KidsBay

13 Ugly Men Pay For Playground At TGH Clinic

Thanks to a  group of self-proclaimed ugly men, children visiting Tampa General's Pediatric Clinic Healthpark have a new place to play.The 13 Ugly Men Foundation, a nonprofit charity "party" group comprised of doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs, donated $18,000 from the proceeds of its last Halloween party to the Tampa General Hospital Foundation to fund a playground for children visiting the hospital for medical care.The new fenced-in playground is between the hospital's Pediatric Clinic and Genesis buildings at 5802 N. 30th Street. The area, which is set under a group of big trees, includes benches and a brightly colored piece of playground equipment with slides. A loudspeaker will be installed soon to page families when it's time for their appointment. Robin DeLaVergne, executive director of the Tampa General Hospital Foundation, says the playground meets a need created by recent expansion at the clinic."We had expanded the clinical space," explains DeLaVergne, "And the only way we could do that was to take the children's waiting room away. So we built the playground for the kids. Now visiting children and their families can go outside and play while they wait for their appointments."About 900 children are treated at the Pediatric Clinic each month. The 13 Ugly Men Foundation hosts special events and parties in the Tampa Bay region. Proceeds go toward a variety of organizations that benefit the community. Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Robin DeLaVergne, Tampa General Hospital Foundation

Miami New Times: Weeki Wachee Mermaids Are Worth The Drive

Clearwater Aquarium To Expand, Add Jobs

King High Glee Club Harmonizes For Super Bowl

Keeping in theme with this year's "Glee" Super Bowl half-time show, students from King High School's glee club PRIDE will be seen across Tampa Bay.The students will be featured in two commercials for local news channel Fox 13 during Super Bowl XLV.Check out a preview of the PRIDE club on its website.

Tarpon Springs HS Marching Band Gets Theatrical For National Championship

The Tarpon Springs High School marching band recently performed at The Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis. An Arts & Entertainment feature in the Wall Street Journal singled out the Tarpon marchers as the favorite band of the day for their theatrical performance titled "Paranormal." Tarpon Springs competed against 85 marching bands from across the country that were narrowed down to 30 and eventually a final 12, in which they placed fourth. Read the complete story.

Sarasota Builder Donates Playground For Autistic Students At Pinnacle Academy

Sarasota area students attending a school for autistic and behaviorally challenged children have new recreation choices thanks in part to a Sarasota construction company.Holland Construction donated its time and labor to construct two basketball courts and a tether ball court to the Pinnacle Academy. Funding for the equipment was raised through the academy's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)."It's the first sports-related area for them," says Joe Holland, president of the construction company. "We went in and excavated the area, poured the concrete pads and installed the equipment. It took a few weeks to complete. From the time we began to the time we finished it took about a week or two. It was an honor to be a part of the project."The kids need this kind of play environment and to get some additional stimulation through sports and exercise," continues Holland. "Some children respond really easily to those types of activities. I know my son does."Holland's 4-year-old son attends the school, and Holland is a staunch supporter of Pinnacle and its mission. He serves on the board of the Center for Autism Resources and Education (CARE), which provides families who are facing autism or a related disability in the Sarasota/Manatee, Florida, area with resources, support and education. "The Pinnacle Academy has been a great resource," he explains. "We relocated down here from the Baltimore area specifically for our son to attend there. They have a very unique approach to the development of the children. Most institutions take a narrow approach, but the Pinnacle Academy takes a wider one and truly understands that each child has unique needs in terms of education and therapy. My child has responded tremendously since he started there."Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Joe Holland, Holland Construction

Sarasota School Of Arts & Sciences Builds Anew

A Sarasota charter middle school that has received accolades for its teaching is getting a new building.The Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences at 645 Central Avenue in the Rosemary District broke ground on a three-story facility on Oct. 27. Its board president, Laurence Eger, says the new building will serve as a showcase for talented faculty and exceptional students."Our school has probably one of the most diverse student populations in the Sarasota area," says Eger, who is an attorney with the Public Defender's office in addition to leading the school's board. "It's an A-grade school on all levels. And we will now have a facility that will match the excellence of the programs we offer. We have an outstanding academic program and finest teachers in the state, and now we'll have a building to adequately showcase those attributes."Eger says that the first phase of the project, which includes construction on the three-story facility, is expected to be completed in March, 2011. The second phase, in which the existing school facility will be replaced with a new gymnasium, is scheduled for completion in 2012.Eger helped found the school in 1996. It opened its doors to its first 50 students in August of 1997. Executive Director Pepar Anspaugh, joined its administration in January 2001, and his philosophy of "The Holistic Approach of the Total Child" has led the school to acquire Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2009-2010 school year and  an "A" school rating. Its mission statement embraces diversity and a teaching method that promotes learning as a way of life.Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Laurence Eger, Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences

First Lady Honors Tampa-Based Youth Arts Program With $10K Award

The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards honored U.S programs that promote children's creativity through music, writing and the visual arts.Tampa-based Girlstories Theatre Project was one of 15 programs honored by First Lady Michelle Obama at a recent White House event.Each program was awarded $10,000 for their contributions to the arts.Read the complete story.