Latest news with #CentralFlorida
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How youth sports helped me see the world from my children's perspective
Sometimes sports are more than 'just sports.' It's just sports, right? That's what people say. And sometimes when I find myself getting too excited or despondent about my favorite teams' wins and losses, I tell myself the same thing. My interest in sports sometimes borders on fanatical. Perhaps it's fortunate that I grew up in central Florida, so there weren't many sports teams for me to become attached to. The ones I do care about, though, I really care about. I still haven't gotten over Nick Anderson's four consecutive missed free throws in Game 1 of the 1995 NBA Finals or UCF's missed game-winning tip-in against Duke in the second round of the Men's NCAA Basketball Championships in 2019. My passion for sports in adulthood grew out of my early love for playing sports. I was never the most aggressive or naturally athletic, but I was coordinated enough, knowledgeable, and interested in the nuances of the games, and reasonably competitive. Basketball, baseball, tennis, and golf were a big part of my early life. So, I was excited when my five- and seven-year-old sons started playing soccer for the first time. For both of them, it was their first experience with team sports. I was eager to see how they would take to it. No matter what you think of professional or collegiate sports, it's easy to assume youth sports must be inconsequential in the grand scheme. Youth sports — particularly at the very youngest ages — are loosely organized games that kids play for exercise, to make friends, and to learn about being part of a team, right? And anyone who's watched under seven soccer knows it barely resembles a sport at all. In my children's first games, the coaches routinely picked the ball up when it rolled out of bounds and tossed it back into play for the kids to chase. And once, one of their teammates dribbled the ball past the end line and continued to dribble it at least fifty yards before finally kicking it triumphantly into a goal several fields over. Her parents yelled for her to stop at first, but her dad eventually gave up and yelled, 'Go ahead. Get that goal!' These aren't isolated incidents either. Youth sports for young children can be chaotic, at best, and complete anarchy, at worst. I see this now, as an adult, but it felt so different when I was a child. I don't remember much about early elementary school. Or frankly, much else about my everyday life when I was between four and ten years old. But I have tons of memories that involve sports. I remember the anticipation of every baseball practice and game. I remember pulling on my knee-high baseball socks and uniform and making sure my glove was broken in just right and my hat's bill had just the right amount of curve. I remember eagerly waking up Saturday mornings, heading outside, and shooting warm-up baskets at the hoop in my driveway, dreaming about hitting a game-winner in my YMCA game later that morning. I remember simultaneously looking forward to every game and dreading it. I remember how my stomach used to flutter every time my turn at bat approached or when I had to step to the free throw line. I remember fighting back tears after every strikeout or botched ground ball or loss. Every little thing mattered to me. So much. I played soccer too when I was six years old, and though it wasn't my favorite sport, I remember caring about scoring goals. I have a strong memory of one game where I kicked the ball toward the goal, and it came to rest on the goal line. I didn't want to overdo it, so I left it there, thinking I had done enough to add a goal to my tally. By my recollection, the referee stepped in and ruled no goal because the ball didn't cross the line. That missed opportunity still haunts me. But looking back now, with my newfound, adult understanding of what six-year-old soccer looks like, how could I possibly have cared about that ball not crossing the goal line? In fact, it's entirely possible there wasn't a referee at all and one of the coaches just grabbed the ball and flung it back into play. They probably would have done the same if I had actually scored the goal. But still, it clearly meant something to my six-year-old self even if, by any objective standard, it shouldn't have mattered in the slightest. When my sons started talking about their first 'big game' that was coming up on the third Sunday of their soccer season, my first instinct, as a rational adult, was to discount their feelings. I thought I was being a good parent by helping alleviate their anxiety. I told them it was just for fun, and the games would be just like their disorganized practices. Factually, I was right. But emotionally, I was wrong. I should know as well as anyone that when you are five or seven or ten, youth sports games matter. So does going to school or playing a new video game or meeting a friend at the park. Every little thing matters. A lot. Because those 'little' things are what make up a child's entire life. As adults, it can be hard to remember that, and frankly, it's easy to get frustrated when children make a big deal out of apparent trivialities. However, I found that by tapping into the strongest memories I had as a child, I was better able to understand my children's feelings. Sometimes sports aren't just