Bloomingdale/FishHawk
11 C E L E B R A T I N G
April 2020 Volume 19 Issue 4 Ph: 657-2418 1 8
Y E A R S
O F
P U B L I S H I N G
Osprey Observer Continues Publishing To Keep Public Informed During COVID-19 Alert
By Marie Gilmore, Managing Editor new Superintendent Addison Davis released the following, “The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Because of this, we are taking steps to make sure everyone is following the requirements of the Florida Department of Health.” For the latest update, visit Hillsborough Schools.org/coronavirus. Starting on March 17, the county administrator Mike Merrill made a special order for all restaurants, bars, clubs and other businesses serving food and drink that they must close by 10 p.m. and limit load capacity to 50 percent. Shortly thereafter, the county released a second order limiting all public and private gatherings, including churches, to 50 people. Experts say social distancing is the most effective way to slow the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) and to ensure public health facilities are not overwhelmed. The practice means refraining from large gatherings and keeping a 6-foot distance from other people when possible. Hillsborough County’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Business: https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en /residents/public-safety/emergency-management/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-business. Current numbers for the state of Florida of COVID-19 cases: http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseasesand-conditions/COVID-19/index.html. As of this printing, all local schools, libraries and many public facilities will be closed until further notice.
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
Seeds Of Hope Offers Drive-Through Food Bank Distribution To Meet Need
By Linda Chion Kenney
Driven to I’ve learned from “nourish hope Hurricane Irma, among people in there’s an energy to need through the this that’s unique. actions and help Tomorrow will be provided by our taken care of. I don’t local students,” worry about that. Seeds of Hope Our job is to do what has adopted we can today to get drive-through to tomorrow.” services to ensure Toward that end, folks who need volunteer students Seeds of Hope Founder Leda Eaton food can get it (center) with food bank volunteers (from have been involved while volunteers in a myriad of recent the left) Gabriel Rodriguez, Luke LaFrance, Sebastian Rodriguez and keep their social activities, including Dylan Higham. distance. unloading and sortDrive-through distribution has ing food from Feeding Tampa Bay been instituted at the food bank and a food distribution drive-through every Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m., at 710 at Pinecrest Elementary School. East Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon, Seeds of Hope is a registered in the parking lot of the Presbyterian 501(c)(3), charitable, all-volunteer Church of Bloomingdale. Meanwhile, organization which also provides a drive-through collection drives took mobile pantry “that silently takes care place at Bevis Elementary School of local needs” and a backpack prothroughout March. gram for students to ensure food Additional drives and distributions security for students and their famiare updated as needed on the Seeds lies. The food bank does not require of Hope Facebook page. people in need to show identification “I think it’s nice; everybody sits in or verification. their car, drives by and volunteers For more information and to put the food in your trunk,” said Ellis donate, visit www.sohopefl.org. ‘Lois’ Donaldson, a Seeds of Hope beneficiary. “It’s efficient and it works really well,” added Sebastian Rodriguez, a Newsome High freshman. “For me personally, and most of the kids here, we take this seriously because people come here every week for food, Thank you for your patience and if we’re not here they can’t feed and understanding. Some of our themselves or their families.” stories and advertisements were After cutting its teeth on approved well before printing of this Hurricane Irma, the all-volunteer edition so please note times, locaSeeds of Hope charity, established tions, dates and details may have 10 years ago in Lithia, is faced again adjusted, changed or rescheduled with another major crisis, with since publication. We appreciate Founder Leda Eaton at the helm your support and readership of working tirelessly alongside volunYour Community Newspaper. teers to meet the needs of neighbors. Marie Gilmore “People look to us as a leading organization that can take care of www.ospreyobserver.com this situation,” Eaton said. “One thing
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
Postal Customer
ECRWSS EDDM
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT #2397
As your community newspaper, the Osprey Observer will stay open for regular business hours and will continue publishing our newspapers during the next eight weeks. We are monitoring every press release and every advisory from Hillsborough County, the state of Florida and the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and it is our top priority to keep our readers, our advertisers and our families safe and healthy during the next two months. With that in mind, we are here to help local businesses craft their brand messaging, their social media and how to reflect their best practices to give the community confidence in their services. Please call us at 657-2418 if you need guidance on any services, openings or assistance needed and our team will do everything we can to help. We are also collecting a list of organizations that need our help in this time, including Seeds of Hope, ECHO of Brandon (Emergency Care Help Organization), Meals On Wheels of Tampa and so many more. Please let us know of any community resources that could be of assistance to our readers, and thank you for reading! While reading the upcoming editions, please know that some events may have announced a delay, a postponement or a rescheduled event after the paper has gone to press, so please contact the organization directly for the latest information. For Hillsborough County schools,
P O S I T I V E
See Ad on Page 40
Offer Available April 1 - May 19 The School District of Hillsborough County is offering free meals to students at schools throughout our area. Last month, during spring break, trucks delivered food to Student Nutrition managers at Durant High School in preparation for the distribution which will take place between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at 23 locations on weekdays. Visit www.sdhc.k12.fl.us to learn more.
Hours: Sun-Thurs 5 am - 10 pm • Fri-Sat 5 am - 12 am
16645 Fishhawk Blvd, Lithia • (813) 381-3669 Sign up at DDperks.com
Page 2
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Volume 19, Issue 4
April 2020
Page 3
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Stowers Elementary Bench Dedicated In Memory Of Student Jacob Heath
Ashley HomeStore ‘Hope To Dream’ Beds Donated To Family Promise
More than create a bench remia hundred peoniscent of tractor tires ple came out to in Deere’s signature show their supyellow and green colport as Stowers ors. Placed next to the Elementary bench, which sits outdedicated a side the school’s memorial library, is a plaque bench in memdesigned by Marvin ory of Jacob Scott at Misfit Andy Heath, a Customs. Family, teachers Stowers sec“When people and friends of ond grader who Jacob Andy Heath come here and they were on hand to see his name on the passed away dedicate a bench plaque by the bench, on December in his memory at 27, 2018. they’re going to know Stowers Elementary School. Jacob went to Stowers Those who attended were and that he was part of the community,” welcomed by said Rothrock. Stowers Principal Catherine Lennard, After the bench was dedicated, his who introduced the dedication speaker, family and friends released yellow and art teacher Abby Rothrock. Cub Scout green helium balloons as a poem by Pack 603 (Jacob’s pack) opened the Winnie the Pooh author A. A. Milne dedication with a flag ceremony. (Jacob’s favorite) was read. Teachers shared anecdotes as they In closing, Jacob’s father, Nathan recounted stories about the precocious Heath, expressed his gratitude for and sweet boy, who had a smile for everyone that helped make the memoeveryone and made friends easily. rial a reality. “Jacob was indescribable,” said “My family would like to thank Rothrock. “He was selfless and always everyone who helped make this bench trying to find ways to help others.” and plaque possible,” he said. “I know Teacher Shannon Shive said he was Jacob is smiling down at us right now, a little guy but left a really big impact on and if he were here he would describe the class. “He had such a big heart and this moment in one word…epic.” amazing potential,” she said. One thing is certain: the bench will The bench was created by Brian stand as a reminder that Jacob’s love, Morris of Rustic Steel Creations. Jacob kindness and joy will endure forever. was 100 percent boy and loved John In the words of Winnie the Pooh: Deere tractors and monster trucks, so “But the most important thing is, even Morris welded steel and iron pieces to if we’re apart…I’ll always be with you.”
Ten beds were ty, which provides delivered in March to overnight lodging and Family Promise of meals, and we work Hillsborough County also with our four active with more on the way nonprofit partners, from the Ashley including ECHO and the HomeStore furniture Women’s Resource store in Brandon, Center.” thanks to a national Family Promise is partnership that’s payequipped to serve three ing local returns. to four families at one Sandra Gonzalez and Jorge Lopez, time (up to 14 people) For over seven of Metropolitan Ministries in years, the ‘Hope To Brandon, loading beds donated by and uses background Dream’ drive has given checks and drug Ashley HomeStore to Family Promise of Hillsborough County on screening to vet its “the gift of sleep” to March 17. some 60,000 children clients. From its day nationwide, according to Ashley center in Brandon on 201 E. HomeStore officials, who added Morgan St., families meet with that a portion of each mattress case managers and are transpurchase at participating locaported to and from churches for tions helps support the drive. overnight lodging. Clients can Recognizing that “every use the center’s address and child should have a bed to call phone number for school and their own,” the gift, valued at employment contacts. $399, includes a twin mattress, The churches, on a rotating bed frame, bedding and pillow “for a child basis, open their doors for overnight lodgwho might otherwise suffer the negative ing and meals, setting up Sunday school physical and emotional effects of sleep classrooms as makeshift bedrooms. deprivation.” “Each family has their own bedroom, and Family Promise Executive Director that’s how we keep families together,” Edwina Reddick said donated beds will Reddick said. “And they really need to be be given to rehoused families served by together. They’re busy during the day her nonprofit or its active partners, includ- looking for jobs or working and evening ing the 10 beds delivered on March 17, time is when they come together to plan for use by Metropolitan Ministries in for what’s next in their lives.” Brandon and Forgotten Angels, which For more on Family Promise, visit serves young adults who age out of the www.familypromisefl.org. Call 681-6170. foster care system. The Ashley HomeStore in Brandon is “We’re a homeless network,” Reddick located at 2615 Vildibill Dr. Visit said. “We partner with the faith communiwww.AshleyFurniture.com.
By Michelle Caceres
By Linda Chion Kenney
Marital and Family Law WENDY K. MCGINNIS, ESQUIRE ATTORNEY-AT-LAW & CERTIFIED FAMILY MEDIATOR
You put your family first. So do we. DIVORCE, PARENTING PLANS & TIME-SHARING, CHILD SUPPORT & ALIMONY, PATERNITY, ADOPTIONS, RELOCATIONS, MODIFICATIONS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, NAME CHANGES, MEDIATION
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
Practicing marital and family law exclusively since 2001
(813) 235-4650
410 S. WARE BLVD., SUITE 402, TAMPA (NEAR U.S. 301 AND HWY 60)
WWW.BRANDONDIVORCE.COM The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written information about her qualifications and experience.
Page 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Volume 19, Issue 4
Retired Law Enforcement Officer Offers Free Gun Safety Lessons Many parents have made gun safety and awareness a priority with headlines across the country as well as locally having brought gun safety to the forefront. No one knows that better than FishHawk resident Dennis Bolender, who is offering free gun safety courses for children in the community. Bolender grew up in St. Petersburg, and after attending St. Pete Junior College, he accepted a position in the St. Petersburg Police Department in 1986. During this time, he met his wife and moved to Southern Hillsborough County. Ten years ago, the Bolenders moved to FishHawk. “We have five kids—four daughters and one son, who is our youngest,” said Bolender. “Our kids attended Bevis, Randall Middle and four have attended Newsome High (two are there right now).” Bolender recently retired from the Police Department after 32 years. During his law enforcement career, Bolender served many roles, including field training officer, being part of the Street Narcotics Unit and police motorcycle officer. He was also promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant. “I became a certified law enforcement instructor early in my career and became a police firearms instructor about 25 years ago,” said Bolender. “I was involved with firearms training for most of my career. I’ve also become a NRA rifle, shotgun, pistol instructor and range officer in the last year. My other certifications are through the FDLE. I’m an assistant Scoutmaster with BSA Troop 79 in Brandon. I like to teach and I love working with kids.” Unfortunately, throughout the course
“I stopped of his career, teaching the Bolender saw too class several many young deaths years ago, but due to unsafe gun I was promptpractices. With a 3ed to restart it year-old daughter at due to the the time, he recent tragedies in researched gun safeour neighborhood. ty courses for other It reminded me parents with children. that this training is The NRA had put still relevant and is together a course needed.” called the Eddie The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® FishHawk resident Dennis Bolender teaches Program for young free gun safety and awareness classes for Eagle GunSafe children and parents. Program has spekids to show them cific programs for pre-K through how to respond if they found a fourth graders. It provides kids gun. “I started teaching my wife’s with a scripted response to students,” said Bolender. “Word encountering an unsecured gun: got around and I started teach“STOP! DON’T TOUCH! RUN ing it at other schools. I did it on AWAY! TELL A GROWNUP!” my own time, but the departThere is also an animated video ment let me do it in uniform.” that shows kids encountering an Since 1988, the Eddie Eagle unattended gun and how they GunSafe Program has reached respond. more than 32 million children in “It’s important to mention that all 50 states with the help of the program is neither pro-gun nor more than 26,000 schools, anti-gun,” said Bolender. “Many teachers and law enforcement people have strong feelings on officers. In Florida, over 1.7 milboth sides of gun ownership, and lion children have received this program does not reflect Eddie Eagle’s life-saving meseither viewpoint, it is totally neusage since the program’s inceptral. It just gives kids a safe way to tion. handle a dangerous situation.” Bolender continued to teach Bolender put together his these classes throughout the own gun safety lesson program Tampa Bay area as well as at for older kids. the Great American Teach-In, at Ruskin “I talk to the older kids about how a Christian School and many local schools. gun actually functions (very basic) so they “I’ve taught it to my own kids and procan understand how dangerous it can be vided the materials to officers on the when not handled safely,” said Bolender. department who had kids,” said Bolender.
By Kelly Wise Valdes
“I go into greater detail about where they might encounter a gun, the idea of peer pressure and their responsibility to protect their friends who might have a gun they should not have. I want to emphasize that, when doing these classes with the kids, that no guns or ammunition, real or fake, are utilized or permitted to be present.” Parents are encouraged to be present for these classes, and in the case of the Eddie Eagle program, the kids leave with a workbook to do with their parents, and a parental gun safety brochure is provided. Bolender is also available to meet with any adults who have guns, or are considering getting a gun, and talk to them about safe ways to properly secure them. In this case, no children are allowed to be present. Since Bolender offered his free gun safety classes, he has spoken to 26 children. “One mom took it upon herself to contact her friends and neighbors and host the class at her house. The kids were all from about 4 to 8 years of age,” said Bolender. “All I need is room for the kids to sit down while I present and a DVD player and TV to run the video on. I’m trying to locate a venue locally where I can set up classes for the kids by age. The class only takes about an hour.” “Please teach your kids about gun safety,” said Bolender. “Even if you do not own a gun, it’s highly likely that they are going into the homes of friends and family who do have guns..” Through Facebook, send your messages to Dennis Bolender.
April 2020
Page 5
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
W W W
.
O S P R E Y O B S E R V E R
.
C O M
7
WE’VE MOVED TO VALRICO!
By Nick Nahas
ASSOCIATED WITH OSPREY OBSERVER
2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico, FL 33592 • (office) 657-2418 • (fax) 657-4469 MANAGING EDITOR
ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
Kate Quesada
Marie Gilmore
657-2418
657-2418
editor@ospreyobserver.com
kquesada@ospreyobserver.com
MARKETING & LAYOUT DIRECTOR
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Kathi Hayes
Kathy Collins
khayes@ospreyobserver.com
kcollins@ospreyobserver.com
657-2418
657-2418
DELIVERY MANAGER
BILLING MANAGER
Terry Vassalotti
Chuck Hoening 657-2418
657-2418
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
GRAPHICS MANAGER
terry@ospreyobserver.com
chuck@ospreyobserver.com
Jennifer Hurst
Denise Graf
657-2418
657-2418
CUSTOMER SERVICE
NEWS REPORTER
jhurst@ospreyobserver.com
denise@ospreyobserver.com
Jenny Bennett
Taylor Wells
657-2418
jbennettt@ospreyobserver.com
657-2418
twells@ospreyobserver.com
CUSTOMER SERVICE
FOLLOW US:
Danielle Waymire 657-2418
dwaymire@ospreyobserver.com
FISHHAWK/BLOOMINGDALE & VALRICO ADVERTISING
APOLLO BEACH SOUTHSHORE ADVERTISING
Kerrie Hoening
Melissa Hartmann
kerrie@ospreyobserver.com
mhartmann@ospreyobserver.com
BRANDON & WINTHROP ADVERTISING
CHRISTIAN VOICE ADVERTISING
625-1527
833-7470
Melody Gershkoff
Cammie Yick
300-5152
810-8106
mgershkoff@ospreyobserver.com
cyick@ospreyobserver.com
If you have an
Ad, Story or Press Release that you would like in the next
Bloomingdale/FishHawk edition
please contact Osprey Observer 657-2418.
Deadline for next BL/FishHawk edition is 10th of month.
40+ Rotating Craft Brews on Draft!
Extensive Bottled Beer Selection!
Ice Sports Forum Becomes TGH Ice Plex With New Upgrades And Partnership
who visits the TGH Ice Plex, will enjoy a heightened experience. The Lightning would like to thank Tampa General Hospital and Tom Bradley, owner of the TGH Ice Plex, for almost two decades of valued support.” In 2018, the Ice Plex and the Lightning signed a The TGH Ice Plex has one of the highest adult hockey 10-year lease extenparticipation levels in the country with more than 100 teams in various leagues. sion in conjunction with the In January, the Ice Sports Forum building of a in Brandon became known as the new team off-ice TGH Ice Plex. The change was facility. In the announced by the Tampa Bay same year, the Lightning, who have been a partner Lightning’s priwith the facility since 1997, using it vately funded $6 as its official training complex. million facility Tampa General Hospital received the was completed, creating a world-class naming rights. locker room and training complex for “Our naming rights agreement made so much sense on so many lev- the team. The TGH Ice Plex also invested $500,000 at the time in the els,” said TGH President and CEO project on rink, glass and dasher John Couris. “The TGH Ice Plex is a board upgrades. The new facility is facility where families come to create 18,000 square feet, whereas the pregreat memories together and celebrate birthdays and milestones, where vious space was only 5,500. “When we were approached with numerous high school and youth the idea of rebranding the Ice Sports hockey programs compete and where Forum in a partnership with Tampa our world champion Tampa Bay General Hospital, we said, ‘absoluteLightning practice. From the TGH Ice ly.’ TGH is a first-class institution with Plex to our TGH Brandon Healthplex, a strong community presence,” said providing East Hillsborough County Bradley. “We are honored to be partwith care from the finest medical staff nering with TGH and the Lightning. in the Bay area, TGH is proud to supThrough the team’s grass roots efforts port and be a part of this community. to expose and promote hockey in our Providing world-class health care while supporting an active lifestyle is a community, coupled with their accessibility during practice and training seskeystone of TGH.” sions here at TGH Ice Plex, we see The multi-year extension partnerinterest in hockey at an all-time high. ship deal between the team and The Lightning players training at the Tampa General Hospital includes TGH Ice Plex is a very cool experiother elements, such as in-ice placeence for our skaters as they compete ment at Amalie Arena and signature on the same ice as the Bolts each consumer engagement and activation day.” platforms. The facility hosts numerous on-ice “The Lightning are extremely camps and clinics throughout the proud to be extending our already year. The TGH Ice Plex has one of long-standing partnership with Tampa the highest adult hockey participation General Hospital,” said Lightning levels in the country with more than Chief Executive Officer Steve Griggs. 100 teams in various leagues, includ“Tampa General is a pillar of the ing youth recreational leagues and Tampa Bay community and we're travel teams ranging from mini-mite to excited that they will be bringing their high school. The TGH Ice Plex is world-class name to our team's praclocated at 10222 Elizabeth Pl. in tice facility. We are confident that not Tampa. Visit tghiceplex.com just our hockey team, but everyone
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK @ 12PM
40 WINES
827 W. Bloomingdale Ave • Brandon • (at the corner of Kings & Bloomingdale)
(813) 655-4786 • WWW.THESTEINANDVINE.COM “LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK for updates on daily specials and draft beer offerings at:
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THESTEINANDVINE
SERVING FOOD ALL DAY - MENU INSPIRED & CRAFTED DAILY
Page 6
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
New Roundabout And Sculpture Part Of Changing Traffic On Local Roads
By Brad Stager
Riding a suburban-scale traffic mountain bike than the previous trianalong rugged gular intersection. This terrain has will allow drivers to become a popumore safely navigate lar recreational the intersection and activity in keep traffic flowing,” he Southern wrote in an email. Hillsborough “Additionally, the public County and art piece will help crethat experiate a sense of place for The new roundabout at the residents of the area.” ence will be Boyette and Balm White added that the celebrated Boyette Rds. with a sculpintersection is now sculpture will bear a open and will ture at the message encouraging eventually have a drivers to be mindful of new traffic sculpture of a roundabout mountain bike rider cyclists sharing the for drivers and located at the road. pedestrians to view. intersection Mountain biking is of Boyette and Balm Boyette Rds. a popular activity in the area, with the For those driving in the area, the new roundabout and sculpture near mainroundabout itself will hopefully mean a tained bike trails located at Triple Creek smoother traffic flow on new pavement BMX, Balm Boyette Scrub Nature through what had become an increasingly Preserve and Alafia River State Park. The congested rural triangular intersection. new roundabout is now navigable and the Situated at the entrance to sculpture is expected to be completed in Hawkstone, one of the area’s many new about the middle of 2021. housing developments, the project has Geza Gaspar of Venice, Florida is the artistic as well as traffic engineering value, artist selected to produce the bronze according to Willy Nunn, president and sculpture of a mountain bike rider in CEO of Homes by WestBay, action, as well as another sculpture of Hawkstone’s developer. Riverview Founder Benjamin Moody to “Art is yet another way we create be installed on the proposed new roundunique and desirable communities for all about on Riverview Dr. at the new to enjoy,” he said. Riverview/Alafia Park. Completion is According to Hillsborough County anticipated in late 2021. According to Commissioner Stacy White, who repreHillsborough County records, each artsents District 4, the roundabout will help work is anticipated to cost $75,000 for a the area develop into a safe community. total of $150,000, paid out of public art “The roundabout will better serve program funds.
