Osprey Observer Brandon/Winthrop April 2023

HIGH 5 INC. TO HOST FREE COMMUNITY EVENT FOR 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

High 5 Inc. is celebrating its 60th anniversary on Saturday, May 20 with free activities and games for the community and the dedication of their new memorial garden.

The event will be held to celebrate 60 years of teaching community members of all ages how to swim and be safe in the water. High 5 will host games, guest speakers, activities and food for those who come to the celebration.

“This will be a free community event where not only will we be celebrating 60 years of impact and driving our mission in the Brandon community and beyond, but we will also be hosting our Blue Wave Swim-A-Thon, Candy Corsi Memorial Garden Dedication, Pool Project Dedication [and] celebrating National Learn to Swim Day,” said director of family experience Jada Spano.

The Memorial Garden will be dedicated to Candy Corsi, former director of Training and Recreation for the Intellectually Disabled, Enhancing Their Natural Talents (TRIDENT), who passed away in 2021.

“Her two sons still remain in the program today, and High 5/Team TRIDENT wanted to create a way to celebrate her forever,” said Spano. “… All proceeds benefit our

By Lily Belcher

special-needs education pillar by providing supplies and resources for projects just like this one.”

Team TRIDENT has learned hydroponics and basic craftsmanship skills during the construction of the memorial garden. While the garden is still being built, it will be dedicated at the event to encourage the community to visit in the future.

In addition to six decades of teaching individuals how to swim, High 5 has served the community with an emphasis on its five pillars: after-school, learn to swim, special-needs education, sports and recreation and community partnerships.

“We encourage families, friends, athletes, past/present program participants, community leaders and businesses, and everyone else, to come enjoy this memorable day with us,” said Spano.

The anniversary celebration will take place at the High 5 facility from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. High 5 is located of U.S. Highway 60 on Beverly Boulevard.

To donate to the memorial garden, visit https://qtego.net/donate/trident. For more information on the nonprofit organization, visit their website at www.high5inc.org or call 813-689-0908.

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2ND ECHO THRIFT STORE OPENING ON BLOOMINGDALE THIS MONTH

Finding a good home for things you don’t use anymore is a solid move any time of year. Donate items to ECHO’s new thrift store and you will be giving to people in crisis in our community.

ECHO’s mission is to assist residents of Hillsborough County in crisis with emergency food and clothing, ofering life-stabilizing programs and resources. ECHO has two resource centers, one in Brandon and one in Riverview. Its Brandon thrift store has provided clothing and housewares for the resource centers since 2021.

A second ECHO Thrift store is opening on Thursday, April 27 on Bloomingdale Avenue. The additional space will allow ECHO to process more donations, support more neighbors in need and create additional funding for ECHO’s many community initiatives.

ECHO Thrift’s manager, Annmarie Macaluso, loves the mission and community focus of ECHO.

“ECHO is community-based. We live here. We work here. We help here,” Macaluso said.

According to Macaluso, the new Bloomingdale store will primarily support the Riverview resource center. The support process will be the same as it has been for the Brandon resource center. Resource centers send invoices of what they need, the thrift stores fill the items and then they are picked up and taken to the centers daily. Leftover items at the thrift stores are sold, and the profits support

By Jane Owen

ECHO’s programming.

Macaluso explained that the new store provides more giveback to what ECHO is already doing but beyond that, it gives back to this area of the community.

“I look at our thrift store as its own give back to the community. We try to keep things here reasonable. People can come and shop and find nice things for their family. A lot of people are struggling who might not need assistance, but things are a little tight and we are more afordable,” Macaluso said.

ECHO’s Bloomingdale thrift store is located at 815 W. Bloomingdale Ave. It is open from 10 a.m.6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Donation hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on those days.

Donations of clothing and housewares are accepted. Baby seats, large toys and furniture (with the exception of small accent pieces) cannot be donated.

To learn more about ECHO, visit https:// echofl.org/. For specific thrift store information, select the “ECHO Thrift” tab on the website.

IN THIS ISSUE:

GOLF CLINIC PG 3

ELAPP PRESERVATION PG 5

RUNNING OF THE BULLS...............PG 9

EYE ON BUSINESS.........................PG 33

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE SEC 2

Te Raptor Center of Tampa Bay (RCTB) is a nonproft organization dedicated to the creation and maintenance of a wildlife facility designed for the care, treatment and rehabilitation of birds of prey and other wildlife. Visit its website, www.raptorcenteroftampabay.org. See full article on page 37.

A second ECHO Trift store is opening on Tursday, April 27 on Bloomingdale Avenue and will help ECHO to support more neighbors in need.

Annmarie Macaluso, ECHO Trift store manager, at ECHO’s new Bloomingdale thrift store.

Join High 5, Inc. on Saturday May 20th, 2023 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m for its 60th Anniversary Celebration.

If you would like to donate to the memorial gardens, please scan the QR code.

ADULT CARE CENTER RECEIVES BASKETBALL COURT GIFT

Margaret Montgomery is a local author and owner of Destiny Quality Care in Brandon. She has worked in the healthcare field for more than 30 years. She retired from the H. Lee Moftt Cancer Center of 27 years.

Montgomery is also an allied healthcare instructor and has taught in the field of allied health for 13 years.

“Destiny Quality Care is an up and coming ‘Life Enrichment Training Day Program’ for persons with disabilities,”

Destiny Quality Care’s motto is serving and caring with excellence. Recently, the organization was served with a gift of love and care from some local Brandon residents.

LPGA’S KRISTY MCPHERSON HOLDS GOLF CLINIC AT FREEDOM PLAZA FOR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS

By Libby Hopkins

Thanks to the Cribbs’ Destiny Quality Care’s consumers have a basketball court that displays the court, four square and hopscotch on the organization’s property. “We did not ask for this blessing,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery said. “We are located in the heart of Brandon.”

Destiny Quality Care’s motto is serving and caring with excellence. Recently, Montgomery and her staf were served with a gift of love and care from some local Brandon residents. “These days, it seems like we hear of so many bad and horrible things that involve police ofcers, Montgomery said. “The mother of one of our consumers is a master deputy for Hillsborough County Sherif ’s Ofce. It was placed upon Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Cribbs’ heart to donate and create a basketball court for the individuals that attend Destiny Quality Care. Our center is located on approximately four acres of land, however, we still had to drive the consumers to our local park for them to partake in playing basketball, foursquare and hopscotch among other outside activities.”

“This couple took it upon themselves to make this donation, which Mr. Cribbs did the work. I am so grateful for this basketball court along with my ‘precious gems’ which is what I call them. They are jewels and gems to me.”

The smiles on Montgomery’s consumers’ faces when they saw the new court were priceless to Montgomery and her staf. “We have approximately 25 consumers,” Montgomery said. “When I see them playing on the court, it brings tears to my eyes because they are able to participate in various activities all at once. Now, they do not have to go five days a week to the Brandon Recreation Center to play basketball. The clients can now play foursquare, hopscotch and basketball right here at our facility.”

If you’d like to learn more about Destiny Quality Care, you can visit their website at www.destinyqualitycare.org. Destiny Quality Care is located at 711 N. Parsons Ave. in Bradon.

Kristy McPherson, LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) tour professional, recently held a golf clinic at Freedom Fairways, an 18-hole executive golf course and putting green, located within the Freedom Plaza community. For the event, Freedom Plaza also contributed $500 to the Arthritis National Research Foundation on behalf of McPherson.

“Last year, we were honored to have Kristy join a few of our associates for a round of golf on the Freedom Fairways, and we are thrilled that she decided to come back to hold an event that means a lot to our residents,” said Freedom Plaza director of golf and hospitality Ron Larkin. “Not every day do people have the opportunity to learn from one of the best.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the golf clinic with Kristy McPherson, who ofered great pointers and advice,” said Law, a resident of Freedom Plaza. “Freedom Fairways is one of my favorite amenities of our community, so I take every opportunity to get on the course, especially to improve my swing.”

At age 11, McPherson was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which has now transitioned to adult rheumatoid arthritis, and was told she would never play competitive sports again. Despite the odds, McPherson’s determination led her to compete at the highest level in pro golf.

“We are thankful to have Kristy back at Freedom Plaza, and we are proud to support her mission to find a cure for arthritis through research,” said Freedom Plaza director of marketing and sales Iris Martin. “Kristy’s story is very inspiring, and we stand with her goal to ofer those who sufer from arthritis the chance for productive, pain-free lives, as this is something that impacts many of our residents.”

Attendees of the clinic included Freedom Plaza residents, as well as members of the Freedom Fairways Golf Course Pro Shop. At the clinic, Freedom Plaza provided food and beverages for all attendees to enjoy while learning how to improve their game in the great sport of golf.

Freedom Plaza is a vibrant life care community in Sun City Center set on 140 acres of landscaped grounds. Along with its golf course and putting green, it also features a private lake and walking trails. Just minutes from both Tampa and Sarasota, residents enjoy a maintenance-free retirement lifestyle with resort-inspired services and amenities. Freedom Plaza’s pet-friendly community features over 400 independent living residences, ranging from studio to one and two-bedroom apartment residences. It also ofers assisted living residences; skilled nursing, including private rehabilitation suites; and memory care. Visit https://freedomplaza.com/ for more information.

LPGA tour professional Kristy McPherson (right), Freedom Plaza director of golf and hospitality Ron Larkin (middle) and director of marketing and sales Iris Martin (left), who holds a $500 check to the Arthritis National Research Foundation.

HILLSBOROUGH LEADS STATE IN LOCAL PRESERVATION EFFORTS

By Brian Bokor

volunteer committees involved in every key aspect of the program.

Ofcially renamed in 2014 for former county commissioner and lifelong advocate for environmental protection Jan K. Platt (19782002), the ELAPP history project was funded by a generous donation from Gus Muench, a commercial crabber for 25 years, driving force behind the creation of the Cockroach Bay Users Group and the president of the Little Manatee Preservation Committee.

Development fueled by population growth has been an ongoing issue for the past few years with Hillsborough County estimated to be home to over 1.5 million residents, a head count that is higher than 12 states and the largest in Florida outside of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Lost in all this is the fact that “Hillsborough County has the largest local preservation program in the state of Florida. Other counties may have more land, but a majority of that land is federal. When it comes to local dollars, no other county comes close to Hillsborough. And that’s all thanks to our citizens voting to fund the program three times,” explained Ross B. Dickerson, division manager of Environmental Lands Management.

The program he speaks of is the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP). Beginning as a local response to rapid development and habitat loss, ELAPP continues to preserve wildlife corridors in this highly urbanized region.

ELAPP was born in 1987 as referendum county voters overwhelmingly chose to dedicate funding to purchase environmentally sensitive lands. The program acquires parcels only from willing sellers and is voluntary and nonregulatory. Anyone can nominate a property for ELAPP consideration, which triggers a review by county staf and the public ELAPP committee. Voters chose to expand the program in 1990, and again in 2008. It is a citizen-based program with

ELAPP has protected 64,530 acres of rare and important habitat in Hillsborough County. Many of our county’s 32 nature preserves were purchased in collaboration with other agencies, leveraging nearly one-third of the funds for acquisition from non-ELAPP sources and major restoration eforts with partners such as the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Information on all 32 can be found by visiting www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/residents/ recreation-and-culture/parks/find-a-park.

Additionally, Dickerson explained how the ELAPP program has provided unincorporated Hillsborough County residents with a 25 percent saving on their flood insurance premiums. “The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program that rewards communities who implement floodplain management activities beyond the minimum federal requirements with discounts to flood insurance premiums for their residents,” said Dickerson.

Currently, unincorporated Hillsborough County is a Class 5 community, which corresponds to a 25 percent discount for all residents on their flood insurance premiums. This equates to approximately $5.9 million annually. One of the creditable activities under the CRS program is ‘Open Space Preservation.’ ELAPP and associated preserved lands are integral in obtaining meaningful credit for us in this activity and help us in achieving our overall rating of Class 5.

For additional information, visit www. hillsboroughcounty.org/en/residents/recreation-and-culture/conservation/elapp or email dickersonr@hillsboroughcounty.org.

ALEXSTRONG FOUNDATION HOSTS BASS TOURNAMENT TO SUPPORT YOUNG NOLA SALLING

The AlexStrong Foundation is hosting its seventh annual Bass Tournament to support a local Gibsonton kid battling leukemia on Saturday, May 13.

Nola Salling has been battling leukemia for two years now since being diagnosed at 5 years old. She is receiving treatment from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee. Salling and her family are hoping she can get healthy enough to receive a bone marrow transplant to help fight the cancer.

“This is our seventh annual fishing tournament, and with these tournaments, and other fundraisers and the support of the community, we have been able to donate over $150,000 to local families in need,” said AlexStrong founder Lori Sumner.

