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SOUTH TAMPA
TAMPA BAY NEWS & LIFESTYLES
Publisher / Assistant Editor Matt Selby Email: matt@nnlflorida.com
Creative Director Carla Dubis Email: carla@nnlflorida.com
Editor Carla Dubis
General Manager Jim O'Reilly
Graphic Design Tony Sica
Advertising Sales Matt Selby Jim O'Reilly Mike Bird
Billing Managers Doreen Selby Tina O'Reilly
Photography by Eric Bunch - NTP2 Photography Mike Bird
Office Mascots Marley, Ziggy, Zeus, Mr.Penelope (c) 2018 Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles. All Rights Reserved. South Tampa News and Lifestyles is published monthly and distributed by the U.S. Postal Service to over 22,000 Homes in New Tampa. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors in advertisements beyond the cost of advertising space. Nothing that appears in this publication may be reproduced in any way without consent of the publisher.
Happy Father’s Day I want to take this opportunity to wish all fathers, stepdads and paternal figures out there, a very Happy Father’s Day, filled with joy, laughter and love. Father’s Day is a celebration that takes places almost all over the world. This day is meant to honor fathers and celebrate fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Here in the U.S. we celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, falling this upcoming June 17, 2018. Did you know? Father’s Day was not celebrated in the U.S., outside Catholic traditions, until the 20th century. As a civic celebration in the U.S., it was inaugurated in the early 20th century to complement Mother’s Day by celebrating fathers and male parenting. On June 19, 1910 a Father’s Day celebration was held at the YMCA in Spokane, Washington by Sonora Smart Dodd. Her father, a civil war veteran, William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised 6 children alone. Sonora was a member of Old Centenary Presbyterian Church (now Knox Presbyterian Church), where she first proposed the idea. After hearing a sermon about Mother’s DAy in 1909 at the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, Sonora told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday to honor them. Although she initially suggested June 5th, her father’s birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons and coordinate the celebration so they said “let’s do it the third Sunday in June,” pretty interesting, right? Several local clergymen accepted the idea, and on June 19, 1910, the first Father’s Day,
sermons honoring fathers were presented throughout the city. Americans resisted the holiday for decades, viewing it as nothing more than another attempt by big corporations and merchants to commercialize every single event and copy the success of Mother’s Day, and newspapers frequently featured very cynical and sarcastic attacks and jokes, mocking father’s who did “a woman’s job.” Much has changed since then. Today, many fathers raise children alone, and they do a fantastic job at it. Dad’s all over the world are changing diapers, feeding crying babies at 3am and taking their kids to ballet or baseball practice. Their involvement has been crucial in today’s society, where working mother’s need all the help they can get. The Book of Proverbs says that parents are the glory of their children. A father is his son’s first hero, and his daughter’s first love. Dad is a provider, protector and fearless roach killer. He will screw, hammer and build things and tuck you in so tightly you won’t be able to move. He is the one with the bad “dad jokes,” you can never get enough of, and the one you run to when mom says “no.” For this Father’s Day make sure you make your dad feel extra special for all that he does. Instead of giving him another pair of socks or a colorful tie he may or may not end up wearing, make sure you hug and kiss him and tell him you love him. Offer to do those simple things he normally does, to ease the burden or those menial jobs we always expect him to do, like mow the lawn
and take out the trash. Instead of taking him out for dinner, try cooking his favorite meal, he would appreciate the effort much more. But if you do end up taking him out, make sure to pay for his share even if he refuses. I lost my father last year, and I will never stop celebrating him and being thankful for the man the he was and everything he did to provide for me, my sister and my mother. My father was selfless, honest, caring and hardworking. He was the life of the party, the one with the silly jokes and someone who everyone enjoyed having around. I miss him every day, but I thank God to have had such an incredible man in my life. Last but not least, I want to wish a very “Happy Father’s Day” to Tim Selby, my father-in-law. Tim reminds me so much of my dad, it’s actually scary. Tim is incredibly selfless and giving, he is so much fun and a great dancer! Tim goes above and beyond for everyone he knows, and he works extremely hard to provide for his family, and he does it all with a big smile on his face. He took me in and made me feel like a member of the family from the day one. And even though I lost my dad, God granted me another father in Tim, and I couldn’t be happier. I hope you all have a great day with your dads, stepdads, paternal figures and grandparents. Whatever you end up doing this Father’s Day, promise me you will remind those special men in your life how much they mean to you. Just don’t ever stop making your “dad” feel special for all that he does. Carla Selby.
