Brandon/Winthrop
15
November 2021
Volume 16, Issue 11
Ph: 657-2418
ENTRY FORM IN SECTION 3
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
CENSUS DATA SHOWS SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST BE REDRAWN
By Michelle Caceres
By Kate Quesada
being an officer, her husband was a loving father to his daughters, one of whom, Caitlin, is also a deputy with the Hillsborough County Sherrif’s Office. He received many professional achievements in his career, including being named Deputy of the Half in 1992 and receiving the Sheriff’s Office Life Saving Award in 2017. “This designation is not for the way SerA local hero will algeant LaVigne ways be remembered died. This memoriby Brandon drivers al is how he lived,” thanks to a ceremony Learned said. “To that took place last the 29 years, 361 month. days of his service The 2021 Legislature to the people of of Florida designated Brandon.” SR 60 from Philip Lee The dedication Blvd. to I-75 as Serof the roadway geant Brian LaVigne was made possiRd. in honor of the fallble thanks to a bill, en sergeant who was SB 1716, signed by killed in the line of duty Gov. Ron DeSantis on January 11, and last in June. The meamonth, Representative sure named secAndrew Learned, along tions of roadways with other members of for three fallen the Florida Legislature, officers, including Hillsborough County LaVigne’s wife, Cathleen, with children Caitlin-also a LaVigne. Sheriff Chad Chronister deputy with the Hillsborough County Sherrif’s Office At the time, Deand Hillsborough Counand son Liam. Santis spoke about ty Commissioner Kimthe importance of berly Overman, honored the late Sergeant the recognition the measure allowed. Brian LaVigne during an unveiling of his road “What we do here today, I know, is not goplaque. ing to unring the bells, but I do think that it’s LaVigne, who was 54, had one more day of an appropriate recognition, and I think it’s a work before retiring after 30 years when a signal to say we’re not going to forget their fleeing suspect crashed into the driver’s side sacrifices,” DeSantis said. “We’re not going of his cruiser. to forget what they did to protect our com“Sergeant Brian LaVigne will never be for- munities.” gotten, and this will serve as another reminder of his selfless service to his community until the very end of his life,” said Chronister. “Now when people drive down this stretch of BOAT PARADE .........................................PG 3 roadway, they will be reminded of the legacy HOLIDAY MARKETS .............................PG 7 and impact left by Sergeant LaVigne.” EYE ON BUSINESS ...................PGS 25-26 LaVigne’s wife, Cathleen, also spoke at the ceremony and explained that in addition to SPORTS ...........................................PGS 31-33
IN THIS ISSUE:
Make Thanksgiving about Family!
Postal Customer
ECRWSS EDDM
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT #2397
need for reappropriation for equitability among board members. I hope they feel like I have served them well over the last seven years, but I hate to lose constituents—that means I have to give up people and that makes me sad.” It is important to note that redistricting does not impact school attendance zones in any way and will not affect which school students attend. The school district’s Census data has shown that school board member districts must be Growth Management Deredrawn due to population disparities within the district. partment is working with Hillsborough County’s geoPopulation increases don’t just affect individual school attendance boundaries, it also graphic information system (GIS) team to has an impact on school board member dis- assist with providing the school board with maps for consideration for the reapportiontricts. Florida Statute 1001.36 requires that ment of the single member districts. “The mapping criteria we are asking the school board member districts be as “equal in population as nearly as practicable” and county to incorporate includes community may only be amended in odd-numbered integrity (keeping neighborhoods together), population, maintaining minority demoyears. The 2020 census data, released in August, graphic balance and ethnicity breakdown,” indicates that school board member districts said Superintendent Addison Davis. The district will hold several Community have grown disproportionately over the past decade, thereby requiring redistricting (the Connection meetings to update constituents process of drawing electoral district bound- on the new 5-Year Strategic Plan. District 3’s meeting will be held at Lennard aries) in 2021 to achieve greater equality beHigh School, located at 2342 E. Shell Point tween districts. While population increases occurred in Rd. in Ruskin, on Wednesday, November 27. each of the five districts, the largest increas- District 4’s meeting will be held at Durant es were noted in District 2, which experi- High School, located at 4748 Cougar Path in enced a 32 percent population increase from Plant City, on Monday, November 29. The meetings begin at 6 p.m. with discus247,195 to 327,197, and District 5, school board member Melissa Snively’s district, sion about the strategic plan, vision for the which increased in population from 249,874 district and a question-and-answer session followed at 7 p.m. with discussion about to 309,719. “Because I’ve been a school board mem- school board electoral redistricting and a ber for seven years, the population increase question-and-answer session. For more information about redistricting has been gradual and I haven’t really noticed or provide feedback, go to www.hillsboran unmanageable workload,” she said. Although she hates to lose any of the con- oughschools.org and look under ‘District stituents she serves, she understands the News.’
LOCAL ROAD DESIGNATED TO FALLEN OFFICER
Order from our Catering Menu...
• Soups, Salads and Sides • Entrees: Roast Pork, Picadillo, Chicken and Yellow Rice, Ropa Vieja, Lasagna • Cuban Sandwich Trays • Mini Devil Crab Trays Please note some items require 24-48 notice.
Whole PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
(with 2 day prepaid order)
Brandon Regional Hospital, its freestanding emergency rooms and physician practices are among the first in the state to adopt the new HCA Florida Healthcare brand this month. See full page on Page 17.
$50
We are closed Thanksgiving Day Be sure to pick up your order the day before on Wednesday Nov. 24th by 7:30pm.
702 W. Lumsden Rd., Brandon • 813-685-0502 • www.laseptimacafe.com Mon. - Sat. 11am. - 8pm. • Closed Sunday
