Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 5-29-18

Local
40th Street Site Of Fatal Accidents Upgraded
Named Art Teacher
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A crosswalk that will pro- vide a safe haven for senior citizens was installed Friday morning. The installation comes after two women were killed attempting to cross the busy street.
On September 1, 2017, Ms. Sylvia Holton, a 59- year-old mother of 8, died 16 days after being struck by a vehicle on N. 40th Street. After being made aware of the safety issues for the residents of River Pines Apartment Complex, City Councilman Frank Reddick requested a crosswalk to stop traffic be placed in the area for resi- dents of the complex.
The City Transportation Department conducted an in- vestigation and determined that there was a need for a crosswalk. Prior to the re- quest being made, there were flashing lights warning of pedestrian crossings, but nothing to stop traffic. It was slated for completion by April 2018.
Ms. Jean Duncan, P. E.
Transportation and Stormwater Services Depart- ment Director responded to Councilman Reddick in a letter.
The letter stated, “We ap- preciate you providing us with the River Pines resi- dents’ concerns regarding the inability to cross 40th Street safely. ... We had a meeting ... and have identified the cross- walk on 40th Street in the vicinity of the River Pines Apartments, as a priority
project in FY2018.
“The Transportation and
Stormwater Services Depart- ment (TSS) is finalizing our plans to install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons and we will refurbish the cross- walk markings as well.”
On Wednesday, May 23rd, Ms. Leila Poole Reid, 63, died in the same location as Ms. Holton when she at- tempted to cross the busy street. The accidents were less than a year apart.
CROSSWALK ON N. 40th STREET
Of The Year
Mrs. Madielynann “Cookie” Mitchell is shown with Ms. Jennifer Ervin, AP of Curriculum at Brooks DeBartolo. Ms. Ervin nominated Mrs. Mitchell for the award.
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
On Wednesday, May 16, 2018, the Hillsborough Art Education Association held its awards ceremony at an Ybor City establishment. Among the many awards handed out was the Art Teacher of the Year.
The award for the High School Art Teacher of the Year went to Madeilynann “Cookie” Mitchell, Art Teacher at Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School. Sur- prised to receive the award, Mrs. Mitchell was nomi- nated by Ms. Jennifer Ervin, AP of Curriculum at Brooks DeBartolo.
In the nomination, Ms. Ervin said: “Mrs. Mitchell has provided students the opportunity to experience art in the world around them by visiting art as a form of ex- pression for change in the world. She also devotes countless hours outside the school day to assist students with art competitions, enter student work in exhibition and seek scholarship and recognition opportunities.”
Ms. Ervin continued, “Mrs. Mitchell instills in everyone a desire to grow in the arts and inspires students and staff members to look at life through art.”
Mrs. Mitchell also led a school-wide initiative to sup- port students, staff, and com- munity members in Parkland by providing artwork to those affected by the recent
tragedy.
Mrs. Mitchell says she
has always loved art. Here’s how she explains it all.
“When I was a little kid (pre-school) I used to draw pictures and then sell them to my parents or my neighbors (who were mostly family members).
“They used to have those drawing contests on the back of the cereal boxes and I would submit drawings to them and wait to receive the next drawing assignment.
“In Elementary and Jr. High all of my book reports always had a drawing that ac- companied them.
“In high school (Tampa Prep), I had an amazing art teacher, Mrs. Holly Choate, who encouraged my artistic expression.
“I attended Stetson Uni- versity in DeLand, Florida for my first 2 years, taking art courses and finished my schooling at FSU with a BA in Fine Arts,” she stated.
In addition to being Art Teacher at Brooks DeBartolo, Mrs. Mitchell is also the Girls Volleyball Coach. She and her husband, Mark, parents of 2 adult children, are the coaches for volleyball club, the Raptors.
Other winners in art were: Elementary: Gail Reiss, and Middle School: Shane Heath. Also, Administrator of the Year: Matthew Hoff; Newbie Art Teacher of the Year: Yessica Gilford; and Adapted Art Teacher of the Year: Linda S. Cox.
PAGE 12 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2018