11 minute read
BOAT PARADE
BOAT PARADE TO TAKE PLACE ON ALAFIA RIVER
Staf Report
The Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview is pleased to announce 37th annual Alafia Lighted Boat Parade and Chili To-Go event to be held on Saturday, December 5. The celebration will take place at the Riverview Civic Center starting at 5 p.m. and in conjunction with other sites located along the Alafia River. First United Methodist Church of Riverview has agreed to be a viewing site this year, and the boat parade winners will be announced at River’s Edge Bar and Grill.
“Last year, our event featured many decorated boats, chili cook-of contestants and refreshments,” said Christine D. Ans, public relations chair of the Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview. “Children received the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa Claus, heard Christmas music and saw the bright holiday lights of the boats in the parade.”
Last year, more than 30 boats participated.
“This year promises to be just as fun with the added precautions that we need to take in our county due to the COVID pandemic,” said Ans. “For instance, we will have Santa on a boat greeting everyone as we go down the river; we are having Chili To-Go, sponsored by The Flying Locksmiths, available at the two viewing sites for a donation of $5; and entertainment outside at the Riverview Civic Center.” The group hopes to attract more than 1,500 people to this annual Riverview tradition. All proceeds will fund charitable activities of the Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview and Friends of the County Parks.
Te Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview will hold the 37th Since its inception, the Roannual Alafa Lighted Boat Parade and Chili To-Go event on tary Club of FishHawk-RivSaturday, December 5. erview has been involved in numerous service projects, including the College Scholarship Program (over $58,000) awarded to date to financially needy students at Riverview, Spoto and Newsome High Schools; the Alafia Lighted Boat Parade; High School Interact; Student Dictionary Distribution (over 9,000 dictionaries to elementary school children since the program began); Rotary’s Camp Florida (camp for special needs children in Brandon); Group Study Exchange; Reading is Fundamental (more than 900 free books to Head Start students); S4TL (Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders); Sylvia Thomas Center; Brandon Outreach (over $10,000 given); ECHO; and local YMCAs (over $10,000 given). Club members have separately given through dues and donations over $100,000 in the past 15 years to Polio Plus and The Rotary Foundation. Rotary International is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world. For more information, contact Boat Parade Chairperson Kim Tyson at hummingbird133@verizon.net.
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PENTY WINS ANNE FRANK HUMANITARIAN AWARD
By Michelle Caceres
Olivia Penty, a senior at Bloomingdale High School, is this year’s winner of the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award. Established in 2001, the award is presented by the Florida Holocaust Museum to one junior from each Tampa Bay area high school for outstanding humanitarian eforts.
Principals and guidance counselors recommend students for this prestigious award who have made a conscious decision to better the lives of other individuals or groups both inside and outside of school activities.
Penty, a member of Bloomingdale’s women’s volleyball team, volunteers as an assistant volleyball coach at Campo Family YMCA and enjoys teaching beginning players the sport’s basics.
Receiving the honor was a surprise for Penty. “I am grateful to be recognized for my volunteer work at the YMCA and for doing something that I love,” she said.
Winners receive a Florida Holocaust Museum Family Membership and two guest passes.
Due to COVID-19 protocols the awards were delivered virtually this year instead of during the regular ceremony at the museum. Olivia volunteered in the community at the Campo Family YMCA as an
assistant volleyball coach, teaching beginning players basic skills. President of Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA Matt Mitchel was pleased to hear about Penty’s award. “She is a great leader, is patient, has excellent communication skills and inspires others. She’s helped children to learn and grow because of her strong passion for the sport of volleyball,” he said. “Most of her service is centered Bloomingdale senior Olivia Penty was a recipient around her favorite of the Ann Frank Humanitarian Award for her sport.” outstanding humanitarian eforts. Interim Executive Director at The Florida Holocaust Museum Erin Blankenship was congratulatory to this year’s winners. “These students are living the museum’s mission by bringing hope and positive change to their schools, their community and our world,” she said. Blankenship welcomes sponsors willing to help underwrite the cost of the gift membership and guest passes. For more information about The Florida Holocaust Museum or the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award visit www.thefhm. org or call 727-820-0100. To learn how to become a sponsor of the program, visit the ‘Donate Now’ page on its website.
By Brad Stager
Establishing or supporting programs that help provide for the basic human needs of low-income residents is a function that the Hillsborough County government performs as part of its operations. Like other services provided by the county, there are opportunities for residents to become involved and lend their expertise.
The Hillsborough County Community Action Board (CAB) is one of the county’s boards and committees that residents can serve on. Its main focus is to ensure the proper disbursement of Community Services Block Grants (CSBG) and other sources of funds for programs that provide assistance to residents facing economic distress. It does so by making recommendations to the county government in matters related to grant funding and other initiatives, from development and planning to implementation, as well as evaluating results.
The CSBG is federal funding which supports anti-poverty operations in a community.
Programs and initiatives that support housing, health care and education for low-income residents and marginalized communities are the topics of discussion at CAB meetings.
