Osprey Observer Bloomingdale/FishHawk September 2022 by Osprey Observer

Florida

f , beauty pag eants for all ages and lots of discounts for the entire family. The fair will run for 11 full days, o f ering more time to enjoy the rides, food and exhibits at the Hillsborough County Fair grounds in Dover, just east of Brandon, from Thursday, November 3 to Sunday, November 13. Prior to the fair, the Harvest Queen Scholarship Pageant will take place on Saturday, October 1. Youth contestants from Hillsborough County will grace the stage to compete in the annual scholar ship pageant for the title of Hillsborough County Fair Harvest Queen and Junior Harvest Queen, which serve as the fair ambassadors for the 2022 fair. This year, free daily entertainment will include the Camel Kingdom Show, Disc-Connected K9s and the educational Fireﬁghter Show. Take a stroll through the historical Hometown Hillsborough area and the fair invites children of all ages to partic ipate in Cowboy Camp by Les McDowell to enjoy some fun of yesteryears! Hillsborough County School District o f ers school exhibit displays in the “Lit tle Red School house”. Sit down and relax in Exhibitionfoot18,000-square-3-13fromwhichShowsYouthyear’slightsnityfromentertainmentthePavilionEntertainmentourandenjoysoundsandthecommustages!OneofthehighofeachfairaretheLivestockandSales,willbeheldNovemberinthenewLivestockBuild

ments.

urday,BazaardayRanchFishHawkeventtions.bloodbeRedlood©andVeterans,ParalyzedChapterCoastofOneBBigBuswillacceptingdonaThethirdistheHoliShoppingonSatDecember10from10a.m.-3p.m.atThePalmettoClub.There,you’llﬁndover40vendorso f

For anyone look ing for some local fun times, FishHawk Ranch youdorswiththreetrictDevelopmentCommunityDiswillbehostingevents,twoplentyofvenandonewherecanshowo f yourThecar. FishHawk Ranch Market will run from October 2022 through May 2023 on the ﬁrst Sunday each month from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., starting on October 2. It will be held at Cross Park at 5970 Bea conpark St. in Lithia, located across from Park Square. This’ll be its 13th season, with the market usually having over 50 vendors.

Fall is the per fect time in Flor ida to enjoy the outdoors, and what better way than to visit the 2022 Hillsbor ough County Fair? The theme of this year’s fair, ‘Homegrown Fun,’ is just a glimmer of all the fair has to o f er, which in cludes an expand ed carnival with spectacular mid way rides and new kiddie rides, cook-oaandhigh-speedentertainmentfreeforthrillseekersmotorenthusiasts,cattlewomen’sbeef

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS

The next event is the FishHawk Ranch 8th Annual Car Show on Saturday, Octo ber 8 from 12 Noon-3 p.m. at The Palmet to Club, located at 17004 Dorman Rd. in Lithia. Last year, the show hosted over 70 cars. Space is limited, so get a spot soon; all makes and models are welcome. Car preregistra tion costs $5, but day-ofshow registration is $10. To register, visit will also be held to the Gulf ering both goods and services, including consul tant companies. It’s still looking for more, but space is limited, with each 8 ft. x 8 ft. vendor space costing $30. Also, a food truck and a OneBlood drive will be at the bazaar.Guest admission is free for all events. Taxes apply for vendor registration pay For vendor registration and more information, contact Parvin at sparvin@ or 813-957-1841. By Taylor Wells

ing. Additionally, special arena events for pet and motorsport enthusiasts are back. The Bulls, Broncos and Barrel Rac ing Rodeo for budding cowboys will be held on Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5. The ever-exciting Demolition Derby for motor enthusiasts who enjoy watch ing drivers of cars, mini-vans and station wagons deliberately ram into each other will make its return to the fair on No vember 13. The fair wouldn’t be complete without the Truck and Tractor Pull on Friday and Saturday, November 11 and 12, where you can watch antique tractors, hotrods and the BIG BOY trucks and tractors come out to compete in our dirt arena. For ticket purchasing information and promos, including a special online-only Advanced Purchase Family Package, as well as fair hours and event schedules, visit com/2022-fair/.https://hillsboroughcountyfair. 9/30/229/30/22Not to be combined with any other ofer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location. Not to be combined with any other ofer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.Te FishHawk Poker Group organized a fundraiser at Summerfeld Crossing Golf Club in August raising around $8,000. Tis event was held to help raise money in memory of Bradley Hulett who was tragically killed in December 2019. All money raised goes toward the BH3 Foundation which supports eforts in the local community focused on helping young people in athletics and outreach in underserved communities. For more information or to donate to the BH3 Foundation, visit https://bh3fund.org.

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ObserverOsprey Rd.PinecrestLithia2109 33596FLValrico, EDDMECRWSS CustomerPostal STDPRSTD POSTAGEU.S. PAID FLTAMPA, #2397PERMIT September 2022 Volume 21, Issue 9 Ph: 813-657-2418 IN THIS ISSUE: LA SEPTIMA CAFE PG 3 CAMPO FAMILY YMCA PG 5 EYE ON BUSINESS PG 25 FOOTBALL PREVIEW PG 34-35 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Staf Report ENTERTAINMENT IS BETTER THAN EVER AT THE 2022 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FAIR 38

FISHHAWK RANCH CDD HOSTS MARKET, CAR SHOW AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING BAZAAR

See our ad on page 14

ﬁshhawkranchcdd.org

“We always would love new vendors to come out,” said event organizer Susan Parvin. “It’s ba sically for handcrafted and home made items only, and one thing that’s kind of unique about our market is we follow a non compete, so no two vendors can sell the same item. So, if we have a honey vendor, just one honey ven dor.”A 10 ft. x 10 ft. vendor spot costs $25 for early birds and $30 for deadline payments. The market is always seeking more ven dors, so feel free to join in.

ingWrigleyvillethere’llbeshow,willshow2022.eventbrite.com.www.fhrcarWhat’smore,threeawardsbegivenoutforbestofDJJoeFerrantewillspinningoldiestunesandbetwofoodtrucks,DogsandCravDonuts.A50/50ra fe

Page 2 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

20 YEARS

“We have made so many friends along the way through these years; we are mostly grateful to this beautiful community for our success,” she added. La Septima Cafe is located in La Viva Plaza at 702 W. Lumsden Rd. in Brandon. Dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering are available. Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and is closed on Sunday. Visit www.laseptimacafe.com or call 813-685-0502 for further details.

Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Valri co is located at 4321 Lynx Paw Trl. in Valri co. It’s second locaiton in Circa FishHawk across from Stowers Elementary is located at 5815 Kids Crossing Dr, Lithia, FL 33547. For information, visit https://kidsrkids. com/valrico/ or call 813-657-4200.

“Without our communi ty support, we would probably not be here today,” proclaimed co-owner Dahlia Fernandez. She and husband Ronnie have spent a majority of their lives in the restaurant business. “We have never looked back. La Sep tima is our crown jewel,” she said.Truly family-owned and operated, daugh ter Jennifer handles human resources and accounts payable while son RJ is the gen eral manager. Recently, eldest granddaugh ters Ana and Adriana also joined the team.

“Working with family has its challenges, but it has more advantages,” said Dahlia, refer ring to herself and Ronnie as the ultimate overseers. “It is truly a blessing to have all the watchful eyes on the business.” Throughout the years, the Fernandez fam ily has remained true to its product and true to its loyal patrons. La Septima’s tagline, “A Taste of Old Ybor,” is exemplified throughout the menu with items like ropa vieja (flank steak), bread ed palomilla steak and pescado a la Rusa (whitefish). Other oferings include soup, salad, sandwiches and combinations. The Cuban sandwich, devil crabs and Sev enth Avenue salad are the most popular and come highly rec ommended.“Our success comes from our pas sion to keep every menu item consis tent in flavor and quality,” remarked Dahlia.LaSeptima’s fami ly meals, introduced during the pandemic, also are a big hit and a great bang for your buck with most priced at $39.95. Suitable for a family of four, guests can choose from a selection of the signature dishes, all of which come with rice, salad, black beans, Cuban bread and a 2-liter bottle of sodaAt La Septima, everything is made from scratch, including the salad dressing, soup, flan, cheesecake and everything in between.

LA SEPTIMA KEEPS TRADITIONS ALIVE WITH MADE-FROM-SCRATCH CUBAN FARE

Kids ‘R’ Kids of Val rico has reached max capacity for 10-15 years and educated thousands of children, graduated thousands through its VPK pro gram and employed over 50 staf in its lifetime. Several grad uates are employed, like local 17-year-old Troy Gilmore who was in the toddler room and graduated VPK there. Currently, it has almost 200 kids and over 25 staf, but students may still en roll, and positions are available.Ithas been going strong since opening, even staying in operation during the pan demic to give kids an education and provide staf and faculty employment, though of course diminished in numbers. In addition, it has been working with Hair We Share for the past ﬁve years; helping local elementa ries; and afliating with The Grow Group, which helps those with learning disabilities gain meaningful employment.

Page 3Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

a big scale like we have,” said Fernandes, adding, “It was a very big investment on our part, we deﬁ nitely took a risk, and it’s been extremely successful.”Franchising with Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies came with its rich curriculum and training for all the staf to ensure they were teaching the curriculum properly, Fernandes said, who added it also started with good security measures and a cam era system so parents could check on their children. Plus, the academy is accredited through APPLE and NAEYC. Nowadays, it also has programs like the Brain Waves®, STEAM Ahead® and ABC mouse®, among others, to foster high-qual ity early learning. Fernandes believes what makes Kids ‘R’ Kids special is its princi ple, “Hug First, Then Teach,” and its philos ophy of children learn ing through playing.

‘R’ KIDS

the Eye On Business

QUALITY CHILD CARE

Te Eye On Business column of the Osprey Observer’s September 2002 FishHawk edition, featuring a story about a Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy location breaking ground in Valrico later that month.

Te Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Valrico building, located at 4321 Lynx Paw Trl. in Valrico.

For nearly three de cades, La Septima Cafe has served authen tic Cuban fare to the Brandon community. Through a change of location in 2011, having to abruptly shut down due to COVID-19 and struggling to ﬁnd peo ple who want to work, the restaurant is con stantly adapting and continues to attract a crowd daily and nightly.

on page 17 of our September

EARLY

Dahlia stressed the importance of quality food and a friendly staf, noting that the lat ter proves to be more difcult.

By Sharon Still

By Taylor Wells

Twenty years ago, in column 2002 FishHawk the Osprey Observer published news about Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Valrico breaking ground later that month, later open ing around July 2003. Franchisee co-owners Ben Fernandes and Keith Balot created the academy because they saw a need for quality child care and early education. They later opened a second Circa asingwasuplocationFishHawk/Lithiain2011.“Whenweopenedtheschool,thereabsolutelynothintheValricoareafaraschildcareon

edition,

KIDS OF VALRICO OFFERING AND EDUCATION FOR

Locally owned La Septima was founded more than 30 years ago by the Fernandez family and remains a community favorite.

Page 4 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

Campo Family YMCA was founded based on the core character val ues of caring, honesty, respect and responsi bility.Itcontinues to ﬂour ish because those val ues are as relevant to today’s world as they were in 1844, when a young drapery clerk named George Williams sought to develop a wholesome place for young people to escape the immorality of the London streets during the Industrial Revo lution and founded the ﬁrst YMCA. “Cam po Family YMCA just celebrated more than 20 years in the greater Valrico community,” said Campo Y’s executive director, Robyn Ostrem. “Campo Family YMCA has become stronger because of our community.”

NOW Accepting New Patients Call today to schedule an 813-530-0903appointment. 631 W. Lumsden Rd. | Brandon, FL 33511 BECOMES

A MUST-VISIT DESTINATION

By Libby Hopkins

Over the last 20 years, Campo Fami ly YMCA has had a total investment of $214,557 from the community through fi nancial assistance to ensure participation in all programs among individuals facing financial hardship in addition to subsidized programs that fill community voids. The center has also excelled in youth de velopment. “More than 4,500 kids partici pated in experiences that cultivated values, skills and relationships that led to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement,” Ostrem said. “In addition to our youth programs, our healthy living pro grams have impact — more than 17,000 individuals were impacted by Y programs designed to help them improve their health and well-being and connect to new friends.”

YOUTH AT CAMPO FAMILY YMCA

Currently, the White Oak Cottage Bistro is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. However, sometime in mid-August the bistro is going to expand its hours to include a dinner menu. The expansion of the menu will be come a reservation-only dinner experience, as it will showcase elite meal selections. The White Oak Cottage and White Oak Cottage Bistro is deﬁnitely a destination that every one should visit. For more information, visit https://thewhiteoakcottage.com/. Before dining, White Oak Cottage has beautiful items for the home.

One of the many wine fights the White Oak Cottage Bistro ofers.

Are you looking for a place where you can drink, dine and shop? If so, a new local restaurant called the White Oak Cottage Bistro is the place for you. Creat ed by Shaunessey Dobish and her business partner, Melanie Bentley-Montan aro, this new restaurant aims to create an immer sive experience for all vis itors.Located in Lithia, the White Oak Cottage and White Oak Cottage Bistro has become a one-stop destination that allows customers to eat and drink and shop. It’s perfect for a girls’ day out. The bou tique has been around for years, as Dobish pursued her lifelong dream to own a design and home furnish ing store. Dobish is also an established interior deco rator and wanted to create a boutique shopping expe rience where she could dis play and sell many unique decor and furniture pieces that she uses in her design business.Dobish explained why she wanted to create the bistro, saying, “When I was younger, I would go shopping with my mom and sister and then get food after, which were memorable moments for me.”However, this restaurant is diferent than others, as it has an executive chef that cre ates high-end food and features deluxe wines from Idaho. Dobish and her family spend their summers in Idaho since they own a baseball league called the Spuds. This al lowed Dobish to have ac cess to many Idaho winer ies that other restaurants don’t have. Due to the qual ity and variety of wines Idaho ofers, Dobish decid ed to bring them into the White Oak Bistro.CottageItcarries

Te Campo Family YMCA has been strengthening the Greater Valrico com munity for the past 20 plus years through its many programs.

Since 1889, the Tampa YMCA has been responding to critical social needs and pos itively impacting the lives of children, adults and families across Hill sborough and eastern Pasco counties. “More than 2,500 children learned lifesaving skills through drowning pre vention programs while thousands of neighbors were served in other mission-based pro grams at little or no cost thanks to charita ble contributions,” Os trem said. “Focused on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Campo Family YMCA has been strengthen ing the Greater Valrico community for the past 20-plus years by empowering kids to succeed in school and in life, helping commu nity members get healthier, developing lead ership skills in teens and water safety skills for all ages in addition to ensuring seniors have engaging opportunities to mitigate so cialCampoisolation.”Family YMCA recently received a grant from the GTE Foundation to renovate its Youth Zone. “We can’t thank GTE Foun dation [enough] for helping us, and we look forward to opening our new Youth Zone in the winter of 2023,” Ostrem said. “We hope the community will join us for our yearly Halloween Trunk and Treat event on Friday, October 28 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.” If you would like to learn more about Campo Family YMCA, you can visit its web site at breathCampocampo-family-ymcawww.tampaymca.org/locations/orcall813-684-1371.FamilyYMCAislocatedat3414CulRd.inValrico.

ZONE RENOVATION GRANT & MORE

Ste. Chapelle wines from two wineries, Sawtooth and Ste. Chapelle. Guests can sample these premier wines by purchasing wine ﬂights that include four glasses of wine which each have a 2 oz. pour. The bistro ofers red wines, white wines and even fruit wines, which include ﬂa vors such as peach.

WHITE OAK COTTAGE ADDS BISTRO AND

By Ella Martin

The iconic, full-size, luxury SUV genuinely gleams in the cabin department with OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen tech nology, which basically is light produced in response to an electric current. Three screens: a 14.2-inch instrument display behind the steering wheel, a 7.2-inch touch screen for driver information center to the left and a 16.9-inch infotainment screen in the dashboard; all use OLED and boast twice the clarity of a 4K TV. Audiophiles will love the 36-speaker AKG sound mir acle, which can be heard via the ceiling, headrests and even the center console. Add the navigation system with augmented real ity to the mix and you are in Otherbusiness.luxuries in clude tri-zone auto AC, ﬂip-down 12.6inch DVD screens for rear

Page 5Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

nitishrele@gmail.com TECH-LADEN 2022 CADDY ESCALADE

By Nitish S. Rele IS A POWERHOUSE!

The Dynamic Fuel Man agement system deac tivates four of the eight cylinders for fuel savings. And if you need to haul a sailboat or another car, the tow capacity is an as tonishing 8,000 pounds. You can identify an Escalade anywhere thanks to its gigantic presence up front with the centered and traditional crest emblem in the Galvano chromed grille, ﬂanked by horizontal HID headlights.

The third-row seat folds via a power but ton in the cargo hold while the second-row seat moves fore and aft 5.5 inches. Standard safety features include dual front and side airbags, side curtain air bag for rear rows, stability, hill descent and traction controls, four-wheel antilock brakes, rearview camera, rear-cross traf ﬁc, forward-collision and side-blind zone alerts, lane keep assist with departure warning, front/rear park sensors, tire pres sure monitoring system and daytime run ning lights. Magnetic Ride Control adjusts the four-wheel independent suspension as per road conditions, resulting in a smooth but ﬁrm ride. It also keeps body roll to a minimum.Itmayweigh almost 5,800 pounds, but the Escalade has bountiful power that re sults in a graceful, smooth and easy-rid ing companion as your passengers ride in luxury. All you need is an overblown bank balance to pamper yourself and the family.

ESCALADE SPORT (4WD) Tires: P275/50R22 all season Wheelbase: 120.9 inches Length: 211 inches Width: 81 inches Height: 76.6 inches Suspension: coil-over-shock front, independent rear Steering: electric power rack-andpinion Fuel capacity: 24 gallons City: 14 mpg Highway: 19 mpg Base price: $90,595 Price as tested: $106,515 Website: www.cadillac.com PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (never known to fail) O Most beautiful fowers of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me here you are my mother. O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succeed me in my necessity (make request). Tere are none that can withstand your power. O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee (three times). Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (three times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and then you must publish and it will be granted to you. T.O.C.M.B. &FISHHAWK/BLOOMINGDALEVALRICOADVERTISING Kerrie Hoening 625-1527 kerrie@ospreyobserver.com EDITORMANAGING Marie Gilmore 657-2418 editor@ospreyobserver.com MANAGERGRAPHICS Denise Graf 657-2418 denise@ospreyobserver.com EDITORLAYOUT Kathi Hayes 657-2418 khayes@ospreyobserver.com MANAGERBILLING Terry Vassalotti 657-2418 terry@ospreyobserver.com ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Kathy Collins 657-2418 kcollins@ospreyobserver.com EDITORASSIGNMENT Kate Quesada 657-2418 kquesada@ospreyobserver.com WWW . OSPREYOBSERVER . COM FOLLOW US: RIVERVIEW, APOLLO BEACH, & SOUTHSHORE ADVERTISING Melissa Hartmann 833-7470 mhartmann@ospreyobserver.com MANAGERMARKETING Jennifer Hurst 657-2418 jhurst@ospreyobserver.com REPORTERNEWS Taylor Wells 657-2418 twells@ospreyobserver.com 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico, FL 33592 • (office) 657-2418 • (fax) 657-4469 BRANDON & WINTHROP ADVERTISING Melody Gershkoff 300-5152 mgershkoff@ospreyobserver.com CUSTOMER SERVICE Jenny Bennett 657-2418 jbennett@ospreyobserver.com CHRISTIAN ADVERTISINGVOICE Cammie Yick 810-8106 cyick@ospreyobserver.com ASSOCIATED WITH OSPREY OBSERVER 7

ningpowerconvenienthigh-sittingandeye-catching.grillesstainless-steelaccentauburnerseats,heated/cooledhands-freepanoramicpassengers,sunroof,liftgate,frontsuedeheadlinandattractivedarkwithblackinterior.ThespeakerthroughoutareIngressegressintothevehicleisthankstoretractablerunboards(optional).

