Osprey Observer Brandon January 2021

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January 2021 Volume 16, Issue 1 Ph: 657-2418 1 9

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P U B L I S H I N G

Spring Season Means Shortcake, Milkshakes And Even Strawberry Pizzas Are Ready To Serve

By Kathy L. Collins

Everyone who lives in or visits the area should take a trip to Balm and enjoy the freshly picked strawberries and other treats at Goodson Farms Strawberry Market.

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Goodson Farms Strawberry Market, located at 12406 County Rd. 672 E. in Balm, opened on December 30 for the 2020 Strawberry Season. I recently visited the farm and market. The public can be assured that the market is strictly adhering to social distancing rules. Despite the times, the strawberries are here. They are superbly ripe, sweet and truly delicious.

Strawberries, which are picked fresh daily, are offered in quarts and half flats. The strawberries are quite reasonably priced. The quarts are $3.50 while the half flats are $12.

You can also get basic produce such as tomatoes, a variety of squash, potatoes, onions and peppers. A variety of jams, including strawberry rhubarb, strawberry butter and strawberry, can be picked up for $5.

While the fresh strawberries are great treats to take home, as are the fresh produce, the thing that keeps bringing the crowds to Goodson Farms Strawberry Market is the cafe and its impressive offering of delectable treats. It offers sandwiches and desserts such as cake, strawberry

milkshakes, strawberry pizza, sundae and strawberry shortcake.

Ginny Cozy, a resident of Valrico, has visited Goodson Farms Strawberry Market. Cozy said, “I went with a group of my friends, and the desserts are delicious. It made for a very nice day out visiting the farm and market.”

Goodson Farms was established in 1979 by Don and Janet Goodson. Both Don and Janet have since passed away. Now, their sons, Mike and Ricky, own and operate the family farm and business. Goodson Farms consists of approximately 1,500 acres, which stretches over areas of Southern Hillsborough County and Northern Manatee County. The current market location was opened in 2006.

Previously, the Goodsons operated a small roadside stand which was located at the intersection of Balm Riverview Rd. and County Rd. 672.

Goodson Farms Strawberry Market is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The market is open seasonally until strawberry season is over in mid-March.

The abundance of fresh strawberries that this region produces is a great reason for everyone to experience as many as they can.

For more information, call 6347790, and like Goodson Farms Strawberry Market on Facebook.

P O S I T I V E

C O M M U N I T Y

N E W S

Longtime Brandon Resident Helen Mulrennan Young Touches Many With Crochet Ministry

By Amy Schechter

Many Brandon alopecia. There are so many area residents are people who are inspired by familiar with the Young’s zest for live and Mulrennan family devotion to service, but name, but what Young give the glory all back many do not know is to God: “If I can be an inspithat one family ration, it all comes from God. member is making I don’t take credit for anyan impact in a differthing. I ent way. Helen feel so Mulrennan Young blessed.” uses her ability to The crochet to touch the name lives of many resi‘Helen’ dents in need. comes Helen Mulrennan Young, Young’s family from the a Brandon resident, originally homeGreek, spends hours a day maksteaded 160 acres meaning ing items to donate to the community. and both Mulrennan ‘torch,’ Rd. and the school now bears her famiand ly’s name. She turns 98 in February, yet Helen Mulrennan Young definitely lights she continues to serve by focusing on up the lives of everyone with whom she what she can do rather than what she comes in contact. cannot. Although she could not venture out into the community to read to elementary students or work with the local Kiwanis Club as she had done in the past, she knew she could still make a big difference.

Young learned to crochet as a young girl, and although she put it aside to work and raise her son, she came back to her talent in her adult life. As a faithful member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Brandon for over 20 years, her ministry grew out of blankets she had made for a baby shower here or an Afghan for a teen’s high school graduation there. “This is my way of letting God know I’m thankful for all the things He’s done for me. God gave me this gift, and I feel He would like me to do this,” Young said, smiling as she held a pink 2 blanket, the angel pattern becoming visible.

Every day, Young crochets for nearly five hours, the camera roll on her phone full of blankets, hats and Afghans SCOUTS BBQ FUNDRAISER ...............PG 4 she’s made and gifted to the communiZ0OMBALLYHOO...............................PG 8 ty. She creates lovies for the fire department to comfort children in need on CUSTOM HAIR ................................PG 11 their calls and hats for people suffering from hair loss due to chemotherapy and EYE ON BUSINESS...........................PG 25

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Volume 16, Issue 1

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

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Page 3

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Brandon High School Reunion Group Seeks Members

WWII Veteran Starts Every Day With VIP Table At Fred’s Market Restaurant

Brandon High “It was a great School (BHS) blessing,” Young said originally opened fondly, and she is in 1914 on the grateful more Brandon site of what is alumni want to carry now McClane on what the class of Middle School ’42 started. Now, John when Brandon Miller, class of ’66, had only 500 resorganizes the event. idents. BHS About 30 alumni still moved to its curmeet on the third rent location in Tuesday of every even 1972, 30 years month at Golden after Helen Corral at 11:30 a.m., Brandon High School alumni are continuing to meet and welcome all but they are looking Mulrennan alumnus to join in on the third Young graduatfor other alumni who Thursday of the month. ed. When she may not be aware of was young, there was a period of the meetups. time where her family didn’t have “It’s a great core group,” Miller electricity. Growing up on 160 said. “Everybody getting together is homesteaded acres with less than wonderful. There are people I 50 students in her entire school, life wasn’t that close to in high school, was much different then. Over the but we’ve all grown so much closer. years, the graduating classes have When someone new comes, it’s so expanded from fewer than 30 stuawesome to learn about their life dents to hundreds. and catch up.” The friendships have When Young and a few friends become so important to the memfrom BHS had their 50th reunion in bers, especially after the difficulties 1992, they decided it would be a of 2020. If you’re looking for a way great idea to meet up regularly. to reconnect, this is perfect. BHS Having lived in the Miami area for alumni from all years are welcome.

25 years, she was happy to reconIf you are a graduate of nect with a few friends when she Brandon High School and would like returned to Brandon. They began more information or would like to be meeting at the Golden Corral on added to an email reminder list, Providence Rd., and soon the group please email John Miller at millerexpanded to include alumni from john1@msn.com. Golden Corral is the 40s through the 70s. In time, it located at 815 Providence Rd. in felt like she had never moved away. Brandon.

If you find yourfamily moved to self having breakCalifornia to work for a fast at the Fred’s major insurance comMarket Restaurant pany for 25 years. in Riverview on any After moving to given morning, you Florida with his wife may be in the presand three kids in 1975, ence of a WWII Mellon offered his servhero. Longtime ices to the City of Riverview resident Tampa and helped with WWII Army veteran Hollis ‘Hal’ Mellon and 96-year-old (center) stands with longtime friend and infrastructure plans Air Force veteran Michael Morgan at Army and Air Force until his formal retireFred’s Market Restaurant in Riverview. ment in 1988. veteran Hollis Mellon has his own reserved table and Since then, the spry and energetic his photo on the table cards promoting veteran lives alone in his home, he mows military discounts at the restaurant. his own 3-acre lawn and loves spending For six years, Mellon, and sometimes time chatting over the breakfast table at friends and family and even his wife of 69 Fred’s. When asked about the secret to years, Doris, when she was still alive, his longevity, Mellon said, “I do believe would eat breakfast at 8 a.m. daily and that hard concentration can help lead to a most dinners as well at about 4 p.m. good life,” and added that he reads the Mellon was born and raised the Cadillac Modern Encyclopedia regularly. youngest of a ‘handful’ of kids—about He works on his genealogy and five—on a cow farm in Indiana. He joined recently bought himself a new iWatch the Army in 1944 and landed at because he loves technology. He also Normandy as part of the 5th Infantry in has as an antique violin and even his 1945. He still carries a souvenir from the own Pac-Man arcade game. war—a piece of shrapnel in his hip, which Mellon has become such a fixture at also earned him a Bronze Star and Fred’s that he was invited to matriarch Purple Heart.

Evelyn Johnson’s birthday party last year, After returning home from the war, and in August, the restaurant hosts his work was hard to find, so Mellon enlisted birthday party each year. in the Air Force and served 3 more years Of his 45 years in Riverview, Mellon and was identified through skills tests to said the traffic sure has changed and for be ‘pretty smart,’ and so, by 1950, he was the future, he’d like to keep mowing his assigned to a special IBM program to yard and playing eight ball on his billiards learn ‘machines.’ table with friends.

These machines led to him becomSwing by Fred’s Market Riverview ing a computer engineer, and after leavsome morning at 6501 U.S. Hwy 301 S. ing the Air Force, Mellon and his young and thank Hollis for his service.

By Amy Schechter

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Page 4

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Scouts Host Annual Food Drive Feb. 6

Staff Report

Boy Scout troops in cern. Masks are to be the Greater Tampa Bay worn and social disArea Council are prepartancing practiced for ing for the 2021 Scouting both the hanger distrifor Food event, a nonperbution and food colishable food drive set to lection. begin in late January.

Eric Brown, a volScouting for Food unteer with Pack 61 in calls on thousands of Brandon, said his unit youth to collect essenis proud to participate Scouts of Pack 61 with their haul every year. He tials for local food banks from Scouting for Food 2020. across the region, from explained they ensure Feeding Tampa Bay to smaller local this is a family event by meeting at a cenpantries. Scouts will distribute door hangtral location, dividing into dens and ers to homes in their community to let sweeping the surrounding neighborhoods them know about the drive between to distribute the flyers. All food collected Saturday, January 23 and Friday,

by Pack 61 benefits a food bank operated February 5. On Saturday, February 6, by their host organization, St. Andrew’s Scouts will revisit those houses to pick up United Methodist Church. bags full of canned food, cereal, pasta, “I’ve had Scouts come up and thank peanut butter, juice and other items, us for opening their eyes to such a needy according to District Executive Kelsi cause,” Brown said. “They feel good and Meliah. proud that they are able to support the “Scouting for Food takes place in the community with health meals.” first two months of every year, and its To further incentivize participation, the success depends on the support of our council announced units participating in communities,” Meliah said. “Each year, the food drive can qualify for year-round we are overwhelmed by peoples’ willingfree camping on all Boy Scout properties ness to help in this project.” in the area. According to Field Director Meliah said Scouting for Food took Sharrod McCree, this project represents on special significance in 2020, as the the kind of cheerful service Scouting Council held a record-breaking drive only wants to encourage and reward in young weeks before COVID-19 was identified in boys and girls. the Tampa Bay Area. Scouts collected “After all, our Scouting for Food camalmost 37,000 pounds of food just in time paign is what Scouting is all about,” to meet heightened demand caused by McCree said. “It is embedded in the the pandemic and ensuing recession.

Scout Oath, ‘I will do my best to do my Scouting professionals advised units duty to God and my country, and to help that this year’s drive will be just as critical, other people at all times.’” but the safety of youth participants and For more information, contact Kyle their families remains a paramount conMolldene at 955-0860.

Volume 16, Issue 1

Troop 61 Hosts 3rd Annual Taste Of Scouting BBQ Event To Support Group Efforts

Staff Report

A group of A portion of local scouts are the proceeds will hoping you are also go to the hungry for BBQ PCOB to help next month. The pay for building third annual and grounds Taste of Scouting maintenance BBQ Fundraiser and incidentals. will take place on “The church Saturday, is the troop’s February 6 at the charter organizaPresbyterian Church of tion, providing the location Bloomingdale (PCOB). for its meetings and a BBQ plates include great support system, a choice of brisket, which in turn helps the turkey or pulled pork troop run a successful with coleslaw, baked program,” said Zelatis. beans, a roll and a The second goal is to drink. The cost is $15 increase awareness in the for brisket and $12 for community about turkey or pork. Orders Scouting. can be purchased in “The Scouting pro3rd Annual advance or at the door “Taste of Scouting” BBQ gram instills in our youth with prepaid pickups the core values and prinbetween 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ciples of the Scout Oath and the Scout According to John P. Zelatis, the Law while having fun exploring outmotivation for the fundraiser is twodoors, learning new things and preparfold. ing for the future,” said Zelatis.

“First, to help raise funds for our The fundraiser will also feature fun Scouting program and the Scouting activities such as knot tying, Presbyterian Church of Bloomingdale,” orienteering, fire building, Dutch oven said Zelatis. “The funds will be utilized cooking, camping, backpacking, first to help lower Scout dues and registraaid and more. tion fees, purchase new/upgrade existTo purchase tickets in advance, ing camping equipment, offset the cost visit https://troop61of summer camp, send Scouts to 107596.square.site/.

National Youth Leadership Training The Presbyterian Church of and provide Scout families assistance Bloomingdale is located at 710 E. through scholarships in case of finanBloomingdale Ave. Visit www.pcob.us cial hardships.” and www.bstroop61.com.

January 2021

Page 5

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

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C O M

Hillsborough County Wins Green Building Award For LEED Initiatives

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Hillsborough County has become the first county government in Florida and only the third county in the U.S. to achieve Platinum LEED for Cities and Communities certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The designation recognizes years of hard work and initiatives to safeguard the environment and enhance the quality of life for Hillsborough’s residents, businesses and visitors.

