Osprey Observer Bloomingdale/FishHawk November 2022

14TH ANNUAL FISHHAWK TURKEY TROT SET TO SUPPORT SEEDS OF HOPE FOOD BANK

By Linda Chion

want to see them succeed,” Eaton said. Strawberry Crest High School in Plant City has been involved in the efort as well.

With its mission in mind, to nour ish hope through community service, the Seeds of Hope food bank is open on Thursdays for boxing food items delivered a day earlier, and which are distributed from 5-7 p.m., or until supplies are depleted. Space for the independent, nonprofit food bank is provided at the Presbyterian Church of Blooming dale, at 710 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon.

Fourteen years after she helped her children earn community service hours as Newsome High School runners staging a Thanksgiving Day race, Leda Eaton is leading the charge for the 14th annual Fish Hawk Turkey Trot and the Seeds of Hope food bank it supports.

That both Seeds of Hope and the trot have become fully entrenched in Eaton family lore is a given, as it is equally established in Fish Hawk, where thousands of runners from throughout Tampa Bay arrive for the holiday race. Their aim is to support both the race and the food bank, which students help run under the mentorship of adult leaders.

“It’s a diferent world we’re living in right now,” Eaton said. “So many kids aren’t ex posed to community service hours that involve giving back to the community in a meaningful way. We emphasis the impor tance of doing something selfless for oth ers.”

Leading the efort are students from nearby schools, including Bloomingda le, Newsome and Riverview high schools, along with homeschooled students “and adult leaders who mentor these kids and

boxes distributed weekly.

Now in its 12th year, the demand for Seeds of Hope food boxes has been steady and growing, with 350

With inflation and a bear economy com ing on the heels of a health pandemic, “there’s just a lot of need out there,” Eaton said. “Every week we’re getting new people. I don’t know how to put that genie back in the bottle. It started with COVID, and we haven’t seen it let up since.”

In support of the food bank, the FishHawk Turkey Trot kicks of on Thursday, November 24 at 5668 FishHawk Crossing Blvd., with races that include a timed and untimed 5K walk/run, 10K timed walk/run and 1-mile fun run. Also on tap, a 250-yard mini run for “kids and kids at heart,” photos with turkey mascots, dancing to the “Wobble” song, arts and crafts and special ribbons for the top 100 finishers in each race age category. The fee for each entrant includes as well a race T-shirt and medal.

Registration fees increase after Tuesday, November 22. To register, visit www.so hopefl.org or contact Millie or Dan Shikes at sponsor@sohopefl.org.

Hillsborough County Public Schools has been awarded a $2 mil lion grant from the United States Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) program that will be utilized to in stitute a STEM Innovation Hub consisting of eight schools. These schools will work directly with the Space Force Base, NASA, Space Trek and The Florida Aquari um.

This grant will serve over 1,500 students on the following campuses, which all have a high number of military-connect ed families: Bevis Elementary, Boyette Springs Elementary, FishHawk Creek Elementary, Lithia Springs Elementary, Stowers Elementary, Barrington Mid dle, Randall Middle and Newsome High. These schools will serve as a STEM hub across all grade bands, connecting stu dents with exciting curriculum.

The grant will o f er new coursework centered around inquiry-based learning to increase the number of elementary and middle school students connecting with new STEM opportunities. These students will ultimately have more opportunities in high school to earn STEM-related industry certifications. Aside from o f ering a variety of high-in terest STEM-centric clubs, the grant will help to provide high-quality profes sional development opportunities for educators.

“This generous grant will result in greater achievement in the STEM are na for students in our robust military

communities. This will allow our all-star educators to leverage new opportunities to meet our students’ cog nitive demands and ultimately prepare them for in-demand careers after graduation,” said Superin tendent Addi son Davis.

“We are grateful to the DoDEA for pro viding yet an other opportu nity to increase STEM o f er ings within Hillsborough County Public Schools. We are excited to engage parents and the community to build awareness in STEM and the multiple benefits it provides our students,” said Larry Plank, executive di rector of K-12 science education.

With a philosophy to “revamp, reimag ine and reinvigorate” science education, Hillsborough County Public Schools has a comprehensive K-12 science and STEM program to allow all students to have equitable experiences and access to science and STEM opportunities. There are also many exciting STEM choice and magnet programs throughout the dis trict. Visit www.hillsboroughschools.org for more information.

Valrico FishHawk Chamber of Commerce is hosting its VFCC Shop

Holiday Expo on Saturday,

5 from

a.m.-1

Patrons

FishHawk Turkey Trot runners start their holiday morning in service to others support ing the Seeds of Hope food bank launched 12 years ago.

Larry Plank, Ed. S., executive director of K-12 STEM education Hillsborough County Public Schools.

SPRINGSTEAD USES FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE TO CREATE PARTNERSHIP WITH CLIENTS

“People don’t plan to fail, but rather fail to plan,” echoed Edward Jones financial advisor Joanna Springstead.

Navigating the fi nancial world can be confusing and intim idating, and Spring stead aims to create partnerships with her clients to help them feel comfortable with their financial future.

Her 20-year career in the industry has taught her that being a certified financial plan ner (CFP) is as much about people as it is about maximizing their financial potential.

“It is getting to know people, their pri orities and goals, setting a pathway and building the steps to get there,” she said. “I am a partner, sounding board and so much more.”

Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2018, Springstead held executive positions at JPMorgan Chase and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. This experience gave her knowledge of how things worked, and her interest grew in planning and investing.

As a financial advisor with Edward Jones, Springstead uses that experience to make an impact, working one-on-one with clients to get to know their priorities and long-term goals, noting that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ financial strategy.

“This is about people and feelings,” said Springstead. “My superpower is providing calmness, clarity and direction.”

Springstead said she often hears, “When ever I talk to you, I feel better,” and this is part of the reward of her job. “Working

By Sharon Still

with people is so empowering,” she re marked, adding that when people trust her with their money, she wants them to know that she con siders herself a part ner in their future.

One visit to Spring stead’s new ofce exemplifies the im portance she puts on her clients’ comfort. She worked with de signers to create a space where guests would feel at home from the moment they walked through the door, and it shows. It is beautifully deco rated with light, airy spaces, comfortable chairs and attention to detail throughout that exudes an atmosphere of professional ism coupled with serenity.

Guests are greeted by senior branch of fice administrator Laura Schumaker, who has been with Edward Jones for 22 years and is a limited partner. Both she and Springstead strive to provide the ultimate customer experience and find reward in helping others fulfill their lifetime goals.

“It is through careful planning in all as pects of life that I protect my most import ant asset, my family, and I work with my clients to do the same,” she commented.

Joanna Springstead’s Edward Jones of fice is located at 13459 FishHawk Blvd. in the River Springs Town Center of Bell Shoals Rd. Ofce hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday or by appointment. For more information, call 813-657-2078 or visit www.edwardjones.com/joan na-springstead.

DOVE INTERIORS CARPET ONE FLOORING & HOME MAKES LOCAL HOMES BEAUTIFUL

Dove Interiors Carpet One Floor & Home is your local flooring store in Ruskin for great service and quality car pets, wood floor ing, floor tiles, vinyl and more in a wide range of colors and pric es. It also o f ers window treat ments, bedding, kitchen and bath, cabinetry and countertops.

Locally owned and operated for 32 years by the mother-daughter duo Joan Miller and Kimberly Scott, Dove Interiors brings beauty, quality and outstanding customer service to all its clients. “All of this started in 1991 when I walked away from my successful career in finance to open Dove Interiors with my two chil dren, Kimberly and Rick,” Miller said. “We made the decision to start a family business and moved into a small space in the Sun Pointe Shopping Center.”

The family business received a warm welcome from the local community. “We credit our success to our trust in God and that He would help us through the good times and bad times,” Scott said.

Dove Interiors stayed in the Sun Pointe Shopping Center until the business built out its own building in 2007. “Talk about a leap of faith, when we started this business, we didn’t know anything about the carpet business,” Miller said. “Car pet was our first product, and luckily my

By Libby Hopkins

son, Rick, knew how to install it. Our first carpet representative was a godsend and taught us everything we ever wanted to know about carpets.”

The family slowly added ceramic tile and Hunter Douglas window treat ments to their growing business. “From there, we added vinyl, hardwood, laminate and then a few years later cabinets and countertops,” Miller said.

O f ering great customer service has always been a top priority with Dove In teriors. “Our job doesn’t stop at the final payment,” Miller said. “We take care of the job until it’s finished from showing up with the installer, making sure every thing is progressing properly while the install is taking place, and we are there when the job is completed.”

Miller and her family treat their em ployees like family as well. “We cannot say enough about our team at Dove Inte riors,” Miller said. “They are knowledge able about our products and they listen to our clients to make sure every one of their needs are met.”

If you would like to learn more about Dove Interiors, you can visit its website at www.doveinteriorscarpetone.com or call 813-642-4369. Dove Interiors is lo cated at E. 2305 College Ave. in Ruskin.

Locally owned and operated for 32 years by the mother-daughter duo Joan Miller and Kimberly Scott, Dove Interiors brings beauty, quality and outstanding customer service to all its clients.

Joanna Springstead and Laura Schumaker of the Edward Jones FishHawk ofce.

FREEDOM MARTIAL ARTS WILL HOST GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION

Discipline, confidence and a positive mindset are traits parents are noticing in their chil dren who attend the newly opened Freedom Martial Arts in Valri co. Area residents can learn more at the up coming grand opening celebration slated for Saturday, November 12, beginning at 11 a.m. There also will be bounce houses, food trucks, games and priz es.

“It takes a lot of courage to step outside of your comfort zone and to try new things,” said Amanda Myers, who owns and operates Freedom Mar tial Arts along with her hus band, Nick Myers. “We are dedicated to changing the lives of people one person at a time, through martial arts, education and coaching.”

Classes are available for all ages, from preschool students to adults, there is something for everyone. Tae kwon do, krav maga and Brazilian jiu-jitsu are ofered along with character development and life-skills training. All classes are built upon the company’s philosophy to create freedom from mental limitations and to build confidence through the world of mar tial arts.

“We strongly believe that martial arts can be for everyone, regardless of age, gen der or experience levels,” said chief instruc tor Nick, who is a sixth-degree black belt

By Sharon Still

He added, “Kids learn and devel op strong, healthy boundaries, and boundaries are es sential to helping kids thrive.”

Nick’s passion for martial arts started at the age of 4 when he decided he wanted to be a Power Rang er. By the age of 7, he began studying tae kwon do with the American Taekwon do Association and spent all of his free time training, volun teering and instruct ing martial arts.

“We strive to not only teach martial arts and life skills but also to have fun,” comment ed Amanda. She began her martial arts journey in 2013, earning her first-degree black belt in tae kwon do.

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great,” Amanda afrmed, add ing that she and Nick love hearing how their program has helped students outside of the facility in everyday life.

“Many parents see huge improvements in their child’s behavior in just a month,” the couple said. “Hearing that makes our day.”

Freedom Martial Arts is located at 3212 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Ste. 102. The facility is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Thurs day. For more information or to book your first free lesson, visit www.freedom-ma. com or call 813-777-0887.

TALENTED YOUNG ACTRESS, MODEL AND ENTREPRENEUR STANDS UP FOR OTHERS THROUGH HER PLATFORM

Since making movies in the community, local film production company Showtown American Pic tures has stumbled across the next big star, Avaryana Rose, a young actor, model and entrepreneur who also works to make a diference in the world.

Rose has worked with Showtown American Pic tures before in The Beast Comes at Midnight and will be working with them again on its new film, Bitter Souls, a classic-style horror movie.

“The Showtown American Pictures fam ily is elated to be work ing with the talented young actress Avary ana Rose on our South ern Gothic Voodoo fea ture, Bitter Souls,” said Ed McKeever, executive producer at Showtown American Pictures, “Av aryana is a phenomenal actress with a tremen dously supportive fan base who cannot wait to see her in a good, old-fashioned Central Florida monster mov ie. Her fans have been blowing up our mes sage box since announcing.”

Rose said she never really planned on be coming an actor, but after working on her first project, she fell in love. By acting, she

By Makenzie Atkins

has learned to come out of her shell and find new ways to express herself so she can discover who she is.

Not only is Rose a tal ented actor, but she has also become an activist, most importantly against bullying. Rose said because she has been bullied since she was young, she feels a strong pull to speak for those who have been vic tims of bullying as well.

Rose started her compa ny, B.A.B.E., Badass Babe Empire, as a way to express her feelings against bul lying. At first, it was just an awareness social platform and has since turned into an online shop where she sells things like T-shirts and hats to raise awareness about bullying.

“I created Babes Against Bullying to fight back against bullying and to spread aware ness about just how bad models like me, male and female, are cyber bullied,” said Rose. “That led to the creation of my brand, B.A.B.E., where I sell merch with the in tention of further spreading awareness.”

For more information, follow Avaryana on socials or contact McKeever at 6092410-5471.

Avaryana Rose stars in Showtown American Pictures’ newest flm, Bitter Souls.

Amalie Arena!

Avaryana Rose works with Dean Cain in J.C. Films upcoming Not For

which debuts in 2023 to

aware ness against human trafcking.

Freedom Martial Arts owners Nick and Amanda Myers invite area residents, from pre-school to adult to give their new facility in Valrico a try.

By

Completely revamped for 2023, the Kia Sportage is an extra 3.4 inches in wheelbase and 7.1 inches in length than its predecessor, and taller and wider too. But best of all, the compact SUV gets a fresh gas-sip ping hybrid power train.

Our test-drive EX model was equipped with a 1.6-liter in line-four turbo engine putting out a total of 227 horsepower (beating the Hon da CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids) and 258 pounds-feet of torque. Finding help for that extra energy is a 44-kW electric power backed by a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The fifth-gen eration crossover utility vehicle, also Kia’s longest-running nameplate, continues with the six-speed auto gear box.

The all-wheel-drive Sportage, which has center-locking diferential capabilities, dis tributes power between front and rear wheels depending on road and driving con ditions to result in a safe and comfortable ride. A MacPherson strut front and multilink rear suspension ensure that the SUV han dles the rigors of daily driving with comfort. The motor-driven power steering is quick and precise. Want to save fuel? Switch to eco mode.

A centered gloss-black, ‘tiger-nose’ ra diator grille spanning the entire front fas cia meets up with LED headlights in outer corners and boomerang daytime running lights to create a sleek and eye-catching ap

pearance. The interior is spa cious than be fore with rear legroom now at 41.3 inches and cargo capacity topping at 39.6 cubic feet. And yes, storage bins are scat tered through out, including a dual-level cargo floor. Two 12.3-inch screens, one for the digital in strument cluster and the other for infotain ment, float to sync as one. Standard ameni ties include dual auto AC, a 10-way power driver and four-way front-passenger manual heated seats, D-shaped tilt/tele scopic leather steering column, push-button start and 60/40 rear seat.

Kia needs to be commended for ofering numerous standard safety features, which are optional in competitor vehicles. Some are dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag for both rows, rear-cross trafc alert, front/rear park and lane-keep assists, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, four-wheel antilock brakes, rollover sensor, electronic stability, traction and downhill brake controls, hill-start assist, daytime run ning lights and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The revamped Sportage hybrid is a good-looking, sizeable, sporty, useful and inexpensive vehicle. With gas prices still lin gering over $3 a

on to the

it’s a welcome

That

or

with

2022-23 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HIKING SPREE STARTS NOV. 1

The 2022-23 Hill sborough County Hiking Spree is here. The Hiking Spree be gins on Tuesday, No vember 1 and runs through March 31, 2023.