After a major transformation in side out last year, the ﬁfth-gen Cadillac Escalade continues mostly as is for 2022. A 6.2-liter V8 Eco tec engine blasts of 420 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 460 pounds-feet of torque at 4,100 rpm. The 10-speed auto gearbox is quieter than most that we have driven recently in any luxury SUV. And the startstop feature (automat ic engine stop for when the vehicle halts) en sures substantial sav ings in fuel and weight.

By StatePoint Media T-Mobile on-site to help with hurricane recovery.

While the summer season often signiﬁes the start of hurricane season and wildﬁres, the rise in natural disasters has made pre paredness a yearlong process. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported 2021 was the third-most active hurricane season on record with 21 named storms. According to CoreLogic, about one in every 10 homes in the United States was impacted to some degree by nat ural disasters in 2021.

HOW TO STAY CONNECTED DURING DISASTERSWEATHER-RELATED

LOCAL 8-YEAR-OLD BILLY LEE III, KNOWN AS B3, SHAKES UP THE RULES OF RACE CAR DRIVING

• If you have a network connection, keep calls to a minimum and as short as possible.

Page 6 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 9/30/2022 9/30/2022

• Send a text instead of making a call. Text messages get through more easily during times of congestion.

Companies like T-Mobile have emergency response teams working tirelessly to ensure they are ready to keep communities, ﬁrst responders and customers connected when they’re needed most.

B3 is currently sponsored by many busi nesses, including NAPA Auto Parts, Bill Lee’s Professional Automotive, Jax Appar el and Forward Bite. B3 is also seeking ad ditional marketing sponsorship and can be contacted through Amy at 941-993-2135.

By Ella Martin

T-Mobile works with weather forecast ers, including StormGeo, to accurately track weather events and potential sever ity. T-Mobile’s network switches, data cen ters, points of presence and other critical sites are equipped with thousands of new backup generators, thanks to a multiyear network hardening investment that also added advanced relief and recovery tools in hurricane-prone areas. And its Network Operations Centers provide 24/7 monitor ing so technicians and engineers can watch network trafc demands and weather impacts. When it comes to weath er-related disasters, even with all T-Mobile’s preparations and the network’s increased capacity, power outages and other service interruptions can still occur. The good news is that you can also take steps to ensure you stay connected during weather events:

This upcoming fall, Billy Lee III will be heading into the fourth grade at LLT Academy South Bay, except his life has an ex citing twist. Lee, whose racing name is B3, is an 8-year-old race carB3driver. comes from third-generationa racing family, which is why his love for racing was sparked at such a young age. His father, Bill Lee Jr., is a drag racer, as was his grandfather. His mother, Amy Lee, grew up near an oval track, so she spent lots of time around racers and cars. For B3’s first birthday, his parents gifted him a shiny, blue Power Wheels Corvette. Around the age of 2, B3 began participat ing in local Power Wheels racing leagues. His mother explained that the purpose of this league is to “inspire young and old racers.” When B3 was about 3-and-a-half years old, he upgraded to a Power Wheels fire truck, which his father modified to mimic a jet truck. At age 4, B3 was asked to be the opening act at the Night of Fire Jet Truck Show. This was a turning point for his young career, as he was able to partner with Larsen Motorsports, even getting to sign autographs after the show. However, in early 2020, COVID-19 hit and put a pause on most racing events, but this did not stop B3 from wanting to pursue his dream of pro fessional racing. Amy said that “All B3 wanted to do was race,” which led to him redirecting his focus, and he went on to win three champi onships as a gokartB3racer.was asked to join the Ban dolero Team for Curt Britt Motorsports and participated in numerous races with them. He has raced at several professional speedways, such as winning third place at the Citrus County Speedway in Inverness, achieving a sixtime winning streak at Crisp Motorsports Park in Georgia and getting two firstplace wins at the Atlanta Motor Speed way. B3 races with the rookie class and is the youngest participant in this category, as most racers are 10 and over and can even include adults.

Over B3’s years of racing, he has re ceived lots of publicity and sponsorships for his amazing accomplishments. During NASCAR weekend in March 2022, Jamie Little from Fox Sports 1 interviewed B3 and featured his story on a national news segment, hoping it would inspire and moti vate other kids to chase their dreams.

Billy Lee III, also known as B3, holding a frst-place trophy he won at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

• If you have home broadband and power but no mobile service, turn on Wi-Fi calling, which allows T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers with capable devices to text and make and receive voice calls via any capable Wi-Fi connection. If you need to call 911 using Wi-Fi, be sure to give your address to the Thereoperator.areadditional weather monitoring resources available to alert you of upcom ing severe weather. You can receive the lat est storm forecasts from NOAA’s National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center. You can also download The Weath er Channel TV app on your smart TV or streaming device. To learn more about how T-Mobile prepares for and responds to di saster events, visit T-Mobile’s disaster relief website at www.t-mobile.com. Taking a few minutes to brush up on best practices during inclement weather will help keep you connected, come what may.

When you sign up, you can choose which updates you would like to receive and how you would like to receive them. Whether through voice calls, text or email, the alerts will reach residents in real-time.

Residents will not re ceive information from the categories that they do not Residentsselect. signing up for HCFL Alert can also find additional informa tion on how to prepare, respond and recover from natural or manmade disasters in Hills borough County on the county’s Stay Safe web page: fullyerythingStaywithoutneeds,fortotionstaysafe.www.hcflgov.net/Fromevacuaandfloodzonemapsshelterregistrationresidentswithspecialseniorsandthosetransportation,theSafewebpagehasevresidentsneedtoprepareforwhatevera

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND PUBLIX PARTNER TO PROMOTE HCFL ALERT SYSTEM

BUSCH GARDENS LAUNCHES NEW OKTOBERFEST MENU FOR BIER FEST Staf Report

A Bier Fest sign at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, which is occurring every weekend through Monday, September 5.

In addition to emergency notiﬁcations, HCFL Alert provides information on county news, events, classes, programs and learning and grant opportunities.

Garage Door Service, Repair & Installation for: • Residential Garage Doors • Garage Door Openers • Broken Springs • Cables • Rollers • Doors off Track Always Free Estimates mastergaragedoor.comsteve@mastergaragedoor.com24yearsservingthecommunitywithonlythehighestqualitypartsandservice. Dr. Priya Reddy M.D. FACR Board Certifed Rheumatologist Dr. Gina Prakash M.D. Board Certifed Rheumatologist Dr. Atefeh Vafa M.D. Board Certifed Rheumatologist Teena Lukose PA-C Specializing in treatment of: • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Psoriatic Arthritis • Osteoporosis • Gout • Osteoarthritis • OnLupusSite:•Lab•Ultrasound•InfusionSuite•ClinicalResearch813-672-2243www.SWFLRHEUM.com NewAcceptingPatients MostAcceptedInsurance Two Convenient Locations: 11954 Boyette Rd., Riverview | 4002 Sun City Center Blvd. Ste. 101 INSURANCE!ACCEPTINGNOWTRICARE

An HCFL Alert poster at a local area Publix. Bier Fest at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay returns as fes tive as ever, with secutiveitsevent,Thisandwithbrews,internationalsonal,includingdrinksmoreparkthroughoutcabinstheservingthan50options,sealocalandalongciderssours.popularnowinﬁfthconyear,allows guests to sip, sample and savor, enjoy the tunes from rising local artists, step into immersive animal habitats and top-of a day of festive fun with Flori da’s most thrilling rides.

disasterResidentsbrings.can also download the 2022 Hillsborough County Disaster Preparedness Guide in English and Spanish at www.hcfl gov.net/disasterguide, which focuses on the four steps to disaster preparedness, includ ing how to make plans for you, your family, your pet and your business. Residents are also encouraged to follow the county’s social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor @HillsboroughFL for additional county information during a storm. Sign up today by visiting www.hcflgov. net/hcflalert and receive vital emergency information during this hurricane season, which continues through Wednesday, No vember 30. For assistance with registering for HCFL Alert, call 813-272-6602. Staf Report

Bier Fest runs every Friday through Sun day until Monday, September 5 and is in cluded with park admission. This year’s menu is a match made in heaven for all the foodies at heart. Guests can pair their brew of choice with all-new Oktoberfest-inspired menu oferings that include bratkartofeln, konigsberger klopse, pretzel bratwurst, sauerbraten sliders, potato pancakes, brisket poutine, cheese pierogies and Ruben brats. New featured Tampa Bay area drink favorites include Cigar City Fancy Papers Hazy IPA, Leaven Brewing Cheeky Blonde, Tampa Bay Brewing Reef Donkey, Bitburg er Premium Pilsner, Coppertail Free Dive IPA and Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc. For refreshing local ciders and sours, new options include Keel Farms Agrarian Two Henrys Mango Cider, Cigar City Homemade Appe Pie Cider, Crooked Thumb Strawberry Sour and Flying Boat Raspberry Passionfruit Sour. The best way to get a taste of ev ery is with a sampler lanyard, which can be redeemed for any food or beverage item ofered throughout the festival. Sampler lanyards start at $35 and are avail able bersMem12.eightofquantitiesinﬁve,andPasshave access to an exclusive 15-item sampler for the same price as a 12-item sampler. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Bier Fest is included with park admission, and one of the best ways to experience this year’s event is by becoming an Annual Pass Member for $13/month plus tax with no down payment. With an Annual Pass, guests will enjoy 12 months of visits with special beneﬁts like free parking, free guest tickets, access to special VIP events, sav ings on merchandise and more. Guests can also purchase the 2022 Fun Card, which ofers park admission through Saturday, December 31 for one low price, or take advantage of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s limited-time BOGO ticket sale. Guests visiting the park to enjoy Bier Fest are encouraged to join the conversation us ing #ThrillsOnTap on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. For more information, visit www.buschgardenstampa.com.

Page 7Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022 Expand your networking and help us celebrate our 10-year anniversary by joining the Chamber! www.valricofshhawk.org Welcome To Our Newest Chamber Members! Extraordinary Church Graze Uniquely LLC Express Employment Professionals Movement Mortgage Hunt Lending Team

Danny Alvarez - Candidate for State House District 69 Hillsborough County and Publix are team ing up to promote the county’s ofcial emer gency mass notifica tion system, known as HCFL Alert. HCFL Alert is designed to keep you informed about local emergencies, everyday events and county news that are important to you.Publix is currently displaying HCFL Alert posters at its more than 50 stores in Hillsborough County to remind resi dents to sign up for the notification system as we enter the height of hurricane season. HCFL Alert helps residents remain informed and receive timely emergency notifications through voice calls, text messages or emails. HCFL Alert is the easiest way for Hills borough County residents to stay connected and alert by receiving the latest emergency notification updates on hurricanes, severe weather, evacuation notices, public health and safety warnings, major road closures and major service interruptions, such as boil water notices.

“We realized there was an opportuni ty to

K-9 BAILEY, THE USF THERAPY DOG AT YOUR DOOR WITH A CLICK OF A BUTTON

By Christine Ans

Tis new youth-based organization, for ages 14-18, is the frst community-based Interact club in District 6890

BRANDON ‘86 ROTARY CHARTERS INTERACT SERVICE CLUB FOR TEENS

When the discussion was solidified in who would be taking this responsibility on, ofcer Nicole Marchesano produced a PowerPoint presentation filled with sta tistics and facts on the need and justifica tion to have a therapy dog on campus and available to all students, faculty as well as staf. By December 2020, K-9 Bailey was a part of Marchesano’s team. Marchesano created a ‘Bailey Button,’ which can be found on the USFPD web site under resources. This button allows USF students easy access to requesting K-9 Bailey. K-9 Bailey and her handler, Marchesano are on campus from 8 a.m.5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. How ever, they adjust their schedule when necessary to meet the needs of the USF community. The reasons for requests and the ones at the top of the list are people in need. This can include someone seeking K-9 Bailey due to having high anxiety for a plethora of reasons, such as a loved one having died, dealing with a break-up with a significant other, strug gling to stay focused an exam and more. K-9 Bailey’s job is to provide them with the comfort theyTheneed.University of South Florida community is able to request K-9 Bai ley by simply stopping her if you see them on cam pus, email, call or using the Bailey Button. The Bailey Button is also used for groups who want Marches ano to show up to their dorms for fun, staf meetings for distress or public/so cial“K-9functions.Bailey can be described as my 3-year-old, goofy, sweet, loving mental health crusader. K-9 Bailey has been with me since I got her in December of 2020. K-9 Bailey and I have a multidisciplinary therapy license and … an advanced AKC Canine Good Citizen certification. She is also a graduate of Project Pup, which al lows Bailey to work in hospital settings,” saidForMarchesano.moreinformation on K-9 Bailey and what services as a therapy dog she pro vides, please visit orcontact-up.aspx,trative-services/university-police/about/www.usf.edu/adminisemailusfpdpio@usf.educall813-974-2628.

Page 8 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 Bringing Pediatric Healthcare to your Doorstep Icky Sicky Visits and Happy & Healthy visits Direct Pay for Service Ages 0 - 21 years School entry physicals, sports physicals and immunizations Strep, fu and rapid covid tests On-demand consults when YOU need them Experienced pediatric healthcare at your fngertips junebryant@drjoonies.comwww.drjoonies.com813-551-3399ServicingHillsboroughandManateeCounties 9912 Indiana St. • Hwy 41 & Estelle Ave • Gibsonton, FL 33534 813.677.1301 First Baptist Church of Gibsonton “We love because He frst loved us.” 1 John 4:19 Doctor Malcom S. Clements- Pastor Traditional Worship Service Old-time Gospel Hymns Nursery ChildrenAvailable&YouthMinistry Sunday School…………. 9:30 A.M. Morning Worship……… 10:30 A.M. Sunday Evening…………. 6:00 P.M. Mid-Week (Wed.)……… 7:00 P.M. Since December of 2020, students at the University of South Flori da (USF), Tampa campus, have had the opportunity to visit or be visited by therapy dog K-9 Bailey. Her ﬁrst responsibility is to answer calls related to violent crimes. She will sit with the victim of the vio lent crime and calm them to the point where they are comfortable enough to speak further with law enforcement.Earlierin the year of 2020, it had been dis cussed to have a thera py dog available to the USF community.

gard, president of Brandon ’86 Rotary Club.Currently, Brandon ’86 Rotary Club is planning for 20-30 students to start o f thisTheyear.ICTB leadership team has chosen Financial Literacy as its ﬁrst-year proj ect and is currently working on the de tails for a fundraising project that will provide local elementary schools with books to help replenish their media cen ters and help children that need assis tance with raising their reading scores. The Interact Club of Tampa Bay is be ing sponsored by Brandon ’86 Rotary Club. The chartering ceremony was held on August 8 at the Rivard-Simmons Ro tary Event Center in Brandon. For more information on joining the Interact club or Brandon ’86 Rotary Club, email info@brandon86rotary.com or call 813-454-5072.

forparingtyofthethatopportunityposeastudentsprovidewithdual-purclubservesallstudentsourcounwhileprethemlifeafterhighschoolandprovidingcommunityserviceopportunitiesthatteachthemhowtogivebacktotheircommunity.”saidChadNor

K-9 Bailey was stopped when walk ing the campus for four students to get a few moments of relaxation and to take their mind of school work.

By Sydney Burken

Do you know a student in grades 9-12 that may have an interest in leadership op portunities and chance to serve in 2022-23? If so, you or your high school-aged child may enjoy the new Interact club coming to Hills borough County and Rotary Dis trict 6890 this month.This new youth-based or ganization, for ages 14-18, is the ﬁrst community-based Interact club in District 6890. It is also one of less than a handful of community-based Interact clubs in the United States. The Interact Club of Tampa Bay (ICTB) is being created to serve the youth of Hillsborough County and pro vide resources to the students to help prepare them with life and leadership skills as they transition to whatever avenue they choose to take after high school. The club’s intent is to prepare them for what comes next and educate them on all options available, whether that is college, trade school or serving in the military. The club is also focused on helping students obtain community ser vice opportunities, which will help the students as they apply for scholarships as well as teach them the importance of community service.

Page 9Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

ademia

Page 10 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 Assisted Living “Tessera Brandon...living your lifestyle.” Memory Care “Living the present...cherishing the past.” • Active contemporary style living • Spacious apartments • All day dining from 7am to 7pm with a bountiful variety of choices • Pet friendly • Educational and social opportunities • Cable and Wi-Fi included • Live entertainment from Bach to Big Band • “Wine Down” Wednesdays SAVE THE DATE Tuesday Virtual2:00pm9/20/2022-4:00pmDementiaTourExperienceLifewithDementiaCalltoRSVP 1320 Oakfeld Dr., Brandon, FL 33511 (813) 607-6880 Located in the heart of Brandon close to I75, Hwy 60 and Hwy 301 Call TODAY for special pricing! TesseraBrandon.com Assisted Living Facility #AL13150 By Linda Chion HCC’S NEW BRANDON CAMPUS PRESIDENT SET FOR TODAY’S CHALLENGES

“Enrollment decline is a national issue, and we are no diferent,” Johansen said. “We do see some enrollment growth this fall semes ter, and we are excited about that.”

To maintain momentum, “we need to meet the modern challenges of students who want diferent ﬂexibilities and learning styles,” Johansen said, as she noted hybrid learning oppor tunities that involve both inclass and online instruction. In the works is the FIN TECH program for ﬁnancial technologies, which would in clude studies in cybersecurity and apps for online banking and investment services.

Deborah Kish Johansen

Un der research is a certiﬁcate ofering, followed by a twoyear degree program and a connection with HCC’s fouryear college partners, Johan senNewlysaid.

established is HCC’s associate degree program in supply chain management, an especially relevant field to day, Johansen said. She noted as well aqua culture and biotechnology studies, which, through the FUSE program, forges a path way to biology degree studies at the Univer sity of South Florida. In keeping with its workforce readiness focus, HCC this fall launched the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree for registered nurses to continue their studies, the first four-year degree program ofered in HCC’s 54-year history. It’s aimed to address the critical shortage of nurses locally and na tionwide.Alsonew this fall is the Pre-Health So ciety, under the auspices of the American Medical Student Association Club. Johansen plugged as well the seventh annual Hawk Run, scheduled for Saturday, October 22, “which last year raised enough money to start an endowment for scholar ship perpetuity,” she said. For more on Johansen and HCC Brandon campus oferings, visit www.hccfl.edu.

The road from law to ac has been a seamless one for Deborah Kish Johan sen, who in January started her job as president of Hills borough Community College’s (HCC) Brandon campus and is chair-elect for the Greater Brandon Chamber of Com merce.Licensed to practice corpo rate law, Johansen said she entered the collegiate career track after learning of an op portunity through a previous chamber afliation and then serving as an adjunct profes sor at Valencia College in Orlando, where she taught business law. “I loved being around students on the col lege campus and seeing the light bulbs go of,” said Johansen, whose subsequent rise in academia took her to Colorado, Arizona and back again to Florida. She’s held posi tions of chief academic ofcer, chief operat ing ofcer, academic dean and graduate and undergraduate faculty, and before Brandon she was vice president of academic afairs at Northwest Florida State College in Nicev ille.Johansen said Brandon campus issues in clude shifting enrollment patterns, ongoing attention to health and safety support, de ferred maintenance of facilities and support for new programs and activities.

