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January 2017 Volume 16, Issue 1 Ph: 657-2418 1 5
Y E A R S
O F
P U B L I S H I N G
Schools Benefit As FishHawk Ranch Road Race Celebrates 20 Years
By Katelyn Massarelli
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
Parents Respond To Hillsborough County School Board Vote To End Courtesy Busing
By Tamas Mondovics
The Hillsborough County Schools Board voted 6-1 last month to end courtesy busing for middle and high school students living within two miles of their school. The decision is the result of the Districts plan to reduce spending.
As anticipated, Hillsborough County Schools Board’s 6-1 decision last month to end its nearly 20-year-long courtesy busing offered to thousands of students living within two miles of their schools was met with much concern. Parents living in communities like FishHawk Ranch immediately turned to social media in hopes of finding the best way to come to terms with the loss of courtesy busing, a term that many have never heard, and a service that most thought was the norm. “Heavy traffic, long car lines and safety has been our concern for several years. It’s funny how the beginning of the school year the school board said the area was deemed hazardous conditions and we were always told that the solution is to utilize the buses,” said FishHawk resident Kathi Hayes. “Traffic continues to increase as more residents move into the area, suddenly, the area isn’t hazardous and now we are losing the buses, which makes no sense.” To explain the decision, school officials mailed out a comprehensive packet to nearly 7,500 middle and high school students who will be affected by the change at the start of the 2017-2018 school year, saving approximately $3 million for the District. “Parents of elementary students will have more time to plan,” said HCPS spokesperson, Tanya Arja. “We will end
elementary courtesy busing as well, but not until the 2018-19 school year.” School officials estimate the total saving at nearly $10 million. The state provides funding to transport students who reside more than two miles from their assigned school, for prekindergarten or special education students who require transportation living inside the two-mile boundary. Students not meeting the state’s hazardous criteria are known as courtesy rid-
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In This Issue NEWSOME BLUE LETTERS..................PG 3 TIN ROOF TRADING COMPANY .........PG 6 VETS OPEN ANYTIME FITNESS...........PG 6 FH COMEDY NIGHT............................PG 9 WILD DAME NIGHT..........................PG 12 BABY ZEKE........................................PG 13
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT...............PG 35 YEAR IN REVIEW......................PGS 36‐48
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The event will In 1997, the first have a 5K race FishHawk Ranch and two kids’ funRoad Race took place runs that will be to raise money for local charities and one mile and a eventually became a half mile. After the way to raise money races, the event for local schools in will have a post2005. This year, the race party for parrace is back to create ticipants and attendees to celea welcoming environbrate their accomment for everyone in plishments or just the comto have fun. munity “[Attendees] just as enjoy music proits done vided by an area for the D.J., food, and past 20 years. The Terkhorn familly attends the random give19th annual FishHawk Ranch This aways,” Road Race. year all McMorrow said. proceeds will be going to Barrington “Of course, one of the highlights is the Middle, Colleen Bevis Elementary, awards ceremony, with recognition for FishHawk Creek Elementary, Newsome overall Male and Female, Masters and High, Randall Middle and Stowers Grandmasters winners, as well as to the Elementary schools. In the past, the top three racers in each age group. Road Race has donated more than Medals are also given to all Kid’s Race $175,000 to local schools within the participants. FishHawk community and contributed to Avid Runners, beginning, intermedia scholarship for a student member of ate level runners, and walkers all come the FishHawk Road Runners. out to the Road Race. The event allows “Each school has the flexibility to participants and attendees to join in on use the funds they receive in a way that the fun whether it be to have fun with the is most beneficial to students or to supfamily or come join the energetic atmosport the school’s greatest need,” phere of the community. Marketing Manager for Waterset Potential racers can still register and Newland Communities Lynda McMorrow will be able to on the day of the race. said. The 5K registration fee is $25 in McMorrow and the rest of the advance and $30 on the race day. Kids Newland Communities marketing team race registration fees are $15. You can works to find sponsors for the race. They Register in advance at www.fishwork alongside the Public Relations hawkranch.com. The event will take team, school beneficiaries, and place on January 28 at FishHawk FishHawk Road Runners each year to Ranch, Lithia. For more information, you put together the Road Race each year. can call 685-7500.
P O S I T I V E
Free Popcorn Pg. 46
Photo Courtesy By Arkin Amirdinov
Members of the Newsome High School Wolfpack Marching Band proudly take part in the 90th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City, NY. The Band was one of only 10 marching bands participating in the parade and the first ever representing Hillsborough County.
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