The annual Hiking Spree began in 2016 as a way to encour age people to exer cise, explore the out doors and experience nature by visiting the many beautiful parks and preserves located in Hillsborough Coun ty. The Hiking Spree has grown in popular ity each year and now draws thousands of participants.

2022-2023

Hiking Spree

Get out and experience the joy of hiking by participating in this year’s Hills borough County Hiking Spree. If you register and complete at least eight of the 26 trails listed for this year, you can earn a patch, a medallion for a walking stick or a pet bandana.

This year’s Hiking Spree trail list fea tures 26 trails. If you hike at least eight of the 26 trails between now and the end of March 2023, you can earn a patch, a medallion for a walking stick or a pet bandana. One of the hikes can be at a lo cation of your choice that is not on the list.

Residents are encouraged to bring their leashed dogs on the hikes.

The trails are designed to ofer some thing for everyone, from hiking rookies to seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, with hikes rated easy, moderate or strenuous. Hikes range in length from 5 miles to less than a mile. The environmentally diverse sites are spread throughout the county and range from neighborhood parks like Do ver District Neighborhood Park to large preserves with multiple habitats like Ed

By Kathy L. Collins

ward Medard Conser vation Park. This year’s list has three state parks, including for the first time Egmont Key State Park, which is only accessible by boat.

According to Brad Lympany, recreation program supervisor with Hillsborough County Parks & Rec reation, “The Hiking Spree is timed to take advantage of the cool er, drier weather and to coincide with prime bird-watching season.

Participants are en couraged to post pho tos from their hikes using the hashtag #TakeAHikeHC.”

There are 24 parks on this year’s list. The list includes several local destina tions, such as Edward Medard Conser vation Park, Veterans Memorial Park and Museum, Balm Boyette Nature Preserve, FishHawk Creek Nature Preserve, Do ver District Neighborhood Park, Ruskin Park & Recreation Center and Stephen J. Wortham Park.

The list of trails is higher because two of the parks each have two eligible trails.

Having completed the Hiking Spree for the last few years, I can tell you that is a delightful way to see and experience all the beautiful nature that Hillsborough County has to ofer.

You can find information on the Hiking Spree and register to participate by visit ing www.hcflgov.net/hikingspree.

SIXTH ANNUAL HSWCD GREAT PLANT AUCTION RETURNS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FAIR

The Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation Dis trict’s (HSWCD) sixth annual Great Plant Auction is set for Sunday, Novem ber 13, the last day of the 11-day Hill sborough County Fair.

The annual auc tion features do nations from more than 60 area nurs eries, whose own ers in turn are committed to raising thousands of dollars to support youth programs and initiatives run by the HSWCD. All auction proceeds are used for these purposes.

“We’re expecting another very exciting live auction headed by auctioneer and chairman Roy Davis, who at age 90 has been in the nursery business since his teens,” said HSWCD Ex ecutive Director Betty Jo Tompkins. “The auction is a win-win for everybody because nurseries get to give back and promote their oferings and residents learn a lot about the wide range of available plants in Florida and how they can be incorporated into their community or home landscap ing.”

Added to the auction this year is the opportunity to buy singular plants. “In stead of just having lots for people to buy the plants in groups, we’re also going to have some plants available for individual resale,” Tompkins said. “We’ll also be fea

By Linda Chion

turing some special youth-decorated rain barrels and entries from the Youth Horticulture Show.”

The auction is set to kick of at 1 p.m. on November 13, with viewings of the oferings available before then in the HSWCD county fair tent. Billed as an opportunity to take home “high-quality plant materials at reasonable prices,” the auction is set to include annuals, perenni als, landscape and butterfly plants, ferns, bushes and tree and plant nutrition items.

Overall, “the auction ofers a wide range of plants, from little, tiny starters that are 1-inch tall up to a wide range of major trees,” Tompkins said.

“The important thing is the auction, along with all the other pro grams, projects and activities we feature under the HSWCD tent, is an opportunity to learn a lot about conservation from a lot of diferent perspectives.”

For more information about the HSWCD, visit www.hillsboroughswcd.com, or contact Tompkins at 813-433-8332 or by emailing bjt6890@yahoo.com. The Hillsborough County Fair is at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover, located at 215 Sydney Washer Rd. For more information about the fair, call 813-737-FAIR (3247) or visit www. hillsboroughcountyfair.com.

At last year’s HSWCD Great Plant Auction, HSWCD Executive Director Betty Jo Tompkins (right) with HSWCD board member Sonja Brook ins.

BRANDON LIONS CLUB SELLS LUMINARIA KITS TO SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITIES

Brandon area residents have the opportuni ty to help oth ers and spread light next month thanks to the Brandon Lions Club and its an nual luminaria project and fund raiser.

Until Monday, November 7, res idents through out the Bran don area can purchase a Lu minaria Kit to raise funds for local charities supported by the Lions.

“Our Luminar ia Kits are con structed with white paper bags weighted down with sand and il luminated from within by a candle,” said Brandon Lions Club treasurer Joe Kueb ler. “They are traditionally displayed on Christmas Eve.”

According to Kuebler, each kit con tains 15 long-burning votive candles, 15 candle holders, 15 white bags and a plastic bag of sand (to use in the base of each bag).

Kits are $7.75, and orders of 15 kits or more will be delivered locally. No pay ment is required with your order. All orders are COD (cash on delivery) and

can be picked up at the Brandon Lions Club, located at 610 Limona Rd. in Brandon, or will be delivered (orders of 15-plus kits) on Satur day, December 17.

According to Kueb ler, the fundraiser has been taking place an nually since 2002.

For the last seven years, the home owners associ ation in Parkside Village in Lithia has purchased enough Luminaria kits to light a path through the community on Christmas Eve. “This has become a favor ite community tra dition,” said homeowners association board member Marie Gilmore.

The proceeds will benefit Brandon Lions Charities, a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization that has been support ing the club’s eyesight and hearing pro grams, Southeastern Guide Dogs, Great er Tampa Lions Sight Fund, ECHO, Family Promise, The Outreach Clinic, Brandon High School Don Bishop Track Meet and other local area needs since 1954.

Contact Kuebler at 813-263-2522 to place an order, or email brandonlions club@gmail.com.

A HORSE’S TOUCH FINDS NEW HOME AND ADDS EVENTS & PROGRAMS IN WIMAUMA

By Kelly Wise Valdes

lan developed her love of horses since her time as a work ing student at the Stanford Red Barn in Palo Alto, California in 1999. Fortunately, McClellan was able to take her passion for horses and turn it into a nonprofit organization to help the community in 2017 called A Horse’s Touch.

A Horse’s Touch involves Work Ex change (WE) in sup port of the state of Florida’s Bright Futures Scholar ship program. WE students exchange work at the barn for lessons in animal husbandry as well as basic riding skills in English and Western disciplines. Students in the WE program also develop confidence, commitment and passion and pursue development in the leadership qualities of accountabili ty and responsibility.

A Horse’s Touch is a nonproft organization in Wimauma that is working with people of all ages to teach basic riding skills as well as care for the horses. It ofers a variety of pro grams as well as camps and birthday parties.

were hectic during the COVID period, said McClellan. “But we are now settled in Wimauma on our horse farm that we bought.”

With seven horses and a new location, McClellan is ready to help strengthen the community with a f ordable programs that use horses to promote healthy liv ing and lifestyles.

A Horse’s Touch currently has riders ages 4-49 partic ipating in its pro grams. These pro grams help these students, families and adults learn rid ing skills as well as other horse-related caregiving and ac tivities. With all the activities and out reach programs provided by A Horse’s Touch, McClellan is always in need of help from people in the community who are willing to volunteer.

McClellan also has a number of clients with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities that include cerebral palsy, autism, attention deficit disorder and children recovering from abuse. Several of McClellan’s students from A Horse’s Touch participated in the equestrian competition at the Florida Special Olym pics in 2018 and 2019.

Recently, McClellan relocated her pro gram from Lithia to Wimauma. “Things

“We also host birthday parties, kid horse camps and horse recitals,” said McClellan. “There are also discounts for military veterans, first responders, po lice o f cers and their families.”

A Horse’s Touch is located at 12435 Cody Dr. in Wimauma. For more infor mation about the program, events or volunteering, visit https://ahorsestouch. godaddysites.com/ or email mmbarn4@ gmail.com. McClellan can also be con tacted at 813-992-0743.

Staf Report

Mercedes McClel

For families seeking something di f erent than the education their assigned neigh borhood schools provide, options are available from Hillsborough Coun ty Public Schools (HCPS).

The district o f ers magnet programs and school choice opportunities that pro vide students a chance to pursue an edu cation that fits their interests and goals.

Magnet schools o f er students a chance to focus on a themed education with programs emphasizing arts, busi ness, health, technology and other sub ject areas.

According to the district’s website, “Magnet schools o f er students oppor tunities to discover, explore and refine their talents and interests while focusing on excellence in academics.”

Robert Cox is the district’s supervisor of magnet programs, and he encourag es families to learn more about what is o f ered.

“We have 42 magnet schools to o f er families for the 23-24 school year and they are all recognized nationally for their awards and excellence in educating students. Families can join us on social media on Twitter @SDHCMagnet to get up-to-the-minute info on all of our mag net schools.”

Bus transportation is provided by the district to attend a magnet school.

Many neighborhoods’ middle and high schools o f er career and technical ed

By Brad Stager

ucation programs that may be accessible to students outside of a school’s attendance zone on a space-avail able basis. These CTE programs range from in formation technology to hospitality and tourism.

The district website pro vides an interactive on line resource to match student interests with relevant schools. In this case, trans portation is not provided by the district to students residing outside of a school’s attendance area.

The current window of opportunity for enrollment in a magnet or other school choice program for the 2023-24 school year is Thursday, October 27 through Friday, December 16. Those are also the dates for applying to attend Hillsbor ough Virtual K-12 School for the second semester of this school year. Acceptance notification will be made in January 2023.

Last year, 25 schools in the HCPS mag net program received awards of excel lence or distinction from Magnet Schools of America, a national organization sup porting magnet programs. Among them, Lennard High School and Spoto High School each received a Magnet School of Distinction Award. Both high schools o f er collegiate academies that provide a way to earn an associate degree from Hillsborough Community College.

You can learn more about magnet and school choice options by visiting www. hillsboroughschools.org or calling 813272-4692.

Nancy C. Millan

Taxpayers of Hillsborough County, As your Hillsborough County Tax Collector, it is my goal to deliver first-class service and professionalism as our team serves you, your families, and your businesses.

Innovation, convenience, and accessibility to our services are some of my top priorities. We strive to make it as easy as possible to do business with the Tax Collector’s Ofice while ensuring fiscal accountability. Our team has made great strides in providing many options for you to conduct business with our ofice, including online or by mail.

It is my distinct honor and pleasure to serve as your Hillsborough County Tax Collector. I am dedicated to creating an exceptional customer experience and continually improving to better serve you.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The 2022 Hillsborough County tax roll has been delivered to the Tax Collector by the Property Appraiser. Collection of the Ad Valorem Taxes and Non-Ad Valorem Assessments begins on November 1, 2022

LIFELONG FRIENDS START WHO’S YOUR DUMPSTER TO SERVE COMMUNITY

Childhood friends Christo pher LeBlanc and Chuck Harman started Who’s Your Dumpster Inc. in March af ter LeBlanc saw a need for their cleanup service in the communi ty.

LeBlanc, who works in the home building and contracting industry, knew the community needed help dispos ing of the debris and junk that contractors can leave behind when working on the house. With that real ization, LeBlanc came up with the idea for Who’s Your Dump ster.

“We provide a casual dumpster deliv ery service that allows our clients to clean out their unwanted junk on their time,” ex plained Harman.

Who’s Your Dumpster ofers a three-day rental starting at $285 plus tax, with every additional day (up to a maximum of five days) costing $15 extra. The pricing includes tipping and dumping, along with zero hidden costs for dumpster renters. In addition to the daily rental, Who’s Your Dumpster re cently added a pickup and delivery option for landscaping items, such as rocks and mulch, for $150.

“Our dumpsters are already on wheels, which allows for easy, clean, nonmarking

By Lily Belcher

and ease of use for our clients’ usage,” said Harman.

One of the unique charac teristics of Who’s Your Dumpster is the flexibility of its service, which is perfect for residen tial and commer cial cleanups. With the variable rental options, homeown ers can utilize LeBlanc and Harman’s service for household proj ects and yardwork. Construction workers, roofers, builders and contractors can also use their dumpster service for commer cial cleanups.

Since its inception in March, the great est challenge facing Who’s Your Dumpster has been the rising cost of tipping fees at the county dump and the competition in the market. Still, Who’s Your Dumpster serves roughly 30 custom ers and hopes to expand its customer base to include more commercial workers.

LeBlanc and Harman met when they were both in fourth grade at Nativity Catholic School in Brandon. Harman said the most rewarding part of Who’s Your Dumpster has been working with a lifelong friend.

For more information, visit Who’s Your Dumpster on Facebook. Contact the residen tial and commercial dumpster rental service at 813-771-0123 or email Chuck Harman at chuckh@shiptbl.com.

Ever since the pandemic, RV sales have skyrocketed, as people realized that the RV lifestyle is not reserved for retirees. More and more families are purchasing RVs and discovering the adventures that await. Whether RVing has been a passing thought or you are ready to make the big purchase, mark your calendar for Thurs day through Sunday, November 10-13 and head down to the Florida State Fair grounds for the Tampa Bay Fall RV Show.

Local RV dealers will display a variety of brands of RVs in all shapes and sizes, all in one place, making it the perfect destina tion to get your feet wet in the RV world. From travel trailers to class-A diesel push ers and everything in between, the Tampa Bay Fall RV Show will showcase many dif ferent options of RVs in all price ranges, all in one spot.

Guests can tour the RVs, ask questions and see what fits their needs. “Even if you are not ready to buy an RV, it is a fun to go look and see all of the options,” said Janice Tudor, who attended the event last year with her husband and two boys.

A vendor tent will showcase RV and camping accessories along with a host of

SHOW

By Sharon Still

RV services, including windshield replace ment, awning repair, camping-themed ap parel, rugs and more. Those who have nev er been RVing before will be amazed at all the comforts of home in an RV these days, from heated floors to elaborate en tertainment systems, while seasoned RV ers can check out new prod ucts, shop for accessories or look for their next RV. It will be fun for the whole family

with a DJ, face painting and activities the kids.

Admission is $5 per adult. Children ages 16 and under are free. Military and first responders are discounted $1 of the price of admission for all days of the show, and seniors get a $1 discount on November 10. All attendees can receive $1 discount on admission by bringing a canned good to be donated to Metropolitan Ministries. There will be two $100 American Express Gift Cards given away as a door prize each day.

The Tampa Bay Fall RV Show will be held at the Florida State Fairgrounds, lo cated at 4800 U.S. Hwy. 301 N. in Tam pa. The hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. Visit www.frvta.com for more in formation and to download a coupon (dis counts cannot be combined).

Christopher LeBlanc and Chuck Harman started Who’s Your Dumpster. It ofers fexible rental option for commercial and residential customer with debris and junk cleanup.

Who’s Your Dumpster ofers fexible rental op tion for commercial and residential customer with debris and junk cleanup.

