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- Issue #314: Cadet Training Voyage, Bucs’ Historic Event & Florida Headlines You Can’t Miss
Issue #314: Cadet Training Voyage, Bucs’ Historic Event & Florida Headlines You Can’t Miss
2/18/2025
Ted Grellner
18 Feb
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse
Our Event Calendar
Of Interest
— Navigating the Future: Cadets Set Sail on a Unique Training Voyage
OMG!
— Florida Woman Allegedly Assaults Man with Garden Hoe After Hangout Falls Apart
— Man Accidentally Shoots Himself at Florida Mall, Causes Panic
Sports
— Record-Breaking Attendance at Buccaneers' 2025 Girls Flag Football Event
🎵 Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links
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Navigating the Future: Cadets Set Sail on a
Unique Training Voyage
A state-of-the-art training vessel, the TS Patriot State, has anchored in Tampa Bay, offering cadets from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy a hands-on education in seafaring. The ship, one of five new training vessels, serves as a floating university, where students not only refine their maritime skills but also build lifelong friendships.
"Making friends for life, memories for life," says Senior Cadet Andrew Fusco, who cherishes the experience of standing watch with close friends. Beyond training, cadets enjoy the breathtaking views of star-filled skies, sunrises, and sunsets.
For many, the bridge is the heart of their training. Senior Cadet James Cirillo calls it the "cream of the crop" as they prepare for real-world navigation. With just six months left before they assume full responsibilities aboard commercial vessels, Captain Michael Campbell emphasizes the gravity of their upcoming transition.
The TS Patriot State remains in Tampa through the weekend, offering tours before continuing its East Coast mission.
Florida Woman Allegedly Assaults Man with Garden Hoe After Hangout Falls Apart
A Polk County woman is facing multiple charges after allegedly attacking a man with a garden hoe when their plans to "hang out" fell through.
Melanie Davis, 47, reportedly showed up at the victim’s Frostproof home around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, yelling from outside. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, she then climbed a fence, forced her way through the door, and began punching him.
Things escalated when Davis allegedly grabbed a garden hoe and struck the man, causing a serious arm injury. The victim was later taken to the hospital for treatment.
Davis was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail, facing charges including:
Armed burglary with battery
Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon
Simple battery
Criminal mischief
Authorities say Davis has a long history of arrests—28 times in 28 years in Polk County.
Man Accidentally Shoots Himself at Florida Mall, Causes Panic
A man in his 20s accidentally shot himself while adjusting his gun at Florida Mall on Sunday afternoon, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities responded around 3 p.m. and confirmed the firearm discharged unintentionally, injuring only the man handling it. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Despite initial panic, the sheriff’s office clarified, "Reports of a shooting at the Florida Mall are unfounded. There is no threat to the community."
Shoppers, unaware of the situation, fled in fear, with witnesses describing crowds running, children separated from parents, and widespread panic.
Located in Orange County, Florida Mall is the largest shopping center in Central Florida.
Record-Breaking Attendance at Buccaneers' 2025 Girls Flag Football Event
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have once again demonstrated their commitment to promoting girls' flag football by hosting the seventh annual Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic. This year's event set a new benchmark, featuring 115 teams from 20 counties and approximately 2,500 athletes competing at the AdventHealth Training Center.
Spanning six days, the tournament provided a platform for high school athletes to showcase their skills and passion for the sport. The Buccaneers' dedication to fostering youth engagement in flag football has been evident since the event's inception, with the Preseason Classic growing each year to become the largest girls' flag football tournament in the nation.
The competition not only offers valuable on-field experience but also emphasizes the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, and community involvement. As the regular season kicks off this week, participants leave the tournament with enhanced skills and lasting memories, contributing to the sport's increasing popularity across Florida and beyond.
An astonishing fact about girls' flag football is its explosive growth in high school participation, making it the fastest-growing high school sport in the United States.
In the past year alone, the number of high school girls playing flag football has more than doubled, reaching nearly 43,000 players.
This surge is driven by changing attitudes toward gender roles in sports and significant support from organizations like the NFL and Nike.
Additionally, flag football is set to debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, further elevating its profile on the global stage.
Reader Comments
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25 Biggest Music & Comedy Acts Coming to Tampa Bay
& Sarasota
Source: heraldtribune.com
Best Live Music in Tampa Bay this week
2/13 - 2/20
Source: cltampa.com
Top Things to do Around Tampa & WC
2/13 - 2/19
Source: tampabeacon.com
This Week in TB area: | This Weekend in TB area |
Guide to the Florida State Fair
See: tampabay.com — lots of good information
Things to Do Brought to You By:
NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse
Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links
The Arts
- USF College of the Arts
- USF Steinway Piano Concert Series
Theater
-NTPAC - New Tampa Performing Arts Center
- New Tampa Players
- USF School of Theatre & Dance
- Wesley Chapel Theater Group
- Carrollwood Players Theatre
Misc
For Kids
- Fun4TampaKids
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