Expiration: 4/30/2020
Volume 19, Issue 4
Free Outdoor & Osprey Treasure Hunts Available With Geocaching
By Kate Quesada
Parents everylocation. Once 10-20 where spent days in feet from the cache, March looking for fun, searchers use their safe activities for their eyes and follow clues families while practicleft in the app. ing social distancing Caches vary in size, and avoiding the but many contain spread of the coronprizes and a log to avirus. The Martin sign once found. family, Lithia resiThe Martins startdents, found a solued by finding the tion that provided Osprey Observer them, and other cache, which is hidlocals, with hours of den in FishHawk entertainment. Ranch (Phase I) on “With our spring Lithia Pinecrest Rd., break cruise being 1/4 mile south of cancelled and all that Fishhawk Blvd. was rapidly changing Quinn and Jesse Martin, who live in After locating Lithia, found the Osprey Observer in our world at lightthat, they decided to geocache last month and were inspired to hide their own cache in take adventure into ning speed, my husFishHawk Ranch. band, Josh, and I their own hands by started looking into activities to get our hiding their own cache for their friends family outdoors, active and just enjoying to find. the many places literally in our own “It’s easy to find once you get backyard,” said Mandy Martin. going, but just enough for the young “Geocaching came up on a blog I was ones to get excited,” said Martin. reading, and once I researched what They filled their cache with stickexactly it was, I knew it was a perfect fit ers, trinkets and small toys and ask for my two kids, ages 8 and 5, who love that anyone who finds the box leaves finding the little ‘treasure’ in life.” a treasure of their own. Geocaching, from the words ‘geo’ Caches logged in the geocache meaning earth and ‘cache’ meaning app are categorized in many different anything hidden, also known as modways, including difficulty and terrain. ern day treasure hunting, requires only To learn more about geocaching, a GPS, which comes on most mobile visit www.geocaching.com. If you find phones. Searchers begin by downthe Osprey Observer geocache, be loading a free app, which is available sure to take a picture and post it on on the App Store and Google Play, our Facebook page or email and navigating the GPS to a certain editor@ospreyobserver.com.
Expiration: 4/30/2020
Expiration: 4/30/2020
April 2020
Page 7
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Opens Bloomingdale Sq. Location With 26 Big Screen TVs
The Boyette Springs Special Dependent District Board Of Trustees Welcomes A New Trustee
Tuesdays, Wing Wednesdays $9.99 Fajita Thursdays, $12.99 Surf and Turf Fridays and Triple Play Saturdays (a meal that includes a first Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has opened in Bloomingdale Square. course, entrée Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has opened a new and dessert) starting at $13.99. Daily corporate-owned restaurant in the happy hour food and drink specials are Publix-anchored Bloomingdale Square also offered. shopping center at 889 E. Boyette Springs resident Vicki Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon. The Olson and her son, Kyle, were in the 225-seat restaurant features a mood for a burger, so they stopped by refreshed look, including a large horsethe restaurant to grab a bite to eat. shoe bar with 20 beers on tap, an outThey have eaten at other Beef ‘O’ door patio space and new kitchen inno- Brady’s in the past and wanted to see vations. the new store. They loved the new look. Its walls are adorned with 26 65“The floors are lovely and I like that inch large-screen televisions, allowing the restaurant is brighter and more every customer an unobstructed viewopen,” said Vicki. “This is going to be a ing experience of sporting events from great place to watch sports.” March Madness to the World Series. Elliott said the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Beef ‘O’ Brady’s CEO Chris Elliott brand, including the original location said the restaurant is not so much a just a few miles away on Kings Ave. new concept as it is taking what they’ve opened by Founders Jim and Jeanette learned in the last 35 years and assem- Mellody, offers a bar, a place to watch bling it into this new restaurant. sports and a place for families, all in the “This is the footprint for our future,” same spot. he said. “The essence of our brand hasn’t While the visual look has been changed,” he said. “Beef ‘O’ Brady’s revised, its menu still includes all the has a strong connection to the commufavorite dishes and daily values cusnity and serves good food at a good tomers have come to expect from the value and is a good place for families,” restaurant. Well-rounded everyday valhe said. For more information about ues include $5.99 Burger Mondays, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, visit www.beefo$5.99 Tacos and $1.99 Kids Meal bradys.com or call 564-8894.
The Boyette Celia Howe is the Springs Special BSSDD’s treasurer Dependent District and loves being a (BSSDD) recently member of the board, welcomed a new and she is excited to member to their have Miles join the board of trustees, board of trustees. Gina Miles. Miles is “What I like most a realtor with Florida about being a trustee Executive Realty of the board is that I and has been in the have been able to real estate business work with fellow for more than 20 trustees for special years. projects such as our The Boyette Springs Special Dependent new signage in 2008 “I joined the District (BSSDD) recently welcomed a board because I'm new member to their board of trustees, and working with the interested in helping county to have native Gina Miles. Boyette Springs maintain an attractive plants and trees in the medians upon the exterior appearance, which will help posicompletion of the Boyette Rd. widening in tively influence home values in our com2014,” Howe said. munity,” Miles said. “I'm honored to serve Both Miles and Howe hope more resmy neighbors in this way.” idents from Boyette Springs will become Miles and her family are two-time involved with the BSSDD. Boyette Springs residents. “I’d like to see more residents step“We moved back to the neighborping in to serve on the board after each hood two and a half years ago after being trustee has completed his or her four-year away for 13 years,” Miles said. term,” Howe said. “At this time, four She has previously served on the trustees are serving beyond four years HOA Board of Directors during her previand two trustees have served over fifteen ous residency and enjoyed helping build years, so we are quite excited to wela sense of community among the neighcome Gina.” bors by implementing the Fall Festival To learn more or if you’re interested and Summer Ice Cream Social. in joining their board of trustees, you can The BSSDD was created in 1993 visit its website at www.boyettespringsswhen efforts among homeowners to care dd.com or email the BSSDD president at for the five entrances became too much boyettesdd@gmail.com. BSSDD meetfor an ongoing basis. The responsibility of ings are held on the second Wednesday the BSSDD is to maintain the attractive of each month at the Allstate Insurance appearance of the exterior properties in Company building, located at 12307 Boyette Springs. Boyette Rd. in Riverview.
What You Can Do About
WE INVITE YOU...
By Michelle Caceres
Back Pain
Low Back pain is a $600 billion dollar industry in this country. That is outrageous! Musculoskeletal pain is unfortunately very mismanaged. Why make simple problems complex? With all mechanical pain, there’s a ‘what’ and a ‘why’ — what the problem is and why it’s occurring in the first place. To achieve resolution, it’s crucial to not only identify and correct the problem at hand but address the behaviors which lead to the issue! Here are some self-help tips: • Keep moving! • Avoid sitting for longer than 30-minutes at a time. • Sit with upright posture with lumbar support. • Take micro-breaks: stretch, take a stroll, grab a snack, move around. • Take mental notes of what you are doing when your pain feels better or worse to identify any positional patterns.
By Libby Hopkins
TO HAVE A UNIQUE LEGAL EXPERIENCE! • Trust & Wills • Probate/Guardianship • Elder Law • Business Formation • Contracts & Real Estate • Asset Protection
Personal Attention 40 Years of Experience Conveniently Located
Treatment at Motion ChiroTherapy will always be in a
1-on-1 setting with the doctor for every visit. We will evaluate and reevaluate your unique symptoms and design a treatment plan to get you back in motion.
CALL TODAY Dr. Robert Lutz
16765 FishHawk Blvd, Lithia • 813-793-7791 (Located in the Winn Dixie Shopping Plaza)
www.MotionChiroTherapy.com
2240 LITHIA CENTER LANE VALRICO 33596 THOMAS@TOMGALLOLAW.COM
813-815-4529
CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
Page 8
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Local Girl Scout Troop Makes Beds For Homeless From Recycled Plastic Bags
By Gwen Rollings
world a better place. Polley said of her troop, “They all wanted to help save the planet, the sea turtles and have a passion for recycling. The girls came up with a plan to teach others about single-use plastics by showing different ways you can repurpose what we have.” The plan was to turn plastic bags into beds for the homeless. They wanted to do this because, as Girl Scout Mila said, “I knew that the mats Girl Scout Junior Troop 33018 displaying each girl’s we made could possibly save sleeping mat she crocheted for the homeless. a life by giving the homeless Girl Scout Junior Troop 33018 takes something warm to sleep on through a seriously the goals of helping people, making the world a better place and using cold night.” Shea wanted to make the resources wisely. They achieved all these mats to help the community. Sierra added, “We wanted to save plastic bags objectives and also earned their Girl and recycle them.” Scout Bronze Award by working on a Each girl collected 500 plastic bags, project to bring awareness regarding sincut the bags, made plarn (plastic yarn) gle-use plastics. and learned how to crochet with the Most people don’t think much about assistance of an experienced adult single-use plastics. Plastic bags make throughout the crocheting process. Each short order of carrying in grocery, novelty or department store items into our homes girl’s contribution was a 20-hour effort. Ava, Kalani and Jacqueline agreed, “We and then are overwhelming found stuffed in closets or taking up space in trash cans all learned how to crochet, help one another and work together.” Reymoni waiting to take their place in a landfill. Yet the plastic bags don’t make short order of concluded, “I learned that it is nice to help people in need.” disappearing. They have a longevity of Polley said the 2 ½ ft. x 6 ft. sleeping from 800 to 1,000 years, and that’s a long time mounding up in landfills and polluting mats are donated to a Tampa area church which has a homeless outreach the earth. program. Although it was a six-month Troop Leader Leesa Polley and her project, the results were well worth it. Girl fifth grade Girl Scouts decided they wantScout Jianna summed up the takeaway ed to complete a project that would lesson, “Helping people makes the world demonstrate how single-use plastics a better place.” could be used more wisely and make the
Water Conservation Tips For Dry Season
Staff Report
Hillsborough water leaks that can County wants to remind save homeowners residents about simple about 10 percent on steps they can take to their water bills. Leaks help conserve water, are commonly found in especially in the middle toilets, faucets, water of the dry season. softeners and irrigation “Water conservasystems. tion measures are To determine if essential in preserving there’s a water leak in Hillsborough County encourages our precious water your home, turn off all residents to look at ways to resources and to appliances that use conserve water this time of year. ensure that we always water, including ice have clean, safe water for all to makers, dishwashers and use,” said David irrigation systems. Note or Glicksberg, Sustainable Water take a photo of the location Resources Section manager of the small red sweep for Hillsborough County’s Environmental hand on the water meter. Wait two hours Services Division. “Conserving water can without using any water in the home, be done in numerous ways, including including faucets or toilets. View the small turning off the faucet while we brush our red hand on the water meter again. If it teeth to ensuring that our lawn irrigation has moved, there’s possibly a leak in the systems are working properly and operat- home or in the irrigation system. If you ing only during our designated watering don’t know where the leak is, contact a days and times. We all can help to conleak detection company. Contact a serve water to ensure the continued licensed plumber if you need help fixing it. availability of our water supply.” Other steps to help conserve water Year-round watering restrictions still include adding a shutoff device to the apply, and residents should be familiar showerhead to turn it off while lathering, with the schedule. Addresses ending in 0, turning off the sink while brushing your 1, 2 or 3 can water their lawns on teeth or shaving, installing an ultra-lowMondays and Thursdays; addresses end- flow toilet—which uses only 1.6 gallons ing in 4, 5 or 6 can water their lawns on of water per flush or less—and running Tuesdays and Fridays; and addresses full loads in the dishwasher and washing ending in 7, 8 or 9 can water their lawns machines. In addition, reducing shower on Wednesdays and Saturdays. times by five minutes can save 15 to 30 Common areas with no addresses gallons of water. and locations with multiples addresses, “In our region, the dry season is typsuch as office complexes, can water their ically from October through May,” lawns on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Glicksberg said. “Water conservation All watering must be done before 8 needs to be practiced year-round. a.m. or after 6 p.m., and it can be done During the dry season, we need to be only once on the designated day. especially vigilant about conserving Watering with reclaimed water is not water.” restricted by day, but it must be done Visit https://www.hillsboroughcounbefore 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. on any ty.org/en/residents/property-owners-andgiven day, and hand watering and lowrenters/water-and-sewer/lower-bills-andvolume irrigation of plants may be done water-conservation to learn more about on any day and at any time but must not the many ways you can save water and be wasteful. lower your water bill, or call the Water Another step to water conservation is Conservation Team at 663-3295 for to find and fix easily corrected household more information.
NEW, EXCITING TERMITE PRODUCTS!
Termidor 10 Year Guarantee
BRANDON TERMITE AND PEST CONTROL
Against Subterranean Termites
MEMBER WEST FLORIDA
Existing customers may purchase Termidor at an additional cost. Call Brandon Exterminating for free estimate 685-7711
#1 Bug Muggers Since 1973
Brandon Pest Control, Inc.
Main Office: 108 S. St. Cloud Ave. • Valrico • Fax 685-3607 • 6am-6pm Clearwater-Lakeland-Orlando-Plant City- Carterville GA- Warner Robins, GA
April 2020
Page 9
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
YMCA Welcomes Specially Fit Foundation Developmentally Disabled Fitness Program
By Gwen Rollings
tions or the fact that 60 percent of people with disabilities are overweight or obese. Oliver, speaking about the Specially Fit Foundation, said, “It’s my everything. It’s my baby. There are people with autism, there’s people with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy…basically everything. Mark Oliver, founder and CEO of Specially Fit, We have people in our group who working out with one of his groups. are stronger than I am. We have “It just made sense,” according to some people in our group who need Campo Family YMCA Executive Director, help.” His motto is: “Changing the comJarrod Williams, referring to the Y’s colmunity one rep at a time.” laboration with local nonprofit Specially Specially Fit relies on private support Fit. Williams continued, “We know the through grants as well as corporate and need is out in the community, and we’re individual donations to include volunteeralways looking for ways to build a ing of time to continue providing its servstronger community.” ices to individuals in the Tampa area. The need in the community Williams The Campo Family Y expressed thanks mentioned is providing individuals who for some generous community donors have developmental disabilities the who provided free Y memberships and opportunity to grow their health, fitness programming. and independence. In fact, that need is Kelli Biandudi, communications manurgent all over Florida. Two national ager at Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, advocacy groups complied rankings said, “The partnership is new and the which found that Florida dropped from training sessions are not open to the 18th to 34th in the nation over the past public. We’re hoping it will grow from dozen years in helping people with intelhere within all the Tampa Metropolitan lectual and developmental difficulties. Area Ys with more donor support.” Founder and CEO of Specially Fit Williams said, “We have the facilities, Mark Oliver and the Campo Y believe we wanted to provide access. We knew that all Floridians should have the opporwe had some potential donors interested tunity to fulfill their full potential. Oliver in providing memberships for these indihas been on a mission since 2018 to viduals, and it worked out pretty quickly, change lives through his 501(c)(3) nonso it just made sense.” profit foundation by involving individuals For more information on how to supwith special needs or children living in port this program, call Williams at the foster homes in exercise and sports. Campo Y at 684-1371 or email Oliver believes anyone can participate in Jarrod.Williams@TampaYMCA.Org some exercise despite perceived limita-
LASER HAIR REMOVAL SPECIAL: Full Legs JUST $900 (originally & $1700)
Partial Legs JUST $650 (originally & $1200)
Upper Lip, Chin, Underarms, Toes, Ears, Feet,OR Between the Eyebrows JUST $249 Brazilian Bikini JUST $649 Offer Expires 4/30/2020 Breast Augmentation Breast Lift Tummy Tuck Mommy Makeover Liposuction Buttocks Lift Facelift
Eyelid Surgery/Browlift Skin Tightening Laser Hair Removal Botox/Dysport Dermal Fillers Cellfina Cellulite Reduction Renuvion Skin Tightening
Stanley A. Castor, M.D., FACS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery
813.971.2000 www.DrCastor.com
Page 10
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Bell Creek Academy’s Mock Trial Team Wins First Place In County
By Tatiana Ortiz
The mock Bell Creek trial high Academy’s school team at mock trial team Bell Creek consists of 13 Academy had students in the opportunity grades nine to compete through 12. against neighStudents get boring schools hands-on such as Plant experience High School, through the King High mock trial proSchool and gram. Its mismore on Bell Creek Academy’s mock trial team recently won sion is primaria first place trophy. February 22 ly to teach the during the mock trial competition at the students about the legal system and Hillsborough County Courthouse, locathow it works. ed in downtown Tampa. Students stood Leadingham feels as though his in front of district and circuit court judges students worked very hard in regards to from Hillsborough County. The team at them winning first place and expressed Bell Creek Academy won first place, all of the talent his team possesses. For and now they will compete in the state instance, last year, Pete Cuebas was finals. Some of the feedback that the awarded “Best Expert Witness” in the judges gave to the Bell Creek Academy state. This year, Cuebas received “Best students included how they are better Attorney” in the district competition in prepared and know how to conduct a Hillsborough County. Cuebas joined the trial as well as actual attorneys that they team during his sophomore years as see in court daily. this would give him distinct opportunities Director of Law Academy and Head to improve his public speaking and Coach of the Mock Trial Team Charles presentation skills. Leadingham mentioned what kind of Cuebas shared how he felt being preparation his students went through. awarded “Best Attorney” from the “Once we got the case in judges as a junior. November, roles did get assigned, rules “It feels humbling and I appreciate of evidence did get learned and we all the time that each of the judges dediworked almost everyday after school to cated to the competition itself,” Cuebas prepare,” Leadingham said. said. This will be Leadingham’s third year For more information, visit coaching the mock trial team and the BellCreekAcademy.com. Contact leadschool’s fourth year of competing. The ingham@bellcreekacademy.com.
Volume 19, Issue 4
April 2020
Page 11
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Color Your Egg Run 5K/1M Goes Virtual To Support Seeds Of Hope Club
By Mia Cafaro
Seeds of Hope Founder Leda Eaton and her team are still working out details but some lucky families, “The Easter bunny could deliver a do-at-home family color run complete with T-shirt and Volunteers are usually stationed along the color packets! course to throw festive, spring-themed color powder at participants. Then families During a weekend of chocolate, could do their egg hunts and family pictures, Seeds of own run.” Hope is offering a fun way to give back The color to the community while partaking in all powder is biodegradable and safe to be of the beloved Easter traditions. on skin, though eye protection such as The Color Your Egg Run will be sunglasses or goggles is recommendheld on Saturday, April 11 and was orig- ed. inally scheduled for 8 a.m. at Newsome The race will be a 5K (3.1 miles), High School, located at 16550 but a one-mile option will also be availFishhawk Blvd. in Lithia. But with curable for younger runners. rent events and quarantine orders, this Registration is available now on Easter-themed race will be virtual and eventbrite.com. Until Saturday, March still offer the family-friendly, race where 28, it costs $20 per participant; it will families of all ages are welcome to then be $25 per participant. The first come and enjoy the fun. 500 people to register will be guaranRunners will be provided with teed event T-shirts, bibs and medals. white, egg-themed race shirts and are All proceeds will support the Seeds encouraged to wear other white items of Hope Club and its mission to serve of clothing if possible. local people experiencing food insecuriRace organizers are still working ty. Seeds of Hope frequently holds food out the details but think that race packdrives and is also the organization that ets with T-shirts and possibly even puts on the FishHawk Turkey Trot on chalk powder will be delivered to Thanksgiving. homes and families can submit photos More information about the Color from their own personal walks and Your Egg Run and Seeds of Hope can runs! be found at sohopefl.org.
FishHawk Resident Opens Poke Burri Restaurant Downtown Sushi anyone? When Faris Salem moved to FishHawk in 2003, he had his heart set on new beginnings, new employment avenues and new opportunities to bring to the Tampa Bay area. Salem owned and operated his own bread delivery business, so entrepreneurship was an adventure that he was not afraid to dive into again. After traveling to Atlanta, Georgia in 2018, he was hoping to find a place to have some great sushi and stumbled upon a restaurant called Poke Burri. “The food was amazing. It was created in ways I had never seen or eaten before, such as a sushi donut, sushi pizza and sushi corndogs, to name some of the signature dishes”, said Salem. Salem jumped right into asking questions about this new restaurant and new style of sushi making. He felt that Poke Burri would be a great addition to the culinary market in his home state of Florida. “I love sushi, and fresh fish and the homemade sauces made all the differ-
By Franka Potter
ence,” Salem added. He organized a meeting with the flagship founders and embarked on a partnership with the Poke Burri franchise. On February 3, Salem opened the first Poke Burri Tampa restaurant located in downtown Tampa. In just under five years, the new franchise has seven locations across three states and is scheduled to open an additional five new restaurants within five more states. The Poke Burri franchise has also received several culinary awards and has since been featured in Forbes magazine, Tampa Bay Magazine, ABC Action News, 21 food blogs and, on Saturday, April 4, will be on-set at ABC Action News to discuss this brainchild further. Poke Burri Tampa is located at 4034 W. Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa, seats up to 42 customers and is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. You can also visit it online at Pokeburri.com and on Instagram @pokeburritampa or by calling 4054019.
4/30/2020
4/30/2020
DR. JENNIFER MOSCOSO CONDE BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST
813-530-6511 | ccdermatology.com
4/30/2020
Page 12
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Classic Albums Live Summer Series Brings Woodstock, AC/DC, The Who & More
The Wonder Twins Bring Music To The Brandon Community
Martin. “Many of us raised our kids on these albums. They were formative records through our teenage years.” This series is all about the music. “We don’t care about costumes or distracting videos or flashing lights. It’s all about the musical content from the original The Classic Albums Live Summer Concert Series kicks off on Thursday, May 14 at the RP Funding Center in albums,” said Martin. Lakeland. Founded in 2003 by Close your eyes and imagine hearing Martin, Classic Albums Live takes the The Music of Woodstock album live, cut greatest albums and recreates them live for cut in a local stadium. Now open your on stage using the best musicians. “Think eyes and realize you don’t have to use of it as a recital,” Martin said. “These your imagination, because on Thursday, albums are historic and stand the test of May 14 the Classic Albums Live Summer time.” Series kicks off with the number one With more than 100 shows a year album of 1970, The Music of Woodstock, across North America, Classic Albums at 8 p.m. at the RP Funding Center in Live has seen massive success in perLakeland. forming arts centers and theaters. Fans in Then, on Friday, June 19, experience Texas, Las Vegas, Florida, New York and The Beatles’ four-time GRAMMY AwardCentral and East Coast Canada have all winning album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely continued to support the series and make Hearts Club Band, followed by AC/DC’s it a sustaining, successful show. “We Back In Black, which sold more than 50 grew while others withdrew,” Martin said, million copies worldwide and rocks the commenting on the decline of concert house on Thursday, July 16. ticket sales, “We created something that The two-time GRAMMY Award-winendures and connects. We deliver exactly ning The Stranger album by Billy Joel what we promote.” plays on Thursday, August 13. Next, The Tickets are on sale now and the Who’s three-time platinum-selling album, Series Pass costs $162 for all six shows. Who’s Next, will be performed on Service charges may apply and the pass Thursday, September 17, and to wrap up includes free parking, preferred seating the Summer Concert Series, Fleetwood and 10 percent off concessions. Tickets Mac’s Rumours album that sold more are available through the RP Funding than 40 million copies worldwide plays on Center’s website at www.rpfundingcenThursday, October 15. All shows start at 8 ter.com, or call the center’s box office at p.m. “These albums are sacred,” said 863-834-8111. The RP Funding Center is Classic Albums Live Founder Craig located at 701 W. Lime St. in Lakeland.