KTBB works entirely with volunteers, and it’s always in need of more, including ones to be site captains, who are respon sible for signage, supplies and managing a site’s operation. Site captains are giv en safety training, and they’ll give safety information to volunteers. In the 2018 event alone, 3,084 volunteers collected 67,195 lbs. of litter and debris from local roads and waterways.

“I personally have just found it real ly rewarding getting to go out and see how enthusiastic all our volunteers are … and it really helps seeing everybody so happy to be out there,” said Kira Baker,

KEEP TAMPA BAY BEAUTIFUL HOSTS HILLSBOROUGH RIVER & COASTAL CLEANUP

The cleanup will be held on Saturday, September 17. Check-in is at 8 a.m., and the cleanup is from 8 a.m.-11 a.m., or until completion. Times may vary by site. For more information or to become a volun teer or site captain, visit keeptampabaybeautiful.org.Toemailup-2022-tickets-392525423107com/e/hillsborough-river-coastal-cleanwww.eventbrite.orBakeratprojects@keeptbb.org.learnmoreaboutKTBB,visitwww.

Page 11Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

For anyone wanting to help out the local en vironment and make it nicer to look at and spend time in, Keep Tam pa Bay Beautiful (KTBB) is holding its Hillsborough River & Coastal Cleanup (HRCC) this month as part of the Ocean Con servancy’s International Coastal Clean up.The HRCC will be held at various loca tions along the Hillsborough River, Alaﬁa River, Little Manatee River, Lake Thono tosassa and other waterways throughout Hillsborough County. Some landlocked areas will also have sites, as an estimat ed 80 percent of land trash ends up in waterways. So far, around 20 sites have been established, but more are planned.

thiswe“WithoutnatorprojectenvironmentalcoordiatKTBB.them,wouldn’tseedi f erence, and they really are making a dif ference.”Baker added that she could only imagine how bad things would be without KTBB’s frequent volunteers. This HRCC will be di f erent from KTBB’s other cleanups, as it’s giving volunteers the opportunity to help the Ocean Conservancy gather informa tion — by collecting items and record ing data, like what items they ﬁnd, the amount of each kind and the strangest ﬁnds — needed for future e f orts as well as spread awareness of these needs. The most common litter found in waterways are plastic pieces, along with cigarette butts, plastic bottles and foam pieces. The strangest include e-scooters, a bike rack and a piano, among many others.

By Taylor Wells A volunteer group helping with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful’s Hillsborough River & Coastal Cleanup.

• Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and nearly one in four fa tal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3-7 p.m. Get evidence-based guidance and tips at TeenDriving.AAA.com. BRINGS ADDED DANGER AND REQUIRES PATIENCE ON THE ROADWAYS

• Pedestrians – students walking to and from school or the bus stop.

• Share the road. Chil dren on bicycles are of ten inexperienced, un steady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of pass ing distance between your vehicle and a bicyclist. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that he or she wear a properly ﬁtted bicycle helmet on every ride. Find videos, expert advice and safe ty tips at ShareTheRoad.AAA.com.

AAA: BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON

• Watch for school buses. Every state has a law making it illegal to pass a school bus with its red lights ﬂashing and its stop-arm extended that has stopped to load or unload students. However, some motorists simply choose to ignore the law. Any person using, operating or driving a vehicle on or over the roads or highways of this state shall, upon ap proaching any school bus that displays a stop signal, bring such vehicle to a full stop while the bus is stopped, and the vehicle shall not pass the school bus until the signal has been withdrawn.

• Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes o f the road for just two seconds doubles your chanc es of crashing. Children can move quick ly, crossing the road unexpectedly or emerging suddenly between two parked cars. Reduce risk by avoiding distrac tions like using your cell phone or eating while driving.

• Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of driv ers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

AAA urges motorists to slow down and stay alert; they will soon be shar ing the road with millions of Florida stu dents who are returning to school. Not doing so can have life-changing conse quences.According to the Transportation Re search Board, about 100 children are killed each year while walking to or from school and about 25,000 are injured. The afternoon hours are particularly dangerous. Over the last decade, near ly one-in-four child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3 and 7 p.m. Drivers should prepare for an increase in:• Congestion – more drivers in the morning and afternoon.

AAA – The Auto Club Group, through its School’s Open – Drive Carefully cam paign, is reminding motorists to: • Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedes trian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.

About 100 children are killed each year while walking to or from school and about 25,000 are injured. As the new school year is upon us, AAA urges motorists to slow down and stay alert. Not doing so can have life-changing consequences.

Page 12 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 Staf Report

• Buses – picking up and dropping o f students.•Bicyclists – traveling to and from school.“AAA urges drivers to allow extra time for their morning commute and use ex treme caution, even outside of school zones,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman of AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Throughout town, students will be walking or pedal ing alongside city streets on their way toand-from school or the bus stop, and they may not be familiar with the rules of the road. It’s incumbent on drivers to elimi nate distractions, slow down and watch out for students and their families.”

Page 13Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

Estrada plans to continue to play both football and baseball in college after his se nior year at Lakeland Christian School. For more information on the Perfect Game National Showcase, visit www.per fectgame.org.

“The mound was a lot nicer than some complexes [I’ve played at],” Estrada joked about playing at Tropicana Field. “… I wasn’t really stressed out. It was just like another dayEstradapitching.”complimented his opponents, saying they were tough competition, despite the stellar innings he pitched in the game. With hopes to play in the majors, Estrada started his baseball journey early, playing for FishHawk Youth Sports Association while attending Bevis Elementary in Lithia. He met Joey Eischen, a longtime friend of Es trada’s father and retired MLB pitcher who took the young athlete under his wing when he was just 9 years old. Since then, Eischen has been Estrada’s pitching coach, teaching him the fundamentals that have stuck with him as he pursues a college career.

FISHHAWK IN PERFECT GAME NATIONAL SHOWCASE AT TROPICANA FIELD

YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATION ALUMNI PITCHES

Page 14 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

By Belcher

Lily

“I feel like I’m surrounded by guys that were up to that caliber, but he does stand out I would say,” Estra da mentioned about being coached by Eischen. Estrada joined Lakeland Christian School and played on its varsity base ball team since his sophomore year. He realized he wanted to pursue baseball as a career when he started getting in terest from schools in his ﬁrst year on the varsity squad. The University of South Florida com mit also has played varsity football since eighth grade. Playing in both sports has al lowed him to stay in shape throughout the year, dedicating himself to football in the fall and baseball in the spring.

Mack Estrada pitched in the Perfect Game National Showcase at the end of July. Mack Estrada has been coached by former MLB pitcher Joey Eischen.

“It gets you into the best shape you can physically be in, and it helps you be a lot more mentally tough because you are put in a lot tougher situations,” Estrada said about how football has helped his performance as a baseball player.

Mack Estrada, a 17-year-old Valrico native, pitched in with the Perfect Game National Showcase at Tropicana Field at the end of July. The righthander was the only ballplayer selected from Polk County to play in the event and struck out six batters in his two in nings on the bump.

(Take Out Only) 27 Years in NowRoomYBORBrandon!OPEN!

Page 15Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

, pub lished on July 28. “This book is dedicated to other mil itary teens and brats like myself and helps provide advice and solutions for problems unique to us,” said Hyde, whose father retired from the Marine Corps two years ago. One topic he writes about is how to approach the challenges of moving to di f erent cities every few years. During his childhood, he lived in California, Virginia, North Carolina, back to the same base in Virginia, Japan and back to North Carolina. The family moved to Valrico after his father retired. When his family moved to Virginia the summer before he started seventh grade, he thought the transition would be easy because he had already met friends there the ﬁrst time his fam ily was stationed there. “I incorrect ly assumed that my old friends would want to be friends with me again, so that turned out to be my most di f cult move,” he said. Before writing the book, Hyde created a podcast titled The Shanon Show: The Best Military Kids Pod cast , where he in terviewed military kids and teens and noticed many over arching issues. The podcast inspired him to write the book, which took almost two years to complete. “So many military kids limit them selves because they just want to ﬁt in and survive, but that can limit their po tential,” he said. He encourages military kids to be out going after each move. The book also o f ers tips for trans ferring credits from school to school. “Schools on military bases are more lenient when it comes to transferring credits than other schools,” he said. For more information about Hyde, vis it his Apple podcast, The Shanon Show: The Best Military Kids Podcast. To pur chase his book, which costs $13.99, visit www.amazon.com.

A local college student and military brat’s desire to help other children of active-duty military personnel cope with constant change as sociated with mili tary life inspired him to write a book. Valrico resident Shanon Hyde, a ju nior at Penn State University majoring in aerospace engi neering, drew from his own experiences to write Dear Mili tary Teen: ofWinningDeployments,Moving,andtheGameHighSchool

LOCAL MILITARY BRAT AND COLLEGE STUDENT WRITES BOOK FOR MILITARY TEENS

Valrico resident and college student Shanon Hyde wrote a book for military kids that can be purchased on Amazon. By Michelle Caceres

We Specialize in: Auto 813-699-5446MotorcycleInsuranceInsuranceCommercialAutoClassicCarHomeInsuranceCondoInsuranceRentersInsurance Mon - Fri from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm www.southeastregionalinsurance.comOURPROMISETOYOUTRUST.LOYALTY.DETERMINATION. At Southeast Regional we shop for great rates the frst time you call but we do something very special. We re-shop for you again at EVERY renewal, even if your rates are dropping. That’s right even if your rates were going down we would still shop the market to see if we can do more. We know we need to earn your business every day. Does your current agent do that for you? Rick & Karren Owners and proud FishHawk residents PROUD MEMBERS OF HAVE QUESTIONS? ASK A SPECIALIST.

Page 16 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

Page 17Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

NAMES FIRST-EVER ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR EQUITY AND COMMUNITY IMPACT Staf Report

Therapy Services: Articulation • Apraxia Auditory Processing • Autism • Sensory Feeding DisordersServing local area families for over 19 years! (813) 368-2485 Park Square - Fishhawk 16144 Churchview Dr., Ste. 109 (813) Apollo368-2485Beach 417 Apollo Beach Blvd. NEW TAMPA BAY SPEECH, LANGUAGE & READING CLINIC On July 21, the Great er businessestunitygreateventRoaringunderbusinessesoutstandingleaderssuccessognizeningedwerenomineesinTheHostedcommunity.nessesofandthecelebrateAwardsMemberChamberitsconductedCommerceChamberBrandonofannualtostrengthgrowthlocalbusiintheatRegentRiverview,invitthatevetorectheofandthe’20stheme.“Thisisaopporforin

In her new position, Howell will oversee the soon-to-be-created Ofce of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which will center on jobs and economic development, afordable housing, health and human services, chil dren’s services and transportation, as well as criminal justice, the digital divide and other issues.“The county has taken a huge step that will help lead us to address our most painful and challenging problems in a measurable way. The Ofce of Diversity, Equity and In clusion will provide a pathway for citizens to engage and work toward meaningful solu tions to uplift and further the common good for residents that have been marginalized and unheard,” said Howell. Hillsborough County has been striving to address the causes and impacts of historic inequities on residents. In 2021, the board of county commis sioners commissioned a community equity proﬁle ofcludingmendedinequitiesthatty-equity-profile.pdf)ments/bocc/communimedia-center/doculibrary/hillsborough/hillsboroughcounty.org/(https://www.identiﬁedcurrentandrecomsolutions,inthecreationacentralizedo fce focusing on equity and diversity. Among the goals for the Ofce of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is to estab lish regular dialogue with the community focused on gaining input on initiatives and projects as well as continuing to assess and address community barriers towards equity. Throughout her three-decade career, Howell has been deeply involved in aford able housing, community development, eco nomic inclusion and social services issues. In addition to her role as the county’s Aford able Housing director, she serves as a board member of the Florida Housing Coalition and Tampa Family Health Center and as ex ecutive director of the Florida Community Development Association. With this pro motion, she becomes the highest-ranking African American female in Hillsborough County government. Howell is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s in public administration/urban planning. She received her master’s in public administration and management from Web ster University.

Tina Blount received the Lead ership Brandon Impact Award for her dedication and positive impact on the Leadership Brandon Program for the past fve years. Walt Raysick won the Key Citizen Award, which high lights the devotion and time paid by an actively involved individual in the community for at least fve years.

Matt Lettelleir, president and CEO of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce, believes that the Chamber Member Awards ofers a great opportunity for busi ness nominees and recipients to accumulate further success within the community.

CHERYL HOWELL

Cheryl Howell, Hillsborough County’s frst-ever assistant county administrator for equity and community impact. Is Your Child Talking? By age two, your child should have 200 words and combine 2-3 word sentences.

STUDENTS of the MONTH: Ethan and Eli “Julie and her team have helped our twin boys blossom in communicating. Tey’ve given us tips and tools to continue working with them at home. Every day they are saying more and more. Te diference is like night and day… John and I are so grateful for the amazing team at TBS.” Holly, Mom our community to be rec ognized and celebrated by the chamber and other business leaders,” said Matt Lettelleir, president and CEO of the Great er Brandon Chamber of Commerce. “Busi nesses that win see an increase in patron age, trafc and things like that.” Awards ofered were divided into difer ent categories to distinguish the size, age and status of businesses nominated. The employee size distinction awards provide recognition for the success of a business relative to the number of employees on hand by certain intervals. This year’s win ners included Master Garage Door Co. for one to five employees, Kilene Kelly Group for six to 20 employees and Livingstone Schools Inc. for more than 21 employees. The Emerging Business Award is al located to a chamber member who has been in business for less than three years, and this year’s winner was Just Love Cof fee Cafe in Brandon. This year’s Nonprof it/Government Agency Award went to the Angel Foundation FL. Tina Blount received the Leadership Brandon Impact Award, which acknowl edges either a participant or leader in Leadership Brandon who has made valu able and impactful contributions over the past five years. Walt Raysick won the Key Cit izen Award, which cred its individ uals who have devot ed much of their time to multiple ac tivities with in the Bran don area for no less than five years. And Berna dette leadershipofrecognitionphasizeswhichshiptyCommunireceivedPellotheLeaderAward,emthestrongaswellase forts that extend be yond just the immedi ate Great er area.BrandonEachnom inee was required to give background information on the business, ranging from the legal structure to the annual percentage increase/decrease in revenue. From there, questions pertaining to the history, mission statement and goals of each business were to be answered. For awards allocated to individual leaders, an essay or resume had to be provided. Last ly, partnering with the Tampa chapter of SCORE, a third-party selection commit tee, businesses had to attend one of the four scheduled interview sessions to fi nalize the category winners for the actual ceremony.Whiledistinctions are made for each category, Lettelleir pointed out that there are common threads between the nomi nees.“Businesses that have given back to the community, are strong and some house hold names in the area — I think that those are certainly some similarities be tween all the winners,” he said. For more information, please visit www.brandonchamber.com or call 813689-1221.

GREATER BRANDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CELEBRATES THE SUCCESS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES

By Madeline Gardner

Continuing a focus on providing equal op portunity for all res idents, Hillsborough County has named Cheryl Howell the ﬁrst-ever assistant county administrator for equity and commu nityHowell,impact. who has been the county’s Af fordable Housing di rector since 2017, will help guide county policy to make sure all residents, including historically marginalized groups, have equal access to resources and opportunities to succeed and thrive.

Bernadette Pello received the Community Leader ship Award for her strong leadership skills and positive impact that extended beyond the Greater Brandon area.

PLACES

PLENTY

Open daily from sunrise to sunset, Saladino Dog Park promotes two separate access areas for both small and large dogs.

By Madeline Gardner

Page 18 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

Kerin Clarkin, also known as Mr. Riverview, is doing it once again. That is, he has partnered with Summerfield Cross ings Golf Club to throw a hole-in-one golf contest on Friday, September 16 from 5:30-10 p.m. where participants will have the chance to win a huge cash prize.Clarkin’s goal behind the hole-in-one contest is to bring continuous fun to the communi ty at no cost. The first 100 people to sign up get a chance to go for a holein-one, and the winner will earn a huge cash prize. If no player is able to make a hole-in-one, everyone, player or not, will be able to play closest-to-the-pin, and the winner will receive a special surprise. During this event, there will be food and drinks available for purchase in theTheclubhouse.Summerfield Crossing hole-in-one tournament is not the first event Clarkin has thrown with Summerfield Crossings Golf Club. His main goal behind each event thrown is to bring fun and free activities for families to take part in and children to enjoy. In previous years, Clarkin has done Christmas toy giveaways, food truck events and Connect Four events in the hopes of bringing enjoyable entertain ment and functions to the Riverview com munity.Notonly has he part nered up with Summer field Crossing Golf Club, but he has also done so with the YMCA for an extreme Easter egg hunt in the past and is current ly teaming up with ‘On Bikes,’ a charity in Tampa that builds bikes for chil dren in need. He also runs a Food and Fun Blog called Fun Tampa that covers all kinds of food, drinks and activities available in Riverview, Tampa, Clear water and other areas. The purpose behind his blog is to help more people be aware of the functions and great food being ofered around and outside the Riv erview“Therecommunity.aretwo goals to doing these kinds of events — one is to continuously get our community together and to have fun. I am just trying to provide as much fun and excitement to our community as I can,” said SummerfieldClarkin.Crossing Golf Club is lo cated at 13050 Summerfield Blvd. in Riv erview. For more information on how to sign up for the hole-in-one tournament or other events and projects Clarkin is a part of, please visit https://thekerin.com/, check out his Facebook page at ‘The Kerin Group,’ email kerin@kw.com or call 813699-1800.

Have an ener getic furry friend and want to take advantage of the summer weather? Local dog parks in southeastern Hill sborough County are the way to go with a host of opportunities to support a wide range of commu nity members and their pets’ needs. Extending from the Apollo ner, each designated space provides a series of beneﬁts and ame nities that cater to visiting dogs and their Open from sunrise to 9 p.m., Apollo Beach along Golf and Sea Boulevard is ed and under regulation by Hillsbor ough County. The space features dog water fountains, a rinsing station, agility obstacles, hills and pole elements for training. Two distinct access areas, separate from one an other, exist for both small and large dogs. A hitching post and doggy mitt receptacles top of the pet facilities, but resources for owners encompass picnic tables, a sitting area and a close proximity to the tennis court and skate park also within the Apol lo Beach Park. Visitors should refrain from dropping by on Wednesdays until 12 Noon due to maintenance work. For more infor mation on this park, please call 813-6717635.Located along 3rd Avenue Southeast, Dr. Ott’s Dog Park remains another great option for dog owners in Ruskin. Open Thursday through Sunday, the park’s hours extend from 7:30 a.m. to sunset. Dr. Hal Ott, a retired veterinarian of the area and founder of the Ruskin Animal Hospital and Cat Clinic, developed this park to ofer an of-leash space. It is complete with a walk ing trail, chicken coop, picnic tables, high and low grassy areas, benches and separate eas. Plastic bags are also made available throughout the park. More information can be found by visiting http://ottsofeashdogsanctuary.com/. Saladino Dog Park serves the Brandon area along Bryan Road and is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Boasting separate areas for small and large dog access, ame nities also include picnic tables and shelters, dog washes, a hitching post, doggy mitt re ceptacles and various water fountains serv ing humans and dogs alike. Bathrooms and shaded benches are available as well, and the dog park is located within the greater Bertha and Tony Saladino Park. Regulated by Hillsborough County, additional informa tion can be found by calling 813-744-5978.

