Riverview/Apollo Beach
29 C E L E B R A T I N G
May 2020 Volume 18, Issue 5 Ph: 657-2418 1 8
Y E A R S
O F
P U B L I S H I N G
Shoppes At Alafia Construction Finally Underway At Gibsonton/I-75 Interchange
By Sharon Still
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
Student Fulfills Dream Of Diploma, Unites Community, Days Before Losing Cancer Battle
By Karin Davis-Thompson
migrant advocate, along with Davis and other members of the chamber of commerce, set out to plan a special graduation ceremony for Richard at his hospice care facility. Richard was presented with his diploma by School Superintendent Addison Davis, School Board Chair Melissa Snively, WWE Superstar Titus O'Neil and his school principal, Denise Savino. He got to wear Photo Provided By Hillsborough County Schools Representatives of Hillsborough County Schools and his cap and gown for the celebration and they even played family members gather around Richard CanalesCalles the LifePath Hospice in Ruskin. From left are the traditional pomp and circumLennard High School migrant liaison Olga Perez, Richard’s brother Julio Steven, Hillsborough County stance for the graduation march. School Board Chair Melissa Snively, Richard’s mother Veronica, his brother Oliver, WWE pro It was an emotional wrestler Titus O’Neill, Lennard Principal Denise moment for the senior and he Savino and Schools’ Superintendent Addison Davis. cried as they presented him When Melanie Davis, executive with the diploma. But then, just a few director of the SouthShore Chamber of days later, Richard lost his battle with Commerce, met Richard Canales Calles cancer; he was just 18 years old. in 2018, he had just enrolled at Lennard Davis said she wants people to High School after working on farms in remember that Richard was more than Virginia. He was going to be the first perjust a young person diagnosed with canson in his family to graduate from high school and he was determined to make it cer. “He was the child of a migrant farm happen—even as he faced the fight of his worker. He worked the farms also,” she life. said. “He loved our country. He loved Richard had just been diagnosed learning. He was a kind soul.” with bone cancer and Davis said he was adamant about staying on target with his school work while beginning treatment. “The day I met him, he said he wanted to keep up with his school work while undergoing treatment in the hospital because he was going to get his high school diploma no matter what,” she said. “He set his mind to it. He had a vision and goal. He wanted to graduate and then work on airplanes.” Richard, the oldest of four siblings in his family, fought hard and long. As his treatment continued and he juggled his school work, the cancer spread to his lungs. As time went on, doctors said it didn’t look good. But even though he didn’t know how much time he had left, he was still determined to get that diploma. So, officials at Lennard High School, including Olga Perez, the school’s
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Estate, the company marketing the project, is unable to announce any confirmed tenants at this time. While the expected completion date is in February 2021, Aprile stated, “We are in the middle of a pandemic right now and things are constantly changing.” The three outparcels Retail stores, hotels and more are slated for the Shoppes at Alafia on Gibsonton Dr. that are available are 1.08 acres and Land clearing 5.63 acres is underway and flanking the development will retail strip soon begin on centers as more than 12 well as a acres located 1.29-acre east of I-75 on site on the the north side of east side of Gibsonton Dr. The property consists of a site suitable for a hotel up to 124 the entrance to The Preserve at Alafia than has not been cleared. rooms adjacent to the I-75 north onramp, multiple build-to-suit outparcels These sites are suitable for fast food restaurants, freestanding buildings as well as three retail strip centers. Site plans call for a mix of nation- and other uses. “It would be great to have a hotel al retail, medical offices, restaurants right here, but I am concerned about and other types of convenience-type the traffic,” said Joseph Allen of stores such as salons, dry cleaners, Riverview. “It is already congested childcare and others. Phase One, dubbed the Shoppes at Alafia, will be there at most times of day.” The property, located at 10114 made up of three retail strip centers Gibsonton Dr. in Riverview, is accesat 7,144 sq. ft, 7,752 sq. ft. and 2,516 sq. ft. Space is available, rang- sible by a traffic signal at Gibsonton Dr. and Fern Hill Dr. Old Gibsonton ing in sizes from 1,200-7,752 sq. ft. Dr. runs along the front side of the Space sizes are flexible and are property parallel to Gibsonton Dr., available for ground lease, built-tooffering additional entrance points to suit or purchase. the property. While preliminary site plans for For more information, contact the 2,516 sq. ft. building showed a Starbucks, the plans have since been Jason Aprile of Aprile Real Estate at 532-6432. changed. Jason Aprile of Aprile Real
P O S I T I V E
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WE ARE OPEN!! From pizza deliveries and mailbox decorating, members of the community are finding creative ways to thank essential workers and hospital staff. See a full story on Page 13. Above: River of Life Christian Center spread love and encouragement to the staff at St. Joseph Hospital - South. See full story on Page 14. Have a great community story to share, email news@ospreyobserver.com.
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