Osprey Observer Brandon/Winthrop March 2023

NORTH BRANDON YMCA GYMNASTS PLACE FIRST IN GASPARILLA CLASSIC

The North Brandon YMCA Level 2 Top Flight Gymnastics Team took home the firstplace small team award in the 2023 Gasparilla Classic.

Five female athletes visited Tropicana Field at the end of February and showcased their floor, vault, beam and bar routines for the first time in the Gasparilla Classic. Laisamar Gil, Sophia Condit, Maddison Seale, Adeline Rodriguez and Olivia Blicker made up the first North Brandon Top Flight Team to qualify for the annual meet.

By Lily Belcher

“We are super proud of them, … we are so proud of the girls. They did great,” said communications and social media manager Hannah Geaumont.

Both the North Brandon and Bob Sierra YMCA locations are home to Top Flight Gymnastics teams and state-of-the-art facilities. The Bob Sierra Top Flight team hosts gymnasts at levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, but they work with athletes to coach them at their personal skill level.

LOCAL VETERAN WITH A LIFETIME OF SERVICE HONORED AT TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING GAME

Lewis Palumbo has given a lifetime of service to his country and community. He celebrated his 91st birthday, along with his wife of 72 years, Virginia, this past June.

The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Palumbo on the ice with the honor guard before their game against the San Jose Sharks on February 7.

Lewis’s longtime friend, Ken Muzyk, brought him to the game and surprised him with the honor.

By Jane Owen

ing to the US Marine Corps website:

“There truly is no such thing as a former Marine, as after service our Marine Veterans are just as dedicated to advancing our Nation and defending its ideals.”

Olivia Blicker placed third overall, scoring above a 9.0 in three events.

“The girls were able to secure the first-place team win by showing beautiful and clean gymnastics routines on all four events. A lot of their routines scored over a 9.0, with a 10.0 being a perfect score,” said North Brandon gymnastics program director DeJon Moore.

One of the girls, 8-year-old Blicker, placed third overall in the competition. Blicker is new to the North Brandon team but scored high in the Gasparilla Classic. On vault and bars, Blicker tied for fifth with a 9.2 and tied for second with a 9.375, respectively. She scored the highest on her beam routine, placing second in the event with a score of 9.5. Her floor routine tied for fifth with an 8.925.

While the North Brandon location currently only has a level 2 coed team, they cater to all skill levels as well.

“Our coaches will be able to assess them and see where their skills are and they will be placed on a team,” said Geaumont.

For more information on the Top Flight teams or other experiences ofered at the YMCA, visit www.tampaymca.org. To register, athletes must complete an evaluation with the YMCA gymnastics director. Moore at the North Brandon Family Y can be contacted at dmoore@tampaymca. org, and Tyler Conover at the Bob Sierra Youth and Family Center can be contacted at tconover@tampaymca.org.

“You may never meet someone of that caliber your whole life. He’s not one of those guys that wants to be patted on the back, but he was in awe, and he was grateful,” Muzyk said.

A career Marine, Palumbo is a veteran of the Korean War, Vietnam War and Cuban conflict. Palumbo enlisted in the Marines in 1949. While fighting as part of the 4th Battalion of the 1st Marine Division, he was wounded in the Korean War Battle of Chosin Reservoir and received the Purple Heart. Following the Korean War, he served in the Howitzer Battery and the 2nd Signal Battalion of the 2nd Marine Division, among other units. He received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1966. He retired as a captain in 1979 after working with the National Security Agency.

While Palumbo retired from military service in 1979, he never stopped serving. He lives up to the U.S. Marine Corps motto, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” Accord-

Palumbo volunteered tirelessly for 22 years with TOPSoccer, a recreational sports program for children with disabilities, and THORN (Thankfully Helping Others’ Real Needs) Ministries, which feeds the homeless in the Tampa area. Palumbo also regularly volunteered at the Nativity Catholic Church Food Pantry.

THORN founder Kristin Taylor said Palumbo has a big heart for others, especially homeless veterans.

“Seeing homeless veterans never sat right with him, so … he would quietly collect metal to sell to buy socks for the guys. Lew is simply the father and husband everyone could ever hope for. The friend and mentor you thank God for every time you see his face. He is the most honorable yet humble man I’ve ever known,” Taylor said.

IN THIS ISSUE:

TECO FAMILY BBQ PG 3

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE..........PG 10

EDUCATORS’ WORKSHOP PG 12

EYE ON BUSINESS..........................PG 36

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE SEC 2

For one week in February, 31 local educators and Osprey Observer Managing Editor Marie Gilmore participated in the U.S. Marine Corp Educators’ Workshop in Parris Island, S.C. Te weeklong bootcamp style workshop introduces educators to the educational and recruitement opportunites available. See Full Story on Page 12

Retired USMC Captain Lewis H. Palumbo at the Tampa Bay Lightning game against the San Jose Sharks on February 7.

Lewis Palumbo (right), who volunteered with THORN Ministries for 22 years in caring for the homeless, pictured with his friend, Ken Muzyk.

North Brandon YMCA Top Flight Gymnastics Team took home the frst-place small team award in the Gasparilla Classic.

OUTREACH FREE CLINIC AND RESOURCE CENTER IN BRANDON PROVIDES FREE MEDICAL CARE

Access to quality medical care for the uninsured is a significant problem. For residents of Hillsborough County who are uninsured and fall within 200 percent of the federal poverty level, the Outreach Free Clinic and Resource Center (Outreach Clinic) is here for you.

The Outreach Clinic, located at 517 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon, was founded in 1987. The Outreach Clinic is open Monday to Wednesday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and on Thursdays from 9 a.m.-12 Noon.

The Outreach Clinic provides primary care to patients by appointment. Patients can make an appointment as often as needed.

Allison Hedrick, executive director, said, “Outreach Clinic provides services to residents of Hillsborough County who are low-income and do not have insurance. These are often people who have jobs that are part time, or their jobs do not ofer health insurance benefits and they simply cannot aford health insurance.”

Hedrick further explained, “Patients do not need a referral to the clinic. They simply must complete the screening process with a case manager and quality for services. Patients must be rescreened annually to continue to qualify as a patient. Some patients will qualify for Hillsborough County Health Care, which we will

HAL GARRETT’S IMPRESSIVE 45-YEAR AMC CAREER ENDS AT AMC REGENCY 20 IN BRANDON

By Linda Chion

By Kathy L. Collins

help them apply for and see them at the clinic until they are approved.”

The services given at the Outreach Clinic are free. All of the medical providers, including doctors, RNs, LPNs, residents and pharmacists are volunteers.

Hedrick said, “While the clinic provides primary care for patients, some patients do need specialty care. The clinic has a few volunteer specialists that see patients at the clinic. These include a cardiologist and orthopedist. The clinic also partners with other specialists in the community and provides referrals for patients to be seen at no charge to the patient.”

More than 43 percent of the patients at the clinic are treated for high blood pressure and are provided free blood pressure monitors and medication.

Hedrick said, “Last year, the Outreach Clinic saw 1196 patients, donated an estimated $218K in medical supplies and hygiene products back out into the community. We depend heavily on donations from the community to be able to provide free medical care such as blood pressure and diabetes medications and to pay for items such as electricity, water, phone and internet to be able to provide these services.”

For more information, please visit www. theoutreachclinic.com.

On a whim, Hal Garrett went to the mall 45 years ago to look for a job, which turned into a career that prepared him for his post-retirement employment with Delaware North, a global leader in hospitality and food service management.

As he steps into his new job at the Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Garrett took time to review his career from usher to top-level management at AMC Theatres.

“I always said I would leave the company on my terms, and that’s what I’m doing,” Garrett said. “I can’t say enough about all the things they’ve done for me and all the friends I met along the way.”

Garrett started his AMC career as an usher and gained box ofce, concessions and projection booth experience. Eighteen months in, “I became a supervisor, which was very quick, but back then AMC had only 17 theaters in the entire unit,” Garrett said. “Now we have 610. We’ve come a long way.”

So, too, has Garrett, who met his wife when she was a crew lead supervisor for AMC in Sarasota, where Garrett at the time was running two six-screen theaters in Sarasota. “To this day we are happily married, going on 34 years, and we have three great kids,” Garrett said.

Garrett’s career continued to advance, including opening the Pleasure Island 10-

plex at Disney World, where he stayed until 1991, the year he moved into the AMC south division ofce as southern United States trainer. When AMC, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, closed its ofces in Clearwater and centralized division ofces to corporate ofces in Kansas, Garrett said he opted to stay in Florida. That led to various stints, including at Veterans 24 and Westshore 14 in Tampa Bay, where Garrett oversaw both operations.

Then came Garrett’s job in Brandon, with eight screens open in 1985 and 12 added in 1992. In its heyday, AMC The Regency 20 in Brandon was the largest theater in Florida, Garrett said. “We had the largest screens and we had the largest audience, reaching about 1.8 million people at one time,” he added.

The journey has been long and prosperous for Garrett, who noted his relationship with Tammy Holmberg, a Chick-fil-A franchisee and former honorary mayor of both Brandon and Riverview who worked with Garrett to reserve theaters for charity showings.

“We did 14 or 15 fundraising events over the years,” Garrett said. “Tammy and I go way back, with summer movie camp and dollar and free movies for kids. I really got to know a lot of movers and shakers in town, people with the YMCA and with all the charities that Tammy works with.”

Te Outreach Free Clinic and Resource Center, located in Brandon, provides free medical care for residents of Hillsborough County who are without insurance.

Hal Garrett, with Tammy Holmberg, holding a special award noting his support of “local charities for almost 15 years.”

THE TECO FAMILY BBQ COOK-OFF FOR CHARITY RETURNS TO SUPPORT TWO CHARITIES

The TECO Family BBQ Cook-of for Charity is back once again, and its ready to reach new goals. This year, the semi-annual event will be taking place at the Showmen’s Association in Riverview on Saturday, April 1 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

For the first time ever, there are two local charities set to benefit from this event, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and OASIS Opportunities. OASIS Opportunities is a local charity with a mission of helping Tampa-area students overcome barriers to success by providing clothing or other essentials that will aid in academic success and consistency. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay will be there to answer any questions regarding animal rescue, fostering and adoption. OASIS Opportunities will also be on-site, accepting used uniform and nonuniform clothing and tennis shoes in youth and adult sizes from toddler 4T to adult 5XL at its booth.

Fun for all ages, there are a variety of activities that will be available to partake in at the event. Along with the headlining main event, the BBQ cook-of competition, there will be an expansive car show. This year, the committee is anticipating 16-18 BBQ teams competing and around 50 cars, bikes and slingshots participating in the car show with a trophy and un-

By Jonathan Hurst

deniable bragging rights on the line for the competitions.

The fun does not stop there though, as there will be face painting, balloon art and craft building available for all to engage in. Throughout the event, there are also going to be photo opportunities and a variety of great rafes for those in attendance.

While the event did a lot of good last year, through which it raised $20,000 for Hooked on Hope, the committee hopes to exceed that this year as it continues to grow larger and larger. Tickets are available on-site for $15, and children under 10 are free. It’s a fun family day at this incredible event for a good cause, with loads of delicious BBQ samples as well.

