TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need An opulent castle-like residence at 724 Bristlecone Drive — with 10 bedrooms 13 bathrooms and a nod to Hollywood with a replica of Batman’s office and his Batcave — is on the market for nearly $4 million in Pine The estate includes a playful nod to the popular television “Batman” series while offering luxury digs similar to Bruce Wayne’s residence profiled on the television show “This is unreal and it’s so unique and it’s expertly constructed,” said listing agent Andrew Klima “It feels like each room has a distinct purpose.” The Batman-themed room replicates the original television show the bust of William Shakespeare that you tilt back to press a button that opens the entrance via double poles which leads to the bat cave “It’s like a legit movie set,” Klima said The property, dubbed Castle Bristlecone, is garnering a lot of interest and Klima already has hosted several potential buyers on tours of the property a wine cellar that can store more than 500 bottles the sprawling estate sits on 7 acres and spans 23,500 square feet relocated to Pittsburgh after 15 years in the luxury New York real estate market “It could be a sports person or a person interested in real estate or someone that just wants to own it or a multigenerational family,” Klima said The grounds feature AstroTurf around the pool area to deter real grass from entering the pristine pool which includes double slides and a waterfall The property occupies the end of a cul-de-sac in Pine Manor a residential plan that has homes typically valued in the $700,000 to $1 million range also known as the Carey Mansion in Newport and design elements are pulled from British and French architecture in the Châteauesque style Klima said a potential buyer could show up from anywhere “I think it’s possible it will be purchased by a Pittsburgher but our approach is to have a global perspective and the purchaser may have ridiculous amounts of money and someone will buy it just because they want it,” Klima said The residence features more than 300 stained-glass windows indoor gym and a soaring two-story library boasting a Tiffany chandelier the estate has garnered thousands of views on Zillow.com and Klima’s YouTube channel The grand home is owned by Terry and Wendy Lubinsky Klima said the mega-mansion is priced to sell you could sell the house for its parts and make money,” he said The Lubinskys built the home in 2008 and added a second wing in 2011 Its annual property taxes for Allegheny County run more than $52,000 “It’s priced to sell because in Western Pennsylvania many properties listed for more than $4 million don’t sell quickly The owners have enjoyed the property and they loved it but it’s time to move on,” Klima said Stay up-to-date on important news from TribLIVE 1-800-909-8742 © 2025 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved About Us Advertise Career Opportunities Contact Advertising Contact Circulation Contact Newsroom Contact Us Feedback Request Correction Resource Center Scholarship Opportunities Send Letter to the Editor Send News Tip Subscribe Subscriber Services Blog eFeatures Email Newsletters eTrib Facebook Home Delivery Instagram LinkedIn Marketing Minute Store Locations TribLIVE App - App Store TribLIVE App - Google Play X (formerly Twitter) Arts & Entertainment Best of the Best Business Directory Circulars Contests Coronavirus Lifestyles Local News YaJagOff Obituaries Opinion Our Publications Photos Real Estate Sports Video Weather Cookie Settings Privacy Policy Terms of Service This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A nonprofit that serves Northeast Florida adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities has a matching grant campaign under way that could bring the nonprofit $1 million Thom Borowy, a local retired clinical psychologist, and his wife Pat have pledged to match every dollar Pine Castle raises up to $500,000 meaning every donation could have "twice the impact," according to the nonprofit The match would be even more if a donor's company matches their contribution The Borowys have been Pine Castle supporters for 20 years "This gift is truly transformational … and will allow us to provide the very best training education and support for our participants well into the future." To donate, go to pinecastle.org/donate or mail them to Pine Castle at 4911 Spring Park Road Training started Monday and is expected to continue this week. The Navy is expected to continue training at the following times, according to Naval Air Station Jacksonville: Watch: Why does the Navy drop bombs in Ocala National Forest? Bombing training can temporarily displace wildlife so people should be careful when driving in and near the Ocala National Forest The Navy is encouraging people to secure items around their homes that could attract wildlife People can email noise complaints nasjax.noisecomplaints@us.navy.mil Navy officials have used the area for training since World II, and other military branches use the area for training, too, according to the U.S. Forest Service and protecting military personnel requires continuous and realistic training The Navy’s Pinecastle Range on the Ocala National Forest Florida provides unique conditions and an ideal setting for our sailors Marines and combat aircrew to conduct this essential training," according to the Forest Service Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999 He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago He is a graduate of Michigan State University Need Help? My Profile Logout Pinecastle Records has announced the signing of the Burnett Sisters Band to a contract with the label. And with this announcement, we also get a new single from the group, one called Sorrow Grief and Pain married Colin Ray and