The accomplishment is significant.

The Platinum designation is the highest rating that can be obtained in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Cities and Communities program.

While LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating system, the comprehensive Cities and Communities certification looks far beyond one area. The extensive process judges how well applicants integrate sustainability into all aspects of the community, including environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility and overall community prosperity.

The review considered a wide range of areas, such as energy and water conservation, land use, solid waste management, community heritage preservation, cultural and recreational opportunities, social services, partnerships, equitability, innovative projects and more.

Hillsborough County’s application included five years of data and information provided with the support of a long list of county departments and community

Cammie Yick

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Staff Report

groups.

Hillsborough County has implemented a vast array of sustainability initiatives, among them: The county reduces its energy use and costs by operating a chiller plant that makes ice to help cool buildings, adding solar to county facilities and using LED lighting in buildings, parking lots, sports fields and all traffic signals.

Neighborhood and corridor street lighting are transitioning to LED, in collaboration with TECO. The Resource Recovery Facility converts burnable waste into electricity, generating power for several nearby county facilities and approximately 35,000 homes. Reclaimed water is also used at the facility, and metals are salvaged.

The county’s Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP) is the largest local land preservation program in Florida, so far setting aside more than 65,000 acres, resulting in natural stormwater management, increased biodiversity, climate regulation, air pollution removal and passive recreational opportunities. The county also will receive nearly $1.5 million in revenue over the next seven years from carbon offsets provided through ELAPP preservation efforts.

Visit HCFLGov.net/Sustainability to learn more and to complete the sustainability survey. Click on the link for the ‘Community Sustainability Action Plan.’

Page 6

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Volume 16, Issue 1

Project SonrYsa Brings Mobile Pantries To Local Communities

Brandon Homeschool Group Provides Classical Education With Charis Cooperative

A group of Tampa Bay to local residents is implement mobile helping ease the pantries in troubles for those Eastern with food insecuHillsborough rities due to lastCounty at three ing results of the select locations. pandemic. They The mobile are doing this pantries are free through Project and open to the SonrYsa, an public.

Project SonrYsa Mobile Pantry and its extension to Pantries volunteers at the Dover Boys & Girls Club. occur once a Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon’s Project Smile, month during a span of six months, which provides a backpack of food with the last one in April. During each weekend to students at December 2020’s mobile pantry at the Gibsonton Elementary School.

Dover Boys & Girls Club, 5,700 Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon pounds of food was distributed, Foundation President Mike Daigle impacting 84 families—totaling 349 shared the club’s mission. people.

“It is a global organization dedicatFamilies in need of food drive to ed to improve the world one child, one the site, where volunteers place food community at a time,” Daigle said. items together based off of how many In 2017, Karisya Moran-Adames, people are in the family and then load who was at the time a senior at it into the vehicles. Volunteers consist Riverview High School as well as the of Kiwanis members, Key Club mempresident of the Key Club, was awardbers and more. ed the Tampa Bay Lightning Moran-Adames mentioned how Community Hero of Tomorrow Award she feels about the success with through the Tampa Bay Lightning Project SonrYsa. Foundation. She received a $50,000 “I am beyond thankful for all the grant, in which $25,000 of it went help that has been provided with this towards Project SonrYsa. The other project,” Moran-Adames said. $25,000 was for a scholarship for her The next mobile pantry will take education. place on Tuesday, January 26 at 4:30 Throughout the years she p.m. in Brandon at Cornerstone remained connected with Kiwanis Club Baptist Church. of Greater Brandon and founded For more information, visit Project SonrYsa. Recently, Project https://brandonkiwanis.org. Email kcgSonrYsa partnered with Feeding binfo@gmail.com.

Homeschooling husband, Shane, a has seen a steady pastor at Bay Life, rise in proponents have four children: throughout the Silas, Simeon, years, and the reaLieren and Blaise. sons for a nontradi“I have been tional approach to so blessed to be education have part of the team grown as well. that dreamed and According to the prayed and has The Chapel in Mango, the site for the Charis Homeschool Cooperative.

Florida Department gotten to see the of Education’s statistics, over 106,000 birth of this group,” Drury added. “A year students were homeschooled in the state ago it was just a lot of hopes and plans for the 2019-20 school year. That’s a 25 written on paper with two families commitpercent jump in just five years. ted. Since then, the Lord has been faithful Many school districts nationwide to bring together an amazing group of went to some form of distanced learning moms who serve one another and our last year, with hybrid models continuing children with joy and humility. Every single this school year because of COVID-19 mom serves a vital role in the life and protocols. That has surely swelled the function of Charis.” ranks of students learning at home, joinSimilar in structure to Classical ing those traditional homeschoolers who Conversations, Charis works on an allhave opted out of their local school sysvolunteer basis as moms serve in admintems. istration, teaching, the nursery and as For 12 families in the Brandon, room helpers.

Seffner and Mango areas, this includes The group gathers for 14-week being a part of the Charis Homeschool stretches on Tuesdays in the spring and Cooperative, a ministry of Bay Life fall, most recently starting up again after Church of Brandon. The co-op focuses the holidays. For the rest of the week, on a classical model of education, which families concentrate on material shared at highlights learning in language, literature, the co-op and their own curriculum, history and memorization. Charis meets including trips and outings. at The Chapel, a campus of Bay Life on “We started homeschooling with a Broadway Ave. in Mango. Charis simply desire to disciple our own children,” Drury means grace, or loving kindness in said. “We love being together. We love Greek. getting to choose where we focus in “This is the first year for our co-op to terms of each child’s education.” exist,” said Brittany Drury, director of the For information on homeschooling co-op, who is in her seventh year of and Charis, Drury can be reached at homeschooling her kids. She and her chc@baylife.org.

By Tatiana Ortiz

Expiration 02/01 /2021

By Bob Zoellner

Expiration 02/01 /2021

Expiration 02/01 /2021

January 2021

Page 7

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

January Is National Blood Donor Month

By Libby Hopkins

January has been and working with local elecdesignated as National tion offices to have blood Blood Donor Month drives during the recent (NBDM) to encourage presidential election so we donors to give or pledge to could get donors to help give blood. First-time and us. We had to pivot quickly regular donors are encourbecause OneBlood serves aged to make a difference 250 hospitals in the in their communities by Southeast and that’s an giving blood every awesome responsibility January, and regularly that has to happen 24 thereafter. Blood is tradihours a day, seven days a tionally in short supply durweek.” ing the holidays, especial- January has been designated During NBDM, ly since the recent OneBlood also wants to as National Blood Donor Month to encourage donors encourage donors to COVID-19 pandemic. to give or pledge to give “National Blood Donor blood. First-time and regular donate convalescent plasMonth is going to take on ma to help those who are donors are encouraged to make a difference in their a new significance,” said infected with COVID-19 communities by giving blood Pat Michaels, Director of every January, and regularly virus. “We are currently Media and Public processing and distributing thereafter. Blood is traditionally in short supply convalescent to hospitals,” Relations for OneBlood. during the holidays, especially “Last year the blood censince the recent COVID-19 Michaels. “We also do the ters around the states had testing for COVID antibodpandemic. radical changes in their processes due to ies. Doing this helped us regain donors.

COVID. Blood drives by the thousands We had people come in and donate who had to be cancelled, which lead to the have never donated before in their lives.” need for blood to increase dramatically.”

Michaels hopes that people will come OneBlood relies heavily on local out for NBDM and help OneBlood by blood drives to replenish their blood supdonating blood or convalescent plasma. plies. With the pandemic forcing busi“We hope National Blood Donor Month nesses, high schools and universities to will make a strong impact this year,” shut down, their supplies dwindled. “We Michaels said. “Now more than ever, we rely on corporate blood drives and other need blood donations and convalescent local blood drives,” Michaels said. donations. All it takes is a little bit of your “Twenty percent of our blood supplies time to save lives.” comes from blood drives held at local If you would like to learn more about high schools and college campuses. That National Blood Donor Month or if you was a massive drop immediately. We had would like to donate blood or convalesto regroup and restructure how we do cent plasma, you can visit OneBlood’s blood drive. We started going to HOA’s website at www.oneblood.org.

Meet Florida House Representative Andrew Learned, Serving District 59

By Kathy L. Collins

Andrew Learned, any way that we can.

Democrat, is the new Please do not hesitate to Florida House reach out if you have a Representative for problem,” said Learned.

District 59. This district Additionally, covers a large area Learned’s office can help comprised of Brandon, with getting an Eagle Valrico, Riverview and Scout a proclamation or Gibsonton. help an HOA get a county Learned is a longroad project. The state time area resident. He representative is there to graduated from the be the voice of the peoUniversity of Tampa, ple of the district.

Andrew Learned is the new Florida House Representative served for 11 years as Learned holds serving District 59. an officer in the U. S. monthly town hall meetNavy and is a local business owner. His ings. Beginning in February, they will be strong military and business background held on the first Thursday of every make him a great representative for the month at 6:30 p.m. Currently, they are diverse area he represents. being held virtually. They are Florida House Representatives are livestreamed on Facebook and can be elected to two-year terms. Learned said, joined via Zoom. When it is safe to do “I am a military veteran from the area. so, Learned plans to hold the town hall The politics of the election are behind meetings live. us. My primary and sole focus is deliverLearned has two aides. Morgan ing constituent services and being the Rodgers is his legislative aide and will best representative for everyone in travel to Tallahassee with him during the District 59.” legislative session, and Valerie Constituent services encompass a McDonald is the district secretary. wide array of nonlegislative services, Learned became married to such as helping someone navigate their Amanda over the holidays and is a dad unemployment claim and assisting local to 8-year-old twins Flynn and Lola. businesses with PPP (Paycheck Learned’s district office is located at Protection Program) assistance and for6152 Delancey Station St., #205B in giveness. His office can also assist with Riverview (within Winthrop Town problems involving regulations like busiCentre). His office is open Monday ness licensing. through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“If you call our office and we do not Currently, you are asked to make an know the answer, we will help get you to appointment. You can reach him or his the correct person. We are your local office by calling 657-7781 or emailing resource. We are here to help you in Andrew.Learned@myfloridahouse.gov.

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Brandon/Winthrop Edition

First Tee - Tampa Bay Awarded Grant To Advance Racial Equality In Community First Tee - Tampa Bay, a Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA program, is pleased to accept a generous $100,000 grant from the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) to help advance racial equality in Tampa Bay. Thanks to USAA’s generosity, First Tee Tampa Bay will be able to provide free golf lessons to 600 minority students in Title I schools throughout Hillsborough County. The grant will also enable First Tee - Tampa Bay to offer 80 golf tournament scholarships and five college scholarships to minority students.

“The goal is to eliminate cost as an obstacle for any children from these specific schools and get them involved in our program,” says Ian Baxter, executive director of First Tee - Tampa Bay. “We are extremely appreciative to USAA for their generosity, which will introduce the game of golf to more children by removing any financial barriers.”

Officially formed in 1999, First Tee Tampa Bay provides more than 80,000 children each year with hands-on, interactive golf experiences along with introducing them to First Tee’s Nine Core Values.

Besides being a program of the Tampa YMCA, First Tee - Tampa Bay also partners with community members such as the Tampa Sports Authority, the City of Tampa and various golf facilities to offer year-round programming for kids and

Staff Report

teens.

“At First Tee Tampa Bay, we do not just teach golf, we teach life skills,” said Ian. “Our program uses the game of golf to provide young people with the chance to develop life-enhancing values like confidence, perseverance and judgment and a series of life skills such as goal-setting, meeting new people and staying healthy.”

Whether through programs in 175+ Hillsborough County Public Schools, after-school programs at several local courses or week-long summer camp experiences, First Tee - Tampa Bay shows children that golf is more than a game—it’s an opportunity to become the very best they can be.

For more information, visit www.firstteetampabay.org or call First Tee - Tampa Bay at 238-7320.

The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA is a cause-driven four-star charity, strengthening Hillsborough and East Pasco communities for 132 years through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the association, 18 facilities engage nearly 224,000 men, women and children—regardless of age, income or background—to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve our community’s health and wellbeing and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. For more information, visit www.tampaymca.org.

Volume 16, Issue 1

Bring Some Fun To Virtual Meetings, Parties & Events With ZoomBallyhoo

By Libby Hopkins

The year 2020 will How ZoomBallyhoo be remembered as the works is you pick your year of the Zoom meetBallyhoo, which is a ings thanks to the clown, magician or ringCOVID-19 pandemic. master. You then pick a I’m sure we’ve lost date, time and length of count on how many your Zoom call. Once Zoom meetings or calls your payment is we attended over the received, you can enjoy last year because they your ZoomBallyhoo.