The BBQ cook-of will be at the International Independent Showmen’s Association, located at 6915 Riverview Dr. in Riverview. Information about the event can be found at its Facebook page, BBQ Cook-of for Charity, or by emailing tecobbqcharity@gmail.com.

For more information about the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and OASIS Opportunities, visit their websites http:// www.humanesocietytampa.org and www. oasisopportunities.org, respectively.

Fishhawk Trails 2023 Garage Sale

-April

| Lithia 33547

Hooked on Hope was the recipient of $20,000 from last year’s event.

SUPERINTENDENT

ADDISON DAVIS SELECTED FOR CHIEFS FOR CHANGE Staf Report

Hillsborough County Public Schools is pleased to announce Superintendent Addison Davis has been selected to join the Chiefs for Change network. Davis joins two other superintendents who are now part of the bipartisan network of district and state education leaders, Jill Baker, superintendent of Long Beach Unified School District in California, and Lisa Herring, superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools in Georgia.

“We are pleased to welcome these veteran educators to our network — they are responsible for overseeing school systems in large, diverse communities and collectively impact more than 338,000 students,” said Chiefs for Change Board Chair and Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. “These leaders have a deep understanding of the challenges that children and families face and are carrying out important work to boost academic achievement and support students’ well-being. I look forward to working with them and learning more about their strategies.”

Members of Chiefs for Change are united around a core set of beliefs. Specifically, they believe that all children must have: a safe and welcoming school, access to an excellent education, fully prepared teachers with the support they need to do their jobs well, high-quality instructional materials and reliable and a f ordable pathways to college and

CHILDREN’S BOARD FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS OFFER EXPLORER’S CLUB FOR TEENS AND PRETEENS

meaningful careers.

The superintendents joining membership today have worked to increase the number of high-performing schools and reduce the number of underperforming schools. They have also spearheaded e f orts to expand access to dual-enrollment classes, giving students opportunities to take advanced coursework and earn their associate degree while still in high school. In addition, they have implemented career and technical education programming that is intended to align with the needs of regional employers and lead to good jobs in growing fields.

“It is a privilege and honor to be recognized in this manner and contribute to strengthening the education industry on a national scale. I look forward to learning from my colleagues in the network and creating innovative solutions for all learners as we move forward in the 21st century,” said Davis.

With these new chiefs, the network has 51 members, 42 of whom are actively serving as superintendents or chiefs.

Chiefs for Change is a bipartisan network of diverse school superintendents and state education leaders. The network supports members and provides technical assistance; advocates for the adoption of e f ective policies and practices; and develops the next generation of bold, student-focused superintendents.

The Children’s Board Family Resource Centers are located throughout Hillsborough County and ofer programs and services emphasizing family support, child development, health, safety and learning success. One of the newest programs is the Explorer’s Club.

The Explorer’s Club is good for students 12-15 years old. It is an outlet to meet new people, socialize and participate in events that teach life skills. All of this is designed to help them build self-confidence and learn new skills. The only requirement for attending is that the student’s family must be a member of a Children’s Board Family Resource Center.

Each Children’s Board Family Resource Center has diferent schedules for classes and events. The resource centers are located at: 1271 Kingsway Rd. in Brandon (813740-4634); 301 N. Palmer St. in Plant City (813-752-8700); and 3030 E. College Ave. in Ruskin (813-641-5600).

The Explorer’s Club was developed in Plant City by Talisha Nelms, early childhood coordinator for the Plant City Resource Center, as a result of the needs of the community. Each resource center has a Community Advisory Council. The idea for the Explorer’s Club came about as a result of the need to help teens prepare for the future. In addition, parents whose children came to the resource centers as

By Kathy L. Collins

young children, wanted resources and opportunities for them. After the first year of operation in Plant City, the Explorer’s Club was introduced at all seven locations. Tamika Lopez, family specialist for the Plant City Resource Center, explained, “The Explorer’s Club is a resource for teens trying to figure things out. We want to help prepare them for the future.”

Tyheshia Scott, director of the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers, said, “This program was developed in response to the needs of the community. We want to be a part of the solution by continuing to be with children as they grow up.”

The Explorer’s Club is set up in six-week sessions. Students can join at any time. The sessions are ofered year-round, with a two to three-week break between sessions. Each class lasts one hour. The resource center provides all of the materials, and each session is run by the staf of the individual resource center.

The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County was established in 1988 after the legislature passed the Juvenile Welfare Services Act. The legislation provided that any Florida county whose voters passed a referendum could create a special taxing district for children’s services.

For more information, please visit www. familysupporthc.org.

Teens and preteens can get access to lifeskill classes that also boost self-confdence and promote socialization at Children’s Board Family Resource Centers located in Brandon, Plant City and Ruskin.

The Florida Orchestra (TFO) President and CEO Mark Cantrell, who provided critical leadership to keep the orchestra performing during the COVID-19 pandemic, will leave TFO to take the next step in his career, the orchestra announced recently. He will depart in May to become CEO of the Colorado Symphony in Denver.

“This is a bittersweet moment for me. I’m so proud of all we’ve accomplished together at TFO, but I’m excited for the new challenge of a larger orchestra in an area that holds great meaning personally. In addition to music, my life has been dedicated to the great outdoors, and since I was a little boy, I have dreamed of living in the mountains. While I will miss working with Michael Francis, the musicians and the entire TFO team, this is an opportunity of a lifetime for me. I have no doubt the orchestra will continue to grow and make a positive impact on this community,” said Cantrell, whose varied career includes professional musician, sled-dog racer, commercial pilot and furniture maker.

Core leadership remains strong for the orchestra, which celebrates 55 years this season. Internationally acclaimed music director Michael Francis, in his eighth season with TFO, will continue to lead the orchestra’s phenomenal artistic success with 71 full-time professional musicians and conductors. TFO’s senior staf will continue to run the day-to-day operations of the organization with oversight by TFO’s board of directors. The board has initiated a national search to identify a new CEO who will build on the orchestra’s successes and carry TFO’s momentum forward.

Board Chair Gregory Yadley expressed his appreciation for Cantrell’s contributions during his four years with TFO.

“Mark’s leadership during the COVID pandemic was critical to our success.

Mark galvanized TFO together as a team in partnership with Michael Francis and TFO’s board to boldly keep TFO performing when almost no other orchestras did. TFO played 86 concerts for live audiences in the 2020-21 season alone, before returning to full strength the following year. The orchestra emerged in a solid financial position thanks to Mark’s oversight, Maestro Francis’ creative programming and the steadfast support of donors and patrons.”

The orchestra continues to grow attendance post-COVID, attract new major sponsors and form partnerships with local organizations and museums to ensure TFO is meeting the needs of schools and diverse groups on both sides of the bay.

Francis expressed his gratitude for Cantrell. “Mark Cantrell has been a tremendous partner to help make TFO what it is today — a cultural arts leader in our community. He developed an outstanding relationship with TFO’s musicians, and one of his greatest achievements was to negotiate a successful contract that keeps our worldclass orchestra growing at the same pace as our thriving Tampa Bay. Mark leaves TFO in a great position to build on our success onstage and throughout our community. I wish him; his wife, Carolyn; and his family all the best in Colorado.”

For more information, visit https://floridaorchestra.org/.

Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to develop one of the largest talent pipelines in the country each year as high school seniors graduate with the skills and knowledge to accept in-demand careers right in our own community.

School board members and Superintendent Addison Davis recently joined with community partners, including leaders from Future Career Academy (FCA), city, county and state elected ofcials, local chambers of commerce, EDCs, trade associations, social service organizations and postsecondary partners for a call to action — connecting the jobs that Tampa-area businesses have to ofer with the multitude of committed, driven and energetic high school seniors who are ready to get to work.

As part of the call to action, Future Career Academy is seeking more local companies, elected ofcials and community leaders to take part in the upcoming Future Fair Hiring events to fill their jobs with HCPS graduates. Six Future Fair Hiring events in April are open to all Hillsborough County Public Schools graduating seniors. Businesses interested in working with FCA and its academic partners should contact Yvonne Fry, CEO and board chair of FCA, at yfry@workforcedevelopmentpartners.com.

“We are workforce champions here in Hillsborough County Public Schools and want to join hands with our community partners to make sure we are filling the talent pipe-

line when our students graduate. District and school leaders are deeply committed to providing meaningful preparation and connections for students to in-demand, living-wage, entry-level jobs with long-term career growth and sustainable employment,” said Davis.

So far this school year, 9,000 students have participated in the FCA program. Future Career Academy expanded its high school workforce program this year to cover all 32 Hillsborough County high schools and career centers. Each week, seniors in English 4 and English 4 Honors classes are immersed in a workforce development curriculum. Students have also participated in panel discussions with business executives and field trips visiting local companies, all with the goal of attending the Future Fair Hiring Events and securing jobs with local companies.

“We want to be part of the holistic lift of opportunity, economic development and creating a better quality of life and better outcomes for everybody,” said Fry.

In May, schools will hold signing days, where students will be able to sign a Letter of Intent with their new company and their chosen career path before they even graduate high school.

Existing FCA partners include TECO, The Mosaic Company, Publix, Patterson Companies, BayCare, Regions, RIPA & Associates, Tri-City Electric, Stingray Chevrolet, Hillsborough County, Hillsborough County School District, Ace Hardware, the Hillsborough County Sherif ’s Ofce, Hillsborough Community College, Lennar Homes, Morgan Auto Group, Ajax, Tampa General Hospital, Bausch & Lomb and many others..

Superintendent Addison Davis at a press conference announcing a call to action to connect local companies and students.

ALS Walk, Yard Sale, Chorale Concert, Clay Shooting, & More...

Bloomingdale Bulls Clay Shoot

The Bulls, Bloomingdale High School’s football team, will be benefiting from a clay shoot being held on Saturday, April 15. The event will take place at FishHawk Sporting Clays, located at 13505 Hobson Simmons Rd. in Lithia. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., followed by safety instructions, and the shoot will begin at 10 a.m. The cost is $110 per person or $400 per foursome and includes 50 clay targets and lunch. No shooting experience is necessary. There will also be rafe prizes available and a 50/50 draw. If you have questions about the event or would like to sign up, email gobullsfootball@ gmail.com.

Hillsborough Pet Shelter Has

A New Number

Residents

wanting to adopt or foster a dog or cat from Hillsborough County’s Pet Resource Center have a new number to call: 813-301-PETS (7387). The number for the Pet Resource Center is now separate from the number for animal control, increasing efciency and reducing wait time; animal control’s number remains 813-744-5660. In addition to the new number, residents can contact the Pet Resource Center by email at petinfo@hclflgov.net.

Operation Recovery To Host Its First Annual Golf Tournament

Operation Recovery, a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports American veterans, will host its first annual golf tournament fundraiser on Saturday, April 22. The event will benefit its 2023 initiatives: providing support and professional development to veterans and transitioning service members, as well as funding the organizations humanitarian activities in Ukraine and Afghanistan. The tournament will take place at Westchase Golf Club’s 18-hole course in Tampa. Tournament check-in and breakfast will begin at 7 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The event will conclude with a lunch reception, silent auction and awards. Registration is $150 per player or $500 per foursome and includes breakfast, lunch and a swag bag. Golfers can win prizes and will have exclusive bidding access to the silent auction and rafe prizes. Space is limited; registration can be found at https://operationrecovery. org/golf/.

