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June 2016 Volume 15, Issue 6 Ph: 657-2418 1 5
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
Local Businesses Sponsor Recent Honor Flight Mission To Washington D.C.
$3.1M FishHawk Sports Complex Expansion Slated For June Completion
In April, Honor Honor Flight through Flight of West other local businessCentral Florida es; Chick-fil-A Lake took its 25th misBrandon Village, sion to Dynamic Painting Washington, D.C. USA, Canine for the day. On Cabana, Rob Z board this flight Fitness and the were 74 WWII and Osprey Observer. Korean War After being Veterans, each guardians on an escorted by a famiOctober 2013 flight, ly member or a Wilson said, “We member of the were so inspired by Cardinal Roofing and Solar Technologies community it that when we got recently funded a Honor Flight Mission to Washington D.C. assigned to be back, we decided to their guardian for the day. make Honor Flight Cardinal Roofing’s On a picture-perfect afternoon, more philanthropic focus.” than 150 people boarded a chartered This year, Cardinal Roofing partnered Allegiant Air flight out of St. with Southeastern Metals, a Gibraltar Pete/Clearwater Airport and headed for Industries Company, who offered to be a D.C. Upon arrival, about 9 a.m. The matching sponsor. They matched, dollar group was escorted directly onto buses for dollar, funds raised on the Sporting and off to the Air Force Memorial for Clays day which was enough to fund the lunch. The next stop for the group was corporate donation portion of an entire the World War II Memorial where the vetflight, $30,000. The rest of the flight was erans took time to walk through the funded by the guardians who donated memorial and reminisce about battles $400 for the opportunity to be a guardian fought and friends left behind. Final stop and which ensures that all veterans fly for the day was the Lincoln Memorial with free. stops at the Korean War Memorial and “Cardinal Roofing is humbled by the the Vietnam War Memorial. amount of love and support our commuIn addition to being a special day, this nity has given us in our fundraising efforts was also a special mission because it for Honor Flight; with community involvewas funded by a local small business, ment small businesses can really make a Cardinal Roofing and Solar Technologies. difference,” said Bridget. Bridget Jenkins Wilson and her father Honor Flight of West Central Florida Roger Jenkins, along with Chad Curchin, was established in 2010 and flies veterowners of Cardinal Roofing in Valrico, ans to Washington D.C. to see their hosted the Third Annual Shoot for Those memorials. Contact Bridget Jenkins Who Shot for US in February at Wilson, at bridget@cardinalroofingandsoFishHawk Sporting Clays in Lithia. Wilson lar.com or 689-ROOF to get involved in and Jenkins began their involvement with future events. To register for an upcoming the charity after being introduced to Honor Flight, visit www.honorflightwcf.org.
expansion raised some concerns among residents living within the Starling community, just west of the complex. Upon their return, County officials presented a new plan, which pushed the fields approximately 300 feet away from the Starling community. The new plan was the result of much cooperation between FishHawk Ranch developer Newland Communities, An aerial view of the FishHawk Sports Complex expanHillsborough County Parks sion gives residents a better perspective of the size and location of the nearly completed project. Department and the County After years of planning and months Public School Board. of construction, FishHawk and surroundIn exchange, the property dedicated ing area residents are only days away to the county west of the complex (the from witnessing the completion of originally planned site) became a conserFishHawk Sports Complex expansion vation lot with a dedicated habitat for project. County officials presented their gopher tortoises. The land swap cost expansion plans in connection with the Newland $150,000 due to necessary complex, located at 16120 FishHawk work to prepare the new tortoise habitat. Blvd. in Lithia, nearly five years ago. The “The revised plan means more work existing complex was built in 2008 with for us and some cost, but it helps accomeight ball fields, four multi-purpose fields, modate everyone's needs,” Newland concession stand, restrooms and parking. Communities Tampa North Vice By 2012, the facility was facing a President and General Manager Tom problem of overcrowding with teams fight- Panaseny said during a phone interview ing for fields and often playing late into before the project began. A grand openthe night. ing to celebrate the completion of the “We are 95 percent done with the project is scheduled for later this summer. project, opening in June,” said Project Visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org. Manager Chris Postiglione, The construction by QGS Development Inc., totaling $3.1 million, In This included several elements including the Issue expansion of the existing sports complex with four additional multi-purpose OLYMPIC SWIMMER ..........................PG 3 Bermuda grass practice fields as well as MOSI RELOCATION...........................PG 15 associated on-site and off-site improvements such as sports lighting, access HOA HOT TOPICS............................PG 18 drives, a 200-space parking lot, brand new concession, restroom and storage JOB FAIR .........................................PG 21 buildings, as well as landscaping, irrigaSPORTS CONNECTION .............PGS 34‐35 tion, storm drainage system, sidewalks, and fences. CHALKLINES....................................PG 37 Postiglione emphasized that the new ARTS & EVENTERTAINMENT ..........PG 42 fields, including the two by Randall, are all sized for soccer, which means they are READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE the large enough to accommodate other www.ospreyobserver.com sports such as youth football. The initial planning phase of the
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By Marie Gilmore
Photo By Tamas Mondovics
Members of the FishHawk Cub Scout Pack 632 gather for a photo during a recent event hosted by Building Homes for Heroes, which presented injured U.S. Marine Corporal Anthony Trzeciak and his family a mortgage-free home in Riverview. The pack joined hundreds of area residents as it welcomed Trzeciak to his new home last month.
By Tamas Mondovics