Brandon/Winthrop
21
July 2021
Volume 16, Issue 7
Ph: 657-2418
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CELEBRATING 19 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE STATION 45 BREAKS GROUND IN BRANDON
KOPLIN RETURNS AS PRINCIPAL TO LEAD 60-YEAR LEGACY AT BROOKER ELEMENTARY
By Kate Quesada
By Tatiana Ortiz
Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and Fire Chief Dennis Jones of the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue shoveled some dirt during Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Station 45 groundbreaking ceremony. From left to right: Commissioner Gwen Myers, Commissioner Kimberly Overman, County Administrator Bonnie Wise, Fire Chief Dennis Jones, Commissioner Harry Cohen and Commissioner Mariella Smith.
shifts of firefighters/paramedics, with at least six first responders on each shift. In addition, it will also house a rescue ambulance, a battalion chief and a fire engine. “Not only is the health and welfare of the residents important to me, but also our fire rescue personnel,” Jones said. “They put their lives on the line every day to care for the citizens.” Commissioner Harry Cohen from District 1 stated that this groundbreaking for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Station 45 demonstrates the county’s commitment to protect the lives and property of residents, businesses and visitors. He also mentioned that the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responds to well over 100,000 calls a year. “This facility will greatly benefit the thriving central Brandon area, especially the Oakfield and Paul’s communities,” Cohen said. “This station will save lives and become yet another source for all of the citizens of Hillsborough County.” “We are excited to watch this modern station take shape, which we hope will be in operation by late spring of 2022,” Jones said.
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
Brandon’s Brooker Elementary School will begin its 60th year this month with a new principal at the helm. Valrico resident Heidi Koplin returned to the school where she first taught in 2006 over the summer and is looking forward to leading Brooker students and families for an important milestone year. Koplin, who was hired by outgoing principal Julie Kelly as a second-grade teacher when she moved to the area from Minnesota in 2006, most recently acted as the assistant principal at Brandon’s Mintz Elementary for two years and held the same role at Thompson Elementary in Ruskin before that. She also worked as a math coach at Mintz from 2012-2014. “I am so excited to be back [at] Brooker,” said Koplin. “One of my first stops when I came back to campus was my old classroom. It has been wonderful to be somewhere familiar with so many welcoming faces.” Growing up in a small town in Minnesota, Koplin learned the importance of community and education. Her father-in-law taught in her high school and her own father was a community college teacher. “Brooker has such a strong sense of community,” she said. “Everyone knows someone who went to Brooker and people are so proud of their school.” Koplin plans to focus on increasing the technology available to Brooker students
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With shovels in hand and hard hats on their heads, Fire Chief Dennis Jones of the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue along with members of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) joined together as dirt was tossed during the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Station 45, located in central Brandon at 307 Pauls Drive. As one of the busiest and fastest-growing parts of the county, this new station will help fire rescue reduce response times within that critical period of need. In fact, Jones mentioned that it is experiencing record call increase, which would be the largest in the history of the department. “We need a station to keep up with the capacity and call volume,” Jones said. This new, modern-designed, two-bay fire station will be the first state-of-theart facility when it comes to reducing the risk of cancer for the firefighters. It will include a clean entryway, which allows firefighters to keep their bunker gear separate from the living quarters. The new station will be home to three
Valrico resident Heidi Koplin was recently named principal at Brooker Elementary School. She is pictured here with her husband, Benjamin, and daughter, Madison. Not pictured is her son, Andrew.
and is already working on campus beautification projects to help the school move into its next decade. In her free time, Koplin is an avid reader, loves cooking and travels as much as possible, especially internationally. Her love for travel began when she studied abroad in France in college and, along with her husband, Benjamin, she tries to plan at least two trips out of the country each year. A visit to Thailand is on her bucket list. Her children, Madison and Andrew, both graduated from Burns Middle and Bloomingdale High Schools and Madison also attended Brooker for elementary school. “It is such a privilege to lead this community,” said Koplin. “Brooker is a gem of a school.” Brooker Elementary is located at 812 Dewolf Rd. in Brandon and can be reached at 744-8184.
7/31/2021
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7/31/2021