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Mosquito Hunters of Tampa The only thing better than summer is a mosquito-free summer! By Carla Selby
Tampa Bay is known for its world-class beaches, rich culture and year-round sunshine. Unfortunately, because of their love for heat and humidity, our climate is also an ideal habitat for mosquitoes and other pesky insects. Have you ever tried to relax outside, only to find that mosquitoes had other plans for you? Have you ever planned an outdoor barbecue or cook out that turned into an indoor picnic or cook in? Have your children wanted to play outside only to come in minutes later after being eaten alive? These situations happen all too often, but too many people think that getting rid of mosquitoes is difficult and expensive. Mosquitoes not only take away from your outdoor fun but can also pose a harmful threat to families and pets, causing allergic reactions and exposing you and your loved ones to dangerous insect-borne illnesses like the Zika Virus and the
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West Nile Virus. As health concerns surrounding mosquitoes continue to grow, especially with recent news of Zika Virus, the need for mosquito control becomes ever more apparent. That’s where Mosquito Hunters of Tampa Bay come in! Mosquito Hunters makes mosquito control affordable, effective, and environmentally friendly too. “We’re an experienced outdoor mosquito spraying company, offering a full range of effective, environmentally responsible yard treatment options, as well as one-time special event spraying services and seasonal packages,” says Mosquito Hunters - Tampa Bay owner, Brandon Allen. “Our services can be custom-tailored to your home or business, such as treatments that include surveying your property, spraying broad-leaf vegetation, and eliminating and/or neutralizing standing water areas.” With nothing but 5 star reviews from happy mosquito-free home and business owners, Mosquito Hunter’s
testimonials speak for themselves. “We are loving having no mosquitoes in our yard in any type of weather! This Company is AWESOME!” says Lynn L. “We can finally enjoy our time outside with our family and not get bitten by mosquitoes all day or night. They also have excellent pest control services that we use. Great customer service, they come right out when you call. Very professional.” While another happy customer, Whitney Hamilton, has this to say about her experience with Mosquito Hunters “Exceptional Service! Every time I would go outside I would always get bitten up and it was really uncomfortable. I can now go outside enjoy my yard with my kids without swatting my arm. It feels great. The technicians know what they are doing and are very thorough. I would recommend this service to family, friends, and anyone who enjoys the outdoors.” Before the thousands of happy clients, before the franchising, even before the incredible mustaches, Mosquito Hunters started with
a single backpack sprayer and a dream. Today, Mosquito Hunters is proud to be known as a leading Mosquito Control Company providing affordable, effective and environmentally friendly mosquito control services in in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin. Owner Brandon Allen started the Mosquito Hunters Tampa division in 2016 with a dream of running his own business, but more than anything Brandon wanted to be involved in a profession that would allow him to help people, especially families. “The moment I started Mosquito Hunters of Tampa I felt a sense of freedom. I finally felt like I had achieved my dream. Five years ago, after a horrible not-at-fault car accident, I was left in pretty bad shape. I sat in a hospital bed and felt completely broken. I hit rock bottom. I felt like a failure,” says Brandon. “Here is the truth about failing… People only fail when they stop trying. When they decide to
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the service if you hate mosquitoes. It works great. My yard and house was infested with them and I would over 30 bites a week and was feeling sick from them. I was very proactive in my yard and would still get bit up. Now there are NONE. Since I’ve been using Mosquito Hunters I don’t get bit up anymore.” Reggie M. says “Thanks Brandon for doing an awesome job and making me laugh. You have some great stories!!! Love Mosquito Hunters!! They have allowed me to enjoy my backyard. Brandon, sprayed our yard about 2 weeks ago and we are still mosquito free!”