Julie was a whimsical, Legner is a quirky name for a force to be reckband. When we oned with in the moved to Florida in the Brandon comfall of 2009, we decidmunity. She is a ed to keep The realtor, pianist, Wonder Twins going. performer, one In fact, our retirement half of the local plan is to live and play band The out together every Wonder Twins night on the beaches Joe& Julie Legner play in a band called and a mom. as a cute, old couple.” The Wonder Twins. If you ask As was menLegner how she does all tioned, Legner is a pianist, and of these things, she’ll tell she is also known in the commuyou, “Luckily, I have the nity as That Piano Chick. most supportive and “To fill my own musical musically-inclined family,” desires while Joe was busy with Legner said. “It’s my husband, Joe, who work and school, I happily fell into the had it way worse with his schedule. For world of dueling pianos in December of the past five years, he has worked as a 2017, and what a whirlwind journey this structural engineer with TECO, played in has been,” Legner said. “Once I got a the band and worked with me to parent taste of the dueling piano world, I knew I our two great now-teenaged sons, Joey, wanted to be involved in both solo and who is 16 and can play piano, and dueling pianos. I invested in two gorTommy, who is 14 and can rock a guitar.” geous Dutchgrand baby grand piano Legner’s band, The Wonder Twins, shells to help create my own show, has an interesting story as to how they which is now featured at JF Kicks in got their start. “When Joe and I lived in Valrico every first Saturday of the month Central Illinois, we had a very successful from 8 until 11 p.m.” band called Cartoon Physics along with Legner loves that she and The our great friends Joe Weisenfelder and Wonder Twins get to perform for the Brian Mund,” Legner said. “If you don’t community. “I cannot stress enough the know, ‘cartoon physics’ is a term used to amazingness of all the local musicians describe the unrealistic physics in the and establishments that support their cartoon world. When Wile E. Coyote local musicians,” Legner said. would chase the Road Runner and misTo learn more about The Wonder takenly walk off a cliff, he wouldn’t fall Twins or That Piano Chick, visit Legner’s right away. He’d look at the camera, Facebook pages at make a face and then fell. That’s the facebook.com/TheWonderTwins or facephysics of cartoons, and we thought it book.com/ThatPianoChick.
By Libby Hopkins
By Libby Hopkins
We are giving away a
$100
Gift Card every month in 2020!
G IN D N LE SA
LD
FO
R
SO
SA R FO
LITHIA 16147Churchview Dr. $314,900
RIVERVIEW 13106 Satin Lily Dr. $359,900
BRANDON 3530 Brook Crossing Dr. $400,000
VALRICO 2132 Landside Dr. $334,900
LE
PE
PE
N
D
IN
SO LD
G
chance to win. Be sure to go to my website and enter for your month. each of end the at d Winners will be announce
LITHIA 17044 Dorman Rd. $202,500
BRANDON 27827 Lantern Hill Ave. $194,900
(813) 436-1734 • WWW.LISADEANTAMPA.COM
April 2020
Page 13
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Publix, Winn-Dixie Adjust Policies, Shipments And Hiring To Address Coronavirus Crisis By Linda Chion Kenney
Grocery stores Wednesdays. The are hiring, adjusting special shopping hour store hours, increasfor seniors and highing product shiprisk customers at ments, limiting highWinn-Dixie starts at 8 demand purchases a.m., Monday through and taking preventaFriday, with stores tive cleaning measclosing nightly at 9 ures to keep stocks p.m. shelved and cusWith reports of Signs limiting the purchase of hightomers safe during demand items are commonplace at long lines and short area grocery stores in the midst of the coronavirus outtempers at area the coronavirus outbreak. break. stores, company offi“We’re asking customers to shop as cials noted the need to focus on kind they normally would and not stockpile,” deeds and respect for front-line worksaid Maria Brous, spokesperson for ers. Publix supermarkets. “We are also look“We all (employers, drivers, etc.) ing to hire at least 2,000 associates by honestly are trying our absolute best,” the end of March to help serve our stores said one Publix worker in a recent and warehouse and distribution centers, Facebook post. “Just be kind and which in turn will better serve our cuspatient, and for the love of everything, tomers.” stop arguing with everyone.” Kaley Shaffer, spokesperson for In urging shoppers not to stockSoutheastern Grocers (SEG), the parent pile, Brous noted Publix “warehousing company of Winn-Dixie grocery stores, and distribution centers are working issued a similar sentiment, noting that around the clock to receive products through an expedited hiring process, the from our suppliers and to ship prodcompany aims to “provide jobs to those ucts to our stores.” Also, customers who have been impacted by the current are asked “not to arrive early, waiting situation.” in line for stores to open, since deliverSEG also announced that, to “supies are made throughout the day.” port the most vulnerable members of our And when shopping for food, community,” a $250,000 donation was Anthony Hucker, SEG president and given to Feeding America to support its CEO, said, “Please be kind to one network of southeastern food banks, another and take a minute to thank our including Feeding Tampa Bay. heroic associates for going above and Due to the health crisis, Publix beyond to serve our customers.” restricted store hours to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. To stay updated on changing polidaily in March, with shopping for seniors cies, visit www.publix.com and only from 7 to 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and www.winndixie.com.
IMAGELIFT VIRTUAL SEMINAR
You Are Invited NEW! ATTEND VIRTUAL SEMINAR! imagelift.com/webinar
In light of the Corona COVID-19 virus, we are Closed as of March 23rd
and hope, (but cannot guarantee) we will
re-open April 6th. We care about our staff and clients. We are currently trying to help keep everyone safe and healthy in these trying times.
Please call for updates on April 6th. Thank you for understanding and we wish you all good health. We will see you soon.
B
Internationally Trained Staff
Boulevard SALON
210 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon
813.571.5800
boulevardsalon210.com Experience the Difference! boulevardsalon210 #MM27421 / #MA29471
Color Specialists Straightening Systems Complete Nail & Pedicure Services Advanced Skin Care (Microblading, Microneedling, Micro-derm, Peels, 4 Layer Facelift) Body Waxing Massage Therapy Permanent Make-up Farm House Fresh Boutique Items
Richard Castellano, M.D. Founder Medical Director
youtube.com/imagelift facebook.com/imagelift
Page 14
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Brandon Diver Runs Next Level Dive Club, Hosts Gasp-Our Beads Tampa Bay Cleanup
Welcome to Our Family Owned & Operated
FREE
Full Service Car Wash with Oil Change.
By Linda Chion Kenney
Tampa Bay Next Level Dive waters are 1,500 Club he launched pounds cleaner two years ago as a after a trash dive Facebook group, organized by Mica now with 3,600 Neal of Brandon, members. the founder of the An upcoming Next Level Dive trip to Hawaii in Club, which this November 2017 year organized the prompted Neal to fourth annual become a certified Gasp-Our Beads of diver after learning Photo by Linda Chion Kenney about an aquarium Tampa Bay Mica Neal of Brandon, founder of the Next in Hawaii that Cleanup. Level Dive Club, posing with trash The cleanup allows diving with recovered at the Gasp-Our Beads of debuted in 2017 uncaged sharks. Tampa Bay Cleanup on February 2. under the auspices of the NAUI Green “I just always wanted to dive with Diver Initiative, and as an action project sharks,” he said. “When I got home, I for the Hillsborough 100 Conservation started diving even more and invested Challenge, run by the Hillsborough Soil in better gear and diving equipment.” and Water Conservation District. Unhappy with the dive clubs he Neal stepped up to host this year’s found on Facebook, Neal said he dive, which drew 18 boats and 180 volstarted his own group as “a platform unteers to the Davis Island boat ramp in for people to meet other new divers”— Tampa on February 2. Collected trash and not as a means toward his own included a laptop, cellphone, scooter, notoriety. folding minibike, collection of baseballs Next on Neal’s wish list is to and 250 pounds of Gasparilla beads. establish a nonprofit geared toward “It saddens me to see what people cleanup events, with chapters throughjust don’t really care about,” Neal said. out the state. “Think about where your trash goes. If In the meantime, ‘Next Level Dive you were at your house and you just Club Florida’ on Facebook posts dive cleaned out the oil in your car, would trips, courses, training, special events you pour it out on your kitchen table? If and more. ‘Mica Neal Photography,’ you were at work and finished eating, also on Facebook, specializes in would you throw your McDonald’s bag underwater, architectural and scenic across a conference table? You photography. wouldn’t. So why do you have to do it in For more information, visit public?” www.NextLevelDiveClub.com. On Neal’s passion for diving led to the Instagram, visit: @nextleveldiveclub.
5 OFF
$ 00
Hole In One
Includes Filter & 5 qts Oil*
Brushless Car Wash, Lube & Detail Center
Everyday Low Price: $34.95 Expires 04/30/2020
Expires 04/30/2020
657-6500 • 3618 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Hours: 8am - 5pm Monday - Saturday Visa • MasterCard • American Express • Discover
Follow us on at Nekter Juice Bar Valrico and @nektertampabay for up-to-date information regarding our hours & operations
3482 LITHIA PINECREST ROAD, VALRICO, FL 33596
FLOORING, WINDOW TREATMENTS, WALLPAPER, KITCHEN & BATH REMODEL
COUNTERTOPS • CABINETS • WALLPAPER • SHUTTERS • VALANCES • DRAPERIES • BLINDS TILE • HARDWOOD • LAMINATE • CARPET • LUXURY VINYL
FLOORS FOR LIFE
Carpet, Hardwood, Tile & Luxury Vinyl
0% FINANCING
REMODEL CABINETRY and COUNTERTOPS *w.a.c.
April 2020
Page 15
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Newsome High School Drama Presents Mary Poppins
Staff Report
Please note: storybook come to Times and dates may life. NHS students adjust: Sydney DeFelix, Theater lovers Thomas Barker and take note. Newsome Benjamin Lance are Wolfpack Theatre the show’s technical presents Disney’s directors and are in Mary Poppins this charge of the set month with tickets on crew and construcsale now. tion of the sets. The cast and crew of Newsome High The show will Dr. Cornwell School’s production of Mary Poppins. take place at shared his vision of Newsome High School (NHS) Thursday the production. “We have given the chimthrough Saturday on April 16, 17 and 18 ney sweep ensemble and our set crew a at 7 p.m. with a matinee performance on much larger role as those telling this April 18 at 2 p.m. story,” he said. “Mary Poppins is about The cast is led by Mackenzie fun and magic, but it is more about caring Valentine as Mary Poppins and Ian for each other, loving each other. This is a Negron-Rodriguez as the lovable chimlesson the Banks family has to learn. It’s ney sweep, Bert. The Banks family a story that is completely relevant today.” include Joseph Rissler as George, During show research, Dr. Cornwell Elizabeth Miller as Winifred and Jake found notes from the show composers, Perez and Mia Scaringe playing the roles the Sherman brothers, pointing out that of Michael and Jane Banks, respectively. “tuppence a bag has nothing to do with When asked about her role, tuppence or bread crumbs. It’s about the Valentine commented, ”My mother fell in fact that it doesn’t take much to give love, love with Mary Poppins when she was that it costs very little to make a difference very young and raised me on a spoonful to other people’s lives.” of sugar. We always had Mary Poppins “The Newsome Wolfpack Theatre is quotes on the refrigerator and we still cry built on investments made in the stuwhen we watch her fly onto the screen.” dents,” said Dr. Cornwell. Twenty students fill out the cast, that The entire 2019-2020 theater season includes Raima Reid and Camilla has been dedicated to retiring Newsome Gonzalez, two Randall Middle School stu- Principal Carla Bruning. dents breaking into the high school theAll performances are in the ater world. Newsome High School Theater at 16550 According to Artistic Director Dr. Fishhawk Blvd. Tickets are pre-sold with Chad Cornwell, the production is different $5 student prices or $8 for adults. newthan others, with set designs by sometheatre.ticketleap.com/marypopHillsborough County art teacher Lindsay pins/. More information can be found at Valentine made to look like a children’s www.newsometheatre.org.
Call us today to schedule a tour of our beautiful community! 24 hour On-site Nurse ECC (Extended Congregate Care) License Physician Services—Including Dentistry, Podiatry and Dermatology On-site Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services We hire & train only caring people.
Palm Sunday April 5
Maundy Thursday April 9
No Enrollment Fee
$15 per month New Year, New You
JOIN NOW
Good Friday April 10
Three Locations to Choose From:
FishHawk Riverview Apollo Beach
Easter Vigil April 11
24 H O U R A C C E S S
Easter Sunday April 12
Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church 604 N. Valrico Rd. Valrico 33594 hiepiscopal.org 813-689-3130
*Nursery care will be provided for infant through 5 years of age.
Page 16
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Bay Life Meets Needs During Crisis Time Online Services, Zoom Ministries
Staff Report
vide resources, teaching and opportunities to engage through the children’s Facebook group. The church is also offering assistance to those classified as the high-risk community who have chosen to selfquarantine. “Areas of Pastor Mark Saunders is leading Bay Life Church with video assistance may messages and onling streaming of services. include grocery In order to help its shopping, picking up premembers during these scriptions or other items that unprecedented times, need to be picked up and Bay Life Church, led by delivered to their home,” Pastor Mark Saunders, is said Saunders. putting faith into action. Anyone needing this Starting in mid-March, assistance is encouraged to in an effort to do its part email help@baylife.org or to curb the effects of the call 661-3696 ext. 320. coronavirus, the church Volunteers are needed to help with began offering all ministries that reguthe ministries and are asked to contact larly met on campus online services. Erica Watson Online church services are available at ewatson@baylife.org or call 661on Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 9 3696 ext. 310. and 10:45 a.m. “Now more than ever we as a “We continue working behind the church need to prepare for what lies scenes to make all of our ministries ahead by continuing (and potentially available online as much as possible,” increasing, as God leads) our practice said Saunders, who mentioned that all of generous giving,” said Saunders. Life Groups, Women’s and Men’s To learn more about giving, visit Ministries and Student Ministries will baylife.org/give or give from your continue to meet through Zoom. phone by texting GIVE and the amount Children’s Ministries will also proyou want to give to 308-0608.
NEW HOURS FOR 2020! Mon - Thur 9am - 7pm Fri 9am - 6pm • Sat 9am - 5pm Closed Sundays
F $5 OFcut r A Hai
h ed wit ombin ot be c 0/2020 n y a ad. M es 4/3 resent . Expir Must p other offers bserver O y an Osprey
$20 Men’s Haircut • $15 Boys 12 & under $18 for Active Military, Fire Dept., & Law Enforcement 16311 FishHawk Blvd, Lithia, FL 33547 | 813-661-7024 ONLINE COUPONS NOT ACCEPTED
April 2020
Page 17
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Local Businesses Adjust & Adapt With Drive-Thru, Delivery & Flex Options
By Kate Quesada
Sage Cleaners Offer On-Demand Dry Cleaning & Laundry Service
Sage Cleaners owners Cohen Wills says, “At Sage Cleaners, we want to do everything we can to help combat COVID-19 and encourage social distancing. We've worked hard over the last several days, and we are happy to announce we are starting Tampa Bay's first on-demand dry cleaning & laundry service,” Customers can now download the mobile app or visit the website and request a pickup of laundry and dry cleaning. Clothes will be returned within 24 hours. Visit www.sagecleaners.com.
Canine Cabana Offers Essential Workers Discount
Canine Cabana’s mission is to provide a safe, active and healthy recreational environment that meets canine physical and behavioral needs while improving the quality of life for both dogs and the owners who love them. Although the dog daycare, lodging and private training location in Riverview remains open for all, it is offering 20 percent off on services for any essential business workers including nurses, first responders, pharmacists, grocery workers, childcare, delivery workers or postal workers. Call 672-9663 today.
Local Mathnasium Locations Offer Mathnasium@home
For parents with children at home, Mathnasium’s new service, Mathnasium@home, allows students to continue the same face-to-face Mathnasium instruction from anywhere with an internet connection. Mathnasium@home was developed over three years for customers who had difficulty bringing their children into centers, and thousands of students have found it to be as effective as in-center learning. Current concerns about public health have prompted the business to make it available to customers now. There are three local Mathnasium locations. Mathnasium of Riverview is located at 11446 US Hwy. 301 and can be reached at 844-684-3265. Mathnasium of West Brandon is at 10268 Causeway Blvd. and can be reached at 333-6676 and Mathnasium of Brandon is located at 1048 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico and can be reached at 655-MATH (6284). For more information, visit www.mathnasium.com..
YMCA Suspends Programming To Offer Emergency Childcare
To limit the spread of COVID-19, all YMCA locations are closed across Tampa Bay to transition efforts to help first responders and medical workers. This closure affects all Y programming, including sports, aquatics and special events. The YMCA will offer all-day school-age relief care for essential workers at 23 Y locations across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Citrus and Hernando Counties to help support the children of healthcare and emergency response professionals, as well as other essential workers, who are playing important roles combating the coronavirus. Together, the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, YMCA of the Suncoast and YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg are working to meet a critical need that will help our Greater Tampa Bay region continue to effectively function as our schools are closed. Local YMCAs include the Campo Family YMCA in Valrico, which can be reached at 684-1371, the North Brandon Family YMCA (685-5402), the Spurlino Family YMCA at Big Bend Rd. (4365890) and YMCA Camp Cristina in Riverview, which can be reached at 6778400
searching for a safe place to meet their clients or a quiet environment wherein to conduct their business, Flex Suites Business Center is meeting those needs by offering extreme discounts on its hourly rates for office space use. By reworking the business model and offering office space on an hourly or daily basis at discounted rates, Flex Suites is the perfect solution for those searching for a temporary yet professional place to work from during this unprecedented time of social distancing and business closings. Flex Suites provides individual office space, free Wi-Fi and free parking to their clientele. For more information, contact Teri Perkins at Flex Suites Business Center at 640-0010 or visit 10668 New East Bay Rd. in Gibsonton.
brought to the curbside. Gift certificates for the store and for future classes can be purchases at www.rollingpinonline. To learn more, call 653-2418 or email dwest@rollingpinonline.com.
Get Your Bike Fixed From Your Car
BayCare Offers Drive Up Testing
In light of COVID-19, Brook Pressure Washing Inc. wants to help the community. The business is offering cleaning and sanitizing of playground equipment at local parks, churches, preschools and/or schools. “We make no claims or guarantees of making this virus go away,” said the owner. Brooks Pressure Washing is “That would be offering sanitization of Big Frog Will Bring Custom completely irreplaygrounds and other Shirts To You sponsible for anyequipment. Big Frog Valrico, your oneone to do. Right stop shop for custom T-shirt designs and now we are able to take on one to two production, is working with customers to projects per week.” fit their needs at this time. Orders can be To sign up, complete the form at placed online and can be delivered or https://forms.gle/ZhA13Mw8Xc8nSd2a7. picked up curbside at the store. To learn more about the business, For more information, call 684-2873, visit www.brookpressurewashing.com, email valrico@bigfrog.com or visit call 610-5251 or email Info@brookpreswww.bigfrog.com. surewashing.com.
AJ’s Bikes is offering curbside repair and drop-off during this time of social distancing. Customers are invited to call on Davenport’s Daily arrival and stay in vehi@ Davenport’s Daily Delights Delights Goes cles while staff unload the (813) 810-8513 Delivery Only Davenportsdailydelights@gmail.com bicycles and complete the In an repair or estimate. If effort to extensive repair is needserve the ed, staff will give you an community estimate and call when its while keepready for pickup. To learn more, call 685-2453. AJ’s ing everyone safe, Davenport’s Bikes is located at 1538 Bloomingdale Daily Delights is working but Ave. in Valrico. implementing some changes to keep everyone fed and safe. Bullfrog Creek Offers To-Go And The company has suspended its pickup option and is deliveryHosts Food Trucks only for two weeks. It asks that With recent regulations on bars and customers leave a cooler out and it will nightclub, Bullfrog Creek Brewing is now provide ice packs with the delivered meal. offering beer and other drinks to-go. The All payment will also take place online. location will also continue to host local In addition to donating more than 20 food trucks as long as possible. Orders meals to local families in need, Owner can be placed by calling or texting 703Peggy Davenport is also setting up a 8835 or through the online store at sponsorship system through her business www.bullfrogcreekbrewing.com. where residents and businesses can donate to locals who have fallen on rough Rolling Pin Suspends Classes, times and need food. Offers Gift Cards And To learn more, find the business on Curbside Delivery Facebook or visit www.davenportsdailyFor the health and safety of delights.com. customers and employees, the
Flex Suites Business Center Offering Special Pricing for Displaced Workers During the current economic crisis, with many workers finding themselves
Brooks Pressure Washing Offers Sanitization
Rolling Pin Cooking Emporium recently suspended cooking classes and events. However, for as long as possible, the retail store will remain open and orders can be placed over the phone and will be
Cleaning Services
BayCare patients who have been instructed by their doctor to be tested for COVID-19 are now able to provide a specimen for testing without leaving their cars. BayCare Urgent Care at 2442 Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico is one of seven BayCare Urgent Care locations across West Central Florida doing drivethru testing centers for COVID-19. BayCare will operate the service seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. BayCare patients will be directed to the testing by their physician or by a physician from BayCareAnywhere, a telemedicine app that allows patients to obtain medical care via a smart phone, tablet or computer. To learn more, visit baycare.org/coronavirus/.
Sherwin-Williams Offers Curbside Pick-Up
In an effort to reduce direct contact and time spent in public places, SherwinWilliams is now accepting orders over the phone and offering curbside pickup. To take advantage of this service, simply call to place an order. If you are planning a painting project, visit www.sherwin-williams.com for a 30 percent off paints and stains coupon. The FishHawkLithia Sherwin-Williams store is located at 5496 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Lithia and can be reached at 654-2854.
by Bay Area Clean Team
• Commercial/Residential Services • Free Estimates • Family Owned & Operated • Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Serving: Brandon, Lithia, Fish-Hawk, Seffner, Riverview and surrounding areas
“Cleaning the world one Location at a time”
(813) 263-6643
Page 18
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Volume 19, Issue 4
What To Do While Distancing & From Home, Drive-In, Art-To-Go, Lego
By Kate Quesada
With residents responding to calls to practicing social distance and staying home to prevent the spread of COVID19, many local businesses are adapting their services to offer ways their customers can have fun and be safe. From online classes to craft kits at home, businesses are answering residents’ requests to keep busy and stay connected in these changing and challenging times.
entertained and educated from the comfort of their own living room. To watch live, just visit the Aquarium’s Facebook page at 10 a.m. The Aquarium will also post the SEASPAN sessions on its website and on YouTube so the shows can be watched on demand.