The Bass Tournament will take place at the Grape Hammock Fish Camp on Lake Kissimmee, located at 1400 Grape Hammock Rd. in Lake Wales, for $60 per boat for one or two participants. The tournament will start at first safe light, followed by a weigh-in at 2 p.m. Participants can preregister on Facebook or register in person the morning of the event. Each pair can catch up to six bass, and first through third-place winners will receive a cash prize.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR SUMMER 2023 SEMESTER AT HCC

By Lily Belcher

Following the fishing tournament, the AlexStrong Foundation will host a rafe. The rafe will have a mix of fishing/hunting gear, gift baskets, gift cards, kid items and other prizes.

In addition to raising money for Salling through the tournament and rafe, the AlexStrong Foundation is accepting individual donations and corporate sponsorships. Sponsor logos will be displayed on a banner at the event. All donations and sponsorships are tax-deductible.

“We are so thankful to the people that continue to donate and help support our mission to pay forward all the kindness that was shown to our family when Alex was sick. We love keeping his memory alive by helping other families,” said Lori.

The AlexStrong Foundation was started in memory of Alex Sumner, who died of cancer in 2017. The foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports families with children facing life-threatening illnesses. The money raised at the Bass Tournament will go to the Salling family to help fund treatments.

For more information on the AlexStrong Foundation or this year’s Bass Tournament and rafe, visit its Facebook page or contact Lori at 813-493-2557.

Summer 2023 registration is open for all new and returning students at Hillsborough Community College (HCC). Classes begin on Monday, May 15 online and at all campus and satellite locations. Registration is available at www.hccfl.edu/ registernow for existing students. Registration and application information for new students can be found at www.hccfl.edu/ admissions.

HCC ofers flexible class schedules and course delivery options, which allow students to study at their own pace without compromising their work or family obligations. Options include:

• On-campus, with face-to-face instruction and scheduled class meetings at one of HCC’s five campuses or satellite locations.

• Hybrid courses, which combine in-person and online delivery.

• Simulcast courses, which combine online video conferencing and an on-campus component.

• Online, with live class meetings. Faculty and students are online at the same time for the class meetings with additional online work done on their own.

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• Online, with no mandatory live class meetings. Instructor communication and feedback is through Canvas.

• Flexible-start courses that start at various times throughout the semester, including one 12-week session, one 10-week session, one eightweek session and three five-week sessions.

Tuition at HCC is significantly less than the cost of public universities, private colleges and for-profit institutions. The college was recently listed as the only Florida college with the lowest net price among other U.S. two-year public institutions, via the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

Hillsborough Community College serves more than 42,000 students annually at its five campuses located throughout Tampa Bay. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. For more information, visit the college website www.hccfl.edu.

Summer 2023 classes begin on Monday, May 15 at Hillsborough Community College. Registration is open for all new and returning students at all its satellite and campus locations, including Brandon, Te Regent, SouthShore and Plant City.

Te AlexStrong Foundation is raising money to support 7-year-old Nola Salling, who is battling leukemia.

COMMUNITY ASKED TO SHARE VISION FOR FUTURE OF UNINCORPORATED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WITH SURVEY

With its enduring natural beauty, unique charm, and diversity, Unincorporated Hillsborough County is attracting national attention and unprecedented growth, both regionally and locally, as we expect an additional 350,000 people and 107,000 jobs by 2045. While the success of the county brings many benefits to our communities, its growth also creates a series of challenges for current and future residents, businesses and visitors.

Those who live, work or play in unincorporated Hillsborough County are invited to provide their vision for the future in a brief interactive online survey. Public comments will be used to update the Future Land Use (FLU) Section of the Unincorporated Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan. This update will serve as a guide to how and where we will grow over the next 20-plus years. The Comprehensive Plan touches nearly every facet of our lives — where we live and work, what transportation choices we have, opportunities for recreation and how to protect our natural assets, neighborhood character and vital resources.

FLU is a specific section within the plan that describes the future land use map that outlines allowable density or intensity for a particular area. It’s a community’s blueprint for growth which outlines how the land can be used to facilitate the community’s vision.

“We hear a lot about the rapid growth occurring throughout our community from unincorporated county residents,” said Melissa Zornitta, FAICP. “This is an opportunity to weigh in on our future plans — we really want to hear from everyone.”

Community input is essential to accurately reflect the desires of those who live in Unincorporated Hillsborough County. The survey will be open through Sunday, April 30 and is available in both English and Spanish. Those who complete the survey and provide their email and home zip code will be eligible for a drawing for one of five $100 Publix gift cards.

The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission has also scheduled the first public meeting on Tuesday, April 25 at 6 p.m., which will cover the goals and discuss upcoming potential changes to the Future Land Use Section. Please register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7041797360852685917. There will be additional opportunities for the public to weigh in at virtual and in-person community meetings this spring and summer, and at meetings of the planning commission and board of county commissioners.

Visit https://planhillsborough.org/hclanduse/. To view the current Comprehensive Plan for Unincorporated Hillsborough County, visit bit.ly/hccompplan.

FINANCIAL

FOCUS SHOULD INVESTORS ‘GO IT ALONE’?

If you’re going to enjoy a comfortable retirement, you should know, among other things, how much money you’ll need. And you may have a much better chance of knowing this if you get some professional help.

Consider these fndings from a 2021 study by Dalbar, a fnancial services market research frm:

• Investors who worked with a fnancial advisor were three times more likely to estimate what they would have saved at retirement than “do-it-yourself” investors.

• More than two-thirds of investors with a fnancial advisor were satisfed with the amount they would have saved at retirement, compared to about 27% of the do-it-yourselfers.

How do fnancial professionals help their clients in these ways?

First, consider the issue of determining how much money will be needed for retirement. It’s not always easy for individuals to estimate this amount. But fnancial professionals can help clients like you arrive at this fgure by exploring your hopes and goals. How long do you plan to work? What kind of lifestyle do you anticipate enjoying in retirement? Where would you like to live? How much would you like to travel? Are you open to pursuing earned income opportunities, such as consulting or working part time?

Next comes the other key question: How much money will be available for retirement? This big question leads to many others: How much do you need to save and invest each year until you retire? About what sort of investment return will you need to reach your retirement income goals? What level of risk are you willing to take to achieve that return? What is the role of other

income sources such as Social Security or any pensions you might have?

Having a fnancial professional help you gain a clear idea of your retirement income picture can certainly be reassuring. But there may be other reasons why “going it alone” as an investor might not be desirable.

For example, when the fnancial markets are down, as was the case for much of 2022, some investors make decisions based on short-term volatility, such as selling investments to “cut their losses,” even if these same investments still have solid business fundamentals and good prospects for growth. But if you work with a fnancial professional, you might decide to stick with these investments, especially if they’re still appropriate for your long-term strategy. Other times, of course, the advice may be diferent — but it will always be advice based on your goals, needs and time horizon.

Furthermore, if you’re investing on your own, you may always be measuring your results against the major market indexes, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But in reality, your portfolio should contain a wide range of investments, some of which aren’t contained in these indexes, so you might not be assessing your performance appropriately. A fnancial professional can help you develop your own, more meaningful benchmarks that can show the progress you’re actually making toward your goals.

In some areas of life, going it alone can be exciting — but when it comes to investing for your future, you may beneft from some company on the journey.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Te frst page of the survey for the unincorporated Hillsborough County Future Land Use update. It is open until Sunday, April 30.

BRANDON BALLET TO PERFORM SLEEPING BEAUTY

The Brandon Ballet will perform Beauty

April 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Riverview High School, located at 11311 Boyette Rd. in Riverview. The per formance of Beauty its 29th season, the Season of Discovery. Come see the talent ed young dancers of the Brandon Ballet as they perform this Tchaikovsky classic.

Tickets are $35 for adults, $25 for children and seniors and $15 for homeschool groups and students.

Sleeping Beauty

By Kathy L. Collins

Aurora will not die but instead fall into an enchanted sleep until a prince awakens her with a kiss.

Courtney Moody, a professional dancer with the Brandon Ballet, will perform the lead role with technical mastery and artistic expression. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this family-friendly production of a well-loved classic tale.

Everyone knows the tale of Sleeping Beauty . The young heroine begins the tale as a sweet baby. In celebration of her new life, her parents throw her a party, inviting all of the kingdom’s finest people. Their guests wish her a good life, and four fairies bestow upon her magical gifts of character.

In an evil rage, the witch, Carabosse, casts a curse on the child: On her 16th birthday, Aurora will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The Lilac fairy dashes in to change the curse, making it so that

On her 16th birthday, the kingdom is gathered to celebrate her coming of age. Many gifts are bestowed upon her. The evil witch, Carabosse, sneaks in and gifts the child a spindle. To her parents’ horror, she loves the mysterious thing and dances with it until she pricks her finger. She is cast into a long sleep. Many years later, a young prince, Desiree, is wandering in the forest. Will he be the savior to the heroine and her subjects? Join the dancers of Brandon Ballet to watch this story unfold before your eyes and witness the magical awakening of the kingdom.

Hannah Townend, administrative director for the Brandon Ballet, said, “We exist to create a place where young and professional dancers can enjoy and express their love of dance in an excellent and professional way. From the youngest performers — our extras are as young as 7 — to our professional dancers, we strive to display excellence and joy in every event and production we bring to the Brandon area.”

For more information or to purchase tickets to Sleeping Beauty , please visit www.brandonballet.org/events/.

BLOOMINGDALE’S RUNNING OF THE BULLS 5K RETURNS IN MAY

The Running of the Bulls 5K is on Saturday, May 20 at Bloomingdale High School.

The 5K is a favorite community event bringing in runners and walkers from all over the area, along with current students and BSHS alumni. Participants will enjoy the race knowing they are making a diference for students.

The 5K supports the Bloomingdale band and is made possible by local business sponsorships, such as premium sponsors Acropolis Greek Taverna in Riverview and The Jeep Depot.

Nick Baxter, 2022 race winner, is enthusiastic about running the race again. He said there are many reasons why he enjoys the Running of the Bulls 5K.

“Running of the Bulls is a great race and I’m excited to get back to the on-campus course this year. It’s always very well organized and has a fun community atmosphere with the drumline, local vendors and student volunteers. Plus, it always has some very speedy high school kids to test yourself against. On top of all that, the race supports the high school band and it’s always good to race locally where it helps the community. I look forward

By Jane Owen

to racing it again,” Baxter said.

Jon Sever, supervisor of secondary music for Hillsborough County schools and former Bloomingdale band director, said the 5K provides invaluable support for Bloomingdale’s band. Sever enjoys how the event brings the community and band together. He explained that the band students and families volunteer for the race, and the race participants are supporting the band program.

“The 5K reaches part of our community that in turn supports the Bloomingdale band. It’s reciprocal because the event brings together two interest groups helping each other,” Sever said.

The Running of the Bulls 5K starts at 8 a.m. It starts and finishes on the track and uses the sidewalks, roads and parking lots on campus. Registered participants receive a Dri-FIT shirt and finishers receive medals. The race is timed by Bay City Timing, and the winners of each age group receive medals. Registration is $35.

To register for the 5K visit, https:// raceroster.com/events/2023/72397/running-of-the-bulls-5k.

For information, email bloomingdalebulls5k@gmail.com.

APPLICATIONS

FOR MENTORING PROGRAM WITH COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY OPEN FOR LOW-INCOME

The Hillsborough Education Foundation’s (HEF) Take Stock in Children (TSIC) mentoring program is designed to give at risk students the opportunity to attend college. HEF is accepting applications from students in seventh or eighth grade. The deadline to apply is Monday, May 15.

STUDENTS

By Kathy L. Collins

opportunity to earn a Florida Prepaid Scholarship if they maintain a 2.5 GPA, attend biweekly meetings with their mentor, stay drug and crime-free and exhibit good behavior.

Te

Education Foundation’s (HEF) Take Stock in Children (TSIC) mentoring program pairs adult mentors with at-risk students to help them graduate high school and provide an opportunity to attend college. Shown here are mentor Dr. Marie Whelan and her mentee, Joseph’Lafay.

TSIC, a Florida nonprofit, was established in 1995. It is independently managed in each county. HEF manages the TSIC program for Hillsborough County and has been enrolling students since 1996. HEF administers the application process, recruits the mentors, monitors students’ academic progress and mentor interaction, raises funds to support the mentoring program and provides scholarships to students upon high school graduation and completion of the program. The Florida Department of Education, foundations and donors provide funding for the program. Every dollar that is raised is matched dollar-for-dollar by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.

In order to qualify for the program, students must be in seventh or eighth grade, be enrolled in a Hillsborough County Public School, qualify for free or reduced lunches (income) and have an unweighted GPA of 2.5.

