypnotized by the movements? Tickets are available here.

Don’t want to be inside during potentially a beautiful day? Tallahassee Nurseries encourages families and those wishing to celebrate “shoutout to mom day” by strolling through and checking out the amazing flowers, baskets or displays on sale to that MVP Mama you know. Beautiful flowers for a lovely mom. Their hours Sunday are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Is your mom a history buff or loves sightseeing? “Visit Tallahassee” this Sunday is putting on a “Special Mother’s Day Sightseeing Tour.” It starts at 10:30 a.m. and will be a unique and memorable way to see iconic spots here in T-town with historical facts and information. College Town, Railroad Square Art Park, Florida A&M University, Florida State University, cemeteries, monuments and Tallahassee’s downtown historic districts will all be highlighted and never seen the same way! Or if the weather permits it this weekend, pack up the car with the towels, sunscreen, cooler, and speaker, and drive up to Alligator Point, St. George Island, or Apalachicola (maybe even see the OG Oyster City) and take in the beautiful north Florida beaches all in the name of mom.

But if all that seems too much, you can’t go wrong with a simple movie at AMC or CMX or just some one-on-one, or personal time with the amazing mother(s) in your life doing whatever they want. And if you can’t see your mother in person, call them or think about them. We love you, moms! This day is for you (but shouldn’t most days be anyway?).

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Coming up, the usual assortment of news, intel, and observations from the week that was in Florida’s capital city by Peter Schorsch, Drew Wilson, Drew Dixon, Liam Fineout, Andrew Powell and the staff of Florida Politics.

But first, the “Takeaway 5” — the Top 5 stories from the week that was:

— Take 5 —

‘Blown up’: House Speaker Daniel Perez says the budget deal leaders in the House and Senate had been working on “has blown up.” He’s also accusing Senate President Ben Albritton of “breaking his commitment to the House” regarding bringing the House tax proposal to the Senate floor for a vote. As a result, Perez said “alternative dates” for budget negotiations will be announced “as soon as possible,” but added that the House will still meet Tuesday for a floor Session “to pass a concurrent resolution extending the timeline through the end of June.” The current extended Session was scheduled to conclude June 6. Albritton told Senate members he does not expect budget conferences to begin next week as anticipated.

DOA: Gov. Ron DeSantis convened a roundtable this week to address his stalled-out request to phase out millage in favor of taxing “snowbirds and tourists” via hotel and consumption taxes. “This is what it means to be a low-tax state,” he said. However, DeSantis also threatened to veto Speaker Perez’s proposal as lawmakers aim to hammer out a budget and tax framework during an extended Session. DeSantis said he is willing to work with Senators and “relevant House members” on a Florida-first tax package. He said the House sales tax reduction proposal is a non-starter in any budget deal. “None of the Senators support it,” DeSantis said. “Honestly, a lot of the House members don’t support it either, but the way the House is run, you know, they threaten you, they take away your committee, they do all that.”

Ready to sign: In Miami this week, DeSantis committed to sign a bill banning fluoride and other substances from being added to city water supplies (SB 700) and another limiting cloud seeding and “chemtrails” (SB 56). The former bill is a classic preemption. The provisions on water additives are part of larger legislation championed by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “It’s forced medication when they’re jamming fluoride in your water supply,” DeSantis contended, saying people can add fluoride on their own without local governments “unilaterally injecting the chemical into your water supply.” On Tuesday, Miami-Dade County overrode a mayoral veto of a bill banning fluoride, DeSantis noted. Other counties won’t have to do that.

Sole finalist, I: University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono has emerged as the lone finalist to lead the state’s flagship university. The University of Florida Presidential Search Committee announced Sunday that it “has unanimously and enthusiastically recommended” Ono be considered the sole finalist by the UF Board of Trustees. UF touted Ono’s status as a “world-renowned researcher recognized for pioneering work on the immune system and eye disease.” Ono earned a Ph.D. in experimental medicine from McGill University and an undergraduate degree in biological sciences from the University of Chicago. Before his current role, Ono was President and Vice Chancellor of the University of British Columbia, President of the University of Cincinnati, and Senior Vice Provost and Deputy to the Provost at Emory University. He has taught at Johns Hopkins, Harvard and University College London.

