Bloomingdale/FishHawk
31
June 2022
Volume 21, Issue 6
Congrats 2022 Grads! See Page 10
Ph: 813-657-2418
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
LOCAL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE AND WIN IN DROP SAVERS POSTER CONTEST By Kathy L. Collins
Cooper Bess from Stowers Elementary School and Miki Lin from Brandon High School won first place in their divisions in the 2022 Drop Savers poster contest. Both schools will receive bottle-filling stations.
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Hillsborough County Public Utilities and the City of Tampa Water Department invited students in the School District of Hillsborough County to participate in the Drop Savers poster contest. Kelsey Smith, senior environment scientist for Hillsborough County’s Water Conservation program, said, “This is one of Florida Section of the American Water Works Association’s most important outreach programs. The poster contest allows participants to have fun and at the same time promote the importance of water conservation in their homes.” Students in grades K-12 were encouraged to create a poster depicting a water conservation idea—in slogan form, drawing form or both—focusing on the importance of water conservation. Students had to work individually and could use crayons, paint, color pencils or markers. They were required to create an original piece of art for a panel of judges to review. Winning posters were judged based on the message, creativity and originality. Judges chose a first, second and thirdplace local winner for each division. Firstplace winners advanced to the statewide level, led and judged by the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association.
Locally, this year’s first-place winners included Cooper Bess from Stowers Elementary School and Miki Lin from Brandon High School. The winning students’ schools were awarded bottle-filling stations and reusable water bottles for the first-place winning students’ art classes. Bottle-filling stations save money because students do not need to buy single-use bottles of water, and they help the environment by eliminating plastic bottles from the water stream. Smith said, “For Hillsborough County, conserving water has many benefits for the customer, the utility and the e nv i ro n m e n t , including saving money on water and sewer bills, reducing the costs of building new water and wastewater infrastructure and preserving the environment and resources to ensure that clean water will be available for current and future generations. The poster contest is a long-range education and awareness program with the hope for creating lifelong conservers and ambassadors for conservation. It challenges students to explore water conservation concepts and to creatively express their individual ideas of the importance of water conservation.” Smith added, “Water conservation starts with you. We work closely with Tampa Bay Water Wise (TBWW), the regional water conservation program offered by Tampa Bay Water that offers rebates for homeowners and business owners who purchase and install water-saving devices.” Visit https://tampabaywaterwise.org/ en/ for more information.
Hillsborough County Public Schools recognized schools across the county for the highest team GPA’s. Bloomingdale High School Baseball received the highest GPA (3.633) award. Some of the seniors received the award and celebrated their accomplishments with Coach Kris Wilken and proudly showed their Bull Pride hand sign. The Bloomingdale baseball team won State Champions last year but fell short (3-2 score) this year to Strawberry Crest. The leadership, dedicaiton, personal and educational growth, sportsmanship come from the top down. Bloomingdale baseball players pictured (Left to Right) Tephen Montgomery, Chase Chappell, Jack Owens, Drake Harman and Makye Hayes. Newsome High School - Softball (3.868) and Armwood High School - Boys Tennis (3.917) were also recognized.
ACE GOLF’S RIVERVIEW EXPANSION BEGAN 20 YEARS AGO
By Taylor Wells
Recently, the owners received an offer from a builder that could potentially lead to Ace Golf in Riverview closing, and rezoning efforts began. “Some people started posting ‘Oh, they’re closed,’ or ‘They’re closing this month,’ and I had no idea where people got this information, but it was completely wrong. There will
Ace Golf in Riverview has been in business for nearly 20 years.
Twenty years ago, the Osprey Observer published a front-page story in our June 2002 FishHawk edition about Ace Golf’s owners, husband and wife Bill Place and Su Lee, expanding onto Boyette Road in Riverview. The story reported that the “plan would bring a driving range, batting cages, mini golf and even a picnic barn for parties to an 18-acre parcel” at the location, and Ace Golf Range in Riverview has grown much throughout the years. And ever since the Brandon location closed, Ace Golf in Riverview has gotten busier. This increase in business has been a continuing trend, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the golf range was one of the few places where people could feel safe while outside having fun. Along with still hosting parties in the barn, it’s become more active in lessons and camps, like junior golf camps every summer, and it offers kids a Free Bucket or Mini Golf program throughout the summer. Daycare groups are known for visiting often in the summer and during the holidays. Plus, there are adult group classes for learning golf, a driving range, batting cages, mini golf and a pro shop. Not only is there much fun to be had, but Ace Golf in Riverview also prides itself on being a very clean and well-maintained facility. As proof of that, it has won the Golf Range Association of America’s award for Top 50 Stand-Alone Facilities every year since opening, which Place credits partly to having things that are nicer than you’d usually find at other golf ranges, like rolling canopies and over 1 acre of Celebration Bermuda grass.
An Osprey Observer newspaper from 20 years ago featuring a story about Ace Golf expanding onto Boyette Road in Riverview.
be more than adequate notice if that does come about,” said Place, who added that Ace Golf will continue operating normally as well as keep upgrading and improving things. Rezoning has been delayed, and though it might continue later, the location isn’t closing for at least a year. In fact, it’s possible that Ace Golf will remain open for years to Continued on page 19.
IN THIS ISSUE: $20 MILLION IN SIDEWALKS.......PG 3 ONEBLOOD DRIVE ................................ PG 4 EYE ON BUSINESS ...................PGS 25-26 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT..............PG 37
Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
6/30/22
$40 OFF BRAKES Includes Free Brake Inspection Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
6/30/22