sports. They are a way to connect. For me, sports are a way to connect with who I used to be, so I can better understand who my children are right now. So I can understand their fears, worries, and anxieties. On the playing field, but also in the classroom, the school cafeteria, or the doctor's office. I don't necessarily remember what it was like to worry about monsters under the bed or impressing my teacher at school or making new friends, but I do remember what it was like to be a kid playing sports. I remember how big and important sports felt, and I can use those memories to help me better understand what my children are feeling. I hope this understanding will help me be more empathetic to my children's needs in every aspect of their lives. Because, when you are a child, not only is every game a 'big game,' but every day can feel like the biggest day of all. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Peak Roofing Partners Acquires Skymark Roofing in Strategic Florida Expansion
PLANTATION, Fla., July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Peak Roofing Partners (Peak Roofing), a portfolio company of Exuma Capital Partners, announced today the acquisition of Skymark Roofing, a leading Florida roofing company with a roofing company with combined over 40 years of experience. This acquisition marks Peak Roofing's second acquisition, solidifying its position as a trusted partner in the roofing industry. Peak Roofing Partners acquired Skymark Roofing for its stellar reputation as a leading roofing contractor in Central Florida. The extensive service area, covering Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, and other surrounding regions, aligns with Peak Roofing's expansion strategy. Skymark Roofing customers will continue to receive a comprehensive range of residential and commercial roofing services, including routine inspections, maintenance, repairs, new installations, and storm damage restoration. With a 4.9-star rating on Google from over 1,000 customer reviews, 50 trucks, and 60 employees, this acquisition reinforces Peak Roofing's dedication to excellence in the roofing industry. "Skymark Roofing's extensive experience and stellar reputation in Central Florida perfectly complement our growth strategy," said Anthony Perera, Managing Partner and Founder of Exuma Capital Partners. "This acquisition expands our service area and brings advanced technology and resources to Skymark Roofing, enhancing storm preparedness and service quality for Florida's homeowners and businesses." This acquisition follows Peak Roofing's first purchase of Action Roofing Services in June 2024. Both companies now operate under the Peak Roofing Partners Family of Companies. Exuma Capital Partners, led by Managing Partner and Founder Anthony Perera, has identified the roofing sector as a prime area for strategic investment. This further investment capitalizes on Florida's growing population and increasing demand for reliable roofing services in hurricane-prone areas. "Joining forces with Peak Roofing Partners opens up new opportunities for our team and customers," said David Nye, President at Skymark Roofing. "Our shared commitment to quality and customer satisfaction will drive innovation and excellence in the roofing industry." Under the guidance of Peak Roofing, Skymark Roofing resources will expand, enhance efficiencies, and broaden customer services. Peak Roofing will leverage Skymark Roofing's proven track record and regional expertise to drive further expansion in the roofing industry. About Peak Roofing Partners: Peak Roofing Partners (Peak Roofing) delivers comprehensive roofing solutions to ensure long-lasting protection for homes and businesses. As the first business venture under Exuma Capital Partners and founded by Anthony Perera, Peak Roofing provides expert roof installation, repair, and maintenance services, leveraging techniques and materials designed to withstand all weather conditions. About Exuma Capital Partners: Exuma Capital Partners is a private equity firm targeting strategic investments in high-growth middle markets in the technology, real estate, food and beverage, and home services industries. Serving as a trusted advisor for entrepreneurs, Exuma Capital Partners' approach combines operation expertise, industry knowledge, and a commitment to sustainable growth, aiming to transform business into market leaders. About Skymark Roofing: Since its founding in 2017, Skymark Roofing has established itself as a trusted local expert in residential and commercial roofing. Over the past three years, strategic growth and diversification have positioned the company ahead of market trends through homeowner financing solutions and aggressive cost-saving measures. By maintaining a strong focus on quality and customer satisfaction, Skymark Roofing has become a leading name in the roofing industry throughout the greater Central Florida area. Media Contacts:Emily Cardone10 to 1 Public Relationsemily@ 245-3983 Sofia Ashley10 to 1 Public Relationssofia@ 468-3349 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Peak Roofing Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Party Drugs, Bikers, Hit Men: It's Crime Fiction, Florida Style