Mango Dog Park, located along Clay Pit Road, caters to the Sefner area daily from sunrise to sunset. The space ofers dog washes, water fountains, two separate ac cess areas for both small and large dogs, a hitching post and doggy mitt receptacles.

By Sydney Burken Kerin Clakin is the owner of Te Kerin Group and your point of contact for any hole-in-one contest questions or other event needs.

For owners, there are picnic shelters and tables, restrooms and a small playground outside of the park. For more information on the county regulated space, please call 813635-7489.Formore general information on dog parks across Hillsborough County, please visit https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/. OF FOR THE PUPS TO DOG PARKS IN SE HILLSBOROUGH

PLAY!

SUMMERFIELD CROSSING GOLF TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS CAN WIN $10,000

Page 19Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022 JW Tree Service, LLC jwtreeserviceflorida.com 813-601-7091 Bobcat Work Tree Removals • Tree Trimming Licensed & Insured 1050 Jameson Road • Lithia We Go Out On a Limb For You! Book online: www.freedom-ma.com Located at: 3212 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Suite 102 (In the Crunch Fitness Plaza) Valrico, FL 813.777.0887 • Programs for Kids and Adults • Discipline, Self Esteem, Life Skills • Member of American Taekwondo Association (ATA) FITNESS, FUN & FRIENDS! ENROLLING NOW FREE!CLASSFIRSTIS HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL COMING TO PLANT CITY Staf Report The Plant City orfulgiantthePlantGroundsberrytheOctoberSaturday,berday,comingFestivalBalloonisFriSeptem30and1toStrawFestivalinCity.Comeseeuniqueandcolhotairballoons up close and enjoy a family day out. This family event will also feature much more than the hot air balloons. There will be vendor markets with a variety of items for sale and assorted food vendors. The balloon festival will also feature DJs and live music, a kids’ zone, magicians, jugglers, roaming entertainers and many other great festival experiences. Not only can you see incredible hot air balloons, but you can also check that bucket list item by getting a ride on a tethered hot air balloon. Tethered rides will be $25 per person, weather permit ting.There will also be a night glow and la ser show twice each evening at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. that will begin with a crowd countdown to light the balloons. The show incorporates synchronized music, pyrotechnics and visually stunning co ordinated burns by the hot air balloons and high-powered lasers creating a night glow like you have never seen. Bring your blankets and chairs to set up your own view ing spot. Coolers or outside food and drink will not whentakeinflation5willThepermitted.begatesopenatp.m.Balloonwillplacewinds are low enough to be safe and will be announced. If the balloons cannot set up due to rain or high winds, there will still be a laser show and ring of fire display around 9 p.m. There will be announce ments and updates via the PA system by theTicketsstage. include free parking, festival entry and the balloon show with live music. The kids’ zone, food vendors and tethered rides are additional. In the event of inclement weather preventing balloon inflation, your tickets may be good for another day or another show. Pets other than service dogs are not recommended as the ‘burner’ noise from the hot air balloons is loud and often dis turbing to Advancedogs.tickets are $22 for adults and $10 for kids 17 and under, with kids 5 and under being free. Tickets will be available at the gate at an increased price of $30 for adults and $15 for kids. Visit www.balloonshows.com for up dates, tickets and any weather-related advisories.

Sunny Boy is a popular, uniquely shaped hot air balloon expected at the festival.

The Florida Strawberry Festival presented the pro ceeds from its annual Straw berry Ball to the United Food Bank of Plant City. “This year’s Strawberry Ball was a huge success,” said Phil Wal dron, Florida Strawberry Fes tival chairman of the board. “Everyone enjoyed the food, the dancing, the theme, the entertainment and of course the fellowship.” The event raised a total of $50,000 for the nearby food bank.

The BeatlesaboveFourAward-winningEmmyFabiselevatedfareveryothertributeband due to their precise attention to de tail. With uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles classics, they will transport you back in time to the high point of the British Invasion and be yond. Tickets for the January 24, 2023 event at the RP Funding Center, located at 701 W. Lime St. in Lakeland, went on sale on August 19. They are available at the box office, by calling 863-834-8111 or online at www.rpfundingcenter.com.

Pelican Players Complimentary Shows

A Kitten Place Rescue Looking For Vendors And Sponsors For 5K Run Local cat and kitten rescue A Kitten Place is holding its annual Black Cat Hal loween Run on Sunday, October 30 at Twin Lakes and is looking for vendors and corporate sponsors for the event. Last year, the 5K run had over 175 par ticipants. If you are inter ested and would like more information or register for the event, please akittenplace@gmail.com.email Summerfeld Women’s Golf As sociation League Starts In Octo ber

The United Methodist Church of Sun City Center (SCCUMC) welcomes Billy ‘Elvis’ Lindsey to its campus at 1971 Haverford Ave. in Sun City Center, for a concert on Sunday, September 16 at 7 p.m. to beneﬁt the ﬁght against Alzheimer’s disease. Lind sey has been giving Elvis tribute concerts for years and is the winner of numerous awards for his Elvis act. If you love great music from the past or have ever been a fan of Elvis and his music, you won’t want to miss this great concert for a wonderful cause. Tickets are available up to the day of the concert for $10 at the SCCUMC Christian Gift Shop at the church or on line at www.sccumc.com via clicking the events tab.

The very pop ular FishHawk Ranch Market will be return ing to Cross Park at 16144 Churchside Dr. in Lithia on Sunday, October 2 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It will continue to take place on the first Sunday of each month until May 2023. There are always lots of unique vendors selling handcrafted and homemade items. For information on becoming a vendor, email sparvin@ fishhawkranchcdd.org or call 813-9571841.

The startingSaturday,nityNeighborhoodBloomingdaleCommuGarageSaleisonSeptember12at8a.m.This annual sale features homes through out the Bloomingdale East and West neighborhoods. A wide variety of items are usually available, including kitchen wares, books, furniture, clothing, toys and games and furniture. Addresses will be posted on the Bloomingdale Neighborhood Association website at www.bloomingdale.life.com. To have your house listed, email bl.neighbor1@ gmail.com or call 813-681-2051.

A Kitten Place, Garage Sale, 5K & More...

rageNeighborhoodBloomingdaleGaSale

Pelican Players Community Theater is proud to present two complimentary shows on September 15. Join them to see The Twilight Zone - To Serve Man, directed by Ron Deitsch, and Father Knows BestThe Housekeeper, directed by Leslie Stull. Doors open at 6 p.m., and curtain time 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. The Kings Point Veterans Theater North is lo cated at 1900 Clubhouse Dr., in Sun City Center, please feel free to bring your own drinks, snacks and cups. Visit www.peli canplayersscc.org for more information.

Te Fab Four: Te Ultimate Tribute Coming To Lake land

Market Day Returning To Fish Hawk Ranch

Billy ‘Elvis’ Lindsey Performing An Alzheimer’s Beneft Concert

The Summerfield Women’s Golf Associ ation (SWGA) will begin its annual league play on Tuesday, October 4, and new play ers are invited to join. Membership is open to all women 18 years or older of amateur standing. The league consists of players at all levels, and a variety of games that are fun and challenging for everyone are played. A Summerfield Crossings Golf Club membership is not required; however, if you are not a member, then a league card is required. Tee times are at 8 a.m. on Tues day mornings at Summerfield Crossings Golf Club, located at 13050 Summerfield Blvd. in Riverview. If you are interested in joining or would like more information, contact Margaret at 517-410-3115.

The East Hillsborough Democratic Club will hold its monthly meeting at the Bran don Cross roads Bowl, located at 609 Crater Ln. in Tampa, on orjoinp.m.13SeptemberTuesday,at6:30YoumayinpersonviaZoom by going to the monthly club calendar to register an hour before meetings. All like-minded individuals are welcome. For more information, go to www.easthillsbor oughdems.org or call 813-677-8300.

Page 20 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 Buy One Get BAKLAVAOne(perorder)LittleGreekFreshGrill813.570.8162RIVERVIEWLOCATIONONLY 10173 Big Bend Rd., Riverview Expires 10/1/2022 LUNCHFAMILYEVERYSPECIALSDAYMEALSPECIALS $39.95 Take Out and Delivery La Septima Cafe 702 W Lumsden Rd, Brandon Not Valid with any other discounts, promotions or coupons. No Cash Value. Expires 10/1/2022 Nekter Juice Bar (813) 409-2679 3482 Lithia Pinecrest Rd, Valrico Not to be combined with any other coupons, discounts or ofers. Expires 10/1/2022 Sunfower Cafe 813-65-SUSHI Only valid with regular menu. With this coupon. Must present before submitting payment. Before tax. One coupon per visit. Not valid with Expires 10/1/2022 JF Kicks 813-643-7777 3345 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico Excludes other discounts, specials, or ofers. Expires 10/1/2022 10%OFFENTIREORDER10%OFFENTIREMEAL 10%OFFENTIREPURCHASE Cleaning Services by Bay Area Clean Team • Commercial/Residential Services • Free Estimates • Family Owned & Operated • Licensed, Bonded & Insured Serving: Brandon, Lithia, Fish-Hawk, Seffner, Riverview and surrounding areas “Cleaning the world one Location at a time” (813) 263-6643 Your Next Step Is Te Cure 5K Run Your Next Step is the Cure 5K run in Lithia will be taking place on Saturday, October 1. You can either run the easy 5K route from Park Square in Lithia or sign up for the new virtual option, which is espe cially helpful to encour age family and friends who do not live locally to sign up. All monies raised goes directly to the Melanoma Research Foundation. Visit emailsoringthetionallithia/yournextstepisthecurehttps://runsignup.com/race/fl/foraddiinformationandtoregisterforevent.Ifyouareinterestedinsponordonatingtotheevent,pleaseyournextstepisthecure@aol.com.

Compiled by Jenny jbennett@ospreyobserver.comBennett

Strawberry Ball Do nates $50,000 To Food Bank

Phil Waldren presents check for $50,000 to United Food Bank of Plant City.

East Hillsborough Democratic Club Meeting

Page 21Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

PROGRAM NEEDS BOOK DONATIONS TO

Te Pass-A-Book Program collects and donates books for grades K-5. Donated books go to students and teach ers to promote reading.

By Lily Belcher 3452 Lithia Pinecrest Rd, Valrico (Located in the SteinMart 813-65-SUSHIPlaza) Mon - Fri 11:30-2:30 & 5-9 | Sat 12-9 Sundays 12-8:30 (Serving lunch until 3 p.m.) entireOFF10%purchase Sunfower Cafe 3452 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., 813-65-SUSHIValrico Only valid with regular menu. With this coupon. Must present before submitting payment. Before tax. One coupon per visit. Not valid with other ofers Ofer expires 9/30/22

The Pass-A-Book Program has been serving the commu nity of young readers since Ruskin’s Heather Hindman launched the initiative to collect and donate books in 2016. Through community donations of children’s books, Hindman has been able to distribute over 4,500 books to schools, teachers and students in just eight years.“As a former teach er, I had bins and bins of books in my garage. I loved them so much that I hated to part with them but ﬁnally decided they would be put to better use in the hands of children to love them,” said Hindman, who also attributes the program to her husband, who wanted the extra space in the Aftergarage.seeing the amount of community interest, Hindman turned the donation into a program that became an ongoing Bryan Hindman Electric Company service project. Since its inception, the Pass-A-Book Pro gram has become a family, business and community efort as Hindman has watched her whole company get involved. She works with her immediate family to distribute books but received help from her co-workers, Brandy Nelson, Christine Han non, and community project coordinator Virginia Trotta.

“One amazing com munity member decid ed to set up a makeshift library for the children living in her apartment building and we were proud to be a part of that,” explained Hind man. “Our biggest event is the [Parents and Chil dren Advance Togeth er] yearly graduation, where the children and their siblings choose books to take home to read over the summer.” The Pass-A-Book Pro gram mostly donates K-2 picture books and chapter books for third through ﬁfth graders, but it accepts all books for students. This year, it is speciﬁcally looking for more board books to give away. While many of the donations come from families and thrift stores, the Pass-A-Book Program just received a huge donation of around 250 books from Collins Elementa ry School. These books were given to new teachers in Hillsborough County. To donate books to the Pass-A-Book Pro gram now, bring the picture/chapter books to 1517 U.S. Hwy. 41 S. in Ruskin. Later this year, the drop-of site will change to 10021 Carr Rd. in Riverview.

Many of their elec tricians have helped carry and load heavy donation boxes, and her children help transport books to the donation sites as well.

READING

PASS-A-BOOK KEEP STUDENTS

Page 22 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

THAT

Ciof felt it was hard to ask a fellow re altor to sponsor a whole family when there were a lot of big-ticket items. “Many of them ask for TVs, computers, freezers and other items we take for grant ed,” Ciof said. “So, I told Michael we should have a fundraiser so we can pay for the big tickets out of what we raised. The poker night fundraiser to help St. Vincent de Paul CARES was born.” St. Vincent de Paul CARES is a nonprofit organization committed to ending home lessness by making it rare, brief and onetime. All of its programs are built on the belief that everyone has the right to live in dignified and aford able housing. With ‘Housing First’ prin ciples at the core, it has a healthy disre gard for all criminal/creditemploymenttoty-perceivedcommunibarriershousing,includinghistory,back ground, mental health, addiction and reli giousThepractices.organization works to rapidly house those experiencing homelessness within 30 days and concurrently connect them to stabilization support services to assist their needs. The organization believes stable housing is the only solution to ending home lessness.Thisyear, the realtors’ poker night will be held on Friday, September 23 at Sum merfield Crossings Golf Club. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes the Texas Hold ’Em Tournament, food and desserts.

REALTORS HOST SUMMERFIELD POKER NIGHT FOR CHARITY

Creative Colors International Inc. was founded in July 1991 through its afliate J&J’s Creative Colors Inc., a company that had been in business since 1980. Much like J&J’s Creative Colors, it provides the services of restor ing, dyeing and repairing many types of material. FIX

By Libby Hopkins

Playing poker is fun, but when you’re playing poker for a cause, it’s even bet ter. Susan Ciof, a re altor with RE/MAX Realty Unlimited, has been in the realty business for 19 years while also supporting numerous activities and charities in the area, such as Trick or Treat Street and with every closing she has a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network is made. About nine years ago, one of Ciof’s co workers, Michael Markus, asked for help with getting Christmas gifts for families of local veterans that were transitioning to new“Ithousing.wasthrough St. Vincent de Paul CARES,” Ciof said. “So, that year, we had a few families with children that our broker age and fellow realtors helped during the holidays. Well, the next year, we did it again, but this time we had all the families that St. Vincent had, and it was a little more chal lenging, but we always got the majority of what they wanted.”

“We [are] still looking for more sponsors, and we need more poker players,” Ciof said. “We hope we can raise enough money to make these veterans and their families smile on Christmas morning. Would love to make this event the best and biggest one yet because we owe our veterans a lot for what they have done for us, so this is the least we can do for them.” explained Ciof. They are grateful for the major sponsors that do it ev ery year, including RE/MAX Realty Unlimit ed, East Coast Pizza, Summerﬁeld Crossings Golf Club, Nothing Bundt Cakes, All Amer ican Title, the Osprey Observer and many realtor friends. To register, visit the fundraiser’s Face book page at events/551141029873702www.facebook.com/orcallCio f at 813-956-8513.

CREATIVE COLORS INTERNATIONAL OF TAMPA–THEY CAN

There isn’t much that Cre ative Colors In ternational of Tampa can’t fix. It is a local ex pert in leather repair.Creative Col ors Interna tional Inc. was founded in July 1991 through its afliate J&J’s Creative Colors Inc., a company that had been in busi ness since 1980. Much like J&J’s Creative Colors, it provides the services of restoring, dyeing and repairing many types of material. “I’ve owned a Creative Colors franchise since August 2016,” said owner Patrick German. “My territory then was Pinellas County. Two years later, the owner in Hill sborough sold to me. I have lived in Bran don for 16 years, but when I started my franchise, that other owner was in this area, so I had to buy into Pinellas.” Before becoming the owner of Creative Colors International, German had a career in financial business. “I took an early re tirement from JPM Chase after 18 years there,” German said. “My career there, along with five years prior, was all in in formation technology, mostly software development.”WhenGerman decided to leave Chase, he wanted to do something completely diferent. “Something with a lot of time outdoors working with your hands,” Ger man said. “It also needed to be something my son-in-law, who started the business with me, was interest ed in. The plan is to build it into a business he can take over and re tire from himself one day. Which means it needed to be something that can’t be Amazoned, outsourced or doneSinceremotely.”Creative Colors International has been in existence for more than 40 years, German felt this company was the best fit for him to invest. “As a national franchise, we have the support of a large organization that continually researches and updates products,” Ger man said. “It also sets a level of standards through that franchise system.”

By Libby Hopkins

Another reason German decided to invest in Creative Colors International is because there is no brick and mortar building he had to purchase. “We don’t have a shop, the business is 100 per cent mobile,” German said. This gives him the opportunity to connect and get to know his customers on a personal level.Ifyou would like to learn more about Creative Colors International and the various services it offers, you can vis it their website at www.wecanfixthat. com or call German at 813-343-4151.

Page 23Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

Page 24 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 <<< Alex (Owner) with his sons... “Our next generation of roofers!” Family owned business serving our neighbors since 1981! Celebrating 41 Years Serving our Community Thinking it’s time for a new roof? Do you think your roof may have wind damage? DO NOT REPLACE YOUR ROOF WITHOUT LETTING US TAKE A 813-643-8333LOOK! www.CertifedRoofers.com ROOF REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT SERVICES

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Annual Teacher Of Te Year Program Cel ebrates Local Early Childhood Educator Goddard Systems Inc. (GSI), the franchisor of the Goddard School, a leading premium childcare and early education pro vider, is pleased to pres ent Amanda Cervetti from The Goddard School of Lithia (FishHawk) with a 2022 Teacher of the Year Award. “In early childhood education, the importance of nurturing the partnerships between home and school and support ing children’s social and emotional devel opment is just as critical as each child’s academic growth,” said Lauren Starnes, chief academic o f cer of GSI. “Amanda and her fellow teachers o f er all these things and more every day to the stu dents they serve.”

Congratulations To Andy Tekampe With TNT Termite And Pest Control Congratulations to Andy Tekampe of TNT Termite and Pest Control! He scored an A on his Flori da Termite Exam and is now fully certiﬁed in pest control and ter mite control. Contact Teka mpe with any pest or termite control ques tions at 813468-8574. TNT Termite and Pest Control serves the Brandon and surrounding areas. For more informa tion on its services, visit its website dpestcontrol.com.www.tnttermiteanat India Presley-Boyd, owner and nurse practitioner of Home 2 Care. Teacher of the Year Amanda Cervetti.

Tom

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Home 2 Care is a luxury concierge-style health care clinic that pro vides access to primary care services on a subscription or fee service basis. Services in clude well visits, sick visits, chronic disease management and weight loss, among oth ers. Subscriptions are o f ered for as low as $100 a month, which includes direct access to your provider 24/7 via texts or calls, unlimited o f ce and tele medicine visits, same-day or next-day appointments, little or no o f ce wait times, relaxed ap pointments and discounts on medicines andHomelabs.2 Care is located at 673 S. Kings Ave. in Brandon. To ﬁnd out more, visit its website at www.home3careﬂ.com.