stay down and not continue moving forward. Now, one might not get the results they we’re looking for, but the point is to never stop trying until you reach your goal. The moment you stop reaching for your dreams is the moment you fail.” Brandon is without a doubt living proof that determination, perseverance and hard work pays
off. His professionalism and fun demeanor, as well as keeping the Mosquito Hunters Happy Client Promise, has scored Brandon a lot of enthusiastic followers. All the fantastic reviews and testimonials are too many to mention, but here are some of my favorite; “Brandon is the best!” says Jenny B. “Ask him about how he started hunting mosquitoes. It’s hysterical! I highly recommend
With that tremendous passion, strong determination and charisma from a proud and happy owner like Brandon Allen, you can definitely rest assured that him and the experienced team of family-minded technicians at Mosquito Hunters will never stop trying to help you and your family to reach your MosquitoFree backyard goals! Each of their treatments lasts 21 days and their friendly technicians are licensed by the Department of Agriculture (also, some of their Techs have spiffy mustaches). The treatments are also effective against fleas and ticks! IF you’re a pet owner, the mosquito,
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flea, and tick treatments are 100% pet-friendly to ensure your beloved animals are protected from these uncomfortable and potentially harmful pests. Mosquito Hunter’s products are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and they offer all-natural products as well. “Every single treatment performed by Mosquito Hunters is backed by a Client Happiness Promise – if ever you are not happy, just call us within the 21 days post-treatment and we’ll re-treat your property. For whatever reason. Period,” says Brandon. “We believe that a remarkable experience with family and friends does not require a passport or a suitcase. We know that some of life’s best memories are literally made in your own backyard. From barbecuing to playing catch, from stargazing to chill-axing in the hammock, we believe one of the simplest, most profound joys in life comes from using your yard to its full potential, especially in the company of loved ones.”
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Why Mosquito Hunters? • All treatments are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. • Mosquito Hunters Technicians are licensed by the Department of Agriculture. • They offer unlimited phone and email support to answer any questions or concerns. • Any unused treatments can be saved for the next mosquito-heavy season. • All-natural treatments are available at no extra cost. • All treatments are guaranteed by a “Client Happiness Promise.” “Mosquito Hunters represents my dream and everything I worked so hard since the accident. Today, I am married to the love of my life and have two wonderful children. I am finally at the finish line and looking to help others,” says Brandon. “At Mosquito Hunters we strive to protect families, businesses, and communities, from these ‘equal
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opportunity’ pests. Whether or not you have been directly affected by the illnesses these pests can carry, we’re pretty certain you’ve had to deal with their buzzing and biting. Stop the itching and start enjoying the outdoors again. It’s our pleasure to help you take back your backyard with responsible mosquito control.” Lastly, Brandon wanted to leave us with this quote; “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” -Gatsby. Mosquito Hunters of Tampa Bay proudly serves residential and commercial customers throughout Hillsborough County, Pinellas County and Pasco County including the following areas: Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey and Land O’ Lakes. Their offices are located at 13542 N Florida Ave. Suite 114-B, Tampa, FL 33613. Contact Brandon directly by calling (813) 609-8440 to receive a FREE QUOTE. For more information please log on to mosquitohunterstampa.com or email tampa@mosquitohunters.com
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How much does one inch of flood water cost?
Estimated claims for single story homes:
$23,635
$9,550
$10,819
$47,110
$26,807
$53,454
Protect yourself from financial devastation.
Get flood insurance. Carron Insurance Agency offers private insurance alternatives in addition to the National Flood Insurance Program. Call one of our agents today.
813-926-0512 1010 W. Cass Street • Tampa, FL 33606
www.carroninsurance.com
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GET MORE HOT WATER, COOL YOUR GARAGE AND SAVE MONEY! What if I told you that you could have a brand new water heater, add a cooling source to your garage, reduce your energy bill significantly AND receive a government rebate all for as little as $50mo with no money out of pocket? It may sound too good to be true but, we at Tampa Bay Plumbers, are here to tell you it is not! As a trusted plumbing contractor with over 100 years of combined field experience, we have replaced thousands of water heaters, from gas to electric and even solar. There is one consensus among our plumbers as to what type of water heater they would put in their own home, and that is the Hybrid-Type water heater. This ultra energy efficient water heater is the wave of the future! Given its ability to produce hot water and at the same time cooling down your garage, all while saving you money!
The Hybrid Water Heater uses an electric heat pump that transfers the room temperature to heat
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the tank maintaining the water temperature, which prevents the water heater from using valuable electrical energy to keep the water warm. Another great feature to this type of unit is that while it is pulling heat from the room, a refrigerant inside the unit pushes out cold air to the surrounding area. So not only are you going to save money on your energy bill, you are also going to be able to provide cool air in your garage on those hot summer days! Hybrid water heaters are 3.5 times more efficient than the standard electric water heater and will produce approximately 15% more hot water in the first hour of use. According to Energy Star, residents in the Tampa area are eligible for a rebate of $275-$400 when a Hybrid Water Heater is installed in a home. So let’s do the math, the average installed price of a hybrid water heater is $2,500. Assuming you get a rebate of $400 that brings your investment amount to $2,100. It is estimated
that you will save over $4,000 over the life of the water heater in energy costs. Assuming you only save $33.33 per month on your energy bill with this installation the investment will have paid for itself in a little over 5 years. This means that you could be getting more hot water, saving on your energy bill, adding a cooling source to your garage, have your investment pay for itself in 5 years all with a 10 year manufacturer warranty!
