Ring in the New Year with fun (and Science!) at MOSI
TAMPA – The words “Quantum Countdown” may remind you of a rock song from the ‘80s, but this New Year’s Eve it will be a call for fun and science at the Museum of Science and Industry.
“Quantum Countdown: Level Up to 2026” will be a family-friendly event with a mix of video games, karaoke, science demonstrations and planetarium shows. And you won’t have to stay up until midnight to enjoy it.
Sponsored by PNC Bank, Quantum Countdown: Level Up to 2026 runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at MOSI, 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in North Tampa across from the University of South Florida.
“Noon Year’s Eve” countdowns will happen at noon and 3 p.m., with planetarium shows at 12:45 and 4 p.m. The day will be filled with a station to create your own video game, a karaoke zone, a scavenger hunt, a DJ, a silent auction, and of course food.
Tickets are on sale at mosi.org, with advance purchase strongly recommended as space is limited. Admission is $15 for kids ages 3-17 and $20 for guests 18 and older. The planetarium show is an additional $10.
The event is free for MOSI members or included in the cost of a regular all-day general admission.
Pioneer Medical Foundation to host health fair
TAMPA – The non-profit Pioneer Medical Foundation will host its Fifth Annual Community Health Fair on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Water Works Park, 1701 N. Highland Ave. Local physicians, volunteers, and community partners will provide medical attention, social support, and resources to underserved residents and others with limited or no access to care across the region.
“We design this gathering around the needs we see in our community,” said Ano Kashumba, APRN and executive director of Pioneer Medical Foundation. “From preventive medical screenings to clothing and job support, the event is a one-stop opportunity for people to take their next step with confidence.”
Since its inception, the Community Health Fair has served more than 1,000 people. Last year, nearly 200 community members received dental extractions, blood pressure and diabetes screenings, warm meals, and follow-up treatment. One participant’s mammogram revealed a potential health concern and was quickly connected to lifesaving care.
The health fair will include preventive health screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, skin cancer, and vision; dental and mental health care; social and casework assistance; and personal care services such as showers, haircuts, and manicures. The event also features an onsite pharmacy and food pantry, job interviews and employment support, as well as family activities and bike raffles.
The event is free and open to the public.
Hillsborough ends burn ban
Hillsborough County will not continue the countywide burn ban.
Commissioners have decided not to extend the burn ban for the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. Due to the recent rainfall, an outdoor burn no longer poses a risk.
The burn ban ended Dec. 15.
Blair Underwood to speak at Hillsborough College national summit
TAMPA – Blair Underwood, award-winning actor, producer and director, will be the keynote speaker at the 19th Annual National “Believe. Build. Complete. Become.” (BBCB) Summit March 4 -7 at the Tampa Convention Center.
Underwood will address the Dr. Sylvia Marion Carley luncheon on Friday, March 6. The summit is hosted by Hillsborough College.
Additional speakers will include Damola Adamolekun, Nigerian-American business executive and the current chief executive officer of Red Lobster Investor Holdings. He is the youngest CEO of Red Lobster and previously held experience in financial and operational restructuring, particularly as CEO of P.F. Chang’s in the early 2020s.
Also joining the summit will be Mark Dean, IBM computer engineer. His most notable accomplishments include co-creating the IBM personal computer released in 1981 and being the first African American to become an IBM Fellow, which is the highest level of technical excellence at the company.
“BBCB started in 2006 as a local event for administrators to discuss how they could assist Black and Latino males who were enrolled in college, or college bound, to complete their educational journey,” says Dr. Ken Atwater, president of HC. “Since that time, the summit has grown into a leading national event that is open to all students of any background, to allow all attendees a space to network and connect with professionals who have surpassed the obstacles and become successful. The path to that success beginning with completing a college degree.”
Underwood is best known for his role as attorney Jonathon Rollins in the NBC series “L.A. Law” for which he earned an NAACP Image Award for outstanding actor in a drama series. He has also earned a Grammy for best spoken word album in 2009, and a Daytime Emmy Award in 2017 for outstanding children’s or family viewing series.
Fair Oaks Park rec center opens
TAMPA – The long-awaited recreation center at Fair Oaks Park in east Tampa has opened in a state-of-the-art building.
The 33,055-square-foot community center includes multipurpose rooms, a teaching kitchen, an indoor basketball court, and space dedicated to seniors. It is part of a $34.7 million project that will, when complete, fill 10.25 acres with an outdoor basketball court and two pickleball courts, a sports field, splash pad, all-abilities playground and a 1.5-mile-long hiking trail.
It is one of the largest projects to be undertaken by the Parks and Recreation Department. The full recreation complex is on track to be completed in spring 2026.
The ribbon cutting to formally open the center was held Dec. 15.
USF awarded funds from ALS Association
TAMPA – The University of South Florida has been awarded a $20,000 from the ALS Association in support of USF’s research into ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The grant, to the university’s ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence, was provided by the association’s Hugh and Herbert Hoffman ALS Impact Fund.
“We are proud to build on Hugh Hoffman’s vision of ensuring that future families do not have to lose their loved ones to ALS,” said Steve Bullock, representative of the Hoffman family. “By investing directly in the clinics that serve people every day, the ALS Association is helping families receive the compassionate, specialized care they deserve.”
Recent research projects a significant increase in the number of people living with ALS over the next 15 years, according to the ALS Association.
HC to host teens for Career Quest
TAMPA – Some 600 high school students from around Hillsborough County are expected at the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough College on Friday, Dec. 5, for the college’s annual Career Quest and a peek at the school’s programs, student life, and potential career paths.
The event provides a hands-on introduction to HC’s offerings with live demonstrations, such as simulations centered on the college’s welding and automotive workforce programs to EMS demonstrations. Activities and informational sessions focus on HC’s associate in science degree programs, health sciences and workforce training programs, as well as its Institute for Corporate & Continuing Education, which offers short-term training and personal interest courses.
Career Quest will happen between 9:30 a.m. to noon. For more information on the associate in science degrees and workforce programs offered at HC, visit hccfl.edu/getagreatjob.
Hillsborough passes emergency burn ban
Hillsborough County has approved a county-wide emergency ban on all outdoor open burning as a result of warm temperatures and dry conditions.
The only exceptions are a constantly attended barbecue grill for outdoor cooking, certain agricultural enterprises in eastern and southern Hillsborough County that can dispose of agricultural plastic through controlled burns, and burning that has been specifically allowed by the Florida Forest Service.‚
The order bans fireworks, sparklers, and fire pits.
Outdoor grilling is allowed, as long as the flames are contained within a grill, and the fire is constantly attended.
By law, the order can be in effect for no more than seven days. If conditions persist, the order can be extended.