The CAB operates with a tripartite structure, drawing from three sectors of the community for its membership.
CAB members from the public sector, consisting of representatives from the board
of county commissioners and municipalities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace, work alongside members advocating on behalf of low-income residents as well as Hillsborough County’s Community Action Board representatives of works with stakeholders to serve at-risk individuals organizations interand families. ested in providing social services, such as Metropolitan Ministries. These services range from supporting housing stabilization through financial assistance for rent and utilities to promoting economic independence through educational grants or scholarships and work skills development initiatives. Regina Gambrell is a member-at-large on the CAB who serves on behalf of low-income residents. She summarized the board’s purpose in a recitation of its mission statement during a recent meeting. “The Hillsborough County Community Action Board partners with community stakeholders to stabilize and empower vulnerable individuals and families to achieve self-sufciency through advocacy and essential services.” Vacancies on the various county boards and committees occur periodically and have requirements pertaining to them, such as possessing relevant knowledge or expertise in a subject area, Hillsborough County residency and voter registration, and the disclosure of financial information. Some positions require a background check. You can find out more information about the CAB by visiting the county’s website at hillsboroughcounty.org or calling 272-6770.
BRANDON NATIVE SERVES ABOARD USS TENNESSEE
Staf Report
A Brandon native is serving aboard USS Tennessee, one of the world’s most advanced nuclear-powered submarines.
Petty Ofcer 2nd Class Kevin Van Atta, a 2016 Armwood High School graduate, joined the Navy four years ago.
“I joined the Navy because I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school,” said Van Atta. “My family has always been big into supporting troops. Without direction after high school, it felt natural to join the military. There is something really cool about the Navy submarine force. Through nuclear deterrence, we provide a blanket of security for all Americans. I wanted to be a part of something like that.”
Today, Van Atta serves as an electronics technician (nuclear), whose responsibilities include operating and maintaining nuclear reactors.
“I also control the equipment which generates power to the boat,” said Van Atta.
According to Van Atta, the values required to succeed in the military are similar to those found in Brandon.
“I come from a place where everyone is a hard worker, and you have to be willing to put forth efort to succeed,” said Van Atta. “That is something you see from a very young age. Everyone has to hustle and grind to do better for themselves. I am able to bring that to work with me in the Navy to put forth the efort necessary to get
whatever job I am assigned done.” Known as America’s ‘Silent Service,’ the Navy’s submarine force operates a large fleet of technically advanced vessels. These submarines are capable of conducting rapid defensive and ofensive operations around the world, in furtherance of U.S. national security. Serving in the Navy means Van Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Atta is part of a Class Amanda Rae Moreno. Petty Ofcer 2nd team that is taking Class Kevin Van Atta, a 2016 Armwood High on new importance School graduate, joined the Navy four years ago. in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy. “The Navy submarine force is the number one defense asset this country has,” said Van Atta. “We provide nuclear deterrence as a safe blanket of protection for our country.” As Van Atta and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy. “Serving in the Navy means that every day I have the opportunity to provide the same sense of security to everyone else in the country that has been provided by the people who have come before me,” added Van Atta. “It is the ability to provide a safe space for other people to live in.”
PLANT CITY CHORALE PRESENTS CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT NATIVITY
By Kelly Wise Valdes
After missing the annual holiday concert in 2020, the Plant City Community Chorale is thrilled to announce its 2021 holiday concert, From the Realms of Glory. The concert, sponsored by Hopewell Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, will be presented on Saturday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. The Chorale is excited to be performing for the first time at this location.
The Chorale is under the direction of Claudia Liliana Bolano Becerra and will perform holiday favorites such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “White Christmas” and “Coventry Carol.” The audience will find themselves humming along to other selections and feeling warmed by the spirit of the music and the joy of the holiday. This is Becerra’s last concert as artistic director, as her family is moving to Parma, Italy.
Carol Walker, executive director of the Chorale, is excited about this family-friendly event. “We are very grateful to
the Nativity Catholic Church for allowing us to sing in their beautiful church,” said Walker. “We hope that the audience will enjoy and get involved in the story we are singing about Christmas and are filled with the Christmas spirit.” The Plant City Community Chorale is thrilled to announce that its This event is the 2021 holiday concert, From the Realms of Glory, will be held on Sat- perfect way to start the urday, December 4 at Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon. holiday spirit. “Christmas is a very special time of year and our Christmas concert represents, to me, the beginning of the Christmas season,” said Walker. “With our last Christmas concert being in December 2019, hopefully the audience will feel how grateful we are to be singing again and will embrace our love and enthusiasm in singing for them.” Tickets are available at www.pccchorale.org, Facebook at fb.com/pccommunitychorale, from any Chorale member or by calling 965-7213. Tickets may also be purchased at the Walden Lake Car Wash at 1414 S. Alexander St. in Plant City or at the door on the night of the concert. Tickets are $15. Children 12 and under are free. The event will be held at Nativity Catholic Church, located at 705 E. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon. The Chorale respectfully requests that masks be worn during the concert.