FLORIDA PALMS, by Joe Pan 'Florida Palms,' by Joe Pan, is the kind of debut novel that wears its regionalism proudly on its sleeve. Within the first three pages, its teenage protagonists, Eddy and Cueball, have shown us how to behead a catfish, use a paper clip to convert a Dr Pepper can into a hash pipe, and harvest sand fleas with PVC pipes to use as bait for Gulf Coast pompano. Our young heroes live lives of quiet intoxication in a brackish part of Central Florida during the Great Recession, and the author certainly seems to know the lay of the land. Pan has more in mind than a sympathetic portrait of the so-called Other America, however. 'Florida Palms' is a crime novel, if one in fancy dress, and the palms of the book's title are more than just a threadbare tropical cliché: They're the emblem of a northwest Florida narcotics gang, for which Cueball and Eddy will soon be doing things far more sinister than decapitating catfish. The two friends are well adrift in their deep-fried, aimless final year of high school when Cueball's father, a paternalistic biker and ex-con named Bird, presents them with a devil's bargain — entry-level positions in a distribution network for a brand-new party drug, somewhat bluntly named 'shank,' that promises to make kingpins of them all. They say yes. Spoiler alert: Things go wrong, then wronger. The pleasure here, as any noir fan can tell you, lies less in the larger plot points than in the specifics (a mark surprised by a hit man while half-naked and painted to look like a chicken, the handlebars of a biker's chopper decorated with a human kneecap) and in the overall vibe of doom — a musky, Florida-specific stew of sweat, blood, swamp gas and amphetamine addiction. 'Eddy's stomach churned,' we read in the first chapter, during what prove to be our hero's last moments of comparative innocence. 'Was he sick or having a good time?' The answer, both for Eddy and for us, turns out to be a combination of the two. Perhaps Pan's finest achievement is the novel's heavy: a professional killer and all-around dirty-deeds man with the improbable moniker of Gumby. A self-loathing psychopath with a spiritual relationship to knife work, Gumby recuperates from the stresses of his day job by hunting endangered Florida panthers. The chapter in which he initiates a panicked Cueball into his grisly trade is arguably both the book's fulcrum and high point, and his closing monologue will stay with me for a while: 'You did it. My boy. You know what you've gained here, son? You know what you now possess? The multitude. The whole world's yours to lean on.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
FOX 35 Weather Impact Day: Heat advisories issued across Central Florida
The Brief Advisories have been issued across Central Florida for extreme heat. Highs look to top out in the mid-90s, but the higher dew points will make it feel close to 110°. Stay hydrated and try not to overexert yourself this afternoon. A ridge of high pressure is in control and that's one of the big reasons why the heat is our big story. We'll see partly cloudy conditions overnight with lows dipping back into the mid-70s for most locales. ORLANDO, Fla. - The heat is on once again and that is why the FOX 35 Storm Team has designated Saturday a Weather Impact Day. What will the weather look like today? What To Expect Advisories have been issued across Central Florida for extreme heat. Every county in the FOX 35/FOX 51 viewing area will be impacted. Highs look to top out in the mid-90s. The heat and humidity combo will be a tough one to combat, especially if you have outdoor plans. Stay hydrated and try not to overexert yourself this afternoon. A ridge of high pressure is in control and that's one of the big reasons why the heat is our big story. The higher dew points will make it feel close to 110 degrees, with the warmest part of the day peaking between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. An isolated storm or two is possible as the sea breezes interact, but with this ridge overhead, it'll be hard to get too much to develop. Most of the activity will likely form over the western portions of our viewing areas and fade by the evening. Overnight lows will dip back into the middle and upper 70s. What will the weather look like on Sunday? What To Expect We do it all over again on Sunday as highs rebound back into the mid-90s. Dew points in the middle to upper 70s will make it feel more like the upper 100s, which would likely mean we see another round of Heat Advisories issued. This ridge will continue to dominate our weather pattern, keeping things mainly dry and steamy. A stray storm or two is possible during the heating of the day, but they'll fade away into the evening as we lose the daytime-driven instability. We'll see partly cloudy conditions overnight with lows dipping back into the mid-70s for most locales. Tracking the Tropics Looking ahead The heat sticks around to kick off the workweek, but this area of high pressure starts to shift back to the west, allowing our weather pattern to become a little cooler and more unsettled. In fact, the same area of tropical moisture that used to be Invest-93L looks to round the ridge of move back toward Florida. Chances of showers and storms rise on Monday, but they still look to be scattered in nature. This area of low pressure then looks to bring more widespread rain to the region from Tuesday into midweek. With all the moisture in the air, flooding could be a concern, which is something we'll be watching closely. Another thing we'll be monitoring is if this low could