Tampa Bay HEAT Spring Market

Tampa Bay HEAT (Home Education Activities Teams) Inc. will be holding a spring market on Saturday, April 1 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Come and visit its small-business vendors and kid entrepreneurs at the Presbyterian Church of Bloomingdale, located at 710 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon. All proceeds from this event benefit the Tampa Bay HEAT’s dream of a larger facility for the homeschooling community. You can find the Facebook event page at www.facebook.com/events/698266621523685/.

Walk To Defeat ALS

The ALS Association is holding the Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday, April 22 along the Courtney Campbell Trail starting at Whiskey Joe’s at 7720 W. Courtney Campbell Cswy. in Tampa. The short walk is family friendly and will be followed by a

celebratory after party. Free parking is also available for the event. Register at walktodefeatals.org.

Community Service Forum

A Community Service Forum is being held on Monday, March 27 at Bloomingdale High School Cafeteria. The event will run from 6-8 p.m. Students will be able to connect with organizations who need high school student volunteers for their special projects/events. This helps the students earn their community service hours for Florida Bright Futures Scholarships. If you are an organization who needs volunteers, it would love to have you participate and give out your information. RSVP or ask additional questions by email to roundtable2008@aol. com.

Indoor Sewing Supplies Yard Sale

The Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Brandon is hosting a quilting and sewing supplies yard sale on Saturday, March 25 from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. There will be a wide range of items for sale, including fabric, threads, notions, tools, sewing machines, magazines, patterns and more fabric. The event will be held

inside the social hall (between the main buildings) at the New Hope church, located at 213 N. Knights Ave. in Brandon. For additional information or to find out more about the Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Brandon, visit its website at www.brandonquiltguild.com.

Brandon Christian Church Hosts Flea Market

Brandon Christian Church, located at 910 Bryan Rd. at the corner of Bryan Road and Lumsden Road in Brandon, will host its much-anticipated annual flea market on Saturday, March 25 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. A wide variety of items will be available, so be sure to go and see what it has to o f er. For more information, contact the church o f ce at 813689-4021.

Plant City Community Chorale Presents Spring Concert

The Plant City Community Chorale is delighted to present its spring concert, Seize the Day. The concert will be presented on two separate dates: Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, located at 509 E. Twiggs St. in Tampa, and Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Nazarene, located at 4202 Mud Lake Rd. in Plant City. There will be wellknown favorites from years gone by, and some newer songs too. Tickets are available at www.pccchorale.org and cost $15; children 12 and under are free.

Compiled by Jenny Bennett jbennett@ospreyobserver.com

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE SET FOR A COMEBACK, ENTRY DEADLINE JUNE 1

After a hiatus sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, the Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade is back on track for this year’s holiday revelry.

The parade again will be presented by the Community Roundtable, only this time it’s in partnership with the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce. Both organizations are among the oldest in the area, with their founding having been more than 60 years ago.

In what essentially is a walking billboard of community oferings, thousands of people cheer for the approximately 100 parade units that promote area schools, youth groups, sports teams, bands, businesses, nonprofits, religious institutions and more.

The unit entry application deadline is Thursday, June 1. The deadline to apply for the race for honorary mayor of Brandon is Monday, May 1. The candidate who raises the most money from June 1 through the impending start of the Tuesday, July 4 parade, on behalf of the candidate’s selected and approved nonprofit, will be declared the winner.

“On behalf of the Community Roundtable, I am expressing our excitement to partner with the chamber,” said Community Roundtable President Janine Nickerson. “They will bring not only a new energy to the parade but provide us with

By Linda Chion

invaluable access to the business community to support our efforts. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Matt Lettelleir, president and CEO of the chamber, issued a similar sentiment: “The chamber is first and foremost a community organization, and we want to ensure that these great community events stay in existence and continue to make Brandon the special place that it is.”

Nickerson said students can earn community service hours working on preparade tasks. Also, on Monday, March 27 at Bloomingdale High School, students and their families are invited to the roundtable’s Community Service Forum to learn more about area nonprofits and charities. College and university representatives will be in attendance to discuss study, admission and scholarship oferings. The roundtable set a Friday, March 31 deadline for high school seniors to apply for a $2,000 scholarship for continuing students in college or vocational settings.

For more on parade particulars, entry forms and sponsorships, visit the roundtable at www.thecommunityroundtable. org and the chamber at www.brandonchamber.com. A parade meeting that’s open to the public is set for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8 at the GFWC Brandon Junior Woman’s Club, located at 129 N. Moon Ave. in Brandon.

Photo courtesy of Linda Chion.

TECO makes a grand appearance at the 2015 Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade.

PLAZA OFFERS AN ACTIVE, STRESS-FREE LIFESTYLE FOR RESIDENTS

Freedom Plaza is an active, stress-free and independent living community for senior and retired residents in the Tampa area. The retirement community is located in Sun City Center with the on-campus Freedom Fairways Golf Course and Tennis Club, along with a range of engaging activities.

Residents can fill their day with a blend of indoor and outdoor fitness activities, from walking the nature trail to taking fitness classes to playing pickleball with their neighbors. To support the healthy lifestyle of residents, Freedom Plaza ofers six dining rooms and full-size kitchens if seniors want to cook for themselves.

“Some will hop on a bus to enjoy one of the many excursions that Freedom Plaza ofers. The calendar of opportunities is too full to list. Many residents enjoy visiting in the pub prior to having a wonderful chef-prepared dinner in one of the many dining rooms,” said marketing and sales coordinator Tifany Hernandez.

Residents have a number of living options, from small apartments to studios up to 1827 square feet. Families are encouraged to visit and stay with their loved ones in the apartments or book a guest room for a small cost.

By Lily Belcher

The retirement community was founded by the Retired Ofcers’ Corporation to ofer a stress-free and supportive lifestyle. Since being founded in the late 1980s, the support needed by seniors has evolved. Now, employees support residents in using technology and online resources readily available in the modern world. Through this flexible and adapting support, Freedom Plaza prevents its residents from being ‘lost in the progress.’ Freedom Plaza serves approximately 600 residents in varying levels of care and employes around 480 staf to support their residents. An EMT is located on-site 24/7 and 365 days a year.

“Freedom Plaza is the only community home to an organization like the Retired Ofcers’ Corporation. Many communities ofer the same services, but there is generally an additional charge,” said Hernandez.

Entrance fees for Freedom Plaza’s independent living starts at $101,000, but seniors can contact a community representative to learn more.

For more information on Freedom Plaza, visit its website at https://freedomplazafl.com/ or call 813-280-5009.

While people may not talk about bugs as much as the weather, insects can do a lot of damage, and when it comes to dealing with undesirable critters, there are very few local exterminators who can match the 50 years of experience that Brandon Pest Control in Valrico can proudly claim.

One indicator of the company’s success is that in 1973, when Rhode Island transplants Cookie and Lloyd Turchin founded Brandon Pest Control, they provided services to about 200 customers. That service base has grown to 4,500 customers throughout the local Tampa Bay area and beyond, including two ofces in Georgia, over the following half-century.

Termites may be the number one bug enemy for most structures, but the self-described bug muggers of Brandon Pest Control take on everything from rodents to earwigs in homes and businesses.

Technicians of Brandon Pest Control are trained in the latest eradication methods and put safety at the top of their considerations when on a service call. The staf of the company is also one of the most experienced to be found among pest-control operators in the area with many longtime employees. The Turchins attribute that

By Brad Stager

stability to taking care of the people who take care of their customers.

“Our employees have been with us a long time,” Cookie and Lloyd said in a joint statement.

“We don’t like turnover. Some employees have been here for over 20 years. Our employees are reliable and dependable, from our technicians to our ofce staf Everyone is happy.”

Some of the things Brandon Pest Control does to keep customers happy include inviting customers to observe termite treatment operations, as much as safety considerations allow; using flow meters to ensure proper amounts of chemicals such as Termidor are used; cleaning all areas where work was performed; and patching drill holes. Interest-free financing is also available.

Some signs that termites have invaded your structure include seeing swarms of tiny insects; finding a lot of small, delicate wings around windows, doors and baseboards; and finding tiny holes in a wall.

To discover how Brandon Pest Control can take care of your pest problem, ask questions or request a free quote, visit its website at www.brandonpest.com or call 813-685-7711.

Freedom Plaza ofers a range of activities across its Sun City Center campus.

Freedom Fairways Golf Course and Tennis Club encourages an active lifestyle for Freedom Plaza residents.

MARINE CORPS EDUCATORS’ WORKSHOP GIVES INSIDE LOOK AT BOOTCAMP

By Marie Gilmore

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a U.S. Marine?

How physically taxing, mentally demanding and hard is it to get into the Marines these days? Me too, and after spending a week at the Parris Island Marine Corps boot camp, I can now see why Marines are considered one of the most elite military forces.

My trip was courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps who have been hosting educators for annual Educators Workshops for more than 20 years. These behind-the-scenes, four-day tours are to give educators an idea of what training, skills and opportunities are provided for students in the U.S. Marine Corps and in branches of the military.

For our workshop in February, I joined 31 Florida, Georgia and North Carolina-based educators, school counselors, administrators and ROTC instructors to get a taste of Parris Island.

From stepping on the iconic yellow bootprints, being assigned a pair of Marine Corps drill instructors and spending the week as recruits, we also had an inside look at the training and skills imparted in our recruits who, after 13 weeks, become full-fledged Marines at the end of the 54-hour crucible and then graduate two weeks later as U.S. Marines. After 10 days of leave, the new Marines head to combat training school and, depending

upon their military occupational specialty (MOS), they then head to their first assignment.

Debbie Williams is an art and physical education teacher from Pivot Charter School in Riverview who had the opportunity to attend the workshop.

“This experience is like living a dream, as I almost joined the military,” she described. “I’m so excited to take this experience and share it with my students as they prepare to take the next step after high school.”

Throughout the four-day experience, Williams and 30 additional members of the teacher unit learned to march in formation, eat in the mess hall, rappel down the tower, walk through the gas chamber, do obstacle and challenge courses, meet with recruits at all diferent stages of their boot camp experience and even shoot M16 rifles on the range. In addition, educators were able to visit the

nearby U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, where they saw fighter jets and talked to Marine Corp pilots.

Emma Schindler, calculus teacher at Pivot Charter School in Riverview, loved every minute of the workshop, and she said, “I will take this experience to become a better teacher and add some of the skills to my education strategy for my students.”

During the workshop, educators were put through a training regime but were also given access to base command. During a briefing with Brig. Gen. Walker M. Field, the depot’s commanding general, he encouraged the educators: “You have an opportunity to make a diference in our future generations. You are here to demystify recruiting. You will learn how we make Marines and transform civilians and to give you the idea of the art of the possible and what you can do with your career.”

Twelve times each year, the Marine Corps invites high school educators and coaches from the Eastern region of the U.S. to an Educators Workshop at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Educators Workshop is a program that provides attendees the oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Marine Corps boot camp firsthand. Highlights include discussions with recruits and Marines of various ranks, ranging from newly graduated privates to the commanding general. Attendees will also participate in many of the training events recruits go through, including the rifle range, rappel tower, gas chamber, obstacle courses, leadership and teamwork exercises, Family Day, graduation and time with the world-renowned Marine Corps drill instructors.