ZoomBallyhoo is an Orlando-based “Our clowns and magiall seemed to be the company that is on a mission to same, not very lively or cians seem to tie for our make Zoom calls more fun and entertaining. clients’ favorite,” Gorton entertaining by having circus performers, clowns and magicians said. “Both have humor ZoomBallyhoo is perform during a Zoom call. an Orlando-based comat the heart of their perpany that is on a mission to make Zoom formances. Some people just want to calls more fun and entertaining by having laugh and hear stories of circus life from circus performers, clowns and magicians our clowns and some want to have magic perform during a Zoom call. happen before their eyes. In each case, “ZoomBallyhoo was a creation from our 30-minute package seems to fulfill Odd-o-Ts’ Entertainment born during a their quest for fun.” time when live performance wasn’t safe Gorton hopes their entertainers can to engage in,” said ZoomBallyhoo’s Amy one day go back to performing live and Gorton. “Our performers were all former in-person, but until then, this gives them circus artists who had been entertaining an outlet for their craft. “We look forward in theme parks, theaters and tours since to that day, but we feel that this experithe Ringling Bros. Circus closed. Once ence can live beyond that day,” Gorton the pandemic hit, the founders got togeth- said. “It will be a while for everyone to feel er and decided to create a platform to safe to venture out again and we know keep those performers bringing the magic that we can provide some joy and light to audiences around the country virtually during these dark times. However, ultiinto their own homes.” mately we also think that this is a fun way Entertainment is one of the hardest for distant friends and family members to hit industries by the pandemic along with get together with a fun activity that can hospitality, travel and tourism. “Performers extend beyond the stay-at-home time and are in the industry for more than just a provide a different stage that we can conpaycheck,” Gorton said. “Connecting with tinue to entertain.” audiences is what feeds their creative To learn more about ZoomBallyhoo, souls and so it affects more than just their visit www.zoomballyhoo.com or call income.”

Gorton at 310-578-9943.

January 2021

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Page 9

NerdsToGo, Tech Support & Cloud Storage For Computers, Phones, Tablets & More

HCA Healthcare Offers Antibody Treatments At Brandon Regional

In 2020, techbleshoot your nology solidified problems from itself as an inteApple to the gral part of life. internet and from Whether you or Microsoft to your kids shifted Windows. to online classes, Whether it’s work went virtual clearing out spyor family gatherware or malings took to ware, setting up Zoom, technology a mesh network took you there. or monitoring That’s why when your small busiyour phone, comness’ system, puter or internet NerdsToGo can stops working, make it so. your very day Additionally, may come to a it services screeching halt. phones and What should you tablets as well do? Just call a as computers, USAF Veteran, Michael Varnadore, president nerd. and it offers and CEO of NerdsTOGo Tampa has more than 37 years of experience working with Michael cloud storage computers.

Varnadore, presiservice, so your dent and CEO of NerdsToGo Tampa, data can stay confidential and backed has 37 years of experience working up. with and around computers and netNerdsToGo offers a physical locaworks. When your systems are down, tion where you can drop off equipment he and his team of professionals are for service, but it is available 24/7 for ready to get you moving at warp both residential and business “house” speed. “We’re like the Geek Squad, calls. Plus, computer viruses aren’t the only cooler,” he said with a smile. It only thing it cares about. In this tough would be highly illogical to trust your year, NerdsToGo will make sure to home or small business with someone wear masks and take needed healthy else. You just cannot beat their expert- precautions so you and your systems ise and upfront pricing for homeownwill live long and prosper. ers and businesses owners.

For more information, call 321Each technician has a minimum of 1700 or visit www.NerdsToGo.com. five years of experience. If something NerdsToGo is located at 19651 Bruce is slowing you down, they can trouB. Downs Blvd. in Tampa.

HCA Healthcare heart disease. For chilWest Florida is now dren over the age of 12, offering sickle cell disease, neuBamlanivimab antirodevelopmental disorbody infusions at ders and asthma are Brandon Regional also among several Hospital and three additional consideraother local hospitals tions for eligibility. to nonhospitalized “We’re committed to patients who have providing our patients, tested positive for caregivers and the comCOVID-19 and have munities we serve with other high-risk facthe latest treatments in tors.

St. Petersburg General Hospital’s the fight against Kandice Williams, RN (right) and “This is an outCOVID-19 and are patient antibody infu- Vinson Huynh, MD (left) successfully excited to bring this performed HCA Healthcare West sion that has Florida’s first monoclonal antibody option to our four differtherapy on patient Harry for the received emergency ent geographic areas early treatment of COVID-19. use authorization along Florida’s west (EUA) from the Food and Drug coast,” said Dr. Larry Feinman, chief Administration (FDA) for nonhospitalized medical officer for HCA West Florida. patients, ages 12 and older, who have “The four locations will support all of our tested positive for COVID-19, have mild local hospitals in working closely with to moderate COVID-19 symptoms and physicians and other providers across are at high risk for developing severe the communities we serve to provide COVID-19,” said Debra McKell of HCA treatment to patients who may benefit, West Florida. per FDA guidelines.”

The first patient received the treatPatients with any of the following ment on December 9, 2020 at St. are not to receive this treatment per the Petersburg General Hospital. In addition FDA EUA guidelines: hospitalized due to Brandon Regional Hospital, particito COVID-19, require oxygen therapy pating locations include Blake Medical due to COVID-19 or require oxygen due Center in Manatee County, St. to another underlying medical condition.

Petersburg General Hospital in Pinellas “We encourage patients to discuss this County, and Medical Center of Trinity in treatment option with their physician,” Pasco County.

McKell said. “Also, Brandon Regional High-risk conditions that may be eli- Hospital is providing the treatment for gible for this treatment include obesity, children ages 12 and older.” chronic kidney disease, COPD, diaPatients may contact Brandon betes, immunosuppressive disease and Regional Hospital at 916-1581.

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Volume 16, Issue 1

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Cleveland Browns Backers Bring Their Passion For Team & Charity To Two Area Clubs

New Executive Director Takes Over At Outreach Free Clinic And Resource Center In Brandon

What do northern In that spirit of transplants do when camaraderie, including their sports loyalties the commonality of a die hard? Gather with shared, painful football like-minded folks and history and proximity, continue to root on both in Ohio and the their hometown Tampa Bay area, the two teams. local clubs are planning Especially longa combined end-of-thesuffering Cleveland season outing on the Browns fans.

Browns fans gather at the Brandon weekend of, January 9 Just one of four Crossroads Bowl to cheer on their and 10. The event will team. teams never to have feature competitions reached the Super Bowl—the Detroit between the two chapters, including bilLions, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston liards, bowling, darts and cornhole, Texans are the others—the Browns still Brandon club vice president Jeff Komito have some of the most loyal fans anywrote in a Facebook post. There will also where. Including the Tampa Bay area. be lots of fellowship at the Brandon The Brandon Browns Backers, which Crossroads Bowl. meets for games at the Brandon Any proceeds will be divided Crossroads Bowl (609 Crater Ln. in between charities. The Brandon club raisTampa), and the South Shore Browns es funds for Friends of Hillsborough Backers of Apollo Beach, which gathers County Animal Services and it set up a at the Salty Shamrock (6186 N. U.S. 41 trust fund for the kids of Marty Leahy, a in Apollo Beach) are two of the area clubs longtime friend of Jones and former vice for rabid Cleveland fans. president of the club who suddenly “The Browns Backers Worldwide is passed away in June of 2019 at the age considered to be one of the largest of 43. organized fan clubs in all of professional The South Shore club donates to the sports,” according to the official Browns Southeastern Guide Dogs as its primary Backers website, https://fans.clevelandcharity, club president Chris Conger said. browns.com. There are more than 370 “Last year, we raised $5,000 for them and chapters in 15 different countries. are close to meeting the same number It’s all about the Browns and the this year,” he added. friendships that are formed.

For more information on the Brandon “I just do it because I love the club, visit http://www.brandonbrownsbackBrowns,” said Greg Jones, who started ers.com/, and for the South Shore club, the Brandon club 16 years ago and visit https://www.facebook.com/Southserves as its president. “I don’t like to sit Shore-Browns-Backersat home by myself watching the Browns.” 282985712264347/.

Allison Alvarez 18 years as executive Hedrick became the new director. executive director of The Brandon High Outreach Free Clinic and School and University of Resource Center, located North Carolina at at 517 N. Parsons Ave. in Pembroke graduate brings Brandon, in October, but years of experience in she is not unfamiliar to that marketing, communication, area nor how important an public relations and nonoutreach free clinic is to profit affiliations with organmany hardworking famiizations like The Leukemia lies. and Lymphoma Society Hedrick said, “I grew (LLS), Largo Cultural up in Brandon, just a Center and Suncoast Girl Allison Alvarez Hedrick takes street over from where over as executive director of Scout Council. Prior to Outreach Free Clinic and the Outreach Free Clinic and becoming executive direcResource Center in Brandon. tor, she was vice president Resource Center is now.

Even as a kid, I recall what a challenge it of communications with WEDU PBS. was when someone in the family needed Hedrick expressed her first goal to see a doctor. While my parents both would be raising awareness for worked—Mom worked in restaurants and Hillsborough County residents that Dad owned a small sports bar and grill— Outreach Free Clinic and Resource we didn’t have health insurance or much Center is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit, disposable income. Without a resource nongovernment medical facility providing like Outreach Free Clinic and Resource primary healthcare at no cost to those Center, doctor visits were paid for in who do not qualify for government assiscash—a significant hardship for a family tance and who cannot afford private medliving paycheck to paycheck and without ical care. sick time to also cover missing work. I Her second priority is to expand supwould always feel so guilty if I needed to port from volunteers, medical providers, go to the doctor, knowing it would cost donors and corporate partnerships. money not just for the visit, but also any Although patients receive care from prescriptions that might be needed. No licensed doctors, nurse practitioners and one should experience obstacles to getmedical residents who donate their time, ting medical care or feel guilty about takthe clinic relies on individual donations ing care of their health.” and community partnerships to maintain Hedrick’s empathy, education and services to the community. experience make her uniquely qualified to To learn more about the Outreach replace Deborah Meegan, who officially Clinic, visit www.theoutreachclinic.com or retired on December 17 after more than call 654-1388.

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January 2021

Page 11

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Neighborhood Staple, Willie’s Seafood Closes After 45 Years In Business

Custom Hair Helps Customers Regain Confidence Due To All Conditions Of Loss

businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on Willie’s. “We have always been a big part of the community,” Robinson said. “We’ve sponsored little league teams, supported many FFAs and many comWillie’s Seafood in Valrico has been a Brandon staple munity organizations held for more than 45 years. The Robinson family owns the their meetings at our community-loved restaurant and the family recently restaurant. My son and his made the very difficult decision to close Willie’s wife have been running the Seafood. The restaurant closed on December 23. restaurant for the last six Willie’s Seafood in Valrico has been years and then COVID hit. They had to a Brandon staple for more than 45 shut down. They missed the snowbird years. The Robinson family owns the season, but when they opened back up, community-loved restaurant and the they could only have 25 percent capacifamily recently made the very difficult ty. They still paid all their employees durdecision to close Willie’s Seafood. ing the shutdown, but with the restaurant A message on the restaurant’s webbeing an old building needing repairs site said, “We would like to let all of you and the cost to run it, it was just too know that we have made the decision to much.” close down Willie’s, the place for Robinson said she’s not going to seafood. It was not an easy decision dwell on the sadness over having to and a variety of reasons contribute to close Willie’s, but she will focus on all this choice. Many have noticed that the the good memories and what could menu prices have increased 20 percent come in the future for the restaurant. in two years. This has not touched the “Our customers are like our extended deficit caused by building repair, family,” Robinson said. “We’ve seen their increased food costs and payroll children grow up, graduate high school increases.” and then college and then they get marThe Brandon community was sadried. I’m not sure what Willie’s will dened to find out this local landmark become next, but hopefully, in some would be gone before the Christmas holshape or form, it will still be a part of our idays. “This was a family-owned and community.” operated business,” Owner Maryellen If you would like to see what the Robinson said. “We had Bill’s mother, future holds for Willie’s Seafood, keep aunts, uncles, cousins and children an eye on its Facebook page at working in the restaurant in the beginwww.facebook.com/WilliesThePlaceFor ning. It was just all family.”

Seafood.

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Things often the surgical-grade get ‘hairy’ at adhesive that holds Custom Hair Tampa the hair in place for Bay, but for this four to six weeks. business that’s pre“Wake up cisely the goal. every morning with Owned by Dan hair,” said Lori. and Lori Younkman, “Wash it, swim with Custom Hair Tampa it and just live your Bay offers nonsurgilife.” cal solutions for Her favorite men and women part of the process with hair loss as a Owned by Dan and Lori Younkman, Custom is when the hair Hair Tampa Bay offers nonsurgical solutions system comes in result of male and for men and women with hair loss. female-pattern baldand customers see ness, chemotherapy, transplants and the total transformation. burn scars, alopecia, autoimmune disFor Apollo Beach resident Jim Klein, eases and other hair loss conditions. his new hair has given him increased Located at 117 N. Kings Ave. in self-confidence. “I have the hair I used to Brandon, solutions the Younkmans offer have and look so much younger,” he include 100 percent Remy human hair said. wigs, toppers and custom hair solutions Brandon resident and longtime cusfor men and women. Expert staff memtomer Susan Saylors, whose hair started bers are available to assist clients in thinning as a result of lupus, echoed Klein choosing from its selection of wigs or one about the increased self-confidence from of its hair systems. her hair replacement system.