DELANIE’S LEMONADE STAND AWARDED ‘KID OF THE YEAR’ BY ASPCA

By Madeline Gardner

It all began with a book about a girl who ran a lemonade stand for pediatric cancer patients, a commercial on animal cruelty and a dream. On October 12, Delanie Dennis, the 10-year-old owner of Delanie’s Lemon ade Stand, was recognized as the ‘Kid of the Year’ by the American Society for the Pre vention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at the Humane Awards Luncheon in New York City. At 12 Noon, she gave a speech discuss ing her continued involvement in supporting rescues in her community through her busi ness and special events.

“We had no idea — it was a complete surprise. We received a phone call from the ASPCA saying they’d been following Delanie for a long time, and that it was amazing to see what she’s accomplished,” said Delanie’s mother, Julie Dennis.

Running her business from her parents’ restaurant, Cafe Delanie, Delanie has raised over $50,000 since she first opened her lemonade stand in April 2019. Every month since, Delanie sits down with her mother and researches a handful of local rescues that are nonprofit organizations and choos es which she would like to donate 100 per cent of her proceeds to for that month. Delanie and her family also assisted with the third annual RVR Horse Rescue ‘Barn-

o-Ween’ event on Oc tober 30. Located at 1710 W. SR 60 in Plant City, RVR Horse Rescue is a nonprofit geared towards rehabilitating severe cases and help ing rescue horses find a loving home after they’ve recovered. Dela nie planned to increase support for this non profit by setting up her lemonade stand as visi tors were encouraged to trick-or-treat and visit the rescues.

Additionally, her second annual ‘Squeeze the Day’ Lemonade Stand Adoption Fair will be held on Sunday, November 13 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Dallas Bull, located at 3322 U.S. Hwy. 301 in Tampa. This event showcas ing local rescue groups and shelters is free to the public and will feature food trucks as well as an appearance by the Hillsborough County Police Department alongside their K9 units for demonstrations. For more in formation about Delanie’s Lemonade Stand Adoption Fair, please call 813-957-8301 or email delanieslemonadestand@aol.com. Working to increase the number of animals adopted this year, Delanie hopes to spread the message that anyone can make a difer ence and achieve any goal.

“My two goals are to hopefully get some people to follow in my footsteps and start their own lemonade stand, and to get $100,000 donated to animals. Any kid at any age can change the world,” said Delanie.

To learn more about Delanie’s Lemonade Stand, visit the Cafe Delanie Facebook page or call 813-740-2233. Cafe Delanie and Del anie’s Lemonade Stand are located at 3016 U.S. Hwy. 301 in Tampa.

Delanie Dennis was surprised and excited to be recognized at the na tional level for her work in the local community.

TRUE WEST TO BE PRESENTED BY PLANT CITY ENTERTAINMENT

Plant City Entertain ment will present True West during a limited two weekend run. True West, a Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama in 1983, was written by American playwright, Sam Shep–ard. Plant City Entertainment will bring this dark comedy play to life live on stage for a limited run in No vember. Performances will take place at Plant City Entertainment’s Theatre located at 101 N. Thomas St. in historic downtown Plant City.

Plant City Entertain ment will present True West on Friday, Novem ber 11 and 18, Saturday, 12 and 18 and Sunday November 13 and 20.

Plant City Entertainment will present True West, a dark comedy by American playwright, Sam Shepard, during a limited two weekend period just before Tanksgiving at their delightful theatre in downtown Plant City. Tis is one you will not want to miss.

The Friday and Saturday shows will take place at 8 p.m. and the Sunday shows are at 2 p.m.

True West is about the sibling rivalry be tween two estranged brothers who have reconnected. Keith Graham, who directs True West along with April Golombeck and also stars as Lee in the production ex plained, “Two adult brothers, sons of a des ert-dwelling alcoholic father, still trying to find their way. Austin the responsible Holly wood screenwriter against Lee the derelict thieving drifter. Opposites attack when long forgotten Lee suddenly appears and invades Austin’s movie deal, even trying to sell a sto ry of his own; one Lee says is true, about the True West.

By Kathy L. Collins

Golombeck said, “This show is an ac tor’s dream. Meaty, emotional roles that take the actor and the audience on a roller coaster ride. The show is for mature audienc es due to language and content, but the story itself is relatable to many.”

True West features a veteran cast who have a local following and will not disappoint. The cast includes Vince Evangelista as Austin, Keith Graham as Lee, Bob Whitmore as Saul, and Judy Heck Lowry as Mom.

Year after year, Plant City Entertain ment excites audiences and wins awards for excellence. They have been pulling from their talented pool of both professional and non-professional actors, directors, and crew since 1980. Assisted by Joshua Mange, co-directors April Golombek and Keith Graham have put one full year of preparation into this special presentation of unique and unforgettable theatre in homage to the late Sam Shepard who passed in 2017.

True West has it all- coyotes, crickets, and chaos. Audience members should saddle up for dysfunction and destruction in Sam Shepard’s comic tragedy from American dream to nightmare.

For more information and to get tickets, please visit www.plantcityentertainment. com.

AN ELDER LAW ATTORNEY’S TIPS FOR PROCESSING GRIEF

By Laurie E. Ohall, Florida Board-Certifed Elder Law Attorney

Losing a loved one is never easy. Even when the person’s death was expected, the reality of the loss can still be a shock. You may feel sad, an gry, overwhelmed or even all these things at once. On top of all that, the tasks you may need to complete to wrap up your loved one’s afairs can seem overwhelming. Navi gating both the emo tional and the administrative aspects of a death requires patience, self-compassion and a willingness to ask for help when it becomes necessary. The following tips can help guide you through this process.

Allow Space for Your Grief

Many people take on administrative tasks after a loved one’s death because it distracts them from their grief. How ever, not paying attention to your grief may cause it to manifest in other ways. You may feel physical symptoms such as nausea, bodily pains or insomnia. Alterna tively, you may experience irritability or lack of focus.

It is important to give yourself space and time to allow your emotions to pro cess. You may expect sadness, but do not be surprised if you experience guilt, fear or anger. All these feelings are nor mal, and it is important to remember that grieving is not a linear path.

Get Organized

While staying busy may be a way to avoid emotions, it can also be helpful to

keep organized. This does not mean al ways having some thing to do, but rath er keeping a list of tasks so that you can prioritize and even delegate to friends or family who may be able to help. Some times, writing out a list can help you feel less overwhelmed.

Join a Support Group

After losing a loved one, it is easy to feel that no one could possibly understand how you are feeling. Joining a support group can connect you with others who have had similar experi ences and may bring you comfort.

Ask for Help

Some people tend to withdraw from others when they are grieving. While small amounts of alone time can be helpful, connecting with people you care about is crucial during these painful days. Also, working with a therapist may help you move through the grieving process.

If you have administrative responsibil ities regarding your loved one’s estate, especially if you are serving as the execu tor, working with a probate attorney will ensure that the necessary administrative tasks will be completed. This is the piece of the puzzle where the Ohall Kemper Law firm may be of assistance to you. If you need help with your loved one’s estate, Ohall Kemper Law is there to ofer you guidance and support. Simply contact the firm at 813-438-8503 to schedule an ap pointment.

Florida Board-certifed Elder Law Attor ney, Laurie E. Ohall.

LITHIA YOUTH’S CHARITY HELPS KIDS IN THE U.S., COLUMBIA AND PANAMA

FishHawk resident Katie Jane Brier is proof that you don’t need to be a grown-up to make a diference.

The 10-year-old, along with her father, John Brier, established a multifaceted, char itable organization in 2018, Katie Jane Rocks Inc., that helps children in three countries: the United States, Panama and Columbia.

The family, who has lived in all three countries, witnessed children living in true poverty, which spurred them to create the charity.

“Some kids need help sometimes and I’m glad we can do that with Katie Jane Rocks,” said Katie.

Katie decorates and sells one-of-a-kind resin art pieces, each unique and individually numbered. Pieces range in price from $16.95 to more than $100. One hundred percent of the purchase price (minus sales tax) goes to the charity thanks to her dad’s generous contribution of materials, which can cost be tween $5 and $30 per piece.

With every donation of $50 or more, sup porters will receive a hand-painted Kindness Rock. Many people decide to bring their rock with them and bury it during their travels. There are Kindness Rocks buried throughout the world, from Russia to China and even at the Eifel Tower in Paris.

Last month, Lithia resident Stella Espino sa buried a Kindness Rock in Athens, Greece

By Michelle Caceres

at the Acropolis.

Katie said her goal is to have 1,000 rocks buried around the world before she turns 18. If supporters want to bury a rock (no pur chase required), she’d appreciate help reach ing her goal.

So far, her charity has helped fund schol arships for weekly summer camps at the YMCA’s Camp Tra cy in Maine, donated $10,000 so a covered shelter could be built over its archery range, bought laptops and clothing for residents of an orphanage in Columbia and donated thousands of dollars’ worth of food, back packs with school supplies, a refrigerator and tables and chairs to a school in Panama.

“The children used to eat on the floor, and they had no way of keeping their food cold,” said John.

It also hosts the ‘Queen of Diamonds,’ a scholarship program to encourage girls to play sports. To date, the organization has awarded six scholarships in Pensacola and one in Maine.

If that’s not enough to keep a charity busy, it has also published a children’s book in En glish and Spanish, Children of the World, God Loves You! All donations of $200 or more come with an autographed copy of the hard cover book and, of course, a Kindness Rock.

For more information, visit www.katie janerocks.org. To purchase a piece of her art, visit www.kindnessart.org.

NEW GREASE MONKEY RUSKIN OFFERS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE

There’s a new automotive busi ness in Ruskin, and its name is Grease Monkey. Owned by Joe and Melissa Canfield, the fran chise location is a full-service auto repair center that works on all makes and models, includ ing most European and Asian cars and trucks.

Before Grease Monkey Ruskin, Joe and Melissa had owned and operated HiTech Automotive in Brandon for 17 years. They sold it and retired, but they eventually decided to get back into the auto business.

“We still had more to give and more to of fer our customers as far as car repairs go, so we ended up purchasing an existing shop, and we are rebranding it to Grease Monkey,” said Melissa.

Started just a little over three months ago, it specializes in brakes, air conditioning, check engine lights, diagnostics, tires and oil changes, and it services all other mechanical auto needs. Plus, Joe’s ability to easily con vey what’s happening with vehicle repairs, depth of knowledge and years of experience make for high-quality service.

In addition, Grease Monkey ofers cour tesy shuttles so customers can return home during vehicle repairs along with a nighttime key drop box so they can drop of their vehi cle at night. It can arrange for your vehicle

By Taylor Wells

to be towed as well if necessary.

For those inter ested in its trade, while the business is fully stafed, it’s open to interviews for new employees. But business isn’t its only goal, as the family-owned and operated Grease Monkey Ruskin also has a strong com munity involvement focus.

“We wanted to move into this area because we love the SouthShore area so much, even though we still live in FishHawk. That was part of the motivation of coming down here, because the SouthShore area is beautiful and it’s growing,” said Melissa. “We want to be part of the community.”

In November, Grease Monkey will ofer a free ‘get to know your car’ class — for ladies mostly, but anyone is welcome — covering warning signs for necessary repairs or main tenance, how to change tires and such. For the date, to be decided, follow its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/greasemonkey ruskin, and be on the lookout for its other community events.

Grease Monkey Ruskin is located at 2003 S. U.S. Hwy. 41 and is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and it plans to be open on Saturdays. For more information, visit www.greasemonkeyauto.com/locations/us/ fl/ruskin or call 813-645-0339.

Photo courtesy of Weirdo Photography. Melissa and Joe Canfeld, the owners of Grease Mon key Ruskin which opened just over three months ago.

FishHawk resident Katie Jane Brier has Kindness Rocks buried all over the world. Her charity, Katie Jane Rocks Inc., has donated thousands of dollars to beneft children in three countries.

ECHO OF BRANDON SEES INCREASE IN NEED FOR SERVICES DUE TO ECONOMY AND HURRICANE IAN

The Emergency Care Help Organi zation (ECHO) in Brandon has estab lished a reputation over its 35-year history as a place where people who find themselves in a life-altering finan cial crisis can turn to for resources to regain solid footing on their life’s jour ney.

The nonprofit operates a food bank and makes cloth ing available for those lacking the basics of daily living. ECHO also provides help with job searches and accessing appropriate govern ment programs, as well as connecting with specialized services ofered by other orga nizations that could benefit an individual or family trying to navigate out of a difcult financial situation.

“At ECHO, we create opportunities and advocate for our neighbors to provide for themselves,” said Eleanor Saunders, ECHO’s executive director.

Recently, the ability of ECHO to fulfill its commitment to the people who turn to it is being challenged by an increased demand for services.

According to Saunders, the rise in re quests for assistance has been significant, with a 72 percent increase from 3,746 during the three-month total of July through September 2021 to the same time frame of this year, with 6,443 individuals served.

Saunders added that many of those re

By Brad Stager

quests for help come from people who are without shelter, citing a more than four fold increase in the past year for those cases, from 60 in the nonprofit’s first quarter last year to 250 for the same period in 2022, a 316 per cent increase.

As if the climbing num ber of people in financial distress wasn’t enough, Hurricane Ian has made the problem worse, according to Saunders, with its impact on people who were on the edge of stability before the storm. Many of them lost hour ly wages from business closings while Ian tracked through the state or had food spoil age from a lack of electricity to power their refrigerator.

“This is proving to be another setback,” she said in a video available on the ECHO of Brandon YouTube channel and Facebook page. Saunders added that ECHO and the neighbors it helps are counting on commu nity support to get through the current in crease in demand for services.

“When supporting an organization that stands in the gap for the struggling, my hope is that local residents would allocate their philanthropic giving to the Small but Mighty nonprofit community right here in the Greater Brandon community.”

To learn more about ECHO or to make a donation, visit https://echofl.org/.

CELEBRATE THE FALL HARVEST AND PREPARE TO BE A-MAZED AT KEEL FARMS

Keel Farms, home to Keel + Curley Winery and Keel Farms

Agrarian Ales and Ciders, is pleased to an nounce another element of fun at its 20-plus-acre property. Open now, visitors of all ages can enjoy navigating their way through Corky’s Corn Maze.

Children will receive an interactive map di recting them to find Corky the Rooster along with his fun pals scat tered throughout the 4-acre maze. Prizes will be granted when all of Corky’s pals are found and the riddle is solved. The corn maze can take anywhere from 30-90 minutes to walk, depending on your group size.

Plenty of food and beverages will be o f ered, including pumpkin spice-themed options like pumpkin cider (as well as other wine and cider flavors) from Keel Farms. There will also be nonalcoholic options, co f ee vendors and fall-themed food and beverage trucks on-site.

In addition to the corn maze, kids can enjoy hayrides, a petting zoo, sever al bounce houses and fun games in the kid zone. A pumpkin patch will provide perfect photo-ops and pumpkins for pur chase as well.

Report

“We love seeing our visitors both young and old enjoying them selves here at Keel Farms, and we know Corky’s Corn Maze will create lasting memories for everyone who visits,” said Keel Farms President Clay Keel. “In addition to the corn maze, this is a full fall experience that we’re excited to share.”

Located at 1603 Hawk Gri f n Rd. in Plant City, the Corky’s Corn Maze dates and hours are as follows:

• Weekends now through mid-Novem ber 2022.

• Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (final entry is at 5 p.m.).

• Also open on Friday, November 11 on Veteran’s Day.

Adult tickets are $15, kids 12 and un der are $10 and kids under 3 are free.