Those eligible to attend are current high school educators, coaches, administrators or members of the community who can demonstrate significant mentorship of young men and women through an organization.

For more information on the next workshop opportunity, call or email Sgt. Erin Morejon, marketing and communication representative for Marine Corps Recruiting Station Tampa. She can be reached by phone directly at 407-375-2509 or by email at erin. morejon@marines.usmc.mil.

Each year, the Marine Corps invites high school educators and coaches to an Educators Workshop at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.

SUPPORT MARY AND MARTHA HOUSE AND GET TEED OFF AT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Mary & Martha House, an emergency shelter and assistance organization, is hosting ‘Get Teed Of at Domestic Violence’ at Topgolf on Thursday, May 18 from 5-7 p.m. to support continued eforts in helping women escape from domestic violence and homelessness.

“We have teamed up with a great community partner in Topgolf to provide a fun and exciting way for our community to continue to support our great mission, and the women and families we serve,” said Bill Chini, executive director at Mary & Martha House.

Tickets for the event at Topgolf are $99 per individual golfer or $499 for a bay that holds up to six golfers. Get Teed Of at Domestic Violence will not only get you access to a night at Topgolf, but it will also include a barbecue dinner, door prizes and rafes.

Get Teed Of at Domestic Violence will generate funds for Mary & Martha House’s mission and be used to ensure the team is able to provide every possible avenue of assistance to clients and help them on their path to independence.

“We are so fortunate to have such a caring community that has supported us for over 40 years,” said Chini. “This event is for the whole family, as there are many

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

fun games to play while soaking in the fresh air and helping out a great cause.”

There are also three larger sponsorship options, including the Albatross Sponsorship, which ofers one bay for six golfers, a BBQ dinner for six, 12 drink tickets, a large logo on the flyer, prominent at-event marketing and acknowledgment on social media; the Eagle Sponsorship, which ofers four tickets for golfers, a BBQ dinner for four, eight drink tickets, a medium logo on the flyer and at-event marketing; and the Birdie Sponsorship, which ofers tickets for two golfers, a BBQ dinner for two, four drink tickets, a small logo on the flyer and at-event marketing. These sponsorship opportunities range from $750-$2,500.

Mary & Martha House was established in 1982 to help women who are seeking help and refuge from domestic violence and homelessness. Everyone that Mary & Martha House serves works one-on-one with a case manager to identify their specific barriers, find ways to overcome these barriers and gain skills and empowerment so they can transition into their own permanent housing.

For more information please visit https://marymarthahouse.org/ or contact Bonnie Peacock at 813-509-1750 or moneymatesfl@outlook.com.

Mary & Martha House has been supporting women who need help since 1982 and provides not only a safe haven but also help for clients in learning skills that will assist with fnding a job, getting a new home.

GREENBROOK MEDICAL BRINGS BACK QUALITY CARE INTO THE MODERN WORLD

Do you find the doctor’s ofce cold, unfriendly and missing that old-school connection? One doctor’s office in the Tampa area is trying to keep seniors from dreading the doctor as modern medical care becomes more robotic.

Greenbrook Medica is a family-run primary care group that has been serving seniors in Tampa Bay since 1991 and wants to give patients that comforting, oldschool care.

Greenbrook Medical was started by Dr. Prakash Machhar and his wife, Paresha Machhar, over 30 years ago and has now been expanded by their sons, Dr. Raj Machhar and Neil Machhar. Seeing the need for a comforting doctor office experience, Dr. Raj and Neil have grown Greenbrook Medical into four locations in the area, Riverview, Sefner, Hudson and New Port Richey.

Greenbrook Medical focuses exclusively on senior care, and the team specializes in treating senior health concerns like diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, COPD, lung disorders, high cholesterol and more. Not only will Greenbrook Medical ofer quality service to patients while in the ofce, but it will also go above and beyond for their clients all the time. Greenbrook Medical can help refer specialists, make sure you have reliable transportation to the ofce and more.

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

“Raj and I were raised in the clinic, and we saw first-hand how important it is to have a great relationship between a doctor and their patients,” said Neil, CEO of Greenbrook Medical. “We’ve also seen seniors lose that over time as health care becomes more corporate.”

The Machhar family wants to bring back the neighborhood doctor experience but keep the conveniences and services of a modern health care center. By scheduling only 10-15 patients a day, Greenbrook Medical is able to ofer an experience that many ofces cannot. Instead of being rushed through your appointment, those at the ofce want to give the time and attention you deserve.

“With us there are no more machines, when you call you reach our staf right away and you’re greeted with a warm welcome,” said Neil. “When you visit the clinic, you see the same team every time and your doctor on every visit.”

Dr. Prakash built an amazing reputation, delivering outstanding care for patients with that old-school feel, and respect for his clients and Dr. Raj and Neil are proud to continue the legacy.

To learn more, view services and schedule an appointment, please visit https://greenbrookmedical.com/.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

When you become a patient with Greenbrook Medical, you become a part of the family and can expect personalized care.

FIT

AND CREATES SFA

ACADEMY, ALONG WITH FOOTBALL PROGRAM

The Specially Fit Foundation provides services such as Special Olympics training, weekly workout classes, housing for individuals with disabilities, job-shadowing opportunities, health care, job opportunities and a farm that gives animal therapy. The foundation’s latest endeavor includes a brand-new high school for grades nine through 12. The Specially Fit Academy (SFA Academy) will provide educational opportunities and extracurricular activities to all students with or without disabilities, as well as a high school diploma. SFA Academy will boast a football program that will play 11 games next season against local high schools.

“Our Special Olympics program is currently the largest and fastest-growing Special Olympics team in Hillsborough County,” said Specially Fit CEO Mark Oliver. “The heart of Specially Fit has always been fitness and athletics.”

Oliver, a former D-I football player at the University of South Florida, has brought in an experienced coaching staf to lead the football program. The staf includes former North Carolina Panthers running back Lyndon Rowells, who will be the strength and conditioning coach; former Armwood JV head football coach Curtis Grooms, who will serve as the ofensive coordinator; and former ACA Academy head coach Kendrick Johnson, who will serve as SFA’s head football coach. The team, which is already practicing for the upcoming season, will play their first football game against Sebastian

By Nick Nahas

River High School. Home games will take place at the Dover Patriots football field and the Bealsville Eagles field.

The academy, which just announced a location partnership with the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center in Plant City, was already approved by the Florida Department of Education. According to Oliver, students will have unique opportunities to learn both inside and outside the classroom. SFA will have traditional high school classes and college prep courses, in addition to ofering agricultural, nursing and entrepreneurship programs. Students have the option to learn from hands-on experience with livestock and in the community garden on a 7-acre farm. They also have the opportunity to shadow and learn from certified health-care providers and will be able to learn entrepreneurship skill sets, social skills and life skills from successful business owners.

“I have an amazing, well-trained and equipped staf to fill all the necessary roles,” said Oliver. “Together, we keep everything going, and work as a team. As long as we can make an impact on others’ lives, we will continue to build and grow.”

SFA Academy has many community partnerships that are being utilized to provide services, including Tampa General Hospital, BayCare HealthHub, Olive Health, Valor Fitness, Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation and Plant City Parks & Recreation.

For more information about SFA Academy, email info@speciallyfitacademy.com or visit www.speciallyfitacademy.com.

BLOOMINGDALE YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATION 12U TEAM SWINGS BIG FOR COOPERSTOWN

Once again, the 12U AB team for Bloomingdale Youth Sports Association (BYSA) in Valrico is going to Cooperstown, New York. The Bloomingdale AB Bandits are excited to play in the annual tournament this summer, with this being the last chance for the 12-yearolds on the team to ‘hit it out of the park’ in Cooperstown. The tournament is occurring in early August, with 12 out the 13 players on the roster set to compete in the games.

While that tournament is almost half a year away, there is a lot coming up for the Bandits to focus on as they wrap up their AB season. The season is currently underway for the young players with a handful of upcoming games over the next few months, playing next on Sunday, March 5 and 26, and then the championship on Sunday, April 30.

Additionally, the Bandits have a lofty fundraising goal of $22,000 that they hope to achieve through a variety of methods. Some of their current plans consist of savings cards, hat drops at local grocery stores and a variety of rafes. Coach Tom Irwin also shared that they are currently in the planning process of actual events and spirit nights at local restaurants, such as Your Pie Pizza. Even with most of the fundraisers still in the planning stages, the players have

By Jonathan Hurst

already managed to raise $1,000 and are eager to go after the rest. AB is short for advanced baseball, which functions as a hybrid of sorts between travel and recreation baseball. The players all tried out for the team before mak- ing it and play on rec- reational (rec) Little League teams simultaneously, and sometimes they will even face their AB teammates in the rec league. The rec games are played on Saturday, while the AB games are played on Sunday.

This group of kids have practiced and played together since December 2022 under Irwin and are starting to hit their stride. After the conclusion of the AB championship tournament, the players will continue practicing until their Cooperstown tournament.

“Coaching this team and preparing them to be competitive is a challenge I welcome. Developing these young men both on and of the field is a priority for me,” Irwin said. For more information on the Bandits fundraising eforts, events and games, search for “Bloomingdale 12U AB Spring 2023” on Facebook; and if you would like to donate directly to the team, visit their GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/ c50a5330. For more information about BYSA, visit www.bysafl.com.

Photo courtesy of SFA Academy.

Te Specially Fit Foundation’s latest endeavor includes a brand-new high school for grades nine through 12.

THE EAST HILLSBOROUGH ART GUILD

PRESENTED A FANTASTIC SHOW AT THE 2023 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

The 2023 Florida Strawberry Festival Fine Arts Show, presented by the East Hillsborough Art Guild (EHAG), showcased the artwork of talented artists from all over the Tampa Bay region. The show was open to the public during the annual Strawberry Festival in Plant City.

The judges for this year’s show were Sherry Ross and John Aho. Ross is an art educator and curator of art shows, and Aho is an experienced visual art teacher. Aho also worked as a photographer for the Tampa Tribune

The Adult Best of Show was awarded to Shaeryl Unwin of North Port for her professional-graphics piece known as Reservations

The judges said of Unwin’s piece, “Reservations is a masterwork skill, composition and subject. The subtle shading of the skin tone reminded us of a hand-printed photo on pearl fiber paper. The subtle tones achieved created the illusion of an exquisitely done black-and-white photographic portrait. Had it been photo, it was still a strong contender, but when we realized it was a scratchboard piece, the elevation of an oft-overlooked medium with such superb handling of the delicate tonal range, it became an early front runner.”

By Kathy L. Collins

The winner of the Youth Best of Show went to Peyton Rice from Apollo Beach for the piece called Berry Blast. The Youth Best of Show award and all of the youth entries are sponsored exclusively by Jarret Scott Ford of Plant City.

The Strawberry Theme Award was presented to Beth Smedley of Valrico for her mixed-media piece called 5 Strawberries

Ross and Aho said of the show, “The caliber of artwork was outstanding and there were a wide variety of media on display. We looked for the traditional elements of art: composition, technical skill, originality and artist voice. We were looking for artwork with strong skills but also communicated and engaged with the viewer in a distinct and personal way, reflective of the artist’s intention.”