Movie Fun At Ruskin Family Drive-In
Camellia’s Tea Room, located at 3102 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico, recently started offering Tea Party To Go packages, which can be picked up at the curbside, and daily family meals. To learn more, visit camelliastearoom.com or call 278-5213. You can also find regular updates on the business’s Facebook page.
Watch a movie with your family without worrying about germs. The Ruskin Family Drive-In is showing movies where families can stay safe in their own cars. There is a $5 food permit fee for anyone bringing outside food and drink to the location. Admittance is $6 a person ages 9 and above and children ages 5-8 are $1. Children under 4 are free. You may bring your dog with you as long as they are friendly and you clean up after them, and no alcohol is allowed. To learn more, visit www.ruskinfamilydrivein.com or call 6451455.
Tea Parties At Home From Camellia’s Tea Room
Curbside Pottery To Go Kits
Escape the ‘quarantine blues’ with The Pottery Patch’s new Curbside Paint Your Own Pottery To-Go Kits. Now available, purchase online or call 643-0014 and let representatives help you pick out some fun pottery to paint in the comfort of Kerby’s Nursery Offers your own home. Don’t worry Garden Fun For All about catching an illness (or With children home passing one on). Studies unexpectedly, many peohave shown that creating ple are looking for things and painting is relaxing, to do. Fortunately, outcalms our anxieties and, side everyone’s back best of all, fun! Order online door is a yard or garden or call the studio to pre-purfor them to explore. Kim chase your pottery of Gardening is one way to keep children active year and Joey Bokor of choice. Drive to the studio round. Kerby’s Nursery in and call from your car, and Seffner offer 10 garden projects to do with workers will bring out your to-go kit. kids. Suggestions include planting seeds, Return it at your convenience and setting up a vegetable garden, planting a employees will glaze and fire your projgarden for butterflies, rounding up worms ects. Projects will be ready for pick up in in the garden, going on a bug hunt, plant- seven days. All kits come with pottery ing a miniature garden and creating your paints, brushes, decorating supplies and own flower. directions. Customers can select the potFor more information on these ideas tery pieces they want from its online listor to learn more about the nursery, call ing or call the studio and its helpful staff 685-3265 or visit www.kerwill walk them through the bysnursery.com. process. Let your kids open their minds and explore Florida Aquarium Offers their creativity, all while Online Programming staying safe from illness at After making the hard home. decision to close its doors to The Pottery Patch, a the public in support of compottery painting studio, is munity efforts to limit the one of the oldest paint and spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), create studios in the Tampa Bay area the Florida Aquarium launches its firstwith over 17 years of entertainment for all ever SEA-SPAN Facebook Live to keep ages. With over 600 different pottery and kids learning and adults entertained durDIY wood projects in stock, it is the pering these difficult times. fect spot to create away these quarantine Guests can visit the aquarium and be blues.
Estate Planning Wills & Trusts Powers of Attorney Guardianship Probate
www.tadance.com or call 571-0901.
AR Workshop Offers DIY To Go
Crafters need not panic. During times of social distancing, AR Workshop has a solution. The business is putting together DIY To-Go Kits that can be picked up at the curbside at the Valrico location so that crafters can make projects in the comfort and safety of their own home. Kits can be ordered online and picked up during regular pickup winAR Workshop in Valrico is offering DIY dows. To learn more, visit www.arworkTo Go kits for pick up. shop.com or call 775-7109. AR To learn more, Workshop is located at 1046 contact Wendy Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico. Pettys, owner, at 643-0014 or 601Art Monkey Emporium Adapts With 6691. Visit www.potCrafts And Ice Cream terypatchstudio.com. The Pottery Patch is Parents looking for fun crafts to do located at 2551 S.R. 60 E. in Valrico. with their children while school is out should look no further than Art Monkey in Bricks 4 Kids Offers Lego FishHawk Challenges With Prizes Ranch’s Park Stuck at home with the Square. The kids? Bricks 4 Kidz can help business is them stay busy and get you offering to-go some prizes too. Each chalcraft kits, from lenge lasts 24 hours. Post Easter-themed the picture of your completed art work to challenge in the comments, night-light kits, and the one with the most that can be Facebook likes will win a free ordered in Bricks 4 Kidz Summer advance and Camp. That’s a $300 value, picked up at the so tag your fiends when you store to be comment to get more likes. The winners will be announced daily. To learn more, find Five-year-old Rhett Gilmore Bricks 4 Kidz Tampa on works on a to go craft kit from Art Monkey in Lithia. Facebook or visit www.bricks4kids.com. assembled at home. The store TADA Offers Online Arts Experiences also offers pint-sized containers of Big Theatre Arts and Dance Alliance Olaf ice cream for pick up too. To learn (TADA) is always looking for new and more, visit www.artandicecream.com or creative ways to solve problems. This sitcall 315-9803. uation is no different. While TADA feels it is socially responsible to limit large numGlazer Children’s Museum Takes bers of students in dance studios and Learning And Playing Online large groups in the lobby, it can still conOnce the Glazer Children’s Museum tinue to deliver the exceptional dance, closed its doors to the public last month, music and theater experience you know employees quickly started offering online and love at Theatre Arts and Dance programming for children and parents to Alliance. enjoy safely with GCM at Home. GMC at Thanks to new technology, the studio Home, a new section of the museum’s is opening its digital doors and providing website, hosts videos, printable activities an online arts experience using Zoom.us pages, recipes and other fun ideas for as a platform. families to try while complying with social Email any questions to distancing. office@tadance.com. Follow along at To learn more about TADA, visit www.GlazerMuseum.org/GCMatHome.
April 2020
Page 19
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
TECO Doubling 600MW Solar Farm To Expand Power To Growing Population
By Brad Stager
company’s leadership. “Our customers want a cleaner energy future for themselves—and their children,” said Nancy Tower, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Electric. “We are committed to continue to lead Tampa Electric toward cleaner energy while ensuring our prices remain affordable for customers.” According to TECO Tampa Electric uses goats to take care of the Spokesperson Cherie Jacobs, landscape at its solar farms. the solar farms will make a difTremendous growth in the number of ference in protecting the environment in homes and businesses in the Tampa Bay the area it serves. area, especially in Southern Hillsborough “When complete, the solar expanCounty, means a greater need for electrision will reduce carbon dioxide emiscal energy, and Tampa Electric Company sions by about 500,000 tons every is using the sun to help produce it. year, which is roughly equal to removThe utility has announced plans to ing 100,000 cars from the road,” she increase its solar power by 600MW wrote in an email. “Thanks to our existbefore the end of 2023. The additional ing investment in solar power, Tampa power will about double TECO’s solar Electric has already saved more than output to 1250MW, which, according to 1.4 billion gallons of water—significantly the company, is enough electrical helping an area of the state that has power capacity to service 200,000 critical concerns over water use.” homes. Jacobs added that TECO is planning to When the additional solar power is continue its solar expansion, including completely online, TECO’s use of solar the purchase of 1,200 acres of former energy will be about 14 percent of the Del Monte farmland straddling the utility’s total generated power. Hillsborough/Polk County line. According to a TECO news release, Currently, TECO operates a dozen that amount of solar energy production solar power farms to help service its “would be the highest percentage of 780,000 customers in West Central solar power of any utility in the state.” Florida, including South Hillsborough The $800 million investment in County locations in Balm, Lithia, Little solar power is a commitment to sustainManatee River, Grange Hall (south of ability and affordability, according to the SR 674) and Wimauma.
$25 OFF Repair
Hillsborough County Proposes Income-Based Fee Changes To Improve Athletic Fields
By Nick Nahas
Tractors with rolls of sod help make the process faster.
Hillsborough County has proposed fee changes as a part of its efforts to improve the quality of fields used by dozens of leagues offering a variety of sports. The fees leagues pay to use Hillsborough sports complexes and fields will be set according to the income level of the neighborhoods surrounding the parks within a three-mile radius, with leagues serving low-income neighborhoods paying very low rates or no fees at all. According to Rick Valdez, head of Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation, the fees will go towards resodding and the maintenance, including using chemicals, fertilization, aeration, top dressing and mowing, to maintain the Bermuda grass fields. The county is also investing in new mowing equipment that will be dedicated to the Bermuda grass so that there isn’t any mixing with the grass from the common areas. In 2019, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners approved $17 million in additional funding to upgrade and maintain county fields. With this
money, the county has already started resodding the fields that were in the worst shape. About $10 million has been used to install new synthetic turf fields and $4 million for LED lighting. It is about one year into a two to three-year process of upgrading the 214 fields in Hillsborough County. About half of those fields are finished. “The plan is to equalize the playing conditions at all Hillsborough County athletic facilities,” said Valdez. “ Lower income level areas will receive the maintenance for free, with 100 percent of the cost subsidized by the county. The higher income areas will contribute more to the cost recovery, with 35 percent being the highest. The leagues that use the parks will be charged only a percentage of the cost recovery based on the number of hours that they used the field. If it’s a smaller league, and they only used the field a couple hundred hours a year, they will only be charged for those hours, not for the full year. There will be a three-year transition period for the leagues that owe anything in cost recovery. For the first year, they will owe nothing; the second year, they owe half; and by the third year, they will have to pay it off completely. On March 5, residents were welcomed to attend a meeting at the All People’s Life Center to learn more about the changes. “We want to do everything we can to encourage kids and adults to get out and play and be active,” said Valdez.
$250 OFF New System Ask your Comfort Advisor for Qualifying Systems
One use per household. Cannot be combined with other offers. Cannot be used on previously performed services. Expires 6/30/2020
One use per household. Cannot be combined with other offers. Cannot be used on previously performed services. Expires 6/30/2020
(813)689-0817 1702 Marlin James Dr CAC056868
Page 20
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Volume 19, Issue 4
Newsome High School Encourages Meaningful Blue Letters To Seniors Do you know a high school senior who you would like to wish well? Newsome High School (NHS) is once again proud to offer its annual Blue Letter Envelope program, where parents, grandparents, family, teachers, clergy and friends can send letters and cards to their respective high school senior to congratulate and wish them well as they graduate and prepare for their future endeavors. The NHS PTSA collects these letters and cards throughout the year and organizes them into large blue envelopes. During their Senior Breakfast, each student will receive one of these large blue envelopes containing their written messages of congratulations and encouragement. The letters and cards are kept confidential until they are presented to the students. “It is our goal for every senior to receive an envelope,” said Andrea Finch, co-chair for the Newsome PTSA Blue Letter Envelope program. “Each year, there are a few students who do not receive letters or cards or who receive very few. In an effort to ensure that all graduating seniors receive these special mementos, we would like to enlist our community’s assistance in communicating and participating in this
program.” Finch also explained that residents can write letters even if they don’t know any seniors. “Don’t have a student in mind?” she said. “Leave the name area blank and our team will personalize them for the students who have not received any letters.” These letters will be accepted until Friday, May 1. Finch asks that writers please ensure the student’s full name (first and last) is written on the letter or card. The letters can also be dropped off at the Newsome High School main office or mailed to: Student’s Full Name Newsome High School PTSA 16550 Fishhawk Boulevard Lithia, FL 33547 Attention: Blue Letter Envelopes “We would request that you not send anything of value, such as cash, checks, gift cards, etc., in these letters,” said Finch. “The students truly treasure these notes and it makes their Senior Breakfast a special morning for them to remember forever.” The 2020 NHS PTSA co-chairs of the Blue Letter Envelope Committee are Andrea Finch and Bernadette Lubeskie. For more information, please email questions to blueletter@newsomehighschoolptsa.org.
Seville 2 99 CLEANERS Same Day Service • In By 9am - Out by 4pm (dry clean only)
Any Garment
$2.75 Pre-Paid - No Limit Seville Cleaners Expires 5/1/2020
2017 Small Business of the Year
Staff Report
3237 Lithia Pinecrest Valrico (@ Miller Rd., North of Bloomingdale)
813.661.5494
Hours: Mon - Sat 7am - 7pm All Items Prepaid - No Leather/Formals
Quality Service at a Great Price - No Extra Charges Ever!
Hop into great rates & service at Southshore Insurance! Access to multiple carriers and products Fast turn-around time on quotes Customer service you can count on
Quality Coverage ... Competitive Rates! Also Offering Services for: Personal • Commercial • Auto • Home • Flood • Excess Flood Hurricane • Work Comp • General Liability • Commercial Auto Rental Properties • And More!
Southshore Insurance Professionals ™ Protection You Can Trust ™
1219 Millennium Parkway, Suite 132, Brandon, FL 33511 Phone: 813.448.7580 | Text: 813.517.8181 Michelle Mosher
www.southshoreins.com Michelle@southshoreins.com
April 2020
Page 21
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
ACS Postpones Area Relay For Life Events But Keeps Online Portals Active
By Kate Quesada
specific impact of our potential financial losses, but please know they may end up being significant.” The FishHawk and Bloomingdale area events were scheduled to take place this month and teams had already spent a significant amount of time fundraising, but they are also planning ways to raise money and have fun as a comRelay for Life events scheduled for this month munity during the events. “Equally important, we recognize were postponed due to concerns with COVID-19. the emotional attachment our volun“Cancer doesn't care about COVIDteers and supporters have to Relay for 19,” said Tammy Schoonover, Senior Life events,” said Schoonover. “They're Community Development Manager with more than fundraisers, they're grassroot the American Cancer Society (ACS). gatherings of strength and courage. As “People are still battling cancer, still on we look to reschedule events, we want to cancer journeys.” create opportunities that focus on generTaking this into consideration, ACS is ating emotional support and bringing us asking for help from residents after maktogether as a community. We will look to ing the tough decision to postpone all do that virtually. Once the social distancRelay for Life events scheduled to take ing limitations are lifted, it will be so place this spring. important for ACS to help reignite our “The Cancer Society has to put the sense of community.” health and safety of its staff and volun“At this time, all Relay for Life events teers first,” she said, “so we've made the are reevaluating of how best to move fordifficult decision to postpone all in-person ward with the events and the Planning events. But we continue to do all that we Committees are working through those can in these unprecedented times to fuldetails at this time,” said fill our mission.” Schoonover. “However, participants, if Relay for Life events, which take interested in still supporting the mission, place at high schools and other locations can do so through virtual fundraising this throughout the country annually, are as it will give people a purpose and a some of the biggest fundraisers for the diversion at the same time. The fundraischarity. ing platforms are still in place for each “While the suspended events cerRelay, so fundraising can continue tainly create a financial concern, we through the Relay websites.” remain upbeat about attacking cancer For more information, visit cancer.org from every angle,” said Schoonover. “At or call Schoonover at 319-5909 ext. this time, we won't publicly engage in the 18001.
Balloons Table Covers Overlays Runners Chair Covers Sashes/Bows Centerpieces Silk Flowers Cake Stands Charger Plates Curtains & Fabrics Back Drop Stands Kissing Balls Chandeliers
Eiffel Towers Satin Napkins Candelabras Centerpiece Crowns LED Submergible Lights Trumpet Vases Double Sided Vases Eiffel Tower Vases Aluminum Vases Acrylic Stones Water Beads Pillars & Collumns Masquerade Ball Masks
And so much more !!!
10% OFF Expires 5/31/2020
$100 OFF Expires 4/30/2020
203 W. Bloomingdale Ave. Brandon, FL 33511 • 813-654-1110
Page 22
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Volume 19, Issue 4
Tampa Metropolitan YMCA Honors Volunteers Of The Year From Area YMCA Branches
By Kathy L. Collins
Each year, the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA holds its Community Impact Dinner. This dinner is a celebration and an opportunity to recognize those individuals who make an impact on the community. It is also a time that volunteers, who give their time and treasure to make their area Y a better place, are recognized. There are four local YMCAs. These include the Campo Family YMCA, YMCA Camp Cristina, the North Brandon Family YMCA and the Spurlino Family YMCA at Big Bend Rd. This year, four volunteers were recognized. The honored Volunteers of the Year include Dona Svehla, Andrew Learned, Chuck Martin and Sara Collard. Dona Svehla is the Volunteer of the Year for the Campo Family YMCA. Svehla has been on the board for over three years. Jarrod Williams, executive director of the Campo Family YMCA, said, “During her time on the board, Dona has helped raise over $36,000 for the annual Giving Campaign. She has helped form a powerful partnership with GTE Financial, which has benefitted all of the Ys in the Tampa Association.” Svehla said, “I have personally witnessed and been a part of mothers, fathers, their kids and grandparents coming together to spend quality time doing face-to-face fun, physical and cool activities they would have otherwise never participated in if the Y did not exist. It is why I champion the YMCA every year to help raise donations and awareness. The Y is a part of who I am and a wonderful place for people to connect with people.”
Dona Svehla is the Volunteer of the Year from the Campo Family YMCA.
Andrew Learned is the Volunteer of the Year from YMCA Camp Cristina.
Chuck Martin is the Volunteer of the Year from the North Brandon Family YMCA.
Sara Collard is the Volunteer of the Year from the Spurlino Family YMCA at Big Bend Rd.
The Campo Family YMCA is located at 3414 Culbreath Rd. in Valrico. You can contact it at 674-1371. Andrew Learned is the Volunteer of the Year from YMCA Camp Cristina. Learned said, “Some of my earliest and fondest memories are from camp. Hiking, rope courses and capture the flag in the woods with my friends helped shape me into who I am and why I went on to join the military. It is my distinct
honor to be part of giving that back to the kids here in Tampa Bay on our 66acre best friend maker of a camp.” YMCA Camp Cristina is located at 9840 Balm Riverview Rd. in Riverview. You can contact them at 677-8400. Chuck Martin is the Volunteer of the Year from the North Brandon Family YMCA. Heather Solomon is the executive director for the North Brandon Family YMCA. Solomon said, “Chuck is
a staple at the Y. He is here multiple hours every day checking in on folks, following up on their health or family issues and lending an ear to those who need him. Our advisory board of directors and staff chose Chuck as the Volunteer of the Year because of his ongoing support of our community outreach efforts.” Solomon added, “Chuck plays Santa every year when he visits Lopez Exceptional Center and provides every student with gifts. He has changed so many of the children's lives with his kind smile and warmth. Additionally, when our annual backpack drive was struggling to secure enough supplies for the 1,400 children we serve, Chuck kept showing up with backpacks. More backpacks arrived every day because he could not stand the thought that one of those kids was not going to be served.” The North Brandon Family YMCA is located at 3097 Kingsway Rd. in Seffner. You can contact them at 685-5402. Sara Collard is the Volunteer of the Year for the Spurlino Family YMCA at Big Bend Rd. Collard said, “Without having my own Y story or growing up with a Y, I realize a lot of people may not know that the YMCA truly makes a difference in people's lives. I volunteer for the Y to help spread the word, get others involved and make the biggest impact we can for people and families in the SouthShore.” The Spurlino Family YMCA is located at 9650 Old Big Bend Rd. in Riverview. You can contact it at 4365890. To inquire about any are YMCA, please visit www.tampaymca.org.
April 2020
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Page 23
Page 24
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk 32-40
April 2020
Volume 19, Issue 4
Ph: 657-2418
Healthcare Solutions Team Is Here To Help
Do you need help navigating the complex and often confusing healthcare insurance market? Ken Bardales and his team at Healthcare Solutions Team are the right people to help you. It is a local health insurance company with ‘A’ ratings that represents the top Heath Wealth national carriers, such as Aetna, Management LLC Cigna, United Healthcare, opens in Bloomingdale. Humana, etc. The professional are looking licensed agents working there are ready for. He will to help you with your coverage needs, invest time specializing in health, accident, critical illinto underness, dental, vision and life plans. standing Call the team today to discuss what is options for you and your family on 689important to 8800 or visit their website at hst-branyou and don.com. The office is located at 1040 E. what you Brandon Blvd. and is open Monday to would like Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to accom-
Financial Services Office Opens in Bloomingdale
Heath Wealth Management LLC was founded in 2019 by Owner Elijah Heath and recently opened the doors to its new office at 620 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon behind Stonewood Grill & Tavern. Heath has over 20 years of experience being a financial profesional and also has the credentials of CLU and ChFC, giving him the experience, education and designations that many investors
Window Genie Offers More Than Clean Windows
Mike and Mindy Barker of Window Genie of Southeast Tampa Bay are excited to bring their services to the area. Offering gutter clean-out, house washing, concrete and paver washing and sealing and holiday lighting, in The crew at Window Genie of Southeast Tampa Bay offers more than just window cleaning. addition to window washing, the Barkers stated, “We wash winfrom 8 a.m. to dows and a whole lot more!” 4:30 p.m. by Southwest Florida To contact Window Genie, call appointment. Rheumatology welcomes Gina Prakash, MD. 906-5200 or visit www.windowgeContact him on nie.com/se-tampa. You can also 556-7171 or visit his website, find the business on Facebook by searchHeathWealth.com. ing Window Genie of Southeast Tampa.
Southwest Florida Rheumatology Welcomes New Doctor
Southwest Florida Rheumatology is proud to welcome Gina Prakash, MD as the latest provider plish finanto their team of physiSunflower Café, a popular sushi cially while cians. Dr. Prakash is restaurant, has re-opened after a reviewing three-month renovation. Be sure to board certified in internal visit it at 3452 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in medicine and rheumatolyour comValrico. fort zone ogy; she chose to specialize in for investment fluctuation. Heath’s experirheumatology because she values makence through many different market ing difference in the lives of patients cycles provides the understanding to help whose diseases are often misunderstood. his clients structure the proper portfolio She finds that it is often like solving a puzallocation. His services include retirement zle to determine an accurate diagnosis planning, estate planning, goal planning and treatment plan. With the specialty’s as well as financial advice and planning. ever-growing research, it is one of the His office hours are Monday to Friday most exciting branches of medicine
AdventHealth Closing The Gap On Healthcare Needs
AdventHealth just opened a 24-hour, 16-bed emergency room at 305 E. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon to help serve the healthcare needs of East Hillsborough County. The emergency room is the latest in the company’s expansion plans to creContinued on next page
• Evening Appointments Available • Shop At Home Service • Blind Repairs
Defining Window Fashions • SHUTTERS • VERTICALS • FAUX WOOD • DRAPERIES • CORNICES
Serving Tampa Bay for 35 Years
Hunter DouglasTM VERTIGLIDETM
On Purchase Above $500
Coupon Must Be Presented At Time of Sale. No Exceptions! Expires 05-31-2020 Not Valid on purchases in progress. Standard installation only. Removal of existing treatment not included.
Crosstown Exp.