“We’re here to advise you every step “Stylists at Custom Hair have given of the way and walk you through the me long hair, shorter hair, have changed entire process,” said Lori, who is not just the color,” said Saylors. “What’s great is the owner but also a customer. She it’s such a high quality that nobody knows understands exactly how a thick head of it’s not my own hair unless I tell them.” hair can restore confidence.

Custom Hair Tampa Bay has been Customers meet with technicians in helping customers enjoy long, thick and private consultation rooms, where their healthy hair worthy of a Pantene comheads are measured, hair color and texmercial for more than 50 years. ture are matched and hair systems are Custom Hair Tampa Bay is open created to make each person look their Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and best.

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Page 12

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Local Resident Receives COVID-19 Vaccine

By Libby Hopkins

The longto the limited numawaited COVIDber of appointments 19 vaccine has being available. arrived and it has “Given the probgiven all of us a lems early on with light at the end of the Hillsborough the dark panCounty website, I demic tunnel. It’s was extremely a welcome sign grateful, and conthat our lives will sider myself lucky, eventually go that I got through back to normal. online and was able This new Valrico resident Helen Lepre was one of the to secure registrahope has come tion for my 90-yearfirst in the area to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the county. with a few chalold mother-in-law lenges, such as getting the vaccine. On for the vaccine on the first day it was January 4, Hillsborough County, in partavailable,” Colesanti said. “It’s the first nership with the Florida Department of step in allowing her to safely see friends Health in Hillsborough County, began to and family.” expand its vaccination efforts to residents On January 5, in an effort to make ages 65 and older. the vaccination accessible for elderly resiHillsborough plans to provide a total dents, Governor Ron of 9,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine DeSantis announced that the Florida to the vulnerable elder residents.

Division of Emergency Management Appointments are mandatory for senior (FDEM) and Florida Department of residents to get the first of two vaccine Health (FDOH) have partnered with injections, but some residents had difficul- Publix Supermarkets to establish COVIDty making appointments because spots 19 vaccination sites. Governor DeSantis filled up quickly. made this announcement at the first Helen Lepre, 90, of Valrico was able Publix vaccination site in Ocala. to get an appointment with the help of her “As part of our ongoing efforts to daughter-in-law, Michelle Colesanti, also increase vaccinations and put Florida’s of Valrico. “I had my first vaccine shot at seniors first, I’m pleased to announce this the Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds on innovative partnership with Publix,” said the first day they were given,” Lepre said.

Governor DeSantis.

“The staff was very well organized and Residents will need to make an polite. I did not have to leave the car to appointment to receive the vaccination at get the shot. I will return in three weeks one of the vaccination locations in the for the second shot. I’m thankful for the county. great service I received.”

Visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/resiColesanti knew Lepre would have dents/public-safety/emergency-managechallenges making the appointment, due ment/covid-19-vaccine or call 272-5900.

Volume 16, Issue 1

Bridges Dental Opens New State-Of-The-Art Office In Prime River Hills Location

By Michelle Caceres

Brad and Even though Laura Bridges, the location has owners of changed, the Bridges Dental, patient care has thought they continued to were crazy for remain top-notch. buying an office “My wife Dr. building Bridges’ care and during skill as a dentist the are unsurpassed,” height of he said. the A testament COVIDto that is her The staff at Bridges Dental is serving patients at its new location at 4316 New River Hills being selected as 19 pandemic.

Pkwy. in Valrico.

That deciTampa Bay sion turned out being the smartest Magazine’s Top Dentist for 2020, her thing they ever did. fourth year earning the distinction.

Six weeks after they closed on the Dr. Bridges earned a degree in property, on June 30, 2020, a fire devbiomedical science from USF and astated their dental practice in received her DMD degree from the Erindale Plaza, where the practice had University of Florida’s College of been in business for 27 years.

Dentistry. Her staff includes three full“The office alarm went off because time hygienists and three office assisit detected motion,” said Brad. All tants. looked quiet upon driving to the Bridges Dental offers a variety of office…until he opened the door. “The services, including crowns, root canal, smoke just rushed out,” he said. “Our bridges, fillings, cosmetic dentistry, office was a total loss.” veneers, teeth whitening and gum That’s when the decision to purtreatment using the latest technology chase the new building was seen in a to make the patient experience as different light. “Sometimes it’s better to comfortable as possible. be lucky than smart,” he joked.

Bridges Dental’s new office, locatThe 5,000-square-foot office is ed at 4316 New River Hills Pkwy, is bright and airy, featuring 10 operatoopen Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 ries and a new state-of-the-art equipp.m. The office is currently accepting ment. Windows in every room bring new patients; most dental PPOs are plenty of natural light to every room. accepted.

“I think the new location only For more information about improves the patient experience,” said Bridges Dental, visit www.bridgesdenBrad. tal.com or call 654-3399.

January 2021

Page 13

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

2020 Community Water-Wise Award Winners Have Friendly Landscapes

Now Accepting New Patients!

By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Agent

The Community Water-Wise Awards, sponsored

by Tampa Bay Water, a regional municipal water provider, recognize Shirley McFarlane and Annie Ellis were recently named the individuals 2020 Community Water-Wise Award winners. and busionto mulched/planted areas, harvested nesses committed to conserving our rainwater and had minimal to no turfwater resources and protecting the environment by using Florida-Friendly grass. Both thrive mainly on rainfall and were aesthetically pleasing, beauLandscaping™ (FFL) principles. tiful and inviting.

There are nine FFL principles, which We were excited about Shirley and include: right plant and right place, Annie’s commitment to water and enviwater efficiently, fertilize appropriately, ronmental conservation, the use of mulch, attract wildlife, manage yard native and non-native adaptive plants pests responsibly, recycle, reduce and their landscape designs—which stormwater runoff and protect the were completely different and amazwaterfront. Many of these principles ing. are used as part of the landscape As you can see from the photos, evaluation process for this award prothese landscapes are water-wise and gram. fascinating.

With 17 entries submitted I’m pleased to announce the winthis year, it was difficult selecting the ners for the 2020 Community Water2020 Community Water-Wise Award Wise Award Contest. For unincorpowinners.

We hope each of you reading rated Hillsborough County, the winner this article will consider entering the is the landscape of Shirley contest, which you can do any time at McFarlane. The City of Tampa winner http://tampabaywaterwise.org.

The is Annie Ellis. deadline for entries is generally June There are several elements of 30 each year, so you can complete an these landscapes that are positive application now, submit it and get a examples of Florida-Friendly head start on the 2021 contest.

Landscaping™ water-wise practices.

For assistance with horticultural These include the planting of droughtquestions, call us at 744-5519. tolerant trees and plants, self-mulching Hillsborough County gardening inforareas under trees and plants selected mation is available at that were appropriate for their site conhttp://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/. ditions. Plants with similar water and View our calendar of events for maintenance needs were grouped together, organic and alternative mulch upcoming educational opportunities and see our Facebook page at was used, as well as pervious materiwww.facebook.com/HCFFL/. als for paths, walkways and other Remember to reduce, reuse, recycle areas. Each landscape had gutter and repeat. downspouts and roof runoff directed

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Page 14

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Volume 16, Issue 1

Iron Rock Insurance Company Has Strong Ties To The Riverview Community

GNC Smoothie Shop Opening In Bloomingdale Square Offers Popular Beet Boost Slushie

Lisa Hast grew up in carriers,” Hast said. “We are the Apollo Beach and able to make comparisons Ruskin area and has to current coverage, shop been a Southern around a customer’s current Hillsborough county resicoverage to see if we can dent her whole life. “I was find a better policy with here when there were equal or better coverage for only a few homes in a similar or better price.”

Apollo Beach and Ruskin If you ask Hast what was mostly farmland,” makes her business different Hast said. “I am married from other insurance comto my husband Jason, panies in the area, she will and we have three tell you that her business grown children. Branden is community-focused.

McCorkle is a charter “We are different in the boat captain, my middle fact that as a family busiLisa Hast grew up in the Apollo son Cameron Hast is a Beach and Ruskin area and has ness we have history in plumber and my baby the area,” Hast said. been a Southern Hillsborough county resident her whole life. girl Torie McCorkle “Our office décor is all She is the owner of Rock works as an agent at old school Apollo Beach Insurance Company in Apollo Iron Rock. We have a photos and memorabilia.

Beach. two-year-old grandson named Carter.

I know the history of the area and have Jason and I live in the big town of Balm.” been here for 50 years. I have seen this Hast is the owner of her familyarea grow and thrive. We take what we owned and operated insurance company, do very personal.

Iron Rock Insurance in Apollo Beach.

Our customers are like family to us. I Iron Rock is a new company. love what I do because this is my home“We opened shop in June of 2020,” town. I see folks that I have known my Hast said. “I was with a family business entire life, or people I went to high school for 37 years and the time had come for with, or that my kids grew up and what is me to do something different. Jason and I fun too is we have my Boston Terrier were all over the board with it from selling Rimy as a part of the office; she comes to our home and moving to Podunk GA, to the office every day. Folks bring her treats going corporate America. The opportunity or just come to love on her.” arose to open Iron Rock and we took it.”

If you would like to learn more about Iron Rock Insurance primarily focus the services offered at Iron Rock on personal lines insurance. “Houses, Insurance, you can visit their website at cars, boats, flood, golf cart, recreational www.ironrockins.com or call Hast at 213vehicles, we are blessed that we have 9600. The office is located at 1312 Apollo some of the best players in insurance Beach Blvd Suite O in Apollo Beach.

GNC is known for afternoon pick-me-up. The vitamins and healthy Pre-Workout Pump Up is supplements, but now great to get you ready to the GNC in workout and the PostBloomingdale will be Workout Recovery is peroffering healthy, fresh fect for muscle repair and smoothies in addition to recovery. the regular products it The Davises are also carries. “We are a famiworking on coming up with Todd and Kimberly Davis are an immunity smoothie to ly, locally-owned busithe owners of GNC’s new GNC ness in the heart of help boost their customers’ Smoothie Bar, located in Brandon with more than immune systems to get Bloomingdale Square.

30 years’ service to our comthem ready for the upcoming cold munity,” said Co-owner and flu season. “It will definitely Kimberly Davis. “We are proud be packed with vitamin C and to be a longtime GNC franother fresh fruits,” Kim said. “All of chise committed to our cusour smoothies are made with tomers’ health and well-being. fresh fruits and we offer whey or With the addition of our GNCvegan protein, premium blend or branded Smoothie Bar, we are grass-fed.” excited to expand our expertCustomers can build their ise in providing your family with own smoothies as well. They pick the best health and wellness options.” a base and up to three fresh fruits, rangThe GNC Smoothie Shop features ing from strawberries to mangos, and top-quality ingredients, premium proteins then they can add a premium protein and first-to-market performance smoothpowder or supplements. “What makes us ies. “The GNC Smoothie Bar at the newly different from other smoothie shops is renovated Bloomingdale Square is truly that all of our smoothies and slushies are here to help you and your family live very healthy or low-calories,” Todd said. well,” said Co-owner Todd Davis. “We are The GNC Smoothie Bar will have its also the home of the ‘Beet Boost Slushie.’ grand opening in early 2021, but it’s curMany of our customers have been hesirently open for business. tant of trying it, but once they did, they are The GNC Smoothie Bar is located in hooked.” the Bloomingdale Square shopping cenThe Beet Boost Slushie is a perform- ter at 967 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in ance slushie that is great for a pre-workBrandon. The shop’s hours of operation out or an afternoon energy boost. Some are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; of the other performance slushies offered Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 at the smoothie shop are the FrozeAde, a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, contact which is a creamy treat perfect for an the Davises at 643-1500.

By Libby Hopkins

By Libby Hopkins

January 2021

Page 15

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Second Semester Of School Begins For ELearning And Brick-And-Mortar Students

By Lily Belcher

With the first ferring from esemester of the learning to brick2020-21 school year and-mortar in Hillsborough because they benCounty seeing the efit from the more implementation of a rigid structure of number of physical learning, Coronavirus protosuch as Brandon cols and procedures High School junior Addison Davis provided Hillsborough Ethan Stretchberry. that were new to County families with a roadmap to both administrators “Honestly, [einform families on the continuation of and students, both e-learning and brick-and-mortar learning] was realschools during the second semester. ly hard. [It] seemed Hillsborough County students began the second half of the easy at first, but as the semester [con2020-21 school year on Tuesday, tinued] I just fell into my own laziness January 19. For many semester one and was so uninspired in my house brick-and-mortar students, they expealone. Overall, I got decent grades, rienced very few changes to daily life but compared to real school, very diffiat school. But those coming back from cult,” said Stretchberry. four months of e-learning transitioned Students returning to schools will from doing math homework in their also have the option of attending more beds to being at a socially distanced socially distanced extracurricular desk with a mask on. activities, such as drama program per“This year, without a doubt, has formances, chorus concerts and other been one to remember for both the student performances. Performers challenges it has brought and the and spectators will be required to opportunities it has provided,” wear masks during both indoor and Superintendent Addison Davis said in outdoor performances and encoura letter to parents and students of aged to use hand sanitizer frequently.