Students who are accepted into the program are paired with a success coach and an adult mentor. Students have the

Anna Corman, HEF’s chief program ofcer, said, “Students in our program face challenges that may prevent them from graduating high school or going to college. Our scholars are committed to working hard and maintaining their grades in hopes for a brighter future. Many of our students are without positive role models to help guide them through the challenges in school and in life. Their environment may lack emotional or educational support. For some students, they are the first in their family to go to college or even graduate high school. We are looking for students who can benefit from the motivation and accountability that mentors can provide.”

Since 1996, more than 1,200 students in Hillsborough County have been supported by the program. For the past three years, 100 percent of seniors in the program have graduated. Compare that with the graduation rate of 83 percent for atrisk students in 2022.

To apply, visit www.educationfoundation.com/tsic-scholarships. For information, including on how to become a mentor, contact Corman at 813-463-4283 or acorman@educationfoundation.com.

Hillsborough

2022 Running of the Bulls Overall Winner Nick Baxter with the Bloomingdale Bull.

STINGRAY CHEVROLET CAR RAFFLES RAISE MORE THAN $3 MILLION FOR UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY

By Jonathan Hurst

BRANDON NATIVE SERVES WITH U.S. NAVY HELICOPTER SQUADRON SUPPORTING MARITIME MISSIONS AROUND THE GLOBE

By Petty O fcer 3rd Class Andrew Hanchar, Navy O fce

For the 14th time, Stingray Chevrolet has successfully run its New Vehicle Raffle benefitting Unity in the Community.

On March 12, the May family were the recipients of a new C8 Corvette, as one of the 20 tickets they purchased was drawn as the winning ticket at the Strawberry Festival.

With tickets costing $5 each, there were between 60,000 to 70,000 tickets in the drawing this year, which was done live in front of a crowd at the Strawberry Festival and livestreamed on Stingray Chevrolet’s Facebook page. This year’s winner, James May, purchased 20 tickets but had not even consider winning and just wanted to help Unity in the Community continue their great work.

While all past years of this rafe are considered successful, this year broke records, as Stingray Chevrolet and owner Steve Hurley were able to generate $363,000 for Unity in the Community. In total, Stingray Chevrolet has donated almost $3,000,000 to the organization over the 14 years that this rafe has been held.

“We have given $2.945M over the 14 raffles to Unity in the Community. Ironically, that could have never happened without the help of the community itself here in Plant City. Without the Florida Strawberry Festival, our Unity board members, all

of our volunteers at the festival, our outstanding radio media partners and so many more, the rafes could never have happened,” Stingray Chevrolet owner Steve Hurley shared.

Unity in the Community is a Plant City-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those in need through donations to diferent local charities such as Plant City United Food Bank and Lots of Hugs Summer Reading program. Additionally, Unity has 13 scholarships that it gives out annually to local high school students. Unity has a board comprised of up to a dozen local business owners and its founder, Joyce Jordan Hooke.

Hurley also serves on the Unity board and was brainstorming ways to be able to raise more funds than they had in the past, and he contemplated simply donating a car. After some more thinking, he came to the realization that through a legal new vehicle rafe, they would be able to generate three to four times the value of the car.

“I am just proud of all of the great people in Plant City who are able to help make this rafe happen each year,” said Hurley.

For more about Unity in the Community, visit its website at www.unityinplantcity. org. Stingray Chevrolet is located at 2002 N. Frontage Rd. in Plant City. Visit www. stingraychevrolet.com.

Petty Ofcer 2nd Class Makeisha Villery, a native of Brandon, serves with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 78, operating out of San Diego, California. The squadron’s primary mission is to conduct sea-control operations in open-ocean and coastal environments. This includes hunting for submarines, searching for surface targets over the horizon and conducting search and rescue operations.

Villery, a 2016 King High School graduate, joined the Navy three years ago. “I joined the Navy to further my education and be able to support myself with a career at the same time,” said Villery.

Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those she found growing up in Brandon. “Having a good work ethic and always striving for greatness were taught to me as a child,” said Villery. “In the Navy, you never give up and never surrender. We do not stop until the job is done.”

Today, Villery serves with the helicopter squadron that flies the U.S. Navy’s MH60R Seahawk helicopters. The MH-60R is a twin-engine helicopter used for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, drug interdiction, anti-ship warfare, cargo lift and special operations.

With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the inter-

net relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy ofcials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.

“Our mission remains timeless — to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence and committed to superior leadership at every single level,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations. “This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy.”

Villery has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“Within two years of serving, I have been promoted twice,” said Villery. “Knowing that the hard work and dedication I am putting in is paying of is a big accomplishment.”

Villery is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“My mother, Kim; my brother, Ty; and my fiance, Kievonze, have all supported me through every decision I have made,” said Villery. “They ofer a sounding board for ideas and decisions I have to make. Having family back at home makes the job that much more important and special.”

Photo courtesy of Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Murtha, Navy Ofce of Community Outreach.

Brandon native Petty Ofcer 2nd Class Makeisha Villery.

Te May family, the winners of the C8 Corvette rafe.

Photos courtesy of Stingray Chevrolet.

Steve Hurley and the Unity in the Community team with the check presentation at Stingray Chevrolet.

NEW MEMORY CARE STATIONS TO ASSIST RESIDENTS OF TESSERA BRANDON

Journeying to the past and taking a stroll down memory lane is no longer just a possibility for residents of Tessera Brandon, but rather a reality made feasible by the facility’s newest amenities: memory care stations.

Memory care stations are designed to elicit longterm memories by recreating familiar situations from the past. Tailored to residents sufering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, Jill Andrew, director of marketing at Tessera Brandon, stated that implementing these new technologies was an inevitable step in revolutionizing the care ofered by the senior assisted living and memory care community.

“It was just time,” said Andrew, “and the residents themselves wanted to do something meaningful for memory care.”

Located within the niches and insets of the facility’s hallways, these spaces are organized in a manner that makes them easily accessible to residents, whether they are visiting the life stations independently or participating in activities alongside their peers. Because the purpose of these stations is to encourage these individuals to recall elements of their past more readily, the current stations are decorated to resemble five aspects of everyday life.

The music station was the first one finished, featuring an antique piano and a backdrop decorated with piano keys that adorn the wall. Additional instruments available for use in this space include ukeleles, xylophones, maracas and tambourines. Incorporating scarves, hats, costume jewelry

By Madeline Gardner

and purses, the vanity station features a vanity and is meant to imitate the practice of getting ready.

Complete with stufed and electronic animals, the pet life station intends to evoke past memories of time spent with furry friends. Items such as brushes encourage residents to interact with these props. The handyman station is a workbench that includes high-grade tool replicas.

Lastly, the tactile/sensory station features materials like a plaque covered in feathers and common household items like marbles.

Alongside purchasing new items and making use of current materials, Tessera Brandon regularly accepts donations from members of the surrounding community. By working with networking groups of the Greater Riverview and Valrico FishHawk chambers of commerce, for example, Tessera Brandon has been able to incorporate items such as purses, brushes and jewelry to fill these spaces.

“Our community around here is just phenomenal,” said Andrew. “People want to do good, people want to give back, and so it’s an opportunity for them to do so.”

Andrew states that the next station will likely feature either an ofce or a nursery design.

For more information on memory care stations and additional opportunities available at Tessera Brandon, please visit www. tesserabrandon.com or call 813-607-6880.

CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE IS BACK AT RP FUNDING WITH FIVE ALL-NEW ICONIC CONCERTS

of Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and others on Friday, December 15.

The start time for all performances is 7:30 p.m.

Are You Ready to Rock?

The RP Funding Center is excited to announce the 2023 series lineup for Classic Albums Live, as it returns with five iconic album performances. The RP Funding Center would like to thank Southern Homes for coming on board as an event sponsor for the 2023 series.

Performed “note for note, cut for cut,” the Classic Albums Live Concert Series starts of on Thursday, May 18 with a selection voted as one of Rolling Stone magazine’s ‘Greatest Albums of All Time,’ Tom Petty’s Damn the Torpedoes

Then, on Sunday, July 16, an album which has sold over 18 million copies worldwide, Supertramp’s Breakfast in America, followed by the platinum rock ’n’ roll Led Zeppelin album Physical Graffiti on Sunday, August 27, which combines several musical styles into one eclectic masterpiece. Next is the widely acclaimed, chart-topping 1983 album Synchronicity by the Police on Thursday, October 19, and wrapping up the series is Classic Albums Live’s Lithium Show, featuring the music

To see all five of these great performances performed “note for note, cut for cut,” then look no further and become a Classic Albums Live Series subscriber. For $170, you get a ticket to each concert, preferred seating, free parking and 10 percent of concessions, plus a savings of over $30 when purchasing a subscription.

The new-subscriber series passes are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale starting Friday, April 21 at 9 a.m. Service charges may apply. Series passes are available by visiting the RP Funding Center Box Office or calling 863-834-8111. For event information, visit www.rpfundingcenter. com. Dates and ticket prices are subject to change without notice.

The RP Funding Center is conveniently located minutes between Orlando and Tampa in Lakeland, of I-4 on Lime Street, just a short drive from anywhere in Central Florida. Regular box ofce hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For ticket information, call the center’s box office or visit its website.

Tessera Brandon is located at 1320 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon.

After purchasing the vanity for this life station, Tessera Brandon reached out to the community for the donation of various accessories.

We PROMISE to give you the BEST real estate experience, but don’t take our word for it; Here’s what our clients have to say…

Tony, Craig and the entire team did an awesome job getting our home sold. We cannot thank them enough for their hard work and constant communication throughout this process. Their service and professionalism was beyond our expectations. Great job everyone!

- Luisa Self

Everyone was very knowledgeable and always kept us up to date throughout the process leading up to closing on our new house. Very professional group!

- Melanie Jonas

I had another realtor for 7 months and nothing. I had Craig 2 days and my house sold. They were amazing.

- Ginette Hollenbaugh

This was the fastest, easiest, most stress free experience of selling a home I ever experienced with the Baroni team walking along side of you every step of the way which took absolutely no time at all from start to fnish in a very professional setting from the entire staf with zero headaches.

- Scott Thomas

Great group of people to work with!!! Highly recommended.

- Wilfredo Domenech

Was a great experience. They checked in with us during our move from CO to make sure we didn’t need anything in the process. We didn’t start looking for an house until 5 months later but they never stop checking on us.

- Cecil Kegans

EXPRESS OIL CHANGE & TIRE ENGINEERS IS A ONE-STOP SHOP

Jeremy Persinger is the owner and operator of Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, located in Riverview. His Riverview business has been family-owned and operated since 2020. Persinger had another location that he opened in Bradenton in 2018. “I started with corporate Express Oil Change in 2015,” Persinger said. “Express Oil Change was in express expansion mode, and they had just acquired Tire Engineers, so they brought me on to help grow both businesses because they knew they were going to co-brand the businesses.”

Persinger said that many businesses call themselves a one-stop shop, but he feels his business truly is one. “A lot of places can do your oil changes very quickly, but they can’t do tires or mechanical services,” Persinger said. “So, if you need brakes or other vehicle services, they have to send you somewhere else. We are really one of the national brands that can do both.”

If you ask Persinger what he likes most about what he does at Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, he will tell you: everything. “I truly love being a part of the team, and I love interacting with our customers. We’ll even make you a cup of cofee if you ask.”

By Libby Hopkins

In order to deliver a consistent customer experience every time, Persinger’s advice is, “Don’t do anything you don’t already do on a daily basis.”

Persinger is also active with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and has been on the board since 2008, chairing two fishing events as well as the marketing committee for the foundation. Since becoming a part of the organization, they have raised over $30 million towards fighting Pediatric Cancer and have watched the survival rate go from three out of five kids to four out of five kids in that time frame. “Each clinical trial we put these kids through costs about $15K,” Persinger said. “We pay for all of it for them, and we pray for a day that there is not a need for what we do at the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.”

Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.6 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; it is closed on Sunday.

For more information about Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, visit its website at www.expressoil.com/stores/riverview/ fl/0831/ or call 813-499-9606. The shop is located at 11690 Boyette Rd. in Riverview, next to Culver’s.

Jeremy Persinger, owner and operator of Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers in Riverview. His Riverview business has been family-owned and operated since 2020.

BRANDON’S TIMES SQUARE PIZZA OWNER CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SANDLOT

While sports fans are usually most passionate about one sport, most sports fans love The Sandlot , a movie based on a group of neighborhood kids connecting through baseball. The Sandlot resonates with them because of sports, the camaraderie of the kids, the nostalgia of the time and the plight of the characters.

What most people in our community don’t know is that Sandlot’s Tommy ‘Repeat’

Timmons graduated from Bloomingdale High School in 2001. Tommy is Bloomingdale’s Shane Obedzinski. He was born and raised in Brandon and owns Times Square Pizza in Bloomingdale Square with Charlie Jonathan.

