People

BY DANIELLA HUME The old saying “like father, like son” means a great deal to Mario J. Hicks. A fourth generation Sanford native, Mario grew up in Georgetown and Midway, watching his father work around the clock to help people in need. “Seeing my dad as a businessman and always being there to help people, by nature, it made me ...

Meet Héctor Ivan Rodriguez Agenjo, Founder of THE FESTIVAL PUERTORRIQUEÑO Y CULTURAL By Mercedes Fonseca Growing up en la isla del encanto, Héctor Ivan Rodriguez had a calling. His path began with obtaining a degree in education, and following in the footsteps of his grandmother, who was his inspiration and also a teacher. Having been instilled a strong faith-based foundation, ...

By JENNIFER LUCE Photo by: Kelly Clore WITH kabiki studios “I love riding a bike, it gives me emotional and physical freedom. It provides me with a sense of peace and calms me down if I am agitated. It is not a hobby for me, nor a way to exercise, it is the best therapy!” — Scott Boutin In both ...

By Mercedes Fonseca Photo by Daniella Hume, Mastropieces Photography As the city’s new front man for economic development, Dr. Tom Tomerlin is spearheading efforts to grow commerce in Sanford. His career comprises employment on both sides of the coin — in both the public and private sectors. His tenure in the private sector launched his interest in becoming more focused ...

By Mercedes Fonseca “The future will bring radical changes that are exponential and not linear – we need to appropriately assess and change rapidly to prepare our kids to what is coming.” –Marcello Spinelli, Co-Founder Amazing Explorers Academy Roughly one year ago, our community came to a screeching halt. The month of March was a troubling time for everyone, says ...