Sole finalist, II: A search committee at Florida International University named interim President Jeanette Nuñez as its sole choice to be the permanent President. In February, FIU picked Nuñez, Florida’s Lieutenant Governor for most of the DeSantis administration, as its interim president. The longtime Miami-Dade politician had to leave her post in the administration to take on the new role and was widely considered the likely choice to become the permanent President. “I’m honored and humbled to move forward in the FIU presidential search process,” she posted on X. “Thank you to Chair Carlos Duart and the Presidential Search Committee for the opportunity to interview and share my vision for FIU. I look forward to connecting with FIU students, faculty and staff during the upcoming forums.”

— Beware of Florida Fire Freaks —

It’s one of Florida’s trickiest times of the year regarding weather conditions. Of course, a thunderstorm can break out at any time, but brush and woodlands are exceedingly parched and may be primed for a possible fire.

Florida officials are warning state residents to be on the lookout for possible wildfires. May is one of the drier months of the year, and conditions are ripe for the outbreak of a blaze. Florida Agricultural Commissioner Wilton Simpson and officials with the Florida Forest Service advise residents to stay on the lookout for anyone possibly intentionally starting fires.

“Arson is a serious crime that puts lives, property, and our natural resources at risk. During Arson Awareness Week (May 4 through May 10), we are reminding all Floridians to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity,” said Simpson. “With the dry season upon us, one careless or criminal act can devastate thousands of acres. Our department remains committed to preventing wildfires and bringing arsonists to justice.”

Drought conditions are already being reported, and about two dozen counties in Florida have burn bans in place. More than 1,760 fires have torched about 75,000 acres of brushland so far this year.

— Medicaid fraud busted —

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday that the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is charging two individuals with participating in a coordinated scheme to defraud the state’s Medicaid Programs.

Hector Luis Sanchez Gonzalez and Juan Carlos Vilchez Monteil were both arrested after they schemed to defraud Medicaid out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) claims.

“Florida’s Medicaid program is not there to line the pockets of fraudsters gaming the system,” Uthmeier said. “My office will continue to hold criminals accountable, protect taxpayer dollars, and stop those who think they can cheat the people of Florida without consequence.”

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office assisted in taking both individuals into custody.

Sanchez Gonzalez and Vilchez Montiel are accused of submitting fraudulent NEMT claims by falsely inflating mileage. Medicaid recipients were allegedly paid by drivers in cash or via Cash App, allowing them to list their pickup locations far from their own addresses to boost the driver’s reimbursement by increasing the claimed mileage.

GPS data showed that he was at his residence rather than transporting patients during more than 8,000 trips, as Sanchez Gonzalez claimed. He has since admitted he knowingly submitted false claims.

Between Jan. 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2023, Sanchez Gonzalez’s scheme resulted in a loss of $134,568.02 to the Medicaid program, while Vilchez Montiel’s scheme caused a loss of $211,239.27.

Both have been charged with a first-degree felony and are facing a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years.

— Voter fraud uncovered —

A felon and registered sex offender has been charged with voter fraud, according to Attorney General Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

Gerald Kight has been charged with multiple counts of unqualified elector after knowingly voting in the 2024 presidential preference primary, the 2024 primary election, and the 2024 General Election in Putnam County without first having his voting rights restored.

“We must protect the sanctity and integrity of our republican form of government,” Uthmeier said. “This felon, who is also a registered child sex offender, attempted multiple times to register to vote. After acknowledging twice that he wasn’t eligible, he lied on a subsequent voter registration application to participate in the 2024 election cycle unlawfully. Our Statewide Prosecutors will ensure he is held accountable. I would like to thank Secretary Cord Byrd and Brad McVey for their dedication to Florida’s election integrity efforts.”

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a complaint about Kight and his participation in three elections in 2024. Kight was convicted of attempted lewd or lascivious assault upon a child in St. Johns County in 1999 and is still a registered sex offender as of 2025.

Investigators found that Kight has been attempting to register to vote since 2022. However, he received notice that he would be unable to vote, and Kight acknowledged that they were correct.

Despite this, Kight still filled out a voter registration form in 2023 and voted in the 2024 elections. Kight is charged with three third-degree felony counts of voter fraud.

— Swimming for justice —

Attorney General Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (OSP) announced that it had secured a 20-year prison sentence for the owner of Olympus Pools, who defrauded Floridians out of over $1 million.