Included with your ticket is parking, access to the corn maze, unlimited hay rides, access to the kid zone and many other family-friendly activities. Because parking is limited, please purchase tick ets online to allow for a smoother checkin process for all.

For more details and to purchase tick ets, please visit www.corkysmaze.com.

A group of neighbors in need of assistance wait for their turn to meet with ECHO volunteers Connie Talley, in the black shirt, and Mary Montufar, in the blue shirt, at the nonproft’s welcome center.

Visitors of the corn maze enjoying a hayride.

19TH ANNUAL PIG JAM BBQ COMPETITION BENEFITS PLANT CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The 2022 Plant City Pig Jam State of Florida BBQ Championships presented by Citi zens Bank & Trust has over 50 com petition barbecue teams coming to Plant City from more than a dozen diferent states to compete in the Kansas City Barbeque Soci ety-sanctioned competition on Friday and Sat urday, November 18 and 19 at the Randy L. Larson Softball FourPlex, located at 1500 S. Park Rd. in Plant City. This fun-filled, family-friendly event is free to attend, and parking is only $10. On Friday night, the event area is open to the public from 5-10 p.m. There will be live music and plenty of ice-cold drinks at the Pepin Sports Bar to enjoy. The me chanical bull-riding contest will be held at the Patterson Companies’ main stage at 8 p.m. Families are encouraged to come out and grab dinner cooked by some of the best and most awarded barbecue teams in the country. In the past, menu items have included BBQ macaroni and cheese, ribs, brisket, BBQ chicken, and even BBQfilled egg rolls.

On Saturday, the event area is open to the public from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with two

Staf Report

stages of live en tertainment. There will be live bands as well as community groups perform ing throughout the day. The Citi zens Bank & Trust Piglet Play Area features bounce houses, rock-climb ing walls, face painting, games and entertain ment for kids of all ages at no charge to guest. Teams will be busy cooking up their BBQ entries for the competi tion on Saturday,

so be sure to stick around for the awards ceremony at 5 p.m. to see who the ‘Grill Masters’ are this year. Over $18,300 in prizes will be awarded.

Many volunteers are still needed to help make this community event possible. Volunteering is a great way to get a be hind-the-scenes peak at this two-day BBQ festival; stations include the beer tents, merchandise tents, and kids’ area. To sign up to volunteer, please visit www.plantc itypigjam.com.

All proceeds from the Plant City Pig Jam benefit the Greater Plant City Cham ber of Commerce. The organization serves both the Plant City business community and residents — it’s good food for a good cause.

FUTURE PLANS FOR VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK WAS TOPIC OF OPEN HOUSE

Hillsborough County recently asked for public input on how to make Veterans Memorial Park an even better resource for vet erans, residents and visitors to learn about the nation’s wars and conflicts and pay respect to the millions of veterans who served our country.

On October 14, veterans and residents were invited to an open house to help prior itize potential improvements and amenities identified from online public input and an open house earlier this year. An online en gagement opportunity was also made avail able following the open house.

Earlier feedback showed support for the fol lowing items:

• Park entrance and entry signage.

• Signage and wayfinding throughout

• Meditation garden.

• Active learning zone.

• Museum renovation.

• Expansion of the Veterans Resource Center.

• New pavilion.

Input from the open house will help gen erate consensus and a vision for the future.

Hillsborough County Conservation & En vironmental Lands Management, which owns the property, and Hillsborough County Consumer & Veterans Services, which runs day-to-day operations, is working with the University of South Florida’s (USF) Florida Center for Community Design and Research to create a master plan for the park. Vet erans from around the area attended and a PowerPoint was presented with both

Report

representatives from USF and the county there to answer questions.

Veterans Me morial Park, lo cated at 3602 N. U.S. Hwy. 301 in Tampa, is home to 14 war memo rials, the Veterans Resource Center and the Rear Admiral Leroy Collins, Jr. Veterans Mu seum. It also serves as a venue for regional ceremonies on Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Patriot Day, along with a variety of oth er organized events. Established oak trees provide a well-shaded and tranquil setting for reading, reflection, meditation, picnick ing, family gatherings and walking/jogging its many paths, which include a fitness trail along the Tampa Bypass Canal.

The Department of Consumer & Veterans Services in conjunction with the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County will host the county’s 58th annual Veterans Day Tribute at the park on Friday, November 11 to in clude guest speakers, patriotic music and more saluting military service members/ families of all eras.

An outdoor ceremony and celebration at the amphitheater will commence at 11 a.m. and last approximately one hour, followed by casual refreshments from community military partners. The new wing command er at MacDill AFB is slated for keynote.

Consumer & Veteran Services staf are available by phone at 813-635-8316 Mon day through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/locations/ veterans-memorial-park-and-museum for more information and updates.

Te 2022 Plant City Pig Jam State of Florida BBQ Championships will provide food and fun for the whole family.

Veterans Memorial Park is taking shape for the future.

BRANDON ’86 ROTARY HOSTING 30TH ANNUAL SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

The Bran don ’86 Rotary Club will hold its 30th annual Brandon Sea food Festival, sponsored by Ferman Mazda, on Saturday, November 5 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Rota ry’s Camp Flor ida, located at 1915 Camp Florida Rd. in Brandon. The cost to attend is $25 per adult with an advance purchase ticket or $30 per adult at the gate. Children under 12 can get in free with a paid adult and a donation of a canned good. The price includes all-you-can-eat sea food and drinks. The event will also have the ability for pickup orders this year to give everyone an opportunity to partic ipate. All tickets can be ordered at the link provided below.

The Brandon Seafood Festival fea tures Southern fried fish, shrimp, hush puppies, coleslaw, hamburgers and hot dogs. There will be water, Gatorade and beer on hand to drink. In addition to the all-you-can-eat bu f et, families can en joy music, games, bounce houses, musi cal chairs for the kids and more. Larry ‘Stretch’ Mott and DJ Crisolo will be on hand entertaining the crowd throughout the event with live music.

All proceeds from the event benefit international and local charities, includ ing the Outreach Clinic, ECHO, Everyday Blessings and Rotary’s Camp Florida. In 2019, the last year that the event was held, the Brandon ’86 Rotary Club raised

Report

$10,000 for these chari ties.

“Brandon ’86 Rotary Club has been working hard to make this a great event filled with fun and great food,” said Marlene Ad kinson, public image chair of Brandon ’86 Rotary Club. “This is our signature fundraising event that has raised money for the needs of local charities for over 25 years,” added Adkinson.

For those who wish to become spon sors, there are many sponsorship levels remaining starting at just $100. For more information on becoming a spon sor or vendor, please contact Chad Nor gard at chad@norgardinsgrp.com or 813-454-5072.

The Brandon ’86 Rotary Club is a ser vice organization that meets every Fri day at 8 a.m. at the Rivard-Simmons Rotary Event Center, located at 3007 S. Kings Ave. in Brandon. Guests are wel come to attend. “Rotary is about friend ship, fellowship and community. We work together to solve local community issues, provide humanitarian aid and to promote goodwill and peace. Rotary is comprised of local businesspeople who believe that mutual service is the best way to create thriving businesses and societies,” said Adkinson.

Tickets to the Brandon Seafood Festi val can be purchased at https://brandon seafoodfestival2022.eventbrite.co.uk.

HSWCD YOUTH AND ADULT CONTESTS AND PROJECTS

Hillsborough Soil and Water Con servation District (HSWCD) youth con tests are gearing up as the nonprofit HSWCD prepares for its showcase tent at the Hillsborough County Fair in No vember.

Held annually are speech, photography, rain barrel decorat ing, youth horticul ture and land judging contests, along with two poster contests and the Envirothon ‘environmental Olym pics.’

Moreover, the annual Hillsborough 100 Conservation Challenge involves youth and adults in road, river, beach and stream clean ups; tree plant ings; community gardens; recycling and repurposing e f orts; and more.

The two-year ‘Operation Pollination’ pledge for projects runs in conjunction with Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Bran don Global Eco.

KEY

By Linda Chion

suburban and rural communities is exec utive director Betty Jo Tompkins, who an swers to a five-mem ber board elected and chaired by Andrew Brooks. Also on the volunteer board are Sonja Brookins, Kar en Cox Jaroch, Mark Proctor and, appoint ed to fill a vacant seat, Melissa Jack son.

“Soil and water conservation districts address a large num ber of community needs dealing with natural resources conservation, edu cation and under standing,” Tomp kins said. “We program for youth and adults and of fer a vast array of services for agri cultural interests, including costshare programs to support environ mental and conservation enhance ments.”

Set for dis play from Thursday, November 3 through Sun day, Novem ber 13 at the Hillsborough County Fair, at the county fairgrounds in Dover, are posters and decorated rain barrels, which will be auctioned o f at the HSWCD’s sixth an nual Great Plant Auction, set to start at 1 p.m. on November 13. Also on display, vying for ribbons, are Youth Horticulture Show entries, including bonsai, brome liads, cacti, succulents, ferns, palms, herbs, foliage and flowering plants.

Orchestrating HSWCD programs, proj ects and activities for inner city, urban,

The sum mer post er contest focuses on ‘Our Perfect Pollinators, Bees, Birds, Bats and Butterflies.’ Focused on watersheds, the ‘One Wa ter’ school-year contest, run in conjunction with the Na tional Associa tion of Conser vation Districts, allows for top finishers to advance from district to state to na tional competition. The deadline is April 28, 2023. Cash prizes for both contests are awarded to first, second and thirdplace finishers in five grade categories. Each entrant receives a certificate and free county fair ticket.

For more, visit www.hillsboroughswcd. com, call Tompkins at 813-477-8332 or email bjt6890@yahoo.com.

HSWCD board member Andrew Brooks helping to plant some 20,000 longleaf seed lings at the Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve in Plant City.

Artwork from frst-place fnisher Giulia Jones in the HSWCD 2021 ‘Healthy Forests’ poster contest.

Decorated rain barrels on display at last year’s Hillsborough County Fair.

Ready to enjoy a concert or event at the MIDFLOR IDA Credit Union Amphitheatre and want to pam per yourself and 11 guests? Then the newly opened Rock Box VIP sec tion is perfect for you. The Rock Box accommodates up to 12 people and includes VIP parking, VIP club access, a dedicat ed wait service and an elevated menu with the option to preorder.

The private section includes comfortable seating, tables, couch es and prime viewing of the stage for concerts.

The concert and events venue at the Florida State Fair grounds in Tampa has been called the MID FLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre since 2013.

“We feel like a we have a great mes sage, and we want to get that out,” Kev in Jones, president and chief executive o f cer of MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, based in Lakeland, said.

The venue opened in 2004 as the Ford Amphitheatre, then 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre and, for a short time, Live

By Marie Gilmore

Nation Amphi theatre. Now the Tampa ven ue at the Flor ida State Fair grounds bears the name of MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre.

“We are truly excited about the opportuni ty to bring the best possible entertainment we can,” said Jones. “We’re looking forward to a long re lationship with Live Nation.”

The Tampa ven ue can seat up to 20,000 people and sits on the Florida State Fairgrounds.

The venue was inau gurated in July 2004 with Curiosa, a stel lar alt-rock festival headed by The Cure. Since then, it’s hosted concerts by giants of every genre.

The MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Am phitheatre is located at 4802 U.S. Hwy. 301 in North Tampa and can be emailed at midfloridacreditunionamp@livena tion.com. To learn more about the Rock Box experience, email juliannebisceg lia@livenation.com or call 615-3469042.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THANKSGIVING BASKETS THAT WILL BLESS LOCAL FAMILIES

On Thanksgiving Day, many of us are focused on how to cook the turkey just right and perfecting the stufng recipe, sweet potato casserole, green beans and pumpkin pie. But amidst the food and family frenzy, it’s easy to forget the holiday is about giving thanks for our many blessings.

As the holiday season nears, many families in SE Hillsborough County continue to face many economic challenges.

To be a blessing to the community, The Church of Je sus Christ of Latter-day Saints is providing 100 local families with Thanksgiving baskets full of all the ingredients needed to make an amazing holiday meal. The reusable laundry baskets will be filled through individual donations and assembled by volunteers. The project, in its 10th year, takes place on Saturday, November 19 at 8:30 a.m. at the church, located at 4806 Bell Shoals Rd. in Valrico.

Coordinator Michelle Caceres loves this yearly mission. “A shortage of turkeys and the higher food prices associated with in flation means we need our community’s assistance,” said Caceres. “We need fam ilies to come help assemble baskets but also deliver them.”

The church works with guidance coun

selors from local schools in Riverview, Ruskin, Wimauma, Plant City, Lithia, Brandon, Valri co and Gibsonton, who best know which fami lies need the extra help this holiday season.

“For me, the best part of the service project is delivering the basket to families and seeing the smiles on children’s faces when they see the food,” said Caceres. “Je sus Christ set the stan dard by feeding the hun gry, and we are trying to emulate His perfect example.”

The church is asking mem bers of the community to come together and assist with this project to benefit local fami lies. The laundry baskets are filled with turkeys, stufng, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, cake mix and frosting, butter, pumpkin-pie filling, pie crusts and more.

A sign-up genius has been created. If you are interested in donating food or volunteering for assembling or de livering, visit www.signupgenius.com/ go/9040D44A8AB2EA64-lithia1 or con tact Caceres at 813-597-8150.

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occa sion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” — 2 Corin thians 9:11.

Private groups of up to 12 people will love the VIP experience in the new Rock Box at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre.

By Kelly Wise Valdes

Te Church of Jesus Christ of Lat ter-day Saints is asking for volunteers in the community to donate food toward Tanksgiving baskets for families in need.

BUSINESS LEADERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS ATTEND HEF’S EMPOWERED 2022 LUNCHEON

Staf Report

recognition and more. At the event, HEF celebrated two new initiatives that focus on the ‘bookends’ of education from the youngest students to graduates: early learning and college and career readiness.

The event was emceed by Laura Diaz, host of the Mix Morning Show on Mix 100.7, and included a lineup of guest speakers, including Superin tendent Addison Davis, teach er Sasha Fowler and others.

THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA WELCOMES

The Florida Orches tra (TFO) will wel come eight musicians to its first full season this month. All have won highly compet itive blind auditions that attracted candi dates from around the na tion and the world for fulltime positions in Florida’s largest professional orches tra, under the artistic lead ership of music director Michael Francis.

MUSICIANS

featuring Itzhak Per lman on October 1 at the Mahafey The ater. The following weekend, October 7-9, the Hough Family Foundation Master works series debuted with Carl Orf ’s epic Carmi na Burana, kicking of the classical series that ranges from Tchaikovsky’s Sympho ny No. 4 to Rachmaninof ’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and much more.

On September 14, near ly 400 business leaders, community part ners and education supporters attended Hillsborough Education Foundation’s (HEF) 2022 EmpowerED fundraising luncheon, held at Armature Works in Tampa. The an nual event celebrated success stories and shared how, collectively, people and busi nesses are working together to rewrite the narrative to help students, teachers and public schools now and in the next chapter.

“What our theme, Rewriting the Narra tive, means to me and to HEF is that togeth er we can help accelerate academic success through our programs so that every student can benefit from a high-quality public ed ucation and graduates ready for success,” said Hillsborough Education Foundation CEO Kim Jowell.