Karen Crumley, chair of the art show, said, “I am pleased that the quality of the art has been increasing over the years. We had a great representation of ages as well as submissions from amateur and professional artists. The youth art just keeps getting better and better each year.”

For more information on this year’s show and to get information on EHAG, please visit www.ehagfinearts.com.

The Everglades Foundation has announced a new digital exhibit called The River of Grass. The exhibit features the immersive photography of Lucas Martinez, a student from Palmetto Bay. The exhibit was created for the UNESCO World Heritage Collection on the Google Arts & Culture platform.

The project was launched during the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention and the 75th anniversary of Everglades National Park. The exhibit contains not only photographs but also captions that highlight the intricate history and ecology of the Everglades ecosystem.

The UNESCO World Heritage Everglades Exhibit is an online exhibit. According to Begone Cazalis, director of communications for The Everglades Foundation, “The exhibit was created to expose people to the singular beauty of the Everglades, its functions and restoration eforts.” Cazalis curated the exhibit along with The Everglades Foundation science team and the photographer, Martinez.

The exhibit was created in partnership with VISIT FLORIDA. The enchanting views help illustrate the ecosystem’s various habitats, wildlife, hydrological systems, history and its connection to

By Kathy L. Collins

the South Florida communities that surround it. But more importantly, the Everglades is an important natural resource for the entire state of Florida.

Eric Eikenberg, CEO of The Everglades Foundation, said, “Everglades National Park is a world treasure. It has been an honor to partner with VISIT FLORIDA to showcase this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only U.S. location on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to the serious and continuing degradation of its aquatic ecosystem.”

Google Arts & Culture is a noncommercial initiative that works with cultural institutions around the world to preserve and bring the world’s art and culture online so it’s accessible to anyone, anywhere. This project to digitize heritage, which was created on the platform in partnership with UNESCO, ofers a glimpse into dozens of World Heritage Sites around the world to help bring awareness and protection.

The Everglades Foundation, which was founded in 1993, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to restoring and protecting the greater Everglades ecosystem through science, advocacy and education.

The exhibit can be viewed by visiting www.evergladesfoundation.org.

Te Best of Show winner for this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival Fine Arts Show is Shaerlyn Unwin of North Port for her scratchboard piece known as Reservations. Te Best of Show in the Youth Division went to Peyton Rice of Apollo Beach for Berry Blast.

A new exhibit called Te River of Grass, featuring the Everglades, was created for the UNESCO World Heritage Collection on the Google Arts & Culture platform.

By Brian Bokor

Trafc issues have become a common occurrence around parts of Hillsborough County. Greg Slater, CEO and director of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA), is fully aware of this, as the view from his ofce on Twiggs Street in downtown Tampa overlooks the backup of cars that represents the Selmon Expressway’s elevated express-lanes exit ramp during morning commutes east from Brandon.

Slater joined THEA last February and brings with him over 20 years of experience in public service, most recently as secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation, and sees first-hand where there are still opportunities to improve the expressway. One of Slater’s goals is to create a balance

not under THEA authority.

Slip ramps are on and of-ramps between the Selmon Expressway’s lower local lanes and upper reversible express lanes (REL). The new East Selmon slip ramps will allow drivers westbound to enter the upper-level REL near I-75, and then exit near IKEA. The

ating at 19 percent over prepandemic levels and seeing increased usage in the middle of the day, … and for the third time this year exceeding daily records, with Friday, February 10 setting an all-time high.” Slater is well aware that using the expressway represents both a choice and an expense, and he wants drivers to know THEA is constantly working towards improving its services to maximize their dollars. One hundred percent of the revenues collected in tolls are reinvested back into the community.

The good news for local commuters is THEA is a state, not county, agency so county funding does not factor into THEA improvements, with all upcoming and current projects funded 100 percent through THEA’s toll and bond revenues.

When asked of future THEA plans, Slater reminded me, “When the Selmon was ini-

tially expanded (in the late 80s), Brandon was the population center, and the reason why it was built … to serve the growing community. Three areas that have been discussed are north towards Pasco, west between Tampa and St. Pete and south to Riverview, Apollo Beach, Southern Hillsborough. … Due to the recent growth, THEA is addressing plans meant for 2040 today.”

And when asked about the southern option, Slater would only go as far as to say there was “an ‘idea’ which included an elevated extension running south along U.S. 301 from the existing 301 exit south to the Big Bend area, … very similar to what was built over Gandy Boulevard in South Tampa.”

This would imply one lane in either direction with no additional exits for a total length of around 10 miles. No timetable was mentioned, but Slater followed up by saying community support and involvement for this project would be essential in moving the idea forward, especially from local businesses.

For more information, Sue Chrzan, THEA’s director of communications and public affairs, can be reached at www.tampa-xway. com. THEA is located at 1104 E. Twiggs St. in Tampa. Call THEA at 813-272-6740.

Photos courtesy of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA).

THE CRISIS CENTER OF TAMPA BAY (211) PROVIDES HOPE, HELP AND HEALING TO TAMPA BAY RESIDENTS

By Kathy L. Collins

BLOOMINGDALE BAND DIRECTOR PROMOTED TO SUPERVISOR OF SECONDARY MUSIC

By Jane Owen

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay provides 24-hour support to everyone in the community.

Whether you are struggling with sexual assault or abuse, domestic violence, financial distress or some other emotional or situational distress, the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay connects people to hope, help and healing.

Te Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is reached by dialing 211. It is your point of connection for any type of crisis you may be experiencing from sexual assault, to fnancial distress to an emotional or situational distress. It provides hope, help and healing.

You can reach the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay simply by dialing 211.

Clara Reynolds, CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, said, “We work with 1,700 agencies who provide 3,000 social services for residents of Hillsborough County. We will listen to the problem or situation and provide you with the resources that can help. If you have a specific need, we may even be able to provide you with a specific name and contact.”

If an agency receives government funding (city, county, state or federal), it is required to provide up-to-date contact information to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

A good example of the help you can receive by dialing 211 would be this: If you have lost your job and are experiencing difculty paying your rent or even buying groceries to feed your family, the

Crisis Center of Tampa Bay can provide you with information about local resources, such as a food pantry like ECHO, or connect you with an organization that helps with financial difculties.

If you call 911, the fire department will come and assess the situation. If you need to be transported to the hospital, the fire department personnel will contact the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, which will then get you to the hospital.

Similarly, if law enforcement is called for a mental or psychiatric problem that requires involuntary support, law enforcement will call the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay to facilitate transport to a facility.

If someone experiences sexual assault, it is the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay that conducts the rape test and can provide trauma counseling.

There is also a new hotline: 988. This is specifically for those dealing with a mental crisis or suicide. The caller will be connected with a therapist for support.

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay has been a part of the community for 50 years. It is your connection point in times of crisis.

Jon Sever, Bloomingdale High School’s music department head and band director for the last 19 years, is leaving Bloomingdale for a position with the Hillsborough County School District. Sever will be supervising all of the music in Hillsborough County for grades six through 12 as the supervisor of secondary music for Hillsborough County schools.

Sever announced his departure at the school on February 9, calling all current band and guard members to the auditorium to share his promotion. Understandably, his announcement was met with mixed emotions — lots of tears and gratefulness.

Bloomingdale Principal Dr. Marcos Rodriguez said Sever is an incredible band director for many reasons.

“He takes the time to get to know his students and families, which allows him to create long-lasting relationships with anyone in the program. His passion and love for music are infectious,” Dr. Rodriguez said.

Passion is what led Sever to become a high school music director.

“I always ask the kids what their relationship is with music. It is very much like a relationship with a human being. Are you friends? Are you more than friends? Do you use music? Are you deeply committed? My relationship with music is a deep commitment,” Sever said.

His commitment developed early in his life. He says he struggled in high school and music saved him. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in music and master’s in music education from Florida State University.

“I know what I wanted to do in college, and to be honest, if I couldn’t find a high school job, I wasn’t just going to take a job because my heart wasn’t going to be in it,” Sever said.

Passion and dedication are cornerstones for Bloomingdale High School’s band. The Bloomingdale High School Rajun’ Bull Band has had straight ‘Superior’ ratings at Marching Band Music Performance Assessments (MPAs) since the school opened in 1987.

Ted Hope was the first band director at the school. He left Bloomingdale after 17 years to take the position of supervisor of secondary music for Hillsborough County schools — the very position that Sever is taking after being the Bloomingdale’s band director for 19 years.

“Jon was hired at Bloomingdale High School because we shared similar philosophies. Kids always came first, and eventually everything else lines up accordingly,” Hope said.

If asked what he will miss most after taking his new position, there is no hesitation from Sever: “The kids, 100 percent.”

Sue Burkett, Hillsborough County chief of schools and Bloomingdale principal from 2013-20, said Sever “gets it.” He gets kids and the structure needed to lead within music education.

“There is no way that Bloomingdale can absorb the impact of Jon Sever in that building and with the band. The good thing is, he will still be working with music education for the district, and I highly doubt he will allow his successor to be anything but superior,” Burkett said.

ADVENTHEALTH NOW OFFERING INSPIRE: AN ALTERNATIVE TO CPAP

it doesn’t block your airway.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a blockage in your airways during the night. When your airways close, your brain wakes up — and that means your sleep is continually interrupted. Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can lead to other health conditions too, including severe heart risks.

Using a CPAP machine is a standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, but it’s not for everyone. That’s why

AdventHealth is now offering Inspire® Upper Airway Stimulation Therapy, a great option for people living with sleep apnea who haven’t found CPAP to be effective.

Inspire is a treatment option that uses nerve stimulation to open your airways so you breathe (and therefore sleep) better. You can think of Inspire like a pacemaker for the tongue, connecting to the nerve that controls your tongue movement. When you breathe in, it moves your tongue forward so

Inspire is a small device that is implanted completely under the skin of your chest and controlled with a handheld remote. All you need to do is turn it on when you’re ready to sleep, which means there’s no mask or hose to wear at night.

AdventHealth’s specialists help determine if Inspire is the right treatment option for you. In general, four main criteria qualify patients, 18 years and older, for Inspire:

• Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI).

• Body mass index (BMI).

• CPAP intolerance.

• Drug-induced sleep endoscopy.

From comprehensive sleep studies at our comfortable and modern sleep center to leading-edge treatments, AdventHealth has you covered.

Call 813-615-7725, option 6 or contact rachel.liuzzi@adventhealth.com for more information and to schedule an appointment with AdventHealth’s Inspire-trained specialist.

Andrew Agnew, DO, otolaryngologist (ENT), Inspire-trained physician.

NEWSOME AND BLOOMINGDALE CO-HOST SEVENTH ANNUAL INCREDIBULL GAMES

Newsome High School and Bloomingdale Senior High School co-hosted the seventh annual IncrediBULL Games on February 24. The IncrediBULL Games are a Special Olympics field day event for middle school and high school students in Eastern Hillsborough County.

‘Incredible’ hardly begins to describe the moments of joy and connection at the IncrediBULL Games.

“Our athletes and their buddies have said this is their favorite day of the year. The IncrediBULL Games promotes inclusion and has built many lasting friendships over the years,” said IncrediBULL Games event coordinator Donna Hart.

