Brandon/Winthrop
41
November 2023
Volume 18, Issue 11
Ph: 813-657-2418
On Page 4
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CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
OSPREY OBSERVER EDITOR NOW BRANDON HIGH RECOGNIZES 14 ON MENU WITH SPECIAL BURGER FALLEN GRADUATES AT WAR AT FORD’S GARAGE BRANDON MEMORIAL DEDICATION Staff Report
Community leaders and local chambers gather for the launch of the Marie Gilmore, Osprey Observer Editor - BBQ Brisket Burger at Ford’s Garage Brandon.
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Ford’s Garage, an all-American, service-station-inspired gastro pub has a new burger on its menu named for Marie Gilmore, editor and publisher of the Osprey Observer Newspapers. The BBQ brisket burger is now a member of the Burgers of Fame menu which names burgers after community leaders, including Tampa Sheriff Chad Chronister, Mayor Jane Castor and more. Gilmore was honored with the naming, which includes her name on the Burgers of Fame menu boards throughout the restaurant and on every menu. “This is such a huge honor,” said Gilmore during a launch event at the restaurant with local chambers of commerce, honorary mayors and dignitaries. “I am so proud to have been considered for such a distinct honor and to join the ranks of some amazing community leaders.” General manager Bryan Saunders, who has been a reader of the Osprey Observerfor more than 18 years, said, “When Osprey team member Kerrie Hoening brought up the idea of Marie as a Burger of Fame member, we thought it was a great idea. This program is our opportunity to honor community leaders.” Founded in 2012, the original Ford’s Garage opened in Fort Myers, less than
a mile from Henry Ford’s winter home. Today, as an official licensee of the Ford Motor Company, the restaurant pays tribute to America’s most iconic automobile brand by offering a truly historic dining experience — right down to nostalgic auto shop uniforms and the hand-hammered copper bar top at each of its locations. The Marie Gilmore, Osprey Observer Editor - BBQ Briskey Burger is a Black Angus burger with Tillamook® aged sharp cheddar cheese, bourbon barbecue sauce, hickory smoked brisket, applewood smoked bacon, red onions and crispy onion straws on a brioche bun. Based in Tampa, Ford’s Garage currently has locations in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Texas. Ford’s Garage’s sister restaurants include Yeoman’s Topgolf Swing Suite, Tiki Docks, Don the Beachcomber, The Firestone, Capone’s Coal Fired Pizza, Cabos Cantina, The Lodge, the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill, Downtown Social House, Izzy’s Fish & Oyster, all located in Florida. Ford’s Garage Brandon is located in the Lake Brandon Plaza at 11105 Causeway Blvd. in Brandon. For more information, visit https://fordsgarageusa.com/ or www.23restaurants.com/company.
REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
Welcome to our annual holiday edition. This year, more than ever, our locally-owned small businesses need our support. Throughout this edition our advertisers have been getting into the holiday spirit and we are launching our annual Shop Local Holiday Sweepstakes! Enter online at www.ospreyobserver. com or mail in the entry form on page 39. Early Bird prizes include gorgeous jewelry from McAuley Fine Jewelry, a set of 4 tires from Express Oil & Tire Engineers of Riverview and a fishing charter from True Lies Fishing Charters.
By Linda Chion
Fourteen Brandon gotten off the ground High School graduates without [Sparano’s] have been immortalsupport.” ized in a war memorial Also in the auditoat their alma mater, in rium were family and tribute to their ultimate friends of many of the sacrifice on battlefields fallen soldiers, whose far from home. names are etched in Brandon High School alumni (left to Nine of ‘the 14 fallbronze on the white right) Donald Gunn (Class of ’48) James en’ soldiers recognized memorial wall. Also Powell and his mother, Helen Mulrennan at the memorial dedposted are a largeYoung (’42), with past Brandon High ication ceremony on principals (right to left) Denny Oest, Jen- scale bronze eagle (the November 2 fought in nifer Sparano and Leslie Granich. Current school’s mascot) and World War II. Four of a 1960 bronze plaque Principal Jeremy Klein sports a bow tie. the soldiers fought in Vietnam, 1965-70. The taken from the 1914 Brandon school, now youngest of the 14 honorees, Richard Batson, McLane. It reads in part, “As the eagle soars 18, graduated in 1943 and died in the Sep- to greatness, near its wings we fly.” tember 1944 invasion of the island of Peleliu. Recognized World War II soldiers include The oldest of the 14 slain soldiers, Kevin Grant Chadwell (’35), who died at age 26 in Smith, 28, graduated in 1995 and died on 1943; Ronald Morris (’38), age 22, 1942; Ray December 8, 2005, leading a convoy of vehi- Simmons (’39), age 23, 1945; George Dukes cles near the Tigris River to repair an electric (’40), age 22, 1944; Charles Ragsdale (’42), tower in Baghdad. He is the sole soldier to age 19, 1943; Bert Sauls (’42), age 19, 1943; be recognized for service in Operation Iraqi Donald Trout (’43), age 20, 1945; and Darrell Freedom, and the only soldier to have attend- Whidden (’43), age 19, 1945. ed Brandon High on Victoria Street, which Honored for paying the ultimate sacrifice opened in 1972. The original Brandon school, in Vietnam are 21-year-olds Daniel Abney built in 1914, is where McLane Middle School (’65), who died in 1969; Thomas Harris (’66), operates today. It’s slated to close at the end in 1968; and Roger Langford (’66), in 1969. of the school year. Charles Anthony Connell (’68) died in 1970 Brandon High graduate Lt. Col. Donald at age 19. Gunn (Class of ’86), a 24-year U.S. Army vetChadwell Supply, which built the memorieran and the school’s senior U.S. Army JROTC al wall and attached sidewalks, and assisted instructor, researched for seven years the in the installation of the large, bronze eagle, fallen soldiers’ backgrounds, which he read in was a major memorial contributor, along part in the school auditorium. Gunn fought in with Brandon Elks Lodge #2383. Additional Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi funding came from the Brandon High Alumni Freedom. His father, Donald Gunn (’48), sat Association, the Brandon High Army JROTC in the first row next to centenarian Helen Battalion, the Hillsborough County Veterans Mulrennan Young (’42). Council and the Marine Corps League. As the younger Gunn noted, “they are Visit Brandon High at 1101 Victoria St. in among our last links to our World War II Brandon and online at www.hillsboroughcasualties, remembering them as students schools.org/brandon. Call 813-744-8120. before they left for the war.” Also at the dedication ceremony were Brandon band and JROTC participants, students and alumni, as well as Principal Jeremy LADIES CHRISTMAS COFFEE PG 3 Klein and three of his predecessors, Denny REGISTER TO VOTE ..........................PG 7 Oest, Leslie Granich and Jennifer Sparano. FAMILY TRADITIONS ....................PG 11 The younger Gunn said past Principal Orlan EYE ON BUSINESS................PGS 25-26 Briant sent his regards and that the memorial in its planning stages “would have never HIKING SPREE .................................PG 30
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