Hooper: Hillsborough MADD founder targets underage drinking

At the age of 13, he was an alcoholic.

At the age of 17, he took the life of Linda Unfried's sister, Josie DiStefano Palomino, in a DUI crash.

Unfried founded the Hillsborough chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in the wake of her sister's death 31 years ago. She remains vigilant today. She thinks of the teen involved in her sister's death and wants desperately to reduce underage drinking.

So, MADD and the Hillsborough County Anti Drug Alliance have teamed up to promote Josie's Pledge, a program that will take the message of not drinking and driving into Hillsborough's middle schools.

Middle school seems awfully early to deliver the sobering presentation, but you can't convince Unfried they're too young. …

The NASCAR Foundation has chosen Dunedin's Carl Flatley, the founder of Sepsis Alliance, as one of four finalists for the foundation's Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide. Flatley founded the alliance after his daughter lost her life to sepsis, a complication that occurs after an infection. Learn more about the reward at carlspitcrew.com. …

Seen on a bumper sticker: Metaphors Be With You. …

Kudos to iHeartRadio personality Corey Dylan, who will transition from WFLA-AM 970 morning co-host to morning host on WMTX-FM 100.7 (Mix 100) starting next Monday. …

After lauding Glory Days Grill for its top-notch Monte Cristo in a recent column, I learned the restaurant has taken the deep-fried sandwich off the menu. Officials, however, tell me it's still available upon request. Good. I didn't want to have to organize a "Monte Cristo Movement."

That's all I'm saying.