This year is the 30th anniversary of The Sandlot . The movie premiered in April of 1993. Celebrations are being held all over the country this year, namely in Utah in August, where the movie was filmed. Shane will be there with his Sandlot co-stars.

Obedzinski’s acting career started at the age of 3 in a Kool-Aid commercial. He credits his mom, Peggy Lawson, for recognizing his potential and giving him the leeway to follow his heart. He turned 10 on the set of The Sandlot

“As I get older, I realize I was a part of something incredibly special,” Obedzinski said.

In The Sandlot , Babe Ruth said, “Remember, kid, there’s heroes and there’s

By Jane Owen

legends. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart, kid, and you’ll never go wrong.”

Obedzinski puts his heart into all he does and loves living in Brandon. Our community is made up of hardworking people. Shane just happens to be a hardworking Bloomingdale business owner who was in a famous movie. He wouldn’t change anything.

“There’s not a lot of places in the world like Florida. There’s not a lot of places where you grow up and you still like it as much as you did when you were a kid. I’ve been lucky to travel my whole life, and there’s nowhere else I would rather be than this area of Florida,” Obedzinski said.

Obedzinski and Jonathan embody the sense of community portrayed in The Sandlot , as they support all things local. The pizzeria highlights artwork from Burns Middle School and Bloomingdale High School, and they donate pizzas weekly to Brandon Regional Hospital, welcome highlighting local artists and quite simply love connecting with customers on a personal level.

And great news for all Sandlot fans: A Sandlot television series based in the late 80s is set for next year with the movie’s players and their kids.

Times Square Pizza is located in Bloomingdale Square at 927 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon. For more information, visit https://tspizzaco.com/ or call 813-651-0122.

Shane Obedzinski, Te Sandlot’s Tommy ‘Repeat’ Timmons, and Charlie Jonathan own Times Square Pizza in Brandon.

Te Sandlot actors will reunite in Utah in August to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic movie.

JORDAN COX, BLACKSMITH TEACHES TRADE WITH CLASSES

While you may not know of many blacksmiths operating in the year 2023, Jordan Cox, known as Jordy the Knife Maker, is working to change that. A former chef turned bladesmith, Cox has quickly developed quite a talent for crafting knives, among various other forged works of art. Thankfully for the public, he is not keeping his talents to himself, as he ofers educational classes where you can learn about the ancient art form, and even craft your own knife.

Despite his first foray into the world of blacksmithing only coming a few years ago when he took an introductory class, his dedication to the craft has left his work looking like he has been in practice for decades. A true creative, Cox is constantly innovating with new styles and materials to bring this millenniums-old trade to modern times. In addition to classes, he takes commissions and has a variety of his knives for sale on his website.

“There is a sort of a resurgence happening, and there are a lot of hobbyists in the area. People seem to be really interested in the concept and being able to engage directly with it, as it is like functional artwork,” Cox said.

By Jonathan Hurst

Currently, he is offering a knife-making class, but he is willing to take on other tasks to help clients bring their visions to life. This is not a watered-down class by any means, as participants not only learn about the art form from a consummate professional but also play an active role in the creation of their knife, guided by him as well. Participants do everything from pounding out the redhot steel to forming the handle to the blade out of stabilized burl wood. Another incredible element is that by the end of the class, you will have a fully functional chef’s knife to take home with you, no extra steps or days involved.

With a typical class running for roughly eight hours, featuring drinks and a truly impressive lunch, this is the perfect outing for a variety of circumstances. Whether you are looking for a bonding experience with friends and family, a unique date or are simply curious about the craft, this is something that you are not going to find anywhere else.

Jordan Cox Knives is located in Thonotosassa on 12921 Cox Lane Trl. For information, visit https://jordancoxknives.com/ or email jordytheknifemaker@gmail.com.

HOW DOES SCREEN TIME AFFECT YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING?

Technology is an integral part of life, dominating the way we communicate, learn, work and more. Today’s children spend a lot of time on smartphones and computers, leaving many parents to wonder about the impact of all that screen time. So how exactly does screen time afect your child’s learning and development?

The Positive Efects of Screen Time

Starting with the good, there’s no question that access to digital media has positives for students of all ages. Technology opens up worlds of opportunity to learn and research. Here are just a few of its many benefits:

• Technology and apps aid in learning. There’s an app for everything, whether your child is learning to read or practicing algebra concepts.

• The internet makes it easy to access new information. A quick Google search can help your child discover just about anything.

• Social media can bring people together. Children often use social media to communicate and connect with others.

By Dr. Raymond J. Huntington

The Negative Efects of Screen Time

While there are definitely advantages of technology, screen time impacts children’s brains and behavior. Here are some of the negative efects of screen time on children and their learning:

• Decreased focus. Frequent use of digital devices can make it increasingly more difcult for children to maintain focus on things like homework.

• Distraction during class. Many teachers today make it a policy that students’ phones must be stowed in their backpacks during class — and for good reason.

• Disrupted sleep. Blue light-emitting screens can suppress the secretion of melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain in response to darkness that helps people sleep.

• Loss of interest in other things. Like many enjoyable activities, use of digital devices can be all-consuming — and difcult for some to stop doing.

Screen time is a hot topic these days, but it’s important to keep things in perspective. Not all screen time is bad, and many children develop healthy screen time habits with the help of supportive parents. If your child struggles with healthy screen time or study habits, call Huntington at 1-800 CAN LEARN (226-5327).

POINT $71,149.00

A participant shaping his knife.

A block of steel becomes a knife during the process.

Tampa Teater, Gardening, Gift Fair, Markets & More...

Tampa Teatre Series Showcasing Tampa Bay-Area Films

Film Tampa Bay Presents is a quarterly series designed to showcase Tampa Bay-area films, filmmakers, actors and locations through free community screenings at Tampa Theatre. Next month, the series welcomes guests to be among the first to see and ofer feedback on a brand-new comedy, The Throwback

Written and directed by Tampa’s own Mario Garcia and produced by fellow University of South Florida alumnus Michael A. Alfieri, The Throwback is a heartfelt family comedy about learning to appreciate the gifts of getting older, while never forgetting what it is like to be young. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Visit www.tampatheatre.org.

Mother’s Day Charity Gift Fair

At Twin Lakes Of Brandon

Twin Lakes of Brandon is hosting a gift

fair on Saturday, May 6 to support the Fishhawk Lions Club. The event will be held in beautiful Zeina Park, located at 3054 Lake Michaela Blvd. in Valrico, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be a wide variety of vendors with something for everyone to enjoy, and lots of items perfect for Mother’s Day gifts.

Hillsborough County Hiring For Seasonal Parks & Rec Jobs

School will let out soon for the summer, and many of those children will enroll in Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation summer camp programs. This means that the county is now hiring recreation leaders for the season. The jobs are 40 hours a week and last for 10 weeks. Summer camp leaders will work with children ages 5-16 years old in a variety of educational and outdoor recreational activities. Applicants must have first-aid and CPR certification before starting, along with a driver’s license and having graduated high school or earned a GED certificate. To apply, go to www.hcflgov.net/jobs.

Drive Out Pediatric Cancer Golf Tournament

Small but Mighty Heroes is hosting its first Drive Out Pediatric Cancer charity golf tournament on Saturday, May 13. The tournament will take place at Summerfield Crossing Golf Course, located at 13050 Summerfield Blvd. in River-

CUSTOM HAIR

For

Serving food all day. Menu-inspired. Crafted daily. 40 plus rotating craft brews on draft. Like us on Facebook for updated specials and draft beer offerings. Open 7 days a week @ 12pm

view. Registration opens at 11:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The entry price is $125 per golfer or $500 per foursome. For more information, visit https://smallbutmightyheroes.org/ or email info@smallbutmightyheroes.org.

Forever Family Market

The Sylvia Thomas Center at 500 Lithia Pinecrest Rd, Brandon is hosting a Forever Family Market on Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m.-

2 p.m. Come out and see items from a wide variety of local vendors, including jewelry, wooden signs, resin art, candles and much more. Make sure that you visit the Sylvia Thomas Center tent for delicious bake sale items. Admission is free.

Kerby’s Nursery Fruit Tree Seminar

When it comes to fresh fruit, there is nothing better than biting into ripe, juicy fruit that you just picked from your own garden. In the Kerby’s Nursery Fruit Tree Seminar, the various fruit trees that grow in our area and how to care for them will be discussed. Registration is not required, and the seminar is free. Be sure to visit the greenhouse at Kerby’s Nursery, located at 2311 S. Parsons Ave. in Sefner shortly before 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 29.

with small plates will enhance your time at the bin +board.

Compiled by Jenny Bennett jbennett@ospreyobserver.com

A HORSE’S TOUCH ATHLETES COMPETE IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS FOR EQUESTRIANISM

On February 24 and 25, riders from A Horse’s Touch participated in the annual Florida Special Olympics held at the Bakas Equestrian Center in Tampa. Competing against individuals from across Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, A Horse’s Touch was represented by four riders, all of whom placed in the trail and equitation events this year: 12-year-old twins, a 13-year-old female and a 19-year-old male.

Residing in the FishHawk and Riverview areas, each of these riders trained for one year under the founder of A Horse’s Touch, Mercedes McClellan, regardless of their level of experience in competition. Riders faced a series of challenges during the Special Olympics, such as having to walk over cavaletti poles and making their horse retreat three steps backward independently.

Both twins placed fourth in the trail event; in the equitation event, one was awarded third and the other fourth. The female placed fifth in both the trail and equitation events, and the male was awarded third in both the trail and equitation events. McClellan cites that witnessing their accomplishments and her riders’ pride as the most rewarding aspect.

“This is the greatest experience a coach can have — when you look over and see their parents tear up to watch their son

By Madeline Gardner

or daughter win a ribbon,” said McClellan. While the Florida Special Olympics was not hosted in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, A Horse’s Touch has otherwise competed in these annual events since 2018. In 2019, McClellan’s students advanced to and competed at the state level in Ocala.

Seeking to secure and further these opportunities for motivated individuals, A Horse’s Touch welcomes those with varying conditions, such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) and cerebral palsy. Furthermore, foster children and those who have sufered previous abuse are also encouraged to become involved.

In addition to A Horse’s Touch, McClellan ofers other programs. This includes the Work Exchange (WE) program, an opportunity for students interested in the Bright Futures Scholarship Program to contribute help around the property in return for lessons on various topics, such as fundamental riding skills and learning to care for the horses. Horse camps for children, birthday parties and horse recitals are also featured activities of McClellan’s.

For more information about A Horse’s Touch, visit https://ahorsestouch.godaddysites.com/. Further details can be found by emailing mmbarn4@gmail.com or calling 813-992-0743. A Horse’s Touch is located at 12435 Cody Dr. in Wimauma.

A Horse’s Touch was represented by four riders this year at the Florida Special Olympics competition.

IMPACT’S GOT TALENT BRINGS YOU THE COMMUNITY’S BEST

Join Impact

at Bloomingdale High School for the seventh annual Impact’s Got Talent and support the efforts of teaching healthy habits to teens.

On Friday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Bloomingdale High School, kindergarteners through high school seniors will be performing their talents and competing for a grand prize of $250. Enjoy the best vocalists, actors, dancers, musicians and more.

With amazing talent, special-guest judges, audience-choice votes, concessions, 50-50 ra f es and silent-auction prizes, Impact’s Got Talent is going to be a night of fun.

All ticket sales will benefit the Impact Program and its continued e f orts to inspire parents, leaders and teens to fight for a healthy lifestyle. Tickets are $10 per person and are available for purchase online.

“This is a great opportunity for students in our community to get involved while raising funds for the Impact Program,” said Angie Kagey, executive director at Impact.

The Impact Program promotes healthy lifestyles for teens by encouraging parents, teachers and leaders to empower

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

kids so they say no to things like premarital sex, drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

The three programs work with di f erent levels of the community to fight unhealthy behaviors and teach smart habits, and they are able to reach over 10,000 kids every year. Impact serves the community through schools, churches and other community organizations.

There are multiple ways you can get involved in Impact and support its mission, such as donating gas cards or bags of hard candy to Impact, helping toward its need of passenger vans used for summer programs, or volunteering as administrative support, an event volunteer or an education specialist. Businesses can also help support Impact through financial or services like printing, media, accounting or legal services.

To learn more, please contact Jennifer Crum at 863-661-3236 or crummiej2@gmail.com or visit www.whatisimpact.com/events. To purchase tickets for watching Impact’s Got Talent, visit https://impactsgottalent2023. eventbrite.com. For students and parents who are seeking help, visit www. whatisimpact.com/resources to find more educational resources.