We have multiple financing options ranging from 18 months no interest, to minimum monthly payments of 1.25% of the purchase price which would mean no money out of pocket and an option that would put your monthly payment LESS than the projected energy savings! Contact us 813-PLUMBER (758-6237) or online at tampaplumber.net for your FREE Hybrid Water Heater Estimate.
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There’s Something for EVERYONE at your South Tampa Family YMCA!
By Carla Selby
School’s out for the summer! It’s time to trade the books and calculators for something so much more fun, a baseball glove and bat or a cool dip in the pool. If you follow that up with a cool glass of lemonade, you have the formula for a successful vacation.
So, what are you and the kids going to do this summer vacation? Have you considered visiting your local YMCA? Like the song says, “It’s fun to stay at the YMCA!” I don’t know about “stay” but it certainly is fun to play there. Conveniently located at 4411 South Himes Avenue. Tampa, FL 33611, this recently updated family facility offers something for everyone, not just the kiddos! With over 10,000 local members, you better believe you too can find something to love at the South Tampa YMCA. After 36 years of giving back to its community, the South Tampa Family YMCA completed a massive $4.36 million renovation in 2016. “The renovations started in September 2015 with the opening of the state-of-theart Carol Kennedy Aquatic Center,” says Communications Director Lalita Llerena. “The center includes an Olympic size temperature-controlled eight-lane lap pool, a warm water pool and a zero-depth entry family pool complete with a two-story water slide, spray fountains and a nearby pirate ship playground.” I don’t know about you, but if that alone isn’t enough to capture your attention wait until you learn about all their other incredible family-friendly amenities and programs.
Summer Camps 2018 Your local YMCA is your one stop shop for an amazing summer camp experience. “Summer is a very busy time of the year for us. We have
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over 220 campers on site (per week) learning how to swim, creating slime for science projects or having fun making arts and crafts and so much more,” says Center Executive Scott Wickert. For Scott, making sure your kids are safe while learning and having fun is his top priority. “It’s all about making connections and building friendships in a completely safe and nurturing environment,” says Scott. “We take our members’ confidence seriously as they entrust their child with us.” Many of these summer camps are already full BUT there are still some specific weeks and programs that have some limited availability. “We get booked really fast, so it’s always better to act sooner rather than later,” says Scott, who encourages parents of potential campers to sign up online and learn more about what options are still available. If you don’t have internet access, Scott says stopping by their South Tampa location to sign up would be the second best option.
Youth Development and Teen Programs The Y is the starting point for many kids to learn about becoming and staying active, and developing healthy habits that they can carry with them throughout their lives. The benefits are far greater than just physical health. Whether it’s gaining the confidence that comes from learning to swim or building the positive relationships that lead to good sportsmanship and teamwork, the South Tampa Y is all about building the whole child, from the inside out. “Through our youth development programs, we believe all kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve, under the guidance of adults who care about them and believe in their potential,” says Lalita. “From quality summer camp programming to value-based youth sports, we are committed to changing
lives.”
them all.
Some of the South Tampa Y’s initiatives include:
The South Tampa Y offers low-impact classes and full body conditioning along with intense options for the serious fitness buff. The recently modernized Wellness Center and renovated exercise rooms offer all kinds of fitness classes; from spinning to yoga, and everything in between! With unique options like; “Chi Gong” a moving meditation holistic practice cultivating and balancing our life energy and stabilizing muscles and “Les Mills BodyPump™” an original barbell class that strengthens your entire body by working out all your major muscles amongst many other group classes, there’s truly something for everyone. Located right off the Wellness Center is a Max Results Room for TRX and small group training. They also offer disease prevention programs for active adults that are proven to help them get back into a healthy lifestyle. “We strive to improve the South Tampa community’s health and well-being with a focus on chronic disease prevention and management,” says Scott. “Along with our Y Diabetes Prevention Program and LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA cancer survivor program, the Pedaling for Parkinson’s program has a particularly active membership base in South Tampa. The low-impact cycling class has been proven to help ease and slow symptoms and disease
(1) Providing kids with the necessary tools and skills they need to succeed in school through summer camp experiences that prevent summer learning loss. (2) Preventing childhood obesity and the chronic diseases that are associated with it, such as type two diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. (3) Teaching life skills through youth sports, day camps and teen leadership programs. (4) Preventing and reducing accidental death due to drowning. (5) Valuing diversity and inclusion by being a welcoming place to all.