James Ivan Staten, Jr., owner and operator of Olympus Pools, stole more than $1.5 million from Floridians and failed to complete customer pools.

The OSP had already secured Staten’s guilty conviction on 35 counts, including aggravated white-collar crime, organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and contractor fraud.

After accepting large down payments, Staten left customers in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Polk counties with destroyed yards and no pools.

“Floridians trusted this corporation with their hard-earned money — instead of completing the job, this fraudster skimmed off the top and was sinking the cash into his pockets,” Uthmeier said. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, Special Counsel for Statewide Prosecution Stephanie Bergen, and Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Panagiota Papakos, this man will serve two decades behind bars and provide restitution to those he victimized.”

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office Division of Consumer Protection led a criminal investigation into Staten. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with the investigation.

Olympus Pools, which was based in Tampa, has now been permanently shuttered, and Staten has been banned for life from operating a pool company in Florida. Staten will serve 20 years in state prison, followed by 30 years’ probation, and has been ordered to pay more than $1 million in fines to his victims.

— Instagram of the week —

— The week in appointments —

Florida’s 7th Judicial Circuit Court — DeSantis has appointed Lauren Blocker, of Ponte Vedra, to serve as Judge on the 7th Judicial Circuit Court. Blocker has served as a County Judge for St. Johns County since 2021. Previously, she was Corporate Counsel for Fidelity Information Services. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law.

Volusia County Court — DeSantis has named Michele Simonsen, of New Smyrna Beach, to serve as Judge on the Volusia County Court. Simonsen has served as an Assistant State Attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit since 1998. Previously, she was Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Federal Public Defender’s Office. She earned both her bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida.

Baker County Development Commission — DeSantis has named Hawke Forbes and Weston Mann to the Baker County Development Commission. Forbes is the Co-Owner of Guerry Forbes Funeral Home. He is active in his community as the Acting President of the Macclenny Lions Club and the Baker County Chamber of Commerce. Forbes earned his associate degree in funeral service from Florida State College at Jacksonville. Mann is a critical care nurse Practitioner at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. Previously, he was a Family Practice Nurse Practitioner at UF Primary Care CrossRoads. Mann earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Florida State College at Jacksonville and his master’s degree in nursing from Chamberlain University.

— Broadening broadband —

FloridaCommerce announced Monday that the Broadband Grant Registration Portal has been launched to streamline the application process for future broadband grant programs.

The move aims to connect Florida’s rural communities to better broadband internet through workforce and infrastructure investments, which will foster opportunities for both job seekers and creators.

Florida’s small cities and rural communities have received 85% of broadband infrastructure grants since 2020, thanks to FloridaCommerce actively facilitating programs for underserved businesses, homes, farms, and community anchor institutions to receive high-speed internet.

The grants aim to ensure reliable internet access for Floridians across the state to support workforce, education, and health monitoring opportunities.

Applicants can pre-register in the Registration Portal — a precursor to the Broadband Application Portal, which helps confirm if applicants are eligible before the application cycle opens.

FloridaCommerce, CareerSource Florida, the REACH Office, the Florida Department of Education, state and technical colleges, and Local Workforce Development Boards launched another initiative last month to help deliver the workforce needed to upgrade Florida’s communications networks and deliver broadband internet to all Floridians.

The FloridaCommerce Office of Broadband is preparing to open grant application windows for the BEAD Deployment, BEAD Workforce, and Digital Capacity Grant programs.

These programs provide funding to broadband infrastructure, workforce and economic opportunities, cybersecurity, and digital literacy initiatives across Florida, focusing on growing Florida’s small cities and rural communities.

— Nurses On The Up —

Nurses are often the true unsung heroes in hospitals. Sure, they may get a lot of screen time in “The Pit,” “Scrubs,” or “Grey’s Anatomy,” but this is real life, not your guilty pleasure Netflix binge.

This “National Nurses Day” on May 6, the State University’s System of Florida (SUS) was all smiles and celebrations as they cheer for the fact Florida’s nursing shortage is reserved due to continuing investment in Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) and Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE).

“Due to Gov. DeSantis’ commitment and the support of the Florida Legislature, the SUS has graduated a record number of nurses for the past two years, addressing a vital workforce need in Florida. Ongoing investments in nursing will guarantee our state graduates a strong workforce of highly skilled nurses, ensuring quality care for Floridians,” said Chancellor Ray Rodrigues.