EXPERIENCING THE ‘WILDER’ SIDE OF FLORIDA

Floridians are no strangers to alligators, as many of us have seen them in our community ponds, sunning on the grassy banks. But to experience them in the wild, or better yet, of the front bow of an airboat, is an altogether diferent experience. Wild Florida, a walkable zoo, driving safari and airboat adventure park, docks on lovely Cypress Lake just east of the Florida Turnpike, where over 600 gators enjoy their natural habitat.

Your first stop is the gift shop, which ofers a variety of unique, wildlife-themed toys, apparel and household trinkets, as well as an aquarium-housed, extremely rare albino alligator, born at Wild Florida. If you purchase the airboat tour, which we highly recommend, you walk the dock to a 15-person airboat, piloted by knowledgeable captains, who navigate their crafts on a thrill-ride-like racetrack of tall marsh grass. Protective earmufs are provided, but not required. During our visit, our boat found a cute pod of baby gators, numbering 15 or more, while the mama lurked quietly on the lake bottom nearby, afraid of our boat.

After tying up at the dock, we headed

By Jef Hoening

for the walk-through shaded gator park home to a gorgeous full-grown Florida panther named Nala, an Australian black mamba, curious lemurs, colorful macaws and much more. The park also houses its patriarch and largest alligator, the 14-foot modern-day dinosaur named Crusher. The park ofers an experience where patrons can have ‘lunch with Crusher’ in his enclosure. We found this curious, and also frightening; so, chatting with a couple of Crusher’s keepers, they commented that driving I-4 is more dangerous than entering Crusher’s lair. Yeah, no.

To complete the afternoon, we jumped in our car for the drive-through safari experience with zebras, gazelles, deer, bison and wildebeests. Pro tip: if your vehicle is approached by an ostrich, roll up your window! Cap of the drive by hand-feeding the girafe from an observation platform. Wild Florida is a terrific and fun experience for the whole family, and you’ll definitely get much more than you expect! Note the park is closed on Sundays. For more information, visit www.wildfloridairboats.com.

Wild Florida Airboats and Gator Park expands 170 acres of scenic landscapes and houses more than 150 native and exotic animals.

Daily airboat tours ofer you an in-depth look at Florida’s wildlife in their native habitat, with knowledgeable boat captains to enhance your experience.

Purchase tickets now to Impact’s Got Talent to support Impact and its eforts to instill healthy habits and lifestyle choices in our future leaders.

FAMILY HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION OFFERS COMMUNITY-BASED NAVIGATION FOR SERVICES

Finding and maintaining health insurance for individuals and families can be a daunting task. Thankfully, there is The Family Healthcare Foundation, an afordable nonprofit that helps you navigate difcult terrain and find insurance coverage that fits your needs.

For 25 years, The Family Healthcare Foundation has been helping residents of Hillsborough County as well as Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties. Its mission is to ensure that all residents have equitable access to quality health care coverage, and its services are free to anyone, regardless of income. Its services have never been more needed than they are today, as Medicaid coverage for millions, which was mandated and paid for by the federal government during the pandemic, is coming to an end.

If you are one of the millions who are in need of health care insurance coverage, and need help navigating the system, look to Te Family Healthcare Foundation for help. It provides health care navigator services for free to all residents of Hillsborough County.

HEATH WEALTH MANAGEMENT MAKES CUSTOMERS MAIN FOCUS

By Libby Hopkins

The Family Healthcare Foundation employs highly trained and experienced navigators who will work with you to compare health care coverage from both private insurance and publicly funded health insurance, such as Florida Medicaid, Florida KidCare, the Hillsborough County Health Care Plan and the Obamacare Marketplace. Navigators are paid by The Family Healthcare Foundation, which receives funding so that it can ensure everyone has access to insurance. The navigators provide unbiased information.

By Kathy L. Collins

Navigators speak English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole. They can also get a translator for other languages.

Navigators start with a screening process to determine the type of coverage that may apply. Some programs have income requirements. You can meet with the navigator over the phone, virtually or in person. In-person meetings take place at one of seven Children’s Board Resource Centers located throughout Hillsborough County, including Brandon and Plant City.

Navigators will make themselves available in the evenings and on weekends to accommodate those who work and cannot take time of. In addition, they are partnering with BayCare Health System, Tampa General Hospital, Evara Health and Premier Community HealthCare Group to provide additional navigators during this difcult time.

Katie Roders Turner, executive director for The Family Healthcare Foundation, said, “Our navigators have 10 years or more experience. They do not receive commission and will do a side-by-side comparison of coverage in a completely unbiased manner.”

For more information and to get the process started, please visit https://familyhealthcarefdn.org/ or call 813-995-7005.

Care partners of those with any type of memory loss, whether family, friends or professionals, need to be equipped with the knowledge to best support their loved one.

Gain this knowledge at our NEW hybrid support groups being held via Zoom and in person at Tessera of Brandon.

Hybrid Dementia and Alzheimer’s Support Groups

With over 20 years as a financial professional, Elijah Heath of Heath Wealth Management is dedicated to helping individuals and families pursue their financial goals.

He uses his established processes in an efort to address quality investments with the appropriate financial goal, taking into consideration each client’s comfort zone, risks and volatility into account. His experience through many diferent market cycles provides the understanding to help his clients structure the proper portfolio allocation in striving to weather the storms of uncertainty.

With over 20 years as a fnancial professional, Elijah Heath of Heath Wealth Management is dedicated to helping individuals and families pursue their fnancial goals.

Heath has lived in the Brandon area for more than 45 years. “I grew up here and raised my children here,” Heath said. “I recently downsized and moved to downtown Tampa. I have been helping my clients with financial planning for 23 years. In 2019, I went out on my own and started Heath Wealth Management.”

In addition, he is a past president of the Rotary Club of Bloomingdale/FishHawk, having served on the board in a number of diferent capacities over the years, and is the co-founder of this club’s successful ongoing fundraiser, the Winthrop Crawfish Festival, which has raised in excess of $100,000 for local charities. He earned the title of 2013 Honorary Mayor of Riverview as a result of the funds he’s raised. “I am

committed to making our community a better place to live, work and play,” Heath said.

If you ask Heath what makes his business diferent from other wealth management companies in the area, he will tell you it’s that he and his team are focused on you, the client.

“It’s about our clients, not us,” Heath said.

“My staf and I help our clients identify and prioritize their long-term goals. We listen to what is important and work together through their lives to help keep them on track. We help to identify potential blind spots that could cause them to fall short of their goals and create strategies to manage these risks. We focus on retirement, investments, tax, estate, insurance and education planning.”

Keeping things local is also important to Heath and his team. “We are not a bigbox brokerage shop with a one-size-fits-all cookie-cutter approach,” Heath said. “We customize our plans to fit the needs and expectations of our clients. We are big supporters of keeping things local and helping other small businesses within our community.”

If you’d like to learn more about the services ofered at Heath Wealth Management, visit its website at https://heathwealth.com/ or call Heath at 813-556-7171. Its ofce is located at 620 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon.

SUMMER CAMPS OFFER SPECIALTY SKILLS & LEARNING FUN

It’s hard to believe but summer is just around the corner and camp registrations are open and gearing up for an active and busy camp season!

Camp Osprey LLC

For a fun, traditional camp experience, check out Camp Osprey, which is located on 204 acres of beautiful woodlands alongside the Little Manatee River in Wimauma. Camp activities include high ropes courses, ziplines, horseback riding and much more.

Mathnasium Of Riverview And Brandon

Have your child’s math skills been impacted by the last school year? Have they fallen behind? Then Camp Mathnasium will be perfect for them, ofering a typical summer camp environment with diferent learning activities.

Music Showcase/FAOPA

The Florida Academy of the Performing Arts at Music Showcase ofers summer camps for aspiring actors and musicians. With a variety of camp options in full and half-day experiences, there’s something for every young entertainer.

Patel Conservatory

The Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center is hosting a variety of week summer camps

for rising actors, musicians, and danc ers starting May 30 and running through August 4. Weekly camps will take place Monday through Friday and before and af ter care will be avail.

Kids ‘R’ Kids Circa

FishHawk

With locations in Valrico and Lith ia, Kids ‘R’ Kids has been of fering sum mer camps since 2004. This sum mer, students can sign up on a weekly basis or for the whole summer. Meals and field trips are in cluded.

High 5 Inc.

Brandon’s High 5 Inc. is inviting students to sail away for the best summer of their lives, kicking of on May 30.

YMCA

All camps begin on May 30 and run - August 4 with 10 separate sessions available Monday through Friday.

TLC’s Gypsy Haven

TLC’s Gypsy Haven offers weekly themed riding camps, ages 8-99, focusing on riding and grooming. The camps take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sidekicks Summer Camp

Sidekicks Martial Arts is gearing up for its Summer Camp program with martial arts, field trips and more.

D-BatSouth Shore

If you have a baseball or softball players, summer is a great time to develop skills in D-Bat South Shore’s state-of-the-art facility in Ruskin. www.Facebook.com/DBATSouthshore Navigator Academy

Navigator Academy’s full-day camp will be open for K-8th grade students with lunch and field trips included.

River Hills Country Club

Budding tennis players and golfers will find summer camps for kids ages

7-13 for all levels of players, with half and full-day camps available.

Code Wiz FishHawk

Code Wiz FishHawk is ofering full and half-day camps for coding and computers with Roblox, robotics, Minecraft, gaming and more.

Cedarkirk Camp

Cedarkirk Camp & Conference Center is located on 170 acres of woodland along the Alafia River in Lithia and will hosts weekly camps starting June 11. Campers can sign up for a week or summer. Camps include all meals.

Ostingers Baseball Academy

Learn baseball from the pros at Ostingers Baseball Academy. Four weeklong sessions will take place in June and July for players ages 7-14 years old at the academy’s fields in Lithia.

FishHawk Fellowship Church

Ofering a selection of half-day sports camps starting June 5 - August 4. Look for our Summer Camp Sweepstakes link where the Osprey Observer will buy your child a week of camp at the summer camp of your choice! Or, enter now by emailing (subject line ‘Summer Camp Free’) contest@ ospreyobserver.com. Email inquiries to jhurst@ospreyobserver.com!Have a great summer of fun!

Make this a summer of creativity with one (or more) of the 50plus camps and classes o f ered at the Patel Conservatory. If your child loves to dance, sing or emote, take a look at the courses Patel has scheduled this summer. Whether your child is a beginner or already practicing their Tony Award® speech, Patel has a class to fit their skill level.

Patel students enjoy the advantage of instructors who have real-world experience in the fields of dance, music and theater. Its professionals will teach your burgeoning star the skills necessary to excel in their field. Patel also can fill them in on the nuts-and-bolts aspect of a career in the arts.

It’s an ideal environment for a young person considering a career in the performing arts. Patel has an impressive track record in this regard, with alumni appearing on Broadway, television, national tours and more. Patel alumni also fill vital roles o f stage as well, such as being directors, producers, writers and technicians.

Patel’s Summer Intensives let young performers immerse themselves in their craft, whether the focus is on the voice,

CAMP MATHNASIUM OFFERS ACTIVITIES TO MAKE MATH FUN

By Lily Belcher

Staf Report

a musical instrument, acting or ballet. Many intensives conclude with a ticketed performance open to the public.

There are plenty of non-intensive opportunities as well: beginners’ classes in ballet, jazz and tap; a theater apprentice workshop; classes on adapting literature for the stage; workshops for repertory orchestra and opera; and so much more.

Individual instruction from members of our music and theater faculty is also available, as it is year-round. Learn oneon-one with a professional actor or musician. Individual lessons for musicians are available for beginners and intermediates, as well as more experienced players preparing for a professional career.

Scholarships are available to help cover the cost of tuition. The deadline for financial aid applications is Sunday, April 2.

Learn more about Patel by attending one of its summer open house on Monday, May 22 from 6-7 p.m.

The Patel Conservatory is located at 1010 N. Macinnes Pl. in Tampa. For more information, call 813-222-1040 or visit www.patelconservatory.org.

Mathnasium is hosting its first summer camp since the coronavirus shutdown at the Brandon location from the end of May to early August to help fight ‘the summer slide.’

Camp Mathnasium will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-12 Noon for students through sixth grade with a ‘Wild About MATH’ theme. Additionally, the Brandon location will be adding the Great Foundations program for pre-K through kindergarten students following requests from parents and families.

Camp Mathnasium will help students fight the summer slide — the months of learning loss that occurs between the school years.

“I hope that [through] Camp Mathnasium they see how much fun math can be and that it helps keep their skills sharp during the summer,” said franchise owner, operator and center director Becky McDaniels.

