Riverview/Apollo Beach
7 C E L E B R A T I N G
January 2021 Volume 19, Issue 1 Ph: 657-2418 1 9
Y E A R S
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P U B L I S H I N G
P O S I T I V E
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
Homes By WestBay Donates More Than $90,000 To Tampa Bay Charities
Instructional Support Employee of the Year Finalists Named During Surprise Patrol Visits
As part of its comvides a safe and nurmitment to the Tampa turing residential home Bay community, Homes for foster children until by WestBay has donatthey can be placed ed more than $90,000 to with a foster family. three local charities: A For the last three Kids Place of Tampa, years, Beth Bradburn, the Florida Wildlife Vice President & CFO Representatives from Homes by Corridor, and WestBay donate $30,000 to A Kids of Homes by Metropolitan Ministries. Place. Beth Bradburn, Homes by WestBay has served Westbay CFO, Samantha Mellen, A on the organization’s Each organization Place Development Director, will receive approximate- Kids Brad Gregory, A Kids Place CEO, board of directors. ly $32,000, a record As a supporter of and Willy Nunn, WestBay CEO donation amount for the smart growth, Homes Riverview-based home by WestBay has builder and a nearly 10 donated to the Florida percent increase over Wildlife Corridor since 2019. Each year, 2018. The statewide Homes by WestBay sets environmental organiaside a portion of each zation champions the home sale to assist its conservation of land, charity partners. water and wildlife “Giving back to our throughout the state. Representatives from Homes by community is an integral Metropolitan WestBay donate $30,000 to The part of who we are as a Ministries has been a Florida Wildlife Corridor. company,” said Willy charity partner of Nunn, President & CEO Homes by WestBay of Homes by WestBay. since 2019. The non“As the largest locallyprofit provides food, owned, privately held housing, and social homebuilder in Tampa skills programs to Bay, we feel an obligahomeless and at-risk tion to support local individuals, families organizations that are and children throughtruly making a difference out Tampa Bay. As Representatives from Homes by in the communities the Covid-19 panWestBay donate $30,000 to where we build. In this demic continues, the Metropolitan Ministries. very challenging year, need for Met Min has we’re blessed to be able to assist these never been greater. During the current non-profits as they serve our neighbors crisis, nearly 40-percent of people seekin need and protect the environment ing assistance from the organization are throughout the state we call home.” doing so for the first time. Homes by WestBay’s association For more information, visit with A Kids Place dates back to 2017. www.HomesByWestBay.com or The Brandon-based organization prowww.casafrescahomes.com.
A celebratory no longer has a student “Surprise Patrol” visitattending the school. ed Dawson “I am so passionate Elementary and for this school, its teachRodgers Middle ers and our students,” Schools to recognize she said. It’s no wonder two finalists for she received the nod Instructional Support from her peers. Employee of the The District’s Year, an award honInstructional Support oring educational Employee of the Year will support personnel for be announced at the contributions they Excellence in Education make to their Awards ceremony, which schools. will take place virtually on Paraeducators, January 21, 2021. The custodians, secreIda S. Baker Diversity taries, nutritional Michael Helton (Dawson Elementary) Educator of the Year and Meredith Bippen (Rodgers staff, bus drivers and and Teacher of the Year Middle) have been selected as aides were eligible will also be announced. finalists for the 2021 Instructional for the contest, which Support Employee of the Year award. For more informarecognizes outstandtion about HEF’s ing service by school employees who Excellence in Education Awards visit provide direct or indirect services to stuwww.EducationFoundation.com. dent and their families. The surprise patrol was made up of representatives from Hillsborough Education Foundation, Hillsborough County Public Schools, presenting sponsor Suncoast Credit Union, Caspers Company, McDonald’s Restaurants and Amscot. The finalists include: Lynn Jones (Mitchell Elementary School ESE Paraprofessional), Michael Helton (Dawson Elementary School Nutrition Services Manager) and Meredith Bippen (Rodgers Middle School Secretary). Bippen was taken aback when the prize patrol walked into her office, with cowbells jingling and congratulatory exclamations. “I had no idea I was going to get one of the finalist spots,” she said. 25 Bippen was the school’s PTA President before getting hired as its secretary. “The former secretary was retiring and she told me I would be perfect for the BROWNS CLUBS................................PG 4 job,” said Bippen. EYE ON BUSINESS...........................PG 25 The teachers and staff at the school nominated her for Instructional Support TOBYMAC COMES TO AMALIE .......PG 28 Employee of the Year. She is still the DAVIS NAMES COUNCIL .................PG 29 school’s PTA President, even though she
Staff Report
By Michelle Caceres
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
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INSIDE:
The popular HGTV series 100 Day Dream Home returned with new episodes this month, spotlighting home building on tight timelines. Riverview High School graduates Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, who attracted more than 22.6 million total viewers to the first season, star in nine fresh episodes on Mondays at 8 p.m. The husband-wife team will continue to help clients create their perfect custom home in the Tampa area in an astonishing 100 days or less.
Offer Valid through January 31, 2021