It was a record-setting year for HEF in 2021, raising $9.5 million to support the nonprofit’s programs, including mentoring, free school supplies, scholarships, technol ogy to close the digital divide, school and classroom enrichment, teacher support and

Fowler, a Brandon High School English teacher, is the founder of Bloom Girls Club at Brandon High School and previously re ceived a School and Classroom Enrichment grant from HEF to support the school’s Bloom Girls Club leadership retreat.

“With your support, HEF will continue to be a pillar of hope for youth across our district and will enable educators like me to continue to build the heroes of our next gen eration,” said Fowler.

“Because of Bloom, I went from a student who was struggling academically and emo tionally to bringing up my GPA to a 2.5, and my goal this year is to bring my GPA up to a 3.5.” said Bloom Girls Club member Valeria Lizardo-Cedeno. Bloom Girls Club is one of the many project submissions that has re ceived funding through a School and Class room Enrichment grant from HEF.

Hillsborough Education Foundation is a nonprofit focused on strengthening public education by supporting teachers and em powering students to achieve academic and personal success. Learn more at https://ed ucationfoundation.com/.

Does Your Child Struggle in School?

Tenure track positions include Yefim Ro manov, first assistant concertmaster; Na talie Yu, assistant principal second violin; Chi Lee, associate principal viola; Matthew Eeuwes, assistant principal viola; Sebas tian Stefanovic, viola; Yoni Draiblate, cel lo; Ansel Norris, associate principal/utility trumpet; and Ben Hauser, second trumpet.

In addition, six musicians will join TFO this fall in one-year positions: Russell Hof man, acting assistant principal oboe; Jacob Thonis, acting assistant principal bassoon; Valerie Ankeney, acting assistant princi pal/utility horn; Nicole Haywood, bassoon/ contrabassoon; Jonas Benson, viola; and Troy Chang, cello.

The Florida Orchestra employs 68 fulltime professional musicians who live, work and give back to the Tampa Bay communi ty. For full bios on each of the talented new musicians, and the entire orchestra, visit https://floridaorchestra.org/musicians/.

TFO will perform more than 100 con certs this season in venues throughout Tampa Bay, including a wide range of clas sical, popular and family-friendly music. Maestro Francis launched the season with TFO’s 55th Celebration benefit concert,

The Raymond James Pops series includes blockbusters such as Harry Potter vs Star Wars, Holiday Pops, and the Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album. All tickets are on sale now at https://floridaorchestra.org/.

The Florida Orchestra is recognized as Tampa Bay’s leading performing arts insti tution, the largest professional orchestra in Florida and one of the most vibrant and innovative orchestras in America. It cele brates its 55th season in 2022-23. Under the leadership of Francis, TFO performs series of classical, popular and morning cofee concerts in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as free Pops in the Park concerts. The orchestra is dedi cated to connecting to the community, both in-person and virtually, with family and youth concerts and other education al programs. For tickets and information, visit https://floridaorchestra.org/. The Florida Orchestra is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) — EIN: 59-1223691, CH#1830. To learn more about how you can support the pow er of music in building community, contact sweymouth@floridaorchestra.org. To do nate now, visit https://floridaorchestra. org/donate.

PATIENT of the MONTH and SUPERSTAR READER: Ariel, Age 11

“Ariel loves all of the staf at Tampa Bay Speech. She feels welcome and that makes a huge diference in her ability to learn. Tank you for all that you do for her!”

-Rebecca, Grandmother

Brandon High School student Valeria Lizardo-Cedeno shared her experience partici pating in Bloom Girls Club at Brandon thanks to HEF.

Brandon High School teacher Sasha Fowler spoke on the impact of her Hillsborough Education Foundation grant for the Bloom Girls Club.

New Date For Your Next Step Is Te Cure 5K Run

Due to Hurricane Ian, event organiz ers Bernadette Boyle and Linda O’Brien received a call from the county saying that their event had been can celled. The new date for the Your Next Step is the Cure 5K run is Saturday, No vember 19. This means that there is still time to sign up for this amazing event, which brings awareness to ocular mel anoma, at https://runsignup.com/race/ fl/lithia/yournextstepisthecure. Follow its Facebook (@cureocularmelanoma) and Instagram (@yournextstepisthe cure) pages to keep up with important information.

Help Honor Local Heroes With Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America will be plac ing wreaths on veter ans’ graves on National Wreath Day on Satur day, December 17. Its mission is to remem ber our fallen veterans, honor those who serve and teach children the value of freedom. It will carry out coordi nated wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 2,500 locations

in all 50 states, including locally at Se renity Meadows in Riverview. It is look ing for volunteers and sponsors for this event. Visit its website at www.wreath sacrossamerica.org for more informa tion.

Get A Head Start On Holiday Shopping At Te Bridges Retire ment Community Annual Fair

With the holidays approaching, shop ping for unique gifts could not be easi er when you visit the 10th annual Gifts & Craft Fair on Saturday, November 12 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The event is being held at The Bridges Retirement Com munity’s clubhouse, located at 11350 Bloomingdale Ave. in Riverview. Wheth er its handcrafted decorations or per sonalized gifts, such as jewelry and handbags, pottery, candles, home decor and more, you will find just what you are looking for.

Campaign Against Hu man Trafcking Meeting

The Tuesday, November 15 meeting of the Campaign Against Human Tra f cking (CAHT) – South Shore will be held in Room 30 of the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center, located at 1971 Haverford Ave. in Sun City Cen ter, at 6:30 p.m. Hillsborough County education experts will address multi cultural issues related to students and their families. It will focus on communi cations, language barriers and student participation. Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the meet ing will also touch on how domestic violence can create obstacles to a stu dent’s learning experience. A discussion of possible solutions, including how mento ring can help identify problems and assist with solutions, will be held. For more informa tion about Campaign Against Human Traf ficking, visit its website at www.sccblueheart. org or call 847-5249215.

St. Vincent de Paul Needs Your Help

Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets are being prepared and will be distributed to families in need. This year is particularly challenging for our com munities, and St. Vincent de Paul would like to be able to help all those who come for assistance. To help complete holiday baskets, St. Vincent de Paul is looking for donations of nonperish able food items and Walmart gift cards. Please bring items to St. Stephen Cath olic Church, located at 10118 St. Ste phen Cir. in Riverview. Have no time to shop but still want to provide support? Please visit and donate at its website, www.svdpriverviewfl.org.

South Bay Genealogical Society Meeting

On Tuesday, November 15, the South Bay Genealogical So ciety will meet at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Cen ter in the Life Enrich ment Center located at 1971 Haverford Ave in Sun City Center. Be ginning at 10:30 a.m. is an optional roundtable discussion followed by a luncheon at 12 Noon, and the presentation by the guest speaker will begin at 1 p.m. This month’s speaker, Peggy Schelin Jude, will be presenting ‘What Can I Do With My DNA? 13 Things You

Can Do With Your DNA.’ For reserva tions and meal choice, call Dianna at 864-607-1330.

Brandon Newcomers Club An nual Fundraiser

The Brandon Newcomers Club will be hosting a market as its annual fundrais er on Wednesday, November 16 starting at 10 a.m. The event will take place at the Brandon Community Center, located at 302 Sadie St. in Brandon. There will be a wide variety of objects available for purchase, including baked goods, crafted goods and plants. The Brandon Newcomers Club is a group of women interested in making new friends, estab lishing a sense of community and help ing others to acclimate to a new area. For more information about the event or how to become a member, email Elaine at edeverlein@gmail. com.

American Pickers Is Looking To Film In Florida

American Pickers is a documenta ry series that explores the fascinating world of antique ‘picking.’ The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business as they hunt for valuable antiques, and it’s looking for locations in Florida. As they hit the back roads, the pickers are on a mission to recycle and rescue for gotten relics. Along the way, they want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. If you or some one you know has a large pri vate collection or accumulation of antiques that the pickers can spend the bet ter part of a day looking through, American Pick ers would love to hear from you. If you are inter ested, contact American Pick

at american

or call 646-493-

NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WINS AMERICAN LEGION EAGLE SCOUT OF THE YEAR

On top of being a successful student, one Newsome High School senior has started to pave the way for his future.

Erik Dyer, a stu dent, Eagle Scout and researcher, has found that perseverance and passion has led him to many achievements, including being named the 2022 Eagle Scout of the Year by the American Legion.

“I will forever cher ish this special award because Scouting has been such a transfor mational experience in my life,” said Dyer. “I am truly humbled by this achievement, and it is my plan to give back to Scouting by continuing to vol unteer in this organi zation that means so much to me.”

Dyer participates in community service with the Boy Scouts of America where he focuses on the el derly, veterans and conservation proj ects, and he plans to continue to do what he can to support the organizations he loves.

Dyer was inspired by his siblings after watching them be Scouts and go on to pur sue great things. By being an Eagle Scout, Dyer said he has learned about responsible

By Makenzie Atkins

citizenship, communi ty involvement, team work, conservation and servant leader ship.

Dyer has worked hard to become not only an Eagle Scout but also an outstand ing young man. With a 4.0 GPA, an Asso ciate of Arts degree from Hillsborough Community College and achieving semifi nalist for the National Merit Scholarship, all before he has gradu ated high school, he has now been given the opportunity to conduct research. Dyer is working for Dr. Leif Rosenberger, a gov ernance and stability analyst at U.S. Army War College with the Peacekeeping Insti tute, by researching economic intelligence and global carbon cap ture technologies for national security.

“I discovered that the more I learned, the more I wanted to learn,” said Dyer.

He plans to major in environmental engineering with an inter disciplinary approach to combine his in terests in conservation, public policy and STEM to address issues associated with sustainability and the impact on Earth’s climate.

BEST BUDDIES PARTNERS WITH THE MOSAIC COMPANY IN SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD

Best Buddies In ternational, a non profit organization dedicated to estab lishing a global vol unteer movement that creates oppor tunities for one-toone friendships, inte grated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and de velopmental disabilities (IDD), is excited to announce that it is partnering with The Mosaic Company to decrease barriers and improve access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Through The Mosaic Company’s commit ment of $50,000, students will be provid ed ongoing opportunities to impact their schools and communities through oppor tunities that provide them with leadership, allyship, future employment and general life skills in Best Buddies’ School Friendship Pro gram.

“Best Buddies is grateful for partners like The Mosaic Company who have shown in credible fortitude and commitment through out the challenges stemming from the pan demic,” said Anthony K. Shriver, founder, chairman and CEO of Best Buddies Inter national. “With their support, Best Buddies will continue to reach thousands of partic ipants with IDD and provide them with the resources needed to feel included, confident and optimistic about the road ahead. I am confident that together we will continue to empower this community — connecting advocates and mobilizing our supporters to create a more inclusive world.”

“At Mosaic, we believe in decreasing bar

Staf Report

riers and increasing access for Hillsborough and Polk County stu dents in Best Buddies’ School Friendship Pro gram. These students seek to impact their schools and commu nities through oppor tunities that provide them with leadership, allyship, future em ployment and general life skills,” said Sarah Fedorchuk, vice pres ident of North America government and public afairs. “I am personally familiar with the impact that Best Buddies’ School Friend ship Program has on its participants and the ripple efect it has on the school, families and community, and I am thrilled to see Mo saic partner on this powerful investment.”

Best Buddies Friendship programs (www. bestbuddies.org/what-we-do/friendship/) represent one of Best Buddies’ four key mis sion pillars.

Founded in 1989 by Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 middle school, high school and college chap ters worldwide.

For more information, visit www.bestbud dies.org, facebook.com/bestbuddies or twit ter.com/bestbuddies.

The Mosaic Company is one of the world’s leading producers and marketers of concen trated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Mosaic is a single-source provider of phos phates and potash fertilizers and feed ingre dients for the global agriculture industry. More information on the company is avail able at www.mosaicco.com.

Erik Dyer is proud to be named Eagle Scout of the Year, a prestigious award in Scouting, and is excited to continue to work on things he is passionate about.

Erik and his mom Dawn stand near the an imal water fountain at Veteran’s Memoridal Park which was Erik’s Eagle Scout project.

Chalklines

Grease Monkey Cele brates Opening With A Ribbon-cutting

Grease Monkey

Ruskin, formerly At Home Auto Care, hosted a multicham ber ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of its new location at 2003 S. U.S. Hwy. 41 in Ruskin. Owners Joe and Melissa Canfield ofer a full-service auto repair shop, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. You can schedule your next appointment by calling 813-645-0339.

Latitudes Tours Celebrates Four Years Of Cruising Tampa Bay

Come and enjoy a one-of-a-kind expe rience here in Tampa Bay with Latitudes Tours. Latitudes Tours has been ofer ing daily eco-tours, lunch and dinner cruises, small-group bus tours and pri vate fishing char ters in and around Tampa Bay for the last four years and has recently added guided kayak tours to its selection. The kayak tours leave from several depar ture points. While kayaking, keep an eye out for dolphin pods, manatees, sting rays, sharks and

more. Latitudes Tours can be found at 580 Ba hia Beach Blvd. in Ruskin. For more information, visit its website at www. latitudestours.com or call 813-641-1311.

Mirage Nail & Spa Design Is Celebrat ing With A Mix And Mingle

Mirage Nail & Spa Design is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a mix and mingle. Owner Nee lomie Cooper said, “We have been tru ly blessed with an awesome year and would like to thank everyone for their support.” Come and meet your nail tech and enjoy some drinks and refresh

ments after 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sun day, November 5-6. There will be food, rafes, music and more. Mirage Nail & Spa Design is located at 13012 Blooming dale Ave., Ste. 114 in Riverview. Clients

will receive 10 percent of of their services all weekend. Call 813628-4307 for more in formation.

Florida Strawberry Festival Announces Teme For 2023

The Florida Straw berry Festival recently announced the theme for its 88th annu al event, ‘We Have a Winner.’ “Yes, it points to the recent win we achieved in naming strawberry shortcake as Florida’s ofcial dessert as we’re a little partial to the berry,” said President Paul Davis. “We’re excited about this year’s event and look forward to sharing in the celebration of the shortcake dessert that has come to make us so successful!” A new theme is created for each year’s festival to ofer patrons a glimpse of the experience they will have at the event. The 2023 Florida Straw berry Festival will take place from March 2-12 at the showgrounds in Plant City. Additional informa tion can be found on its website at www.flstrawberryfestival.com.

amazing friendly service. Following tak ing over the business, new owner Andris Lopez has kept everyone’s favorite dishes, made minor tweaks for improvement to others and added some of his own reci pes. While the restaurant remains Cuban cuisine, the menu is slowly expanding and introducing Dominican and Puerto Rican delicacies. Cafe Cuba also ofers catering for your events. Visit it at 3240 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico. For more infor mation, visit www.cafecubabyandris.com. Follow it on Facebook at www.facebook. com/cafecubarestaurant and Instagram @cafecubabyandris.

You can now pick up some of the best made-from-scratch pizza in town at Ace Golf, locat ed at 12910 Boyette Rd. in Riverview. Fox Fired Piz za is owned and operated by the Fox family, who do everything the old-fash ioned way, by hand, with the

goal of making the highest quality product for the best possible price. Stop by Mon day through Friday from 3-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 4-9 p.m. Visit its website at www.foxfiredpizza.com for more de tails and to see the menu.

Cafe Cuba Under New Ownership Cafe Cuba by Andris is a welcoming family-owned restaurant with a variety of diverse, authentic and flavorful foods and

Fox Fired Pizza Comes To Ace Golf

Vitality Booth Wellness Cel ebrates Open ing With A Rib bon-cutting Vitality Booth

Wellness cele brated its grand opening with a rib bon-cutting hosted by the Valrico Fishhawk Chamber of Com merce. Located at 3113 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico, the facility ofers a variety of advanced cardio equipment, manual and automated massage therapies, vibra tion plates and the patent-pending Vital ity Booth scientific wellness system. Dry salt therapy, red light therapy and oxy gen concentration booth therapy is also available. For more informa tion, visit its website at www. vbwellnesscenter.com or call 813-315-9633.