began performing with him as a duo and are supported by Tennessee banjo man Justin Alexander who moved to the US from England not long ago to pursue a career in bluegrass all three Burnetts have garnered their share of acclaim including winning the 2022 MerleFest band competition Anissa won this year’s Old Time Fiddle ribbon at the Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention They’ve been playing together for nearly a decade and have an interesting mix of original and traditional music that sways back and forth between bluegrass and old time Pinecastle Records CEO Ethan Burkhardt is high on his latest signees “We’re thrilled to welcome The Burnett Sisters Band to the Pinecastle label Their unique style and deep connection to bluegrass music make them a perfect fit for our label We’re excited to be part of their journey as they continue to grow and reach new audiences.” Sorrow Grief and Pain was written by Geary Allen and tells of a woman who is moaning the blues after her man has left her Sorrow Grief and Pain is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers at AirPlay Direct. emailAbout the AuthorJohn LawlessJohn had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2004 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011 managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents Latest Event ListingsSearch Events powered by AhSo © Bluegrass Today 2025powered by AhSo When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in March 2020, the special-needs clients served by Jacksonville nonprofit Pine Castle were sent home The center's work and life skills training programs and activity center for adults with intellectual and developmental differences were shuttered "It was a little scary at the beginning, not knowing if we were going to keep our funding," board chairwoman Sarah Houpert said Made me feel more independent': Jobs enhance lives of special-needs clients at Jacksonville nonprofit 'I feel like I'm a rock star': Jacksonville special-needs band gives members a creative outlet Luminaria: Special-needs adults make holiday kits to brighten Jacksonville But there was a $2.25 million plan for the future and implementing it kept Pine Castle humming until its clients returned and beyond. That plan included renovation of campus facilities that had not been upgraded since the 1980s development of a new college-type curriculum and payment of $1 million in debt About $1.8 million of the total has been raised. The final goal is for the remaining $450,000 to be raised by Nov. 5 when the Spring Park Road nonprofit celebrates its 70th anniversary and the new lives being built by its clients "They focus on what I can do and not what I cannot do," Percy Howliet Howliet, who is in a wheelchair, aspires to be a radio personality, so he is an integral part of Pine Castle's The Morning News, the first radio show in Florida written and produced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities "They helped me live my dream of being on the radio They understand that this chair does not define me." The nonprofit was founded in 1952 by 33 families of children with intellectual or developmental disabilities They were part of a national movement away from institutionalizing such children according to a Pine Castle video tracing its history "Their belief that every person not only had the right to achieve their potential for independence but the capacity to do so in a loving and caring environment would go on to be proven and reaffirmed," according to the video At the time there were no local programs or schools to provide support services After Duval County Public Schools in 1965 began a program for students with special needs Pine Castle provided work opportunities in on-site programs and community employment down from the 300 pre-pandemic; some of them live in group homes run by Pine Castle In 2020 the facility was closed for six months But financial worries about the future proved unfounded 'The needle moved': 'Connectable' opened Jacksonville, its workplaces to more special-needs people Bitty & Beau's Coffee: Changing the way people see people with disabilities "We had the support we needed," Houpert said "It was so exciting while we were shut down The work might have bothered the clients had they been on campus it brought them joy when they returned in September 2020 "They came back to fresh space," Houpert said had been "looking at the landscape," eying what improvements or changes were needed what trends were welcome and should be accommodated "We've been retooling for the past two or three years," she said a custom curriculum was developed as a "way to measure progress" of clients extracurriculars," Whittington said.  Each client will select one of two "pathways": one to community employment "They get to choose what they want to do with their lives," she said All clients will attend classes that teach "core basics that everybody needs to learn but targeted to working or not working," Whittington said.  the job placement track includes classes on health safety and professionalism; managing money and resources; and employability skills, while the enrichment curriculum has classes on health safety and citizenship; money and making choices; and community skills Extracurricular activities also will be built into their schedules, such as art, band or Special Olympics basketball or track The job pathway students will have "work crew time" with five to 10 participants in small groups training in manufacturing assembly "They will be learning a trade," providing them with the skills to get a job in the community Some of them will work on-campus at Pine Castle's wood shop and in assembly and packaging jobs Sent off in style: Sent off in style: Jacksonville-area's Special Olympians head to national games