Osprey Observer 2016-7 Riverview by Osprey Observer

Riverview/Apollo Beach

See Pages 35-39 C E L E B R A T I N G

July 2016 Volume 14, Issue 7 Ph: 657-2418 1 5

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Goolsby Family Shares Memories Of Growing Up On Homestead Land In Riverview

By Kathy L. Collins

PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT #2397

natural resources. According to Terri Giles Exum, a granddaughter of Alva and Otha Goolsby, “Our grandfather wanted to be a landowner so he could have his family around him.” Exum added, “My grandfather had Descendants of Alva and Otha Goolsby shared fond memories of a strong faith growing up on land once owned by Otha Goolsby at a “Remembrance and worked very of the Land” party held in Riverview. hard. He instilled Recently, the last remaining large his work ethic in all of us. He would be residential development tract of land in happy with all of the positive things that Riverview was sold to Mattamy Homes. his descendants have accomplished.” The 140 acre homestead was owned by When Goolsby bought the land, it the descendants of Alva and Otha was all forest. He cleared some of the Goolsby who bought the land back in the land in order to plant an orange grove. early 1930s. Goolsby wanted a place Unfortunately, after several years, the where his family could live in harmony. grove died, so Goolsby turned to cattle The land is located near the intersection and farming. At that time, farming was not of Boyette and McMullen Roads in a profitable career choice, so Goolsby Riverview. It is adjacent to the Publix worked for others including the Works anchored Goolsby Pointe Shopping Progress Administration, the New Deal Center. agency which built public buildings and On Saturday, June 11 friends and roads during the 1930s and 1940s. family gathered on the property for a Exum explained, “We were raised “Remembrance of the Land” party. This together as a big extended family. Our was a last chance for relatives and wish is that the new residents raise their friends to reminisce about growing up families in peace and love as we did.” and living on the property. Exum, an author of two historical/spiritual Alva and Otha Goolsby had five chilfiction books, shares her love of the land dren. When the children grew up, each in her books as the stories take place on was given 20 acres on which to live. Alva the property she once called home. and Otha retained 40 acres. Over the Exum’s two books, both under The years, parents, grandparents, children, Healer title, The Gift of Suffering and grandchildren, cousins, aunts and uncles Wings of Redemption, can be purchased either lived on the property or enjoyed its on Amazon.

P O S I T I V E

See Ad On Page 28 C O M M U N I T Y

N E W S

HCSO Seeks Recruits To Launch Volunteer Citizen Patrol Program In Riverview

By Tamas Mondovics

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee is joined by a group of residents who have just completed their Volunteer Citizens Patrol Program class. HCSO is now seeking new recruits for the program to serve neighborhoods in Riverview.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is now seeking new recruits to expand its Volunteer Citizen Patrol Program (VCPP) in Riverview, one of the county’s fastest growing communities. To help those interested in volunteering for the program, the Sheriff’s Office has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, July 7 at the Gardenville Recreation Center at 6215 Symmes Rd., starting at 6 p.m. HCSO deputies will be on hand to explain what the program is all about and what the requirements are for those ready to serve their community, while supporting the department in its daily operation. “We hope to see as many as possible at the meeting,” said HCSO Riverview Substation Community Resource Deputy, Cliff Fletcher, adding that the first obstacle to starting the program is to have enough volunteer recruits on hand. “The program has to meet a certain number of volunteers before we can take the next step.” Once in place the benefits of the VCPP for each community it serves are countless. The first class of 24 volunteers was formed in Apollo Beach in the spring of 2007. Today, the depart-

ment has more than 100 volunteers serving Brandon, Bloomingdale, FishHawk, Apollo Beach, Westchase and Lutz communities. The program in Riverview would approximately serve within the corridor south of the Alafia River down to the Summerfield neighborhood, between SR 301 and Balm Riverview Road, which may be expanded depending on the amount of volunteers and the means to support them.

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In This Issue INDOOR SKYDIVING..............................PG 6 HOA HOT TOPICS..................................PG 7 CHRISTMAS IN JULY..............................PG 9 RIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATIONS.......PG 17 FISH TALES..........................................PG 40 AKIRA GIVEAWAY...............................PG 41

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT.................PG 43 SPORTS CONNECTION.......................PG 46