Attention, theater fans: A local actor needs your help.
Jason Vaughan Evans, a founding member of Jobsite Theatre and one of the Tampa Bay area's best-loved character actors, had a stroke. Doctors had to operate to remove blood clots from his brain. Like many folks, Jason has no health insurance, which means he faces not only a tough road to recovery but staggering medical bills.
His friends and family established a GoFundMe to help out, but it's still woefully short of the estimated $100,000 Jason's care will cost. If you can donate or share the page, please do so.
In brighter news, seatbelts save artists.
Seriously.
Chad Mize, a St. Petersburg artist, survived a nasty accident Saturday night, and he credits his seatbelt. Here's what he posted on Facebook:
"I was driving home around 10:55 Saturday night after working all day on the Shine Community Mural. Traveling west on 5th Avenue North and making a left hand turn (green light) onto 66th Street, I was plowed into the front drivers side of my Scion. I then blacked out, not remembering much. The accident occurred right in front of a fire station. I was then taken by ambulance to Bayfront ER where I was given a cat scan and fluids, a first for me. The most vivid memory I have is Dan being there with me in the ER after all this occurred.
"Come to find out this 28-year-old guy who hit my car decided to run on foot after the crash. He was eventually caught and charged with: Violation of probation of Driving while license suspended, Flee or Elude, DUI involving property damage, and DWLSR felony third offense. His bail is set at a total of $15500, and he is awaiting trial.
"I am so grateful that I am able to type this story and recall this surreal, horrible experience. Since I started driving, I was always a seatbelt user. This may have saved my life. Or at least saved me from severe injury."