Improve Your Health While Having Fun With so many programs and activities that promote a healthier lifestyle, you won’t have to look any further than your local Y to stay active and improve your overall health The South Tampa Y offers so many incredible amenities and classes that I got a good workout just by typing
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progression. We also launched a program proven to help those with arthritis. Enhance®Fitness is proving to help older adults in South Tampa become more active, energized and empowered for independent living.”
YMCA Aquatics At the Y, nationally-certified instructors teach kids, teens, and adults to swim, so they can stay safe around water and learn the skills they need to make swimming a lifelong pursuit for staying healthy. Y swimming instructors have been trained in CPR, AED, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration. Swimming lessons provide important life skills that could save a life and will benefit students for a lifetime. The South Tampa YMCA also commits itself to drowning prevention as part of their social responsibility area since Hillsborough Country regularly leads the nation in drowning for young children. “Three times a year, we offer free community lessons through our Safety Around Water program generously supported by the Tampa Bay Rays and United Way Suncoast,” says Lalita.
Family Fun Finding family-friendly activities can be quite challenging, especially during the summer months when the children are at home and you realize there’s no way the kids should stay watching movies and playing video games the entire time. At the YMCA, they value family and are committed to providing their members a variety of fun family activities to choose from. From barbecues to Popsicle parties, to poolside crafts and healthy snack creation programs, the South Tampa YMCA is your go-to place for unique, creative, family-friendly activities.
Giving Back To the Community
Scott, Lalita and the rest of the staff at the YMCA believe it is critical to give back to our local community and provide support to those who need it most. The South Tampa Y lives this foundation component of their mission daily by strengthening vulnerable neighborhoods. “The South Tampa Y has a strong partnership with Chiaramonte Elementary, where more than 70 percent of the students receive free/reduced-lunch prices,” says Scott. “Our group brings holiday activities to 400 under-resourced students, including cookie-decorating, arts and crafts, and one-one-one visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves.” The South Tampa Y has recently adopted the “Togetherhood” program, which is a national program created to connect people from all backgrounds to plan and carry out volunteer projects that address a
real need in the community. “We basically go out into the community and look at different service programs where volunteers are needed, and we provide our help at different community projects. A couple of months ago, we had a massive ‘Beach Clean Up’ where we picked up trash from the ocean and surrounding parking lots with about 30 volunteers,” says Scott. “We also brought 40 volunteers together to help Feeding Tampa Bay package meals for the homeless. We do these type of projects on a quarterly basis. We’re always on the lookout to service our local community any way we can with the needs they have.” The South Tampa Y also reaches more vulnerable populations with its Head Start collaboration and Go for Green program, which offers free swim lessons to Y summer campers unable to pass the swim test. “Through community partnerships and support, we’re able to provide quality programs and services to our South Tampa community members as we carry forward with our mission of improving the mind, body and spirit of all,” says Lalita. Every single day, the Y supports kids, adults, seniors and families in our community with programs that protect, teach, connect, heal, nourish and encourage. When you—Y members, donors and volunteers—support the Y, you make the community stronger and help others realize the power of their full potential, while having fun doing it!
So if you wondered “Why choose my local YMCA?” now you know Y!!!
South Tampa YMCA is located at 4411 South Himes Avenue. Tampa, FL 33611. For more information or to sign up to any of their summer camps, membership, youth programs, swimming lessons or to learn more about volunteering in the community we encourage you to log on to https:// www.tampaymca.org/locations/southtampa/
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June 2018 17
Happy Birthday United States... and pass me another hot dog! By Tom Bostock It’s seven o: clock! You can’t wait for the day to start. It’s the 4th of July and you and your family are going to the park to see the fireworks. You make enough noise to “accidently” wake up your parents and your older brother. After inhaling your breakfast cereal and watching your parents pack the picnic lunch, you pile into the SUV and drive to the park. Your reserved picnic pavilion is waiting for you.