Camp Mathnasium will run alongside the year-round Mathnasium program,

but camp days will o f er a typical summer camp environment with different learning activities. Students will begin their morning with an hour of the Mathnasium program to provide an individualized learning lesson for each student. They will then participate in an activity and finish the day with a STEAM activity.

During registration, students can enroll in a minimum of six and maximum of 12 STEAM activities throughout the summer. Students will be divided by age during these activities, allowing older students to take a more in-depth approach.

Families are encouraged to register early so Mathnasium can prepare for the right number of students. A $25 early-bird discount for those that register before Sunday, April 30 will be o f ered. For specific pricing or to learn more about Camp Mathnasium, Great Foundations or Mathnasium’s year-round program, visit www.mathnasium.com.

Patel students enjoy real-world experience in the felds of dance, music and theater.

Camp Mathnasium ofers fun and engaging STEAM activities throughout the summer.

SUMMER’S HERE AND THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR THE BEACH! VACATION! THE ARTS AT PATEL CONSERVATORY

HIGH 5 INC. SUMMER CAMP WILL FEATURE A CRUISE THEME FOR CAMPERS

High 5 Inc. is hosting its annual summer camp to bring kids “Around the World in 50 Days” with cruisethemed activities throughout the summer.

“Each week, the kids will be visiting a diferent country. During their trip, they will learn about its uniqueness, history, culture and so much more,” said director of family experience Jada Spano.

The camp will run from Tuesday, May 30 to Friday, August 4. Each day, participants can arrive as early as 7 a.m. and leave as late as 6 p.m. to accommodate parents’ work schedules over the summer.

Until the camp ofcially starts at 9 a.m., campers can take a High 5 Summer Cruise photo with their family and go to their stateroom, a High 5 classroom separating campers by grade level. The counselor-to-student ratio will be around 1-to-25, but it is often less since activity specialists will support employees during excursions.

Daily excursions will be available for all campers from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Each hour

RIVER HILLS COUNTRY CLUB JUNIOR SUMMER CAMP HELPS CHILDREN LEARN NEW SPORTS WHILE HAVING FUN

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

By Lily Belcher

will feature several diferent options for campers to participate in every day.

“Our travelers learn the basics for familiar and some new sports, such as cricket, soccer, handball, pickleball, tennis, even a little splashball. Meanwhile, travelers that would prefer the nonathletic route will have the opportunity to explore everything from creating their own boomerangs and rain sticks of Australia to carnival costumes and rhythms of the Caribbean islands,” said regional director Nicole Brown-Collins.

Campers will have the option to purchase a lunch or snack, but they are encouraged to pack one lunch and two snacks. They should arrive in a bathing suit and have a change of clothes in their backpacks.

The camp will cost $175 per camper each week for nonmembers, but High 5 members can register for $160.

To register, visit www.high5inc.org/ camp-3.

Sending your children to summer camp where they can get out of the house during those long summer days, make new friends and learn a new sport can be really beneficial at their young age.

River Hills Country Club in Valrico is ofering a Junior Summer Camp for children ages 7-13, Monday through Friday, with days packed full of golf, tennis, swimming and more. Summer camp can be attended in half or full days.

River Hills has multiple summer camp options, such as Golf Camp or Tennis Clinic and Sports Camp, which all involve learning a new sport and spending time with friends while also enjoying other summer camp fun.

The goal of the Junior Summer Camp at River Hills is to combine the right amount of sport instruction with other interesting activities in order to keep children engaged and excited about learning the sport and its etiquette.

River Hills’ Junior Summer Camp will take children from beginner players to competition-ready ones by starting small and building their individual skills. The coaches at River Hills pride themselves in ofering a low-pressure environment where children

JUUNNIIOOR R SUMMMER C CAMP

US Kids Golf Curriculum taught by PGA Certified Instructors can take virtually any player from absolute beginner to an elite competition player in simple, incremental steps.

A positive no pressure learning environment where respect for the game of golf and fellow players is taught.

can gain respect for the game and fellow players through practicing with their peers.

“Golf camps ofered this summer at River Hills Country Club will expose children to the great game of golf in a nurturing and educational environment,” said Bryan McManis, general manager at River Hills Country Club. “We want to introduce the game in a fun way so they can practice and apply their skills as they progress through the program.”

The River Hills U.S. Kids Golf Curriculum is taught by a PGA-certified instructor, and Tennis Camp will be led by a United States Professional Tennis Association-certified instructor. On top of golf, tennis and other sports lessons, the Junior Summer Camp will also include swimming, movies and other camp activities.

Golf, tennis and other sports at River Hills include instruction and conditioning to build stamina and endurance. Sports instruction will be provided based on the age and level of the children at the camp.

To enroll your children in a River Hills Country Club summer camp, please call 813-653-1554, ext. 242 or visit https://riverhillscountryclub.com/.

A fun experience that includes golf instruction, rules and etiquette with additional non golf fun activities in the afternoon available i.e. swimming, movies and other camp activities.

It is the goal of this camp to combine just the right amount of golf instruction to keep students engaged in enjoying the game of golf.

Tennis instruction with drills and conditioning to build stamina and endurance Age/Level Clinic Format Option for targeted Tennis instruction with USPTA Instructor Fun, Casual Sports Camp Option for Full Day or Half Day Variety of activities with afternoon swimming, basketball, soccer and other activities.

River Hills Country Club’s Junior Summer Camp can provide instruction for every level of player.

Daily excursions at High 5 Inc.’s summer camp will feature water and feld activities.

TLC’s

Gypsy Haven

Located at 4325 Keysville Rd. in Lithia, TLC’s Gypsy Haven ofers weekly themed riding camps, for ages 8-99, focused on riding and grooming. The camps take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. from Monday, June 5 to Friday, August 4.

Students pack their own lunch, snacks and drinks and are encouraged to wear light pants or leggings, but boots are a must. The camp boasts one teacher, one aide and one volunteer per 10 students.

For more information, visit www.tlcsfarms. com, call Tammi at 813-842-4236 or email TLCS2867@aol.com.

Te Patel Conservatory

The Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center is hosting a variety of weekly summer camps for rising actors, musicians and dancers starting Tuesday, May 30 and running through Friday, August 4. Weekly camps will take place Monday through Friday, with pre- and post-camp available for an additional $30 each or $50 for both extensions.

Information on the camps ofered as well as specific dates, times and pricing are available in the 2023 summer camps and classes brochure on the Straz Center’s website at www.strazcenter.org. For more information on specific details of the camps, contact the admissions staf at 813-222-1040 or 800955-1045 (toll-free).

Tampa YMCA

Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA has what

kids crave at one of its many summer camp locations.

YMCA camps ofer an array of fun where activity specialists will lead campers through various experiences each day, including swimming, science, high ropes, outdoor education, nature encounters, horseback riding, canoeing, visual arts and more.

All camps begin on Tuesday, May 30 and run through Friday, August 4 with 10 separate sessions available from Monday to Friday. Book one weeklong session or book them all. Camp programming runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with free early-morning care beginning at 7 a.m. and free afternoon extended care until 6 p.m. Prices start at only $184 per week for YMCA members and are open to the public. Discounted rates for members, early registration, siblings, multicamp sign-ups and early-bird registration are available.

For more information on specific locations and pricing and to register, visit www.tampaymca.org/programs/camp/summer-camp.

Camp Osprey LLC

For a fun, traditional camp experience, check out Camp Osprey, which is located on 204 acres of beautiful woodlands alongside the Little Manatee River in Wimauma. Camp activities include high ropes courses, ziplines, horseback riding and much more.

Camps take place every week starting on Sunday, June, and campers can sign up for a week or the whole summer. Day and overnight options are available, with day camp costing $325 a week and overnight being $795. Meals are provided and snacks can be purchased in the camp canteen.

New this year is COSMO Camp Osprey Smoky Mountain Outdoor adventures for groups of 12 campers ages 13-16 years old.

The camp is located at 18050 U.S. Hwy. 301 S. in Wimauma and can be reached at 941-9286860. For more information, visit www. camposprey.com.

Kids ‘R’ Kids

Kids ‘R’ Kids has been ofering summer camps since 2004. This summer, students can sign up on a weekly basis or for the whole summer from Tuesday, May 30 to Friday, August 4.

“Camp will showcase unique weekly themes designed to make your campers smile, think, explore, collaborate and grow in exciting new directions,” said Fernandes. “Our camp includes all meals and field trips to a Rays game, Sea Screamer in Clearwater, Ringling Museum, Treasure Island Fun Center and much more.”

Kids ‘R’ Kids Circa FishHawk is located at 5815 Kids Crossing Dr. in Lithia and can be reached at 813-654-7000. Visit its website at wwwkrkcirca.com for more information and to register.

Cedarkirk Camp & Conference Center

Cedarkirk Camp & Conference Center is located on 170 acres of woodland alongside the Alafia River in Lithia.

Camps take place weekly from Sunday to Friday starting on Sunday, June 11 and finishing on Friday, August 4; campers can sign up for a week or the whole summer. Cedarkirk ofers overnight camps for older students, and younger campers in grades one through three can attend a shorter three-day camp. Camps range in price from $465 a week to $510 and include all meals plus two daily snacks. Cedarkirk Camp & Conference Center is located at 1920 Streetman Dr. in Lithia and can be reached at 813-6854224. For more information and to register, visit www.cedarkirk.org.

Code Wiz FishHawk

Code Wiz FishHawk is located in Park Square at 16132 Churchview Dr. in Lithia. It will be running full and half-day camps for students interested in computers and coding. Camp activities will include Roblox, robotics, Minecraft and building your own 2D/3D video games. The half-day camp runs from 9 a.m.-12 Noon and from 1-4 p.m.; a full-day is 9 a.m.4 p.m. A week of half-day camp is $350 and $550 for a full-day camp; discounts are available for siblings, multicamp and early-bird registrations. For more information, visit www.thecodewiz.com/fishhawk-fl or call 813-820-6583.

Mathnasium Of Riverview & Brandon Mathnasium’s personalized learning plans are proven to improve grades and give them a head start going into the new school year. With live face-to-face instruction, either in-center or online, its summer programs are designed to work in tandem with the other summer camps and activities. Just two or three one-hour sessions per week are all kids need to help keep their math skills on track for the upcoming school year, and your child will continue to enjoy summer because Mathnasium makes learning math fun. Space is limited so don’t delay in registering your child. Call today for a free assessment.

Mathnasium of Brandon (www.mathnasium.com/brandon) is located at 1048 Bloomingdale Ave. and can be reached at 813-655-6284, and Mathnasium of Riverview (www.mathnasium.com/riverview) is located at 1388 U.S. 301 and can be reached at 813-565-1102. Coming soon is a new location at 13388 S. U.S. 301 in Riverview.

Music Showcase

The Florida Academy of Performing Arts (FAOPA) at Music Showcase ofers summer camps for aspiring actors and musicians. With a variety of camp options in full and half-day experiences, there’s something for every young entertainer.

The traditional camp exposes campers to music and more. You can sign up for one weeklong camp or you can sign up for multiple camps. Camps are structured by age, ability and interest.

Its other camp option is a musical theatercamp, where campers work together over the course of a few weeks to put on a show.

For further details, visit www.faopa.org or call 813490-2787. Music Showcase is located at 402 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon.

River Hills Junior Summer Camp

Do you have a budding tennis or golf player in your home? Sign them up for camp at River Hills Country Club, which aims to combine just the right amount of sport instruction with fun to keep your children loving the sport. Camps are suitable for all ages from 7-13 years old and all levels of players, having a U.S. Kids Golf curriculum being taught by PGA-certified instructors and tennis instruction with drills and conditioning from a USPTA instructor. Half and full-day sessions are available. River Hills Country Club is located at 3943 New River Hills Pkwy. in Valrico. For more information on summer camps, visit www.riverhillscountryclub.com or call 813-6531554, ext. 242.

High 5 Inc.

Brandon’s High 5 Inc. is inviting students to go “Around the World In 50 Days,” kicking of on Tuesday, May 30 and running through Friday, August 4.

Each week students will be visiting a different country and learn about its uniqueness, history, culture and so much more.

Camp is ofered Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. at High 5, which is located at 405 Beverly Blvd. in Brandon. Campers can sign up for individual weeks throughout the summer or the entire summer. To register, visit www.high5inc.org/ camp-3.

Camp costs $175 a week per child for nonmembers and High 5 members can register for $160.

To learn more, visit www.high5inc.org or call 813-689-0908.

D-BAT South Shore

Does your child love baseball or softball? Help them develop their skills this summer at D-BAT South Shore, located at 351 30th St. NE in Ruskin. Summer camp programs are being ofered from Monday, May 29 to Friday, July 28, and state-of-theart technology will be used to allow campers to enhance and improve basic baseball and softball skills. This is a great opportunity for students to get involved with others who share their desire to grow and develop their ball skills. Camp runs on a weekly basis from 8:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and costs $175 a week for platinum members. Additional information can be found on its website at https://dbatsouthshore. com/ or by calling 813-645-3228.