to compete Photos: Photos: Special Olympics Athletes Sendoff As society has evolved in its treatment and support of adults with intellectual and developmental differences Now the goal is integrating them into society as much as possible "We know now more than ever what these individuals are capable of," Whittington said Currently about 20 clients work in the community at businesses such as Publix Jacksonville University and the Holland & Knight law firm The more clients spend time working off campus We've always been kind of maxed out," Whittington said The staff hopes for additional funding to hire more staff to build enrollment back to pre-pandemic levels Whittington and the board are working toward their third goal — making Pine Castle debt-free "We just keep going. Donors have been so wonderful," she said "We're asking the public to get us over the finish line." funds now being used to pay the mortgage can be used for other needs,  "We always have to be moving forward," she said, with a "commitment to continuing improvement 'They touched a chord with me'Houpert, a public school teacher said the hardest part of supporting Pine Castle "is making people aware of what we do." while 60% of the Pine Castle budget is federal funding, the rest is donations and philanthropic grants COVID-19: Florida nonprofits are still in recovery from pandemic, but 'feeling much more confident' "Everyone is so engaged with what is going on They all tend to "bubble over" when they talk about it One of the strongest cheerleaders is Houpert's father, Jim Henry a longtime Pine Castle board member who returned so many times they made him member emeritus He no longer has a vote but uses his voice for the nonprofit whenever possible he "was attracted and astounded by what I saw Watching Pine Castle's progress over the years has been "amazing," he said The best part is "seeing continuity in the mission and reflection of so many consumers I watched how they managed through COVID-19 "is a testament to the need for the service. … and the effectiveness. That population had been underserved."  "It is amazing to see these people come in lost "It is hard to truly understand until you really go see it." To donate or get more information, contact Pine Castle at 4911 Spring Park Road, Jacksonville; 32207; (904) 733-2650; or info@pinecastle.org or go to pinecastle.org To attend a community tour or schedule a private tour contact the development team at getinvolved@pinecastle.org or call (904) 733-2650 When Benjamin Lee is on the air as part of the WPCR 1670 AM team broadcasting the Pine Castle Morning News in Jacksonville The results often leave the rest of the team laughing so hard they have a hard time keeping their composure Lee read through his “This Day in History” bits about Andrew Johnson president to have impeachment proceedings launched against him by the House of Representatives; the lease for Guantanamo Bay being signed; and Adolf Hitler outlining the basic points of the Nazi party in Munich He followed that serious stuff with a “Star Wars” ad lib: The Morning News is the first radio show in Florida written and produced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities Lee and the rest of the WPCR morning crew are clients at Pine Castle a work- and life-skills training and activity center in Jacksonville Their live show is broadcast to most of the 13-acre campus where other clients and staff listen in on small radios the nonprofit has on- and off-campus employment programs for its 280 participants 36 of whom live in group homes on the property The 30-minute radio show is a recreational interpersonal and other skills that could lead to real-life employment “We’re really proud of what we’re doing here,” said Jon May “Our folks are so excited about the experience.” The show has been broadcast Monday through Friday for about 2 1/2 years but for the past year in a new studio equipped with all the bells and whistles The crew recently celebrated the first anniversary of the Terry G which was funded by an anonymous donor in memory of a former anchor and technical producer who dreamed of the show having its own studio Terry loved being a part of the radio show,” she said The show is broadcast on a short-range AM transmitter with future plans for a second transmitter to get a clearer signal to more of the campus said show manager Reagan Norton,who is also the nonprofit’s training coordinator Norton also envisions a podcast and live stream on the Pine Castle website which would allow the public to listen in from anywhere in the world Everybody puts in a great deal of work,” he said “This past year has been an absolute blast.” Norton kicks off each show and occasionally adds his own humorous Jeff Foxworthy-type Southern humor Cambryn Doran and Blake Struss; technical producers are Desmond Parish “It’s a good job that we are happy to do,” Sammons said In addition to “This Day in History” and the “Joke of the Day,” the content includes news the campus lunch menu and a trivia question Norton prepares a working script for each show but the team is encouraged to add their own twists ”They have to be able to improvise,” he said with 90 percent of his utterances off the cuff introducing the other on-air people and their segments and acting as the buffer between them Howliet may be the most passionate about being a radio broadcaster “It’s been a dream of mine since I was a boy,” he said “I’m getting to show what I always wanted to do.” Fox particularly loves his “Joke of the Day” spots which compete with Lee’s ad libs to keep the team in stitches “What happens when you cross a shark and a cow?” Fox asked for the anniversary broadcast He burst into laughter along with the rest of the team and a crowd of observers watching through a window the town of Pine Castle