LOWEST PRICES ANYWHERE*
Brandon Blvd. Old Location
Lakewood
Installation...That’s Right
Woodberry Rd.
Providence Rd.
100% OFF! FREE
Hwy 60
Window Wonders Circle K
I-75
Power ViewTM Motorization
Falkenburg Rd.
PLANTATION SHUTTERS
WindowWonders.com
689-2009
105 N. Falkenburg Road Hours: Mon - Fri 9-5 and Sat 10-2 *See store for details
Page 26
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Business Column Continued................... ate a connected network of healthcare throughout Tampa Bay. Denyse BalesChubb, president and CEO of AdventHealth Tampa and AdventHealth Brandon ER, said, “We are excited to expand our network of care to make a significant impact on improving the lives of all we serve. This is a growing community with growing health and wellness needs, and we want to be part of the solution of making high-quality healthcare easily accessible to anyone in need of care.” By adding this emergency room, families now have direct access to a healthcare system close to home. The AdventHealh Brandon ER will be staffed with board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses who specialize in emergency care for adults and children. Additionally, the ER will offer a dedicated AdventHealth ambulance to transport patients if they have extended healthcare needs.
or call 727-946-6542.
By Jenny Bennett
Local Business Owner Releases Book To Share Message Of Hope
After nearly losing everything to cancer, local entrepreneur, business owner and author Jacky Costello found the meaning of life—at least the meaning of hers. Costello’s new book, How Far I Have Risen: Coming Clean About Cancer, God and My American Dream, details her early life in East Germany, starting a family, her battle with cancer, the crushing pain of a loss she never thought she’d have to face, finding her best friend, finding her faith, finding herself and building her business in the face of it all. It’s a true page turner that will lead you through the gamut of emotions as you follow in
Grade A Spanish Tutors Is Open For Business
Looking for some help with learning Spanish? The employees of Grade A Spanish Tutors can help. The new business serves Brandon, Riverview, Lithia and Valrico for children and adults struggling to learn La Villa Mexican Grill, located in the RiverHills Plaza at 4377 Lynx Paw Trail, Valrico, celebrated five years in the language. According to business by hosting a ribbon cutting with the Valrico Owner Kevin Kemp, a Lithia FishHawk Chamber of Commerce. For a full menu,visit resident, the its tutor has more their website at lavillamexgrill.net. than 40 years of teaching and tutoring experience. her footsteps through Germany and her eventual move to the United States, takTo learn more, call 763-5435 or visit www.GradeASpanishTutors.com. ing you from tears to laughter and a renewed sense of empowerment and Flagship Sailing Offers Offshore love. Costello is the owner of Custom Training Cruise Cleanups, LLC, a five-star rated houseFlagship Sailing, based in Ruskin, is cleaning company serving the FishHawk, offering an opportunity for sailors to accomplish a ASA 104 or ASA 106 certifi- Lithia, Brandon and Greater Tampa Bay areas. Through Custom Cleanups’ cation in conjunction with an partnership with Cleaning for a offshore passage next Reason, Costello and her team promonth. vide services free of charge to The company, which those battling cancer because, as offers year-round sailing she mentions in her book, someinstruction that is personal, times it’s the little semblances of enjoyable and affordable, is normal that help you keep it all taking sailors on a 17-day together when you’re fighting for your life. and night live-aboard trip on an Island She is honored to be able to give back to Packet 40 Cutter boat. Three days of her community in this and many other preparation, pre-race activities in Little ways. Harbor and St. Petersburg and all meals How Far I Have Risen: Coming at sea are provided. The trip will also Clean About Cancer, God and My include four days and nights in Isla American Dream will be released on Mujeres, Mexico. Amazon in March, and Costello celebratTo learn more, visit www.flagshipsailing.com, email office@flagshipsailing.com ed with a meet-the-author event and
We are open.
Serving full menu for pick up and now delivery through ChowNow.
11am - 9pm
3345 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. • Located in the Sprouts Plaza • 813-643-7777
www.JFKicksRestaurant.com
book signing at Tin Roof Trading. Learn more about Costello and her company at www.customcleanups.com. For any questions or to connect with her for author-related information, reach out via email at customcleanups@gmail.com.
better make a decision soon, as only a few opportunities remain. The gated community offers five floor plans ranging from 2,010 to 3,132 square feet. Guests can tour Cardel’s fully furnished model home at 11409 Tanner Ridge Pl. in Riverview, off of Boyette Rd., or call the Sandhill Ridge sales office at 5717171 for more information.
Thai Restaurant Under New Management
All American Title Insurance, Inc. Celebrates 25th Anniversary
All American Title Insurance, Inc. is a locally owned and operated agency. On March 5, Susan Luther, the owner/president, gathered her team together to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Together, they combine over 150 years of experience to offer a team approach to every closing to ensure that their clients’ transactions are handled to perfection. All American Title Insurance, Inc. has helped thousands of families achieve their dream of homeownership; it compares with the biggest companies in technology and knowledge but keeps the small town community and customers at heart. Its years of experience and commitment to excellence make All American Title your number one ‘Home Town Title Company.’ All American Title Insurance, Inc. is located at 679 W. Lumsden Rd. in Brandon. For more information, visit its website at www.allamtitle.com or call 6843330.
Humana Hiring Almost 200 Full-Time Positions Leading Health and well-being company Humana Inc recently announced it is looking to fill close to 200 new national phone sales positions in Tampa Bay. The inside sales agent positions will provide national phone sales and enrollment assistance for the company’s Medicare benefit plans and specialty products. The positions are located at Humana’s call center in Tampa at NetPark on 5701 E. Hillsborough Ave.
Cardel Homes Announces Final Opportunities In Sandhill Ridge
If you were looking to purchase a property or build in Cardel Homes’ awardwinning community, Sandhill Ridge, you’d
When you’re in the mood for the best authentic Thai food, think of Thai Hot (formerly Thai Xpress). Whether you’re looking for a family takeout or a date night dinner for two, the menu is sure to have something for everyone. The food is made fresh while you wait and the spices are adjusted to your liking, from mild to HOT. Thai Hot is family-owned and operated, taking great pride in providing fresh, high-quality ingredients for a fast and delicious meal at an affordable price. The Thai Hot family welcomes you for dine-in, get takeout and call ahead when ordering for lunch and dinner. Thai Hot can be found in the same plaza as the neighborhood Wal-Mart at 921 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Brandon. Call 643-THAI (8424) to learn more or to place an order.
European Style Bakery Coming Soon
Pink Door Bakery will soon be opening its doors in bustling Riverview! Owner Jonalynn Carlucci has had a vision for a hometown bakery easily accessible to Riverview and its neighboring communities since opening her cottage foods shoppe in 2017. While offering specialty cakes, cupcakes and cookies has been her bread and butter, the storefront will also be offering freshly baked, homemade croissants, pastries, breads, brownies and other sweet treats, many of them with an international flair. The shoppe will also have coffee and hot chocolate available daily, as well as a retail area with a selection of last minute gifts for the foodie inspired, specialty honeys, chocolates and candies, and even decorative items. The bakery will be located at 11266 Boyette Road in the Shoppes of Boyette right next to The Venue, alongside local favorites like Leaven Brewery, Pho Loc Tho and Kimi’s Ice Cream. A grand opening will be announced soon but look for doors to open sometime by early April.
813•672•9663 9708 Carr Rd, Riverview FL www.CanineCabana.biz
50% OFF 3 NIGHTS FOR NEW LODGING GUESTS! Customized Overnight Lodging
Enriching Safe & Fun Doggie Daycare
#dogsofCanineCabana
Positive, Proven Dog Training
#CabanaCares
EXPERT PET CARE IN A SAFE & LOVING ENVIRONMENT
April 2020
Page 27
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
New Chill Caw-Fee, Hemp & Botanical Social Brings Artisan Market Back To Valrico
For Aesthetic Appointments Call 813-514-4711 Serving the Tampa Bay Area since 1988
By Libby Hopkins
There is a saying san market, and Henney that goes, “Good ideas will continue the tradition. start with brainstorming. “We have decided that it Great ideas start with would be great to relaunch coffee.” Lisa Henney and provide a place for the would definitely agree community to gather and with this saying, because support local artisans and coffee is her business. businesses like ours,” “I have been Henney said. “We are involved in the restaurant starting in early March and and cafe business most will have one every secof my adult life,” Henney Lisa Henney and husband Tom ond and fourth Sunday of said. “I live with my hus- Quigley are the owners of Chill the month. Occasionally, band, Tom, and over the Caw-Fee, a new shop and CBD we may have a special store that is located at 3407 past five years I have Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico. Friday night or Saturday been creating new ways gathering.” The market is to help my husband with his ailcalled Valrico Artisan Faire. ments through more natural If you ask what makes Chill solutions and healthier options. I Caw-Fee different from other coffee wanted to create a place where shops in the area, Henney will tell the community could gather you, “Caw-Fee, although it is my over a cup of ‘caw-fee,’ a freshNew York way of saying coffee, it ly brewed tea or simple pastry.” also means Cannabinoids And Henney is the owner of the Wellness For Every Experience,” new coffee and CBD shop in Henney said. “We have a hemp Valrico called Chill Caw-Fee. store embedded within our coffee Henney is originally from shop and will be providing educaQueens, New York, and you can hear her tion for patients. We also will be hosting New Yorker accent when she says “cawopen mic night, private events and other fee.” fun gathering activities for the communi“We have been traveling the state ty.” and country helping to educate people on Henney also believes strongly in the benefits of cannabis and hemp CBD. keeping things local. “The local businessSo, when the laws changed here in es drive the communitY,” Henney said. Florida, it just made sense to combine the To learn more about Chill Caw-Fee, two things we do naturally under one visit www.chillcawfee.com or call Henney roof,” Henney said. “We moved into the T at 549-9068. The shop is located at 3407 Marie’s location on Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico and is open and opened our doors earlier this month.” Monday-Friday from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. and T-Marie’s traditionally hosted an artiSaturday and Sunday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Medical Services
Ac nic Keratosis Basal Cell Carcinoma Hair Loss Treatment (Harklinikken)
Laser: Laser Hair Removal IPL Subla ve Sublime Ultherapy
VALRICO
2438 Bloomingdale Ave.
813 440 5544
Malignant Melanoma Research Studies Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Aesthe c Services Injectables: Botox/Dysport Sculptra Dermal Fillers Kybella Radiesse PDO Thread Li Sclerotherapy Platelet Rich Plasma
RIVERVIEW
Spas: Facial Chemical Peel Microneedling Microdermabrasion
6901 Simmons Loop, Suite 207
813 868 3052
NEW! PLANT
CITY
1503 W. Reynolds St.
813 514 4688
AcademicAllDerm.com
Page 28
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
ri Haley Ms. Lo rade 11th G me Newso ool h c High S
Ms. Lori Haley
Teacher Of The Month
a teacher? Why did you decide to become be a teacher. Both of my parto ted I always knew that I wan y grew up in a school setting. ents were educators and I literall kids and my father was a physMy mom taught special needs in New York State. My father ical education/health teacher d By re o s n o p l coach, so my sister and I S was also a baseball and basketbal at practices and games. I spent countless hours with him Signature nagers and have always e always loved being around tee hav e act on their lives. I watched Wad wanted to make a positive imp his the impact that my dad had on e. sam the do to ted student-athletes and I wan cher? What is a goal of yours as a tea enjoy learning to ts den stu my for e I would lov learners. I g Spanish and want to be lifelon n from other lear to hope they have the desire ers. I oth of ful ect cultures and to be resp but it is ly, ical dem aca d cee want them to suc t y trea others more important to me that the mple of with kindness. I try to set an exa om. sro clas kindness and fairness in my What is your hidden talent? talent, but I'm not sure if this is a hidden I also I am a pretty good dancer, and speak Spanish! why? What is your favorite book and h—being because it would give me strengt le Bib my e hav I would want to give me uld wo I think reading God's word alone and trapped on an island, strength, peace and comfort. saying? What is your favorite quote or want to be treated.” uld wo you way “Treat others the system? like to see changed in our school What is something you would t is a problem tha ely nat schools, but unfortu in ues cliq nge cha to e lov uld I wo gs to make We are working on doing thin in every school across the globe. luded and come. Nobody should feel exc kids feel more accepted and wel lonely.
Hillsborough County Commissioners Approve Impact Fee Increase For Construction Needs
Staff Report
Hillsborough have not been County Commissioners raised in nearly 15 voted last month to years.” increase the amount of Following the impact fees local vote, the school schools will receive. impact fees will dou“Students in ble from $4,000 to Hillsborough County $8,000. Impact fees The Hillsborough County Board of Public Schools will County Commissioners recently voted in other school disto increase impact fees for public have a more contricts include Orange schools. The money will be used to ducive learning enviCounty, which build new schools like Sumner High ronment thanks to a School, which is scheduled to open in receives $8,784; August. vote tonight by the Pasco County, Hillsborough Board of County which receives $9,028; Broward County, Commissioners,” said Tanya Arja, media which receives $9,049; and Polk County, outreach with Hillsborough County Public which receives $10,484. Schools. “County Commissioners voted “What happened tonight will allow us to increase school impact fees, which will to keep up with the growth. We won’t help our district properly plan for populahave to wait to build schools, we won’t tion growth.” have overcrowded schools like we expeAccording to Arja, the new impact rience now, especially in South fees will give the district $59.4 million Hillsborough County. We’ll have the right annually, an increase of more than $30 number of students in the buildings, million per year. which will only help with student suc“A recent study commissioned by our cess,” said Superintendent Jeff Eakins, district determined the need for 38 new just moments after the vote. schools in the next 15 years to keep up The Hillsborough County Board of with the number of new families moving County Commissioners sets the impact into our area,” she said. “Because of fee rate. Developers then pay the oneFlorida’s inadequate state funding for time fee when a new home is built. schools, we may still not have enough Impact fees can only be used to pay for funding for all of our needs.” growth and cannot be used on repairs, Arja explained that the fees had not maintenance, technology or security for previously been raised in close to 15 existing schools. years. “Our district is grateful to commis“In that time, the southern part of our sioners for voting for this much-needed district has experienced incredible growth funding that will accelerate a plan to build and that growth continues to this day,” new schools in overcrowded areas,” said she said. “In the next five years alone, Arja. our district may need space for nearly To learn more, visit 17,000 new students. School impact fees www.sdhc.k12.fl.us.
Air Conditioning & Heating
Celebrating 3 2 years in business!
Up to $1700 in Rebates! Sunairtampa.com | 813-684-9919
CAC044863
Family Owned and Operated for 32 Years
FREE
UV LIGHT with New Install
April 2020
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
G ET THE DIRT WITH FLORIDA YARD EXPERT
Lynn Barber, Hillsborough County Extension
2020 Florida State Fair – Recycled Yard Art Contest
Twice each year, UF/IFAS Extension in Hillsborough County sponsors a Recycled Yard Art Contest, one at the Florida State Fair and one at the Hillsborough County Fair. The purpose of the Recycled Yard Art Contest is to increase environmental awareness and encourage reusing/recycling materials into yard art. The competition involved two and three-dimensional artwork creations made from items already used for their original purpose. During the twelve days of the 2020 Florida State Fair, attendees voted for the People’s Choice Award on one of several entries submitted. After counting 9,439 votes, the People’s Choice Award winner is Andy Hamilton for his ‘Chain Gang Dragon,’ which he created with chains, a ceiling fan and lug nuts. Nicolette Tiedemann won the Judge’s Choice Award for Adult Submissions. Her creation, ‘The Fabulous Ghost Trio Dancers,’ included a seedpod, tulle material, hangers and a can lid. Unfortunately, there were no high school submissions this year; however, next year is around the corner! The Middle School Judge’s Choice
Award winner, Greco Middle School, designed ‘Bloomin’ Tubes,’ which involved plastic bottles and printer tubes. The Judge’s Elementary School Choice Award goes to Mueller Elementary. Its artwork entry, ‘Clear Skies of Tomorrow: How Recycling Can Improve the Air, Land and Water,’ was made with reused bottle caps, plastics and plywood. All contest-winning entries were on display at the UF/IFAS Extension Service on 5339 County Rd. 579 in Seffner until March 23. We hope you will stop by to stroll through the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden, and see what we have to offer. This year, we welcomed yet another group of creative residents. In every contest, there are items we would love to have in our landscapes. We hope you will consider submitting an entry for the Hillsborough County Fair Recycled Yard Art Contest in the fall. Contact Lisa Meredith for more information about this upcoming contest at meredithL@hcflgov.net or 744-5519, extension 54146. Thanks for Reusing, Recycling and Repeating!
Page 29
Hillsborough County Parks, Including New Skate Park, Closed Due to the coronavirus outbreak, all Hillsborough County Conservation Parks (and facilities contained therein) will be closed until further notice, but while residents are permitted to leave their homes, some areas of the parks are open and can be used as long as social distancing is practiced. The closures include the Upper Tampa Bay Trail on 9201 West Waters Ave. in Tampa, Town ‘n Country Greenway as well as the Veterans Memorial Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum on 3602 US 301 N. in Tampa. It does not currently affect the county’s stand-alone boat ramps or nature (ELAPP) preserves, which remain open at this time. The exception is the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve, which is closed. Camp Bayou Nature Preserve is closed to vehicle traffic. Neighborhood parks are open, but the buildings associated with them are closed. Though recreation centers within all Hillsborough County parks are closed, there are available outdoor restrooms at these staffed neighborhood parks: Brandon, Carrollwood Village, Gardenville, Mango, Northdale, Providence Skate Park and Ruskin. The restrooms will remain open, cleaned and monitored during normal business hours. Restrooms at nonstaffed sites are closed until further notice. Picnic shelters at neighborhood
Staff Report
parks are open but will be monitored to ensure no more than 10 people gather at a time. Pickleball courts at Northlakes Park have closed since March 21. FishHawk Skate Park has closed since March 21. Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation is moving forward with online Summer Camp registration. Public online registration starts on Monday, April 6. The county urges residents to use common sense. Stay home if you are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms so you don’t spread it to others in public. It is also important that all residents practice social distancing, a public health practice that prevents people who carry the virus from coming into close contact with healthy people. Social distancing means remaining out of group settings, avoiding large gatherings and maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others when possible. Do not gather with more than 10 people in a group. Dog parks throughout the county are open for you and your furry friends to use, but social distancing and keeping clean still matter even in dog parks. For more information on COVID-19, and any other potential emergency in the region, visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe and sign up for the HCFL Alert system. Additionally, you can follow Hillsborough County on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor for updates.
Page 30
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Interesting Women Of Hillsborough County: Simmons, Brandon, Moseley & More
By Charles Nelson
Our history is a story about, and for, all of us. Sometimes that history is viewed through a single lens producing only a partial story of “long-dead white men.” There are other ways to explore our history. By looking at history from different angles, we can expand ‘Victoria Jo t mons, Firs Source: Florida Commission yce Ely.’ im S and enhance our l e b a on the St ‘M .’ rs e atus of W w . 97 lo omen. LaadTriybuneoatf NeFwspapers.com: 12-28-19 understanding. In mp Source: Ta March, during Women’s History Rouen, France. Following the war, she Month, we can do just that by rememworked as a nurse in Perry, Florida at bering a few of the countless a time when a severe outbreak of Hillsborough County women who conmalaria and typhoid fever gripped the tributed to our shared history. region. As a member of Florida’s Board Janie Wheeler Bing operated the of Health, she traveled a nine-county Bing Rooming House in Plant City from area, often carrying a gun safely 1925 to 1970. The Bing Rooming locked in the trunk of her car for proHouse was one of the few hotels protection in this rough and tumble section viding a haven for visiting African of Florida. Ms. Ely returned to Ruskin Americans during Florida’s segregation in 1943. There she opened the first era. Black businessmen, truck drivers, county-run health clinic in Ruskin and travelers, nationally known sports stars was the only trained medical profesand musicians were all welcomed to sional in town. She was the only perone of the very few Plant City hotels son licensed in Ruskin to give injecavailable to them. Bing also operated tions from her small office. Her threadthe Seminole Restaurant, next door to bare office didn’t even have running the hotel, until she retired in 1955. The water, forcing her to sterilize needles at Bing Rooming House is now listed on her home. Today’s Joyce Ely Medical the National Register of Historic Center in Ruskin honors her memory. Places. Today, the building serves as a Bernice ‘Jeanie’ Smith Tomaini museum of the African American expe- from Gibsonton was the diminutive wife rience in Plant City during Florida’s of the giant Al Tomaini. While her hussegregationist past. band got most of the publicity, Victoria Joyce Ely was a World Jeanie—born without legs—billed herWar I nurse for the British Army at self as ‘The World’s Only Half Woman’
controls for industrial plant emissions and was a respected environmentalist. There are so many other Hillsborough County women whose stories could have been featured here. A ay. House’ tod. g in ‘The Worl m d’s o Stran o gest few of those ‘Bing R wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu Married Couple.’ Source: include Sarah Source: Showmensmuseum.com. Dormany Boyett and Victoria standing 2’6” in height. She was, howSeward Brandon, who were the ever, every bit Al’s equal in the ‘founding mothers’ of late 19th-century sideshow world of the circus carnival. towns named in honor of their late Many in Gibsonton considered her as husbands. Julia Daniels Moseley was the ‘grandmother’ of the town’s circus one of the original settlers in Limona in workers. In Ruskin, Jeanie raised her the 1880s. She detailed the difficult two adopted daughters and outlived conditions of pioneer life in a collection her husband by 37 years. She worked of letters later published in a book tirelessly to help shape Gibsonton into titled Come to My Sunland. Edna a safe, off-season haven for circus workers. She continued to manage the Giles Fuller, born in Plant City, was the Giant’s Fish Camp after Al’s death until first woman elected to the Florida Legislature in 1928, representing her death in 1999, always fighting to Orange County. retain the character of her adopted These stories, and others, are home. wonderful reminders that women have Mabel Claprood Simmons was contributed so much to Hillsborough often called the “First Lady of Florida County’s history. Flowers.” She was a member of the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. It was Charles Nelson Bio in Ruskin where she spent her profesCharles Nelson holds a MA degree in sional life in the floral business. At one History from George Mason University time, Mrs. Simmons was the largest and taught as an adjunct instructor at HCC (Dale Mabry). He is also affiliated flower producer in Florida. She is credwith Tampa Bay History Center as a ited with developing gladiolas that volunteer docent, researcher and sprouted early enough to avoid frost. community lecturer, with an emphasis on South Hillsborough County history. She is also credited with developing
PRESSURE WASH HAULING & CLEANUP GARDENING ACCOUNTANT MUSIC LESSONS DRIVEWAYS PATIOS HOUSE WASH SOFT WASH POOL SCREENS WOOD DECKS 10% Discount Seniors & Veterans FENCES
We love you. We honor you.
