Riverview/Apollo Beach 49-57
7
March 2022
Volume 20, Issue 3
Ph: 657-2418
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
NEW WATERSET SCHOOL NAMED DOROTHY C. YORK PREK-8 MAGNET Staff Report
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
By Sharon Still
Montel Williams opened the door to show the Clarke family a completely redesigned home after his Military Makeover team did its magic for these selfless veterans.
The Military Makeover with Montel TV show, led by Montel Williams, a veteran of both the Marine Corps and the Navy, came into town recently, and for six days, contractors, designers and volunteers worked feverishly to give a makeover to the Riverview home of veterans Kari and Adam Clarke and their two sons. Family, friends, neighbors, volunteers and the East Bay High School Junior ROTC Color Guard gathered as the rain poured steadily, awaiting the family’s arrival for the big reveal. Military Makeover co-host Art Edmonds proclaimed, “This is all about community. Rain, cold, wind—nothing could stop us.” Williams’ Military Makeover show seeks out deserving veterans and does a complete design renovation on their home as a way of offering a helping hand and saying “thank you.” “This is our 29th season,” said Williams. “We are proud to making a forever home for a two-veteran family.” “She is so deserving,” said Kristine Dugas about her sister, Kari. “She is always helping others.” From landscaping and new paint outside to new lighting, appliances, furniture, artwork and even a cat tree to entertain their fuzzy feline, the house had a whole new flair and function. Additionally, the Clarkes received a hyperbaric chamber from Grunt Style, which will aid in Kari’s autoimmune disease. “That is really exciting and very helpful,” said Kari.
“We are so glad they like it,” remarked co-host Lacey Evans at the big reveal. “Our whole team nailed their personality.” After meeting at The Veterans Administration hospital, Kari and Adam found that their similar experiences brought them closer together. Both served as army sergeants in different areas and saw the horror of the front line in war, losing close friends, cheating death and encountering horrific situations that would stay with them for life. The aftereffects of an accident during training left Kari with several herniated discs in her spine and being diagnosed with auto-immune disease, forcing her to medically retire long before she hoped to end her military career. Though both Adam and Kari continue to battle their emotional and physical scars, and they spend their time giving back and supporting others. Kari serves as president of Post 9/11 Veterans, an organization in Tampa that focuses on integrating the community together with returning veterans. Many volunteers and businesses throughout the community donated their time and products during the sixday shoot, including Chill Cawfee, Lowe’s of Riverview, Bath Fitters, SERVPRO of Brandon/Riverview and others. Smith & Steele Design served as general contractors throughout the entire project. Nominations for Military Makeover can be made at www.mililtarymakeover.tv. The Clarke Family’s show is set to air on Lifetime on Friday, March 11.
IN THIS ISSUE: TURKEY TROT RESULTS .....................PG 3 SADLER HONEY FARM ..................... PG 12 EYE ON BUSINESS ...................PGS 25-26 SUMMER CAMPS......................PGS 49-57
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After receiving more a teacher for all teachers than 1,500 school name do.” submissions, the HillsYork-Cohen said her borough County School mother tutored children Board voted unanimously for free and dedicated to name the district’s new her life to ensuring chilschool Dorothy C. York dren had every chance to PreK-8 Magnet School succeed. “My mother was last month. absolutely a phenomenal Dorothy C. York PreK-8 teacher, believing in all Magnet School is schedchildren. She was an aduled to open in fall 2022 vocate for children and in the fast-growing area believed all children deof Southeastern Hillsborserved a second chance,” ough County. The school said York-Cohen. is located in the WaterMissy Lennard was set by Newland communamed the principal of the nity off Hwy. 301. This The new preK-8 magnet school set new school back in Nonew school will engage to open in Waterset by Newland in vember. Lennard started students with an inter- the fall will be named after former her education career in teacher Dorothy C. York. nationally minded focus Hillsborough County Pubwhile also offering lic Schools in 1993 art, dance and other and taught at Gibopportunities to exsonton Elementary, plore their creative where she also atside. tended as a student. Dorothy Carter Lennard is a proud York, the school’s graduate of East Bay namesake, was a High School. She also dedicated teacher has experience openfor 45 years. She ing new schools in was an English instructor at Blake High Hillsborough County. In 2009, she became School (English department chair) and lat- the principal of Stowers Elementary. er at Hillsborough High School. She also Lennard and other district leaders held worked with University of South Florida’s community meetings to share information Project Upward Bound and as an adjunct about the new school and gather name professor at Hillsborough Community Col- recommendations. Name submissions also lege. Plus, York was a talented writer and came in through a district survey and by author. She passed away on July 29, 2012. email. York’s daughter, Liz York-Cohen, was Dorothy C. York PreK-8 Magnet School overcome with emotions after Superin- will provide relief to schools that are altendent Davis announced the school’s new ready at or near capacity. Construction is name in her mother’s honor. “My mom booming in Southern Hillsborough County would be speechless today. She wouldn’t with thousands of students expected to be believe it. She was a teacher. Schools in entering our schools over the next three to this district are named after big shots—she five years. was a teacher. She would be stunned and To learn more, visit www.hillsboroughhonored that the district would recognize schools.org.
MONTEL HONORS RIVERVIEW VETS WITH MILITARY MAKEOVER
The SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo will take place in Lakeland from Tuesday to Sunday, April 5-10. See full story Section 3, Page 59.
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