Osprey Observer 2019-02 Valrico by Osprey Observer

Two Sections, 36 Pages of Community News

Valrico

19 C E L E B R A T I N G

February 2019 Volume 16, Issue 2 Ph: 657-2418 1 7

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The 84th Annual 2019 Strawberry Festival Is Sure To Be ByAMichelle Hit Colesanti

2019 Strawberry Festival Queen Kendall Gaudens, along with First Maid Madilyn Conrad and court members Kennedy Cullins, Jada Brown and Olivia Frazier, can be seen at festival events throughout the grounds. The 84th annual Strawberry Festival will take place from Thursday, February 28 to Sunday, March 10.

The 84th annual Strawberry Festival promises to be a ‘berry’ sweet time for those in attendance. This year, it takes place from Thursday, February 28 to Sunday, March 10. Enjoy 11 days of familyfriendly entertainment, which includes fair food delights, concerts, rides, stage shows, attractions and exhibits. The Festival represents the fabric of American life, which is woven into the Festival through its social events, contests, youth programs, top-name entertainment and parades with glorious floats and marching bands. It continues to preserve and enhance the agricultural and historical legacy of the Florida strawberry. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. daily. Midway times vary. General admission is $10 for ages 13 and up. Children 5 and under are

admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Children 6 to 12 require a youth ticket purchase of $5. Each year, more than 500,000 visitors enjoy all the Festival offers, including its signature strawberry shortcake. Other ways to enjoy Plant City’s fresh strawberries while visiting include Strawberry Fudge, Strawberry Fritters, Strawberry Kettle Korn, Strawberry Cream Puffs, Deep Fried Strawberry Cheese Burst as well as lots of other fair foods for you to feast on. Kendall Gaudens, a senior at Plant City High School, was crowned the 2019 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen from a field of 31 contestants. She, along with First Maid Madilyn Conrad and court members Kennedy Cullins, Jada Brown and Olivia Frazier, can be seen at festival events throughout the grounds, including on the Wish Farms Soundstage before each of the 24 headline entertainment shows and at community events throughout the

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Middle School Makes Big Impact With Dodgeball Tourney To Fund Crossing Guards

By Kate Quesada

Parents at Mulrennan Middle School in Valrico held a dodgeball tournament last month to fund three crossing guards to assist students get to the school safely.

A group of parents at Mulrennan Middle School took their children’s safety into their own hands last month. Frustrated by the conditions for students who walk to the Valrico middle school, the parents raised $13,000 through a dodgeball tournament to fund three private crossing guards. Valrico resident and mother of three Mulrennan students, Danielle Waymire spearheaded the fundraiser when one of her children was almost hit by car while walking to school. “It got to the point where enough was enough,” said Waymire, who walks her children to school every day. “I couldn’t just watch cars regularly not yielding and children almost getting hit without doing something.” Waymire approached the school, the school district and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office asking for crossing guards and continued to get the same answer. “The bottom line is that there is no funding,” she said. Her next step was to find a private crossing guard company and convince the school district to allow the guards if the school could pay them $13,000 for the remainder of the school year. In order to raise the money, the parents and school employees coordinated a dodgeball tournament with the help of a local business, Dodgeball 2 You. It took less than two weeks for the crossing guards to take their places twice a day directing students and traffic. “They have already made a huge dif-

ference,” said Mulrennan parent and Valrico resident Bridget Wilson. “It is amazing how much easier it is to get to the school, even as a driver. It is so much nicer to have the safety in place.” Waymire and Wilson hope that they will not have to fundraise for the crossing guards again next year. The parents are working with Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White and Sheriff Chad Chronister to request funding for crossing guards at middle schools throughout the county. White added the issue to the agenda at a Board of County Commissioners meeting earlier this month and Waymire spoke on the issue to the board. They hope to get answers soon about funding for next year. “We are so proud of our school and the fact that we were able to make this happen,” said Wilson. “But we are even happier that local politicians have noticed. We are hoping that by the next school year we won’t have to do this anymore.” Mulrennan Middle School is located at 4215 Durant Rd. in Valrico and can be reached at 651-2100.

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