Two Sections, 36 Pages of Community News
Valrico
22 C E L E B R A T I N G
27
September 2019 Volume 16, Issue 9 Ph: 657-2418 1 7
Y E A R S
O F
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
Center Place And The Community Roundtable Seek Volunteers For Annual Cards For Troops
BSAC Proud To Host Special Olympics Swimming State Qualifier
Center Place instructional Fine Arts and Civic method to create Association handmade cards. (Center Place) and The inside is left The Community blank for the solRoundtable presdiers to write a ent the 12 Annual personal sentiCards For Troops ment to their famon Saturday, ilies. October 5 from 10 Rodriguez a.m. to 3 p.m. at said, “Join us for Center Place, a day of fun putlocated at 619 ting your crafting Put your crafting skills to good use on Vonderburg Dr. in Saturday, October 5 and join others in creating skills to work.” holiday cards for deployed service members at Brandon. Lunch is prothe 12th Annual Cards For Troops. Members of vided for volunthe community, 16 years teers. This year, organizers and older, can come are asking for a $10 donatogether to assemble tion at the door. thousands of cards for There are many ways servicemen and women that you can get involved who are currently in this community effort. deployed the world over. Area businesses and No experience is necesorganizations can sponsor sary. This is a free event donations. You can profor the community. mote your business by Susan Saunders, a providing raffle items such Stampin’ Up demonstrator, as gift cards, products and is once again this year’s services. The funds from chair. the raffle help to defray the According to Lisa Rodriguez, market- cost of supplies and postage. Additionally, ing director for Center Place, “Susan and you can donate food for volunteers. her lead committee are already hard at If you know of a deployed service work on the planning that goes into member, you can email their complete designing the cards and preparing all the mailing address to Center Place, and a supplies that are needed for the day of package of cards to share with their unit the event.” Rodriquez added, “The 12th will be mailed to them. Please email cenAnnual Cards For Troops is co-sponsored terplacebrandon@yahoo.com or roundby The Community Roundtable and table2008@aol.com. Center Place. The day of the event All contributions are tax deductible. always falls on National Card Day.” Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Over the years, thousands of cards Association Inc. is located at 619 have been created by hundreds of volunVonderburg Drive, Suite B, Brandon, FL. teers. The members of the community Contact Center Place at 685-8888 or who participate will use a step-by-step 661-4350.
On August 17, event brings awarethe Brandon Sports ness to the imporAquatic Center tance of the Special (BSAC) hosted the Olympics while supHillsborough County porting local special Special Olympics needs athletes. swimming competiUnlike most sports, tion at its main locaswimming is first tion. The winners taught to ensure from the event qualsafety and then for ified to compete in fun and competition. the Special For those with speOlympics State cial needs, swimChampionships. ming is a wonderful Several stuform of occupational dents from BSAC’s therapy which very own TRIDENT allows them to be (Training and happy and healthy. Photo courtesy of Dana Miller Recreation for the Special Jessica Miller stands with her dad, Jon Miller, before the competition. Intellectually Olympics is a worldDisabled Enhancing wide organization their Natural Talents) that has dedicated its program competed time and efforts to after practicing yearmaking sports incluround. The program teaches special sive for all. With over five million special needs adults the importance of active needs athletes competing in over recreation, proper socialization, interper- 100,000 competitions each year, BSAC sonal skills and independent life skills. is honored to be able to host as well as Valrico resident and TRIDENT stuhave athletes participate in the dent Jessica Miller was one of the many Hillsborough County state qualifiers. athletes that competed in the swimming BSAC, is a community-based 501c3 events held at BSAC. She won two first non-profit organization and is located at place ribbons for the freestyle and back- 405 Beverly Blvd., Brandon. For more stroke events. She was also invited to information, visit www.mybsac.org. say the Special Olympics athlete oath to kick off the festivities. Miller has participated in many Special Olympic events at the local, district and state levels for a little over 15 years now. Miller, who has Down syndrome, has competed in tennis, bowling and 26 track, but swimming is her favorite. She has been apart of the TRIDENT program at BSAC for three or four years HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC FESTIVAL.......PG 13 now. She currently trains at BSAC two times a week. Candi Corsi is her coach. EYE ON BUSINESS .....................PGS 25‐26 “I have lots of fun swimming,” said HS FOOTBALL SEPCIAL .............PGS 28‐31 Miller. “It’s a great exercise for me.” Miller said that she hasn’t heard if CHALKLINES .....................................PG 32 she’s been invited to participate in the READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE state competition yet, but if given the opportunity, she will gladly compete. According to the BSAC website, this
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The Stano Foundation started in 2015 with the mission to support our Armed Forces and veterans through project based initiatives focused on enhancing their comfort and quality of life with a piece of home. Paula Stano is the president of The Stano Foundation and she is grateful for the support from community. See Full Story Page 14.
3426 Lithia Pinecrest Rd • Valrico (813) 681-2223 (located behind Chili’s)