Navigator Academy

Summer camp at Navigator Academy is a full-day camp open for incoming kindergarteners to eighth graders. Weekly and daily

rates are available, with field trips and lunch included. Navigator Academy is located at 1101 Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico. Additional information can be found on its website at www. navigatoracademyvalrico.com.

Ostingers Baseball Academy

Learn baseball from the pros at Ostingers Baseball Academy. With a combined 30 years of professional playing and coaching experience, Ostingers Baseball coaches are ready to provide young athletes with safe fun this summer. Four weeklong sessions will take place in June and July for players ages 7-14 years old at the academy’s fields in Lithia. Your child will develop a better understanding of the game of baseball through instruction, drills and games. Having a good time while learning the fundamentals will be the main focus of this camp. To learn more, visit https://ostingbaseball.com/ or call 813-737-3000.

FishHawk Fellowship Church

FishHawk Fellowship Church, located at 15326 FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia is ofering a selection of half-day sports camps that include basketball, soccer and flag football running from Monday, June 5 until Friday, August 4. Most camps are for first through fifth graders, with some available for first through eighth graders from Monday June 26 -August 4. All camps run from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., for $105 for the week. Call 813-655-7431.

HIT A HOME RUN WITH D-BAT SOUTH SHORE THIS SUMMER

Looking for a way to help fill your child’s summer? Look no further than D-BAT South Shore, where summer camp programs are being ofered to help your child develop their baseball or softball skills while having a great time and making new friends. D-BAT ofers state-of-the-art technology that is implemented into the training, which allows campers to enhance and improve basic baseball and softball skills. Some of this technology includes, but is not limited to, Hack Attack pitching machines and Blast Motion hitting technology. Another great aspect of this camp is that all it requires of the young players is to show up with the basic gear for the sport along with lunch and water, then they are good to go. This is a great opportunity for kids to get involved with others who share their same interest and a desire to grow and develop their skills while engaging in classic baseball and softball comradery. The facility features both indoor and outdoor setups to ensure that camp can continue unimpeded by the elements, while the indoor elements of the site are climate-con-

By Jonathan Hurst

trolled. With a camper-to-instructor ratio of 8-1, every player who comes through the camp will be well coached and attended to.

D-BAT South Shore also features nine batting cages along with pitching lanes to ensure that campers are getting their skill practice in. If they are doing well, there are also endof-week prizes for the skill leaders of the week.

This summer camp runs on a week to week basis from Monday, May 29 through Friday, July 28, and can be attained for as little as $175 for the entire week for platinum members. Further discounts for early sign-ups, multicamp sign-ups and signing up siblings together. Every camp runs on the weekdays with the drop-of opening at 8:45 a.m. and the latest pickup being at 2:30 p.m.

D-BAT South Shore is located at 351 30th St. NE in Ruskin. For more information, visit its website at https://dbatsouthshore.com/, go to its Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/DBATSouthshore or call 813-645-3228.

TAMPA YMCA HOSTS SUMMER CAMPS TO TEACH KIDS

SKILLS

WHILE HAVING FUN

It’s that time of year again where you have to begin to decide what summer camp is best for your children. With over 130 years of experience in providing a safe place for kids in the community, Tampa YMCA Summer Camp is a great choice for filling those long summer days with something exciting and educational.

The YMCA ofers a variety of summer camp options, from art camp to adventure camp there is something for everyone.

“Summer camp is more than singalongs and splash pads,” said Michelle Leahy, camp director at Campo Family YMCA. “Campers at the Tampa YMCA ACA-accredited summer day camps are given a safe space to discover who they are and what they want to become while experiencing fun, friends and adventure.”

Summer camps are open from Tuesday, May 30 to Friday, August 4 and range from $184-$225 a week for YMCA members and $235-$298 for non-YMCA members. Multiweek teen camps start at $330 for members and $410 for non-YMCA members.

Campers are expected to wear cool, comfortable clothing that can get dirty, closed-toe and closed-back shoes as well as

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

sunscreen, and they should bring a bathing suit and towel since campers will have the opportunity to swim in the YMCA pools.

Join in on the fun in one of the many locations in Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, Tampa and more.

Tampa YMCA

Summer Camps being ACA-accredited means they underwent a thorough review on operations by the American Camp Association (ACA), from staf qualifications and training to emergency management, and complied with the highest standards in the industry. With ACA accreditation, the YMCA is one of the safest places to get your kids to have fun out of the house this summer, as not only are staf certified in first aid and CPR, but they are also certified fun and learning experts.

Tampa YMCA Summer Camp prides itself in helping kids explore personal interests, build self-esteem, develop interpersonal skills, discover the creativity and health benefits of the outdoors and make lasting friendships and memories. Visit https://tampaymca.org/letscamp or find the YMCA on social media at TampaYMCA.

Tampa YMCA Summer Camps help children learn about themselves while developing friendships.

SUMMER OF SONG AND DANCE RETURNS WITH MUSIC SHOWCASE

For a summer of song and dance look no further than the Music Showcase from the Florida Academy of Performing Arts. Here, the campers will be immersed in the world of performing with a variety of options to get involved. Whether your child wants to just test the waters or is a full-fledged theater enthusiast, there are plenty of options.

For those who are a little unsure, there are full and half-day options for the weeklong camp Music and More, where students will interact with multiple avenues of performing, such as acting, singing, dancing and more. Students will also be exposed to instruments to see if anything clicks for them, as well as general art. Drop-o f time for Music and More opens at 8 a.m., and the latest pickup time is at 6 p.m.

For those with a bit more of a commitment to performing arts, there is the Musical Theater Camp, which is a bit more intensive when it comes to the theater aspect. This camp runs for two weeks and involves the students learn-

By Jonathan Hurst

ing about how to put on a production and all the elements that go into that. These students will work on skills such as acting, singing and various theater techniques and practices. This camp concludes with a performance of a play featuring the campers. Musical Theater Camp runs from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

“There is something for all ages and abilities,” said academy director Danielle Sanchez.

The Music and More camp runs weekly from Tuesday, May 30 through Friday, August 4, and Musical Theater camp has the same time frame but on a two-week schedule. There is a one-time $30 registration fee with the cost of the Music and More at $230 a week and $275 for the Musical Theater Camp. There are scholarships and discounts for siblings available as well.

For further details, visit www.faopa. org or call 813-490-2787. Music Showcase is located at 402 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon.

Summer Camp Includes: Pools, Laser Tag, Diving boards, Customized weekly themes, Ofsite fieldtrips, Video game rooms, Onsite fieldtrips, Playgrounds, Arts & Crafts, Indoor sports, Outdoors sports, S.T.E.M activities & so much more!

Ofering at 3 loctions: High 5, Inc. Main Campus, Symmes Elementary, and Fishhawk Creek Elementary

(813) 689-0908

405 Beverly Blvd Brandon, FL 33511-5507

Music Showcase has eight weeks of Music and More summer camp.

EDGE POOLS IS TITLE SPONSOR OF WATER SMART TOTS ANNUAL GALA

Water Smart Tots (WST) is hosting its second annual charity gala to raise awareness for childhood drownings at the beginning of May. The “Every Child, Water Smart” Gala, to be hosted on Friday, May 5 at The Westin Harbour, located at 725 S. Harbour Island Blvd. in Tampa, will feature live music, dancing and dinner for guests.

All proceeds raised at the gala through ticket sales and community donations will benefit Water Smart Tots Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating childhood drownings in the Greater Tampa Bay area. The gala replaced the bingo fundraiser in order to include more people from the community.

Cambria, 23 months old, just completed her self-rescue swim lessons at Watch Me Swim in Riverview through a scholarship.

“At the gala, we will be highlighting what WST has done all year, including scholarships and outreach programs,” said Glen Woo.

One of the scholarship winners is Cambria, who started in the Watch Me Swim program when she was 2 years old. This year, she is returning for more lessons. Cambria was awarded its level-two scholarship to support her family and her participation in the swim programs.

“[She is returning] for her refresher classes because as their bodies grow, newer

By Lily Belcher

skills need to be learned to prevent drowning,” said Woo.

This year, Water Smart Tots is hoping to host 150 people to raise around $30,000 for its programs.

Edge Pools is a platinum sponsor for this year’s gala in order to raise awareness for water safety. Through the partnership, Edge Pools hopes to reduce water-related injuries and deaths by supporting Water Smart Tots’ programs.

“Edge Pools supports Water Smart Tots Foundation because water safety is very important to us. Pools provide entertainment and fun for the whole family, but if water safety is not learned or practiced, it can turn tragic for both the pool owner and the families of all involved,” said Edge Pools owner Heidi Edgerton.

The black-tie optional event will start at 6 p.m., with drinks, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction preceding dinner.

Tickets for the event cost $150 per person and full tables of 10 seats costs $1,100. Sponsorships are still available from $250$2,500.

For more information on Water Smart Tots or to purchase tickets for the gala, visit https://www.watersmarttots.org/.

Music & Theater Summer

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Musical

• Productions for all ages and skill levels

• Elementary, Middle School, and High School productions

• Broadway Boot Camp - Broadway Artists To Attend

• Visit FAOPA.org for shows, schedules, and performance

Clara Reynolds Receives 2023

Ellsworth G. Simmons Good Government Award

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners awarded the 2023 Ellsworth G. Simmons Good Government

Award to Clara Reynolds, president and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. In her time as the president and CEO, Clara has overseen expanded partnerships with the tax collector’s o f ce, public schools and the airport; collaborations with fire and law enforcement agencies; the addition of a human tra f cking care coordinator; and most recently the addition of a second dedicated Sexual Assault Services location in Southern Hillsborough County. All of these achievements were possible thanks to Reynolds working alongside elected o f cials to meet the needs of the community.

Twin Creeks Celebrates Five-year Anniversary

Twin Creeks Assisted Living and Memory Care recently celebrated its five-year anniversary with a multichamber rib -

bon-cutting, which included Valrico FishHawk, Riverview and South County chambers of commerce. Twin Creeks is a state-of-the-art community with senior living professionals who are highly trained to o f er residents quality care and richness through stimulating activities and programs that make

HCA Florida Brandon Hospital Receives Patient Excellence Award™

813-480-3802.

life more rewarding. It is located at 13470 Boyette Rd. in Riverview, just south of the Bell Shoals Road/FishHawk Boulevard/Boyette Road intersection. For more information, visit its website at www.twincreeksretire.com.

HCA Florida Brandon Hospital has been recognized by Healthgrades as a 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ recipient. This distinction places it among the top 10 percent of all shortterm acute-care hospitals as evaluated by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting patients and providers. “This award highlights HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and its caregivers who are committed to patients and safety standards,” said Tripp Owings, chief executive o f cer at HCA Florida Hospital. “We take pride in meeting and exceeding established standards as we prevent serious patient injuries, avoid preventable complications and mortalities and eliminate harm throughout the hospital.”

PF Auto Glass Celebrates 29 Years In Business

Riverview residents Pat and Donna Fore has successfully owned and operated PF Auto Glass since 1994 and are celebrating 29 years of serving customers throughout Hillsborough County. PF Auto Glass ofers prompt mobile auto glass services, personalized customer service, assistance with auto insurance claims for damaged auto glass and a full lifetime warranty on all car window repairs. For more information, visit its website at www.pfautoglass. com or call 813741-3633.

Whether it’s allergies, dealing with a sleep disorder, or slowing the efects of aging, our ENT specialists work with you to understand your symptoms and deliver tailored treatments to meet your needs. So you can get a good night’s sleep, enjoy time outside, and look (and feel) your best.

Our treatments and services include:

• Comprehensive ENT Services for Your Entire Family

• Sleep Disorders

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To learn more: 813-467-4262

TampaENTExperts.com

Te Valrico FishHawk Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting for the Junkluggers of Tampa East & Hillsborough South, which provides an eco-friendly solution to traditional junk removal with a commitment to enhancing lives, communities and the environment through donating, recycling and supporting local charities. For info, call

Duck Donuts celebrates its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting.

Clara Reymolds is pictured receiving the 2023 Ellsworth G. Simmons Good Government Award.

FUN TOUR — FAMILY & PET FRIENDLY EVENT AT FLORIDA STATE FAIRGROUNDS

The Family Fun Tour, an exciting, one-ofa-kind compilation of various entertainment acts, live shows, animals and stunts, is making its first stop in Tampa at the end of the month.

