Bloomingdale/FishHawk
& More Coming Pg. 25 C E L E B R A T I N G
October 2016 Volume 15, Issue 10 Ph: 657-2418 1 5
Y E A R S
O F
P U B L I S H I N G
Heart Health Walk Raises Awareness & Funds In Honor Of Player With CHD
By Kate Quesada
FishHawk resident Josh Andre, 12, (right) and the board of FishHawk Youth Baseball are raising money for the American Heart Association with a Heart Health Day Walk taking place Sunday, October 23.
event together. “For years we have been participating in the American Heart Association’s Tampa area Heart Walk which takes place in September,” said Andre. “And when we started thinking about putting on an event with FYB this seemed like a great fit. The Tampa Walk is getting so big and with so many people wanting to walk on Josh’s team an event that is local and easier to get to would be wonderful.” Although the event will feature baseball related activities like home run derbies for both kids and adults, a pitching contest and a coach dunking area, another reason Goodwin and Andre are excited about the walk is the way it will showcase the FishHawk Youth Sports Complex and all the sports it hosts. “This community space is so unique,” said Goodwin. “The walk will Story Continued On Page 14
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
Rope Swing Tree Jump Into Popular Alafia River Spot Turns Fatal For Teen
By Tamas Mondovics
autopsy results, the incident is a sad reminder of the dangers of nature, especially swimming in local, natural waterways that at times become murky or muddy, making it difficult to see what is hidden under the surface. “It doesn’t matter how many times you have visited the same swimming spot, water levels are constantly changing, creating a dangerous situation and can cause injury or Gage Stewart, 18, lost his life after he failed to death,” Nunez said. appear after a jump into the Alafia River at a It is noteworthy that thanks to popular spot where a rope swing has now been removed. heavy rains—courtesy of Hermine, the first hurricane that made landfall in Hillsborough County Sheriff's in 11 years,—the Alafia River has Florida deputies and Fire Rescue units respondbecome extremely treacherous causing ed to a 911 call on Thursday afternoon countywide flooding and moving debris (9/22) about a teen, who disappeared down river, turning former swimming after jumping into a pool of murky waters into dangerous traps. holes of the Alafia River, just north of Lithia According to detectives, the location Springs Park in Lithia. not safe for swimming and is under an is Following a short search, divers official county issued no trespass warning found the body of Gage Stewart, 18, a notice. Tampa resident, under the water approxi“This is an ongoing problem,” Nunez mately 25 feet downriver. said. “People continue to visit the area to Stewart, who reportedly had a history swim and deputies keep a close eye on of medical conditions was pronounced the location, but often find the ‘No deceased at Brandon Regional Trepassing’ signs removed.” Hospital at 1:27 p.m. The investigation is ongoing. Log on HCSO officials said that Stewart and to www.HCSO.Tampa.fl.us. his three friends, including Austin Grafford, 18 decided to drive over to swim, jump and swing into the river, as they had done hundreds or possibly “thousands of times” before. Visitors to the natural swimming spot have nailed a makeshift ladder to the tree trunk, which led up to a fork in the branch and served as a spot to swing or jump off of, deputies said. According to the police report, while Grafford was adjusting the rope on the tree, Stewart climbed up to about 20 feet high and jumped into the river, feet first as he has done many times before. When his friend did not surface, Grafford also jumped into the river and was unable to find his friend. HCSO Public Information Officer Cristal Nunes emphasized that while the actual cause of death is yet to be determined based on
In This Issue STEIN & VINE .....................................PG 9 BELL SHOALS 5TH CAMPUS .............PG 15 HOA HOT TOPICS .............................PG 18 TAMPA THEATRE 90TH BIRTHDAY ...PG 19 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT................PG 42 HEALTHSOURCE OPEN HOUSE.........PG 48 SPORTS CONNECTION...............PGS 56‐57
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Every year, according to the American Heart Association, more than one million babies worldwide are born with a congenital heart defect (CHD). Twelve years ago, FishHawk resident Josh Andre was one of them and now he is working hard to raise money to help kids like him. On Sunday, October 23, the FishHawk Youth Baseball (FYB) organization is hosting the Heart Health Day Walk a community event at the FishHawk Youth Sports Complex featuring a one-mile walk around the facility, bounce houses, super slides and family fun including face painting and balloon animals, music, food and more. According to Stefanie Goodwin, Assistant Fundraising Chair for FYB, this is the first in what they hope will be a trend of semi-annual community events intended to bring the community together and raise funds for important causes. “We decided recently that we want to have some sort of charitable event
every season for a different cause and this charity was an easy first choice as it is personal to one of our own,” said Goodwin, who also has a 12year-old son who plays with FYB. All proceeds from the event will be split between FYB and Andre’s American Heart Association team Strike Out CHD. Andre’s mother, Stephanie Andre is also FYB Communications Chair and has been very involved in putting the
P O S I T I V E
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A special marker accompanied by a New York Yankees baseball cap pays tribute to New York City Fire Department (FDNY) first responder Gerard Terence Nevins, who was among the 2,977 who have lost their lives during the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. A marker was created for each 9/11 victim by Randall Middle School students in Lithia and placed on the school’s front lawn, forming an American flag on Patriot Day. Read more in this edition.
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