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Brandon/Winthrop
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Brandon 4th Of July Parade Celebrates 60 Years Of Honorary Mayor Of Brandon By Kathy L. Collins
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the Roundtable has received notes from spectators stating that their grandparents brought them to see the parade, and now they are bringing their grandchildren. Once the parade ends, people go home to enjoy BBQ and a refreshing swim.” Expected participants in this year’s parade include the Bloomingdale/Brandon Summer Band, the Rough Riders, Wolfe’s Produce tractor, Sheriff’s Office Equestrian Posse, the Tampa Model A Club and the Kiwanis Club of Greater Come out with family and friends Brandon. and continue or start the tradition of attending The Community Brandon’s Fourth of July Roundtable's Annual Brandon Fourth Parade celebrates the residents, of July Parade. The parade has been held for over 60 years on the Fourth of July beginning schools, organizations and nonprofits of at 10 a.m. in the heart of Brandon. the Greater Brandon area. The parade features floats, marching bands, dancers The Annual Brandon Fourth of July and more. Each year, the winner of the Parade presented by The Community Roundtable will be held on Thursday, July Annual Honorary Mayors’ Race is announced along with the winner of The 4. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at the Community Roundtable’s Father of the Law Offices of Reed & Reed at the corYear award. You can also see the winner ner of Lumsden Rd. and Parsons Ave. of the Alice B. Tompkins Award (an award The route will continue north on Parsons, given to someone who epitomizes service stop at the reviewing stand located in front of Nature's Health Foods at Parsons to the community) and the winner of the Maureen Krzanowski Scholarship. and Oakfield Dr., continue west on “At the request of the Hillsborough Robertson St. and end in the Publix parkCounty Sheriff’s Office, alcohol and squirt ing lot at Buckingham Pl. guns are banned,” said Nickerson. This year’s theme is Celebrating the The Parade Committee is looking for Honorary Mayor of Brandon 60th sponsors and volunteers. Students in Anniversary. need of community service hours can The Annual Fourth of July Parade is have fun and help the community by vola tradition for many Brandon area resiunteering for set up and clean up. dents and their families. Janine Students are encouraged to contact The Nickerson, president of the community Community Roundtable by Saturday, Roundtable said, “This is the 63rd presentation of the Independence Day Parade June 15. For more information on the 2019 by The Community Roundtable. Many residents attend because it is a family tra- Fourth of July Parade, please contact The Community Roundtable at 661-4350 or dition and the day would not be complete email at roundtable2008@aol.com or visit without seeing this colorful event.” www.thecommunityroundtable.org. Nickerson added, “Over the years,
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Chorus Students Gather From Across U.S. To Celebrate Director’s Retirement
By Kate Quesada
When a favorite surprise medley Brandon High music and made a School teacher recording so that the retired last month, singers from all over she was given the the country could surprise of a lifetime learn the words by her former stusince it was not posdents. sible for everyone to Marilyn Rose get together to Nicholson spent the rehearse before the last 22 years as event. Singers came Brandon High from Georgia, School’s (BHS) Washington D.C., choral director and Texas, Rhode Island more than 150 alumand California. ni traveled from all “The memories Brandon High School Choral Director over the country to came flooding back,” Marilyn Rose Nicholson retired in May join a surprise perafter 22 years at the school. More than said Nicholson, who 150 former students came together to formance in her lives in Riverview. perform a surprise medley in her honor “Seeing so many honor after the end after the school’s annual end of of year concert on well-loved singers year concert. May 17. whom I haven’t seen Erin NeSmith, who was a member in years and recognizing all of them, of Nicholson’s first BHS choral group 22 eventually.” years ago, helped organize the performNeSmith is thrilled to have been ance as a way to pay tribute to the able to put together such a successful teacher who touched many lives in her tribute. “She created a family,” said time at the school. NeSmith. “It was an honor to show her “Mrs. Nicholson taught us so much how much we care.” more than music,” said NeSmith, who Brandon High School is located at met her husband, Benjamin, in 1101 Victoria St. in Brandon and can be Nicholson’s music class in 1997. reached at 744-8120. “We all wanted to do something to give back to her and show her how much she means to us.” In This NeSmith began planning the event Issue more than two years ago and used a Facebook page to reach out to the many students who wanted to pay tribute to BOYS & GIRLS CLUB FUN RUN ...........PG 4 Nicholson. During the surprise, which NEW BRANDON LIBRARY SITE ...........PG 8 took place after the annual Looking Glass Concert in the high school’s audiRIVAL HIGH SCHOOLS FUNDRAISE ....PG 9 torium, show choir students from every CLEARING HOUSE MILLIONAIRE ......PG 11 year since 1997 sang a medley of 22 songs in Nicholson’s honor. EYE ON BUSINESS .....................PGS 25‐26 “It was an event of my lifetime,” said ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT................PG 36 Nicholson. “I am overwhelmed with the generosity and thoughtfulness and love SPORTS CONNECTION...............PGS 38‐39 of my wonderful Brandon students.” Nicholson’s husband, who is also a READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE chorus director, helped NeSmith and the www.ospreyobserver.com other event organizers put together the
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ECRWSS EDDM Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
Pages 29-35
June 2019 Volume 14, Issue 6 Ph: 657-2418
CRAB, CRAWFISH, CALAMARI & LOBSTER
KIDAPALOOZA is Bay Life’s slime filled, super funny, high-energy VBS. Over 700 kids registered for the week playing games focused on teamwork, singing and dancing to the kids’ favorite songs like ‘Brave’, learning Bible verses and sliming one of the 320 volunteers selected by a child who felt that leader made them feel extra special. For more information about Bay Life Church, visit www.baylife.org or call 661-3696. It is located at 1017 Kingsway Rd. in Brandon.
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