has been honoring their heritage with a celebration of unique Orange County history Pioneer Days is a two-day festival held at Cypress Grove Park filled with demonstrations of original pioneer crafts traditional music and storytelling and folk entertainment the residents and families of Pine Castle came together to celebrate this annual festivity District 3 Commissioner Pete Clarke was also in attendance provided remarks and read the official proclamation of Pioneers Days “Residents of South Orange County have celebrated their pioneer roots at a variety of community gatherings spanning more than a century,” says Billy Morgan Pine Castle Pioneer Days Chairman when it became clear the festival was outgrowing its original site Commissioner Pete Clarke came forward with an offer to strengthen the long standing community partnership with Orange County Government by making Cypress Grove Park available as a new venue This year’s event was the first at the new site and thousands of area residents came together to celebrate the area’s long connection to trains and the railroad.” The original Pine Castle was a private residence built by poet Will Harney who settled in the area from Ohio immediately following the Civil War Harney composed many tributes to the tranquil virtues of the Central Florida frontier and endured many hardships pioneer settlers encountered in those days After claiming the land on Lake Conway south of Orlando he built a castle using the native pine trees naming the structure “Pine Castle.” the entire neighborhood was referred to as Pine Castle It was often considered the “most striking landmark between Orlando and Kissimmee” and is situated near the cities of Edgewood and Belle Isle including the pockets of unincorporated Orange County that surround the Conway chain of lakes as Pine Castle continued to flourish and develop the residents created an annual festival to celebrate their pioneer spirit old-fashion lifestyle experience full of family activities and folk traditions The festival kicked off with a community parade that followed a theme of trains and railroads Throughout the weekend attendees enjoyed various events that celebrated their unique history Preparations for the 2015 event are already underway. Organizers welcome volunteers with a passion for preserving our local history for future generations of pioneers. For more information, call (407) 427-9692, email pinecastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com or visit the festival web site www.pinecastlepioneerdays.org Orange County is home to six districts that each has a distinct personality when it comes to history, natural beauty, parks and recreation options, resident diversity and business opportunities. District 3 Commissioner Mayra Uribe gave us her Top 5 things to know about her district: Barber Park has a dog park section (divided with one side for small dogs and one side for large dogs), a playground, soccer fields, volleyball area, basketball court, skate park and hockey rink. The skate park is free and the location of the 1st Annual District 3 Skate Event. A wide sidewalk surrounds the park and is perfect for walking or jogging. The Conway Community Market is also ideal for a Sunday family experience Cypress Grove Park is a 90-acre park located on beautiful Lake Jessamine. It features great walking trails and recreation areas. The park’s restored 1925 estate house is a highly sought-after venue for weddings and the park’s pavilion and group area are also available for rental District 3 is the smallest but most populated district in the County with parts of three municipalities within its jurisdiction: the cities of Orlando each with its own distinct personality and offerings District 3 has a number of pristine lakes that offer boat ramps The boat ramps give residents ample opportunity to enjoy recreational options such as fishing wakeboarding or simply relaxing on the open water For more on District 3 and Commissioner Mayra Uribe, go to the Orange County website Do you want to know what District you reside in and who your Commissioner is? Visit ocfl.net/bcc and type your street address and you can find your District and Orange County Commissioner Photo cutline: People skateboarding at Barber Park Twice a week the members of a Jacksonville band called The Flashbacks gather in a gymnasium to practice There are as many as 15 members at any one time and most of them sing and play instruments ranging from the keyboard and bass guitar to drums and ukuleles They perform popular music from the 1960s to the 2000s who in this case will only be referred to by his first name, sings and plays the tambourine "I am a pretty quiet person … Music has helped me to find my voice," he said "It has helped me to understand the language of talking to people." Pine Castle asked that clients' last names not be used to protect their privacy the band had a  narrow focus as part of a percussion and music class Some members were already proficient with their instruments but she brought in a wider variety of instruments and prepared the band for performances they have been performing quarterly for fellow center clients and in occasional concerts on Facebook Live Members look forward to being able to perform in public again and to record their second album She said she enjoys the band's camaraderie and being able to provide a respite for listeners Abigail is nice and the band members are kind to me. They are cool," she said "I feel like I’m a rock star that helps people." "I have gotten so much joy out of teaching this wonderful group of people about music performance etiquette and music appreciation," she said "It’s a wonderful opportunity to grow personally … being part of musical family of sorts," she said "They each get individual attention and assistance