Hillsborough County. “I am so proud Athletic programs will continue to folof the hard work and flexibility demon- low phase three guidelines. The addistrated by our students, families and tion of these activities gives students district employees during the first an increasing sense of normalcy and semester.” a chance to safely spend time with The county schools will continue their friends while supporting their to follow updated CDC guidelines, classmates. including a new 10-day quarantine For more information on students’ period rather than 14 days, to ensure return to schools in the second the health of its students and staff. semester, please visit its website at Many students look forward to transhttps://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/.

Time for New Year’s Financial Resolutions It’s time for some New Year’s resolutions. Here

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Page 16

Volume 16, Issue 1

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

glass, finisher medal and a glass of wine (soda for our under-21 runners) after the race. The race also has updated guidelines to assist with social distancing, which includes an open start time (no big group start; nnett e B start time from 9-10 y n n om ed by Je a.m.) and wine tickets Compil preyobserver.c @os tt e n are good anytime n e jb throughout the weekend to reduce group size at the winery.

To register, visit www.winerun5k.com and select the Manatee Viewing Center To Keel Farms location.

Additional informaRemain Closed tion can be found at Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing www.info@winerun5k.com.

Center, where people can watch manatees gather each year, will remain Sons Of The American Legion Car closed until at least fall as a result of the And Truck Show ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The The Sons of the American Legion, viewing center, located at Tampa Squadron 138 is holding a car and truck Electric’s Big Bend Power Station in show on Saturday, February 13 from 12 Apollo Beach, has been a staple for Noon until 4 p.m. The event will take more than 30 years and allows visitors place at the American Legion pavilion area at 5535 W. Prescott St. in Tampa and will include music from the 50s and 60s, food for sale, raffle prizes and great trophies for the winners as well as beautiful cars and trucks of all descriptions. easy access to the herds of manatees Entry registration fees are $15 in that are drawn to the plant’s warm waadvance and $20 on the day of the ters in its discharge canal. “As with so event and include a free meal, raffle many of the changes we’ve seen this ticket and a voting ballot. All proceeds year, we know keeping the Manatee benefit veterans’ and children’s chariViewing Center closed this season was ties. For additional information, call a disappointment,” said Stan Kroh, Larry Begy at 767-1197. manager of Land and Stewardship

ng i w e i V e Manate Remains Center More... & Closed

Programs for Tampa Electric. “Safety is our top priority, and with that in mind, we’re offering virtual ways to experience the center until we can welcome visitors back in person.” It is ex-pected to reopen on Sunday, November 1.

In the meantime, you can watch the manatees from the comfort of your own home by visiting www.tampaelectric.com/manatee.

Keel Farms Wine Run

Do you like walking or running?

Love wine? If you answered yes, then this race is for you. Keel Farms in Plant City is holding a 5K race on Sunday, January 31 around the beautiful scenery and landscape of Keel Farms Winery, Brewery and Restaurant. The race is being held both in person and virtually with a free transfer to the virtual race if you change your mind. All participants will receive a race T-shirt, souvenir wine

Cross Bay Ferry Changes Dock Location

The Cross Bay Ferry has temporarily changed its Tampa docking location from the Tampa Convention Center to Sparkman Wharf through Wednesday, February 17. The temporary new location is at 615 Channelside Dr. in Tampa and the nearest parking can be found in the Garrison Lot or Channelside Parking Garage. During this period, the ferry’s operations, including ticketing, will be at the Sparkman Wharf location, the ferry will continue to run Wednesday through Sunday, with four departure times at both locations on Friday and Saturday.

The full schedule and additional information is available online at www.TheCrossBayFerry.com. The ferry staff strongly advises passengers to arrive 15-30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

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January 2021

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Page 17

By Kathy L. Collins

Marilyn Comes To Downtown Plant City As Part Of Walkable Outdoor Art Display The Arts Council of Plant City has strewn some magic around downtown Plant City. The Arts Council, in partnership with the City of Plant City, Unity in the Community and Plant City Photo Archives & History Center, has brought back the beautiful, lifesize J. Seward Johnson sculptures.

The sculptures are strategically placed throughout downtown and can be seen now through March 15.

Johnson creates trompe l’oeil painted bronze statues which are castings of living people, depicting them engaged in day-to-day activities.

There are 10 statues on display. No Hands can be found at the Bruton Memorial Library. Allow Me is situated in front of the City Hall south entrance. Nice To See You is at the Plant City Chamber building. Big Sister is located at the west end of McCall Park. Cat Nap can be found outside of Plant City Photo Archives & History Center. The most photographed statue, Forever Marilyn, is on Collins St. at McCall Park. Wine, Food and Thou is at the corner of Collins St. and Reynolds St. Sidewalk Concert is on the corner of Palmer St. and Reynolds St. The iconic World War II Embracing Peace is in front of the Robert W. Willaford Railroad

Museum. No Way can be found at Village Green Park.

Marsha Passmore, president of the Arts Council of Plant City, said, “The Arts Council has made it our The Arts Council of Plant City is proud to present the J. Seward Johnson mission to pro- sculptures. All of the sculptures are within walking distance. Be on the lookout for No Way at Village Green Park and Forever Marilyn at the vide programs Collins St. entrance to McCall Park. that support walk past even one of the sculptures the visual, performing, and culinary and not see someone taking pictures arts. The Seward Johnson sculptures and selfies with them. It brings our is our largest public art exhibit. It is community together in a way that an outside, open-air exhibit that can nothing else could. These sculptures be viewed at any time. We promise are so lifelike. We get constant posithat the time you spend strolling the tive feedback because our community area locating the 10 sculptures will be enjoys them so much. If they brighttime well spent.” Passmore added, en just one person's day, then it is “The J. Seward Johnson sculptures worth our effort.” are known worldwide, and it is a priviWhite added, “With all of our lege to display them locally.”

2020 fundraisers being cancelled due Dodie White, member chair, said, to COVID-19, our faithful members “We feel that it is important to bring have helped to keep us alive this them to Plant City because of the year. We are also very appreciative of enjoyment they bring our community. partnerships with the City of Plant It is almost impossible to drive or

City, Mainstreet, Unity in the Community, Plant City Photo Archives, Lubrano Designs and all of our supporters that enable us to keep the arts alive in our beautiful Plant City community.”

This is a fantastic way to explore the charming historic district of Plant City. As you take the tour, be sure to check out some of the great local businesses in the area like Roots Tap Room & Wine Bar, Krazy Kup, Plant City Photo Archives and Tennessee Jane Boutique.

In addition to bringing the statues to downtown, the Arts Council of Plant City offers scholarships to graduating seniors, sponsors the PTSA Reflections Art Exhibit at Plant City High School, sends low-income children to a museum and supports arts organizations such as Winthrop Arts for its Mobile Art Factory.

The Arts Council of Plant City is funded by memberships ($25 per individual or $35 per family) and fundraisers, including its annual Chilifest set to take place on Saturday, January 30.

For more information about The Arts Council of Plant City, please visit www.plantcityarts.com and follow it on Facebook.

01/31/2021

Page 18

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Volume 16, Issue 1

Sports Connection Photos courtesy of Fred Ocasio

657-2418

www.ospreyobserver.com

By Nick Nahas

Bloomingdale Football Achieves Best Season In School History; Makes State Semifinal Appearance well. The dual-threat QB completed 153 passes for 2,490 yards and an eye-popping 27 touchdowns, while carrying the ball 96 times for 400 yards and seven touchdowns. He is currently deciding between several college offers.

Other players that signed in the early signing period for college football include cornerback/wide receiver Philip Riley Agiye Hall makes the fingertip QB Tre Simmons led the Bulls with (University of Notre Dame), nose The Bulls make the gang tackle The Bulls had a perfect 8-0 regucatch.

34 total touchdowns. against Durant. guard Jordan Guerad (Florida lar season. played defense and was the team’s leading International University), cornerback risen from one of the worst programs in It was a year of firsts for the receiver, wracking up 51 receptions for Jayden Williams (Florida Atlantic University) Hillsborough County to arguably the best.

Bloomingdale High School football pro1,028 yards and 13 touchdowns. One of and safety Britton Pascoe (North Dakota In the 2020 season, Bloomingdale had one gram. The Bulls won their first district his biggest highlights was catching a 46State). According to Coulson, many more championship in the school’s 33-year histo- of the toughest schedules in the county, yard Hail Mary as time expired to win the Bulls will sign on National Signing Day on facing powerhouse programs such as ry, achieving a team-best 12-1 overall game against Tampa Bay Tech 25-22 early Wednesday, February 3, including Tampa Bay Tech, Plant City, Lakeland and record, capped by the program’s first state in the season to keep the team’s perfect Simmons.

Armwood, defeating them all. semifinal appearance in the school’s historecord intact.

Coulson also credits his undersized ry. Bloomingdale boasted a perfect 8-0 reg- Bloomingdale effectively became the “He’s a playmaker,” said Coulson. offensive line as a major part of the team’s cream of the crop when they beat ular season as well.

“Obviously everybody knows about him, success. What they lacked for in size was Armwood twice, once in the season opener The Bulls were led by Head Coach he’s a freaky specimen at 6’3” and 200 made up with heart, tenacity and coachabil15-14 and for the second time in the Jake Coulson in his second season. pounds, running a 4-4. That’s very rare in ity. Derrick Mahoney, Lance Walker, Carson regional semifinal 24-14. Prior to the 2020 Coulson has an outstanding 21-4 record the NFL, let alone at the high school level.

Wynperle, Isaiah Lowery and Javon Hall season, they had never beaten Armwood since he was promoted from defensive He was not just a ‘me’ guy, he was a ‘we’ anchored that unit “I’m proud of what we before. Coulson attributes this turnaround coordinator to the head man after the 2018 guy, and he really bought into what we overcame and did with COVID and all the to hard work, talent, continuity and, most season. He was named the National asked him to do.” distractions; through all that, we fought importantly, a culture change.

Football Foundation Tampa Chapter’s Billy Another star player for the Bulls was through it and had a great season,” said Bloomingdale had its most talented Turner 2020 Coach of the Year. He was Jefferson transfer senior quarterback Tre Simmons. “The standard, in my opinion, at group of players ever, led by Alabama also named Dairy Farmer’s Football 7A, Simmons. Simmons not only was the Bloomingdale has changed,” said Coulson. signee, senior wide receiver Agiye Hall, District 15 Coach of the Year and Big team’s leader as the signal caller, but he “We were state semifinalists and we need who transferred from Armwood. Agiye did it County Preps’ Coach of the Year. had the stats to back up his on-field play as to get back there.”

Within the last 10 years, the Bulls have all for the Bulls this season—he punted,

January 2021

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Page 19

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Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Volume 16, Issue 1

Brandon/Winthrop

January 2021

Volume 16, Issue 1

Ph: 657-2418

Magruder Agency Celebrates 31 Years

The Magruder Agency was established in 1989 by Patricia Magruder and has grown because it pays attention to the needs of each client. It is too easy to find yourself with a generic insurance policy that doesn’t truly fit your specific situation. The Magruder Agency takes the time to sit with each of its policyholders and new clients to learn about their coverage needs, budget limitations and policy types that they are interested in. Each client leaves with the best quality coverage to meet each of their needs and requirements. Over the years, the Magruder Agency has received many community awards, including WomanOwned Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Excellence in Marketing from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, and Woman of the Year from the American Business Women’s Association.

The Magruder Agency is located at 655 W. Lumsden Rd. in Brandon and is open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Patricia Magruder can be reached on 654-3100 or by email at patricia@magruderagency.com. For more information, visit www.magruderagency.com.

Tampa. For more information, visit www.daylightconcepts.com or visit on Facebook at solatubeflorida@daylightconcept.

Patricia and Stephanie Magruder.

Daylight Concepts Can Brighten Your Home

Daylight Concepts is a specialized group of professionals that helps increase the comfort of your home.

Have you ever walked into a room in the middle of the day and had to turn your lights on? That’s exactly the type of problem that they can solve in just a couple of hours. With tubular skylights, they bring natural daylight to kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, staircases, you name it. In over 14 years in business, it’s brightened thousands of homes. If you want a personalized experience, unique design and the best quality of products and services, it is the right contractor for you.

Daylight Concepts is based in

Interactive Children’s Science Center Now Open In Brandon

Galactic Playgrounds, an 8,500 sq. ft. interactive science center for children at 1041 W. Brandon Blvd. recently opened. Owner Greg Mondolia described it as “a science center for all ages.

We offer hands-on excitement with exhibits powered by children, so they get exercise, S.T.E.A.M learning and fun all at once.” The large variety of interactive science exhibits demonstrate magnetism, hydro forces, electric power, kinetic energy, stactic generators and

gas plasma effects. Other exhibits include astronomy videos on a 14-foot-tall, planetarium-like screens and painting on Buddha Boards. The 8,500 sq. ft. space allows for easy social distancing and the center is equipped with a special new HVAC with five times more outside air.

Galactic Playgrounds is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.galacticplaygrounds.com or call 315-9478. Visit on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GalacticPlaygrounds-185653645411415/.

Preservation 1st Financial Group Celebrating 16 Years In Business

Father and son team Michael and Christian Beiter are celebrating 16 years of their insurance and financial planning business, Preservation 1st Financial Group.