$138 million has been received since 2022 for SUS, allowing more than 1,000 slots to be created, and seeing more than 1,900 nurses graduate. As Florida continues to grow in numbers and more older citizens move to the state, ensuring our nursing programs can follow the demand is essential.

“As we celebrate National Nurses Day, we proudly honor the achievements and incredible dedication of nurses across Florida. We also recognize the essential role SUS nursing programs, faculty and students play in shaping health care nationwide,” said Chair of the Florida Board of Governors Brian Lamb.

This National Nurse Day, cheers to the nurses who are soon to be and those who will keep us healthy for years to come.

— Exceptional students left out —

A piece of legislation that would have helped exceptional students in Florida find employment post-graduation was left out at the last minute of this Session.

Panhandle Republican Sen. Don Gaetz sponsored the measure (SB 102), which would have required the Department of Education to develop and implement a workforce credential program specifically for students with autism spectrum disorder or those on a modified curriculum.

Despite being unanimously passed by the Senate, the bill was temporarily postponed in the House before eventually stalling out altogether.

Its identical House companion bill (HB 127) sponsored by St. Johns Republican Rep. Kim Kendall, died on its way through committee.

The bill’s goal was to help these students secure employment by allowing them to earn badges that indicate their proficiency in specific skills aligned with employer needs. To earn a badge, the student must demonstrate five distinct skills or behaviors, including workplace safety.

The Department of Education would have collaborated with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to create the workplace safety badge.

At least two instructional staff members who specialized in exceptional student education would have validated the badges after they confirmed that the student was competent in those skills.

An annual report would also have been required by Jan. 31 each year, containing details on the badges offered, post-graduation employment data, student participation rates, and other outcomes.

— Straight talk —

The Capital Tiger Bay Club is hosting attorney John Morgan on Wednesday, May 14, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, “the straightest talk you will ever hear.”

The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m., with Morgan earmarked to begin his talk at noon.

John Morgan has lived in Florida since he was a teen, but after his brother Tim Morgan became paralyzed while employed as a lifeguard at Walt Disney World during Morgan’s sophomore year at the University of Florida, Morgan saw firsthand how the legal system can fail an innocent person.

Disney treated his brother horribly, and the injustice had a lasting effect on John. He vowed to help others like Tim, pursuing justice against big corporations and bad actors who take advantage of the powerless.

After receiving his Juris Doctor degree from UF’s Levin College of Law in 1988, John and his wife, Ultima, founded the Morgan & Morgan law firm dedicated to fighting for the people. Over the 35 years since its founding, Morgan & Morgan has become the most prominent injury law firm in the U.S., recovering over $25 billion for over 500,000 clients.

An author of two books – You Can’t Teach Hungry … Creating the Multimillion Dollar Law Firm and You Can’t Teach Vision … The Twenty-First Century Law Firm, John has also spearheaded and funded ballot initiatives, including legalizing marijuana in Florida in 2018, and raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour in 2020.

Philanthropic efforts include the Morgan & Morgan Hunger Relief Center at Second Harvest Food Bank, the Ultima and John Morgan Harbor House Domestic Abuse Center, and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition’s Fines and Fees Fund.

— Park for the Gold —

Floridians love their nature. It’s a key reason why it seems like so many continue to choose to stay despite the crazy events that take place day to day politically in their backyard and the national coverage of drunkard “Florida Men” who might be your neighbors. No, we don’t want more pickleball courts, and news like this is why. This week, Florida State Parks have again been recognized and named as a finalist for the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.

Established in 1965, this prestigious award is presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, alongside and in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association. The ultimate goal is to award the best park system across the United States.

“We are honored to be named a finalist for the Gold Medal Award. Florida’s state parks are more than destinations. They reflect our commitment to protecting natural resources and ensuring all Floridians and visitors can enjoy the beauty and biodiversity of this great state. I’m proud of the dedicated park staff and volunteers who help make our system a model for the nation,” said Alexis Lambert, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary.

Florida aims to take the gold in the “State Park System,” and is the only state to have ever “victory royal-ed” the other competition four times. “Florida’s state parks offer year-round recreation for all ages, from hiking and paddling to wildlife viewing and camping. With 75 parks within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and thousands of campsites and cabins across the state, we continue to set the standard for unforgettable outdoor experiences and responsible public land stewardship,” said Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher.