with their instrument they get to perform solos and learn how to express themselves through music." attendanceGruber sets no particular benchmarks for band members to meet She measures their success by their ability to practice assignments at home and to regularly attend — and play well — at practices and performances "I am always blown away by their work ethic and ability to take whatever I throw at them," she said "They don’t wait until we have an audience to give their best That is a constant inspiration to me and a reminder to myself and my own musical projects to never give anything but 100 percent of your ability." the band currently rehearses in the Pine Castle gym to accommodate social distancing Members are encouraged to practice on their own time and many have their own instruments at home and being able to be involved with music and my friends is great too," said Vanton "The band has helped me to be more structured and career-driven and I have learned how to work as a team." Another creative outlet for Pine Castle clients is WPCR-1670 AM, an on-campus studio from which they broadcast a live morning show When it debuted in 2014, it was the first radio show in Florida written and produced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities Beth Reese Cravey: bcravey@jacksonville.com To donate, volunteer or get more information about Pine Castle, call (904) 733-2650 or go to pinecastle.org Orlando-News.com Two suspects have been arrested and charged with the murder of a 30-year-old Orlando man Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested Isaac Herrera Madrid in connection with the homicide of Francisco Ismael Mercado Mercado was found on January 30 after deputies responded to the 300 block of Fairlane Avenue in Pine Castle in reference to a shooting police found Mercado suffering from gunshot wounds Deputies found a second man in his 20s who had also been shot was taken to the hospital and his condition was not provided by police Rodriguez and Herrera now face charges of first degree felony murder Both are currently being held at the Orange County Jail with no bond Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to contact the Central Florida Crimeline at 800-423-8477 a Presbyterian minister and former Army chaplain who once directed the Pine Castle Center for mentally challenged adults followed by a reception in the church hall Private burial will be later at Jacksonville National Cemetery Hager joined Pine Castle Center in 1972 after retiring from the Army and was named executive director in 1973 Its campus on Spring Park Road was enlarged by 10 acres the number of workshops doubled and the number of clients expanded from 80 to more than 300 who served on the Pine Castle Center board for 15 years and is a past president "We decided to take a chance on a man of love and God That was the greatest decision we ever made," the judge said Hager just showed such love and attention to the clients." he also was a supply pastor for numerous Presbyterian churches in and around Jacksonville He also was an adjunct professor of psychology at Florida Community College at Jacksonville Hager became a parish associate at Riverside Presbyterian Church a docent at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and a volunteer at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain Navy after graduating from Huntington High School and was a radioman on Guam during World War II he attended Marshall University before going to Union Theological Seminary in Richmond where he earned his master of divinity degree After serving for 18 months as senior pastor of Emporia (Va.) Presbyterian Church Hager answered the call for Army chaplains during the Korean war His military decorations included the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster he returned to Union Seminary and earned his doctor of ministry degree John Wallace Hager and Thomas Preston Hager and Elizabeth Henry Hager Bacon of Jacksonville; and 13 grandchildren the family suggests memorials to Pine Castle Center FL 32204; or Community Hospice of Northeast Florida Cracking open a can or bottle of this Minnesota beer can help quench your thirst-- and help to restore pine forests here in Minnesota as well I've been a big fan of Minnesota's incredible craft beer industry and all the great local breweries across our state for years now One of the favorite things my wife and I like to do is to hit up a local craft brewery and try a couple of the handcrafted beers each brewery creates-- and there are a lot of them to try While trying all those various beers is fun, it's even better when one of the beers you really like also serves a higher purpose. And that's exactly what Castle Danger Brewery has done with their White Pine Project IPA. How does beer help out a forest? Well, ever since Castle Danger introduced their White Pine Project IPA they've been donating a portion of the profits from the beer directly to purchasing and planting pine seedlings that help restore native white pine forests along the North Shore And the beer itself is reminiscent of pines, too, with "...aromas of bright citrus, tropical fruit, and pine with just enough bitterness to keep it balanced. The mellow golden malt character and effervescence carry the towering hop flavors as high as a stately white pine," Castle Danger said I've been a fan of this beer since I first tried it a few years ago. The good news is that while it was first introduced as a limited, seasonal release, Castle Danger started brewing it year-round back in 2021. It's now available at many establishments and liquor stores across the state, including here in southeast Minnesota Like I said, there are a TON of really good craft beers being brewed by some amazing breweries here in Minnesota. Keep scrolling to take a look at some other Minnesota beers I've tried-- and really like Listen to Curt St. John weekday morningsfrom 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5 Cracking open a can of this Minnesota beer can help quench your thirst-- and help to restore pine forests here in Minnesota as well!