Bloomingdale/FishHawk
31
July 2022
Volume 21, Issue 7
Ph: 813-657-2418
See Ad on Page 24
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
AREA CUB SCOUT PACKS CONTINUE LEGACY AND SEEK NEW MEMBERS
By Taylor Wells
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
By Linda Chion With famicific Ocean. ly and friends He would at the River later serve Hills Golf and as a genCountry Club eral’s aidein Valrico in de-camp. June, World Over the War II veteran years, KitRobert Kittner tner was a reveled in the high school celebration that ski coach, marked his 100 church years of life. deacon and It was just Rotarian World War II veteran Robert Kittner at River Hills Golf and one of many and served birthday cele- Country Club on June 12, where he celebrated with family and on the friends his 100th birthday. brations for the boards for Bloomingdale resident, whose tours of libraries, a college a medical center and duty and life adventures took him to loca- the Calvin Coolidge Association. tions near and far, guided by his enduring An active member of St. Andrew’s Unitbeacon of faith. When asked to reveal his ed Methodist Church in Valrico, Kittner secret to a long life, Kittner didn’t miss a recounted a close call he had flying in bad beat. “Just don’t take yourself too serious- weather during his U.S. Army Air Force ly,” he said. service, finding the “only spot that was What is serious, however, is his record clear to land” before the wind stopped and of service, starting with Kittner’s enlist- his plane came straight down on a nearby ment on December 8, 1941, the day after island. “That’s when I really started believthe Japanese surprise attack on the U.S. ing in God,” Kittner said. naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu Island, A father of six, grandfather of 11 and Hawaii, which precipitated the nation’s en- great-grandfather of 13, Kittner celebrattry into World War II. ed his June 1 centenarian birthday at RivKittner at the time was a college stu- er Hills on June 12. This followed cake cerdent at Rutgers University in New Jersey, emonies at St. Andrew’s and preceded the where he studied engineering. He would receipt of a proclamation from the Hillseventually earn a degree in business ad- borough County Board of County Commisministration and spend a career in the ho- sioners, which is scheduled for July. tel industry, which led him to live in many “What you see is what you get with my countries, including Lebanon, England, father,” said Shirley Tucker, a longtime Belgium and India. A top executive for Bloomingdale resident, who noted as well Sheraton Hotels, where he worked for 24 his father’s longtime service on the board years, Kittner began his career by design- for the Bloomingdale Regional Library. ing, building and managing a ski lodge in “He’s always been a good person, and he Vermont. loves doing things for other people and beAs Kittner put it, he “used the war to ing involved in lots of things, and I believe get out of trouble.” As a flight instructor that’s part of what’s kept him going for in Albany, Georgia, Kittner trained French pilots, and to avoid getting killed, he said he “went to the company commander and asked if he could transfer me into the real CAMPO Y NEW SPLASH PAD..........PG 3 FILM TAMPA BAY ................................ PG 4 war, which he did.” Kittner was stationed in the remote EYE ON BUSINESS ...................PGS 25-26 Aleution Islands in Anchorage, Alaska, a ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT..............PG 35 fiercely contested battleground in the Pa-
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Twenty years are crossago, then-new ing over to Cub Scout Pack Boy Scouts, 163 was covso it’s seekered on page 18 ing growth of the Osprey especially Observer’s July now. While 2002 FishHawk always acedition. Today, cepting new there are sevrecruits, eral local packs in August, that boys and there will girls from be a recruitColor guard Cub Scouts kindergarten ment drive Pack 632 Cubs Scouts retiring the Colors (the through fifth national flag and Pack 632’s learning about rocketry at a with many grade, as well campout at the Marine Corps activities and flag) at the end of a pack Reserve Center. as parents, can brochures for meeting. take part in for anyone ina unique community. terested in seeing One is Pack 632, what the pack is which is exclusively like. for boys and has about “I can’t thank 50 Cub Scouts and 15 members of the adult leaders. The pack community enough aims for fun skill-based with how supportor interest-based activive they’ve been of ities for boys to build Pack 632 at Fishcharacter, citizenship, Hawk Fellowship,” personal fitness and Pomaro said, also leadership while striv- A story about Cub Scout Pack 163 the Osprey thanking everyone Observer released on page 18 of our July 2002 ing for comradery, for buying things FishHawk edition. encouraging inclusion like popcorn. “Beand staying true to Cub Scouting values. cause that goes back to the boys, and they Plus, parents are involved in almost every enable us to pay for summer camp … and activity. pay for overnight events at MOSI and “At the end of the day, it really offers tours. It’s just phenomenal.” a chance for some parent-child bonding,” Other local Cub Scout packs include said Nicholas Pomaro, Cubmaster of Cub Packs 637, 604, 481, 603, 609 and 610, all Scout Pack 632. located in the Lithia, Valrico and Riverview Also, Cub Scouts isn’t just for children, areas. as adults get a community of fellow parFor more information or to find more ents who help one another, such as with packs, visit https://beascout.scouting.org/. child-raising tips or advice for new parPack 632’s den meetings are on the first ents. Even if your family moves a lot, packs and third Sundays of each month from provide a constant, consistent community 5-6 p.m., and its pack meetings are on the nationwide. fourth Sunday of each month from 5-6:30 “It’s a place for the parents to connect p.m. Its meetings are held at FishHawk and to find some friendship, and then have Fellowship Church at 15326 FishHawk the boys do as well,” said Pomaro. Blvd. in Lithia. For more information, email This year, Pack 632’s Webelos Scouts pack632ffc@gmail.com.
WORLD WAR II VETERAN CELEBRATES HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY AND MILITARY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
Get to know your candidates! Are you registered to vote? Get ready to vote by mail, vote early or vote on election day, Tuesday, August 23. All the information is at your fingertips in the Osprey Observer’s Pull-Out Political Guide located in the back section of this issue.
7/31/22
$40 OFF BRAKES Includes Free Brake Inspection Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
7/31/22