Florida has one of the largest park service systems in the country, managing 175 state parks over 815,000 acres. These include 101 miles of iconic, beautiful beaches, 3,024 miles of unique and sprawling trails, and 18 amazing springs parks. This makes it one of the hardest to manage and most diverse.

Florida will compete against Ohio State Parks & Watercraft and Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources. It’s time to take down JD Vance and Liz Cheney’s home turf.

— FSU breaks records —

This past weekend, Florida State University honored its largest graduating class in history, celebrating the resilience and achievements of over 7,100 students who earned almost 9,000 degrees.

Six commencement ceremonies were held on May 2 and 3 at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, only two weeks after the tragic shooting on campus.

FSU President Richard McCullough began each ceremony with a moment of silence in memory of Robert Morales, a longtime FSU employee, and Tiru Chabba, a trusted colleague representing Aramark, who were killed in the April 17 attack at FSU’s Student Union.

“We cannot begin today without acknowledging the loss our community has suffered,” McCullough said. “Just over two weeks ago, a tragic act of violence struck our campus. We lost Robert and Tiru. Multiple others were injured. In the days since, we’ve witnessed the best of FSU: compassion, courage, and an outpouring of support from around the world.”

McCullough said the commencements were a time to honor perseverance, community and hope.

“These graduates have overcome so much — not only in the past few weeks, but over the years they’ve worked toward this day,” McCullough said. “This is the largest graduating class in Florida State’s history. That alone is reason to be proud. But it’s their resilience that makes this moment even more meaningful.”

FSU awarded 8,926 degrees in total, including 6,862 bachelor’s degrees, 1,558 master’s and specialist degrees, and 247 doctoral degrees.

— 30 years —

Thirty years is a big milestone. Whether that’s a wedding anniversary, days dedicated to a company, birthday, or years clean, 30 trips around the sun is no laughing matter. This week, the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship (JMI) at Florida State University’s Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship celebrated its 30th anniversary, commencing over three decades of entrepreneurial success in Florida and more.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we honor Jim Moran’s enduring legacy and our continued mission to support and inspire entrepreneurs. Our programs are designed to help small-business owners and nonprofit leaders work on their business rather than in their business, equipping them with the tools to grow and sustain their operations,” said Susan Fiorito, dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.

A hard worker who opened his first Sinclair gas station in Chicago, many moons later, with a $1 million contribution to FSU from Jim and Jan Moran, JM Family Enterprises, and Melvin Smith (then FSU College of Business dean), the “Institute for Global Entrepreneurship” was officially launched. And as they say, the rest is history.

The main goal of the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship is to fine-tune, cultivate, and train the future of entrepreneurial leaders through various world-class executive education programs, state-of-the-art application training, and public recognition and leading-edge research. The JMI offers no cost programs to make the best leaders and entrepreneurs we can, including Small Business Executive Programs (SBEP), Nonprofit Executive Programs (NPEP), CEO Peer2Peer Groups, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV), Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans’ Families (EBV-F), Leon Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program (LEAP), and Jim Moran Scholars (a partnership with FSU that elected two students from north and South Florida admitted to FSU).

So, congrats to any Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship grad you know or anyone who participated in the Institute for Global Entrepreneurship.

— Who let the dogs out? —

Bow, wow, WOW! In a time of politics where up is down, left is right, Republicans fighting Republicans, embezzlement with charities, and a presidential Cabinet that has more questions than answers, every once in a while, some sweet, or in this case, adorable, news is worth taking in.

This week, the Leon County Government opened up a brand-new pup-friendly rendezvous for pet and owner alike with the exciting Apalachee Regional Park (ARP) Dog Park. Found at 7550 Apalachee Parkway, the state-of-the-art two-acre dog park offers areas for small and large dogs alike, four shared structures, and two rinsing stations. During the spectacular grand-opening, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony, refreshments served for people and their cute companions, and howling out of fun for the public dog agility course, the first available in the county.

“Dog parks are more than just green spaces; they’re places where community happens. We’re proud to provide a place where residents and their pets can train, play, and connect in an innovative and welcoming environment,” said Leon County Commission Chair Brian Welch.

The new park is the largest open-space dog park in the county and with various agility courses such as the rover jump over, paws table, hoop jump, king of the hill, weave posts, stepping paws, and doggy crawl, any serious dog-show competitor, or casual trainer, can enjoy the new features.