\nRead More I've been a big fan of Minnesota's incredible craft beer industry and all the great local breweries across our state for years now While trying all those various beers is fun, it's even better when one of the beers you really like also serves a higher purpose. And that's exactly what Castle Danger Brewery has done with their White Pine Project IPA. How does beer help out a forest? Well, ever since Castle Danger introduced their White Pine Project IPA And the beer itself is reminiscent of pines, too, with "...aromas of bright citrus, tropical fruit, and pine with just enough bitterness to keep it balanced. The mellow golden malt character and effervescence carry the towering hop flavors as high as a stately white pine," Castle Danger said I've been a fan of this beer since I first tried it a few years ago. The good news is that while it was first introduced as a limited, seasonal release, Castle Danger started brewing it year-round back in 2021. It's now available at many establishments and liquor stores across the state, including here in southeast Minnesota Like I said, there are a TON of really good craft beers being brewed by some amazing breweries here in Minnesota. Keep scrolling to take a look at some other Minnesota beers I've tried-- and really like Listen to Curt St. John weekday morningsfrom 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5 Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsCarolina Cardona BELLE ISLE – A group of Belle Isle and Pine Castle residents is pleading for Cornerstone Charter Academy to reconsider their request to demolish the historic Lancaster House The house was built in the 1880s and is named after Belle Isle’s first mayor “I was grieved when I heard that they wanted to tear it down,” said Ginni Christopher Christopher recalled holding bible study meetings at the house several years ago “This home is very dear to my heart at a time when we didn’t really have a space at our church.” Lancaster House is located across from Cornerstone Charter Academy “We need the city of Belle Isle and the commissioners have been working so hard on this for so long to stick to their original decision — this house is worth saving don’t let it be torn down,” said Bill Morgan The nonprofit is trying to save the house from the wrecking ball and told News 6 that the school wants the space for more parking “They really don’t need seven more parking spaces,” said Ben Bateman Pine Castle Pioneer Days said the city of Belle Isle had already approved money to move the house they made a decision to give $75,000 towards moving the house it really needs to stay where it is for historical integrity So would you guys be willing to come in and as Pioneer Days come in and restore the house and maintain it?’ And we said the city council discussed the fate of the house According to the chairman of the nonprofit it’s not the first time there have been talks about tearing down the house but a previous 6-1 city council vote saved it “We began fundraising and getting the National Registry application put together and doing everything we had to do to make that happen they’re being asked to again come back and say maybe we want to change our mind again,’” Morgan said Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe — a lifelong resident of Pine Castle — and former Belle Isle City Commissioner Bobby Lance spoke out at the meeting “We are an amazing county that has moved forward with everything we’re doing innovative and it is an honor to have such a beautiful historic site in our community and we just want to do everything we can to protect it,” Uribe said “I’m even open to considering moving the house but destroying it would be so detrimental to the history of Pine Castle to Orange County and to this community as a whole.” The council voted during the Wednesday meeting to have city leaders try to renegotiate the matter further You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group a group of special-needs adults gather this time of year to turn flat-bottom bags votive candles and premium sand into luminaria kits that will light up neighborhoods all over town They are proud to be part of the city's holiday tradition I put the candles in the box because I can count," said Michelle Cooks 56. ”I like that they will look nice at people's houses." The workshop is at Pine Castle a work- and life-skills training and activity center for adults with intellectual and developmental differences Some clients get job opportunities at area businesses others work onsite assembling and packaging for businesses or on Pine Castle product lines such as stakes for construction and survey companies and the holiday luminaria kits "The ongoing development that the … employment program provides brings opportunities to each participant that they might not otherwise have and creates pathways that help them reach their highest potential," he said White luminaria bags — containing a small candle anchored by sand — are traditionally used to light and decorate walkways The 25-year-old Pine Castle project sells about 4,000 kits annually at $10 each plus tax. Each kit contains 12 white flat-bottom bags 12 white votive candles and two bags of premium sand as well as the story and a photo of a client who made the kit.  