Melissa Snively Chosen As 2022 Advisor Of Te Year Melissa Snively, State Farm agent at Snively Insur ance Agency Inc., was recently chosen to receive the 2022 Snead-Bryan Memorial ‘Advi sor of the Year’ Award from the Florida chapter of the Na tional Association of Insur ance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). The award is presented to a member who has provided “outstanding service, as evidenced by exemplary con duct, high character and tireless e f orts in advancing the cause of life insurance in the ﬁnest traditions of the industry.” A State Farm agent since 2001, Snively has over 25 years of experience in the insur ance industry. Her agency is located at 16209 FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia and can be reached at 813-662-3622 or www. melissarules.com.

DMDBackeris

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The Goddard School of Lithia (FishHawk) is located at 14106 Spector Rd. in Lithia. Visit its website at www.goddardschool.com or call 813603-1530 for additional information.

BUSINESS COLUMN CONTINUED...............FROM PG 25 By Jenny Bennett 10312 W Bloomingdale Ave, Suite 105 Riverview, FL adam.benabram@edwardjones.com813-626-305233578 www.edwardjones.com/adam-benabram Member SIPC 813-689-8131 3159 E. State Road 60 - Valrico

Coming To Tessera Of Brandon

Virtual Dementia Tour

The Hillsborough Com munity College (HCC) Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education (ICCE) was awarded over $993,000 in funding through the Open Door Grant Program by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) last fall. FDOE recently updated the Open Door Grant Program criteria to increase funding access. Qualiﬁed appli cants may be eligible for up to $3,000 to cover the costs of tuition fees, ex aminations, books and materials for ap proved short-term and technical educa tion credentialing courses that must be completed by September 2023. For the full list of approved courses, scholarship criteria and how to apply, visit www. tampatraining.com/open-door.

The Virtual Dementia Tour o f ers a 10-minute immersion into the world of dementia and allows you to walk in the shoes of someone with de mentia to enhance your sense of empathy. You may experi ence the confusion, frustra tion and emotions associated with memory loss. Through this tour, you will leave with a better understanding for liv ing with dementia. The tour is visiting Tessera of Brandon, an assisted living and memo ry care community located at 1320 Oakﬁeld Dr. The Vitual Dementia Tour will take place on Friday, September 9 from 2-4 p.m. Please call 813-607-6880 to reserve a place.

Open Door Grant Pro gram At CommunityHillsboroughCollege

Page 26 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

Eggs Up Grill Features In 727 To 813 Celebra tion Join Eggs Up Grill as it joins in The Identity Tam pa Bay’s annual 727 to 813 celebration. The celebration is an annual series of events held in the Tampa Bay metro area with the goal of highlighting the unique communities. Eggs Up Grill has a spe cial menu for the event featuring unique breakfast, brunch and lunch entrees such as strawberry cheesecake pancakes and smokehouse mac and cheese bowl. The 727 to 813 cel ebration runs until platforms.alleugriverviewmation,FordaysisRiverviewU.S.catedUpAugustSaturday,13.EggsGrillisloat3920Hwy.301inandopensevenaweek.moreinforvisitonsocialmedia

“Probably do a couple thousand homes a year,” said Murray. “Usually pressure washing one day, come back the next day. With a house average of 2,000 or 3,000 sq. ft., even a little bigger, probably get it done the next day.”

“We don’t ask for any money down ei ther. When they’re happy, we’re happy. That’s our motto,” said Murray.

DON’S BAY AREA PAINTING IS ONLY HAPPY WHEN YOU’RE HAPPY By Taylor Wells Te

freshly

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Plus, it ofers a free on-site painting estimate, free pressure washing for your driveway and sidewalk, free color samples to choose from, free crack repairs in stucco and joints and even a free touchup kit after its team is done so you can paint over dennoAndblemishes.futurewithhidfees,apricematchguaranteeandwelltrained, experienced employees, choosing Don’s Painting is worry-free.

Page 27Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

of a

whenwork.high-qualityriencesionalwithonbestofanewinyourWhenplaceisneedofacolororfreshcoatpaint,it’storelythoseprofesexpeandAnditcomes to that, Don’s Bay Area Painting is hard to beat.Owner and founder Don Murray has been in the paint ing business for over 30 years, providing services to both residents and businesses throughout Hillsborough Coun ty for over 20 of those years now, includ ing Valrico, Brandon, Riverview and much more. His business is trusted all around the county, including by David Weekley Homes and FishHawk Ranch by Newland Communities.“Ihavepersonally used Don’s Painting and have recommended him to friends and clients for over 27 years. Don and his crew are always professional, timely and they always make sure you are satisﬁed with the ﬁnal results,” said Jef Chandler, broker and owner of River Hills Realty Inc. Its painters have all been trained to use the latest techniques and technology, and each is an employee and covered by workman’s compensation insurance — no subcontractors whatsoever. Its services include exterior and interior painting, pop corn removal, brush and spray applications as well as drywall patching and repairs.

freshly

Don’s Bay Area Painting is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., on Sat urday from 9 a.m-12 Noon and is closed on Sunday. For more information, visit https://donsbayareapainting.com/. For a free estimate, call 813-661-9006. exterior house paint ed by Don’s Bay Area Painting. house kitchen painted by Bay Area Painting.

Overall, it’s a quick process that will leave your home or business beautifully, freshly painted. And the employees ensure there’s no mess outside or inside by cover ing everything, including plants, windows, ﬂoors, furniture and more.

“With the treatments I have noticed an improvement to my respiratory health,” she said. “I’ve been able to stop taking Zyrtec, which I’ve been on for 20 years.”

Page 28 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

RELAX AND REJUVENATE AT VITALITY BOOTH WELLNESS CENTER $ 2 0 0 OFF EXTERIOR PAINT with th e mentionof th is ad MERCIAL DENTIAL ERIOR ERIOR Free Estimates • All Work Guaranteed “ WE’RE NOT HAPPY...UNTIL YOU’RE HAPPY!” Professional nting Specialists 8 1 3 -2 9 1 -0 5 0 5 www.DonsPainting.com/save 2 0 + years inb u siness Licensed , Bond ed & Insu red Lic # PA 2 6 5 3 30+ years in business Licensed, Bonded & Insured $200 OFF EXTERIOR PAINT with the mention of this ad PaintingProfessionalSpecialists COMMERCIALRESIDENTIALINTERIOREXTERIOR

Vitality Booth Wellness Center general manager Sheila Alba said the beneﬁts of each 20-minute session make it an excellent option for everyone, from top-tier athletes seeking to enhance their performance to individuals seeking to im prove their overall health.

Brandon resident Christa Delgado, who was one of Vitality Booth Wellness Cen ter’s ﬁrst clients and has a silver membership, couldn’t be happier with the bene ﬁts she’s witnessed from her sessions.“Ihave been in the wellness in dustry for 10 years and thought this would be an ex cellent additional health practice to add to my regimen,” she said. Delgado has had several health issues, including a recent life-threat ening blood clot in her lung. She prefers ho listic treatments to pills.

“In the past year, we have sold close to 100 Vitality Booths all over the country and internationally to dozens of spas, clinics, wellness centers, doctors’ ofces and pro fessional sports teams,” he said.

A grand opening and ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Friday, September 23 from 3-5 p.m. and will include food, prizes and giveaways, such as a free annual member ship. In addition, Osprey Observer readers who visit during the month of September or call to make an appointment and mention this special will receive a free 20-minute Vi talityClicksession.onthe QR code to take a virtual tour of its facility. To book a session, visit https://vbwell nesscenter.com/ or call 813-315-9633. By Michelle Caceres Vitality Booth Wellness Center treatments ofer a range of health benefts.

For John Brier, manag ing partner for HaloTherapy Center (the parent company that holds the patent filings for the Vitality Booth scien tific wellness system), the Valrico wellness center is the flagship location of his brand and vision.

“The beneﬁts of this treat ment modality are for every one,” she said.

Vitality Booth Wellness Center’s hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Walk-in appointments are accommodated, but appointments are recommended. Single sessions, multisession packages and unlimited monthly member ship plans, including family member upgrade options, are available for purchase.

Located at 3113 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., the center ofers eight diferent Vitality Booths, each ofering red light therapy, halothera py (salt inhalation), oxygen concentration, negative ion immersion and ionized water intake. Some booths feature advanced car dio equipment, automated massage ther apies or vibration plates. The beneﬁts of treatment include an antiaging natural face lift through collagen generation, improved respiratory health, improved skin health, an immune system boost through ATP creation at a cellular level, weight loss, pain reduction and injury healing, athletic performance en hancement as well as a testosterone boost and hair growth for men.

Did you know that 49 percent of middle school through high school-aged girls will at some point miss an entire day of school due to their period? Well, a local FishHawk resident and her daughter, Meghan and Kay lin Armstrong, have been working hard to lower this per centage. Last year, the Armstrong fami ly decided to start a service project that helps get menstrual products to girls who need them in a dis creet way. The inspiration and motivation for creating this project came from the experience Kaylin had in which she start ed her period at a young age and only had access to menstrual products through her parents, as none were provided to her at school.In2021, Kaylin starred in a short film ti tled Code Red by director Jada Poon that depicted the lack of access to menstrual products in schools. In the film, a young girl gets her period and must skip class and go on an ‘adventure’ to find menstrual products. However, when a boy goes to the nurse to get a Band-Aid, he is easily able to get one, while the girl struggles and isn’t able to receive any menstrual products. The film as well as Kaylin’s experience led to the Armstrong family wanting to create a way for girls to have menstrual products readily available in their schools.

Kaylin Armstrong with menstrual products and pouches that were distributed to the clin ics at local elementary and middle schools.

LOCAL MOM AND DAUGHTER AIM TO END PERIOD INSECURITY WITH HELP FROM COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Mother and daughter Kat Mahoney and V have authored and illustrated an exciting new children’s book called Astrid & Te Case of the Missing Cupcake.

ILLUSTRATE

Each series will focus on a di f erent as pect within that industry as well as put some focus on autism and how these interests can positively beneﬁt mental health.Mahoney said, “Our mission is to pro vide an insider look for parents and edu cators to understand how geek interests such as cosplay, video games and the like can lead to extensive careers as well as positive mental health.” The book can be purchased at www. astridbooks.com.

KAT AND NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK

In addition to a series of Astrid books, the duo is working on a web cartoon se ries.All of the books revolve around gam iﬁcation or what is also known as edu cational entertainment, such as cosplay, video games, board games and STEAM.

By Ella Martin

Page 29Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2ND 10 AM - 3PM CROSS PARK 16144 Churchview Drive, Lithia For information on becoming a vendor, email sparvin@fishhawkranchcdd.orgorcall(813)957-1841 1 6 6 3 7 FishHawk Blvd. • Suite 1 0 1 • Lithia Located in the FishHawk Office Park, behind Taco Bell Schedu le You r Appointment Today! (8 1 3 ) 6 5 7 -7 3 3 7 www.premiercarepeds.com “We pride ourselves in developing a personal, caring partnership dedicated to tailoring our services to meet the individual needs of our neighbors and their families Dr Minick and Dr Pruitt Regu lar Hou rs: MonFri 8 am 1 2 pm & 1 pm 5 pm | After Hou rs: 2 4 hou rs, 7 days a week Brandon resi dents Kat Mahoney and her daugh ter, V (pen name Voidstarz), have published a book titled Astrid & The Case of the Missing Cupcake . This book is a part of a new series of children’s books. Astrid & The Case of the Missing Cupcake is about Astrid, a 7-yearold Filipino girl with a love for cosplay, video games, bak ing and solving mysteries. Astrid also has a wild imagination that tends to get away from her and sometimes gets her into sticky situations. But this time, Astrid literally has a sticky situation, as there is a missing cupcake. This mystery needs to be solved quickly so it does not ruin someone’s day. Mahoney is the author and V provides the amazing illustrations. Astrid was inspired by the author and based on the life of the book’s dig ital artist and Mahoney’s daughter. V is a high-functioning autistic young adult who was severely bullied in high school and struggles with autism and an anx iety disorder. Her journey with cosplay, video games and artworks was the cop ing she needed to help both the mother and daughter through di f cult times. Mahoney said, “V has autism, so she has always struggled with communi cation, anxiety, social phobia and the ability to ﬁt in with her peers. She was bullied exten sively in high school and cosplay allowed her to reach out to fans with similar interests. She found many kids her age and young er struggled with the same issues and found cosplay a very comfort ingMahoneyplace.” added, “V has been into cosplay since she was in kin dergarten, as mom is a content creator, vid eo game inﬂuencer and cosplayer, so she was raised around the industry.”

For young girls, get ting their period can be a confusing time due to a lack of education, having irregular cycles and not having access to menstrual products at school or, in some cases, even at home. Within the ﬁrst year of starting their project, the Arm strongs were able to create 300 pouches ﬁlled with menstru al products and dis tributed them to the clinics at local ele mentary and middle schools. Teachers also took the time to educate the girls about their bodies and cycles. The pouches create a more comfortable and discreet way to bring menstrual products to the bathroom. This year, the Armstrongs are working to decrease ‘period poverty’ at high-need schools in the Tampa area. Period poverty is when a girl doesn’t have any menstrual supplies because their family can’t aford them, which in turn causes many girls in these areas to miss school or even use toi let paper or tissues as menstrual products. The Armstrongs hope that with their pro gram, less girls will miss school because they will be able to easily access menstrual products when needed. To help with their goal, the Armstrongs are currently looking for product dona tions which can be purchased from their Amazon Wish List at zon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/33QCBIVOC1L1J.https://www.ama

By Kathy L. Collins

MAHONEY AND HER DAUGHTER V AUTHOR

“It’s very important to look at more trails, how we can meet the needs of residents and how many we need as well,” Patrick said. To read online comments and view the Greenways Master Plan update overview, including maps, cost and timelines details, visit www.publicinput.com/D2816.

By Michelle Caceres

YouthBuild, in partnership with Tampa Housing Authority, has been helping young adults build successful lives and communities since 2009.

GROWING HILLSBOROUGH READDRESSES ITS GREENWAYS VISION AND RESIDENT CONCERNS

The program uses construction as the core and provides hands-on training in diferent aspects of the industry. Participants earn up to $250 every two weeks plus incentives for reach ingArroyogoals. said YouthBuild has been a success. He es timates that approximate ly 250 young adults have beneﬁted from the pro gram since its inception. One participant living in Riverview wanted to become a welder, so YouthBuild paid for his education at Erwin Technical College. Anoth er participant always wanted to work in child care, so it helped her get licensed and now she’s working at a day care center.

By Linda Chion

Photo by Linda Chion. At the July 26 meeting at the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library in Valrico (from left to right): Katie Habgood, senior planner with PSG consulting; John Patrick with Hill sborough County; and outreach consultant Tammy Vrana of Vrana Consulting Inc.

Arroyo said it’s particularly rewarding when participants who successfully com plete the program come back to volunteer as mentors.“Theyget on their feet and then give back in some way to help others,” he said.

For more information, call 813-391-2841 or visit www.thaﬂ.com/youthbuild.

While broad in many aspects, some rec ommendations were more particular in nature, including one for trail repaving at Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park and one for another canoe launch on the Alaﬁa River.

Paved and unpaved trails for ﬁtness, sports, recreation and transportation, and adding a lot more of them, is representative of the work of Hillsbor ough County ofcials set to update the Gre enways Master Plan, which afects bikers, boaters, equestrians and pedestrians alike. That’s what brought John Patrick, the county’s division di rector for infrastructurestrategicplanning, to the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library in Valrico in July, as well as to the SouthShore Regional Library in Ruskin and the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Li brary in Tampa. An August 1 virtual meeting was scheduled as well. Hillsborough County commissioners, at their March 23 meeting, approved an update to the 1995 Hillsborough Greenways Master Plan. Recommendations for a variety of gre enways, including natural surfaces, paved trails, natural surface trails and blueways (or recreational waterways) were to be pre sented at the board’s August 15 meeting. “The philosophy of the master plan then concerned quality of life infrastructure, pro viding trails as a place to bike safely and take the family for a walk,” Patrick said at the Bloomingdale Library meeting. “Now the philosophy is changing to include trails need ed to go places for work as well.” At the library meetings, attendees lis tened to a project overview, accessible as well on the county’s virtual engagement and education hub, which also asked for com ments from equestri ans, mountain bikers, hikers and more. “We want residents to tell us where they would put their mon ey, we want them to give us input on that,” Patrick said. “Not sur prising, it is Florida, we heard people want shaded trees along the trails. They want shared-use pads, for sharing trails with bik ers and pedestrians, and they want connec tivity. They want to go somewhere.”

The international program started in Tam pa in partnership with Tampa Housing Au thority in 2009 thanks to initial startup fund ing through a grant. John Arroyo was hired as its program manager, and he is still in that role 13 years later.

A local nonprofit orga nization is helping break the cycle of poverty by unleashing the intelligence and positive energy of low-income, out-of-school young adults to rebuild their communities and their lives. YouthBuild at Tampa Housing Author ity helps participants build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood and leadership. Typically identified as ‘marginalized,’ ‘dis connected’ and ‘at-risk,’ these young people, who are typically defined by their challenges and not their potential, are ofered the knowl edge, training and opportunity that leads to long-term professional and personal success.

“It’s so fulfilling to help people who’ve had obstacles in their path, like having to finan cially support their family at a young age or those who got in trouble with the law, find success,” he said. “We meet them where they’re at and take them where they want to go.”Participants pursue their education by taking classes to earn a GED or high school diploma, prepare for future careers through vocational training and grow into community leaders, building brighter futures for them selves and their neighborhoods.

Indeed, at the Bloomingdale Library on July 26, posted comments included demands for more mountain bike trails and dedicated bike lanes; sidewalk improvements and addi tions; wildlife corridors; destination features, including brew pubs and live music; and con nectivity improvements, such as to schools, stores and restaurants. One comment asked for connecting the Croom Rital Road trail to the Valrico/Lithia area.

The next program class, which can accom modate between 60-70 participants, starts on Tuesday, September 6. To qualify for the program, applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 24, have a strong desire to fur ther their career and/or education, be com mitted to working hard and have a desire to earn a GED or high school diploma. Volunteer opportunities are needed to support the program through donations of money and time. Mentors are also needed, especially tutors to work with program par ticipants in math and reading. “Tutors can be high-school age students,” said Arroyo. “We are grateful for peer-to-peer mentoring.”