Preservation 1st Financial Group serves all your financial planning and insurance needs, including retirement planning, estate planning, life insurance, medicare coverage, college planning and more. Its

Continued on Next Page

Page 22

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Business Column Continued................... mission is to partner with their clients and their families in their pursuit of their financial goals.

Preservation 1st Financial Group is located at 912 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Brandon and can be contacted at 627-0872; it is currently providing virtual appointments. For more information, visit www.preservation1st.com.

Dorothy Cares Assisted Living Facility Awarded Best Of Senior Living Award

The SeniorAdvisor.com Best of Senior Living 2021 Awards, in partnership with A Place for Mom, recognizes senior living and home care providers who receive consistently high ratings and positive reviews from residents, families and visitors. This exclusive designation is awarded to less than 3 percent of providers nationwide.

Dorothy Cares Assisted Living Facility in Riverview was just awarded this for the third consecutive year. Dorothy Cares offers assisted living 24/7, respite care and adult day care in smaller, home-like settings which many prefer for more of that one-toone care. It offers assistance with activities of daily living, three meals along with two snacks per day, housekeeping, laundry, help setting up transportation to doctors appointments, medication supervision, exercise and social programs and more. It is the perfect facility for a loved one who is not ready for a nursing home or a large assisted living facility and still wants to feel independent in a place that they can call home.

Dorothy Cares Assisted Living Facility has two homes in the Riverview area. For more information, visit www.dorothycaresalf.com, email dorothycaresalf@gmail.com or call 862-8871.

By Jenny Bennett Kemp Design Services Open For Graphic And Internet Services Kevin and Barbara Kemp recently opened Kemp Design Services to help meet clients’ graphic design and internet needs. It is a small, family-owned business that prides itself on creating superior graphics and excellent customer service. “We seek to understand the needs of our clients and make it our mission to provide them with marketing that works. We are committed to serving our community and clients,” said Kevin. Services offered by Kemp Design Services include website design, logo design, print advertising design, search engine optimization and social media management and training.

Kemp Design Services is located at 18921 Boyette Rd. in Lithia and is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.kempdesignservices.com or www.facebook.com/KempDesign/.

You can also follow it on Twitter @KempDesignServ or call 655-9200.

(with his 3D printer) Thorte a scleral lens insertion kit he affectionately named the Hollis Scleral Stand. Thorte came in the following Saturday for a new lens and was given the Hollis Scleral Stand. She is now able to use this product without having to worry about it not working properly.

Dr. Hollis plans to share the production particulars for the scleral lens

insertion stand online for others to duplicate.

Southern Eye Care Associates is located at 3307 Lithia Pinecrest Rd and can be reached at 654-0220. For more information, visit https://visionsource-valrico.com/.

Local Eye Doctor Fulfills Community Need With 3D Printing

Dr. Branning Hollis, co-owner of Southern Eye Care Associates in Valrico, specializes in specialty contact lens fittings, one being the scleral lens, which is very helpful for people with keratoconus and dry eye syndrome.

Dr. Hollis’ goal was to make something to aid in scleral lens insertion for his patients without the high cost. Dr. Hollis, father of two boys, works with his wife and co-owner, Dr. Mona Kardani, splitting their time in the office and homeschooling.

Resident Natacha Thorte mentioned that the See-Green product she had purchased online to aid in scleral lens insertion was not working properly. Dr. Hollis went home and made

Volume 16, Issue 1

Local Odor Removal Company Eyes Expansion

Local realtor and entrepreneur Sherri Southwell is a woman on a mission. She not only sells homes but rids them of odors as well. Using a proven removal process, which is both economical and nondestructive, customers’ homes and/or businesses are treated to eliminate odors resulting from pets, smoke, cooking, mold and mildew in addition to sanitizing AC ductwork and killing bacteria and viruses. While her business primarily caters to real estate agents, property managers and real estate investors, Southwell has noted that homeowners are also discovering the benefits of ozone. As a result of increased demand for odor removal and home sanitization services, Accurate Ozone Solutions of the Gulf Coast, based in Apollo Beach, is seeking to expand its service area into the surrounding counties.

For more information on the services provided, visit www.stinkclean.com, email info@StinkClean.com or call 833-3578465.

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Page 23

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2020 A Welcome New Year, Time For Resolutions, Renewals & Returns

Who would have thought a year ago we could have anticipated that within two months, our world would be shaken by a global pandemic the likes of which we have never seen? As COVID-19 precautions and regulations were put into place, we, the Osprey Observer, an essential business as a media outlet, would need to pivot our business model and react to the new quarantine restrictions.

Fortunately, as a locally owned business for more than 19 years with an incredible team, we made adjustments and sent our team home to work remotely, we continue to do our staff and sales meetings via our new best friend Zoom, we do digital newspaper proofs rather than printed versions and we’ve streamlined our processes to be more efficient. Luckily, due to the skill level and experience of our team, we haven’t missed a single

deadline or edition all year.

As our small businesses recover from the effects of 12 weeks of closure and continued new precautionary measures, we are right beside them to support them. We also added a ‘Living In COVID’ section where we highlight stories of hope.

And, again this holiday season, we did our annual ‘Our Favorite Things Holiday Sweepstakes’ with prizes from over 28 local businesses, and boy, did that put us in the holiday spirit! Congratulations to all of the winners and thank you to the businesses who supported us in this campaign and throughout the year. The Osprey Observer is one hundred percent supported by local advertising and readers like you.

Please reach out to me anytime, we appreciate you.

Sincerely,

Marie Gilmore Managing Editor, Publisher

100 Women Who Care Pick Living For Logan Charity To Raise Distracted Driving Awareness

By Gwen Rollings

The 100 Women also to work toward Who Care eliminating the deadly Riverview/FishHawk epidemic of distracted group continued to drivers through eduraise money and cation, legislation and help others during changing hearts, the remaining minds and habits of months of 2020. In drivers everywhere.

July, the group The foundation is a donated to the tax-exempt 501(c)(3) 100 Women Who Care present a check nonprofit organizaAndrew Joseph to the Living for Logan Foundation.

Foundation and, in tion.

September, it donated to Another good woman the AlexStrong stepped up to do someFoundation. Seeds of thing. Melanie Jordy of Hope benefited in December.

FishHawk started Operation Lotus after New members are always welher husband died. The mission of her come. The next meeting will take place nonprofit is to help other families going on Tuesday, March 10 at the Venue in through a traumatic event. That is how Riverview. she met Jordan and Brooke Scherer. “I To learn more, find the group on now serve as the executive director for Facebook.

Living for Logan,” said Jordy.

Original story printed March 2020.

Debbie Matice, a local KellerOn September 15, 2016, a driver Williams realtor, said she began this was distracted by his phone while driving chapter because, “I wanted to do somewhen he ran at more than 100 miles per thing for the community but didn’t have a hour into the back of an SUV stuck in a lot of time to volunteer. traffic jam on I-75 near Brooksville. That On January 28, a check in the distracted driver forever changed the life amount of $3,450 was presented to Jordy of a Riverview family. Their 9-year-old son as a representative for the Living for and brother, Logan, was killed instantly.

Logan Foundation. An additional donation That tragedy turned into a cause as the of $1,725 was approved by the Richard Scherer family struggled to deal with the M. Schultz Family Foundation, bringing senseless loss of Logan: “If we let his the total to $5,175. death define us as humans and do nothTo date, the chapter has donated ing with our survival and our story, then more than $25,000 to local charities and his death is in vain.” meets in person and virtually each quarter.

This good family did do something For more ways to get involved, visit and established the Living for Logan www.livingforlogan.org or www.faceFoundation not only to honor Logan but book.com/100WWCRiverviewFishhawk.

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Page 24

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Volume 16, Issue 1

Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2020 Mary Rossano, 100-Years-Old, Spreads Joy With Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwiches

Seeds Of Hope Offers Drive-Through Food Bank Distribution To Meet Need

Mary Rossano, said Caputo, “and Mary who inspired many said that she wanted to be residents with her more involved in her sandwich-making, church—Nativity Catholic.” passed away in During the conversaSeptember 2020. tion, Rossano and Caputo According to her realized that being part of friend, Debra Caputo, Nativity’s Peanut Butter the need for sandand Jelly Ministry was a wiches grew once the perfect fit. Now, Rossano COVID-19 pandemic makes sandwiches from hit, and thanks to her home and a member Rossano’s lead, a of the church picks them FishHawk family made up and takes them to one 200 additional sandof the ten outreach food wiches. Rossano conbanks in Hillsborough Members and volunteers of Nativity Catholic’s Peanut tinued to make sandCounty. Nativity Church disButter and Jelly Ministry: Pam wiches up until a Fattore, Debra Caputo, Mary tributes more than 7,000 month before she sandwiches a month and Rossano and Rita Lichtenwalter. passed and stayed has donated 500,000 sandconnected with the church her whole wiches over the last 14 years. life. Original story printed March 2020.

“I love helping my church and I love Brandon resident Mary Rossano helping people who are hungry,” said knows that age is only a number and Rossano, “and it gives me something difhelping others has no age limit. In March, ferent to do.”

Rossano will mark a milestone, her 100th Rossano’s goal is to make 120 sandbirthday, and she remains active by volwiches each month. Caputo will be buyunteering and keeping busy focusing on ing three loaves of bread weekly to family and friends and the difference she ensure that nothing is wasted and that is making in the community. the bread will be fresh each week.

Her friend and caretaker through “This is a win, win, win for everyone,” Seniors Helping Seniors, Debra Caputo, said Caputo. recently posted a short video on “Mary is able to contribute to her Facebook of Rossano making peanut church by volunteering, the church is butter and jelly sandwiches for Nativity reaching out to the community and the Catholic Church. Since then, the hungry are being fed.” response and outpouring of gratitude If anyone would like to donate to supfrom others has been remarkable. port Rossano in her efforts to make sand“A few weeks ago, we had been talk- wiches for the ministry, please reach out ing about what her goals are for 2020,” to Debra Caputo at 215-317-6442.

As the COVIDupdated as needed on 19 pandemic the Seeds of Hope affected the Facebook page.

Greater Brandon “I think it’s nice; area, more resieverybody sits in their dents began relycar, drives by and voling to Seeds of unteers put the food in Hope for food and your trunk,” said Ellis support.

‘Lois’ Donaldson, a At the group’s Seeds of Hope benefiThanksgiving food ciary. distribution, 618 “It’s efficient and it Seeds of Hope Founder Leda Eaton boxes of food, 525 works really well,” (center) with food bank volunteers (from turkeys and 500 added Sebastian the left) Gabriel Rodriguez, Luke grocery bags filled Rodriguez, a LaFrance, Sebastian Rodriguez and Dylan Higham. with Thanksgiving Newsome High freshsides were handed out. man. “For me personally, and most of the The group also runs a mobile food kids here, we take this seriously because pantry for people unable to travel to people come here every week for food, the food bank and a backpack proand if we’re not here they can’t feed gram that sends food home with hunthemselves or their families.” dreds of area students each week. To After cutting its teeth on Hurricane learn more, visit www.sohopefl.org.

Irma, the all-volunteer Seeds of Hope Original story printed April 2020. charity, established 10 years ago in Lithia, Driven to “nourish hope among peois faced again with another major crisis, ple in need through the actions and help with Founder Leda Eaton at the helm provided by our local students,” Seeds of working tirelessly alongside volunteers to Hope has adopted drive-through services meet the needs of neighbors. to ensure folks who need food can get it Seeds of Hope is a registered while volunteers keep their social dis501(c)(3), charitable, all-volunteer organitance. zation which also provides a mobile Drive-through distribution has been pantry “that silently takes care of local instituted at the food bank every needs” and a backpack program for stuThursday, 5 to 7 p.m., at 710 East dents to ensure food security for students Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon, in the and their families. parking lot of the Presbyterian Church of The food bank does not require peoBloomingdale. Meanwhile, drive-through ple in need to show identification or verificollection drives took place at Bevis cation.

Elementary School throughout March.

For more information and to donate, Additional drives and distributions are visit www.sohopefl.org.

By Kelly Wise Valdes

By Linda Chion Kenney

January 2021

Page 25

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2020 Still Time To Get Your Walking Shoes On For Relay For Life

Schools Superintendent Addison Davis Facing New Job & County Crisis Head On

The of Puget Sound American track for 24 hours Cancer and raised Society $27,000 for his (ACS) saw local American its Relay Cancer Society. In For Life the following year, events go 220 people of 19 unfulfilled At Relay for Life, survivors and families rally around teams joined him, the hope that all cancers will be cured. this year, and a worldwide as COVID-19 forced the suspension of phenomenon was born.

Relay For Life of FishHawk, Riverview, In 1994, Relay for Life became the SouthShore, Sun City Center and American Cancer Society’s signature Bloomingdale. While all teams and event.