HOA Notice???
FREE ESTIMATES
813-707-4466
Call or text for appointment. Licensed/Insured
A-Z HAULING & CLEANUP $25.00 & up We Will Do It All & Haul! Yards, Trimming, Property, Garages, Furniture, Appliances
813-239-4014
ALTERATIONS REMODELING
Inna’s
ble Flexiurs Ho
THE WIFE’S HANDYMAN
GARY D. MEYER CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
Specializing In: Garden Rehab/Maintenance Landscape Design/Installation Irrigation System Repair
• Accounting & Bookkeeping
10% OFF WITH AD 813-416-0656
• Financial & Estate Planning
• Compiled Financial Statement Presentations • Tax Return Preparation for Individuals, Corporations, LLC’s and Partnerships • Consulting for New Business Startups
Tracey Magruder
813-971-4067
tracey.magruder@gmail.com
Serving the Tampa Bay Area Since 1980
traceymagruderstudio.com
gmeyer4@tampabay.rr.com
Local Resident davethegardenguy1@gmail.com
PIANO & VOICE LESSONS
WINDOW CLEANING
POOL SERVICE & REPAIR
Call for FREE Estimate today!
• Cleaning • Automation • Variable Speed Pumps • Salt Systems • Heating • Filter Service
PAINTING
ALTERATIONS and REPAIRS Carpentry Ladies, Gentlemen, & Children
SALE
Bloomingdale Professional Center Prom & Evening Dresses
1514 Bloomingdale Ave E., Valrico (near Bloomingdale High School)
(813) 651 4416
Painting
CALL JIM 813-315-8805 Over 35 years experience Licensed/Insured
MUSIC LESSONS PEST CONTROL
814-207-7018 Veteran Owned
Experienced,Reliable & Reasonable Licensed & Insured
ADVERTISING ADVERTISE with OSPREY OBSERVER for AS LOW AS
JUST
Piano, Keyboard & Organ Lessons All Ages
813-657-8704
Will COME TO YOU
YOUR TERMITE AND PEST SOLUTION FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROFESSIONAL
RESIDENTIAL . COMMERCIAL FREE ESTIMATES CALL OUR TRAINED EXPERTS 24 HOURS A DAY
813-915-4080
4306 NORTH 56 STREET • TAMPA, FL 33610
PET SITTING & SVCS
$50 $200 OR
per ad
per month*
*INCLUDES ALL 5 EDITIONS PER MONTH
(813) 657-2418
www.OspreyObserver.com
Services Include:
Pet Sitting • Dog Walking Pet Taxi Service • More! Bonded/Insured Pet First Aid and CPR Certified
hookedonpetstampa.com
813-553-4600
April 2020
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Page 31
ign Campa ment, ce n u o n n d... e A r o n o yH Minipsiletdrby Danielle Wrvaeyr.mcoirme, bse Com ospreyo @ e ir m dway
Master Garden Plant Clinic Cancelled
It is with regret that I need to inform you that under guidelines from UF and Hillsborough County Extension Office we are not able to do any group presentations through April 30, 2020 and therefore we need to cancel the clinic that we have scheduled for April 1, 2020. At the Bloomingdale Library.
Free Music Makers Workshops
The Florida Academy of Performing Arts offers free workshops for kids ages 4-10 to learn about musical instruments. Programs held at Music Showcase, 402 Oakfield Dr., Brandon Workshop dates are Saturday, May 16, September 12, October 10, November 15 and December 5 from 9:30-11 a.m. Register online at FAOPA.org.
Kriztofer Cole Announces Campaign
Kriztofer Cole recently announced his campaign for State Senate District 19 on the republican ticket. He is a navy veteran that was deployed to the
The award was given to South China Sea, Turbeville for his contributions to has visited several the community with Lighthouse countries and Ministries. Doug Hastings, vice served as an interipresident of Moody Radio, said, or communications “We thank you for the continued technician on an partnership and service over the Arleigh Burkeyears. Lighthouse Ministries is an class destroyer. encouragement and example of As an interior faithfulness to follow God’s leadcommunications ing. Moody would like to thank technician, he you for your ministry to the comworked on equipment that ranged munity and example over the from fiber optics to hydraulics years, and we thank you and your and everything in between. He is family for celebrating with us a small business owner that was along with Dr. Jobe and other born in Orlando and raised in Moody friends.” Polk City. “This race is not about Sun City Center Men’s club donates $1,000 to the Hearing Loss Association of America. Moody Radio is a ministry of Republicans and Democrats, it's Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. about making progress on some Sun City Center. For more information on of our biggest issues in the district,” Lighthouse Ministries, please visit Cole said. Visit www.voteforcole.com For more information, visit www.lighthousemin.org or call to learn more. hhtp://www.hlaascc.com/contact-us, Turbeville at 863-687-4076 (extension call 634-1252 or email 232) or 863-712-503. Hearing Loss Association Of eloise637@gmail.com.
America Sun City Center Chapter Receives Donation
The Sun City Center Men’s Club contributed $1,000 to the Hearing Loss Association of America Sun City Center Chapter last month. This donation will be used to fund the captioning services for its monthly meetings. The captioning (CART) services help to accommodate the members and guests to read what is spoken during the meetings. The SCC Men’s Club is committed to using its resources to make life better and easier for residents of our community through projects such as this. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, located at 1239 Del Webb Blvd. W. in
Local Ministry Honored By Moody Radio
Steve Turbeville, president and CEO of Lighthouse Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit organization that has been serving the poor and homeless of West Central Florida since 1977, was recently honored by Moody Radio with its Bold Steps Award. The Bold Steps Award was specifically created to recognize and honor contributions made by individuals to enhance the reach and visibility of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their local community.
Brandon High Hosts Reunion
The Brandon High School graduating class of 1970 is having its 50-year high school reunion on Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25 at the Embassy Suites in Brandon. The event will also include a celebration of the 1969-70 football team, which made it to the state championships. The group is trying to reach as many of the members of the team as possible and would love to have them attend the reunion. Anyone interested in attending should contact Craig Sweeting at 629-9238.
Don’t Let Fears Drive Your Investment Choices First, it was the coronavirus. Then, oil prices fell more than 20 percent. The result? Big drops in the financial markets. As an investor, what should you do? For one thing ... don’t panic! Historically, the financial markets have experienced everything from wars to natural disasters to political crises, so today’s events are not game-changers. Your best move, however, is to make sure you have a balanced portfolio reflecting your risk tolerance and long-term goals. The more diversified you are, the better you’ll be able to withstand short-term shocks to the financial markets. And keep looking for buying opportunities. Well-run companies that were good investment targets before the coronavirus and the oil price drop are still going to be attractive when the dust finally settles – and right now, the prices of these companies are literally on sale. It's tough to look at your investment statements today. But you’re investing for goals that may be decades away. By keeping your eyes on this distant horizon, you’re less likely to over-react to the news of the day – and more likely to follow a long-term strategy that can work for you.
joanna.springstead@edwardjones.com
JOANNA SPRINGSTEAD Financial Advisor
Deep Tissue Neuromuscular Pre-Natal Sports Massage
813-657-2078
To Schedule Your Appointment
16132 Churchview Dr, Suite 201 Lithia, FL 33547 FishHawk Ranch Park Square | 2nd Floor
Call or Text (813) 323-4901
MEMBER SIPC
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Professional, Licensed Massage Therapist with over 17 years experience! License # MA 39122
Summer Camps Offer Many Options To Keep Kids Active And Engaged Have you got the calendar ready? What should we do this summer? Where should we travel, what skills should we learn and how will we get there? It’s that time of the year when parents are beginning to wonder how to keep the kids busy during the dog days of summer. The staff at the Osprey Observer has collected the top recommendations for local summer camps and created this special pull-out section. Busch Gardens’ Summer Day Camp for kids is a time to make new friends, try new things, come face-to-face with a giraffe and challenge North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower. Overnight Summer Resident Camp is a home away from home where you live what you love right at Busch Gardens! Maybe your kids would like to spend the summer learning how to cook and use new kitchen utensils at Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium. At Music Showcase, music and theater take the stage, and so can your child. Musicals will be offered where your child can hold starring roles in popular musicals offered by the Florida Academy of
Performing Arts for children ages 5 and up. The local YMCAs will offer many types of camps at its great summer camp location, Camp Cristina in Riverview, which mixes fun along with great learning experiences. With plenty of choices, there is something for everyone. Mathnasium offers ways to keep your children’s math skills from getting rusty in a fun environment. Weekly themes utilizing age-specific activities and field trips are what make BSAC’s Camp High 5 unique. Specialty camps for soccer (Florida Hawks FC), LEGO® (Bricks 4 Kidz) and art (Center Place) also offer great opportunities for creative and athletic summer learning. Kids ‘R’ Kids at Circa FishHawk and Valrico offer full and half-day summer fun with weekly field trips and themes with it’s summer theme of #focusonfun. For dates, prices and registration information on these camps and more, turn the pages, enjoy this special section and have a great summer. Watch 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! Enter now by emailing subject line ‘Summer Camp Free’ to contest@ospreyobserver.com. Did we miss a great summer camp option? Let us know by emailing subject line ‘Summer Camp’ to kquesada@ospreyobserver.com and we will be sure to add it to our full listing online. Have a great summer of fun!
CIRCA FISHHAWK 813 654 7000
5815 Kids Crossing Drive
(Located next to Stowers Elementary and Mosaic)
www.KRKCirca.com Lic # CHC432384
VALRICO 813 657 6200
4321 Lynx Paw Trail
(Located across fromLithia Springs Elementary)
www.KRKValrico.com Lic # CHC431024
YMCA Offers Fun And Exciting Summer Camps At 16 Tampa Bay Locations
By Libby Hopkins
Tampa YMCA is hosting a summer full of great camps for children.
Summer is just a few short months away, but the YMCA is already gearing up for months full of fun camps. “We offer children a day camp curriculum full of fun, educational activities,” said Lalita Llerena, senior communications director for the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA. “Activity specialists lead campers through various unique experiences each day, including swimming, science, high ropes, outdoor education, nature encounters, horseback riding, canoeing, visual arts and more. These fun and unique experiences give Y campers an opportunity to explore the outdoors, meet new friends, discover new interests and create memories that last a lifetime.” In the YMCA summer camp, children are in a welcoming environment where they can feel like they belong, build relationships, develop character and discover their potential. “In addition to a traditional
day camp called ‘Activity Central,’ the YMCA offers specialty camps such as basketball, equestrian, extreme team, gymnastics, leadership, soccer, swimming, visual arts, science and performing arts, to name a few,” Llerena said. “Parents have the option to add on before and after-care activities, which include swimming, horseback riding, sports and high ropes. Activities and specialty options vary by location.” The YMCA’s goal for its summer camps is to make all who attend happy. “We guarantee an exciting summer filled with lots of memorable moments,” Llerena said. “Our camp staff members are kind, trustworthy individuals committed to creating a safe place for campers to practice social skills and character values.” “Some kids can experience learning loss and gain weight twice as fast than during the school year,” Llerena said. “That’s why the Tampa YMCA offers summer camp, to make sure kids and teens in the Tampa Bay area are adventurous, active and healthy this summer.” Spots are filling up fast at 16 locations across Hillsborough and East Pasco Counties. To ensure your kids stay engaged socially, physically and academically throughout the summer, register today at www.tampaymca.org/letscamp.
“Soccer Fun with Coach Juan”
Boys and Girls
born between 2013 and 2008 July 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 2020 9.00 am to 1.00 pm
Soccer Fields of the FishHawk Sports Complex Lithia FL
Your child must bring: • Readiness to have a lot of fun playing soccer • Cleats, shin guards, and a ball • Snack • Water bottle
$195.00 if registered before April 15, 2020 $215.00 if registered after April 15, 2020 CAMP FEATURES:
Age appropriate technical and tactical instruction • Small sided games • Daily 5 v 5 Competitions Daily Soccer Tennis and Soccer Golf Competitions • Professional coaching staff Athletic Trainer onsite • Hydration Station • Camp T Shirt Registration:www.floridahawksfc.com Contact Juan E De Brigard, Director of Coaching, Florida Hawks FC | doc@floridahawksfc.com • Cell # 754 244 3016
Fun And Education At Busch Gardens And Adventure Island Camps What could be more fun than spending the summer at one of the area’s most famous attractions? Starting in June, Busch Gardens and Adventure Islands are offering summer camps for students with a sense of adventure and fun. According to Rebecca Romzek, public relations and communications leader with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island, camps are available for students from kindergarten to those heading to college. “This year, Florida’s best thrill rides and breathtaking up-close animal encounters make Busch Gardens Tampa Bay the fan favorite choice for summer camp,” said Romzek. “Campers at Busch Gardens explore inspiring, exciting and educational experiences with immersive, multi-day camp programs for all interests.” Camps, both day and residential, run weekly from June to August and offer students a wide variety of fun and educational options with the choice of signing up for three or five days at a time. “Camp is all about making memories
Staff Report
At Busch Gardens and Adventure Islands’ summer camps, students learn while getting to enjoy all the parks have to offer.
with new friends while enjoying thrilling rides and world-class shows that can only be found at our parks,” said Romzek. “Come face-to-face with a giraffe or take on all-new attractions opening this spring. Spin and splash on Solar Vortex, America’s first dual tailspin water slide at Adventure Island, or take on Iron Gwazi, North America’s tallest hybrid coaster and the fastest and steepest hybrid coaster in the world at Busch Gardens.” Campers can explore even more with complimentary admission into the park each day following camp. Space is limited, so Romzek encourages residents to register today at www.buschgardens.com/tampa/summercamps.
A Great Array Of Creative Summer Camps Offered At The Patel Conservatory
By Kathy L. Collins
Spend your summer learning all about musical theater, dance, improv and more. The Patel Conservatory has a wide array of choices and would make a great option for people of all ages and abilities.
The Patel Conservatory, located at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts (Straz Center) in downtown Tampa, is offering a unique set of summer camp options. This includes, but is not limited to, Acting Camp with three productions, such as Galactic Battles, Myths and Legends and Within the Wizarding World. There is an afternoon enrichment class available. You can also choose to attend Improv Camp: ComedySportz or Making Movies and Music. Into musical theater? You can select from three Mini Musical Theater productions, featuring Backyard Beats, Troll Time Live! and Octo Exploration. There are 10 Musical Theater Camps as well, featuring Broadway Rocks!,
Broadway Today, Kids on Broadway, Magic and Muggles, Mystery and Mayhem, On The High C's, Patel's Got Talent, Remake Remix, Spooktacular Tunes and Wiz-O-Mania. You can also take part in camps featuring vocal musical instruments, dance and more. Suzanne Livesay, the Straz Center's vice president of education, said, "Patel Conservatory camps are worth the drive to downtown. Our camps are not only fun but also provide excellent training in the performing arts, which develops confidence, creates camaraderie and engages creativity. The term 'conservatory' can be a little intimidating, but do not let it prevent you from exploring the many camps we offer for all ages and abilities." Livesay added, "Our camps develop participants' performing arts skills at a variety of levels and always conclude with some form of showcase where campers demonstrate what they have learned throughout the session." The Patel Conservatory has been offering summer camp for the past 15 years. Each year, it averages approximately 1,200 campers. The Conservatory offers scholarships and the deadline is Monday, April 13. To apply, visit strazcenter.org/financialaid. For more info, please visit patelconservatory.org.
Camp High 5 At BSAC Offers A Summer Of Fun For Children In The Community
Kids Step Into Their Favorite Stories At Performing Arts Summer Camps
Brandon Sports or program available and Aquatic Center for everyone and it (BSAC) will have works hard to provide the opportunity for low income families area children to with the opportunity to attend Camp High 5 participate on scholarat BSAC this sumship. “We offer scholmer. arships year-round,” “Camp High 5 Paruas said. “We at BSAC program is have scholarships going to be aweavailable for every some,” said BSAC’s This summer, children fwill have the opportu- program, from nity to attend Camp High 5 at BSAC. director of youth camps, swimming programming, Nicole lessons to dive team.” Paruas. “Our summer Camp High 5 is in the camps, as well as all our process of finalizing its sumprograms, let kids be kids mer camp program. “We are and have fun. The support staff we have finalizing our new camp website, so famifor our camps are awesome and they lies can begin registering for our camps make our camps and programs very very soon,” Paruas said. “This year’s enriching for everyone who attends.” summer camps are going to have weekly The Brandon Sports and Aquatic themes, offer field trips and so much Center is a community-based nonprofit more, all while making an impact on the organization. Its mission is to impact lives lives of our campers.” daily through superior educational and Proposed field trips include Sky athletic programming that enhances Zone, a Rays game, Astro Skate, Tampa physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Zoo and trips to local slash park pads. To BSAC focuses on four main pillars of learn more about Camp High 5 and the service: after-school care, youth drowning fun summer camps it will be offering this prevention, sports and recreation as well summer, you can visit www.mybsac.org as special needs education. or call 689-0908. BSAC is located at 405 BSAC goes above and beyond tradi- Beverly Dr. in Brandon. The hours of tional programming to make a real impact operation are weekdays, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., in the lives of children who attend any of Saturdays from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and it is its programs or camps. There is a sport closed on Sundays.
As summer available for your quickly approachconvenience. es and the school Have a child year ends, that wants to rock thoughts of sumout this summer? mer camp regis‘Rockin’ with tration might Alex’ is a come to mind. summer rock Budding thespiband proans or just a child gram with FAOPA’s summer camps offer children the who likes to enter- chance to step into the role of a character camps geared for all from one of their favorite stories. tain will enjoy The experience levels. Florida Academy Director Debbie of the Performing Arts at Music Evans said these programs offer children Showcase’s (FAOPA) two types of suman outlet for expressing themselves and mer camps for children ages 5 and older. learning about emotions and public Located at 402 Oakfield Dr. in speaking. “Whether it’s for a career in the Brandon, FAOPA offers two-week, halfarts or just for having fun, music and day musical theater camps, from 9 a.m.-1 musical theater are great ways for chilp.m., that are structured by age, ability, dren to gain self-confidence,” she said. interests and progress and feature live Valrico resident Julie Howard’s three productions at the end. daughters, Lily (13), Addison (10) and In past years, shows have included Rachael (8), have all participated in the Willy Wonka, Mamma Mia, Matilda, academy’s summer programs including Seussical, Elf and Les Mis. The Lion King and Willy Wonka. The second type offered are the Music Showcase Owner Heather Music and More Camps, which are fullOchalek said the benefits to an arts eduday weeklong camps, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., cation can be seen in improved academic during select weeks. Campers will learn performance and increased self-esteem. to play instruments like drums, ukuleles “From our private lessons, rock band, and guitars. They can also learn to sing, string ensembles and musical theater to act, paint/make art, dance and more. The workshops and master classes, our two camp options can be combined to classes can spark creativity and innovacreate an entire day of fun and learning. tion,” she said. For further details, visit Free early drop-off and late pickup is FAOPA.org or call 490-2787.
By Libby Hopkins
By Michelle Caceres
SUMMER CAMP AT
T.L.C.’ S GYPSY HAVEN!
KIDS
Summer Camps (Ages 6-11) 10:30am - 1:00pm
June 1 - 4 June 8 - 11 June 15 - 18 June 22 - 25 June 29 - July 2 July 6 - 10 July 13 - 16 July 20 - 23 July 27 - 30 August 3-6
NOW REGISTERING Limited Space (8 spots weekly) Call TODAY!
For ages 7 - 99
TWEEN’S & TEENS
Summer Camps (Ages 11-15) 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Weekly Themed Horse Back Riding Camps Hands On Experience & Education
Come learn about:
RIDING • GROOMING Monday - Friday Camps 9 A.M. to 2 P.M.
With Friday Educational Field Trips!
June 1st - August 3rd We are just ten minutes east of FishHawk! 4325 Keysville Rd., Lithia Call Tammi at 813.842.4236 or email TLCS2867@aol.com (Deposit required to reserve your spot.)
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT:
Brandon’s Big Green “EggQuarters”
TLCSFARMS.COM
Soccer Fun For Boys And Girls
The Florida Hawks Futbol Club has fun and educational camps for local soccer lovers. The club is driven to develop great people by building the skill and character of its players on and off the field. Soccer Fun with Coach Juan will take place Saturday to Wednesday, July 6-10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for girls and boys born between 2008 and 2013. It will feature age-appropriate technical and tactical instruction from a professional coaching staff with smallsided games and daily 5 v 5, soccer tennis and soccer golf competitions. Visit www.floridahawksfc.com to sign up or learn more.
Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium Is Cooking Up Some Summer Fun
Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium’s Summer Camps are a great way to learn new skills in the kitchen, create tasty recipes and meet lots of new friends. The only things you need to be prepared are closed toe shoes and a
restraint for shoulder-length hair. All of the ingredients, tools and even the fun are included. Students are taught how to properly use real kitchen tools, knives and appliances safely under adult supervision. Students will come away with the confidence to prepare dishes that are age appropriate and tasty. The goal is to encourage your child to be a help in the kitchen and to have fun while building a lifetime of good skills. Cooking camps for kids ages 6-11 will take place from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. daily and the tweens’ and teens’ summer camps, ages 11-15) will take place from 2-4 p.m. Camps will take place weekly for four days and run from Monday, June 1 through Thursday, August 6. Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium is located at Brandon Crossroads, 2080 Badlands Dr. in Brandon. Call 653-2418 or visit www.rollingpinonline.com.
Straz Center Hosts Patel Conservatory Performing Arts Camps
The Patel Conservatory, located at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts (Straz Center) in downtown Tampa, is offering a unique set of summer camp options from acting to vocal musical instruments, dance and more. The Patel Conservatory has been offering summer camp for the past 15 years. Each year, it averages approximately 1,200 campers. Camps are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so signing up early is strongly encouraged. The Patel Conservatory offers scholarships for summer camp. You must apply, and the deadline is Monday, April 13. Please apply for a scholarship by visiting strazcenter.org/financialaid. For more information on all that the Patel Conservatory has to offer this summer, please visit patelconservatory.org.