Te Guess Who Are Com ing To Lakeland

The Guess Who, a group that’s connected with the masses throughout an exul tant hit parade spanning 14 Top 40 hits, including “These Eyes,” “Clap for the Wolfman,” and “Share the Land,” are among music’s most indelible treasures. “You’re going to see an excellent version of the songs and hear exactly how they should sound or be played,” verified founding member Garry Peterson. They will be performing at the RP Funding Center, located at 701 W Lime St. in Lakeland, on March 22, 2023. Tickets are on sale now at the RP Funding Center Box Ofce, call 863-834-8111 or purchase online at www.rpfundingcenter.com.

By Jenny Bennett

A Letter Of Tanks From A.J. Jambhekar

Dear Patrons, It is bitter sweet to inform you that after 19 years of serving this community’s wine and spirit

needs, I have decided to sell the business and retire. While I am excited for retire ment, it would be a disservice to not re flect on the road to this point. With this, I wanted to take the time to thank each and every one of you for your support over the years. My family and I greatly appreciated your business as well as get ting to know many of you on a personal level. Whether it was sourcing your favorite hard-tofind craft beer, tracking down a rare bourbon or finding that Cab ernet you tried and loved at a restau rant, seeing a truly satisfied customer was my greatest pleasure.

The new store has opened under the name Liquor Split. Getting to know them through the acquisition pro cess, I gained tremendous confidence they will continue to provide this com munity great service for all your alcohol needs.

I wish you all the best moving forward and hope to see you around in the com munity.

Sincerely, Ajay A.J. Jambhekar.

DR. RANDELL SEHRES CARES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Where the health of all members of the family is concerned, it’s best to have a doctor who not only has much experi ence and expertise but also strives to personally care for patients. That’s the goal of Dr. Randell Sehres.

“My primary focus is to take care of the whole patient. … I’m able to address all of their concerns up to my level of exper tise,” he said.

Dr. Sehres is an award-winning, board-certified fami ly medicine doctor at Absolute Surgical Specialists with over 25 years of experience, which includes orthopedics, dermatology, men’s and women’s health care issues and mental health issues. He’s also a f liated with Brandon Regional Hospital, the HCA net work and St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Dr. Randell Sehres, a family medicine doc tor at Absolute Surgical Specialists and an afliate of Brandon Regional Hospital, the HCA network and St. Joseph’s Hospital.

By Taylor Wells

lost his son, Scott, age 24, and chose to take time o f . He also found that he didn’t like working exclu sively for a hospital.

“The 17 years that we had the private practice, we really tailored that prac tice to be, you know, a family practice. We considered our patients; we didn’t treat them like num bers. We had a per sonalized relation ship with them, and that was lost when it was taken over,” said Dr. Sehres.

Born in Miami, he graduated from the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in 1993 and did his residency in family medicine in Balti more at Franklin Square Hospital. After returning to Florida, he was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base for his four-year commitment to the Air Force, finishing in 2000.

Then in 2002, he started Brandon Family Medical Care, which he had for 17 years until it was bought by Adven tHealth. However, three years later, he

When he decided to work again, his friend, Dr. Craig Amshel, owner of Ab solute Surgical Specialists, suggested joining his practice, and did so in June. Now, Dr. Sehres can give more time to patients, and he’s been seeing them from Sun City Center and reaching out to those he had taken care of for many years — along with new patients — from Tampa, Brandon and other local areas.

“In family medicine, we’re trained to take care of patients of all ages, so one of my greatest satisfactions was taking care of the family … and seeing the chil dren grow and up and have children of their own,” he said.

Absolute Surgical Specialists is locat ed at 1046 Cypress Village Blvd. in Sun City Center. For an appointment with Dr. Sehres, call 813-633-0081.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

HIGH 5 INC. PRESENTS ICE THE DICE AT THE REGENT

High 5 Inc. is hosting its 15th annual Casino Night, Ice the Dice 2022, on Friday, Novem ber 18 from 7-11 p.m. at The Regent, lo cated at 6437 Watson Rd. in Riverview. Ice the Dice 2022 is expected to be bigger and bet ter than ever.

This is High 5 Inc.’s signature event. It is an incredible opportu nity to give back to the Brandon community while enjoying table games, including rou lette, craps, blackjack, poker and slot ma chines. It will also have a fabulous silent auction and outstanding food from local restaurants. Food partners include Livy O’s, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Your Pie, Chick-NBones and more.

This is an 18-years-and-older event. Chuck Burgess, CEO of High 5 Inc., said, “This is one of the most fun events in the Brandon area. Proceeds benefit all of our programs, including learn to swim, special needs, after-school/summer camp and financial assistance to fami lies in need. There will be lots of great games to play, awesome food, open bar and some great silent auction items to bid on.”

At the last event, about 400 people

By Kathy L. Collins

attended. This year, organiz ers are expect ing between 500 and 600 attendees. The event’s goal is to raise over $100,000.

Burgess said, “We are one of the leading non profits in Hills borough Coun ty. We focus on five pillars of impact. These include Special Needs, Af ter-school, Sports and Recreation, Learn to Swim and Community. We serve our commu nity in many capacities and promote programs for over 1,000 children daily.”

Burgess added, “Our Casino Night just keeps getting better and better every year, and the result is that we can make an even greater and more significant im pact for all of the families we serve. This is one of the best date nights you will ever have.”

Sponsorships from $500 to $7,500 are available. Local business owners can also have an impact by donating an item or a gift certificate for the silent auction. High 5 Inc. is located at 405 Bever ly Rd. in Brandon. To get tickets to the annual Casino Night and to learn more about High 5 Inc., please visit www.high 5inc.org or call 813-689-0908.

Come and enjoy a fun night of thrilling games, deli cious food and drinks and fabulous silent auction items at High 5 Inc.’s 15th annual Casino Night. All proceeds beneft programming at High 5 Inc.

GET THE DIRT: HURRICANES, A LANDSCAPE PRUNING OPPORTUNITY

BY LYNN BARBER, FLORIDA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING™ AGENT

DESIGNING YOUR GARDEN FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH

Hurricanes provide many of us with the ‘opportunity’ to prune our land scape plants that have not been uprooted or de stroyed. Under normal condi tions, pruning does not have to involve a signif icant amount of our free time, but after a hurricane it may.

We should prune our land scape plants soon after dam age has occurred. Generally, we prune to train the plant to grow in a specific direction; stimulate flower or fruit produc tion; promote more full growth; remove diseased, deranged or dead foliage; or to pre vent damage to people and property. After a hurricane, we prune for some of those reasons and to improve the appearance of shrubs that have wind damage, broken stems or damage from falling trees and/or tree limbs. A few tips to follow:

• Use pruners, not hedge shears, to prune shrubs. Cutting back one-third of the plant will improve the aesthetics and health of the plant. This is called rejuvenation prun ing, and cuts should be made to remove onethird of old, mature stems back to the basic framework or near ground level. However, you may need to prune more now depend ing on the amount of damage sustained. If you need to remove more than one-third of growth, the shrub may take longer to recov er.

• Tree pruning may be necessary to im prove the shape or form. For assistance in pruning trees, use an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)-certified arborist, which you can find at www.treesarecool. com. Click on the tab titled ‘Find an Arborist’ to locate professionals in your area. If you

choose to at tempt some mi nor pruning on your own, refer to the follow ing publications for tree pruning information: https://hort.ifas. ufl.edu/woody/ pruning.shtml. And for safety recommenda tions: https:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ publication/ FR170.

• Hurri cane pruning on palms is a practice that harms the palm and can cause more damage in strong winds. Excessively pruning palms leaves only the fronds on the top of the palm which results in weak struc ture promoting breakage at the growing point and death of the palm. Fronds should not be removed above the clock hand positions of nine and three. A full head on a palm provides wind protection by lifting the wind over nearby structures. Refer to the publication “Pruning Palms” at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ publication/EP443, which provides infor mation on correct pruning practices. Not all palms require pruning. Dead fronds can be pruned; however, partially dead fronds (part green, yellow or brown) should not be pruned as they continue to supply potassi um to the palm. Palms with a green crown shaft are self-pruning and do not require pruning because the fronds fall of naturally once they turn brown.

For assistance with horticultural ques tions, call us at 813-744-5519 or visit us at the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough Coun ty, 5339 County Rd. 579 in Sefner. Visit our Hillsborough County Extension and Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ websites. Remember to reduce, reuse, recycle and re peat.

(StatePoint) Gar dening is not only a means for beautify ing outdoor spaces and growing delicious foods. According to those who spend sig nificant time in the yard, getting outside can also support your wellbeing.

“Gardening is good for the mind, it’s good for the soul and it’s good for the body,” said legendary football coach Vince Dooley. “I enjoy coming out to garden, and when I finish, I feel like I’ve done something, and I feel good.”

Landscape architect Doug Scott of Re deem Your Ground recently visited Dooley in Athens, Georgia to discuss gardening and mental health. Here are some of the insights they shared: Health Benefts

• Active benefits: Gardening exercises the body and clears the mind. Studies show that increased outdoor exposure leads to fewer long-term health problems, helping improve cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, strength and dexterity — all leading to bet ter mental health. Simply planting, growing, harvesting and maintaining plants gives you a direct emotional boost. Why? Gardening helps foster nurturing instincts and restores a sense of hope and purpose, ultimately im proving self-esteem.

• Passive benefits: Don’t have a green thumb? Don’t worry. Scientific evidence proves that just being in nature has positive impacts on stress levels and brain chemistry. It can also lower blood pressure, increase concentration and improve mood. What’s more, being outdoors ofers a deeper sense of belonging and a new sense of purpose outside the daily grind.

Designing Your Garden

Scott advises designing your garden to reflect how you want to live outside. He typically builds ‘rooms’ connected by me andering paths for resting, unwinding and feeling restored. However, your outdoor spaces don’t always need to be quiet. They

can encourage activi ty as well. If you en joy company, create gathering spaces. Or, if you have hobbies that can be done out doors, like exercising, painting or writing, you can set aside ar eas for them.

Finally, Scott rec ommends designing your garden to awak en your five senses. Here’s how:

1. Sight: Choose calming colors, or those that bring you joy. The simple sight of a breathtaking array of plants or an arrange ment of favorite flowers is bound to give your mental health a boost.

2. Taste: Growing your own food will pro vide you with an incredibly rewarding har vest. Not only will you be able to enhance meals with the fruits of your labor, but you’ll also get the personal satisfaction of a job well done.

3. Hearing: Among the plants and flow ers, add fixtures, such as wind chimes and water features, that’ll produce soothing sounds. And with the new habitat you’ve created, you’ll enjoy bird song too.

4. Touch: From the light, feathery tex tures of petals to the rough surfaces of bark or bush stems, touch ofers a deeper sense of connection to nature.

5. Smell: You may already use aromather apy indoors. Take this concept outside by growing fragrant flowers and herbs so you can literally “stop to smell the roses.”

Scott and Dooley ofer more insights in “Garden Therapy,” a recent episode of Do ne-In-A-Weekend Projects, an original series from lawn care equipment manufacturer Exmark. To watch the video, visit Back yard Life at https://backyard.exmark.com/, which is part of a unique multimedia desti nation with a focus on helping homeowners make the most of outdoor spaces. There you can also download additional tips and view other Exmark Original Series videos.

By gardening, your mental health will be better of for it. Just be sure to start small, simple and stress-free.

Photo courtesy of Edward F. Gilman UF Palm improper pruning.

By StatePoint Media

Photo courtesy of Exmark. Landscape architect Doug Scott says garden ing is good for the mind.

Tree damage,

We sure dodged a bul let with Hurricane Ian.

All the runo f from the rains has made Tampa Bay a bit cloudy, but it is returning to normal now. Water temps are falling into the 70s now and the bite is starting to really go o f now. You will start to see the decline or reduction of seagrasses in the bay with the fall season coming in. The seagrass es will move their sugar stores into their root systems and shed their leaf blades for the com ing winter. This will push the target fish back into the river areas, and the water will also clear up some with the tempera ture drop.

Snook and reds will maintain in the passes and estuaries until the water temps drop more after the fronts. The water temp drops will clear the water, so you will want to drop your leader test down to 20# with a 1/0 circle hook. Trout will remain on the

flats in the remaining grass patches and can readily be caught on ar tificial jigs. I prefer the curly tail bodies over the paddle tails because of the undulating action they make as they fall into the grass.

Gag grouper will make their winter pres ence known in the com ing month. 5/0 or 6/0 circle hooks with 100# test baited with a larger pinfish or threadfin will put dinner on the table for you. Find the reefs and ledges and let it rip.

There are good numbers of greenies on the flats being caught. A 1/4 bait net is still your best bet. With the lower water temps, you can really load up your livewell and not worry much about the dead loss in the livewell. Chum heavy for all your target species and throw ’em where they’re blowing.

Performance Care to Maximize Your Athlete’s Abilities

It’s common for us to have athletes come into our offce to get an injury treated, but more often than not, a non-traumatic injury is the result of body mechanics not func tioning appropriately. This means that if we were to just treat the injury itself and then send that athlete back to the sport that caused the injury in the frst place, they would likely end up injured again. This is why in all of our treatment plans we perform a head to toe joint evaluation.

From your neck down to literally how your big toe is functioning, we evaluate how that joint is performing when you run, pitch, jump, etc. Not only does this approach keep our athletes out of injury, but it can make them to pitch faster, run harder, and jump higher.

Generalized training and conditioning with the team or even sport-specifc with most trainers does not account for every athlete’s individualized anatomical abilities. They train for the sport requirements and not what that athlete may be able to safely per form, so ultimately, it ends up training compensation patterns that result in injury or decreased performance.

Our physicians are trained in techniques that many professional athletes and teams utilize to keep their players performing at their highest ability, safely.

You can fnd the same techniques and protocols in our offce that are used throughout the MLB, NHL, NFL, and even at Westside Barbell, which produces arguably the stron gest powerlifters in the world.

Athletes we love to work with: runners, swimmers, pitchers, golfers, weightlifters, and all youth and high school athletes

Drew and Britta with a snook

BY MICHAEL MURPHY

Jess with a nice snook

Dr. Robert Lutz

DRUMLINES WILL PERFORM AT VFCC SHOP LOCAL HOLIDAY EXPO

The Valrico Fish Hawk Chamber of Commerce is hosting its VFCC Shop Lo cal Holiday Expo on Saturday, November 5 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Patrons will be able to shop at this annu al vendor market in the teachers’ parking lot at Bloomingdale Senior High School, located at 1700 Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico.

This event has been held by the chamber for over five years and of fers more than 40 vendors who will be showcasing lo cal products and services. In addi tion, members of local high school drumlines will be making an appear ance and having a ‘friendly’ drumming competition and much more.

Each year, there is also a coveted flamingo decorating contest where ven dors can dress up their flamingos for the general public to vote on in diferent categories.

Proceeds from the event support the chamber’s 2022 Charity of Choice: Im

Staf Report

pact. The Impact Program promotes healthy lifestyles and relationships to teens through its Teen Impact program, to parents through its parent program and to teachers and other youth leaders through its classroom education program.