ACS were disappointed the events Fast forward over 30 years and now didn’t occur, the communities continthe Relay for Life movement raises more ued to amaze through their support to than $400 million each year, and more the mission. than 5,000 Relay for Life events take The Relay For Life of place in over 20 countries. This is a monSoutheastern Hillsborough County umental accomplishment, but it still area raised $191,151 for the 2020 seabegins with one person, one team, one son, which actually started in late community for one purpose: to attack and 2019. The 2020 fundraising totals defeat cancer. were: FishHawk - $84,219; According to Tammy Schoonover, Bloomingdale - $30,418; Riverview senior community development manager $36,112; SouthShore - $31,389 and in Tampa, “The American Cancer Society Sun City Center - $9,013. puts these donations to work, investing in Relay events for the 2021 event groundbreaking research in every type of season will transition from tradition cancer and providing free information and and rely more heavily on virtual platservices to cancer patients and their careforms, volunteer efforts and communi- givers.” ty connections.

Relay events takes place in cities Reach out to Tammy Schoonover and small towns worldwide usually in this at tammy.schoonover@cancer.org. order: pre-fundraising, meeting with your Original story printed March 2020. team, opening ceremony, survivor and Do you ever wonder if only one percaregiver laps, time to celebrate, lighting son can make any difference in the fight the luminaries and then the closing cereagainst cancer? In 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt, mony. a Tacoma, Washington surgeon, ran You can register and connect with a more than 83 miles around the University local team through www.relayforlife.org.

Superintendent Davis offered this message for readers after his first nine months in Hillsborough County.

“My first month on the job at Hillsborough County Public Schools coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Within weeks as the new Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Superintendent, my staff and I Addison Davis sits with School Board Chair were creating plans from scratch Melissa Snively as he signs his contract to take for virtual instruction along with on his new position. daily meals to ensure all stuthat deserve their district’s support. dents’ needs were met while we could“We need to mainstream our curricun’t be with them physically. It was an lum,” he explained. “We have a lot of unusual time for our district, but I truly independent contractors and we need a believe it was an opportunity to show centralized curriculum and support for the community how our teachers, staff teachers and a method to allow us to and district remain dedicated to our determine our overall return on investstudents even under the most chalment.” lenging of circumstances.”

It’s this straight-to-the point and matOriginal story printed May 2020. ter-of-fact effort that made Davis a very Just four weeks into his new position popular administrator in Duval County, as superintendent of the country’s sevwhere he had been a teacher and princienth largest school district, with 280 pal before becoming Chief of Schools. In schools, more than 220,000 students and 2016, he was elected to the Clay County more than 24,000 staff members, and superintendent position and was nominatAddison Davis is loving every minute. ed for national awards.

He had two weeks before the The Davis family will make COVID-19 restrictions forced the closing Hillsborough County home starting this of schools through at least Friday, May 1, summer and includes his wife, Natalie, and he didn’t waste a minute. who works in the Insurance business, “Before the virus hit, I had cleared my and two daughters, including one who will schedule from 7:30-12 Noon every day to be a high school freshman in the fall and get into the schools and meet teachers plays travel volleyball and a daughter who and students,” said Davis, who says that is a freshman softball player at the even in that short period of time, he University of Central Florida. learned that the Hillsborough County staff For more information or to reach is filled with high-quality, skilled teachers Davis, visit www.sdhc.k12.fl.us.

By Gwen Rollings

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Page 26

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Volume 16, Issue 1

Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2020 School District Offers Once Weekly Meal & Snack Pickups For Students

Area Booster Group Organizes Meal Donations For Essential Worker Delivery

Throughout 2020, These meals will Hillsborough County include one pound of Public Schools and the lunch meat, one loaf of United bread, milk, juice and States Department nutritious snacks for the of Agriculture (USDA) week. The Grab-and-Go worked together to sites have had a tremenmake sure that students dous impact on our comwere receiving food. In munity, providing more addition to summer than 1 million meals so far Pictured is Hillsborough County Superintendent of pickups, the USDA for students during this School Addison Davis pledged to fund free extended closure. participating in the Grab-andmeals for all students “Our district’s goal is Go lunch program distribution earlier this month. throughout the 2020-21 to ensure every learner school year. has access to nutritious meals, even “We know that the students need when they are not physically at school,” fuel to be successful in the classroom said Arja. and ensuring students have the prop“This decision demonstrates care er nutrition will help the child as a from our organization. By reducing the whole,” said Department Manager of number of contact points within our comMedia Outreach Erin Maloney. munity, we will eliminate immediate conOriginal story printed May 2020. cerns and continue to develop strategies “As Hillsborough County Public that protect our students, employees and Schools (HCPS) continues to navigate parents. I am excited that we will be CDC recommendations for social distanc- extending nutritious meals to our students ing and the state’s stay-at-home order, in a manner that promotes and fosters our district is committed to keeping our safety. Our once-a-week stop will give students, families and our staff safe,” said students a weekly supply of food that will Tanya Arja, HCPS media spokesperson. assist them with remaining sharp during In April, the district changed its Grab- the e-Learning process. Our district’s and-Go meal distribution practices to min- effort will continue to evolve as we seek imize contact between families and staff. to identify proactive solutions to assist our Families will be able to pick up a community,” stated Hillsborough County week’s worth of food once a week Public Schools Superintendent Addison instead of traveling to a site every day.

Davis.

Families can pick up the meals every Meals are available to ALL children Wednesday between 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The 18 years old and younger as well as studistrict will continue to offer the Grab-and- dents with special needs under the age of Go meals at 147 school sites. For loca21. For additional information, please visit tions, visit www.HillsboroughSchools.org.

HillsboroughSchools.org.

you can do is help someone else,” said Trimborn.

She quickly went to work motivating her family and soccer players to start writing thank-you cards and letters to emergency workers and seniors, but then decided that she could use her connections to do more.

“I realized that there are The Newsome High School Athletic Boosters are many heroes in tough times, not one of many groups that recently came together to just the obvious ones,” she provide meals to local healthcare workers. explained. Trimborn’s first call Many residents came together in was to Jill Lansky, physician and 2020 to help those in need and thank providers relations director for women’s those working the front lines. Thanks services at Brandon Regional Hospital, to to donations from her customers, identify the hospital units in most need of Peggy Davenport of Davenport’s Daily support.

Delights was able to donate at least “Jill was so paramount in us pulling 2,000 meals to essential workers at the meals off and has spent countless local hospitals, the elderly and people hours organizing, identifying units in need, in need. Although Davenport stopped delivering most meals, sending out follow collecting money through her website up pictures,” said Trimborn. in August, the business is still donatDavenport’s Daily Delight’s owner, ing meals when there is a need and Peggy Davenport, has been donating will continue to do so. meals since the crisis started in late Original story printed June 2020.

March and has set up a donation form on FishHawk resident Tina Trimborn has her business website so that individuals made a big impact over the last few can easily give towards a meal for a frontweeks. Trimborn, physician and providers line worker or resident in need. relations director for Behavioral Health “We can’t imagine these healthcare Services at HCA -Brandon Regional and heroes going to work everyday and then Tampa Community Hospitals and quarantining away from their families to Newsome High School’s girls soccer protect others,” said Davenport. coach, is using her connections in the To learn more about Davenport’s community to feed local heroes while Daily Delights, visit www.davenportsdailysupporting area restaurants. delights.com.

“When the crisis hit, I immediately To sign up to help, email her at thought of my dad’s philosophy, that christina.trimborn@hca.healthcare.com. when you are struggling, the best thing

By Kate Quesada

By Kate Quesada

January 2021

Page 27

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2020 ECHO In Brandon Establishes Its First Summer Youth Leadership Program

Facebook Restaurant Group Helps Restaurants And Attracts Thousands

A total of 48 nine-week program students particiwill begin on Monday, pated in the ECHO June 1 and end on Youth Leadership Friday, July 31, offerProgram, which ing students the was called a great chance to earn comsuccess by leadmunity service hours ers. The students and learn about served a total of poverty.

2,083 hours in During the quarJune and July of antine months, Student volunteers assisting with 2020 and helped moving boxes of food from a food drive ECHO shifted to an at ECHO’s warehouse. to distribute food, emergency food dissort donations and contribute to the tribution plan in order to cater to the general running of the center. needs of the community while following “We are hoping to run a form of social distancing recommendations. the Youth Leadership Program durThe Youth Leadership Program was ing the summer of 2021 but are not born in an effort to expose new volunsure yet what it will look like,” said teers to ECHO. Savanna Thompson, development According to ECHO’s executive coordinator. “Because our normal director, Eleanor Saunders, this sumvolunteers are back serving with us mer season will likely be very busy for once again, our need for the proECHO, which offers a wide variety of gram is not as high, but we honestly assistance and resources to people had so much fun with the students residing in Hillsborough County who and it was so good to introduce stusuffered from a recent emergency. dents to the great need in the comThe 75 students in this program will munity. So, we will likely have some commit to one day a week from 8:30 form of the program, but are not a.m.-3 p.m. Several trainings will be sure what it will look like quite yet.” provided to teach students about core Visit www.echofl.org for more inforissues and lessons on generational mation. poverty, what causes it, what ECHO Original story printed June 2020. does and more. Students will also work Students ages 15 to 21 who have on team projects, assist with running an interest in developing leadership the Back to School Community Bash skills through serving their community and participate in a team fundraising will get an opportunity to accomplish competition. that this summer with ECHO’s Visit https://echofl.org. ECHO is (Emergency Care Help Organization) located at 507 N. Parsons Ave. in new Youth Leadership Program. This Brandon. Call 685-0935 to learn more.

The Restaurants in Wade started the Greater Brandon spreading the word and Tampa Area about the group through Offering Delivery and her family and real Take Out group has estate contacts and it stayed active through quickly gained momen2020, even with restautum. rants now open at full “This community is capacity. close-knit and will rally The group now has for what they believe in,” more than 15,700 memshe said. “We all want bers, with participants our neighbors and sharing favorite restaufriends to survive this rant specials and deals black swan.”

FishHawk resident Rebecca in addition to giveIn addition to posts Long was recognized by the aways. from residents and Restaurants in Greater Brandon Founder Brenda & Tampa Area Offering Delivery restaurant owners about & Take Out Facebook page on favorite dishes and recently stated, “I am Mother’s Day. thrilled at how much deals, members also this page has caught on in our area. I started posting giveaways and contests think we have supported our local and rallying donations to provide food to restaurants in their time of need.” essential workers and recognition of sinOriginal story printed June 2020. gle parents on Mother’s Day. Local realtor Brenda Wade had an But the best thing for Wade about the idea last month that brightened the lives group is how it has brought the communiof thousands of quarantined residents ty together. while helping restaurants through some “I have been so impressed by how hard times. positive everyone has been and how they Wade set up the private Facebook have rallied when they saw a need,” she group ‘Restaurants in Greater Brandon & said. “I feel we have added value to some Tampa Area Offering Delivery & Take Out’ folks that needed us.” and within days it had thousands of fol“I see us continuing to support them lowers and hundreds of posts a week and using it to promote the independent offering support to local restaurants. food providers,” she explained. “We have “I eat out frequently and was still lots of hidden gems in our community. grabbing takeout and noticed how terribly There are ones I didn’t know about and I slow the restaurants were,” said Wade. “I think it’s important to support local.” just wanted to help. I had a friend in Search for ‘Restaurants in Greater Canada that had started a group and I felt Brandon & Tampa Area Offering Delivery we should try it here.” & Take Out’ on Facebook to learn more.

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Page 28

Volume 16, Issue 1

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2020 Land Code Revision Hearings Will Discuss HOA Rules To Allow Hens On Properties

By Brad Stager

feature of country living may be coming home to roost on a culde-sac near you.

A revision to the county’s land use code allowing hens on residential property is under consideration by the Hillsborough County Commission. The proposed ordinance would allow in total up to five caged hens and pullets to be kept in a backyard.

Backyard fowl may take their place alongside furry friends in homes in unincorporated Roosters would not be permitHillsborough County as commissioners consider ted. allowing hens on residential property.

Besides the companionship The Board of County chickens can offer, supporters of the Commissioners in September ordinance tout the food value backyard approved changes that allow people fowl can provide, especially during an to have backyard chickens in resiemergency situation. However, slaughdential neighborhoods. According tering the birds or selling their eggs to Hillsborough County’s Todd on-site are among the recommended Pratt, the chickens must be kept in restrictions. enclosed coops at all times, a maxiThe proposal applies to unincorpomum of five hens are allowed and rated Hillsborough County, but for resiroosters are not permitted. There dents living in communities controlled are restrictions on the height and by deed restrictions, what the county size of the coop and on-site slaugh- ends up allowing still has to fly with tering and egg sales are not permit- local homeowner associations, accordted. ing to county officials, who cite the “The changes do not supersede authority that HOAs have under deed restrictions,” said Pratt. “So if Florida law. a neighborhood has deed restricThe proposed revision is being tions that don’t allow chickens, you guided by Commissioner Sandra still can’t have chickens in those Murman, who represents District 1. neighborhoods.”

She said having a few chickens Original story printed July 2020. around a home has become a benefiUnincorporated Hillsborough cial lifestyle trend and that residents in County has changed dramatically in unincorporated areas should have a recent years, evolving from predomichance to enjoy it. nantly rural to notably suburban as For details, visit hillsboroughcounhousing tracts replace farms, but one ty.org.

