There are almost 7,000 public school teachers in Pinellas County. Each year just 10 are named finalists for Teacher of the Year. That’s .001% of teachers in the county, and this year, one of them is Old Northeast resident Dana Ingebretsen, or “Ms. Ingey” to her students. Originally from Port Charlotte, Ingebretsen has spent her entire 13-year career teaching science at Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport.

While some teachers might change roles a few times before finding their niche, Ingebretsen found a home right away as a young teacher at “Bogie.” As she honed her craft early in her career, she took the opportunity to build relationships with student leaders as a student government advisor.… Read More

Arthritis impacts 60 million Americans and is the leading cause of disability, but it’s not just a disease affecting older people – it also impacts 300,000 U.S. children. Hard to imagine, though there are 100 different forms of arthritis and related diseases. They are all disorders affecting the joints, typically with swelling and inflammation; managing the symptoms can often mean living with pain for a lifetime.

Florida Executive Director of the Arthritis Foundation Melissa Hughey tirelessly helps spread the word. A graduate of Florida State University School of Sports Management, Hughey spent an internship with the Tampa Bay Lightning before entering the non-profit arena.… Read More

Do you find Medicare confusing? You’re not alone. For many seniors, Medicare and health insurance information can be a maze of online documents and government websites. Sometimes, you just need a friend to help. 

That’s the purpose of SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders). It’s a free program for Floridians over 65, run by volunteers and funded by Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs. Volunteers, often seniors themselves, help users through Zoom or the helpline, or at multiple locations throughout the county, including the Sunshine Senior Center at 330 5th Street N. during limited hours. 

Volunteer Charles Frankle has been with SHINE for 15 years.… Read More