“We will be there with a fun booth for families,” said Osprey Observer manag ing editor Marie Gilmore. “This is such a fun event and I love to shop local and support our local business es.”

Booth space at the event is still available and costs just $60 per busi ness.

For more informa tion and to register, visit https://val ricofishhawk.org/.

The chamber wants to thank Di amond Member HiTech Automotive and Platinum Mem bers Backbone Con struction & Roofing,

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17 4:00 PM 10:00 PM Bands Under the Big Tent (6:30 PM)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 4:00 PM MIDNIGHT Soul Circus Cowboys (8:00 PM)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 11:00 AM MIDNIGHT Classix (8:00 PM)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 12:00 PM 10:00 PM

Military/Veterans, Law Enforcement and First Responders Appreciation Day

NCS Alumni Day

NativityCatholicChurch.org/Novemberfest

The Brothers That Just Do Gutters, Citi zens Bank & Trust, Excellence First Insur ance, Cruise Planners of Valrico and MID FLORIDA Credit Union.

Te Valrico FishHawk Chamber of Com merce will host its VFCC Shop Local Holiday Expo event at Bloomingdale High School on Saturday, November 5 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Master Garage Door Company has served Hillsborough County customers for 25 years by installing, servicing and repair ing home and commer cial garage doors. The local family-owned and operated business was founded in 1997 by Steve and Tawnie Manning, who are dedicated to working hard and serving the community.

“We’re just being thankful to the com munity,” said Steve about the 25-year celebration. “…We’ll enjoy a celebration to gether [with our employees] just honoring them.”

Master Garage Door Company will also ofer a discount on service calls for a month to celebrate its silver anniversary.

In the last 25 years, Master Garage Door Company has received an A+ rat ing and has been an accredited business by the Better Business Bureau since De cember 2013. The A+ rating was based on both the status of business licenses and customer opinions. Master Garage Door Company is also a member of the Interna tional Door Association.

“Just being new in the market and the area [was the biggest challenge], but we connected with the community pretty quickly,” said Steve.

Now, Steve is on the board of directors for the Greater Brandon Chamber of Com

By Lily Belcher

merce and the chair of the Brandon Leader ship Program Class of 2022. For him and his company, community involvement and ser vice are key aspects of their business.

“I enjoyed the type of work. I enjoyed meeting people every day and to be able to provide a service,” said Steve about why he started Master Garage Door Compa ny.

Steve was also involved in many churches and orga nizations. Owning his own garage door company allowed him to work around his schedule and continue to serve his church.

The company specializes in installing, servicing and repairing residential and light commercial doors. It also ofers services for garage door openers. It is li censed and insured to provide professional service for all its customers.

In addition to typical repairs, Master Garage Door Company installs doors that meet wind and hurricane specifications by Hillsborough County to protect customers. It will also inspect garage doors and po tentially recommend a reinforcing system to meet weather specifications.

For more information on Master Garage Door Company, visit https://masterga ragedoor.com/. To contact Master Garage Door, fill out the contact card on its web site or call 813-684-7744.

Tawnie and Steve Manning started Master Garage Door Company in 1997 to serve the local community.

BIKES FOR CHRIST TRYING TO FILL A NEED THAT IS GREATER THAN EVER

Many individuals have sufered this past year, finding themselves in sit uations they never could have imag ined. Loss of a job, loss of afordable living … times are hard for many right now. A bicycle can be life-changing in so many ways. Bikes For Christ needs your help this Christmas season to contin ue to help those less fortunate.

Bikes For Christ currently partners with over 70 organizations in the Tampa Bay area by supplying bicycles as trans portation to the clients with whom these agencies work. Its main focus is veterans trying to overcome hardships, underprivi leged children, and anyone who is in need and is trying to climb out of the grips of poverty or the situation they are in. Along with every bike it gives out, it also pro vides a Gospel of John, as it wants that individual to know that Christ cares for and loves them.

Founder Pat Simmons stated, “Christ mas is always the time of year when we reach out to the community for that extra bit of help we need. Plus, we always try to do something special as well. The past two years we have had the opportunity to send bicycles to children in Africa by part nering with The Tampa Bay Area Liberi an Community Association, and we have close to 25 more on their way there this year. However, the need continues to be great here at home in our own communi

Report

ty, so we are reach ing out to ask for more assistance.”

At this time, Bikes For Christ is asking the public for dona tions of good, used bicycles in ‘adult’ sizes. Simmons said that “85 percent of the orders our partner organiza tions place is for men’s bicycles, and those are always the greatest need.” Bikes do not have to be perfect, but it does want them to be as close to rideable condition as possible. That way repairs can be done quicker and they can be in the hands and feet of the individuals who need them sooner. Monetary donations are always greatly appreciated as well. Donations options are here: www.bikes4christ.com/ donations.

Among the many accolades Bikes For Christ has received, the most noteworthy was being honored with the 2020 WEDU ‘Be More Empowered’ award for “small nonprofit making the biggest impact in the Tampa Bay area.”

Bikes For Christ is a 501(c)(3) tax-ex empt organization, EIN: 82-2374095. Its mission is to provide bicycles to those in need while also sharing the love of Je sus. Its main focus is veterans who are working to reestablish themselves, un derprivileged children and anyone who is struggling and working towards self-suf ficiency.

Visit Bikes For Christ at www.bike s4christ.com.

CROSS-BAY FERRY’S 2022-23 SEASON SETS SAIL

The Cross-Bay Ferry has begun its sixth sea son of operations across Tampa Bay. The service, which provides a scenic and congestion-free trans portation option between downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg, returns following its most successful season since the service began with a record-breaking 62,130 riders from October 2021 to May 2023, 10,000 more people than its previous re cord.

The Cross-Bay Ferry is an innovative col laboration between Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the City of St. Petersburg and the Florida Department of Transporta tion that is working to build the ferry into a long-term local transportation resource that will significantly relieve roadway con gestion, boost commerce to local businesses and provide a fast, fun and afordable way to travel. Hillsborough County is currently the lead governmental sponsor.

“Thanks to a productive partnership between the local governments and the Florida Department of Transportation, the Cross-Bay Ferry is returning this month and is well-positioned for another successful season as we continue to build upon the sys tem’s early success,” said Matt Miller, pres ident of HMS Ferries. “The Cross-Bay Ferry ofers a uniquely accessible and afordable transportation option between downtown Tampa and downtown St. Pete, providing lo cal residents and visitors with a commuting option that includes incredible views of the bay and surrounding skylines.”

This year, the ferry will again

Report

extended season with an additional month of service and an expanded daily schedule that includes later eve ning runs. Service lasts until May 2023. Later-eve ning departures will also be avail able. The Cross-Bay Ferry will operate from the same terminal locations as in pre vious seasons. In Tampa, the ferry will de part from the dock at the Tampa Convention Center, and in St. Petersburg, from the dock at North Straub Park, near Vinoy Marina.

The ferry vessel, named Provincetown III, is a twin-hull aluminum catamaran that can carry a maximum of 149 guests at an average speed of 30 mph. The vessel has a full-service bar with basic food service. Pas sengers may bring up to two pieces of lug gage and one small personal item at no ex tra charge, and they may also bring bikes on board. Customer surveys will also be taken regularly to improve service and gain better insight into how future permanent service can be structured.

In February, the Federal Transit Adminis tration awarded Hillsborough Area Region al Transit Authority (HART) a $4.9 million grant to buy a new 350-passenger vessel that HART requested last October. This will further establish the Cross-Bay Ferry as a mainstay transit option to reduce conges tion, create local jobs, and increase connec tivity across the Tampa Bay area.

Visit www.thecrossbayferry.com. Tickets can also be purchased at dockside ticket booths in Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Provincetown III, the current vessel the Cross-Bay Ferry uses for providing passen gers comfortable rides.

BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY ANNOUNCES SERENGETI FLYER AS ALL-NEW 2023 ATTRACTION Staf Report

Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay today an nounced Serengeti Flyer as the park’s allnew 2023 attraction. Serengeti Flyer will be the world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind, a screamin’ swing, upon opening in spring 2023.

With each swing, riders will soar high er and higher above Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s expansive 65acre Serengeti Plain while experiencing multiple negative-G moments before plung ing back toward the Earth. Serengeti Flyer will feature twin dueling arms that soar progressively higher, reaching speeds of 68 mph and a maximum height of 135 feet at the ride’s peak. Guests will be seated backto-back in rows of 10 across two gondolas, allowing for 40 guests to experience the ride at once.

“Serengeti Flyer’s thrilling ride expe rience is bound to provide riders with a pulse-pounding encounter that can only be found at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay,” said Neal Thurman, park president of Busch Gar dens Tampa Bay. “We believe that Serengeti Flyer will be the perfect high-thrill addition to our world-class portfolio of attractions, including Iron Gwazi, the Golden Tick et Award winner for the Best New Roller Coaster in 2022.”

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay annual pass members will be among the first to expe rience the new attraction upon opening in spring 2023.

Enjoy the breathtaking thrill of Serengeti Flyer all year long with a Busch Gardens Tampa Bay annu al pass or 2023 fun card. Starting as low as $14 per month with exclu sive pass member benefits valued at over $400, a Bus ch Gardens Tampa Bay annual pass is the best way to experi ence this all-new attraction.

Guests looking for incredible savings can pay for a day and get the rest of 2022 and 2023 free with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s limited time fun card ofer, which provides unlimited access to the park’s world-class attractions, award-winning entertainment, up-close animal encounters and vibrant sea sonal events.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is the ulti mate family adventure, ofering 300 acres of fascinating attractions based on exotic explorations around the world. Busch Gar dens is a unique blend of thrilling rides, an AZA-accredited zoo with thousands of an imals representing more than 200 species and exciting seasonal events all year pro viding unrivaled experiences for guests of every age. For more information, visit www. buschgardenstampa.com. Busch Gardens is owned by SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: SEAS), a leading theme park and en tertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world.

Mon - Fri from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

OUR PROMISE TO

MEMBERS OFMeet Zoey our Chief Canine Offcer for Southeast Regional Insurance.

Photo courtesy of Busch Gardens. Te Serengeti Flyer, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s all-new attraction, opens in spring 2023.

NEIGHBORHOOD MINI-GRANT PROGRAM DEADLINE NOV. 14

Hillsborough County Neighborhood Relations is providing neighborhoods with an opportunity to enhance, im prove, and transform their communities by accepting applications for the 2023 Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program.

The 2023 Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program provides up to $5,000 of fund ing for neighborhood organizations that foster healthy, safe, and engaged com munities through innovative and cre ative projects.

Applicants are encouraged to be in novative, original and to select a project that is engaging, enduring, and unites the community.

Established in 1988, the 2023 Neigh borhood Mini-Grant Program is focused on encouraging neighborhoods to invest in their future and create a legacy for years to come. The categories are de signed to foster healthy, safe, and en gaged neighborhoods.

The 2023 Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program categories are:

• Neighborhood Identification

• Leadership Empowerment

• Safety Opportunities and Education

• Environmental Enhancements

• Health and Wellness Engagement

• Neighborhood Preparedness

• Neighborhood and Community Innova tion

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Nov. 14, 2022. Visit HCFLGov.net/MiniGrant to learn more about the grant application process, the requirements, and to com plete the application.

Civic associations, homeowners as sociations, or special taxing districts in Hillsborough County are eligible to apply, including those in Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace. Neighborhood organizations must be registered in the Neighborhood Directory Listing before applying for a mini-grant.

If your neighborhood organization isn’t part of the Neighborhood Direc tory Listing, registration is available at https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/

Registration is now open for Tampa Bay CEOs and senior executives to spend a day at a Hillsborough County public elementary school and share their experience with students and school leaders.

IMPACT HOSTS ANNUAL DESIGNER PURSE BING0

Are you looking for a fun and delicious way to get into the holiday spirit while helping a local char ity raise important funds? Then mark your calendars for Thursday, Decem ber 1 because the IMPACT program is hosting a holiday de signer purse bingo.

The event, which will take place at The Regent in Riv erview, will ofer 10 rounds of bingo with a designer purse as the prize for each round.

Tickets to the event cost $40 a per son and include one set of 10 bingo cards along with food and bever ages (this is an alco hol-free event). Guests will have the opportu nity to purchase addi tional bingo cards and rafe tickets as well as participate in a silent auction.

The event is the annual fundraiser host ed by IMPACT program, a Brandon-based charity which educates teenagers on the benefits of healthy choices while avoiding high-risk behaviors.

“This is a great opportunity for commu nity awareness and to provide necessary funds for the IMPACT program to contin

ue their eforts in educating, equip ping and empow ering teens to avoid high-risk behavior by mak ing healthy choic es,” said Angie Kagey, IMPACT executive direc tor.

The event’s title sponsor is The George Shea Team with Sig nature Realty. Additional spon sorship opportu nities are avail able.

“This event is special because it is a fun-filled night for the community to come together to support a wonderful cause,” said Kagey, who added that it is a good way to get into the holiday spirit be fore the busyness of the season kicks in.

The Regent is lo cated at 6347 Watson Rd. in Riverview, near Winthrop. Doors for the event will open at 6 p.m., with bingo starting at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Kagey at akagey@whatisimpact.com or visit www.whatisimpact.com. The dead line to purchase tickets is Wednesday, No vember 23, and tickets can be purchased at impactdesignerbingo.eventbrite.com.

Te IMPACT program is hosting its annual designer purse bingo fundraiser on Tursday, December 1.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS OUTPERFORM PEERS IN ‘NATION’S REPORT CARD’

By Superintendent Addison Davis

COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE BREAKS RECORD FOR SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

By Linda Chion

career.”

Before becoming superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools more than two years ago, I made a promise to this community to work diligently to drive student achieve ment higher than ever.

It is no secret we have faced many challenges together. But we are now seeing the pos itive outcomes that have resulted from the tireless determination of our educators, stu dents, support sta f and administrators.

I am proud to share with our communi ty that our students have outperformed their peers nationally on ‘The Nations Report Card,’ also known as the Nation al Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This is an incredible achieve ment, truly capturing how our district is performing against other large and diverse districts throughout our nation.

In fact, our fourth grade students placed No. 1 out of the 26 large districts tested in reading and math, signaling that our method of accelerated learn ing following the pandemic has not only resulted in maintaining performance levels, but our students are also rising above the rest. Other large districts who took this test include Boston, Los Ange les, Chicago, Houston and Miami-Dade, among others.

Roughly 1800 students in both fourth and eighth grade across 80 of our ele

mentary and middle schools took part in the test. HCPS fourth grad ers took the top spot in reading and math. Last time our students sat for this assessment, they placed No. 3 and No. 5, respectively. This is a monumental achievement, especial ly considering these tests were taken at the height of the omicron variant in our commu nity.

Eighth graders also outpaced many of their peers in these assess ments, placing No. 3 in reading and No. 8 in math nationally.

Subgroups such as African American and Hispanic students, students with dis abilities and English-language learners also outperformed peers in most other districts.

To be eligible to take part in The Na tion’s Report Card, a district’s community population must be more than 250,000 and at least half of the student body must be either African American or His panic and eligible for free and reduced lunch at certain percentages.

This exciting development along with our district catapulting to No. 19 in the state in school grades illustrates our dis trict’s determination to bring Hillsbor ough County Public Schools to the fore front as a premier school district. While we have kept our promise to accelerate student learning, I want everyone to know we have only begun.