From the moment athletes arrive at the games, excitement grows. Cheerleaders and drumlines from both high schools welcome the athletes as they got of their buses. The athletes spend the day competing in track and soccer and enjoying games and activities at the ‘Olympic Village.’ Student volunteers, called buddies, are paired to spend time with athletes while they compete and have fun.

This year’s event at Newsome was the biggest yet with 475 athletes participating from 16 schools and 850 student volunteers. Hart said the partnership between Bloomingdale and Newsome broadened the community supporters and gave even more

EDGE POOLS KEEPS POOLS IN SHAPE FOR YEAR-ROUND USE

By Brad Stager

By Jane Owen

students the opportunity to serve.

Bloomingdale Principal Marcos Rodriguez said the partnership allowed the event to double the number of student volunteers and club participation.

Newsome Principal Katie Rocha said she is proud the event had a positive impact on young lives.

“Our athletes were able to experience amazing moments of joy and connection as they competed, played games and proudly represented their schools. Our student volunteers were given the opportunity to experience the pure joy of helping another, which is an experience that will shape their character as they move into adulthood,” Rocha said.

Both Rocha and Rodriguez appreciate the unity brought by the schools co-hosting the event.

“Seeing all of our sports, clubs and athletes collaborate to make this a memorable event for students on our side of the county always puts a smile on my face. Working with Newsome to co-sponsor the games has created an opportunity for our communities to work together to support our students,” Rodriguez said.

Newsome and Bloomingdale will continue to host the games, alternating locations on a yearly basis. For more information about the IncrediBULL Games, contact Hart at donna. hart@hcps.net.

One of the great features of owning a home in the Tampa Bay area for many residents is the ability to have year-round use of an installed swimming pool. But what happens after construction of a family aquatic attraction is completed and the pumps, filters and other equipment associated with a pool need to operate smoothly?

If Edge Pools is responsible for maintaining your pool, probably nothing. That’s because Edge Pools does more than clean the sludge and slime that can turn a pristine pool into a cement swamp. Whether it involves routine cleaning and chemical treatment of the water or maintenance and repair of the equipment that keeps it flowing and circulating, Edge Pools has the state-licensed and industry-trained experts to complete a job with the goal of meeting or exceeding customer expectations.

For Eddie Edgerton, who co-owns Edge Pools with his wife, Heidi, servicing pools is a calling that came early in his youth with a job on a pool construction crew, and as he explains on the Edge Pools website, “I loved it the day I started.” Combining enthusiasm for the work with ongoing technical training that ranges from understanding pool

chemistry to rebuilding pumps or diving in to repair cracks has enabled the couple to grow their business and envision a future that eventually includes designing and building custom pools. Heidi attributes their success in part to being accountable to their customers.

“We like to be honest, fair. It’s not always about the money,” said Heidi. She added that they get a lot of professional satisfaction by solving problems, some of which keep the job interesting, especially when water and electricity are in close proximity to each other.

“We see a lot of crazy stuf,” she said.

One of the things Edge Pools ofers is a program to start of a new pool right with an ongoing maintenance program that can keep a new or established pool ready for family fun.

To learn more about services provided by Edge Pools and even get a quote to take care of a pool maintenance or repair need, visit online at https://edgepoolsfl.com/ or the Edge Pools Facebook page. You can also call 813-230-2838 or send an email to edgepoolservice@gmail.com.

A swimming pool can be a backyard oasis if properly maintained.

Te diference between a properly maintained pool or spa and one that isn’t can be strikingly obvious.

Bloomingdale Senior High School Principal Dr. Marcos Rodriguez and Newsome Principal Katie Rocha at the annual IncrediBULL games.

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!

The staf at the Osprey Observer has collected the top recommendations for local summer camps and created this special pullout section.

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

Center is hosting a variety of week summer camps for rising actors, mu sicians, and dancers starting May 30 and running through August 4. Weekly camps will take place Monday through Fri day and before and after care will be avail.

Kids ‘R’ Kids Cir ca FishHawk

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. Meals and field trips are included. 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.

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

TLC’s Gypsy Hav-

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

Sidekicks Summer

Sidekicks Martial Arts is gearing up for its Summer Camp 2023 program with martial arts, field trips and more.

D-Bat South Shore

If you have a baseball or softball players, summer is a great time to develop skills in D-Bat South Shore’s state-ofthe-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.

Cederkirk 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 the whole summer. Camps include all meals and activities.

FishHawk Fellowship Church

Ofering a selection of half-day sports camps starting June 5 through 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. Did we miss a great summer camp option? Let us know by emailing (subject line ‘Summer Camp’) 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 ofered 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 ofstage 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 houses: Saturday, March 25 from 9-10 a.m. and 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

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/.

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 offered 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 941-928-6860. 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 813-685-4224. 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-

JUUNNIIOOR R SUMMMER C CAMP

GOOLLF CAAMMP

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.

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.

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 theater camp, 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 813-653-1554, 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-the-art 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.

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 to Friday, August 4. All camps run from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and the price is $105 for the week. For additional information, 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 offered to help your child develop their baseball or softball skills while having a great time and making new friends. D-BAT ofers state-ofthe-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 end-of-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.

EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL OFFERS DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING APPOINTMENTS

The Early Childhood Council of Hillsborough County Inc. (ECC) was formed in 1983 with a focus on identifying and addressing service gaps for young children with disabilities. ECC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. Because of the funding ECC receives, it is able to provide services without imposing a financial burden on the family.

Greg Van Pelt, clinical director for ECC, said, “Our core areas of focus are supporting inclusion in the childcare community, access to early childhood developmental screening and supporting workforce capacity through professional development.”

Access to developmental screening is important. One in five children will develop some form of delay or disability prior to kindergarten. According to Van Pelt, “A developmental screening is a way of checking in on a child’s milestone progress and can be the very first opportunity to identify possible delays in development and then respond through guidance, early intervention services and support.”

Screening is done in the key domains of speech and language, hearing, vision, cognitive capacity, motor skills and social-emotional development.

Van Pelt said, “It is never too early. Screening can be started as early as 1 month old and have intervals going through 5 and a

FOR CHILDREN

By Kathy L. Collins

half years old. The beauty of screening is that you do not have to wait to have a concern. You just need to be curious about where your child is developmentally and about what the continued path of development may look like.”

He added, “Sometimes, screening is not addressed until closer to 3 years of age, when concerns in development become more visible. If we wait too long, then there are so many potential opportunities that have been missed.”

With screening, you can celebrate developmental progress, and the caregiver knows what to expect and prepare for moving forward. Regular screening can identify potential hiccups as early as possible and put a plan in place to better support the child’s needs.

Van Pelt said, “Good screening empowers our families by arming them with information, involving them in the path forward and validating them as being the expert of their own child.”

ECC has a full screening calendar each month through July.

On Thursday, June 15, a screening will be ofered at the Children’s Board Family Resource Center in Plant City. Parents can start an Ages and Stages Questionnaire through an online portal. Both the calendar and portal can be accessed at www.ecctampabay.org.

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.

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

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.

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 -

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.

SUN ’N FUN AEROSPACE EXPO 2023 COMING IN MARCH

Staf Report

TAMPA BAY RODEO AND FAMILY FESTIVAL RETURNS IN APRIL

Save the date for one of one of the largest and most successful aviation events in the world, the 2023 SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo, as it prepares to celebrate its 49th anniversary. The event, from Tuesday, March 28 through Sunday, April 2 in Lakeland, is the first major air show of the year. SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo has also announced that E3 Aviation Association is the new title sponsor. This partnership allows for the more than 200,000 aviation enthusiasts from around the world to enjoy what has become known as Aviation’s Season Opener or Spring Break for Pilots.

shows along with hundreds of aircraft on display.

Taking of for its 49th year, SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo showcases hundreds of aircraft on display, including vintage, homebuilt, aerobatic, warbird, jet and light sport. One of the highlights of the five-day expo is the Blue Angels, the high-flying and awe-inspiring flight demonstration squadron of the U.S. Navy.

Additional special air show acts include U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightening II Demonstration Team, the U.S. Marine Corp F-35B Lightening II Demonstration Team and Doug Rozendaal flying Mr. Mulligan, the Howard DGA-6 pioneer racing plane.

SUN ‘n FUN also features more than 500 exhibitors, hands-on workshops teaching

building and maintenance skills and educational forums from pilots and maintainers about safety, new products and other timely topics.

“E3 Aviation Association is the perfect partner to join SUN ‘n FUN this year. It’s an amazing brand fit in every way with the experiential event we’ve created,” said Gene Conrad, president and CEO for SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. “At the core of it all is our shared passion for aviation. We have so many fun and interesting surprises waiting for our visitors this year.”

Tickets for SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo are available online at flysnf.org.

From its humble beginnings in 1974, SUN ‘n FUN Fly-In Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that market and supports dozens of yearround events, including the Aerospace Expo. Proceeds from these events are the primary source of funding for the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), which has emerged as a nationally recognized leader in STEM-related and aerospace education through its various learning centers, outreach programs, scholarships and summer camps aimed at engaging, educating and accelerating the next generation of aerospace professionals.

For more information, please visit https:// flysnf.org/.

Summer at Mathnasium!

Bigger and better than ever, the Tampa Bay Rodeo and Family Festival, presented by Bartow Ford, gallops into the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds from Friday through Sunday, April 1416 with three fun-filled days of action, activities and eats.

On the Friday and Saturday nights, cowboys and cowgirls compete in the rodeo through bull riding, barrel racing and bronco busting. Parents can register their littlest cowpokes on-site for the very popular mutton bustin’.

The evenings begin with the Family Festival prior to the rodeo, with delicious food, exciting games, amusing animals and live music on the Bud Light Entertainment Stage. New this year, plan to come back on Sunday for the Family Festival to enjoy all the day’s oferings and live music from different musical artists.

Tampa-area and Nashville recording artist Randy McNeeley takes the stage on Friday and Saturday nights, and nationally touring country artists Craig Campbell and Canaan Smith each perform on Sunday afternoon. Everyone will have a rip-roaring good time at the Family Festival where guests can participate in a host of challenges, including riding the mechanical bull and axe throwing.

The littlest wranglers can have fun with face painting, an interactive barnyard where they can pet and feed the critters, camel and pony rides and other fun activities and games like giant Jenga and an inflatable slide.

Tasty grub that will please even the littlest wrangler is available throughout the entire event, including barbecue, corn dogs, fried Oreos, turkey legs, tacos, cotton candy and much more. There’s something for everyone at this spring extravaganza.

The Tampa Bay Rodeo is an EBA-sanctioned event. Bulls, broncs and barrels are presented by 5S Bucking Bulls, based in Lithia. Competitors in EBA rodeos range in age from 7-55 years old, and at the Tampa Bay Rodeo there will be around 40 men and women competing.

Gates open at 4 p.m., and the rodeo begins at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; Sunday’s Family Festival is from 12 Noon- 5 p.m.

The Hillsborough County Fairgrounds are located at 215 Sydney Washer Rd. in Dover at the intersection of State Road 60 and Sydney Washer Road, east of Brandon. Visit https://hillsboroughcountyfair.com/ for tickets and more information.

