Bloomingdale/FishHawk
15
January 2022
Volume 21,
Issue 1
Ph: 657-2418
See PG 47
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
HOMETOWN PAPER CELEBRATES 20 NEWSOME STUDENT PLAYS A ROLE IN YEARS OF POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS DISNEY’S, CHRISTMAS AGAIN By Makenzie Atkins
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
By Marie Gilmore, Publisher
The Osprey Observer team gathers in 2016 for the 15th anniversary ribbon cutting.
A major milestone has been reached for the award-winning Osprey Observer Community Newspapers as we print our 20th anniversary edition on Wednesday, January 5. The newspaper has been publishing local, positive community news in the Southeastern Hillsborough County area since January 5, 2001, and we couldn’t have done it without the commitment and dedication of its readers and advertisers. The Osprey Observer started out as a home-based business with a one-sheet newsletter and has grown into a corporation publishing more than 200 pages in five monthly editions with a team of more than 25 people. The main goal when we started was to make an impact on the local community. Our idea was to get involved and to make a difference in whatever ways we could. We recently purchased a larger office space on Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico with room for team members to meet and run the day-to-day operations of the publication. As a community newspaper, we find that this is what sets us apart and keeps our readers interested as we cover the news. We are supported 100 percent by local small businesses who keep us a free community newspaper and allow us to print and direct-mail our editions each month. Without the support of these businesses, we wouldn’t have the staff to send to cover community events nor the community office to be the hub of local information. “My sixteen-year experience with the Osprey Observer has allowed me to integrate into my community in a very special way,” said Kerrie Hoening, FishHawk/ Bloomingdale & Valrico Sales. “The connections I’ve made [have] allowed me to build lasting relationships and friendships. I’ve also found many ways to take part in
and support local Brandon-based charities. The heart of this team is to support our residents, our local businesses, our charitable organizations and our community, and I have been very proud to be a part of the Osprey Observer for these past years.” In addition to concentrating on our main business, publishing newspapers that people read, we also have been active in our local chambers and encourage businesses to not just join but actually get involved and attend events. Just in the last year, we have been recognized for our community involvement in many ways. Managing Editor/Publisher Marie Gilmore was named the 2019 Citizen of the Year for Riverview and the Osprey Observer was named the Valrico/ FishHawk Chamber Business of the Year, Brandon Chamber Business of the Year and Riverview/Apollo Beach Chamber Small Business of the Year Finalist in 2019. The best advice we can give any small business owner is to find your niche in what you do best, be the best, treat every customer like your absolute best customer and follow the general small business rules that will set you apart: Be On Time, Send a Thank-You Note, Follow Up, Stick to Your Core Business and Do Your Best Every Time. If it weren’t for our loyal readers and avid business supporters, we couldn’t do what we do in the community. So, from the entire Osprey Observer & Christian Voice Monthly teams, we thank you!
IN THIS ISSUE: T&J PAINTING ........................................PG 3 MOTORING TAMPA BAY ................... PG 5 EYE ON BUSINESS...................PGS 25-26 SPORTS .......................................... PGS 35-36
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Ashlyn Lopez, just 4 years old a Newsome High and has since School junior, played been a part of a big role in Disney’s many roles, innewest Christmas cluding Beneath movie, Christmas the Leaves, a NetAgain. flix movie, and Last year, when The Wrong House Lopez was a sophofrom Lifetime. more in high school, She hopes to conshe auditioned to Ashlyn Lopez and Scarlett Estevez felt like sisters tinue acting even take part in a Disney by the end of filming; they bounced off of each after high school, other’s great energy. movie. Only knowing and her dream that it was going to is to one day bebe a Christmas movie, come a superhero in a she acted out specific big movie. scenes for the audition Before Lopez left for in hopes of grabbing a filming, she could only part. After being offered tell her closest friends the part of the older siswhere she was going ter, Gabby, she had to to be. To the rest of her switch to e-learning for classmates, it looked school and fly out to Chilike Lopez disappeared cago for three months of for three months. filming. “I came back, and Christmas Again is they thought I switched about a young girl, Roclasses or something,” wena, whose Christmas said Lopez, “and I still season has a big change couldn’t tell them where with her new blended I was because we were family. Reluctant to acnot really supposed to cept the new way of say much before it came Christmas, she ends up out.” reliving it over and over This year, shortly afagain until she sees the ter the movie was rebeauty in the new tradileased, Newsome had tions. an in-school premier for Coming from a similar Lopez. Pulling out the family herself, Lopez realred carpet, Newsome ly related to her character students watched the and used experience to movie all together in the dive into the character. school’s auditorium. “My parents are divorced, and I have a Christmas Again was released on Friyounger sister who is actually about her day, December 3 and can be streamed on (Rowena’s) age, so I definitely relate to Disney+ or watched on Disney Channel. my character,” said Lopez, “and I also am For more information, visit the Christpretty sarcastic in real life, so I related mas Again page at https://disneynow. to her a lot.” com/shows/christmas-again/season-1 or Lopez has been acting since she was stream it now on Disney+.
1/31/2022
The Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger (TBNEH) was founded in 2011 by 10 leaders from various direct service organizations, businesses and community circles who wanted to work collaboratively to help solve hunger in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties. See Page 21.
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