Community Comes Together To Support A Local Little Girl Through Photos

By Libby Hopkins

These unique “I could give portraits, which families an opporbecame quite a trend tunity to come in the spring and together and do summer of 2020, something silly, fun raised $350 for or just get a cute Operation Lotus to family photo for a help Alyza Finstein. very affordable In addition, price; from a miniBrandon photogramum of 6 feet pher Howie Mac away, of Local photographer Audra Nicole offered porch porcourse,” and local charity Operation Lotus traits to benefit local Nicole joined forces recently to help charity ECHO. Howie local resident Alyza Finstein after said. she recovered from surgery to Mac is still offering Shortly have a brain tumor removed. porch portraits. To after decidlearn more, visit www.howiemacphoing to offer the pictures, Nicole heard to.com/distancing-sessions. about the Finstein family, Starling resiOrigninal story printed May 2020. dents whose daughter, Alyza, had to have They say “Every picture tells a story,” surgery to have a brain tumor removed. and last month, when the world was in Operation Lotus, a nonprofit whose misturmoil dealing with the COVID-19 pansion is to restore hope for people who demic, one photographer used pictures to have experienced a loss or tragedy, was help a local family while telling many collecting money to help the family. other stories.

“It’s surreal. First, to be living through FishHawk resident Audra Nicole what I call a nightmare is just crazy, but wears many hats. She’s a mom of three, having everyone from our community and a business coach, photographer and the Operation Lotus supporting us is just host of the ‘Mompreneur Marketing unbelievable,” Jayme Finstein said.

Podcast.’

Josh Finstein is extremely thankful Nicole wanted to do something to for all the help his family is receiving durcreate happiness and give back to people ing this very challenging time. “I have during these stressful times. been blown away by how quickly an After messages from her friends organization like Operation Lotus is able about the growing trend of Safer-at-Home to mobilize,” Josh Finstein said, “I feel like porch portraits, Nicole decided it was the I could say ‘Thank you’ a million times perfect way to use her skills. She quickly and it would never be enough.” made the decision to give half of the proFor more information, visit ceeds she made to a local charity. www.audranicolephotography.com.

v

January 2021

Page 29

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2020 School District Uses Referendum Dollars For $121 Million In AC Improvement Projects

Mother Of Local Hero Queena Releases A Memoir To Share Inspirational Journey

As of dents and staff December physically off 2020, campuses since Hillsborough March, it has County Public allowed construcSchools had tion crews collected $219 access to million from get ahead of the referenschedule on dum. Workers planned major completed 188 A/C and roofing projects and projects in our Randall Middle and Bevis Elementary Schools 120 were in schools. Despite are benefitting from the money raised from Hillsborough County’s half-penny tax with progress. the slowdown of improvements this summer.

There are some equipment 1,785 projects planned over the 10 delivery and lower-than-projected sales years of the referendum. So far, $23 tax revenue, our district is still on track to million has been spent on safety and planned projected for this year.” security and $25 million on technoloTwenty-six schools throughout the gy updates. Of all the money, 21 percounty received improvements this sumcent has been spent with small and mer, including Randall Middle and Bevis minority-owned businesses. There are Elementary schools.

14 major projects planned in the According to Randall Principal Claire county for the summer of 2021.

Mawhinney, the work was extensive in Original story printed August some areas of the school with the 2020. replacement of air handlers and ductThe Hillsborough County School work in multiple areas.

District (HCSD) used the student break “The company lead says that the to perform many much-needed upgrades A/C will be ready for students when they thanks to funds from the half-penny sales arrive,” she explained. tax approved by voters in late 2018.

“Having a comfortable learning enviSchools throughout the county, including ronment is essential.” two in the FishHawk area, received air The referendum proceeds can be conditioning improvements since the stu- used only for permanent capital purchasdents left the buildings in March. es including buildings, maintenance, “Thanks to the taxpayers of technology and security.

Hillsborough County, our district has To learn more, visit invested more than $121 million to www.sdhc.k12.fl.us. A list of projects can address essential needs in our schools,” be found at hillsboroughschools.org/citisaid HCSD’s Erin Maloney. “With stuzenoversight.

The Life She Once the unending grace of God, Knew: The Incredible True provide us with the power to Story of Queena, the do things we never thought Bloomingdale Library possible.

Attack Survivor became The book is called The available for purchase in Life She Once Knew: The November 2020, published Incredible True Story of

by Ambassador Queena, The Bloomingdale International.

Library Attack Survivor. The The book is valued at book’s release date is $16.99 but is free when you 11/10/2020, but it is now donate a gift amount of $30 available through the publish(for one book), or more er’s website Ambassador Vanna Nguyen, mother International, Amazon and through PayPal from of Queena Phu, the Queena’s website.

Bloomingdale Library Goodreads for preorder.

Queena and her mothIt will soon be available Attack Victim, will release a memoir about for preorder to all local book er, Vanna, scheduled her life, faith and her speaking events throughretailers. “We have read the amazing daughter, out the area, spreading the whole book draft to Queena Queena. word about the book and and she’s very focused and Queena’s story. For more information, interested about all the details in the book visit https://thelifesheonceknew.com/. especially information about her brain Original story printed August damage and coma as she doesn’t really 2020. remember,” Nguyen said.

Queena Phu may be known as the Nguyen hopes her memoir will Bloomingdale Library Attack Victim, but to inspire people from around the world, “I those of us in the Brandon community, am hoping to see the book can be pubQueena is a hero. She is a vibrant, young lished in different languages so it can prolady that was affected by traumatic brain vide hope to the downtrodden around the injury at the age of 18 in April of 2008. world,” Nguyen said. “My wish is 100 perThe injury left her with many disabilities cent of the book or any related proceeds and changed her life forever. can support ongoing expenses through Queena’s mom, Vanna Nguyen is Hope Heals The Brain, Inc. and Queena’s preparing to release a memoir about her Medical Trust Fund. We’re glad God life, faith and her amazing daughter, choose Ambassador for publishing our Queena. “I want to share my struggles in book and sharing our inspirational stories life, including this heartbreaking attack on to the world. We are also working on a Queena,” Nguyen said. “I want to share movie adaptation, but we have not yet my life’s story to create a living testament chosen a production company.” Find the to the notion that faith, community, and book on Amazon or Goodreads.

By Kate Quesada

By Libby Hopkins

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Page 30

Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Volume 16, Issue 1

Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2020 Just Around The Corner, An Annual Update From Bokor’s Corner In this year of unprecedented setbacks, many new restaurants, stores and entertainment options opened throughout Southeastern Hillsborough County, along with many others approved or currently under construction. We would like to highlight some of the most discussed developments in this year-end review.

Sincere apologies given to any new business that opened in 2020 that were not mentioned in this article, as I am sure there were many that we unintentionally missed.

In the Greater Brandon area, much of the new activity centered around Falkenburg Rd. with the opening of the 6,000 sq. ft. Cigars International, featuring over 1,300 cigar brands along with a full-service bar and spacious outdoor patio; Texas Roadhouse and soon Bubba’s 33 at the Causeway Blvd. intersection; and the relocation of Bootleggers Brewing Co. Mahana Fresh opened in Regency Square, Bravo Supermarket on Providence Rd. as well as Brandon Burgers, Panda Express, Bolay and The Dog Patch pet daycare along S.R. 60.

Projects approved or under construction include Sprouts in Lake Brandon Village and a RaceTrac gas station at the Kings Ave. and Lumsden Rd. intersection.

Coca-Cola Florida has been confirmed to be following through with plans to develop the 158-acre parcel at the U.S. 301 and Selmon Crosstown Expressway intersection by adding 1.3 million sq. ft. of development to house its new operations facility, which will include a warehouse, distribution and packaging facility along with office headquarters, retail shops and possibly a hotel. At Lithia

By Brian Bokor

Pinecrest Rd., the Bell Shoals Executive Plaza continues to grow and will be adding additional office space throughout 2021.

The list of dining and shopping openings in 2020 on Bloomingdale Ave. alone was staggering with the Bin + Board in Kings Row and Datz in Winthrop sharing top bill, followed closely by Donovan’s Meatery, Brandon Burgers, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Katana Japanese Express, Gasparilla Pizzeria & Growlers and Heights Meat Market. On top if this, Bloomingdale Square went through a major overhaul in 2020 by adding the new Publix, Home Centric, Chicken Salad Chick, Jersey Mike’s, First Watch, Beef O’Brady’s, GNC and Flip Flop Shops with LA Fitness and The UPS Store coming after the new year. Additionally, Heroes Paradise opened just north of Bloomingdale Square on Knowles Rd.,

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offering families a variety of indoor and outdoor events and games, including laser and archery tag, rock wall climbing, RC (remote control) tracks and much more.

In the Gibsonton/Riverview area near the Alafia River, the Tiki Docks Bar & Grill opening topped the long list of new restaurants and stores in this area, including Eggs Up Grill, Bubbakoo’s, Wendy’s, Waffle House, Arby’s, Cali Cafe and Pink Door Bakery. The Cracker Barrel and soon McAlister’s Deli at Gibsonton and the I-75 interchange also ended high on the list, with an honorable mention given to Culver’s on Boyette Rd., Fields and Table on Balm Riverview Rd., ALDI at the U.S. 301/Balm Riverview Rd. intersection and Alafia Brewing Company on U.S. 41, which are all in various stages of construction.

Planning continues on the new 25acre Riverview Regional Park that will be

located on Riverview Dr. and the Alafia River between U.S. 301 and I75 with the new Riverview Library just about ready to open its doors on Balm Riverview Rd. The Riverview Marina has cleared land and finalized plans for its dry dock facilities along with a private restaurant on the premises. All indications point to AdventHealth breaking ground sometime next year on the 23-acre hospital set to be built on U.S. 301, just north of Boyette Rd. Further south in the Big Bend Rd. area of Riverview, aside from the much-needed Big Bend Rd./I-75 intersection makeover, the long-anticipated Chick-fil-A took the top spot along with Mandela’s Italian Kitchen and Cold Stone Creamery in the Summerfield area. Additionally, both ALDI and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop opened on Big Bend Rd. with the proposed 500,000 sq. ft.

Home Depot Distribution Facility near U.S. 41 still in the formative stages.

Wrapping things up, in Apollo Beach, the Waterset area’s new Starbucks, approved for months yet still not having broken ground, garnered the most attention with a recently announced ABC store and CubeSmart Storage being added to the same plaza, west of U.S. 41.

The Belmont area, which will be accessible from Apollo Beach via the new I-75 flyover, is also seeing its share of development with the new Publix and proposed 7-Eleven, Rita’s Italian Ice, Great Clips, Nail Dior Lounge, Domino’s and, as of the last update, Cajun Crab House all being added at the U.S. 301 and Paseo Al Mar Blvd. intersection.

January 2021

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Brandon/Winthrop Edition

Registration Open For In Person & Virtual Inaugural ‘Chase For Good’ 5K

By Kelly Wise Valdes

The Christian ‘Kindness for Michael Hernandez Christian Day,’ which Foundation (CMHF) is meant to invite is hosting its inaugupeople everywhere to ral ‘Chase for Good’ participate in pur5K race on Saturday, poseful acts of March 6 beginning at kindness however, 8 a.m. This is a famiwherever and for ly-friendly fun whomever they run/walk to benefit can,” said CMHF, which in-turn Lindsay and Mike Hernandez, founders Hernandez. “For will use the proceeds Christian’s fifth birthof the Christian Michael Hernandez to benefit other chari- Foundation, and their sons, Bowen (7), day, we prayed over Chance (3) and Louie the bulldog. The ties. Lindsay foundation is hosting a 5K in honor of doing something Hernandez, founder their son Christian and to raise money more and decided a for other charitable organizations. of CMHF, is excited 5K for his fifth birthabout the event and how it will benefit day would be the perfect way to celethe community. brate. It is our hope that members of our “Our intention is to be able to use community and anyone interested in a the funds to help meet the various family-friendly fun run/walk will register needs of our community and worldwide,” and enjoy a day of fellowship and said Hernandez. “Proceeds will also be togetherness knowing that their particiused to partner with local and global pation will help us to keep the good organizations to help provide resources going.” to those in need. We have chosen Registration is open now through Operation Lotus as one beneficiary of a Wednesday, March 4. The cost is $30 to portion of these proceeds.” participate in person or $35 to participate CMHF, named after Hernandez’s virtually. The race is taking place on son, was formed to be a light in this Saturday, March 6 at 8 a.m. at Gasden world through the provision of uncondiPark, located at 6901 S. MacDill Ave. in tional kindness, impacting the lives and Tampa. A free kids race will begin at circumstances of others one good deed 9:15 a.m. with an awards ceremony at a time. Hernandez continues to celeimmediately following the race. For regbrate the life and memory of her son, istration or more information or to learn Christian, whose time on Earth may how to be a volunteer, sponsor or have been cut short, but whose mighty donate to the Christian Michael impact is helping to make the world a Hernandez Foundation, visit www.chrisbetter place. tianmichaelhernandez.org. The Chase “Each year in February, in honor of for Good 5K link can be found on the Christian’s birthday, we host our annual home page.

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Brandon/Winthrop Edition

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Volume 16, Issue 1