The Community Roundtable this year awarded $2,000 scholarships to five seniors representing three area schools, a record-breaking $10,000 total for the annual awards program.

Twins Adison and Ariana Roman, now at the University of South Florida, re ceived their scholarships as graduates of Armwood High in Seffner.

From Newsome High School in Lithia, Ashley Johnson and Ashton Kitchiner were both recognized, with Kitchiner earning the award for scholar-athlete. Both Newsome High graduates attend the University of Florida.

The fifth recipient is Brock Lopez, a freshman at North Carolina State Uni versity and a graduate of Strawberry Crest High School in Dover.

“Due to the large number of highly qualified applicants, the selection pro cess was very difficult this year,” said Lisa Rodriguez, treasurer of the Com munity Roundtable and a past honorary mayor of Brandon. “Roundtable officers awarded the scholarships to the recip ients at their respective high school award ceremonies so they could receive them in front of family, friends and peers. We wish each of these outstand ing students a very successful college

The Community Roundtable schol arship program, chaired by Shearon Bailey, is held annu ally with a spring deadline and an ap plication form that stresses communi ty service.

Billing itself as “the chamber of charities of Greater Brandon,” the “number one criteria for scholarship selection is a student’s vol unteer hours earned during their high school years,” Rodriguez said. “Each ap plicant must write an essay about their experiences serving others in the com munity, provide the number of hours served and their grade-point average and briefly explain their future plans.”

Founded more than 60 years ago as the Presidents’ Roundtable of Greater Brandon, the Community Roundtable serves and promotes area nonprofit organizations. The all-volunteer round table has presented the Greater Bran don Fourth of July Parade since the late 1950s. It also holds the annual race for honorary mayor of Brandon, with the title going to the candidate who raises the most money for their selected char ities.

Information about the 2023 race and parade will be updated online at www. thecommunityroundtable.org. Schol arship applications will be available online in the early spring, and also in high school guidance offices. For more information, call the roundtable at 813661-4350.

Care partners of

Ashton Kitchiner Newsome High School

Ashley Johnson Newsome High School

Brock Lopez Strawberry Crest High School

The Sunshine State is home to a diverse array of interesting and unique waterfowl species. One of those is the common gallinule, also known as the common moorhen. Common gallinules are medium sized birds that average around 12-15 in. in length and usually weigh less than a pound. Easily identified by their charcoal gray coloring, chicken-shaped bodies, white feather designs and distinctive red beaks, their most no table feature might be their oversized, yellow legs and feet. These large feet are especially useful for walking atop veg etation found in their desired wetland and marsh habitat.

If you’ve ever been to the Everglades, you are sure to have seen or heard these loud, widely dispersed birds. Found most commonly in wetland environments, they also live in marshes, lakes, ponds and canals that have a decent amount of vegetation for them to hide in and graze on. Common gallinules were made to survive in both freshwater and brack ish wetland habitats with an omnivorous diet that primarily consists of algae, in sects, tadpoles, small fish, seeds, snails and aquatic plants. They are quite buoy ant and very strong swimmers who glide in the water, reminiscent of a duck.

Within the state, these birds can be found year-round as native, breeding residents. Similar to several other bird

species, common gal linules are monoga mous and typically lay between four and 12 eggs per brood. They have around one to two broods per year. Once hatched, the babies are quick to swim and can be found foraging with their mom, who will rear her chicks until they are old enough to fledge. This occurs at around 5 to 7 weeks of age. It is also typical for families to stick together, and older siblings can help raise new ones.

Common gallinules spend the majority of their lives in the water and around the water’s edge. This poses many threats to the species, as common gallinules face the risk of predation from foxes, alliga tors, coyotes and raccoons. They also encounter threats of habitat loss and habitat degradation due to human inter ference, development and pollution. We can help these beautiful, quirky birds by reducing our use of pesticides and her bicides, reducing our consumption and generation of waste and keeping our wa terways clean for generations of species to thrive and survive.

Ali Holton is currently director of FishHawk TNR Inc. She has a master’s in biodiversity, wildlife and ecosystems and 20 years of experience specializing in animal behav ior and conservation. To reach her, email fshhawktnr4@gmail.com.

BRANDON BALLET WINE PAIRING & SUGAR PLUM FAIRY TEA

By Kathy L. Collins

TAMPA BAY VETERANS APPRECIATION WEEKEND IN NOVEMBER

By Taylor Wells

Brandon Bal let’s Season 29 is currently un derway with sev eral upcoming events. Season 29 is going to be an exciting one with events and productions that are good for the whole community.

First, you can support the Brandon Ballet by attending the Wine Pairing en Pointe on Tues day, November 1 from 6-9 p.m. at Bin + Board, located at 805 W. Bloomingdale Ave. in Riverview. You will enjoy an evening of tast ing, pairing and enjoying wine. In addition to good food and drinks, Brandon Ballet will be auctioning of various prizes throughout the night. Proceeds from this annual event benefit Brandon Ballet, a local nonprofit that seeks to bring quality ballet art to the Brandon area. The cost to attend is $75 plus tax.

Next, Brandon Ballet will present its annu al Sugar Plum Fairy Tea on Sunday, Novem ber 6 from 3-5 p.m. at The Regent, located at 6437 Watson Rd. in Riverview. The cost to attend is $17.50 plus tax.

At this sweet event, attendees can get up close with the dancers, who will perform in this year’s production of The Nutcracker. You will get to see and meet the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara, the Nutcracker, the Rat King, the

Snow Queen and dancers from the Spanish Dance.

Dancers will perform small sneak peeks from Brandon Ballet’s upcoming pro duction of The Nutcracker. You will also enjoy sweet and addi tional treats such as cupcakes from Sweetie’s Delights and finger foods provided by Bran don Ballet.

In addition to delectable treats, attendees will get to listen to story time, enjoy a character meet and greet with autographs and pictures and even get a tem porary tattoo. There will also be a rafe featuring a children’s tea set and children’s dance attire. Proceeds from the event and rafe help support the produc tion and performance of Brandon Ballet’s upcoming The Nutcracker production on Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11.

Hannah Townend, administrative director for Brandon Ballet, said, “We want the com munity to know that the teas are a special event for us. These began as just small dance parties held in the studios at The Dance Cen ter and have grown to be the large-scale tea parties our company now knows and loves.”

For more information and to get tickets, please visit www.brandonballet.org or call 813-684-4282.

Local veterans and a coalition of churches and busi nesses recently came together to sponsor a new event, the Tampa Bay Vet erans Appreciation weekend. The coa lition seeks to help veterans transform their lives by of fering information that can improve their circumstances and showing them resources that they may not know they have access to. Vet erans and their fam ilies are encouraged to join in for food, drinks and fellowship as they are given thanks and served in honor of their own service to our country at this completely free event.

The first day will be about spiritual and physical wellness and include a brief sermon by a veteran in our community, haircuts for veterans who need them and medical screenings for high blood pressure and dia betes. The screenings will be accompanied by information cards about early identifica tion and prevention of these diseases, with qualified doctors and nurses on-site to pro vide this service.

The second day is for mental and financial wellness. Guests can expect financial advice workshops with licensed financial planners on-site to provide education and advice; health care planning workshops, which will have a planner available to educate the vet erans about their options and provide re sources; and an entrepreneurship workshop, in which a veteran, who is an entrepreneur,

will provide men torship on how to start a business af ter completing your military career.

Each day, there will also be to-go meals and informa tion packets, which include resourc es like Medicaid options, financial planning and vet eran benefits, to name a few.

“We went through with the VA and a few other veterans associa tions to put togeth er information for the vets that we can give to them in one ro bust packet,” said Maran-Atha Taylor, event coordinator of the coalition, which consists of Renew & Transform Ministries Interna tional, New Foundation Christian Assembly International, Awaken and Transform Minis tries, WeGoAllPlaces LLC, Chosen Business Services, Veterans Medicare Options, Prim erica Financial Services and Merr Art Inc.

Taylor added, “We’re also working with the VA to send a rep out to help the veter ans with registering for services and asking questions that they might have because many people don’t know what all they have access to.”

The event takes place on Saturday, No vember 12 from 12 Noon-4 p.m. and Sunday, November 13 from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Gardenville Park & Recreation Center, locat ed at 6219 Symmes Rd. in Gibsonton. For registration, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/ tampa-bay-veterans-appreciation-tick ets-437240697697.

Photo courtesy of Brandon Ballet editorial photogra pher, Ricardo Romero.

Brandon Ballet, a nonproft ballet company, invites the community to come and support them at two upcoming events in November.

Tree members of the team who will be partici pating in the Tampa Bay Veterans Appreciation weekend: Pastor Ian W. Taylor Sr. (middle) of Re new & Transform Ministries; Pastor Kevin Green (right) of New Foundation Christian Assembly International, who is one of the veterans spear heading the event; and Damian Hatter (left), who will be helping with the meals for the event.

K&H WINDOW TINTING PROVIDES

AND

FROM

By Brad Stager

Opening a car door on a sunny Florida day, even in the winter, can re lease a blast of uncomfortable heat that rang es from toasty to broiling.

One way to avoid those moments of in tense warmth before the air conditioning kicks in is to install high-quality win dow tinting, such as ofered by K&H Window Tinting in Riverview.

K&H installs XPEL ceramic window tinting films, providing maximum protec tion from ultraviolet radiation and are designed to reject heat, which can keep a car’s interior cool and comfortable. XPEL films are also on the list of products rec ommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation that ofer protection from harmful UV rays.

“Window film has many benefits for people who sufer from health conditions such as eye or skin sensitivities from pro longed exposure to the sun,” said K&H owner Chris Phelps.

According to the XPEL website, the company’s proprietary ceramic film for mula can block up to 99 percent of the UV rays that would pass through untreated windows.

Phelps said he learned about the value of high-performance protective window treatments while working at a local auto

dealer.

“Over the course of about six years, I re alized I had learned a skill that was in credibly useful and almost nec essary in Flori da. From there, I no longer saw it as just a job, I wanted to start making a name for myself,” he stated.

That dedicated sense of purpose has yielded a solid reputation, as evidenced by the company’s Facebook page, with more than 1,300 likes and followers expressing interest in the subject of window tinting and showing satisfaction with their re sults by awarding K&H Window Tinting a 4.9 overall satisfaction rating.

“Building my business from the ground up, using the basic fundamentals of qual ity products and unmatched customer service, I have found a comfortable niche here in our area, providing comfort and re lief to my clientele,” explained Phelps.

K&H Window Tinting is not a mobile service. Work is performed at the compa ny’s location, 10218 Summerview Cir. in Riverview.

You can learn more about the benefits window tinting provides by visiting the K&H Window Tinting Facebook page at www.facebook.com/khtinting/ or its web site at https://kandhauto.business.site. You can also call 813-322-2277 to sched ule a convenient appointment.

K&H Window Tinting owner Chris Phelps installs win dow tinting on a Tesla Y’s panoramic sunroof.

New Friends. New Beginnings.

COUNTY LAUNCHES DUFFELS OF DIGNITY TO HELP AT-RISK YOUTH

Hillsborough Coun ty Children’s Services launched its Dufels of Dignity program on Octo ber 10. The program will collect donations of new or gently used dufel bags, suitcases and personal care items for children in foster care or who are es caping domestic violence and homelessness.

Hillsborough County Children’s Services as sists many local children who are in traumatic sit uations, facing homelessness or in need of emergency shelter. Often, these children do not have proper luggage to store their be longings and instead use garbage bags to carry their few personal items. Foster care youth in Hillsborough County face similar needs. To help these children and ofer them a bit of courage and dignity, Children’s Ser vices has launched its Dufels of Dignity pro gram and is now accepting donations.

Donations accepted include:

• New or gently used dufel bags (24-28 inches), suitcases (wheelie bags, suitcases with handles) and backpacks are all accept ed.

• Personal care items.

• Toothbrushes and toothpaste.

• Combs and brushes.

• Shampoo and conditioner.

• Deodorant.

All personal care items should be new and in their original packaging.

Dufels of Dignity also has an Amazon Wish List, which is linked at www.hillsbor oughcounty.org/en/residents/social-ser vices/children/dufels-of-dignity. Items or

Staf Report

dered from the wish list will be mailed directly to the Chil dren’s Services cam pus.

“The idea was to create a program that Hillsborough County Children’s Services would do a year-round col lection of new and gently used luggage, dufel bags and per sonal care items and provide them to atrisk youth and children in foster care. These kids have gone through so much, and the trauma they have experienced is severe. It’s important that they get something of their very own and know they are loved. Arriving at a new home with their own dufel bag or suitcase helps provide them with a little sense of dignity during one of the most dif ficult times in their young lives”, said Craig Jewesak, administrative services coordina tor with Hillsborough County Children’s Ser vices. Each bag will have a special label with their name on it as well.

Donations can be dropped of Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at Hillsbor ough County Children’s Services Adminis trative Ofce, located at 3191 Clay Mangum Ln. in Tampa. There will be signs directing people to the ‘Dufels of Dignity Drop-of Location.’

Children’s Services has also partnered with local nonprofits Mary & Martha House and The Spring of Tampa Bay, which help women and their children escape domestic violence. For more information, visit www. hcflgov.net/dufelsofdignity.

GIVE KIDS THE WORLD’S NIGHT OF A MILLION LIGHTS RETURNS FOR YEAR THREE AT ISLAND H2O

Named by USA Today the “Number One Thing To Do in December in Orlando” when it debuted in 2020, Night of a Million Lights is back for its third year in a spectacular new venue, Is land H2O Water Park, from Friday, November 11 through January 1, 2023.

The park will be trans formed into a dazzling winter wonderland featuring mil lions of lights, luminous dis plays, festive family activities and nightly performances by Dueling Pianos Jingle and Jangle and the strolling a cappella group Santa’s Dancing Reindeer, with DJ Jack Frost Ice Block Party leading an interactive holiday hits dance par ty. The Emmy Award-winning RWS Enter tainment Group will once again partner with Give Kids The World Village (GKTW Village) and Island H2O to produce the event.

Guests can view the lights, watch an allnew dancing lights show on a 5-story wa terslide, visit an interactive children’s holi day activities space, interact with strolling performers, explore themed lightscapes and create priceless holiday memories during visits with Santa.

Proceeds from Night of a Million Lights will benefit GKTW Village, an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort that provides critically ill children and their families from around the world with magical, weeklong, no-cost wish vacations. Discounts are avail

able for groups of 25 or more and Island H2O season pass holders. VIP ex periences, spon sorships and volunteer and vendor oppor tunities are also available.

“It has been a privilege to welcome in the public for a glimpse into our storybook Village during the holidays the past two years. Howev er, in order to preserve the life-changing experience we provide to wish families as increased numbers of guests are able to visit, we have made the decision to move Night of a Mil lion Lights of-site — and truly appreciate Island H2O Water Park’s generosity, hospi tality and support,” said GKTW President and CEO Pamela Landwirth.

“It’s an honor to help Give Kids The World deliver happiness and hope to critically ill children and their families by hosting Central Florida’s most popular new holiday tradition at Island H2O Water Park,” said Island H2O general manager Jim Kunau. “We invite the entire community to join us at Night of a Million Lights at Island H2O for 52 nights of family fun, live performances, delicious food and holiday cheer while helping to make wishes come true for families in our commu nity and around the world.”

Island H2O Water Park is located at 3230 Inspiration Dr. in Kissimmee. For more in formation and tickets, visit www.gktw.org/ lights.

Some of the bags and suitcases collected since the launch on October 10.