18+ hour, 50+ min ago (477+ words) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) " "Love You Local" connects shoppers with local businesses to keep money and community services from slipping away amid staffing and spending pressures. For shops like these, every item that leaves the shelf is more than just a sale; it's another dollar that stays right here in Tallahassee. I'm Lyric Sloan in Northeast Tallahassee, with how a local campaign is working to shed a much-needed light on local businesses. "Love your local" spotlights independently owned businesses and makes it easy for shoppers to find them, keeping more money circulating in our community. "It's important that the community knows that these businesses are locally owned, which means that for every $1 spent with these establishments, $0.67 stays here locally," Keith Bowers, Office of Economic Vitality Director, said. Many local shops are closing after reporting severe staffing shortages. The Office of Economic…...

1+ day, 17+ hour ago (232+ words) Your voice matters. You need to tell your state legislators what you think. The fact that the state Capitol in Tallahassee is hundreds of miles away is all the more reason why you have to make your voice heard. Most legislators love hearing from their constituents. It helps them make decisions, and it's just as important for them to hear a contrasting point of view. Twenty-seven people represent Broward and Palm Beach counties in Tallahassee. They include 18 Democrats, seven Republicans and one with no party affiliation. Two House seats, both in Palm Beach, are currently vacant. No matter where you live, you have a senator and a representative in the state Capitol. Here is the contact information for all legislators who represent Broward and Palm Beach in the Legislature. Sen. Jason Pizzo, NPA-Sunny Isles Beach, 850-487-5037 Rep. Hillary Cassel, R-Dania Beach,…...

3+ day, 19+ hour ago (47+ words) A Hermosa Beach man is reportedly recovering after enduring a violent beating by more than a half-dozen alleged teenagers Friday night, all of whom fled while the victim lay incapacitated in an alley. Displaced Tallahassee family receives keys to a house in time for the holiday...

3+ day, 21+ hour ago (204+ words) Tallahassee is one of 34 U.S. towns chosen to receive a national arts grant. The Levitt Foundation award will help bring musical excitement to the downtown area over a three-year period. - On Air Now Playing 88.9 WFSU-FM (News and Information) - On Air Now Playing 89.1 WFSW-FM (News and Information) Tallahassee is a Levitt Foundation arts grant winner Tallahassee is one of 34 U.S. towns chosen to receive a national arts grant. The Levitt Foundation award will help bring musical excitement to the downtown area over a three-year period. The competition began back in the summer. Communities across the nation vied to receive the first installment of a $150-million spend-down by the Levitt Foundation. That organization works to promote music in public spaces to promote more community building. Tallahassee's COCA - Council for Culture and the Arts - was among the winners. Here's COCA Executive Director Kathleen Sphear. "It'll…...

4+ day, 4+ hour ago (154+ words) TALLAHASSEE, FL " Local governments and community partners will open overnight cold weather shelters on Thursday and Friday nights to help anyone in need of a warm place to stay as temperatures drop. The Big Bend Continuum of Care announced that no cold night shelter operations are scheduled for Wednesday night. People needing shelter must arrive between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. for intake at locations based on their household composition: Transportation assistance is available through the Street Outreach Coordinator at 850-759-1895 or [email protected]. Star Metro will not operate on Thursday due to the Thanksgiving holiday and will have limited service on Friday. For more information about cold night shelter planning, contact the Big Bend Continuum of Care Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 850-792-5015. For after-hours or weekend inquiries, call the CESC/Kearney Center at 850-792-9000....

4+ day, 14+ hour ago (46+ words) Tallahassee farmer Erik Barnhart gives away free vegetables from his South Monroe farm stand, continuing a 30-year family tradition while helping neighbors. Tallahassee farmer Erik Barnhart gives away free vegetables from his South Monroe farm stand, continuing a 30-year family tradition while helping neighbors....

4+ day, 16+ hour ago (359+ words) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) " Crews are scheduled to break ground on the Charlie Ward Champions Ranch in Southeast Tallahassee on December 1st after reaching $9 million fundraising goal for a faith-based sports destination. A decades-long dream is becoming reality as construction begins on the Charlie Ward Champions Ranch in Southeast Tallahassee. The faith-based sports destination will provide a space where kids and families can play, learn and grow through mentorship, support services, and skill-building programs. "This is the beginning. It's a multi-phase project. So we're taking out a bite at a time, starting with the first part of phase one, which will be this caf, the multisport field, and then infrastructure that you can't see," said Tonja Ward, co-founder of Champions Ranch. The project has been in development for decades, with organizers recently reaching a significant milestone. "This has been a journey for…...

4+ day, 17+ hour ago (38+ words) Charlie Ward Champions Ranch set to break ground in Southeast Tallahassee after decades of planning Abraham, 70, started his career in veterinary medicine. Charlie Ward Champions Ranch set to break ground in Southeast Tallahassee after decades of planning...

4+ day, 20+ hour ago (1718+ words) Tis the season for exciting events, family-friendly festivals, and of course, shopping. Fill your plans by using this handy guide to make the most of your holidays. LeMoyne Arts" 62nd Annual Holiday Show, Art Nouveau Aglow, is the perfect place to find a variety of handmade gifts created by local and regional artisans at 125 N. Gadsden St. This year"s show celebrates the elegance and creativity of the Art Nouveau movement while showcasing the incredible talent of local artists and artisans throughout the holiday season. Half of LeMoyne"s galleries will feature an Art Nouveau'themed exhibition highlighting original works by local artists inspired by the flowing forms and natural motifs of the iconic style. The other half will become LeMoyne"s Holiday Shop, offering a curated selection of affordable, handmade, and giftable items, from pottery, jewelry, and ornaments to fine art and…...

4+ day, 23+ hour ago (355+ words) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) " With food costs rising, one Tallahassee farmer is stepping up to make sure no neighbor goes without a meal this holiday season. A Tallahassee farmer is turning his family tradition into a gift for his community. For Erik Barnhart, farming did not start as a job, it was a legacy. His family has been farming for more than 30 years, and now, he is carrying that work forward in a way that keeps neighbors connected to the land and to each other. Several days a week, Barnhart pulls his pickup truck into the corner of South Monroe near the Advance Discount Auto Parts store and sets up a farm stand. His table is packed with freshly picked collards, turnips, watermelon, sweet potatoes and whatever else the fields are producing that week. But this week, his mission is even…...