Bricks 4 Kidz Offers LEGO® Summer Camps
Bricks 4 Kidz is back with awesome LEGO® Summer Camps being offered all over the Brandon, Riverview and Valrico areas. Join in for a different theme each week, such as Fortnite, Pokemon, Star Wars, Minecraft and much more. Each week, campers will be build-
ing signature Bricks 4 Kidz robotic LEGO® models, very popular LEGO® mosaics and 3D LEGO® sculptures, as well as playing fun games and creating arts and crafts projects they will get to take home. At the end of each week, every camper will get to take home their very own LEGO® minifigure. Each day and week will be a brand-new LEGO® adventure you won’t want to miss. Sign up at www.bricks4kidz.com/florida-tampa or call 545-4282.
Swimming To Horseback Riding And More At Local YMCA Camps
The Tampa Metropolitan YMCA summer camps are well known for offering something for every child. With multiple locations offering daily activities including swimming, science, high ropes, outdoor education, nature encounters, horseback riding, canoeing, visual arts and more the Y camps
Continued on Next Page
are always a local favorite with boys and girls alike! In addition to a traditional camp called Activity Central, the YMCA offers specialty camps such as basketball, equestrian, extreme team, gymnastics, leadership, soccer, swimming, visual arts, science and performing arts to name a few. Spots are filling fast with area locations including Brandon, Valrico, Riverview and SouthShore. To ensure your kids stay engaged socially, physically and academically throughout the summer, register today at www.tampaymca.org/letscamp.
Summer Fun At Busch Gardens Tampa Bay And Adventure Island
This year, Florida’s best thrill rides and breathtaking upclose animal encounters make Busch Gardens Tampa Bay the fan favorite choice for summer camp. From kindergarten to college-bound, campers at Busch Gardens will explore inspiring,
exciting and educational experiences with immersive, multi-day camp programs for all interests. Camp is all about making memories with new friends while enjoying thrilling rides and worldclass shows that can only be found at its parks. Come face-to-face with a giraffe or take on all-new attractions opening this spring. Spin and splash on Solar Vortex, America’s first dual tailspin water slide at Adventure Island, or take on Iron Gwazi, North America’s tallest hybrid coaster and the fastest and steepest hybrid coaster in the world at Busch Gardens. Campers can explore even more with complimentary admission into the park each day following camp. Weekly offerings vary by camp but run from June to August with three and five-day camps with an overnight option available. Camps are open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Space is limited. To register today, visit https://buschgardens.com/tampa/summer-camps/.
Fun And Education Spins Throughout The Summer At Kids ‘R’ Kids
Kids ‘R’ Kids is excited to launch a
new twist on camp where kids are redefining summer and turning ordinary days into the extraordinary. Just as fragments inside a kaleidoscope fuse together to captivate us with a new perspective, Kaleidoscope 360° will spin this summer into a unique dimension of discovery, fun and friendships through various weekly themes. This summer promises a well-supervised, engaging and enriching camp for preschool and elementary-aged children. Extended hours, meals/snacks, weekly field trips, sports and more are available. Summer camp is offered at both Kids ‘R’ Kids locations: Circa FishHawk on 5815 Kids Crossing Dr. (next to Stowers Elementary and Mosaic), visit www.KRKCirca.com or call 654-7000, and at 4321 Lynx Paw Trl. in Valrico (across from Lithia Springs Elementary), visit www.KRKValrico.com or call 6576200.
BSAC Offers Field Trips, Swimming And More
The Brandon Sports and Aquatics Center (BSAC) is offering Camp High Five this summer, using superior educational and athletic programming to enhance students’ physi-
cal, mental and spiritual well-being. Camps will have weekly themes, offering field trips to locations including SkyZone, a Tampa Bay baseball game, Lowry Park Zoo and local splash park pads. To learn more about Camp High Five and the fun summer camps it will be offering this summer, visit www.mybsac.org or call 689-0908. BSAC is located at 405 Beverly Dr. in Brandon. The hours of operation are weekdays from 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and it is closed on Sundays.
Music And Acting Camps Offered Through Music Showcase
Budding thespians or just children who like to entertain will enjoy The Florida Academy of the Performing Arts at Music Showcase’s (FAOPA) two types of summer camps for children ages 5 and older. Located at 402 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon, FAOPA offers twoweek, half-day musical theater camps, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.,
Continued on Next Page
that are structured by age, ability, interests and progress and feature live productions at the end. Parents will enjoy watching their children bring the musical to life in the auditorium, which is equipped with a professional sound and lighting system, costumes, props and set design. The second type offered are the Music and More Camps, which are full-day weeklong camps, from 9 a.m.5 p.m., during select weeks. Campers will learn to play instruments like drums, ukuleles and guitars. They can also learn to sing, act, paint/make art, dance and more. The two camp options can be combined to create an entire day of fun and learning. Free early drop-off and late pickup is available for your convenience. For more information about summer camps or any of FAOPA’s other programs, visit FAOPA.org or call 4902787.
Combat Dreaded Summer Slide With Mathnasium Of Brandon
Mathnasium Brandon offers a variety of ways students can power up their math skills and have fun this summer. From mini camps to summer
sessions, there is something for every student. There are two options for mini camps, which run from Monday, June 1 through Friday, July 31. Students can either do the traditional Camp Mathnasium or STEM Camp, which includes additional fun such as robotics, LEGO Mindstorm EV3, experiments and pizza parties. Summer sessions, where students attend 13 times during the first nine weeks of summer, start on June 1. Students can also sign up for Summer Power Math Workout Programs, which include Numerical Fluency, Multiplication Fact Fluency, Problem-Solving, Algebra and Geometry Readiness and SAT/ACT Workshops. Fun in the Mathnasium Sun will also offer weekly attendance contests, game time, Fun Fridays, chess club, summer bingo and movie nights. Experts say that the effects of a summer learning program, such as Mathnasium’s, will make a positive difference for students moving forward. Call 655-MATH (6284) or visit www.mathnasium.com/brandon/. Mathnasium of Brandon is located at 1048 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico (Plaza Bella shopping center).
dropped off at the MAC front desk. To learn more or to get the registration form, visit https://themac gym.org/summer-sportscamps/. MAC is located at 216 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon and can be reached at 315-3280. .
Sports Fun At The MAC
The MAC Gym in Brandon is offering basketball, volleyball and soccer camps in June and July. The basketball camps are open for 7 to 14-year-olds, soccer is available for 7 to 12-year-olds and volleyball, which has both co-ed and girls camps, is available for 8 to 14-year-olds. There will also be a basketball camp from Monday to Friday, July 27-31 for 10 to 14-year-olds. The camps run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and lunch is available to purchase, or campers may bring their own from home. An email will be sent on the weekend before camp with details. Camps fill up fast! Registration forms for MAC summer sports camps can be picked up at the MAC front desk or downloaded online. Form and registration fees may be
Center Place Fine Arts Offer Summer Art Camp To Brighten The Day
Who knew that art could be so much fun? This summer, register your 7 to 13-year-old to discover their love of painting, drawing, pottery and more. Classes are offered Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include Art Mural, Animal Paintings, Pencil Drawings Cruise Around the World, West & Wild Canvases, Ceramic Sculpture, Recycled Art, Landscape Drawings, Paper Sculptures, Space Art, Mixed Media and more. Center Place is located at 619 Vonderburg Dr., Ste. B in Brandon. For more information or to register, visit www.centerplacebrandon.org or call 685-8888.
Continued on Next Page
Editor’s Note: Are we missing a great Summer Camp opportunity? Email our Assignment Editor kquesada@ospreyobserver.com with subject line Summer Camp to add an additional camp to our guide. Please note dates and details subect to change.
from the ground up. The camp is not a full-day camp with video games and indoor activities. Jim Osting is a baseball instructor with 12 years of professional baseball playing experience, including two years of Major League Experience (Padres and Brewers).
Learn Baseball From The Pros At Ostingers Baseball Academy Summer Camp
Ostingers Baseball Academy will hold its baseball camp this summer to give your children a better understanding of the game of baseball through small group instruction, drills and games. Having a good time while learning the fundamentals will be the main focus of this camp. Ostingers’ staff is made up of all former professional players who will instruct, teaching the game
Motorized LEGO® and LEGO® Art Projects
Full Week Camps Half Day and Full Day Options Ages 5-12
Camp locations all over Brandon • Riverview • Valrico Lithia • Fishhawk Early Bird Registration and Sibling Discounts To find out more and to register please visit
www.bricks4kidz.com/florida-tampa
or call us at 813-545-4282
Patrick Ryan is a baseball instructor with eight years professional pitching experience. Kris Wilken is the Head
Bricks 4 Kidz Summer Camps are back with exciting themes like Minecraft, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Superheroes, Magic, and much more. Join us at one of our camp locations in Brandon, Riverview, or Fishhawk!
Baseball Coach at Bloomingdale High School and has six years of professional playing experience. College and high school players trained by Ostingers Baseball Academy will assist your children throughout their camp experience. Additional help is provided from Ostinger players current and past to make the campers’ experience one of a kind. With the instructors and the staff, the ratio per camper is around 6:1. This ratio allows for added reps for each player and helps to break up the groups in an age-appropriate format. Weeks of camp are Monday, June 15, July 13 and July 27. The camps run half-days Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. The camps are held from Monday to Wednesday at Ostingers Baseball Academy on 8711 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Lithia and Thursday and Friday at the FishHawk Sports Complex fields, located at 16120 FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia (for games and other activities). The cost is $180 (sibling discounts available). For more information or to register, call 737-3000 or visit www.OstingBaseball.com.
Summer Camp At T.L.C.’s Gypsy Haven
T.L.C.’s Gypsy Haven is now registering for summer camp. The farm has been in business for more than 12 years, offering afterschool riding lessons, horseback riding camps, monthly horse leasing, pony parties and more. Your kids, from ages 7 and up, will have a lot of fun enjoying weekly themed horseback riding camps. They will receive hands-on experiences, learning to ride as well as how to groom the horses. The camp takes place Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. start-
ing Monday, June 1 and running through Monday, August 3. Your kids will enjoy field trips each Friday they are at camp. With limited space (eight spots weekly), you will want to call early. Located 10 minutes from FishHawk, T.L.C. Gypsy Haven is on 4325 Keysville Rd. in Lithia. For more information, please call Tammi at 842-4236 or visit www.tlcsfarms.com.
TechPlayzone Offers Hands-On Learning
TechPlayzone, where bright kids play to learn, is offering six weeks of hands-on, high-tech camps planned for second to sixth grade students. The camps will take place at HCC Brandon Campus from 9 a.m.12 Noon for $125 per week. Campers can register at www.techplayzone.com. TechPlayzone is celebrating 15
years of quality STEM camps, featuring 3D printing, drones, Minecraft for engineers, coding, LEGO robotics, and hands-on science experiments. For more information, email desh@techplayzone.com or call 444-CAMP.
Our instructors have 30 years combined professional playing and coaching experience.
Session 1 Session 2 June 15-19 (M-F) July 13-17 (M-F)
Session 3 July 27- 31 (M-F)
Location:
M-W Ostingers Academy • 8711 Lithia Pinecrest Road Th-F Field for games and other activities Space is Limited Age Group: 7 - 14 yrs Register Early Time: 8:30 am to 12:30 pm to hold your spot! Cost: $225/camper **(Second Child $200) **Multi week discounts
Daily Instruction • Games • Pitching/Catching Fundamentals Addressed • Drills For More Information:
Call 813.737.3000 or visit our website at www.OstingBaseball.com
Page 40
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Volume 19, Issue 4
April 2020
Page 41
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Three-Man Stream Live Tampa Crew Broadcasts Local High School Games
By Nick Nahas
A symbol of abundant wilderness and untamed wetland landscapes, the American alligator is the official state reptile of Florida. These large, scaled, prehistoric creatures are often feared as monsters instead of being seen as an important part of our ecosystem. Hunted to near extinction in the mid-1900s, American alligators were listed as endangered in 1967. An increased interest in their meat and leathery hides combined with an expanding loss of habitat, alligator populations were at risk of being lost forever. In 1973, the endangered species act prohibited hunting of alligators, an act of preservation that saved these animals from disappearing. Later, in 1987, the American alligator made a full recovery as populations rebounded, becoming a revered success story. Today, Florida is home to an estimated population of over 1 million alligators, giving us the largest population of alligators in the world. A freshwater reptile, gators can be found in almost any wetland, including ponds, rivers, swamps, lakes, marshes and brackish waters. They are very important to our aquatic habitats and are considered a keystone species. Opportunistic eaters, their usual prey includes freshwater fish, turtles, birds, snakes, frogs, small mammals
and invertebrates. Mating begins in early spring, with most hatches occurring in the summer months of August and September. Babies have a bright yellow banding that will disappear as they mature. Unlike other reptiles, alligators will rear their young anywhere from 1-2 years in an effort to protect them from predation. Alligators can live up to 40 years in the wild and can grow an average of 8-10 feet in length. As an adult, the main predator and greatest risk to a gator’s mortality are humans. Living with alligators: With everincreasing population demands and constant land development to compensate, it is inevitable that you will come across a gator in Florida. Remember that it is illegal to feed, harass, harm or kill an alligator. Be mindful to swim only in designated bodies of water during daylight hours. Observe from safe distances. Pets must remain on leashes and always be supervised. Refrain from the use of retractable dog leashes. Incidents are extremely rare and adhering to the law will reduce conflict with alligators. Unnecessarily reporting the sighting of a gator can lead to their death as relocations are very infrequent. Vital to their survival is our appreciation and respect of this incredible, prehistoric species, and together we can cohabitate for generations to come.
Stream Live player Andrew Tampa is one of Burdick to the the very few team as a broadstreaming compacaster. Burdick is a nies in Hillsborough teacher at Brooks County that broadDeBartolo and he casts live high also owns a sports school sporting performance comevents online. pany called AB Since January, the Sports three-man team Performance in has covered at Apollo Beach. The Photo by Nancy Nahas least one baskettrio didn’t have any (L-R) Jim Delaney, Andrew Burdick and Kavier Nunez broadcasting the Bloomingdale prior experience ball game a week vs. Lennard basketball game. in the area to give producing broadthe student-athletes the recognition they casts, but they learned from watching deserve while also filling a need for local nationally televised games. They all talk high school sports coverage that the area daily about ideas to expand the business lacks for the most part. They have covand discuss which games they will cover ered games at Lennard, Bloomingdale, next through a group text. They started Durant, Newsome, Plant City, Riverview covering the 2019-2020 basketball seaand Strawberry Crest in the east/south son in January. Delaney interviews areas of Hillsborough County. coaches on the day of the game for backKavier Nunez started streaming the ground information on the teams and Lennard High School baseball games last players. spring as a hobby to record his son Yo-yo The crew hopes to gain more sponNunez’s games. After his son graduated, sors in order to expand coverage and Nunez began plans to extend his coverupgrade equipment. They would evenage of the area and to also add some tually like to have enough crew memsportscasters to the mix to help spice up bers to cover two games a night the broadcasts. instead of just one. Delaney also pointLocal school teacher and friend Jim ed out that this service can be benefiDelaney joined Nunez as a partner and cial for players because a college became the voice of Stream Live Tampa coach could be watching the broadcast in January. The 34-year Valrico resident is and might gain interest in recruiting a a former Bloomingdale baseball player player. (class of 1990) who previously had his “My goal is for Steam Live Tampa own recruiting service and has been to be the livestreaming service provider involved in youth sports through his for Tampa and the local area, and daughter. Delaney had the sporting coneventually local colleges for the out-ofnections that Stream Live Tampa needed state family and fans, while at the same to help further the business. time becoming trusted business part“We do this for the kids,” said ners in the Greater Tampa Bay area,” Delaney. “Kids love it, parents love it, said Nunez. “We want to do multiple coaches love it and it is fun for us, we broadcasts in the future.” have a blast doing it. At the end of the Subscribe to their YouTube chanday, it’s all about the community.” nel, Stream Live Tampa, or follow them Nunez and Delaney also added foron Facebook and Twitter to view a mer Lennard quarterback and basketball livestream.
NEW, EXCITING TERMITE PRODUCTS!
Termidor 10 Year Guarantee
WE HAVE MOVED!!
BRANDON TERMITE AND PEST CONTROL
New Admin Office & Store Location:
Office Hours: Monday- Friday 8:00- 4:30 pm
312 US HWY 41 S Ruskin FL. 33570
Store entrance/ parking 3rd Ave SE
Store Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 5 pm Saturday: 9:am - 4:PM Closed Sunday Store re-opening February 10th
Against Subterranean Termites
MEMBER WEST FLORIDA
Existing customers may purchase Termidor at an additional cost. Call Brandon Exterminating for free estimate 685-7711
#1 Bug Muggers Since 1973
Brandon Pest Control, Inc.
Main Office: 108 S. St. Cloud Ave. • Valrico • Fax 685-3607 • 6am-6pm Clearwater-Lakeland-Orlando-Plant City- Carterville GA- Warner Robins, GA
Homemade Weeknight Meals Family Friendly, From Scratch Order online & see more on Facebook: @ Davenport’s Daily Delights (813) 810-8513 Davenportsdailydelights@gmail.com
Page 42
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
By NITISH S. RELE nitishrele@gmail.com
PLUG-IN HYBRID VOLVO S60 IS WELL DESIGNED Sensus infotainment, with a distinct vertical 9-inch display touch screen, is essentially made up of four tiles: navigation, media, phone and userdefined. Activate one and watch it expand while keeping the other tiles visible for future use. Standard treats include two-zone auto a/c, 10-way power front heated seats, 60/40 After a major redesign last S60 AWD (INSCRIPTION) rear seat, steering wheel padyear, the S60 continues mostly Wheelbase: 113.1 inches dle shifters, leather/aluminum Length: 187.4 inches as is. As it should. After all, the Suspension: double wish- shifter knob, aluminum cargo midsize luxury sedan has bone front, integral rear scuff plate, head-up display, been a hot-seller for Volvo. Steering: electric power and a leather-wrapped dashWeight: 3,907 pounds Three engine choices are board. available but we received our Fuel capacity: 15.9 gallons The Chinese-owned but Electricity+gas: 69 MPGe test drive with a 2.0-liter inline- Gas only: 30 mpg com- Swedish-made car company 4 turbocharged and superbined is renowned for safety. Base price: $55,400 charged power train blasting Price as tested: $64,190 Continuing the tradition, the off a massive 400 horsepower Web site: www.volvo.com S60 gets dual front and side @ 6000 rpm and 472 poundsairbags, side curtain airbag, feet of torque @ 5400 rpm. An electric four-wheel antilock brakes, three-point motor and a 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery seatbelts for all, side impact protection can take the sedan nearly 22 miles system, dynamic stability and traction before the gasoline engine kicks in. The control, blind spot monitor and cross traf8-speed auto gearbox in the all-wheelfic alert, lane departure warning/assist, drive vehicle is sprightly in any untoward City Safety (brakes automatically to help situation. And the start-stop feature (auto prevent a rear-end collision) also gets engine stop when the vehicle halts) steer assist, tire pressure monitoring sysensures substantial savings in fuel and tem and daytime running lights. weight. Yes, it is a hybrid but don’t for a The good-looking and practical minute believe that your jaunt to the sedan portrays a centered chrome grille neighborhood store or on the highway will with a familiar Volvo iron mark, flanked by be sluggish. Resting on 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and Thor’s hammer-like the S60 can take off 0 to 60 mph in a LED headlights. The lavish cabin conveys mere 4.4 seconds and reach top speed of an upmarket aura with a 12.3-inch instru130 mph. Apart from remarkably quick ment panel decked in shimmer graphite acceleration and razor-sharp aluminum inlays. There is ample space handling/balance, the ride boasts highfor leg/shoulder room for three adult pastech luxury goodies in the cabin. Volvo’s sengers in the 60/40 rear seat. Volvo long safety list makes it a no-brainer.
Our Gift To You: Florida Orchestra Recordings On The Radio Even as the coronavirus prevents us from sitting side by side in a concert hall, we can still listen to The Florida Orchestra together. You don’t even have to leave your couch. TFO will share live recordings of select Masterworks concerts for free on Classical WSMR 89.1 and 103.9 FM radio and online at WSMR.org, thanks to its partnership with the station. Thirteen full concerts started airing on Thursdays at 7 p.m. on March 26, with Music Director Michael Francis conducting this season’s Opening Night performance of Gershwin, Grieg, Ravel and more. Continuing through June 11, the broadcasts will be a mix of recordings from this season and TFO’s archives. If you miss a broadcast, you can listen ondemand at WSMR.org for one month after the airdate. Please join in for some of the most powerful moments from our Tampa Bay Times Masterworks series—a gift to our community in conjunction with WUSF Public Media and Classical WSMR radio. The broadcasts also are made possible by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Jay’s Fabric Center. We’d like to give a special thank you to the Florida Orchestra Musicians Association and to the American Federation of Musicians
By Kelly Smith
(call local at 427721). This is the third year TFO is offering live recordings, but the sentiment is stronger than ever since its live concerts have been canceled through at least Sunday, April 5 to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. TFO hopes these performances will lift you up and bring a sense of comfort when you need it most, no matter where you are in the world. The first broadcast on March 26 included Grieg’s Piano Concerto with Aldo Lopez-Gavilan, Ravel’s Bolero, Gershwin’s Cuban Overture, Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3 and Mason Bates’ Mothership. Full concerts have been recorded live all season long at the Straz Center in Tampa, the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Look for a full schedule at FloridaOrchestra.org. As you listen to the music, please remember that in these challenging times, The Florida Orchestra needs your support more than ever. Ticket sales provide about 40 percent of its operating budget, so each week that TFO cannot perform significantly impacts your orchestra and its ability to perform future concerts for you and our community. For more information, visit FloridaOrchestra.org.
Rendee Hughes
Broker Associate
Serving Your Commercial Real Estate needs with Honesty, Integrity, and Professionalism. 333 N Falkenburg Road, Suite B206, Tampa, FL 33619
813-735-6181 | WWW.TURNERCOLE.COM Rendeehughes@gmail.com
IS YOUR TODDLER T ALKING? By age two, your child should have 200 words and combine 2-3 word sentences. PATIENT of the MONTH
Gwendolyn (almost 3) “Therapy at Tampa Bay Speech has changed our family and its dynamic. We are now able to communicate with Gwendolyn and understand her wants and needs. We are so thankful for Tampa Bay Speech!" - Amy (Mom)
Southwest Florida Rheumatology Specializing in treatment of:
Rheumatoid Arthritis • Psoriatic Arthritis Osteoporosis • Gout • Osteoarthritis • Lupus ON SITE: Infusion • Lab Ultrasound
TAMPA BAY SPEECH, LANGUAGE & READING CLINIC
Accepting NewPatients most insurance accepted
READING • WRITING • HANDWRITING Therapy Services: Articulation • Apraxia Auditory Processing • Autism • Sensory Feeding Disorders
(813) 368-2485 Park Square - Fishhawk • 16132 Churchview Drive, Ste. 205 Serving local area families for over 19 years!