YOUTHBUILD ASSISTS YOUNG ADULTS WITH EDUCATION AND LIFE SKILLS

Page 30 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 Two Great Locations! Now Enrolling! CIRCA FISHHAWK 813‐654‐7000 5815 Kids Crossing Drive (Located next to Stowers Elementary and Mosaic) www.KRKCirca.com Lic # CHC432384 813VALRICO ‐657‐6200 4321 Lynx Paw Trail (Located across fromLithia Springs Elementary) www.KRKValrico.com Lic # CHC431024 • 6 Weeks Through 12 Years • Full & Part Time Options • Open Monday through Friday • Creative Curriculum for Infants & Toddlers • ABC Mouse Computer Technology • Brainwaves Curriculum • APPLE Accreditation • STEAM Curriculum • Security Code Access Entry • FREE Internet Viewing of Your Child’s Day • Outdoor Playgrounds with Water Park • Before & After School Care: 6-12 Years Alafia, Bevis, Cimino, FishHawk Creek, Foundation Christian Lithia Springs, Stowers, Valrico Academy • Nutritious Meals & Snacks: Low Salt & Sugar • Spanish & Music Included • Trained Professional Staff, Certified in First Aid & CPR • Extracurricular Programs • Class times: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 12:15pm • Accelerated Pre-K Curriculum with Math, Science,Spanish, Music, Sign Language & More • Preparation for National Kindergarten Standards • Must be 4 years old by September 1, 2021 • Must be Florida resident 2022

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ADDISON OF THE YEAR BY FACTE Staf Report

DAVIS NAMED SUPERINTENDENT

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It is clear that Superintendent Davis rec ognizes the importance of career pathways which allow students to earn multiple in dustry certiﬁcations preparing them for career advancement,” said Marsan Carr, executive director of FACTE. “Superintendent Davis has empowered his leadership and staf to ensure new and

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Te Florida Association for Career and Technical Education (FACTE) has named Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Superintendent Addison Davis the CTE Superintendent of the Year.

honored by an esteemed organization like FACTE,” said Scott Brooks, executive direc tor of CTE. “I am truly honored to be the CTE Su perintendent of the Year and deeply ap preciate FACTE for taking notice of the important work we have just begun here in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Strengthening our career and technical ed ucation oferings will have impacts not only on our students but also on our community as we work collectively to ﬁll a critical la bor shortage in key areas in our communi ty,” said Davis. Davis began his tenure as superinten dent for HCPS, the nation’s seventh largest school system, in March 2020. He is a member of the Children’s Board, American Heart Association Board, Junior Achievement Board, Starting Right Now Board, Tampa Bay Chamber Ex Ofcio Board, Stratz Center Board, and Trustee for Florida Palms. For more information on HCPS and Davis, visit www.hillsborough schools.org.

toforcededicationsuperintendent’sthemitteeThedentCTEAddisonSuperintendentlicoughnamed(FACTE)nicalCareerAssociationFloridaforandTechEducationhasHillsborCountyPubSchools(HCPS)DavistheSuperintenoftheYear.awardscombestowedhonorforthetoworkdevelopmentpreparestudents for high-paying careers in demand in our Superintendentcommunity.Daviswas presented the award at the school board meeting on July 26 to honor his expansion of CTE programs throughout the district. One of the central focuses of his tenure has been to help ﬁll critical labor gaps in our community by preparing students for in-demand jobs upon“FACTEgraduation.would like to recognize Super intendent Davis’ positive impact on Career and Technical Education within Hillsbor ough County Public Schools. The success of the Future Career Academy is one of many incredible initiatives we believe makes a tremendous diference in student success.

The Sunshine State is home to about 13 transient species of hummingbirds thanks to our year-round tropical climate. Also known as ‘flying jewels,’ these rainbow-colored birds are a delight to observe. Blink and you may miss them; these tiny birds are as fasci nating as they are exotic andWithbeautiful.wings that can beat 50 times per sec ond and thousands of times a minute, hum mingbirds are incredibly tiny, fast-moving birds who get their name from the humming nois es made by their fast-flapping wings. Their wings move so quickly that they are almost invisible to the naked eye. These fast move ments also allow the birds to easily move forward, backward and upside down in an instant while hovering mid-flight. Most hummingbirds are under 3.5 inch es long and weigh less than a penny. While most species are temporarily visiting as they migrate further south, hummingbirds can be found all over the state. Their average lifes pan is three to five years. The most common species of humming birds found here is the ruby-throated hum mingbird. The ruby-throated hummingbird is a native and year-round resident due to our warm weather. They are highly adapted to living almost anywhere and can be seen in urban and suburban areas. Their habi tat mainly includes meadows, woodlands, grasslands and Hummingbirdsgardens.areimportant pollinators with a diet consisting mostly of nectar and insects. They love sugar! Nectar is found in particular tubular plants and flowers, such as firebush, cross vine, coral honeysuckle, butterfly milkweed and Florida flame aza lea. Their uniquely adapted long beak and tongue allow them access to the sweet nectar in tar geted plants. It is a myth that their beak acts as a straw; rath er, their tongue is forked for lapping up nectar and consuming up to half of their body weight every day. Hummingbirds are most attracted to brightly colored, native plants that are red, orange and pink. Because of their fast and active lifestyle, hummingbirds usually eat continuously throughout the day. In fact, they are so busy eating that they can visit over 100 flowering plants a day. An easy way to attract hummingbirds to your yard and garden is to hang a special ized hummingbird feeder, which will hold a simple sugar-water mixture. Feeders will need to be safely cleaned very frequently. Be sure to research how to keep the feed er clean and to never use any coloring dyes, honey or brown sugar, which can be toxic to the birds.

Ali Holton is currently director of FishHawk TNR Inc. She has a master’s in biodiversity, wildlife and ecosystems and 20 years of experience specializing in animal behav ior and conservation. To reach her, email fshhawktnr4@gmail.com.

hap.m.Octoberontion55th(TFO)OrchestraTheperformPerlmanstarviolinLegendarysuperItzhakwillwithFloridaforitsCelebraconcertSaturday,1at8attheMa

THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA’S 55TH CELEBRATION BENEFIT

ITZHAK

fey Theater, conducted by TFO music di rector Michael Francis. The benefit concert launches the 2022-23 season and supports TFO’s music and education programs. Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Perlman enjoys a superstar status rarely aforded a classical musician. He will join the orchestra for its 55th season opener to perform some of his favorite movie mu sic, including the theme from Schindler’s List — which he performed in the Academy Award-winning film — along with “As Time Goes By” from Casablanca, the love theme from Cinema Paradiso and more. Beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent, Perlman has received 16 Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Kennedy Center Honor, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Genesis Prize. Perlman has also received multiple distinc tions from U.S. presidents, including a Presi dential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s high est civilian honor, in 2015. For more about Perlman, visit https://itzhakperlman.com/. Concert tickets are $75, $125, $175 and $225. Limited individual VIP tickets will be available for $550. All tickets are available at http://floridaorchestra.org/, the TFO Ticker Center or by calling 727-892-3337 or –CenteratbarconcertconcertandareselectVIP1-800-662-7286.individualandsponsorshipslimitedavailabilityincludepremiumseating,aprereceptionwithandhorsd’oeuvrestheDukeEnergyfortheArtsMaha fey Theater overlooking the St. Petersburg waterfront. Sponsorships of featured guest artist, con ductor, concertmaster and concert program music selections include other benefits. For information, please contact TFO chief devel opment ofcer Susana Weymouth at 727362-5430 or sweymouth@floridaorches tra.org.Thefollowing weekend, Friday to Sunday, October 7-9, Maestro Francis will debut the Hough Family Foundation Masterworks se ries with the iconic Carmina Burana, kick ing of the classical series that includes Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Rachmani nof ’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and much more. The Raymond James Pops series includes blockbusters such as Harry Potter vs Star Wars and the Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album. TFO will perform more than 100 concerts this season in venues throughout Tampa Bay. Single and season tickets are available now. The Mahafey Theater is located at 400 1st St. S. in St. Petersburg. The TFO Ticket Center is located at 244 2nd Ave. N., First Floor in St. Petersburg and is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more infor mation, visit http://floridaorchestra.org/. CONCERT FEATURES PERLMAN Staf Report

Page 32 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

Itzhak Perlman (shown in the circle), a legendary violinist, will display his talents in his perform with Te Florida Orchestra for its 55th Celebration con cert on Saturday, October 1.

Page 33Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022 New Friends. New Beginnings.

The Bloomingdale Bulls look to have a bounce back season after go ing 6-6 the previous year. In 2020, the Bulls boasted their best season in their school’s history, in which they won their first district championship, achieved a team-best 12-1 overall re cord and made the program’s first state semifinal Bloomingdaleappearance.hadtoretool last season with a school-record 11 play ers signing on National Signing Day the year before. They also had two players, former five-star receiv er Agiye Hall (Texas) and defensive back Philip Riley (Notre Dame), sign during the early signing period of 2020. The team took a step back last season due to turnover and injuries, along with having one of the tough est schedules in Hillsborough County. Fourth-year head coach Jake Coul son is up to the task of righting the ship and turning the Bulls back into one of the juggernauts of the coun ty. Tampa Bay Tech transfer Charles Coney took over the starting QB job last year after senior starter Sean Dungan sustained an injury before the season started. The dual-threat Coney played ex tremely well, throwing 11 touch downs for 1,210 yards and carrying the ball 92 times for 356 yard and two rushing touchdowns. Coulson said that Coney had a great offsea son and feels good about his leader ship and progress grasping the of fense after having the reins for the 12 previous games. The coaching staff likes moving him outside of the pocket and his ability to take off and run. The senior has an explosive arm and a lot of weapons at the skill po sitions, as well as a great offensive line to protect him, but his number one job is to take care of the football. Coulson said that his team’s strength will be up front on the of fensive and defensive lines. He also said that these senior-heavy lines may be the best that he’s had since he took over in 2019. The team grad uated 18 seniors last year and they have 25 total players returning, sev en offensive starters and three de fensives. He said that the biggest thing his team can improve on is not turning the football over and elimi nating yards after contact on the de fensive end. Nick Fabrizio was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive co ordinator and Sean Council will take over as the special teams coordina tor. Delmar Shorter was hired as the defensive backs coach. Key players this year include se nior starting center Isaiah Lowery, senior receiver Kendall Jones, Tam pa Catholic transfer, senior receiver Derek Owens, star senior free safety Christian Bodnar, senior outside line backer Mekhi Thomas and defensive tackle Dominic Maye. Kicker Stefan Vera, who was called up from ju nior varsity, has a strong, accurate leg. Senior long snapper/tight end Charlie O’Brien will play a huge role on offense after leading the team in touchdown receptions last year with four.Coulson and the Bulls want to fly under the radar this season. Other coaches and teams around Hillsbor ough County think that Blooming dale’s run is over, which is fine with Coulson because he and his players will use that as motivation to prove them wrong. Bloomingdale has one of the toughest schedules in the coun ty this year, having to face Berkeley Prep, Armwood, Tampa Bay Tech, Newsome, Gaither and Wharton. The Bulls are in a new district that they have a great shot at winning.

BLOOMINGDALE BULLS READY TO HAVE A BOUNCE BACK SEASON 8/19 vs Berkeley Prep 8/26 vs Sumner 9/2 vs Armwood 9/9 @ Durant 9/16 @ Tampa Bay Tech 9/23 vs Newsome 9/30 @ Lennard 10/7 vs Gaither 10/14 @ Spoto 10/21 @ Wharton 10/21 vs East Bay # NAME POS GR 2 Derek Owens WR, DB SR 3 Jameer Grimsley WR, DB JR 4 Marlon Jackson RB, SS JR 5 Kendall Jones WR, CB SR 6 Christian Bodnar CB, WR, QB SR 7 Charles Coney QB SR 8 Darieas Strong DB, WR SR 9 Camren Campbell WR, CB, FS JR 10 Dillon Rose Bailey QB FR 11 Christian Dorsett RB JR 12 Mi’keviyon Mack RB SR 13 Cooper Watson DB, FS, CB SO 14 Nate Ledford OLB SR 15 Mekhi Thomas OLB, SS SR 17 Mike McGee 18 Jerimiah Sawicky WR, QB SR 20 James Boggs LB, SS, WR SR 21 Tristan Perot G, DE, DT SR 22 Ethan Larson CB, FS SO 23 Michael Morgan FS, CB SO 25 Jayden Albertson OLB JR 28 Merrick Bass WR JR # NAME POS GR 30 Shane Robinson LB SO 32 Luke Bever OLB JR 33 Otis Reed RB, MLB FR 39 Aidan Hardiman SR 45 Stefan Vera K JR 50 Sam Castillo OL SR 53 Dominic Maye SR 54 Dante Eggins NG, G, T JR 55 Ben Carhart OL SR 56 Carter Tatum OL SR 58 Josh Ingram OL JR 60 Brandon Mecomber T, G, DT JR 63 Lovinsky Marcellus SR 66 Dakota Westinghouse T, DE SR 71 Aiden Willis DE, LB SR 77 Isaiah Lowery G, C SR 80 Charlie O’Brien TE, LS SR 85 Cole Tucker T, TE, DE JR 89 Isaiah Zelner WR, TE, DE JR 98 Faheym Bostick NG, DT SR 99 Dominic Maye DT, DE SR SCHEDULEROSTER BY NICK NAHAS

Senior QB Christian Bishop took over as the signal caller last season and had success, throwing 10 touch down passes for over 1,000 yards. He adds experience and a command of the o f ense that brings back eight starters from last year, including three o f ensive linemen. Yockey said that the pocket passer has a strong arm, knowledge of the o f ense and has developed into more of a leader. The team returns several key play ers on o f ense, such as o f ensive lineman and three-year starter se nior Jesse Je f erson, junior o f ensive lineman Dwayne Bain, senior receiver Matt Connally, senior receiver/run ning back J.C. Roque, senior receiver/ running back Tanner Easley and se nior tight end Tyler Edwards. The sky is the limit for this potently explosive group of talented skill players as well as beef and experience up front on the O-line. The Wolves will be more balanced than in years past. Connally will also be a big factor in the kick returning game. He had two kick re turns for touchdowns last season. The Wolves return only three de fensive starters, including senior de fensive lineman Evan Mitchum, junior defensive lineman Eli Hiscock and senior cornerback Albert Soto. They will rely on a bunch of younger play ers that have been in the program and will have a much bigger role in this 4-3 defense this season. Yockey said that the biggest thing his team can improve on this season is having a quicker start and ﬁnishing games, playing a full four quarters with toughness and urgency. Their motto is “Tough 22.” “We are just try ing to focus on getting everybody at the same level of toughness so that when we get o f the bus, we may not look like the best team that gets o f the bus, but we are going to be felt just because of the amount of tough ness that we have with our program,” saidTheYockey.Wolves love being overlooked and relish the underdog role. New some has one of the toughest sched ules in the county. They have to face strong opponents such as Plant City, Tampa Bay Tech, Bloomingdale,

The Newsome Wolves are becom ing one of the more consistent pro grams in Hillsborough County, having reached the playo f s for three straight seasons while averaging eight wins perHeadyear.coach Christian Yockey has changed the culture at Newsome af ter being promoted from an assistant in 2018. He’s done a great job devel oping his players, rather than relying on transfers from year-to-year to ﬁll holes. The team is known for their physical and mental toughness, as well as their strong o f ensive line play and running game. The Wolves will have to replace the production of three-year starting running back Jason Albritton, who graduated and is currently playing for the University of South Florida. Sophomore Michael Dempsey will try to ﬁll that void. Yockey said that Dempsey is the same type of running back that Albritton was in terms of running style and has the potential to replace some of the production.

NEWSOME WOLVES ARE READY TO FIGHT PAST THE PLAYOFFS 8/26 vs Plant City 9/2 vs Sickles 9/9 vs Tampa Bay Tech 9/16 Bye 9/23 @ Bloomingdale 9/30 @ Riverview 10/7 vs Wharton 10/14 @ Durant 10/21 @ Hillsborough 10/28 vs Sumner 11/4 @ Gaither # NAME POS GR 1 Christian Bishop QB, CB, FS SR 2 Matthew Connally RB, WR SR 3 Jonathan Kerce FS, SS JR 4 J.C. Roque RB, CB, WR SR 5 Cole Jacobson RB JR 6 Liam Shiver WR, RB JR 7 Tristan Mitchum QB, FS, SS JR 8 Noah Guenther QB SO 9 Cole Bass QB JR 10 Jaycek Babiuch WR JR 11 Tanner Easley WR SR 12 Eli Hiscock DE, OLB JR 14 Tyler Martines WR, RB SR 15 Tyler Curry RB SR 16 Luke Pecina CB, FS, SS SO 17 Ian Furman WR SR 18 R.j. Burke OLB, MLB JR 19 Kian Salazar QB JR 20 Jett Buzbee OLB/MLB/DE SO 21 Albert Soto DB SR 24 Michael Dempsey RB, OLB, ML SO 25 Malik Hassoun RB, OLB, CB SO 26 Tyler Lotito RB, WR, SB SO 30 Bruce Stephens WR SO 34 Jayden Milton CB, FS, SS SO 40 Jordan Preseau DE, DT SR 42 Ethan Hester RB, SB, WR JR 44 Dillon Basquill OLB, MLB, DE JR 45 Cameron Eaton OLB 46 Jackson Burtnick DT, NG JR 50 Jacob Bradner DE, DT JR 51 Logan Scallon 52 Kyron Powell G, T JR 53 Cooper Sherman G, C SR 53 Cade Long T, G, DE SO 55 Brody Gann DE, DT JR 56 Brandon Kucera SR 58 Reagan Bre C, DE SO 60 Elijah Seeley T, G, DE JR 62 Mac Tragakis DE, OLB JR 63 Evan Campagna RB, OLB, MLB SR 64 Max Trgo DT, DE SR # NAME POS GR 66 Seth Burke T, G, C SR 67 Jesse Jeferson G, T SR 68 Garrett Weisgerber G, T SO 70 Evan Mitchum DT SR 74 Luke Kopicki DE, DT, NG JR 75 Dwayne Bain G, T JR 76 Aidan Kribs JR 80 Tyler Edwards TE, WR SR 81 Clayton Brown WR, TE SO 82 Nate Hohlfeld TE, DE SO 82 Josh Quiggle 88 Connor Tapp WR SR Finn Martin FS, SS, CB SO Matteo Mallozi T, G, C SO Hayden Evers FS, SS SO Brandon Hall DE, DT, T SO Mark Franco DE, DT SO Cole Castle SO Hunter White G, C SO Braeden Berdencia DE, DT SO Matt Conord RB, WR SO Hudson Turner RB, SB, WR SO Harrison Diedrich FS, SS SO Alejandro Torres MLB, DE JR Antonio Williams WR SO Joseph Fajardo T, G, C JR Anthony Gomez NG, DT JR Ethan Dukic MLB, OLB SO Tariq Sapp CB, FS, S SO Andrew Ball FS, SS SO Brock Bole WR SO Weston Reese RB, OLB, MLB SO Billy Berg JR Trevor Winters T, G, C FR Daniel Riley OLB, MLB SO Gavin Lang CB, FS, SS SO Andrew Melton OLB, MLB SO Michael Ryan QB, K SO Andrew Jennings DT, NG, DE JR Maddox Mazursky G, T SO Xavier Ward WR, TE SO SCHEDULEROSTER WE TAKE THE PAIN OUT OF PAINTING, AND PUT THE WO BACK IN WONDERFUL! (813) 723-9124 or (813) 670-8565 www.tandjpaintingf.com Residential • Commercial Exterior Repaint Specialists License #L20000250797 NOW EXPERIENCEDHIRINGPAINTERS!!BEAPPRECIATEDFORYOURHARDWORK!!CALLTODAY! BY NICK NAHAS

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PROGRAMS & EVENTS WILL HONOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

HCC ADDRESSES NURSING SHORTAGE WITH FIRST-EVER BACHELOR’S DEGREE OFFERING

Page 36 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

By Linda Chion

By Superintendent Addison Davis

The diverse student body within Hillsbor ough County Public Schools (HCPS) not only makes our dis trict unique, but it also makes us stron ger. With more than 80,000 students identifying as Hispan ic in our community, it is important to cel ebrate during Nation al Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins on Thursday, Septem ber 15 and ends on Saturday, October 15. While we have a vari ety of special tributes, programs and celebrations throughout our campuses to honor contributions that Hispanics have made to our nation, I want to also share how HCPS celebrates Hispanic culture each and every day. At the beginning of this academic year, our district hosted an Immigrant Wel come Center at Leto Adult School to pro vide one central location for the influx of Cuban residents expected into Tam pa Bay. District sta f worked diligently on-site to provide assistance with reg istration, physicals and immunizations, as well as o f er resources like food and clothing. We realize standing together to welcome our growing Hispanic com munity is critical to our mission and to studentFamiliesachievement.willagain benefit from Pasos al Futuro, a series of events aimed at help ing students in grades 8-12 to prepare for high school, college and the work force. The kicko f event will be held at the University of South Florida, the first time it has ever been hosted on a college campus. These presentations will be entirely in Spanish to educate families on re quirements for college admission, explain how to apply for financial aid and give an over view on the application process. This program is a critical component to connect with families about gramSchoolopportunities.postsecondaryTheNationalParentPartnershipProisanotherchance for HCPS families to become engaged in their student’s educational journey. We work with Spanish-speaking families to empower them to advocate for their student while building a more e f ective parent-school partnership. Whether in the classroom, through a learning series or in an arts performance, your child will enjoy a variety of events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at their school as we aim to celebrate this unique culture and all it has to o f er. Our sta f will have the opportunity to engage in Hispanic culture learning opportunities with a professional development series. We must also remember to acknowl edge and celebrate this growing commu nity year-round by continually providing unique opportunities and unwavering support to our Hispanic families, educa tors and sta f . When we commemorate Hispanic culture this month, we cele brate our community’s diversity.

