Obituaries and Announcements

OBITUARIES

Knight, Janet, 59, resident Beachway Mobile Park, passed away December 11, 2020 at home. Originally from Nashville, TN, she moved to St Petersburg in 2018 and to Gulfport in 2020. Predeceased by father, Clyde Knight Jr. Survivors include mother, Marcella Osborne, and sister, Stacy, both of Lake City, South Carolina; brothers Larry Knight, St. Petersburg, and Scott (Tammie), Gulfport; stepmother, Gloria Knight (Bob Honaker), St. Petersburg; and best friend, Michael Smith. Celebration of life will be held at later date.

Make a Difference for an LGBTQ Senior

One in five seniors experience the loneliness of social isolation, and LGBTQ individuals are more likely to experience it, according to EPIC Generation. That’s why the organization created the Friendly Caller Program, which fosters multigenerational connections in the LGBTQ community through regular phone calls by trained volunteers. These volunteers offer social support, share meaningful conversations, promote lasting friendships and provide community referrals. Learn more or sign up to volunteer at MyEPIC.org/ Generations or call 727-328-5524.

Get Ready for ReadOut 2021

ReadOut 2021: A Festival of Lesbian Literature put out a call for submissions for this year’s event, to be held via Zoom on Friday, February 26 through Sunday, February 28. This year’s theme is “Lesbian Voices Persist and Prevail.” ReadOut 2021 will be a hybrid of live streaming, prerecorded readings, entertainment and chat opportunities between sessions. Well-known lesbian authors including Sally Bellerose, Elana Dykewomon, Sheree Greer, Sue Katz, Rose Norman, Jean Redmann and Susan Stinson are slated to present panels on themes like elder lesbian writings, Black women writers, mystery, fiction and the intersection of friendship and careers as lesbian authors. The deadline for submissions is February 1. Visit mygulfport.us/readout for more.

Need a Little Help?

Pinellas County has a large resource of assistance information, includingfood pantry distribution sites, financial assistance, eviction/foreclosure assistance information, internet access help, pet care assistance and more. Text your zip code to 211 Tampa Bay Cares at 898211 or dial 211 24 hours a day, or visit covid19.pinellascounty.org/ where-to-get-help for more.

January is National Mentoring Month

Do you have 30 minutes a week to make a difference for a child? There are more than 800 students in Pinellas County Schools on a waiting list for mentors. Some people mentor two or three students a week to make sure students receive the help they need. Just 30 minutes a week can make a big difference with social, emotional and educational support. Mentoring is virtual for the remainder the 2020-2021 school year. Visit pcsb.org/mentor.

Gulfport Candidate Debates

The Gabber Newspaper and the Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce will host the Gulfport Candidate Debates in the Catherine A. Hickman Theater February 11. Brittney Sherley, vice president of the GMC, and Cathy Salustri Loper, publisher of the Gabber, will co-moderate. Social distancing and mask protocols enforced; two seats will separate people not in the same bubble. Doors open at 5 p.m. for ticket holders; at 5:30 p.m.; remaining seats open to walk-ins. The Gabber and the GMC will stream the event as a Zoom webinar so those who cannot attend can see the debates and submit questions. Submit questions prior to the event at elections@thegabber.com. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please email elections@thegabber.com and ask to be added to the list; you’ll get a link shortly before the event.