Riverview/Apollo Beach
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January 2020 Volume 18, Issue 1 Ph: 657-2418 1 8
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Wings Of Freedom Brings WWII Planes Longtime Area Educator Dr. Earl Lennard Leaves Lasting Community Legacy To Tampa For Tour & Flights Staff Report
states annually and is celebrating its 31st year, having been seen by tens of millions of people. The foundation developed the Wings of Freedom Tour to engage and educate future generations in WWII history through an immersive tour and flying experience. It is a flying tribute to those who flew, maintained, built and helped protect them and to the citizens that share the freedom the aircraft helped preserve. B-25s and B-24s were the backbone of the American effort in WWII from 1942 to 1945, famous for their ability to sustain damage and still accomplish the mission. Despite the risks of enemy attacks and sub-zero temperatures, many safely brought their crews home. P-51s, known as the bombers’ ‘Little Friend,’ saved countless crews from attacking Axis fighters. The Wings of Freedom Tour will arrive at 12 Noon on January 20 and depart after 12 Noon on January 23. Ground tour and display hours are 12 Noon-4:30 p.m. on January 20, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. on January 21 and 22 and 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on January 23. The 30-minute flights are normally scheduled before and after the ground tour times. For more info, visit www.collingsfoundation.org or contact Hunter Chaney, director of marketing, at hchaney@collingsfoundation.org or 800-568-8924.
By Linda Chion Kenney
“He’s going to be remembered by the education community, but his roots were in agriculture,” said Tom Umiker, manager of the Hillsborough County Fair, which Lennard served as board member and past president. “Everybody knew him and I never Earl Lennard at his 2009 swearing-in heard a negative ceremony for Hillsborough County word about him. Supervisor of Elections, with his daughter, Missy (l.), charter principal of Stowers He’s a humble, Elementary, Annabel, his wife of 55 years homegrown icon.” and son Jeremy, a technology specialist One of nine at Bloomingdale High. siblings, Lennard From farm to schoolhouse, county worked on his fair to boardroom, Earl J. Lennard is family’s farm and remembered as a “humble, homegrown tended to the icon” whose teachings, kindness and details of its roadEarl Lennard, former leadership leave an indelible mark. Hillsborough County side vegetable The namesake of Lennard High superintendent of stand. A long-time School in Ruskin died Dec. 23, at age schools and supervisor member of of elections, passed 77, after a prolonged illness that led to away in the evening of Riverview United his hospitalization since Thanksgiving December 23, 2019 fol- Methodist Church, 2018. lowing a prolonged illness. Dr. Lennard was he taught Lennard entered the Hillsborough 77 years old. Gleaners Sunday County public school system as a firstgrader at Palm River Elementary and left Story Continued On Page 14 as its superintendent of schools upon retirement in 2005. Four years later, Gov. Charlie Christ appointed him Hillsborough In This County Supervisor of Elections, to Issue replace Phyllis Busansky, who died that year. Lennard served out the remainder CANINE CABANA ADDS TRAINING.....PG 3 of her term and then ran unopposed for DESSERT WARS ..................................PG 4 his own four-year term. Under his watch as superintendent, RIV CHAMBER ANNUAL DINNER........PG 7 Hillsborough grew from the 11th-largest SCOUTING FOR FOOD......................PG 13 to the eighth-largest school district in the nation, necessitating the addition and TRANSPORTATION UPDATE..............PG 17 renovation of more than 90 schools. He contended with the fears and budget EYE ON BUSINESS....................PGS 25‐26 shortfalls in the aftermath of the 9/11 terYEAR IN REVIEW......................PGS 28‐35 rorist attacks and in his wake left a contingency fund of more than $300 million. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT...............PG 37 Court-ordered desegregation ended durREAD MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE ing Lennard’s tenure and he led the development of the school choice and www.ospreyobserver.com magnet school program.
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In honor of our WWII veterans, the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour will bring extremely rare bomber and fighter aircraft for a local living history display. The B-24 Liberator ‘Witchcraft,’ B-25 Mitchell ‘Old Glory’ bombers and P-51 Mustang ‘Toulouse Nuts’ fighter will fly into the Tampa Executive Airport on the main ramp at 6530 Tampa Executive Airport Rd. from Monday through Thursday, January 20-23. The B-24 is the last of its type flying in the world. The B-25 is best known as the bomber used in the Doolittle Raid. The P-51 was the first interceptor with the long range capability to protect Allied bombers all the way to a target and back. Visitors are invited to explore them. It is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12 for up-close viewings and tours through the inside of the B-24, with discounts for school groups. Visitors can also take 30-minute flights aboard the aircraft. B-24 flights are $475 per person and B-25 flights are $425. P-51 flight training is $2,400 for a half-hour and $3,400 for one hour. For reservations and more information, call 800-568-8924. The Collings Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation devoted to organizing ‘living history’ events that allow people to learn more about their heritage and history through direct participation. This tour visits around 110 cities in over 35
RIVERVIEW
Now Offering FREE DELIVERY Goodson Farms Strawberry Market, located at 12406 County Road 672 E in Balm, is now open for the 2020 Strawberry Season. Goodson Farms was started in 1979 by Don and Janet Goodson and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The market is open only seasonally until Strawberry Season ends in March or early April. Call 634-7790 and like Goodson Farms Strawberry Market on Facebook.
for purchases over $50 Serving Our Customers in 4 Locations: Lithia • Big Bend, Riverview • 301, Riverview • Sun City Center
405-8990 7441 US Hwy 301 South, Riverview (1 Mile North of Alafia River, Flea Market Plaza)