Brandon
November 2016 Volume 11, Issue 11 Ph: 657-2418
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Kings Avenue Baptist Church Celebrates 30 Years With Annual Walk Thru Bethlehem
Wawa Celebrates Opening Of 100th Florida Store With $100,000 Donation
Thru Bethlehem This year as realistic as marks 30 possible. Don’t years for be surprised if Kings Avenue the Roman Baptist guards harass Church’s you or if you are annual Walk asked to pay Thru your taxes.” Bethlehem. Gallops, Thursday, who has been December 8 involved since its through inception, also Sunday, December 11, Walk Thru Bethlehem is a family tradition for the reminisced on a Gallops family. Pictured above, on the left, is key the story of organizer, David Gallops with his daughter and son. side story developing over the Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection is illustrated with past 30 years, “My children have grown up on the set; they have played the a guided 45-minute interactive tour parts from baby Jesus to a Roman solthrough biblical scenes of Bethlehem. dier.” Walk Thru Bethlehem is not only a The little town of Bethlehem is brought yearly tradition for the Gallops family; it to life by town merchants, tax collectors, has also evolved into a Christmas tradiRoman soldiers, shepherds, Mary, tion for the local community. Joseph, and of course, a baby Jesus. A Over the four nights, the free familycamel, sheep, and donkey also join the friendly event draws a sizeable crowd cast to create an authenticate atmosupwards of 7,000 visitors. In order to phere. avoid longer wait times, it is recomA production of this magnitude mended to arrive earlier in the evening. requires over 300 volunteers. Since Upon arrival, visitors are given a number 1986, Kings Avenue congregants have designating a guide and an appointed faithfully created and staged the live tour time. While waiting for an assigned scenes with the purpose of sharing the tour, visitors can enjoy holiday tunes true meaning of Christmas. The dramareverberating from the local school tized depiction of the Gospel has bands while partaking in a variety of changed lives. Over the past 30 years, food concessions. the event has prompted numerous visiWalk Thru Bethlehem is scheduled tors to rededicate their lives or accept for Thursday, December 8, from 6:30 to Christ for the first time. Sandra 9:30 p.m.; Friday, December 9, from Rodriquez, the coordinator for costumes 6:30 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, December 10, and props, echoed King Avenue’s motifrom 4 to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, vation, “It is a lot of work, but if one perDecember 11, from 4 to 9 p.m. The son is saved, it’s all worth it.” church is located at 2602 S. Kings Ave. David Gallops, one of the main in Brandon. Contact the church office at organizers, emphasized the authenticity 685-3095. of the event; “We try to make the Walk
Hundreds of guests, company executives and state officials gathered earlier this month to celebrate the grand opening of Wawa’s 100th Florida store in Brandon. The festive event, joined by Florida State Senator, Tom Lee, State Representative, Ross Spano and Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy Wawa president and CEO Chris Gheysens presents Feeding White, marked a major America with a $100,000 check for the Wawa Foundation in show of the company’s community involvement and support milestone in the comof support hunger-fighting initiatives throughout Florida. pany’s long history and Food Bank. Florida development. Prior to the store officially opening “We are opening our 100th store in its doors, Wawa associates from all just four years in Florida and are across the Tampa region came togeththrilled to be able to celebrate this er to build 1,000 hoagies for local food incredible milestone in Brandon as we banks. Adding to the traditionally enercontinue to grow our brand across the getic ceremony, there were hoagie Sunshine State,” said Wawa’s building lessons and cheers led by President and CEO, Chris Gheysens. Wawa’s mascot Wally Goose. “We are honored to have become a Representatives from the Central part of so many wonderful communities, serve so many tremendous cusContinued on Page 14 tomers and work with so many dedicated associates.” The new store, located at 1728 W. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon, opened sigIn This nificantly ahead of its initial timeline Issue projection. Served by general manager, Jeffrey Burnett, its nearly 40 associates HOA HOT TOPICS ...............................PG 7 in full and part-time positions, are eligible for competitive salaries and health TOY RUN. .........................................PG 10 benefits, as well as Wawa’s employee HOLIDAY LIGHTS ..............................PG 13 stock ownership plan (ESOP). The ceremony included a donation EYE ON BUSINESS ............................PG 25 of $100,000 to Feeding America, from CHALKLINES .....................................PG 38 The Wawa Foundation, demonstrating Wawa’s community involvement and HOLIDAY GUIDE ........................PGS 29‐35 hunger-fighting initiatives throughout ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT................PG 37 Florida. The donation is promised to be SPORTS CONNECTION......................PG 38 distributed to representatives from Second Harvest Orlando, Feeding READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE Tampa Bay, Fort Myers Harry Chapin www.ospreyobserver.com Food Bank and the Treasure Coast
By Tamas Mondovics
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Walt Raysick, of the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County takes part in Hillsborough County’s 52nd Annual Veterans Day Tribute held Veterans Memorial Park and Museum, 3602 U.S. Highway 301 N. in Tampa. The event saw one of the largest turnouts honoring all active and former U.S. military service members.
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