Te annual SUN n FUN

Aerospace Expo brings thousands of visitors to see thrilling air

Te Tampa Bay Rodeo and Family Festival, presented by Bartow Ford, gallops into Hills-borough County Fairgrounds from Friday through Sunday, April 14-16.

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE VISITS THE FLORIDA RAILROAD MUSEUM

Ride along Thomas the Tank Engine during its Party Train Tour at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish on select weekends in April. Dates include Saturday, April 17; Sunday, April 18; Saturday, April 24; and Sunday, April 25. Prices range from $19 to $23, depending on the time of day for peak and non-peak pricing. To add, anyone 24 months old and up will need a ticket to enter. Advanced tickets will be required.

Florida Railroad Museum’s events director, Glenn Miley, mentioned how this event came into fruition.

“Thomas the Tank Engine has been visiting the Florida Railroad Museum for 10 years and is coming back in April,” Miley said.

While on board Thomas the Tank Engine, attendees will have a party pass to receive favors at numerous stops along the way. An array of activities that attendees could participate in would include crafts, checking out the party corner for lawn game fun and more. Those interested will also get an opportunity to say hello to Sir Topham Hatt or even visit the pop-up gift shop.

This event will be abiding by the local

HCPS AWARDED SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH GRANT TO ASSIST THE NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION

Staf Report

government guidelines with enhanced safety protocols in place.

“There will be extra cleaning between trains. Sanitizer stations will also be placed around the grounds,” Miley said.

Founded as the Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum, the Florida Railroad Museum, Inc. was established with the goal to preserve Florida’s railroad history that existed in the 1940s and 1950s. The museum itself consists of exhibits that individuals can ride. The Florida Railroad Museum operates on a 6-mile line between Parrish and Willow in rural Manatee County. As a side note, this specific railroad line was the first to be built in Manatee County. The trains are operated by the Florida Railroad Museum volunteers, and throughout the year, special weekend events such as this one will occur.

For more information, visit http:// www.frrm.org. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.ticketweb.com/venue/florida-railroad-museum-parrish-fl/83825. It is located at 12210 83rd St. E. in Parrish and is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 941-776-0906.

Hillsborough County Public Schools has been awarded a five-year School-based Mental Health (SBMH) grant for approximately $8.5 million. The grant is funded through the United States Department of Education, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities-National Programs. Federal funds will contribute $8,562,135 (75 percent) towards the School-based Mental Health project and non-federal match funds will contribute $2,140,534 (25 percent). Inkind match funds include the salary of supplemental social workers providing mental health supports in the district.

This School-based Mental Health Service project will implement a comprehensive recruitment and retention plan with the goal of increasing the number of credentialed school-based mental health service providers serving Hillsborough County Public Schools students. The comprehensive strategy outlined in the project includes activities that focus on restructuring compensation, recruiting personnel from diverse backgrounds that reflect the demographic makeup of the district’s students and providing a robust array of professional development opportunities to support new and existing staf members.

The district expects that the project will result in the following outcomes:

• Increased recruitment of school psychologists, school counselors and school social workers to mirror student demographics.

• Stabilization of staf retention rates.

• Increased availability of school-based mental health resources for students, teachers and administrators.

• Improved local capacity to support school-based mental health service providers through the provision of high-quality professional development opportunities.

• Formalization of district partnerships with Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) to create a pipeline of future applicants.

Students’ mental health needs are increasing at an exponential rate, and there are simply not enough resources available within schools or through community providers to meet the identified needs. It is expected the implementation of this SBMH project will provide the funds to recruit new, highly qualified mental health-based employees, including approximately 30-40 school counselors, 10-20 school psychologists and 20-30 school social workers. In addition, the funds from the SBMH project will provide robust, supportive professional development to retain current staf, all to meet the growing mental health needs of our students throughout the district.

Tomas the Tank Engine makes an appearance during its Party Train Tour at the Florida Railroad Museum.

it's ok to not be ok your mental health matters

NEW INTERACTIVE SPLASH AND PLAY ZONE, SHAKA-LAKA SHORES, DEBUTS THIS

Adventure Island, Tampa’s premier water park, will open for the 2023 season on Saturday, March 4, and the park’s newest addition, Shaka-Laka Shores, opens in late March. The new splash and play zone, located in the heart of Adventure Island, will feature an area with 25 individual elements and a central kid-friendly play structure bound to entertain and engage even the youngest of guests. Shaka-Laka Shores will greet guests as they enter the park and showcase the waterpark’s overarching tropical paradise theme.

The newest addition will have more than two dozen playful elements and a variety of interactive aquatic components, all within a zero-depth area — ideal for smaller kids — as well as additional shaded areas. The newly constructed area will also house three new private cabanas featuring convenient access to the new area. Shaka-Laka Shores joins a comprehensive list of exciting water slides, Endless Surf’s 17,000-squarefoot wave pool, an additional kid-friendly option in Splash Attack and more.

“Shaka-Laka Shores’ vibrant and interactive elements are bound to provide our

SOMETHING BIG IS COMING TO ZOOTAMPA AT LOWRY PARK

Staf Report

youngest guests with a playful space to splash and explore,” said Neal Thurman, park president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island. “Shaka-Laka Shores will bundle the elements of excitement

and inter- activity to serve as another great option for families experiencing Adventure Island.”

The opening of Shaka-Laka Shores, along with recently opened attractions Rapids Racer and Wahoo Remix, is part of the waterpark’s largest expansion in more than four decades. Guests are quickly immersed in a revitalized and vibrant theme from a newly designed front entrance and carried over into the park with new lounging areas, additional cabanas and even new refreshment locations, such as the full-service Hang Ten Tiki Bar.

Adventure Island’s Annual Pass is the best way to enjoy an entire year of family fun under the sun, including the new Shaka-Laka Shores and exciting seasonal events.

Visit https://adventureisland.com/ to purchase tickets and learn more about the Annual Pass program benefits, new events, special deals and future announcements.

There’s always something new and exciting to look forward to at Florida’s most visited cultural institution, and one has just begun in ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Join in with ZooTampa to experience BUGTOPIA, a limited-time family-friendly event that opened on February 25. This larger-than-life exhibit is free with zoo admission or membership and features 13 enormous animatronic bugs that will amaze and educate guests in fun and unique ways.

BUGTOPIA enables guests to glimpse into the world from a bug’s perspective, delight in their bizarre beauty and reflect on what we can learn from their brilliant behaviors. Roles will be reversed as guests venture into a bug’s world where they will find themselves looking up into the eyes of a larger-than-life Mexican red-knee tarantula or at the tail of a mighty emperor scorpion looming more than 10 feet in the air.

“Bugs are fascinating creatures, and we’re proud to be able to share them with guests of all ages in BUGTOPIA,” said chief operating ofcer Scott Rose. “This exhibit is full of enormous animatronic bugs and insects that show what these animals look

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like close up and how they’ve perfectly adapted to the world around them — our guests will never look at bugs the same way again.”

In addition to all the buzz from BUGTOPIA, the zoo is kicking of its extended springtime hours. During the days of Saturday, March 11 through Sunday, March 19, guests can enjoy the zoo from 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Also, during the months of March and April, the zoo will stay open until 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to excellence in conservation, education, recreation and research. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is recognized as Florida’s leading and most attended zoological cultural institution.

It is located at 1101 W. Sligh Ave. in Tampa and is open seven days a week (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., with extended hours for select events. For more information, visit www. zootampa.org or follow it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

A rendering of Shaka-Laka Shores, Adventure Island’s new splash and play zone.

FUN AND LAUGHTER AWAIT FAMILIES AT THE 2023 EGYPT SHRINE CIRCUS

Come one, come all, and celebrate the 2023 Egypt Shrine Circus. The Egypt Shrine Circus has been ofering afordable family fun and entertainment for generations in the Tampa Bay area, and this year the 58th annual circus will be held for the first time at the International Independent Showmen’s Association grounds, located at 6915 Riverview Dr. in Riverview, from Thursday through Sunday, April 6-9.

This three-ring circus is back in full swing after COVID-19 cancellations, and the new location under the big top at the Showmen’s grounds promises to bring a bigger and better circus than ever.

The Egypt Shrine Clowns will be performing and are sure to bring hijinks and hilarity as they perform under the lights in the big top. Along with traditional clown performances, there will be professional performances from Circus Hollywood.

“We couldn’t ask for a better partnership than with the Showmen’s Association. The grounds and location are perfect to put on family-fun performances with some of the best performers in the circus industry,” said Dennis McDermott, circus director.

In addition to the circus, there will be a carnival managed by Arnold International Carnivals, along with a petting zoo, food

SERENGETI FLYER, WORLD’S TALLEST AND FASTEST RIDE OF ITS KIND OPENS AT BUSCH GARDENS

vendors, games and more.

The circus show hours are on Thursday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m.; Friday, April 7 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 8 at 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, April 9 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Come early to the shows as seats are limited to the first 1,000 individuals.

What’s more, the Shriners are celebrating the opening of the new Egypt Shrine Center, located on the Palm River at 5017 E. Washington St. in Tampa, south of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. The building has many features, including a 30,000-square-foot facility that has multiple areas available to rent for events large or small. There is also the Palm River Oasis and Waterfront Grille, providing a full bar and limited food menu open to the public. The full kitchen is due for completion in March.

“Our new Shrine Center will bring new visibility and provide a central place for many activities, including Shrine-sponsored events like the ever-popular, annual Feztival of Trees,” said Dennis Bryant, the Egypt Shrine potentate.

For more information on the circus, visit http://egyptshrinecircus.com/. For information on the Shrine Center, visit www. esctampa.com.

Busch Gardens

Tampa Bay’s newest ride, Serengeti Flyer, is now open for all guests. The park’s latest attraction, which opened recently, is the world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind, providing riders with breathtaking views of the park’s expansive 65acre Serengeti Plain.

Serengeti Flyer features twin dueling arms that soar progressively higher, reaching speeds of 68 mph, a maximum height of 135 feet at the ride’s peak and the pulse-pounding thrill of multiple negative-G moments. The park’s new thrill features the capability to adjust the ride’s intensity level, giving guests the opportunity for a milder or wilder experience. Serengeti Flyer allows 40 guests to experience the ride at once, seated back-to-back in rows of 10 across two gondolas.

“Thrills are in full swing at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay with yet another exciting, record-setting ride for our guests to enjoy,” said Neal Thurman, park president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “As the world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind, Serengeti Flyer joins a world-class portfolio of attractions, ofering breathtaking views

of the park and a oneof-a-kind experience for all our guests.”

Busch Gardens

Tampa Bay’s annual pass is the best way to enjoy an entire year of thrilling attractions and exciting seasonal events. Categorized in easy-to-use tiers, all options provide guests with unlimited yearround admission and unbeatable benefits like free parking, in-park discounts and monthly rewards starting as low as $15. Additionally, those interested in paying for a day and playing all year can take advantage of the current buy-one, get-one Fun Card ofer. For a limited time, guests purchasing a Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Fun Card will receive an Adventure Island Fun Card for free.

Guests can visit https://buschgardenstampa.com/ to purchase tickets and learn more about the annual pass program’s benefits and monthly rewards, the current special ofer for the 2023 Fun Card and stay in the know about new events, special deals and future announcements by following Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and Twitter.

