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December 2020 Volume 17, Issue 12 Ph: 657-2418
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Resource Officer Is Voice For Valrico Student Battling Pediatric Cancer
Coach Norm Harris, Jr. Legacy Honored With YMCA Gymnasium Naming
Breanna that come with just Rodriguez, the being a working community mom. Rodriguez resource officer ensured Arianna and for the her brother had presHillsborough ents and took care of County District V Christmas, but somestation, always thing even more had a generous beautiful blossomed: heart. Her profesa real relationship sion is a true callwith the Shiver famiing. She builds ly. Officer Rodriguez bridges between smiled when she the sheriff’s office reflected and said, and the commu“The fact that we’ve nity, and every year, she looks forward to December, when her office partners with local hospitals and Valrico resident Breanna ‘adopts’ families Rodriguez, the community who have fallen resource officer for the Hillsborough County District V on hard times to station, met Arianna Shiver ensure they have through her work with Tampa’s a wonderful holi1Voice Foundation. day. “We used to take stockings to created the hospital every year, but you only such a saw people for a few seconds. I great bond; wanted something a little more perit’s seemed pretty destined. We all sonal,” Rodriguez explained. It was just get along so much.” through one of these partnerships Rodriguez is now a regular family and her additional time spent volunfriend, and Arianna recently surprised teering with Tampa’s 1Voice her in a big way. The National Foundation that she met Arianna and Pediatric Cancer Foundation puts on Paulina Shiver last year. an annual event called Fashion When Rodriguez met the family, Funds the Cure, which combines a Arianna had recently turned 10, and runway fashion show with food, cockthankfully her pediatric cancer was in tails and a silent auction. As part of remission. Paulina was working and the gala, pediatric cancer patients having difficulty balancing everything participate in the Dream Walk where as she worried about Arianna’s health along with the myriad of things Continued on Page 17
Residents familJessica has set up scholariar with the Campo ships in Norm’s name YMCA know how helping eight local children many lives the peothis year alone.“The world ple who volunteer is minus a super guy, a time there touch. loving husband, a devoted Norman Harris Jr. father and a dedicated was one of those coach. As tragic as his people and to honor death was and continues the impact he made to be for us, we desire to on the teams he remember and honor the coached the YMCA way he lived – giving of is dedicating a gymhimself for the sake of nasium in his honor. young people,” she said. Before he The dedication cereCoach Norm Harris Jr., who passed passed away in mony for the Coach away in 2018, will be honored in 2018, the Valrico February with a gymnasium named in Norm Harris Jr. his honor at the Campo YMCA. resident coached Gymnasium will take 60 teams and hundreds of athletes, many place on Sunday, February 28 at 3 p.m. through the YMCA. He and his wife To learn more, visit www.tampaymca.org. Jessica joined the Campo Y when it first For the Norman A. Harris Jr. Scholarship opened and went on to sponsor kids for on Facebook or email summer camp and serve on the board. nahjscholarship@gmail.com. “Norm spent many hours of his life in the YMCA gym and so we found it fitting to name it for him so that people would remember his commitment to the young people of this community,” said Jessica. According to W. Scott Barnhard, Chief Development Officer at the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, the organization’s Governance Board has established DONOR Naming Opportunities for already existing facilities that have not been previously named. “Nearly one year ago, Jessica Harris met with me and the Campo YMCA Executive Director Jarrod Williams to discuss a memorial gift to honor her husband Norm Harris, Jr.,” said Barnhard. Jessica and Norm’s children, Jacob, Henry and Sarah, grew up at the Campo YMCA and are proud to see their father honored. “I cannot express in words how 25 amazing my father was,” said Jacob. “He was the most caring and loving man. When we played sports, he coached CENTER PLACE TREE.........................PG 4 everything. He took us to games and coached almost every single one of our EYE ON BUSINESS...........................PG 25 teams. I always admired my dad's selflessness. I always admired his concern DURANT BASKETBALL D‐1 ..............PG 27 for others.” SPORTS ...........................................PG 29 In addition to the gymnasium,
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Durant High School’s hockey team has some lofty expectations this season, and for good reason. The Cougars are Paragon Hockey’s state championship favorite. Above, junior forward Dante Denny takes a shot on goal. See full season preview on Page 29.
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