Dr. Priya Reddy M.D. FACR Board Certified Rheumatologist
11954 Boyette Rd., Riverview
813-672-2243
www.SWFLRHEUM.com
April 2020
Page 43
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Veteran Flag Football Coach Larry Langston Takes Over At Bloomingdale High School
813Preps Expands Local High School Baseball Coverage
The High School. Bloomingdale Langston was flag football immediately program has drawn to the a new head Bloomingdale coach at the job when it helm as they became open try to build off because of the The 2020 Bloomingdale flag football team. of last year’s winning tradisuccess, making it to the district champition the school has built athletically. This onship game. is also his first year teaching at Fourteen-year veteran flag football Chamberlain. This is a huge commitment coach Larry Langston is the longestbecause he has to drive for about an tenured coach in Hillsborough County. He hour and 10 minutes from his teaching takes over the Bloomingdale program job to Bloomingdale for two-hour pracafter longtime coach Mike Lankford tices every day. stepped down over the summer. “Coach Langston brings a lot of new Langston coached at his alma mater, techniques and visions to our team,” said Plant City, for eight years before heading sophomore flag football player and class to Brandon as an assistant coach. After a president Hayley Robinson. “We are couple of years as an assistant, he got working together to get where we need to promoted to head coach, where he built be. We were in a fall league and have up an Eagles program that previously done some tournaments, which have averaged less than two wins per season. been a great start to where we are headIn his four years at Brandon, they won ed. The coaches have high expectations two district championships. for us and it has made us more competiLangston has had great success tive.” coaching flag football. He led the Plant The league contains all of the surCity Raiders to five district titles and two rounding teams from the area, such as straight final fours, including a state Newsome, East Bay, Durant, Riverview championship game appearance in 2008, and Lennard. The regular season started and an overall record of 83-13. He also on March 3 at home vs. Lennard. has run an adult flag football league for Langston hopes to compete for a disthe last 25 years called the Tampa Bay trict title this season and eventually bring Flag Football Association (TBFFA). Bloomingdale its first flag football state Langston was born and raised in the championship. Plant City area. He previously worked for “We want to compete at the state the Hillsborough County Parks and level every year, and we want our chance Recreation Department for over 15 years at the state championship every before becoming a teacher six years ago. year,” said Langston. “We want to bring He now teaches AVID at Chamberlain one home for sure.”
Since its inception in advertisers, spon2017, 813Preps.com has sors and donations. come a long way. Valrico In August 2019, resident and founder of the 813Preps hosted site Jarrett Guthrie has its first annual golf brought on five local jourtournament to help nalists to help expand high fund coverage of school baseball game covthe 2020 season. erage in Hillsborough The response from County. The crew averthe baseball comages anywhere from six to munity was Jarrett Guthrie interviews former 10 games per week. tremendous, with Jesuit player McGuire Weaver. The website has a new look after about 110 golfers. Over 20 baskets of getting revamped in the off-season. The items were also donated from businesses site gained a lot of momentum in 2019, to help benefit the fundraiser. as the staff covered a total of 105 games “When I started, it was kind of about in the season, along with 25 features, getting out there and getting some kids weekly rankings for the 10-week regular some attention, getting their names recseason, nightly roundups with box scores ognized for the hard work that studentand a wrap-up of every game, along with athletes put in. But now, to see that we giving postseason awards to the players have been 100 percent embraced by not and traveling to Fort Myers for a week to just the baseball community, but the high cover four Hillsborough County teams school athletic community as a whole, that made it to the state tournament. This has been really gratifying,” said Guthrie. season, the site has started a weekly Guthrie was approached by Ben baseball notebook that is more featureHenderson, Strawberry Crest’s track and driven, as well as weekly top performers. field and cross country coach, and Bill One player is selected by the staff, and Jenkins, Gaither’s track and field and the other is chosen from a Twitter poll. cross country coach, about 813Preps Winners receive a T-shirt. being the platform for a coach-driven con“The growth that the site has had in tent coverage of track and field. The site its first three years was amazing,” said helps out with the social media coverage Guthrie, “but the uptick we’ve made from and the promotion aspects, and the two last year to this year with the new webcoaches provide the coverage. site, a commitment to social media, all “Im very hopeful that this is somethose things have ticked up and we’re thing that we can do more of in the growing our audience, and that’s somefuture,” said Guthrie. To donate or thing that I never really knew if we would become an advertiser of 813Preps, ever do.” mesor visit 813Preps.com. For live game 813Preps is completely funded by coverage, follow 813Preps on Twitter.
By Nick Nahas
By Nick Nahas
The Perfect Combination of
SWEET & TROPICAL
PASSIONFRUIT, Chick-fil-A® Lemonade and Freshly Brewed Unsweetened Ice Tea!
South Brandon 2010 Bloomingdale Ave • Brandon (813) 571-0569
Lake Brandon Village 11325 Causeway Blvd • Brandon (813) 655-1237 Hours: 6am - 10pm
16637 FishHawk Blvd. • Suite 101 • Lithia
Located in the FishHawk Office Park, behind Taco Bell
Schedule Your Appointment Today!
(813) 657-7337
www.premiercarepeds.com “We pride ourselves in developing a personal, caring partnership dedicated to tailoring our services to meet the individual needs of our neighbors and their families.” -Dr. Minick and Dr. Pruitt Regular Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-12pm & 1pm-5pm | After Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Page 44
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Volume 19, Issue 4
With Arts & Entertainment Editor Kathy L. Collins
Libraries Offer Access To Services Via The Internet During Closure Libraries have added, “You can find always been welcomclasses and services ing, safe places where that will help you you can conduct sharpen skills, research, learn a new enhance job skills or skill or explore a new teach you new skills. hobby. While the We have everything branches of the from language classHillsborough County es, photography Public Library classes to technical Cooperative, which Despite the closures, you can access and computer skills all of the services that the libraries includes the Bruton classes.” have to offer by visiting hcplc.com. Memorial Library in While children are downtown Plant City, are closed due to out of school, they can access Tumble the coronavirus pandemic, this does not Book Library and Axis 360. These offer mean that their services have come to a picture books to get young children readhalt. ing all the way to chapter books for older Chely Cantrell, library branch innova- students. tion officer for the Hillsborough County There are multiple story time options Public Library Cooperative, said, “It is where young children can listen to a important that the community knows that story. the library is open 24/7 online.” The library offers tutor.com, where You can access a plethora of elive tutoring sessions are given. You can books, classes, activities and more by vis- also enter Learning Express Library and iting hcplc.org. If you have trouble naviaccess full-length practice tests for the gating the system, rest assured that there SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT and GMAT. are staff members available to answer Older patrons can learn a new skill. your questions or help guide you. All you Visit lynda.com and enter the premiere have to do is call 263-3652. The staff is site for building technical, business and available Monday through Sunday from 9 creative skills. While the libraries are a.m. to 6 p.m. You can call or even chat closed, all holds are suspended, book online. drops are closed and no overdue fines Cantrell said, “It is easy to associate will be assessed or collected. the library with just e-books. It is easy to Get the latest updates by following forget that the library has tons of digital the library at classes for both kids and adults.” Cantrell Facebook.com/TampaHillsLib.
Brandon Ballet Concludes Its 2019-2020 Season With Two Performances This spring, the Brandon Ballet will hold a Spring Gala and a production of Sleeping Beauty. Here is what you need to know to attend each or both events. The Spring Gala, known as Everlasting, will be presented on Sunday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at King’s Point Veterans Theater, located at 1900 Clubhouse Dr. in Sun City Center. Tickets are $14 and include a dessert package. Please call 387-3447 to purchase tickets. According to Hannah Townend, administrative director for the Brandon Ballet, “Everlasting will take audience members on a wonder-filled journey through two beloved fairytales.” Cinderella's Ball is a one-act ballet which will feature the magical second act of the classic ballet, where Cinderella has her first encounter with Prince Charming. Part two of Everlasting will feature an excerpt from the Brandon Ballet’s premiere production of Sleeping Beauty. Dancers will perform Aurora’s wedding. According to Townend, “Guests will enjoy the celebration as Aurora and her prince, along with the other well-loved fairytale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood and Puss in Boots, perform.”
The Brandon Ballet will then premiere its production of Sleeping Beauty on Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Riverview High School, located at 11311 Boyette Rd. in Riverview. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 seniors and military and $20 for children 12 and under. Tickets will increase by $5 at the door. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.tututix.com/brandonballet. Townend said, “The audience will experience the wonder of Tchaikovsky’s score and the dancing of the Brandon Ballet artists in the story of everyone’s favorite sleeping princess, Sleeping Beauty.” Townend added, “This performance will be presented in two acts, with innovative approaches to the story and a world premiere of new character divertissements in Act II. This grand ballet is sure to entertain newcomers and regular attendees alike.” The production of Sleeping Beauty marks the end of the season for the Brandon Ballet. Over the summer, dancers work hard training for future seasons at the Brandon Ballet Summer Intensive. For more information on the Brandon Ballet, please visit www.Brandonballet.org.
813.433.4047
www.ajwestfallco.com licensed bonded insured In Business Over 20 Years
FULL SERVICE CLEANING COMPANY
Residential Commercial Moving/Home Sale Presentation Tenant Turnover
April 2020
Page 45
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Son Follows Dad Onto The Sidelines At Raymond James As Ball Boy For NFL, XFL By Nick Nahas
Carl Santay ent from just a Bucs and his son, game,” said Carl. “To Cayden Santay, have the opportunity both have had the to be on the field for unique opportunity my third, and hopefulto work for pro ly my son will be on football teams in the sidelines with us Tampa. Carl has for the Super Bowl been a ball boy for next year.” the Tampa Bay Cayden is a junBuccaneers since ior at Newsome High 1992. Now, School. He is a forCayden is a ball mer football player Cayden Santay (left) standing on the boy for the Tampa Raymond James Stadium turf with his dad who wanted to take a Carl Santay. Bay Vipers, who break from playing also play at Raymond James Stadium in the game to pursue other interests. In his Tampa. first season as a ball boy with the Vipers, Carl started as a ball boy with the he has gained a new appreciation for the Bucs when he was in high school. His game. father had some contacts that helped get “It’s a different perspective of the him in the door, and his dad also helped game,” he said. “It’s more interactive, you with the moving of equipment with the get to hear the coaches, players and refequipment manager. Carl has made it a erees. You get to see the game from a family tradition since then, working most different view.” Sunday home games. He is now in Cayden currently works for Carl’s charge of all the ball boys at the Bucs business, Ultra Tranz Logistics, in games as a senior ball boy. Brandon. He wants to go to firefighter Carl’s favorite part of the job is being school when he graduates next year. He in the locker room and being behind the hopes to be able to work as a ball boy for scenes, getting to know the players on a the Bucs next season with his dad, and personal level. He has enjoyed working he appreciates his opportunity to work for with players such as Warrick Dunn and the Vipers. Derrick Brooks. His fondest memory on Carl looks forward to making good the job was working the 2001 and 2009 use of his time with his son. “The main Super Bowls in Tampa. He is excited to thing is building memories,” said work the 2021 Super Bowl that will be Carl. “Not a lot of people have the opporheld in Tampa and hopes that Cayden will tunity to be on the field, on the sidelines be a part of the crew and be there with for NFL and XFL games and be able to him to experience it. do it together, especially if we get to do “The atmosphere is obviously differthe Super Bowl together next year.”
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS IN BRANDON! HAPPY HOUR MON - SAT 3 TO 6
BOOK YOUR PRIVATE DINING EVENTS TODAY! THE ANIJO ROOM AND THE YBOR ROOM ARE AT YOUR SERVICE!
702 W. Lumsden Rd., Brandon • 813-685-0502 • www.laseptimacafe.com Mon. - Sat. 11am. - 9pm. • Closed Sunday
Plans Start at
$70 per month
D E N D O B PATE T T S D O P NEW
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
www.hst-brandon.com CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE
813-689-8800
Page 46
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Bloomingdale Baseball Retires Baltimore Orioles Shortstop Richie Martin’s No. 12 On February 27, Richie Martin became the first player in Bloomingdale High School baseball history to have his #12 jersey retired. Bloomingdale held a ceremony at its baseball field before its game against East Bay. The only other person to have his number retired at Bloomingdale is former head coach K.B. Scull, (#8) who the field is named after. “It meant the world,” said Martin. “Bloomingdale is home for me, so to be able to come back and see friends, coaches and teammates I haven’t seen for a while was special.” Bloomingdale baseball alumni were gathered around the mound as Baltimore Orioles shortstop Richie Martin threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his former high school teammate and current catcher in the Atlanta Braves organization, Sal Giardina, Jr. The crowd of former teammates, family and friends went wild as Martin threw a strike down the middle of the plate for a strike. “We all knew right away that Richie was something special his freshman year,” said Giardina. “He flashed great qualities as a player and was mature beyond his years. He was one of the hardest working and most humble guys on the team, and is still like that to this day. I’m grateful that I had the chance to
Wilson. “A guy like that is special because he leads by example. He shows everyone, young and old, that there’s only one way to play this game, and that’s hard, all the time. Regardless of score or inning or result.” Bloomingdale Head Coach Kris Wilken said that Martin’s baseball instincts, Richie Martin stands with former Bloomingdale baseball players work ethic and God-given abiliafter he threw out the first pitch. ty are what make him such a share the field with him in high school. As played in the great baseball player. Wilken much of an awesome player he is, he Oakland minor expressed how Martin’s greatis an even better person — one of the league system for est asset is his character first most genuine people you will ever meet.” four season Richie Martin and Bloomingdale head and foremost. coach Kris Wilken. Martin played for Bloomingdale from before being “Thank you to him for 2009-2012, becoming one of the most selected by the Baltimore Orioles with the never changing who he is and never fordecorated Bulls in the history of the profirst overall pick in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft. getting where he came from,” said gram, starting all four years on varsity. As He made his MLB debut on Opening Day Wilken. “He was a great player, but I miss a senior, he hit .438 and was selected to 2019 against the New York Yankees. He coaching him because of what he was the all-state team. Martin was drafted out played 90 games at shortstop last season and still is as a person way more than of high school in the 38th round of the for the Orioles, finishing his rookie season anything he did on the field.” 2012 MLB draft, but decided to go to col- with six home runs and 10 stolen bases. Wilson will always remember playing lege and play for the University of Florida He expects to compete for a roster spot in with Martin and is one of his biggest fans. instead. At UF, he started all three sea2020 with Baltimore. “He deserves it, every bit of it. I mean sons, coming up one game short of winAustin Wilson came in as a freshman the kid is a big leaguer,” said Wilson. “I ning the College World Series against starter with Martin in 2009. Wilson, who is couldn’t be happier for him and wish him Virginia in his final junior season. now an assistant coach at Bloomingdale, nothing but the best. It’s awesome to see Martin was then selected in the first remains close friends with Martin and remthe number 12 out there in center field for round (20th overall) of the 2015 draft by inisces playing alongside him. “He plays the rest of time.” Billy Bean and the Oakland Athletics. He the game the same way all the time,” said
B We
Dr. Jared Troy Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
rin g
Life
AJ’s Fine Wines & Liquor ur Spirits In Yo
Craft Beers
3443 Lithia Pinecrest Road
at the corner of Lithia-Pinecrest & Bloomingdale in the Publix Plaza
813-654-6488
BUY HERE / SMOKE HERE
Neighborhood Liquor Store with Cigars
HAVE A DRINK ON OUR PATIO BAR
Botox $500
®
(50 units)
Juvederm $600
®
(1 cc)
*All injections performed by Dr. Troy Offers Expire 4/30/2020
Troy Plastic Surgery, PLLC 5470 Lithia Pinecrest Rd, Lithia
813-675-9181 DrTroyMD.com
FINE WINES Plumpjack Cakebread Cade Nickel & Nickel and MORE!
• Self-serve Bar • Walk-in Humidor • Walk-in Beer Cooler • Craft Beers • Gluten Free Beers • Organic Beers • Variety of IPA’s • Stouts • Non-alcholic Beers Available • Specializing in Fine Wines • Special Orders Upon Request • Call About Delivery
We
Thank You
for your business the past 16 years & look forward to your continued support of our small business. Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 10am - 10pm Fri. - Sat. 10am - 11pm Sun. 11am - 8pm
April 2020
Page 47
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Veteran Flag Football Coach Larry Langston Takes Over At Bloomingdale High School
By Nick Nahas
The High School. Bloomingdale Langston was flag football immediately program has drawn to the a new head Bloomingdale coach at the job when it helm as they became open try to build off because of the The 2020 Bloomingdale flag football team. of last year’s winning tradisuccess, making it to the district champition the school has built athletically. This onship game. is also his first year teaching at Fourteen-year veteran flag football Chamberlain. This is a huge commitment coach Larry Langston is the longestbecause he has to drive for about an tenured coach in Hillsborough County. He hour and 10 minutes from his teaching takes over the Bloomingdale program job to Bloomingdale for two-hour pracafter longtime coach Mike Lankford tices every day. stepped down over the summer. “Coach Langston brings a lot of new Langston coached at his alma mater, techniques and visions to our team,” said Plant City, for eight years before heading sophomore flag football player and class to Brandon as an assistant coach. After a president Hayley Robinson. “We are couple of years as an assistant, he got working together to get where we need to promoted to head coach, where he built be. We were in a fall league and have up an Eagles program that previously done some tournaments, which have averaged less than two wins per season. been a great start to where we are headIn his four years at Brandon, they won ed. The coaches have high expectations two district championships. for us and it has made us more competiLangston has had great success tive.” coaching flag football. He led the Plant The league contains all of the surCity Raiders to five district titles and two rounding teams from the area, such as straight final fours, including a state Newsome, East Bay, Durant, Riverview championship game appearance in 2008, and Lennard. The regular season started and an overall record of 83-13. He also on March 3 at home vs. Lennard. has run an adult flag football league for Langston hopes to compete for a disthe last 25 years called the Tampa Bay trict title this season and eventually bring Flag Football Association (TBFFA). Bloomingdale its first flag football state Langston was born and raised in the championship. Plant City area. He previously worked for “We want to compete at the state the Hillsborough County Parks and level every year, and we want our chance Recreation Department for over 15 years at the state championship every before becoming a teacher six years ago. year,” said Langston. “We want to bring He now teaches AVID at Chamberlain one home for sure.”
NEWLY RENOVATED
10% OFF
entire e purrchase e S unflower Caff e
3452 Lithia Piinecre estt Rd., Va a lrr ic co 813 3-65 5 - SUSSHI Only vallid wiith regullar me enu.
With this coupon. Must present before submitting payment. Before tax. One coupon per visit. Not valid with other offers Offer expires 4/30/2020
S
3452 Lithia Pinecrest Rd, Valrico (Located in the SteinMart Plaza)
813-65-SUSHI
Mon - Fri 11:30-2:30 & 5-9 | Sat 12-9 Sundays 12-8:30 (Serving lunch until 3 p.m.)
We Buy Gold
M cAuley Fine Jewelry Watchmaker and Jewelers On Site Open Tuesday-Friday 10-6 • Saturday 10-4
813-689-8124 • Oakfield Drive, Brandon (Located in the Atlantic Village Plaza, Kings Avenue & Oakfield Drive)
Page 48
Volume 19, Issue 4
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
To Work With The
NUMBER ONE AGENT in Hillsborough County, Call Brenda on 813-924-8677
What Our Customers Are Saying... “Your whole team was excellent. You made the process seamless. Your response time to any question was exceptional.” Stephen & Michele R. “The constant marketing effort, concern, and care from all the staff. One word only, "Excellent"” David & Ruthanne S. The wonderful support of Brenda and her team was the best part. The responsiveness of Brenda and her staff was impressive. From listing to closing, Brenda and her team provided a wonderful selling experience! John & Theresa R. “Professionalism & Communication was impressive. We love the The Brenda Wade Team!” Lexie & Derek J W G! NE TIN LIS
PERFECTION! Even the most discerning buyer will love this 5/5/3 + office + bonus + media room + pool/spa Arthur Rutenberg custom home in the gated Preserve at FishHawk Ranch! $1,225,000
W G! NE TIN LIS
WALKING DISTANCE TO BEVIS ELEMENTARY! Rare 3/2/2 + office home in the Osprey Glen area of FishHawk Ranch! $275,000
W ! NE ICE PR
W ! NE ICE PR
CUSTOM BUILT HANNAH BARTOLETTA IN GATED EAGLE RIDGE! Absolutely perfect 4/3.5/3 + office + pool/spa home with tile roof & side-entry garage! $697,400
W G! NE TIN LIS
HUGE 0.37 ACRE LOT IN GUARD GATED RIVER HILLS! You are going to fall in love with this 6/4.5/3 home with NEW ROOF OCT 2019! $585,000
W ! NE ICE PR
WONDERFUL BLOOMINGDALE HOME! You will love this 3/2.5/2 + pool home that is walking distance to Bloomingdale high school! $290,000
REMODELED BEAUTY IN THE BRIDGES IN FISHHAWK RANCH! Adorable 4/2.5/2 + bonus home with pretty curb appeal including dormer windows! $315,000
W G! NE TIN LIS
SABAL "WEDGEWOOD" HOME IN FISH HAWK TRAILS! Welcome home to this gorgeous 4/3.5/3 + office + bonus + pool home that is perfect inside & out! $575,000
W G! NE TIN LIS
PERFECT ASHTON WOODS HOME IN GATED FISHHAWK PRESERVE! You are going to fall in love with this 4/4/3 + office + pool home that will impress from the start! $689,000
W G! NE TIN LIS
DAVID WEEKLEY "ASHWORTH" HOME IN FISHHAWK WEST! Welcome to Encore, a premier 55+ community! Handsome 3/2.5/3 home that will impress from the start! $400,000
W ! NE ICE PR
FISHHAWK RANCH BEAUTY ON CONSERVATION LOT! Beautiful 4/4/3 + office + bonus home in coveted gated Kestrel Ridge! $470,000
(813) 655-5333 Brenda@BrendaWade.com
Top Producer 2002 - 2019
www.BrendaWade.com
W G! NE TIN LIS
ASHTON WOODS "DURANGO" IN GATED PRESERVE AT FISHHAWK RANCH! No detail overlooked with this 4/4/3 + office + bonus + pool home! $789,000
W G! NE TIN LIS
FISH HAWK TRAILS BEAUTY! Captivating 4/4/3 + office + bonus + pool home on 0.57 acre conservation lot! Extensively updated! $525,000