Te famous Shriners Circus Clowns are back for the circus from Tursday through Sunday, April 6-9.

1916 Irish Pub Opens New Location In Brandon

Chuck Jameison, Fernando Rodriguez and Duke Mendel, owners of 1916 Irish Pub, have just opened their third location at 906 W. Robertson St. in Brandon. The pub o f ers authentic Irish cuisine with a contemporary twist including shepherd’s pie, Irish stew and fish and chips. A wide range of craft beers accompany the food, as well as delicious sounding cocktails. Visit its website at www.1916irishpub.com to see the full food and drink menus. A calendar is also online, where upcoming events are listed; look for live music announcements. The other 1916 locations are in Plant City and Lakeland.

Paulette Y.

Merchant LLC Provides Real Estate Services

Paulette Y. Merchant LLC is based at 109 Harbor Village Ln. in Apollo Beach. It provides representation for buying or selling real estate, whether for primary

homes, second homes and/or investment properties, and shares with buyers and sellers what is happening in the housing market at any given time, ensuring that they can make educated decisions regarding their housing budget or sales price. It also takes the time to sit down with people to discuss their need and wants, as well as educate them about the process of buying and selling in Florida. Plus, it’s able to refer local vendors that may be required, such as movers, locksmiths and handyman services. For more information, visit its website at https:// paulette.kw.com/ or call 813-652-5472 (mobile) or 813-641-8300 (o f ce) to make an appointment.

Jade Health Ofers TED Hair Restoration

Transepidermal delivery (TED) is a new treatment o f ered at Jade Health. It works without needles and is completely painless. TED uses ultrasound and air pressure to push the topical hair-growth serum into dormant follicles. It improves blood flow to the scalp, which results in thicker, stronger hair. Anyone su f ering from hair loss who wants to improve the appearance of their hair is a great candidate. Jade Health is located at 10730

Ketchum Valley Dr. in Riverview. For additional information on services offered or to book a free consultation, visit its website at www.Jadetampa. com or call 813-741-3234.

Dr. Joonie’s Examinavan Recognized June Bryant, APRN, owner of Dr. Joonie’s Examinavan, presented at the 44th annual National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) in Orlando on Thursday, March 16 in the Practice Innovation podium presentation about the mobile van concept. She was also be recognized at the event as an emerging leader for being the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter president. Dr. Joonie’s Examinavan brings individualized health care to your doorstep; to find out more about it, visit www. drjoonies.com or call 813-551-3399.

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

• Hearing Loss

• Thyroid Disorders

• Cosmetic Facial Plastic Surgery

• Speech and Swallowing Disorders

• And More

To learn more: 813-467-4262

TampaENTExperts.com

Code Wiz FishHawk was excited to celebrate its opening alongside the Valrico FishHawk Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cutting on January 27.

Cardinal Roofng recently celebrated its new ofce, located at 3108 Barkley Ln. in Valrico, with a ribbon-cutting. Visit its website at www.cardinalroofng f.com for more information on meeting your roofng needs.

Cardinal Roofing is hosting its ninth annual Clay Shoot Fundraiser on Friday, April 14 at 11:30 am. Join in for a fun day of shooting sporting clay and help raise money for My Warrior’s Place. My Warrior’s Place is a retreat center located in Ruskin that serves our veterans, military service members, law enforcement ofcers, firefighters as well as Gold Star, Blue Star and Silver Star families.

Additionally, My Warrior’s Place ofers several amazing programs for those who have put their life on the line, endured the death of a fallen warrior and/or experienced the horrors of war. Each program it ofers plays an important role in the healing and coping process, along with the ongoing support that is desperately needed.

According to Bridget Wilson, Cardinal Roofing president, giving back to the community and a local grassroots nonprofit that supports local veterans is so important. “It’s our way to shout our love of community by spending our time and efort to bring awareness of grassroots veterans’ charities,” said Wilson. “We donated to My Warrior’s Place last year for the first time to help get their dog kennels built to house the service animals of vet-

By Kelly Wise Valdes

erans who need them cared for during their own medical care.”

This year’s event is expected to raise $10K for A Warrior’s Place.

“I love the camaraderie of the event,” said Wilson. “We welcome all shooters, from beginners to advanced. We also love when other roofing companies come to shoot. Our industry is full of huge hearts, and it’s a great way to get our community together. Everyone is welcomed regardless of ability and skill.”

The event will also include rafes, an auction and great food. There are many local sponsors for the event this year, as there have been in past years. Jenifer Breaux with Dream Vacations is this year’s lunch sponsor. Other sponsors include Chick-fil-A of Lake Brandon Village and Brandon South, JF Kicks and Phillips Creative, and there is room for additional sponsorship spots.

To register, call 813-689-7663 (ROOF) or visit www.girlroofer.com to purchase tickets or inquire about sponsorships. The event is taking place at FishHawk Sporting Clays, located at 13505 Hobson Simmons Rd. in Lithia. For more information about My Warrior’s Place, visit www.mywarriorsplace.org.

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

Cardinal Roofng is hosting a fun-day of clay shooting, rafes, an auction and lunch to raise money for My Warrior’s Place.

CHASSAHOWITZKA AND WEEKI WACHEE RIVER EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

By Vivianna Bendixson, SWIM Program Manager

MEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEERS SERVE 200 PEOPLE A DAY

By Kathy L. Collins

Q: Why is it important to use best practices when visiting rivers and springs?

A: The Southwest Florida Water Management District has found direct links between river recreational use and environmental damage. For example, visitors leaving kayaks while on the river have trampled vegetation and eroded riverbanks and sand point bars. Also, numerous trees have been damaged from climbing and rope swinging. Over time, these actions can have negative longterm e f ects on these waterbodies.

Q: How does an education campaign help?

A: Many of the people visiting these rivers may not know how their actions directly cause environmental damage. By partnering with nearby businesses and community groups, the district uses a variety of materials to help educate visitors.

Q: What can visitors do to help protect the Chassahowitzka and Weeki Wachee rivers?

A: We encourage people to follow these best management practices to help reduce their environmental impact:

1. Stay in the vessel when possible.

2. If you have to leave the vessel, tie o f in shallow waters.

3. Avoid docking on riverbanks.

4. Don’t trample vegetation or kick up silt.

5. Avoid climbing on banks and walking on sand point bars.

6. Don’t climb trees or use rope swings.

7. Don’t throw out litter or leave anything behind.

8. Trim boat motors to prevent propeller scarring.

Q: Do these tips apply to all river and springs systems?

A: While each system may have its own rules and regulations to follow, these are good tips to remember no matter where you visit. It’s always important to recreate responsibly and preserve these natural habitats.

Q: Where can I get more information about protecting these river systems?

A: Visit www.watermatters.org/ springs to learn more about protecting our river and spring systems.

As manager of the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program, Vivianna Bendixson oversees a number of district water quality and natural systems initiatives and programs. Vivianna earned a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science from the College of Santa Fe and a Master of Science in environmental science from the University of Guam. She has been with the district since 2015.

If you or someone you know is homebound and unable to prepare a home-cooked meal, then Greater Brandon Meals on Wheels may be able to help. The person in need can be of any age, and the circumstance of their need can be temporary or permanent.

The Greater Brandon Meals on Wheels helps those in need who live in a territory covering the Brandon, Sefner and Valrico area (east to Dover Road, west to U.S. Highway 301, north to Interstate 4 and south to the Alafia River). While clients are asked to donate $2.50 per meal, no one is turned away due to an inability to pay.

Trough a team of all volunteers, the Greater Brandon Meals on Wheels provides hot, nutritious meals to homebound residents of Brandon, Valrico and Se fner. Te goal is to enrich the independent lives of these residents.

Clients can be referred to the Greater Brandon Meals on Wheels by organizations, churches, family, friends, physicians or neighbors. Clients are screened in their home to verify eligibility.

A daily meal is prepared by volunteers and delivered Monday through Friday between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The meal includes a main course (chicken, beef, fish, pork, etc.), starch, vegetable, salad, bread and dessert. Meals are cooked, assembled and delivered by volunteer members and friends of 17 participating area churches.

Currently, the Greater Brandon Meals on

Wheels serves over 200 medically needy, homebound residents. For many of these residents, the daily visit from the Greater Brandon Meals on Wheels volunteer is the only human contact they receive that day. The services provided are intended to increase intake of nutritious food, improve their personal outlook and health and decrease the feeling of isolation and loneliness.

Carol Shick, general coordinator for the Greater Brandon Meals on Wheels, said, “We are a completely volunteer organization and solely funded by donations. We love serving the community and our clients.”

Shick said, “Many churches will prepare special holiday foods, and some give holiday favors. At Christmas, each client receives a bag or box with small treats, books and toiletries. We deliver every holiday except Christmas.”

The Greater Brandon Meals on Wheels is a 100 percent volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It operates completely from donations. The organization has been serving the community since 1976.

For more information, please visit www. brandonmealsonwheels.com.

Photo courtesy of Meals on Wheels Tampa.

UNITED WAY SUNCOAST SEEKS VOLUNTEERS, PROJECTS FOR ANNUAL WEEK OF CARING IN APRIL

Volunteers converged on the Here We Grow Learning Center in Tampa’s Clair-Mel neighborhood earlier this month with a plan, a vision and a lot of heart. Guided by the organizational muscle of United Way Suncoast, volunteers from Coca-Cola Bottlers Sales & Services, the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County and the Early Learning Childhood Council of Hillsborough County arrived with enthusiasm. They came not just to turn a field into a community garden or build child-sized benches for an outdoor reading area. They came to turn Yvonne Boyce’s dream into a reality.

Boyce, owner of Here We Grow Learning Center and part of United Way Suncoast’s Quality Childcare Initiative, had always envisioned a garden where her children and families could delight in growing their own fruits and vegetables. By day’s end, that dream had taken root, and the volunteers walked away knowing their work left an indelible impression.

United Way Suncoast works to convene such sterling eforts throughout the year, but its volunteer collaborations culminate during April. This year, it again invites the community to celebrate United Way Suncoast’s 31st Annual Week of Caring from Sunday through Saturday, April 16-22 as part of Global Volunteer Month. Global Volunteer Month celebrates the power of people

who tackle society’s greatest challenges and build stronger, more vibrant communities through volunteerism and everyday actions.

Dozens of nonprofits throughout the region seek volunteers to support meaningful projects. Week of Caring aligns those opportunities with United Way Suncoast’s focus areas: education, financial stability and support services. Corporate employees, civic groups and interested individuals are all welcome to participate in this impactful community week of service through either in-person, virtual or remote opportunities.

Group Volunteering

Corporate and civic groups with five or more people can submit their volunteer information to be matched with a community project until Friday, March 31. United Way Suncoast will pair your group with recommended opportunities based on the submitted information.

Individual Volunteering

Registration for individual volunteer opportunities began on March 20. United Way Suncoast will have sent an email on that date with a link to available opportunities.

Gather details and sign up at www.volunteersuncoast.org/weekofcaring. Together, we can create better opportunities for all through collaboration and volunteerism. United We Rise, United We Win.

Yvonne Boyce, owner of Here We Grow Learning Center, worked with volunteers organized by United Way Suncoast to complete a new community garden at her center.