Dad puts the charcoal in the grille and fires it up. Your stomach rumbles just thinking about those juicy hot dogs, steaks and hamburgers to come. You play some catch with your brother, get bored and walk back to the picnic. You know the fireworks will be neat but, suddenly, you find yourself wondering why you celebrate the 4th of July in the first place and how did the Fourth of July holiday came about.
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Well, many people believe we celebrate the Fourth of July because it is the day we received our Independence from England. While those people are thinking along the right track, that is not the entire reason we celebrate the Fourth of July, nor is it the reason that the holiday came about. According to AJC.com, Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence June 1776. Even though the Continental Congress we elected, declared our independence from England on July 2nd, not July 4th, we continue to celebrate our independence on July 4th every year. During the course of the American Revolution a second Continental Congress was formed. It is this group that adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. After the first draft was written it was revised by Ben Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson one last time, before it was sent
to Congress for final approval. All thirteen colonies stood behind the Declaration of Independence and adopted it in full on July 4, 1776. That is also the date that appears on the handwritten copy of the Declaration, as well as the copies, printed by Dunlap and Broadsides, that were circulated throughout the United States, (constitutionalfacts.
com). This is where the Fourth of July holiday comes in. The Fourth of July is known as “Independence Day” because that is the day that the Second Continental Congress adopted the full and formal Declaration of Independence. Regardless of the ongoing war the following year, people in Philadelphia celebrated a muted
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Fourth of July. While celebrations on July 4th during the American Revolution were modest, after the war ended in 1783 the Fourth of July became a big holiday in many places. The celebrations included speeches, military events, parades, concerts, festivals, and fireworks. To this day the Fourth of July is the most patriotic holiday celebrated in the United States. Whether you decide to throw a BBQ in your local community park and stick around to watch the fireworks with your loved ones, or you plan on attending one of the multiple celebrations happening all over Tampa Bay, you may wonder… how do politicians celebrate the 4th of July? Well, Congress won’t be in session, so our best guess is that all the congressmen will be at home with their own families, sharing their holiday celebrations. How about the President of the United States? 4th of July celebrations can be hard for our
presidents. Newsweek writer, Julia Glum, had the answers about what some of our presidents did or are going to do on the 4th. In short, “President Trump will be in New Jersey. Obama held concerts and Thomas Jefferson died.” I will take two out of three of those celebrations! According to India Times reporter, Chidanand Rajghatta, on demand and at the orders of President Trump, we will also have a new parade in Washington when “the US military will march down Pennsylvania Avenue in a parade expected to surpass France’s famed Bastille Day.” President Trump is said to have been impressed by the French parade that he attended in July 2017, so he has ordered the Pentagon to roll out a huge parade this upcoming fourth of July to try and top the French celebrations. There have been a lot of speculations all over social media that the Mayor of Washington DC could deny the Pentagon a parade permit.
We will have to wait and see how our President decides to celebrate this special holiday. But one thing you can count on, no matter in which city or state you are in, and that is… fireworks, lots and lots of fireworks! A Boston Globe reporter, Evan Horowitz wrote, “if you gathered all the fireworks that Americans will set off this week” (4th of July), “they would weigh more than the Statue of Liberty, cost more than a Powerball jackpot and release more energy than 100,000 bolts of lightning.” Wow! Can you believe that? That would certainly give my next-door neighbors something ELSE to complain about! Channelside is one of the best places to watch fireworks in Tampa, with both their Red, White and Blue Festival from Cotanchobee Park, and major displays at Bay Plaza. Safety Harbor will also be sponsoring their yearly fireworks extravaganza. If you are in Pinellas, don’t miss the fun in the St. Petersburg area. Four of the many
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attractions will include Gulfport’s July 4th Party, St. Pete’s Spa Beach show, Largo’s celebration and Clearwater Celebrates America. Not to be outdone, Pasco county will be hosting their celebration from Waterfront Park and these are just a few of the many celebration sites. Tampabay.com reports that “There are plenty of options, including massive shows in Tampa, St. Pete and New Port Richey as well as smaller shows across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Sarasota counties. Lots of fireworks for everyone! Check the Internet to see what events will be taking place in your neighborhood. As we watch the bombs bursting in air this 4th of July, stop for a moment and remember our brave fighting men and women, around the world, who are still protecting our freedom today. Then relax, enjoy… and pass me another hotdog!
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