The 20 Pine Castle clients who participate "are hard workers and are very diligent in the assembly of each kit," Clarkston said "They take great pride in ensuring their specific role in the process is done correctly and understand it is critical to the success of their team to produce a complete kit." comes not only with their paychecks but as they "see the kits being used around their communities to brighten up the holidays." The clients are paid based on the number of pieces produced or hourly wages according to spokeswoman Amber Sesnick. The U.S Department of Labor allows "adults with differences the opportunity to do work at their pace and earn a paycheck based on their level of production," she said The kits are sold to homeowners associations and community organizations that host luminaria nights referrals to friends and neighbors and the Pine Castle website Riverside Avondale Preservation ordered kits two years ago "We thought that this special gift kit would be a nice addition to our inventory," said Executive Director Warren Jones We picked Pine Castle to do the work because of their mission A staff member and I took a tour of the facility and were very impressed with the breadth of services and the work they are doing." said she has the same reaction when she completes a kit and when she envisions them being placed outside Jacksonville homes “This year is my first year. I never done it before," he said "I put the sand in the bag and then I stack up the boxes when they are done.” is “pretty good.” But helping create something special for the community To order a kit, contact Cory Clarkston at (904) 733-2650 ext. 245 or CClarkston@PineCastle.org or go to pinecastle.org/luminaria jobs have been shipped off to cheaper labor markets overseas the president of a growing Ponte Vedra-based manufacturer moved a few of those jobs back to Jacksonville And a workforce of 12 to 25 developmentally disabled adults is gladly taking on the regular flow of work Keith Kessler is president of Aquateko (pronounced "aquatic-oh") Its two main products are "InvisaSwivels" - a replacement for fishing line end tackle that has long been made of metal and "Knot 2 Kinky" nickel titanium fishing line "leaders" designed for catching "toothy" fish that can chew through regular fishing line and escape Check out more photos from Aquateko Augustine fisherman Rusty Uhland - are produced in Taiwan Kessler has brought the products and packaging to Pine Castle for workers to pack InvisaSwivels are attached to the end of a fishing line to allow lures to rotate and behave more like fish without snaring the line Kessler's are a replacement for metal swivels They cost $4.99 a pack and are available in eight different sizes and three different colors - clear but Kessler didn't like the way they being packaged in plastic bags stapled to cardstock labels When the manufacturer told him it would cost him more to switch to lighter packaging he decided to have printed plastic bags manufactured in China instead Pine Castle labor is a little more expensive than the Taiwanese workers but considering his savings in duties and shipping Production and packaging of Aquateko's Knot 2 Kinky have been handled at Pine Castle for about a year and a half; those jobs actually started with Kessler's immediate family and never went offshore That product started as a line that was secondary to InvisaSwivel but it has since taken off and is shipping well above Kessler's estimates which are priced from $8.99 to $17.99 per pack and sold in 15- and 30-foot increments The wire can also be knotted and it snaps back quickly to its straight form when bent The line is available in seven different sizes depending on the type of fish being pursued who was working on production of Knot 2 Kinky lines Monday placing a universal stock label in the same spot on each finished Knot 2 Kinky package Pine Castle Business and Sales Manager Suzanne Bonfanti said when the workers are producing at Pine Castle's rate for full productivity "We want to make sure these guys are being paid a fair wage based on their productivity," she said Most small bait and tackle stores do as well And sales are picking up all over the globe I projected them doing 2,000 Knot 2 Kinkys a year," he said "We've already done 25,000 through August this year Kessler said he's very happy with the results he's gotten from Pine Castle "These guys have been all over it," he said The U.S. Forest Service has announced that the U.S Navy will engage in “live and inert bombing” exercises Feb 27-March 1 at the Pinecastle Range Complex in the Ocala National Forest Use extra caution when driving through the Ocala National Forest and surrounding areas Secure any items around your residence that could attract wildlife Always be mindful of larger animals including black bears and practice 'BearWise' measures," the Forest Service wrote in a Facebook post Noise complaints should be sent to nasjax.noisecomplaints@us.navy.mil More information about the Ocala National Forest can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/florida/recarea/?recid=83528 You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Smithfield residents who see smoke coming from Windsor Castle Park on Thursday needn’t worry The Virginia chapter of The Nature Conservancy has scheduled a controlled burn between noon and 1 p.m 22 at the corner of Jericho Road and Cedar Street where the oldest of Smithfield’s longleaf pines are planted “Longleaf pines are nearly immune to fire,” said Henry McBurney a volunteer with the Virginia Master Naturalists’ Historic Southside chapter who helped plant the trees “That is the reason they became the predominant tree species on approximately 90 million acres across southeastern USA in 1607.” According to the Virginia Department of Forestry longleaf pines are native to southeastern Virginia and were used extensively in shipbuilding in colonial times less than 3 million acres remained as of 2002 The Virginia Master NaturalistsHistoric Southside chapter