reorganize into a depression as it works closer to the Gulf. Rain chances stay elevated through the late week with afternoon readings a little cooler, topping out near 90. We're also watching an area of showers and storms with a tropical wave in the Atlantic. This disturbance has a 20% chance of development over the next 7 days. It looks likely to encounter a more hostile environment later next week that should limit any sort of major development. Stay tuned! Orlando 7-Day Weather Forecast FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar and Live Weather Cameras Track live when storms move across your area using the FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar below. You can also watch as heavy rain moves across Central Florida on our Live Weather Cameras' page here. More radar maps from FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar Brevard County Flagler County Lake County Marion County Osceola County Orange County Polk County Seminole County Sumter County Volusia County U.S./National Radar The Source This story was written based off information shared by the FOX 35 Storm Team on July 19, 2025. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rare flesh-eating bacteria has already killed four beachgoers in Florida this year
Florida has already seen four deaths tied to a flesh-eating bacteria this year. State health authorities have reported 11 infections with fatal cases in Central Florida's Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. Johns counties. "There's a lot of bacteria that just live in different areas, even in, like, waterborne spots," Dr. Daniel Egan, an infectious disease specialist at Orlando Health, explained to WESH. "So there's fresh water, salt water, and this bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus likes salt water." Vibrio vulnificus infections are rare, but naturally occur in brackish seawater. Cases often spread through open cuts. A person may also be infected when they eat raw shellfish, and the bacterium is frequently found in oysters from warm coastal waters. Most healthy individuals experience mild disease following exposure, including symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, fever, chills, high heart rate, and disorientation. However, if the bacterium invades the bloodstreams of those with weakened immune systems, people may be affected by fever, chills, septic shock and skin lesions. Sometimes, infection may even result in amputation, and rare cases may cause necrotizing fasciitis, when the flesh around an open wound dies. Beaches in Florida and around the Gulf Coast are leaving residents vulnerable to bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus. Exposure has led to four deaths in the state so far this year (Getty Images) Antibiotics and wound care should be given to patients immediately, the Florida Department of Health says. Infections that enter the bloodstream are fatal about 50 percent of the time. One in five people who contract infection die, sometimes within just a couple of days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately, cases have been on the rise in recent year and last year reached record levels. The department reported 19 deaths and 82 cases -- marking an increase of seven deaths and nearly double the tally of cases in 2023. Notably,Vibrio vulnificus is underreported. Before 2007, there was no national surveillance system for the bacterium. A sign warns of a storm surge before Hurricane Debby last August in Cedar Key, Florida. Vibrio vulnificus ases and deaths reached record levels last year after late-season storms (Getty Images) Last year's 'unusual' influx of cases was tied to late-season hurricanes that pounded Florida and the Southeast. Cases more than doubled following Hurricanes Milton and Helene, with saltwater moving inland and people coming in contact with water that they normally wouldn't. Dr. Kami Kim, director of infectious disease at Tampa General Hospital and the USF Health Department of Internal Medicine, told WUSF that storm surge can also contaminate other sources of water, such as freshwater rivers and lakes. With the climate crisis, these risks are becoming more common. A hotter climate provides all the ingredients of stronger and more frequent hurricanes and other storms, including record sea surface temperatures. Climate change is forecast to increase the costs of infections with bacterium that require salt, according to the Department of Agriculture, rising from nearly $2.6 billion in 1995 to a projected $6.1 billion in 2090. People can avoid exposure by not eating raw shellfish, not exposing open wounds to warm salt or brackish water, and wearing gloves and other protective clothing. A man walks through a flooded street after Hurricane Milton in Port Richey, Florida, last October. Climate change-induced flooding is increasing chances for exposure to the flesh-eating bacteria (Getty Images) But, the problem isn't going away any time soon, according to researchers at Florida Atlantic University. A 2023 study found that Vibrio pathogens are adapting to 'stick' to microplastics. They can also combine with the smelly sargassum blooms that often plague Sunshine State shores. 'Think of all the plastic debris that just went into the water because of the hurricanes,' Mia McCormick, of the non-profit group Environment Florida, told Florida Phoenix. Solve the daily Crossword