Cool Zoo, an educational and interactive wildlife experience, is coming together with the Fearless Flores, Dog Lovers Day and Robot Renegades for the first time ever at the Family Fun Tour. This tour is a two-dayonly event being held at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall, located at 4800 U.S. Hwy. 301 in Tampa, on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, April 30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy and participate in all four exhibits at this once-in-a-lifetime event, and all pets are welcome for a small fee.

The Family Fun Tour includes the ‘Zoo Zone,’ which features Cool Zoo’s animal walk-through experience, where attendees will get up close and interact with exotic creatures such as sloths, lemurs, monkeys and kangaroos, as well as a ‘down on the farm’ area with goats, pigs, chickens and ducks. This zone will also feature the Cool Zoo exotic bird show, an animal adoption station and a Q&A session to learn all of the behind-the-scenes information from the zoo.

The ‘Thrill Zone’ features the Fearless Flores Family as seen on America’s Got Tal-

ent. This zone will include death-defying stunts on motorcycles in the ‘Globe of Death,’ aerial trapeze acts, a rare viewing of plate spinning and Megamorph, a real-life Transformer. Guests will even have the opportunity to get inside the motorcycle stunt globe and experience the thrill of a virtual world with VR stations.

The ‘Pet Zone’ includes Dog Lovers Days, a 70 x 40 lure course where your dog can be the star of the show in this obstacle course and see if they have what it takes to win the pet contest. Attendees are highly encouraged to bring their furry family members and watch them show of or unlock their unknown capabilities on this course.

The ‘Science Zone’ features Robot Renegades, where guests can see live robot fighting, learn about building robots, drive a robot and meet real builders in the robot community, such as Andrea Gellatly from Discovery’s hit TV show, BattleBots

The Family Fun Tour is jam-packed with entertainment and interactive experiences suitable for all ages and all members of the family (including the furry ones).

Don’t miss out on this fun and thrilling two-day event. Click here to purchase your tickets: https://coolzoo.ticketspice.com/ family-fun-tour.

FOUR BLOOMINGDALE WRESTLERS PLACE AT STATES

The Bloomingdale High School boys’ wrestling team placed seventh overall and had four athletes place in the state championships with the leadership of their firstyear head coach this spring.

Coach Mark Church took over after serving as an assistant with the Bulls’ team for five years. After the departure of their previous head coach at the beginning of the year, he knew he had to step up to preserve the wrestling team at Bloomingdale.

“I just felt like I couldn’t just leave [the athletes], so I stepped up as head coach this year,” said Church, who wrestled for Brandon High School when he was a student.

In his first year as head coach, Church coached around 30 boys and won district duels and the district championships. After the district championships, 10 wrestlers qualified to compete in the ‘Region of Doom,’ where the Bulls placed second overall.

Six of Church’s athletes advanced to states in Kissimmee at the beginning of March where Anthony Cubero placed sixth, Nathaniel Overman placed second, Jose Milord placed third and James Singer placed seventh. Overman narrowly lost in the state finals after a decisive 2-point call went against the Bulls’ senior to force them into overtime.

By Lily Belcher

While the season officially started in December 2022, the preparation, Church emphasized, started long before. His athletes train throughout the summer and into the fall, working on fundamentals and conditioning to prepare them for each match.

“These kids work year-round, and it basically showed this year,” said Church. “I’m just big on basics and making sure they’re conditioned well to wrestle a complete match.”

Church and his team are also responsible for fundraising and other administrative behind-the-scenes functions. Church leaned on fellow faculty and parents to support him and allow him to focus purely on coaching his athletes on the mat.

Heading into the next season, Church is looking to recruit younger athletes, even appealing to middle schoolers to set them up for a wrestling career in high school.

“It’s a great sport,” he said about wrestling. “… It’s good personal growth, it teaches a lot of life lessons in a short amount of time.”

For more information on Bloomingdale High School’s wrestling team, please contact Church at mark. church@hcps.net.

A map of the Family Fun Tour, coming to the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa on Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30.

Six Bloomingdale High School wrestlers qualifed for the states tournament.

LEGENDARY BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING COACH RUSS COZART RETIRES

By Nick Nahas

have gone on to the next level — and he remembers each one.

Russ has been a teacher and coach for 47 years, 43 of those at Brandon High School.

Russ Cozart is arguably the best high school wrestling coach in the country. The legendary eight-time Florida Coach of the Year is walking away from the mat, at least for now.

The Brandon High School coach gave way to his youngest son, Joe Cozart, five years ago and has been an assistant for the program since. He also was in charge of the new girls’ team this past season. The Brandon gym, known as ‘The Nest,’ where countless victories took place for the Eagles, will be renamed after Russ in May.

The coach’s legacy has been set in stone for some time. For 34 years, the Eagles obliterated the competition, setting the record for the longest winning streak in American sports history with an astounding 459 wins in a row. The Streak, an ESPN documentary that came out in 2008, chronicled the winning streak that started way back in 1974 under head coach Jim Graves and continued up until 2008 under Russ. The streak came to an end in 2008 when South Dade defeated Brandon 32-28; however, the dynasty didn’t end there, as the Eagles won 17 state championships in a row after the streak ended, and 27 state championships overall. Cozart also coached 119 individual state champions, and over 60 of his players

The coach entered the Florida Retirement System’s DROP program five years ago and has reached the end of the DROP period, which means he can volunteer with the wrestling team, but he can’t be reemployed for a whole year.

“I’m a pretty energetic guy. I’d like to keep going. I am getting old, I look old,” joked Russ. “I still want to be involved just for my own personal sake. This is a big moment in all teachers’ and coaches’ lives when they get at the end of the Florida Retirement System DROP program. It is a big game-changer. Maybe I’m a little bit like Tom Brady; I may come back, I may not. This is the type of milestone that’s kind of happening at the moment.”

Russ, who conducted thousands of workouts in his time, will miss teaching the sport to all age levels. One of his many proud accomplishments is starting the Youth Club at Brandon, which still runs to this day.

“My gift is wrestling. I was a youth wrestler and I’ve always wanted to give that part of my life back,” said Russ. “When I get too old and I can’t teach half nelsons and double legs and about the great aspects of being part of a sport, I’ll miss that the most.”

The program is in good hands with his son leading the ship. The younger Cozart was a four-time state champion at Brandon, a USA national champion and a two-time national collegiate champion.

Photo courtesy of Brandon High School

For 34 years, the Eagles obliterated the competition, setting the record for the longest winning streak in American sports history.

RAPTOR CENTER OF TAMPA BAY AIMS FOR RESCUE AND CONSERVATION

The Raptor Center of Tampa Bay (RCTB) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation and maintenance of a wildlife facility designed for the care, treatment and rehabilitation of birds of prey and other wildlife. While there is not a physical facility yet, there are plans to develop one — and that has not stopped founder Nancy Murrah and the Raptor Center team from doing what they can until that facility comes to fruition.

RCTB was born out of another organization with a mission of helping wildlife known as Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue. The Raptor Center was created in 2018 to serve a greater purpose than rescue, as there is a focus on education about these animals, their habitats and some of the obstacles they face in modern times.

“Our message is simple: We plan to educate people of all ages, what they can do to help turn this extinction around and, in a short and simple way, explain how all of our ecosystems and the food web are tied together,” Murrah said.

RCTB is very efective in its work, as there are roughly 1,000 animals that receive care through the organization, and there are even a few resident animal ‘ambassadors’ for the facility. While the primary focus is on raptors and other birds of prey, it is capable of handling many reptiles and mammals as well for short periods of time before get-

By Jonathan Hurst

ting in contact with specialists for those animals. Unfortunately, as things currently stand, the demand for the services of the Raptor Center outweighs what its resources allow, as birds are turned away every day due to the lack of resources and space, which is why the future rehabilitation facility is so important. These creatures are in need of assistance, and that is the void that those involved with RCTB are determined to fill.

“As a lifelong conservationist, I have watched our wildlife battle habitat destruction, polluting our waterways, plastic pollution, deforestation and many other terrible things that have resulted in a 27 percent reduction of birds worldwide during my lifetime. … I want to do my part so the young people on the planet today have hope,” Murrah said.

RCTB recently acquired and is in the process of refurbishing a donated prison bus that will be transformed into a traveling education center. This center will be used for a variety of educational purposes, such as the “We Can Stop It” show and housing RCTB’s educational ambassadors.

If you would like to help, donate or simply get more information, check out RCTB’s Facebook page @RaptorCenterofTampaBay or its website, www.raptorcenteroftampabay.org.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

Raptor Center of Tampa Bay founder Nancy Murrah aids a raptor.

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

One of the community’s staple jewelry and repair shops has purchased a new storefront right in the heart of Brandon.

McAuley Fine Jewelry is now located at 201 S. Kings Ave. in Brandon and is excited to host a new grand opening event this summer.

Fine Jewelry had spent the month of March moving and organizing while getting ready to open the new storefront.

Though McAuley Fine Jewelry is still waiting on some final touches before it opens the new doors, the team is eager to share the new store with customers.

“We’re really excited to have had the opportunity to buy a building in the heart of Brandon. It’s literally the building directly behind ours,” said Jennifer McAuley, co-owner of McAuley Fine Jewelry.

The grand opening event will be Saturday, May 20 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. and will include free jewelry checks and cleanings, rafes, custom jewelry design, watch and jewelry repairs along with a “previously loved” jewelry sale.

Through the move, two tenants remain in the building, Divine Glow Aesthetics and Carmen’s Tailoring, while Audibel Hearing Center has moved by Bill’s Prescription Center.

McAuley Fine Jewelry ofers experienced team members to aid with jewelry

and watch repairs, custom design work as well as purchasing your gold. The shop has a tight group of employees, many of whom stayed with McAuley Fine Jewelry after Martin’s Jewelers closed. The team members at McAuley Fine Jewelry have a wide skill set to assist customers. When designing a piece, the experts at the shop suggest doing research online to find images of jewelry you like. This will give inspiration and direction for the team to help create the perfect piece at your consultation. If there is a specific item you are looking for that McAuley Fine Jewelry does not have, many times the team will be able to order from one of McAuley Fine Jewelry’s U.S. vendors with next-day delivery.

When the owners of Martin’s Jewelers retired in 2017, the McAuley family took over the storefront to continue serving the area as the previous owners had. McAuley Fine Jewelry is now moving into a new building near the old location in order to continue growing and help more customers with their jewelry needs. And while it may not be Martin’s Jewelers anymore, the beloved owner of Martin’s Jewelers, Joe Martin, still works for the shop, claiming he failed retirement.

McAuley

BUDDY CRUISE ANNOUNCES TWO LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Buddy Cruise Inc., a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that provides educational opportunities, awareness, advocacy and inclusion for individuals with special needs and their families, recently announced the 2023 Erin’s Umbrella scholarship winners.

Founded in 2008, one of its key programs is an annual conference at sea that hosts interactive workshops, events and activities for all ages and abilities. Families from across the globe come together for this unique, life-changing experience.

Maria Dellapina and her daughter, Erin, enjoyed several years of Buddy Cruising until, sadly, Erin passed away in 2019. Later that year, Erin’s family, onboard the Buddy Cruise, announced the creation of the Erin’s Umbrella scholarship. Erin’s sweet, caring and infectious smile will be remembered by allowing new families to experience the same joy onboard the Buddy Cruise. Scholarship winners will receive a voyage on Buddy Cruise 2023, including a cabin for two and conference fees with access to all sessions, events, activities and Buddy Cruise swag.

Nominations were received from across the country, and with so many heartfelt stories, three families were awarded scholarships this year, including two local families.

One of the scholarship winners is Diego Rangel, a Newsome High School student with multiple special needs. He continues to succeed and overcome many diagnoses. He and his family have endured many hardships

this past year, including the passing of his grandmother, who was his caregiver while his mother, Daniella Vetencourt, underwent chemotherapy treatments. They are excited to join the Buddy Cruise this year and celebrate life.

The other scholarship winner is Madelyn Hart, who has several disabilities that afect her daily life. The Buddy Cruise will give her a chance to socialize with other individuals who know what it is like to be neurodiverse in a safe environment. Hart has four siblings, two of whom also have unique needs. Her mother, Donna, a teacher at Newsome High School, is thrilled to share this experience with Hart and take part in their first Buddy Cruise.

The third recipient of the 2023 Erin’s Umbrella scholarship is Cody Reyes. Reyes is a 22-year-old man who resides in Terrytown, Louisiana.

The Buddy Cruise welcomes everyone: individuals with disabilities, their families and friends. Even if you are not a part of the special-needs community, you are welcome to come along for an amazing journey. The 2023 event will be held onboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas for a fun Halloween sailing from Sunday, October 29 through Sunday, November 5. For more information about the 2023 Buddy Cruise or other upcoming events, visit buddycruise. org, email joinus@buddycruise.org or call 877-239-2789, Ext. 0.

until April 30th