“Dogs officially have a new favorite spot in Leon County. The ARP Dog Park isn’t just a win for District 5 — it’s a win for wagging tails all across the county. Apalachee Regional Park keeps getting better, and now our four-legged friends get to be part of the fun too,” said Commissioner David O’Keefe. The park is open from sunrise to sunset. For more information, visit LeonCountyFL.gov/ARP.

— Prep you like a hurricane —

As the weather gets warmer and the “Summer vibes” begin to set in, the tourist season is here, and hurricane season is getting ready to dip its metaphorical feet in the water. During the previous hurricane season, the Panhandle saw heavy hitters like Helene. So, if you’re a homeowner, or in general a Tallahassee resident, and have some thoughts, concerns, or even want to be a step ahead of this hurricane season, the City of Tallahassee has your back.

The 2025 hurricane season is from June 1 to Nov. 30 and leading up to and the very start of hurricane season, the City of Tallahassee is hosting three free community workshops as part of the “Plan for Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP)” program. The workshops will be held in person from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and attendees will hear from local experts about what supplies are essential, the steps one needs to take to protect loved ones, pets, and property, and what resources the city will have on hand.

There are only three sessions, so if you are jonesing to go these are the only dates and they are as follows: May 15, at ALARM International Church, 2532 West Tharpe Street; May 29, at Jake Gaither Community Center, 801 Bragg Drive; and June 10 at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral, 4784 Thomasville Road.

Be prepared and know what is in your scope and ability this 2025 season. For more information, visit Talgov.com/PREP so that hopefully the only people being rocked by a hurricane are members of the Dad-Rock group “Scorpions.”

— Subs for First Tee —

Jersey Mike’s Subs presented a $35,965.33 check to First Tee-Tallahassee after a successful 15th Annual Month of Giving campaign. The donation will support First Tee’s youth development programs across the Big Bend.

Customers at Jersey Mike’s locations in Tallahassee and Valdosta, Georgia, were encouraged to donate $1, $3, or $5 during checkout in March. The nationwide Day of Giving was held on March 26, and 100% of all sales at participating stores were donated to Fist Tee—Tallahassee.

Angelo Crowell, owner of the participating Jersey Mike’s locations and a member of the First Tee-Tallahassee Board of Directors, and Kimberly Crowell, co-founder of Kalo Companies, both played pivotal roles in the campaign’s success.

“This campaign is about more than just raising funds — it’s about investing in young people who are developing confidence, character, and life skills through golf,” said Chuck Urban, First Tee – Tallahassee Board Chair. “We’re deeply grateful to Angelo, Kim and their team for believing in our mission and bringing the community together to support our kids.”

Executive Director Tracy Marple said the gift will allow First Tee to continue providing life-changing opportunities.

“This campaign reinforces that our work is community-driven,” Marple said. “We’re incredibly grateful to Jersey Mike’s and the customers who showed up in a big way. Every dollar raised helps us provide mentorship, access, and a pathway to success for every child we serve.”

— Pretty wave conditions pretty certain —

There’s likely to be some real glassy waves along the Gulf Coast from the Big Bend well into the Panhandle as conditions are setting up for rideable surf.

A late-Spring cold front is moving through North Florida, and with it will come northerly winds that will blow directly offshore beginning Saturday and well into Sunday. The National Weather Service marine forecast for the Northwest Gulf calls for winds to blow out of the north at 10 to 15 knots, with seas mounting from 3 to 5 feet. How that translates to waves precisely over near-shore sandbars is tough to tell, especially with those offshore gusts.

The offshore winds will continue well into Sunday, though they may die down quite a bit Sunday and allow what remains of any swell to approach the beaches from Apalachee Bay to Pensacola. The water temperature was slightly above 75 degrees on the open-water surface. But surfers, kayakers, and standup paddleboarders may want to break out the wetsuit one more time. High air temperatures will be around 78 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. That’s not very cold, but with a bit of a breeze, a shorty wetsuit or neoprene vest may be to shrug off any chill that might come down.

Remember that you can check our current surface conditions on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather buoy 42036, which is anchored in the Gulf about 112 miles northwest of Tampa. Conditions and weather data are updated hourly on that buoy.

— Capitol Directions —