joined forces with the Windsor Castle Park Foundation in 2019 to plant 104 longleaf pines provided to the town at no cost by the Virginia Department of Forestry at the request of the Nature Conservancy By the end of 2022 there were over 3,000 longleaf pines spanning nearly 10 acres in the park The town’s plan for the trees calls for periodic controlled burns to remove the undergrowth once the seedlings reach a fire-resistant state The burns are intended to create an environment that favors longleaf pines over competitors and encourage there return of native flora “The benefit of prescribed burns is to help nature develop the understory species specific to longleaf pine savannas,” McBurney said The stated objective of the town regarding re-introducing longleaf pines in WCP is to develop a longleaf pine savanna in an urban setting Longleaf pine savannas have a unique ecosystem.” The Norfolk State Spartans versus the North Carolina Central Eagles is one of four games on the Monday… The Miami Heat (28-31) host the Washington Wizards (11-48) in a matchup of Southeast Division teams at Kaseya… MEAC rivals face one another when the Norfolk State Spartans (20-9 10-2 MEAC) travel to face the North… The Norfolk State Spartans (25-4) will try to continue a six-game road winning streak at the North Carolina… Top-25 teams will hit the court in two games on Monday’s college basketball slate LAKELAND— All season long The Rock boys basketball team had prided itself on beating the big boys Ranked Class 5A programs Gainesville High School and Palm Beach Dwyer were among the Lions' victims But Friday afternoon in the FHSAA 1A state title game it was a group of little guys who ended The Rock's season with heartbreak as Orlando Pine Castle Christian defeated the Lions was happy about what his team — the first in any sport in school history to reach a final four — was able to accomplish "I'm extremely proud of our guys and the season we had," said Wilbekin whose team hadn't been beaten in 1A game all year prior to Friday Wilbekin went on to credit the Eagles (25-6) who didn't have a player taller than 6-foot-4 facing a starting lineup that went 5-11 6-8 and 6-10 and whose championship victory duplicated the girls title won a week ago "They are extremely well coached and play very hard," Wilbekin said Pine Castle Christian's 2-1-2 defense created shooting issues for The Rock (24-8) just about the entire game scored just six points in each of the first two quarters and 11 in the third before completely doubling their entire game output with 23 in the fourth the team's leading scorer at almost 17 points-a-game He also battled foul trouble throughout — at one point in the fourth quarter he had four fouls and no points — but he contributed in other ways collecting three steals and dishing out a game-high eight assists like Sulskis an all-tournament team selection His team-high 18 points gave him a final-four average of 16.5 Snodgrass said he wasn't surprised the offense was limited each way but I thought we were going to win," said Snodgrass who were led by tournament MVP Eddie Piccinini "I felt like our guys came out and executed our game plan very well," said coach Mark Rickman who added his team will have a dual ring-sizing ceremony with the girls team on Tuesday "I felt like with our ballhandling if we got a lead "And the guys did everything I asked from there." Contact John Patton at 374-5074 or pattonj@gvillesun.com WINTER HAVEN | The umpire said it was fair Instant replay won't be making its way into the FHSAA regional playoffs any time soon but Pine Castle Christian will be making its way into the Class 2A softball state semifinals Pine Castle rallied for four runs in the fourth inning — two on a controversial play — to beat All Saints' Academy 5-2 on Saturday at All Saints The Saints were clinging to a 2-1 lead when Pine Castle loaded the bases with two outs courtesy of a hit batter and two walks Robison lofted a popup behind first base and Saints' first baseman Tara Weirather collided with second baseman Peyton Dunbar trying to make a play on the ball The ball hit the ground — and was ruled fair — allowing two runs to score and gave Pine Castle a 3-2 lead Weirather said the ball was never touched by her or Dunbar and she felt it landed in foul territory "I couldn't tell from where I was at so I couldn't say anything," All Saints head coach Bill McClellan said "At first I thought it was foul but maybe I was hoping it was foul but they (umpires) said it was fair and they scored two." Pine Castle's leadoff hitter Kaley Bitterman followed with a two-run single to cap the four-run inning and beat All Saints senior starter Lissette Garay (11-7) "We felt like we needed base runners and Lissette was doing a wonderful job And we expected her to be excellent," Pine Castle Christian head coach Mark Ritchhart said "We just wanted to make some contact and make some things happen And that (play) was just one of those things after making contact We just kept battling and I'm glad we got bases runners on because it was getting a little nerve-racking there for a while." Pine Castle will now face the Sheridan Hills Christian-Princeton Christian game winner Friday in Vero Beach with a state finals berth hanging in the balance who is expected to sign a softball scholarship with Indian River State College this week gave up five hits and struck out 12 while walking three and hitting two batters The senior right-hander also staked the Saints (14-8) to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning when she drilled a two-run homer over the left-center field fence She has improved her offensive side so much," McClellan said Bitterman (20-6) picked up the win for Pine Castle (22-6) giving up three hits and two runs while striking out 10 in seven innings