The ﬁrst bach elor’s degree ofering in the 54-year history of (BSN)enceBachelorseekingregisteredlinethislegeCommunityHillsboroughCol(HCC)isnewfallwithonclassesfornursestoearnaofSciinnursingdegree.Alsoo

f esShore,Cityinsystem,acrosscampuswideeredtheHCCincludingBrandon,PlantandSouthwithcoursprimarilyoutof the Dale Mabry campus, said Deborah Kish Johansen, Brandon campus president. “It’s quite exciting and a change for us,” said Johansen, noting as well the national nursing shortage. “The mission of commu nity colleges is to help with programming where we can, so it makes sense to help with shortages to help meet the needs of our individual communities.” By ofering a BSN degree, HCC “can build on a skillset we already have, ex pand our oferings and supplement what our four-year partners provide,” Johansen said, “and it gives pathways to our stu dents to complete their studies to get a BSN and advance their careers.”

For information on admission, costs, courses and accreditation, review RN to BSN online at hccﬂ.eduing-bachelor-science,ics/subjects/health-and-medical/nurswww.hccﬂ.edu/academemailhccnursing@orcall813-253-7284.

fered at HCC is an as sociate degree in nursing, which provides an en try-level education in nursing and eli gibility to take the licensing examination for registered nurses. The BSN degree takes it a step further with online studies in eight-week courses covering such top ics as health promotion and risk reduction, ethical and legal issues, leadership and management, evidence-based practice and health care needs of diverse popula tions.Paving the way for the BSN degree, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in mid-June issued its ﬁnal ap proval for HCC as a baccalaureate-degree granting institution, which college ofcials say “will forever change the character of the“Theinstitution.”approval represents a transfor mational moment in HCC’s 54-year histo ry,” said HCC President Dr. Ken Atwater. “Years of focused, dedicated efort went towards this successful outcome.” He noted also that the willstartthecamecarecaseemployers,thetoward“commitmentfurthersaccreditationHCC’smeetingneedsoflocalinthisthehealthindustrywhotouswithrequesttotheBSN.”TheBSNdegreebeo

Te Brandon campus of Hillsborough Community College is at 10451 Nancy Watkins Dr. in Tampa.

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park will open this fall in the Bloomingdale Plaza in the space vacated by Winn-Dixie a few years ago.

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park, the ultimate indoor adventure park, is scheduled to open in the early fall on the southeast corner of Bloomingdale Avenue and John Moore Road in the space former ly occupied by Winn-Dixie. The 47,195 sq. ft. venue features attractions for kids of all ages and is the perfect place for kids’ birth day parties and other special events.

At home doesn’t have to mean alone. Experience life with fresh cooked meals, engaging activities and a great care team. Enjoy the peace of mind and safety of living at Twin Creeks today! 13470 Boyette Road, Riverview, FL 33569 813-278-5800 ~ TwinCreeksRetire.com An Assisted Living and Memory Care Community Providing a Superior Lifestyle. Assisted Living Facility #13122 ENJOY LIFE AGAIN!

SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS WHEN URBAN AIR BRANDON OPENS THIS FALL

By Sharon Still

Page 37Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

“We know families are looking for ways to spend more time together, and as the premier destination for family fun and ad venture, we’re thrilled to bring our park experience to even more families in Bran don,” said Urban Air’s founder and CEO, JayAtThomas.Urban Air, guests will jump, soar, race, climb and play among wall-to-wall trampolines. Climbing walls, dodge ball, a tubes playground, go-karts and laser tag are just a few of the activities to en joy. Bowling, mini golf, a multilevel ropes course and much more are ofered at this ultimate indoor playground. This is the second Urban Air location for franchise owners Michael and Tracey Tuc ci, parents of three kids who are already in love with Urban Air. The couple also owns the New Tampa franchise. “We are honored and excited to bring the Urban Air experi ence to Brandon and partner with such a great shopping center like Bloomingdale Pla za,” said Michael Tucci. “Bran don is an amazing community that will enjoy a full-service family entertainment adven ture park with attractions for all ages, and we are thrilled to expand to this area of Hills borough County.” Urban Air is not your typi cal trampoline park; it takes the concept to a whole new level, and each park is unique. Families will enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience, soaring to new heights and making unforgettable memories. With attractions for every level of adventurer, mini warriors have plenty of new activities to try that will be challeng ing and help build self-esteem. Day tickets, monthly memberships fea turing unlimited play and birthday party bookings are available online. Also, those interested in applying for a job can do so on the website. The facility will employ about 60Forpeople.year-round indoor amusements for the whole family in the Brandon area, Ur ban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park will be the perfect place. Residents can track the site progress of Urban Air Bran don on Facebook and sign up for updates, coupon ofers and view the park’s various attractions on the Urban Air Brandon web site.Urban Air Adventure Park is located at 179 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon. Park hours will be 3-8 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, 3-10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 800960-4778 or visit www.urbanair.com.

“It’s not easy, but we will be here to ﬁght it out with our customers,” he added.

When questioned about the property insurance crisis, Cleri said that his com pany works tirelessly to ﬁnd new home owners’ insurance for those that have been displaced, often at better prices.

While their ofce is across town, Cleri and Karren Nash, his ﬁance and general manager of Southeast Regional Insur ance, are FishHawk residents and can be seen out in the community networking at the Valrico Fishhawk Chamber of Com merce and the local BNI chapter. After a few years of investing in real estate in the area, Cleri decided to make it a permanent home earlier this year when he opened Southeast Regional In surance. “We absolutely fell in love with the area; we are excited to become residents and are exploring every nook and cranny,” heSoutheastsaid.

Southeast Regional Insurance is locat ed at 4230 S. MacDill Ave., Ste. E223. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit www. southeastregionalinsurance.com or call 813-699-5446 Cleri

Page 38 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 $10 OFF ANYDRYTREATMENTORLIQUID For Pre Pay Customers Only GRASSWEEDFree&CRABCONTROL New Customers Only Now $45 per month You Get Protection Ticks, Fleas, Fire Ants, Chinch Bugs, Mole Crickets, Sod Weed Worms, Grubs and much more. Plus Fungus & Weeds and Premium Fertilizer Commercial & Residential - Fungicide - Fertilizing Insecticide - Weed Control Tree & Shrub Treatment With a Healthy lawn less water is required! FREE ESTIMATES! Family Owned & Operated State Certifed Licensed & Insured Up to 5000 sq ft $45 per month Now $48 per month Up to 5000 sq ft $48 per month EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE Most people buy insurance for the car or house and never look at it again. South east yearslotupyear,shouldsomethingpingesRichardInsuranceRegionalownerCleriurgthatre-shopinsuranceispeopledoeveryasitcanendsavingthemaofmoney.AftereightofowningCCS Insurance in Con necticut, Cleri knows through trust, loy alty and determination, this method of re-shopping brings success and keeps customers happy. As an independent in surance company, agents at Southeast Regional Insurance shop diferent carri ers to ﬁnd their customers the best, most cost-efective insurance for their needs. “We pay our employees to annually ﬁnd better deals for our customers essential ly lowering the amount of premium they pay and ultimately making us less mon ey,” said Cleri. “Most agents just don’t operate in long-term thinking like that.”

Re gional Insurance can provide insur ance anywhere in the state of Flori da. Cleri explained that nearly 100 percent of busi ness is done over the phone, and his face-to-face meetings are usually at a lo cal cofee shop. His agency in Connecticut, CCS Insur ance, is much larger than the average insurance agency, according to Cleri.

for more information. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY SPECIALIZES IN RE-SHOPPING FOR LOWER RATES By Sharon Still Richard

and Karren Nash, owners of South east Regional Insurance. (813) 251-2234 1529 S. Dale Mabry Hwy OODC20 OOCFTR20 tidecleaners.com (813) 662-4243 1928 E Bloomingdale Ave 9/30/2022 NOW HIRING Disclaimer: Ofer valid only when coupon is presented at drop-of Not valid on dry cleaning, wash & fold, laundry or laundered shirts, leather, wedding dresses or alterations. Coupon can only be for services sold at participating Tide Cleaners locations. It cannot be redeemed for any product sold at any other retail store. Cannot be used with any other discount or promotion. One discount per household. Ofer valid for one-time use through 9/30/2022 OODC20 Ofer Ends 12/31/2022

“I brought the same business model down here,” he commented. “Our annual re-shopping is what sets us apart from almost“Mosteveryone.”insurance agencies will not reshop for the customers annually unless their renewal increases by a certain per centage,” he said, adding that this model of re-shopping works extremely well in Connecticut. “Our customers love it.”

Te H2O Heroes’ mobile showroom informationprovidingaboutitsservices.

The H2O Heroes at Water Filter Ware house provides many diferent services, including whole house ﬁltration systems, water system repairs and more. Their services are available for residen tial and commercial properties in Hillsbor ough, Pasco, Polk, Pinellas, Manatee, Sara sota and Charlotte counties. The community has responded positively to this superhero rebranding. The H2O He roes has also wrapped their trucks in the superhero theme found all over the com munity.TheH2O Heroes at Water Filter Ware house also has a mobile showroom that it can set up in the neighborhood to provide free water testing and product informa tion.The H2O Heroes at Water Filter Ware house can be found at 3110 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico between the Walmart and Subway. For more information on The H2O Heroes and its product details, services, etc., visit www.theh2oheroes.com. WATER FILTER WAREHOUSE By Arianna Hooker

The H2O Heroes at Water Filter Ware house was founded in 2017 and has since made an enormous impact on the commu nity. Over the years, The H2O Heroes has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in products to various charities; Flint, Mich igan residents; Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico; and Hurricane Dorian victims in the “TheBahamas.H2OHeroes provide a bright light in a really dark, dishonest industry by provid ing quality products, fair pricing, transpar ency in all we do and outstanding customer service,” said Kelleher. The H2O Heroes at Water Filter Ware house strives to be the best in the industry by setting itself apart with its core values, excellence, integrity, innovation, communi ty and passion, which are at the heart of the company.

Page 39Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022 Care partners of those with any type of memory loss, whether family, friends or professionals, need to be equipped with the knowledge to best support their loved one. Gain this knowledge at our NEW hybrid support groups being held via Zoom and in person at Tessera of Brandon. Hybrid Dementia and Alzheimer’s Support Groups Come a little early for refreshments! 1320 Oakfeld Dr. Brandon, FL 33511 | 813-607-6880 Fourth Tuesday of Every Month at 6:30 pm Meeting in person and via Zoom!!! Zoom Meeting Number 897 6781 0479 Password: evening Fourth Wednesday of Every Month at 2:00 pm Meeting in person and via Zoom!!! ZOOM Meeting Number 869 4044 7508 Password: support #ALFacilityLivingAssisted13150

The H2O Heroes at Water Filter Warehouse, a lo cal water ﬁltration company, has re branded to a su perhero theme for its business. While water ﬁltration is not something that is associat ed with being fun and exciting, with Dan the Water Man, it can be. Dan Kelleher, owner of The H2O Heroes at Water Filter Warehouse, said, “We decided to brand ourselves The H2O Heroes because it’s fun and memorable. We have also trade marked ‘The H2O Heroes’ because we plan to get nationwide with our brand.”

Finding the right people in the water ﬁltration industry can be providingisFilterHeroesHowever,challenging.TheH2OatWaterWarehousededicatedtothebestofservicewhilekeepinginaccordancewithitsbeliefsoftruth and transparency while conducting itself in the highest ethical manner.

SUPERHERO THEME COMES TO THE H2O HEROES

Page 40 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

BY MICHAEL MURPHY Ryan and Anthony Tickles with their catch.

private group welcome cocktail party, hors d’oeuvres with the ship captain and culi nary leaders, a guided tour of the ships food production system, two separate food ses sions with agendas and a guided tour of the bridge.”West hopes to create an amazing experi ence for all who attend the culinary cruise. “There is a quote by Kellems Dominik that says, ‘It’s intellectual and emotional travel, the imagination is just endless. A curated group of very interesting people who are all like-minded around food.’ I think this sums up the experiences we hope to create.” If you are interested in booking Chef Dave West’s Culinary Cruise, you can contact local travel agent Anna Maria Gentile of Cruise Planners at 914-325-9399 or via email at annamaria.gentile@cruiseplanners.com.

helped put the thoughts into an actionable first trip.” Chef Dave West’s Culinary Cruise on the Celebrity Apex is a seven-night cruise that will take place from April 1-8, 2023. Guests will be aboard the Celebrity Apex, a Celebri ty Edge® Series ship which will depart from FortTheLauderdale.portsofcall are Fort Lauderdale, Nas sau, At Sea, Puerto Costa Maya, Cozumel, George Town, Grand Cayman, At Sea and FortAccommodationsLauderdale. include an infinite ve randa starting at $2,000 per person, de pending on category and cabin location. Also included are a classic beverage pack age, crew gratuities, Wi-Fi, taxes and port fees.Current promotions will be applied and discounts will be added at the time of booking. Ear ly booking is encouraged to take advantage of the current lower rates. Ocean view category and single quotes are also available. A $250 per person, nonre fundable deposit is due to confirm booking. While on the West2023forplannedofhavelights.linaryvariousexperienceguestscruise,willcude“WeanumberactivitiessofartheAprilcruise,”said.“A

LOCAL CHEF KICKS OFF FIRST CULINARY CRUISE

Chef Dave West, the former owner of The Rolling Pin, has moved onto the next phase of his culinary journey in life; he is taking his culinary talents to the high seas. “I graduated French Culinary Institute and I’ve been a chef for 20 years,” West said. “After retiring from The Rolling Pin Kitchen Empo rium in 2021, many friends, family and former customers urged me to continue with them in some sort of

Gentiles.Annatravelingatassistantsourment.edutainfoodOneofculinaryTheRollPinisaagent,MariaShe

By Libby Hopkins Chef Dave West’s Culinary Cruise on the Celebrity Apex is a seven-night cruise that will take place from April 1-8, 2023. The summer will be coming to a close and intolerable heat should subside some in the coming weeks. We were blessed this sum mer with some great fishing, both inshore and ofshore. Green backs are plentiful on the flats right now and pinfish have been ev er-present. The waters are still a bit warm, so if you search in the backwaters where the water is warmest, re member to focus more on pinfish for snook and reds. Trout are running a little small on the cockroach flats, but it’s encouraging to see them, as it bodes well to a great population comingFocussoon.your attention under the mangroves this time of year for redfish. They will be gin to school up again and forage together. Cut bait and pinfish will be your best choice for this time of year. You may get surprised with a stud snook in the same areas. A 1/0 circle hook and 25 lb. leader are the better terminal tackle. You will want to get these bruisers out of the bushes. Mangrove snapper are in right now with good numbers and siz es being caught. Small greenies and threads are great choices for these table delicacies. Cut the larger baits into chunks and use the small baits whole. A #1 circle hook with a 15 lb. leader will work best. They will be in the flats and in the channels and rock piles. Deeper wa ter areas will be easier to fish in before and after the slack tides. They respond well to heavy chumming, and the lighter tides will let the chum stay closer to the boat. Just bury the hook in the bait and let it drift back in the chum.Always hold on to a larger shrimp or green back for a surprise appearance from the ‘brown clown,’ or cobia. They are not smart fish and will readily approach boats. Keep a rod ready with a 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook. Be aware that the size minimum has changed to 36 in. at the fork. Enjoy your day on the water and be safe. Dave Oertel and Anthony Tickles with a snook and refsh combo.

Page 41Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022 PAINTING PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SPECIALISTS Celebrating 30+ Years In Business “20 Year Osprey Advertising Partner” ESTIMATESFREE ALL WORK GUARANTEED Residential & CommercialInstallationCommercial&RepairRefrigeration(813)671-2555 HEAT & AC PIANO & VOICE LESSONS Tracey Magruder tracey magruder@gmailcom traceymagruderstudio com LESSONSMUSIC LESSONS DOG TRAINING allamericandog.net813-685-6666 • Puppy Training • Obedience Training • CGC & Therapy Training • Service Training • PTSD Training • Protection Training • Aggression or County Citation “Since 1972” IN YOUR HOME DIRECTORY OF LOCAL BUSINESSES Family Owned and Operated Fans & Fixtures • Panel Changes Boat Docks • Pool & Spa Wiring Generators & Surge Protectors Remodels • Exterior & Specialty Lighting www.BryanHindmanElectric.com813-672-4084 Florida State Certifed Electrical Contractor | EC#13004922 ELECTRICIAN Residential and TNTtermiteandpestcontrol.com(813)716-9196CommercialLOCAL&FAMILYOWNED“DYNAMITECUSTOMERSERVICE” PEST CONTROL ACCOUNTING GARY D. MEYER Certified PubliC ACCountAnt • Accounting & Bookkeeping • Compiled Financial Statement Presentations • Tax Return Preparation for Individuals, Corporations, LLC’s and Partnerships • Consulting for New Business Startups • Financial & Estate Planning 813-971-4067 gmeyer4@tampabay.rr.com Serving the Tampa Bay Area Since 1980 4 Point Inspections Wind Mitigation Roof Buyer/SellerRe-certifcationsFullHomeInspections813-842-0740tracer.inspections@yahoo.com HOME INSPECTIONS $50 per ad or as low as $200 per month* *includes ALL 5 EDITIONS per month Call Us Today! (813) 657-2418 or Visit OspreyObserver.com ADVERTISE WITH US ProgramDevelopmentLifePre-TeenSkills Using FUN activities to increase SKILLS in: · Team Building/Problem Solving · Responsibility/Task Ownership · Public Speaking/ Leadership Training Enroll your pre-teen (ages 7-13) For more information visit www.WiseWingsWorks.com OR Text “WiseWings” to 203-465-2599 WiseWings, where children learn to spread their wings with SCHOOLwisdom.YEARSATURDAYS! PRE-TEEN LIFE SKILLSPRE-TEEN LIFE SKILLS & REP AIR • Clea ning • Auto ma t io n • Va ria b le Sp ee d Pump s • Sa lt Sys tems • Hea ting • Filt er Serv ice & (813)REPAIR917-7571 Licensed & Insured POOL SERVICE & REPAIR DAVID’S TREE SERVICE On-Call737-3151(813)EmergencyService:(813)336-9157 TREE TRIMMING • TREE REMOVAL STORM CLEANUP TREE SERVICETREE SERVICE

Container gardens are quite popular today and an attrac tive alternative to in-ground plantings. Portability is a key feature for container gardening. Contain ers can be moved to a di f erent loca tion for sun, shade, water, protection from weather and seasonal changes. If you place larger con tainers on wheeled plant stands, it’s even easier to move inside your garage, lanai, front porch or indoors. Containers help you control ir rigation according to the needs of the plants and encour age experimenting where you can try a wide variety of plant materials and con trolledSelectingclimates.the container itself is an important decision. Porous containers, such as unglazed clay pots, terra cotta and wood, dry out faster than nonporous containers. Nonporous pots, like glazed, plastic and metal, retain moisture better than porous pots, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your water ing habits. Most plants die from over versus under-watering. Make sure there is a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. If there isn’t one, you can use Sty rofoam packing peanuts in the bottom to elevate the plant roots above the ex cess moisture in the bottom. Using those ‘peanuts’ versus soil will also make the pot lighter and easier to move. Plastic containers can be less expen sive, lighter and easier to clean than porous pots. Many plastic pots on the market today have been manufactured to look like terra cotta, so they are more attractive than in the past. Metal con tainers, like brass, copper or aluminum, generally provide drainage holes in the bottom so the soil drains properly. Wire baskets are another container alterna tive and require a liner to hold the soil in place. Liners can be Sphagnum moss andThecoco-fiber.nineprinciples of the Flori da-Friendly Land scaping™ Program hold as true for container planting as they do for land scape beds. One of the best aspects of container garden ing is the flexibility it o f ers. You can achieve Right Plant, Right Place, the first and foremost of the nine principles, with a container even when the conditions of your landscape do not match the plant’s needs. For instance, if a plant is acid-lov ing, but your soil pH is alkaline, a con tainer could be an easy solution. Add a soil amendment that acidifies the contain er soil, and you have the right plant in the rightLocateplace.sun-loving plants in the sun. If the soil is moist, don’t water. Use slow-release fertilizers that do not leach through the soil after irrigation or rain. After proper identi fication, manage pests responsibly by using environmentally friendly products and spot treat as needed. Select plants that attract wildlife so you can enjoy butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Consider grouping several plants with the same requirements together to cre ate attractive combinations. These re quirements include light, water, soil tex ture and pH. Also, consider the mature size so you are not over or under-plant ing. Plants can be combined with an eye for color schemes, contrasting textures and di f erent forms. Be sure to consider proportions when creating plant combi nations. Try to have at least one plant that is as tall as the container. You can group several containers together to create a visual impact. In Hillsborough County, we o f er Con tainer Gardening Microirrigation work shops. For additional information on container garden designs and plants for visual impacts, go to Ask IFAS and search for Container Gardens. You can reach us at 813-744-5519 or visit us at 5339 County Rd. 579 in Se f ner. Remem ber to reduce, reuse, recycle and repeat.

Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic visits Lake land on Saturday, September 17 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland and ev eryone’s invited on this amazing journey with Elmo to discover the “power of yet” in Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic In partnership with the nonproﬁt educa tional organization Sesame Workshop, this Feld Entertain ment® production features favorite Sesame Street pals Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and more in a magical adventure live onstage. In this latest Sesame Street Live! adventure, Elmo is inspired to learn a magic trick when he meets magician extraordinaire Justin, who has come to Sesame Street to perform a magic show. But there’s one problem: Elmo doesn’t know how to do magic! Through Justin’s encouragement to practice, work hard and never give up, Elmo embarks on an extraordinary journey. He learns that it’s OK to make mis takes and that magic can be found any where when you believe in yourself and the power of what’s yet to be. Cookie Monster and Gonger uncover the sci ence and fun of baking while Abby Cad abby experiences the transformative abilities of caterpillars. Big Bird learns about the magnifying magic of shad ow puppetry while Rosita orchestrates a rhythmic beat using everyday ob jects around her. And artist Grover mixes up the pig ment power of the three primary col ors.With high-ener gy dance numbers and a soundtrack that’s sure to get everyone out of their seats, Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic is an inspirational introduc tion to live theater and the art of illusion that the entire family will enjoy.Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertain ment experiences that bring people to gether and uplift the human spirit. For more information about Sesame Street Live! , follow its social media chan nels at Facebook @sesamestreetlive, Twitter @SesameStLive and Instagram @sesamestreetlive and subscribe to its YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ SesameStreetLive.Forticketprices and to purchase tickets, visit www.sesamestreetlive. com (ticket pricing is subject to change based on market demand). For ticket in formation, you can also call the RP Fund ing Center Box O f ce at 863-834-8111 or visit the RP Funding Center’s website at www.rpfundingcenter.com.

SESAME STREET LIVE! MAKE YOUR MAGIC IS COMING TO THE RP FUNDING CENTER Staf Report MB InsuranceMedicare:Solutions Supplement/MedigapPrescriptionPartDMedicareAdvantage Term Life Insurance ACA Under 65 Health Insurance mlbartock@gmail.com www.medicareofforida.com 813.767.2878 Not Affliated with any Federal Agency Time to review your plan! Medicare Questions? Need Help? No Cost! Paid By Insurance! Michele L. Bartock Independent 2-15 Agent AHIP & ACA Certifed

Page 42 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 GET THE DIRT: CONTAINER GARDENING BY LYNN BARBER, FLORIDA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING™ AGENT

CITY ENTERTAINMENT

IMPERSONATOR

Page 43Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022

Ruthless is directed by Douglas Buffa loe, a veteran actor of Plant City Enter tainment. Buffaloe began acting with them in his teens in the role of Beast in Beauty and the Beast . He appeared frequently on the stage as an actor. In 2017, he directed his first show, The Drowsy Chaperone . He has also di rected the murder mystery Curtains , in 2019.Buffaloe said, “ Ruthless is a hidden gem of a show which most people have never heard of before. I think what appeals to me most about it, besides the music just generally being great, is that you truly have no idea what is in store for you. When the show starts and you meet the characters, you think you know where the show is going and what the trajectory of the story will be, then Ruthless takes ridiculous left turn after ridiculous left turn. It is absurdism at its finest.” Ruthless is PG-13, as there is brief strong language and some dark and mature themes. The cast consists of six women: Jenni fer Geoff, Mai syBorthsilton,BrittanyVetteMiddleton,Berrian,HamAngeland KristenBuffaloeBucko.said, “The cast is comprised of six supremely talented women who are all having an absolute ball with this material. I do not know what I expect ed to find when casting this show, but whatever it was, the six have exceeded it. They are ferociously silly onstage and I could not be prouder of the work they arePlantdoing.”City Entertainment is a non profit community theater. Its mission is: “Instill the love of live theater in the child, renew the magic in our senior cit izens, and for all those ages in between, to promote self-confidence, teamwork, and fun for all, as we strive to enter tain.”Plant City Entertainment is locat ed at 101 N. Thomas St. in Plant City. For more information and to get tick ets, please visit plantcityentertainment. com.

By Kathy L. Collins

TODAYCALL Billy ‘Elvis’ Lindsey grew up in a house filled with music. From a young age, he remem bers putting on shows, playing 10 diferent in struments and listening to Elvis Presley. “I just love music. My dad was such a huge El vis fan,” explained Lind sey, adding, “In 1974, I got to see him at Notre Dame. It was my first concert ever. It was amazing.”Heand a few of his friends started a com edy group called The Flash Band, where they performed skits at Hap py Days on State Road 60 in Brandon, many of which included Presley’s character.“That’s when I real ized how many Elvis songs I knew from my childhood,” said the Elvis impersonator. “I just knew so many Elvis songs that the Elvis show just became part of my Whenact.”being in The Flash Band no longer worked with his schedule, Lindsey began performing on his own. He won an Elvis im personator contest four times at the state fair and was even used as the face of the competition for its marketing one year. Lindsey’s talents extend past his award-winning Elvis impersonation, howev er. He also performs oldies, rock, country and pop music, from Alan Jackson to The Beatles to Ricky Martin. He per forms across Flor ida and takes his show on the road as he travels out of state when he visits his own family. In addition to being a full-time performer, the Viet nam War veteran started his Keep the Fire Burning nonprofit last year to give back to the community. He has performed at char ity fundraisers and for Children’s Mira cle Network in the past, but his non profit allows him to further his contri bution to others.

Plant City Entertainment will present “the stage mother of all musicals,” Ruthless over two weekends in September.

Now, Lindsey will perform on the MSCaward-winningMeraviglia with stops at Ocean Cay, Nassau, Cozumel and Belize City. Lindsey’s 2023 seven-night cruise will set sail from Port Canaveral on February 5, 2023. There is a $250 deposit per person, due as soon as possible after booking a cabin. There is limited availability, so those interested are encouraged to ﬁll out the ﬂyer on his website now. For more information on Lindsey, visit his website at billyelvislindsey.com or, for book ing information, call 813-786-9110.

PLANT TO PRESENT THE MUSICAL RUTHLESS

BILLY LINDSEY PERFORMS MUSIC AND COMEDY By Lily Belcher

Billy ‘Elvis’ Lindsey will perform on a cruise in February 2023.

Plant musicalwillEntertainmentCitypresentthe Ruth less , on mission,forTicketsareSundayp.m.,showsand25.temberSunday,17andday,andSeptemberFriday,1623;SaturSeptember24;andSep18andTheFridaySaturdayareat8andtheshowsat2p.m.are$21generalad$19for seniors and students and $16 for members and opening night.

Dr. Robert Lutz

ELVIS

“I chose this internship because it is a local newspaper with a lot of recognition and gives me the opportunity for in-per son interviews, over-the-phone interviews and email interviews,” said Burken.

Deven King Pensacola Christian KingCollegeis 20 years old and a junior at Pensac ola Christian College, where she is majoring in journalism. King plans to become a journalist and wants to be a travel writer.“My favorite part about interning was getting to meet new people and learn about the diferent small orga nizations and people in Brandon,” said King.

MADELINEBATTALGIAGARD-SYDNEY HOOKER ELLA MARTIN

SARA

Madeline Gardner University of Florida Gardner will be a freshman at the Uni versity of Florida in the fall. She is 18 years old and plans to major in English at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida. Gardner’s favorite part of this internship has been being able to reach out and interview people all over the community while being able to discuss both important and wholesome matters. The internship has reminded Gardner of all the good in the community that should be“Icelebrated.wantedto intern with the Osprey Ob server because I saw it as an opportunity for me to expand on my writing capabil ities while immersing myself in a wide variety of topics to choose from. I think it’s a great way to merge my writing aspi rations and dreams with the reality of ap plying those goals to practical positions,” said Gardner.

SUMMER INTERNS

Soﬁa Celis Avellaneda Sumner High School Celis Avellaneda is 17 years old and a rising senior at Sumner High School while doing the dual enrollment program with Hillsborough Community College. She plans to major in communications. Celis Avellaneda likes this internship because she has gotten a chance to learn more about writing and how to complete inter views with diferent people. Celis Avellaneda’s favorite part of this internship was “learning the ropes and really understanding how to ask the right questions and go into as much detail as possible,” she said.

Sydney Burken University of South Florida Burken is going to be a senior at the University of South Florida in the fall. She is 21 years old and has a political sci ence major and a minor in mass commu nications with a concentration in media broadcasting and journalism. Burken’s fa vorite part of this internship has been the ﬂexibility of it, from being able to choose her topics to getting to decide the angle of her article. Having multimedia interview options gave Burken the chance to learn her strengths and weaknesses as a writer and improve upon them.

By Arianna Hooker

Arianna Hooker Newsome High Hooker is 16 years old and a rising junior at Newsome High School. She wants to go to a Christian college and plans to double major in mass communications and entrepreneur ial studies. Hooker wants her career to have some part in journalism, so she wanted to do this internship to gain more knowledge of the ﬁeld since she has only worked for her school newspaper. Hooker’s favorite part of this in ternship has been the opportunity to contin ue crafting her writing skills and getting to interview people all over the community.

Ella Martin Newsome High School Martin is 15 years old and a rising junior at Newsome High School. She plans to attend the University of Florida and wants to major in accounting and then work in a city later. She has a family of six and four dogs. Martin has enjoyed being able to practice a new type of “Mywriting.favorite part of interning is getting to interact with new people in the community, as well as learning more about events and places,” said Martin.

Page 44 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 (813)BRANDON651-9484 117 N. Kings Ave (813)TAMPA932-5327 1425 W. Busch Blvd. (727)CLEARWATER725-1052 (Across from Costco) 2643 Gulf to Bay, Ste. 1530 CustomHairTampaBay.com • Human Hair & Synthetic Hair Wigs • Permanent, Non-Surgical Options • Chemotherapy & Alopecia Specialists • Largest Selection of Human Hair Toppers in Tampa Bay • Also offering sales & service of all MEN’S hair systems FREE CONSULTATION! PLEASE CALL. SinceOwnerLori,&Client1969 CUSTOM HAIR For the hair you’ve always wanted! Every summer, the Osprey Observer allows local high school and college students to ex perience a taste of the journalism world with internships that gives students a chance to learn the ins and outs of the newspaper in dustry. This year, the Osprey Observer wel comed eight interns for their summer intern ship, Sara Battaglia, Sydney Burken, Soﬁa Celis Avellaneda, Nick Edwards, Madeline Gardner, Deven King, Arianna Hooker and Ella Martin.

Sara Battaglia Dancing for a Difer enceBattaglia is 27 years old and the owner of Dancing for a Diference; she previous ly was a dance major at the University of South Florida but ended up with a degree in general studies due to an injury. Batt aglia wanted to intern because she loves writing and making connections in the community.“Iamcurrently a business owner of Dancing for a Diference and know how important making connections in the com munity is,” said Battaglia.

Nick Edwards University of Central Florida Edwards is a student at the University of Central Florida. He is 19 years old and is a criminal justice major while pursuing a minor in English literature. Edwards’ favorite part of this internship has been talking to his interviewees because it has allowed him to meet people and hear about their life experiences.

“I chose this internship because I remem ber seeing the article about the summer in terns for the Osprey Observer when I was in grade six, and ever since, I made it a goal to do this internship,” said Hooker.

“I chose to apply for this internship be cause it will jumpstart my career and give me an opportunity to practice working with others and hone my writing skills,” said Edwards.

OSPREY GET A TASTE OF THE NEWSROOM

BURKEN SOFIA CELIS NICK EDWARDS DEVEN KING ARIANNA

TAMPA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM NOW ACCEPTING 2022 BAY MINI-GRANT PROJECT PROPOSALS Staf Report

Page 45Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022 Are you in volved in a community or ganization and have an idea for a restoration or education proj ect in Tampa Bay? If you are, then you may be interested to know that the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) is now accept ing Bay Mini-Grant project proposals.

The TBEP Bay MiniGrants are competitive cash awards of up to $5,000 provided to community organizations for projects that address restoration and education priori ties in Tampa Bay, empowering participato ry science, promoting environmental ethics and stimulating community stewardship.

All Bay Mini-Grants awarded to commu nity organizations for education and resto ration projects are funded by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program Specialty License Plate, or the ‘Tarpon Tag.’ The Tarpon Tag is one of the least expensive specialty plates at just $15 per year, and all of the revenue goes directly towards protecting and re storing Tampa Bay. To obtain a Tarpon Tag and directly support this grant program for years to come, simply visit your local DMV. Additional Bay Mini-Grant information, including grant eligibility, application re view criteria and grant priorities can be found at gramstactanquestionstoration-research/bay-mini-grants/.https://tbep.org/our-work/resFororassistancewithtransformingideaintoacompetitiveproposal,conSheilaScolaro,TBEPcommunityproscientist,atsscolaro@tbep.org.

Projects must address one or more of TBEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) priorities: clean waters and sediments, thriving habitats and abundant wildlife as well as an in formed, engaged and responsible commu nity.Each year, TBEP highlights a specific CCMP action to prioritize for Bay MiniGrant funding. This year, projects sup porting the prevention, eradication and/or management of invasive species in Tampa and its watershed will be prioritized for funding.PastBay Mini-Grant projects have includ ed Florida native plantings at local parks, marine educational workshops for Tampa Bay teachers, bird nesting documentaries and citizen science projects researching en docrine disrup tors in andneighborhoods16.day,isBaytionmeadows.seagrassTheapplicadeadlineforMini-Grants5p.m.onFriSeptemberSchools,othernon profit and for-profit organizations from Hillsborough, Mana tee, Pasco and Pinellas counties may apply. On average, 20 proj ects are funded each year with about $90,000 in grants. A ‘Golden Mangrove Award’ is given every year to the outstanding Bay Mini-Grant project as determined by the TBEP Com munity Advisory Committee.

Tina Downing started Small but Mighty Heroes in 2017, inspired by a little boy named Blakey who fought a tremendous battle with cancer. The loss of Blakey due to cancer treatment ignited a ﬁre with in her to advocate, raise awareness and provide sup port for children and their families battling childhood cancer.

Florida Foam Factory will host a SeptemberAGANZAFOAMSTRAVSaturday,17,5-8p.m.

ets-340123898737.tory-foamstravaganza-2022-tickwww.eventbrite.com/e/ﬂorida-foam-fachere: FIRST COMMUNITYFOAMSTRAVAGANZAEVENTWILLSUPPORTCHILDREN’SCANCERCHARITY

By Sara Battaglia Marie Gilmore with Brian Porter at a truly foamtastic and fun event!

Page 46 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9 Some restrictions and blackout dates may apply. © 2022 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS SEPTEMBER 10 – OCTOBER BUSCHGARDENSTAMPA.COM30BUYA2023FUNCARDNOWANDGETTHERESTOF2022FREE! FUN CARD 2023 MULTIPLEALL-NEW!TRICK-OR-TREAT STATIONS KIDS’ COSTUME PARADE STORY TELLING AND SO MUCH MORE! www.myfloridaeyecare.com 813-654-0220 3307 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. (InValricoFrontofSprouts) HH O U R S : M O N 9 A M 2 P M , T U E S F R I 9 A M 5 P M LITHIAPINECRESTRD BLOOMINGDALE AVE S.MILLERRD Dr. Sheree Wright, O.D. • Dr. Branning Hollis, O.D. • Dr. Mona Kardani, O.D. FAAO We accept VSP, Eyemed, Cigna, Aetna, Tricare, United Healthcare, and more. *see store for details CompleteLocally-OwnedEyeExamsDesignerFramesContactLenses Are you ready for the biggest foam party in Hillsbor ough County? On Saturday, Septem ber 17 from 5-8 p.m., Florida Foam Facto ry will be hosting ceedsthatHeroes,supportyourfunningfoamcannonsThereZAFOAMSTRAVAGANaatTheRegent.willbethreeblastingandaDJspinsomefamily-friendly,tunes.ComedressedasfavoritesuperherotoSmallbutMightytheorganizationaportionoftheprowillbedonatedto.There will also be rafe prizes every 15 minutes and food trucks.Florida Foam Factory is owned by Air Force veteran Brian Porter, who said, “When I met Tina and spoke to her about her organization, … her passion of want ing to help children battling cancer made me want to help in some capacity.”

The community can help sup port Small but Mighty Heroes by attending the upcoming FOAM STRAVAGANZA, visiting Mighty Heroes Nutrition, volunteering or donating. For more information on Florida Foam Factory, visit its website at www.ﬂoridafoamfactory. com. To support Small but Mighty He roes, visit www.smallbutmightyheroes. org or purchase tickets to the event

Downing also owns Mighty Heroes Nutrition, a shop beneﬁtting her nonproﬁt which sells gourmet shakes, teas, lemonades and cofees. She said, “We are able to do continual fundraising that will help us continue our mission and fund our programs that are designed to provide the tailored sup port that these children and their family needs.”

Page 47Bloomingdale/FishHawk EditionSeptember 2022 Jason DiMeo, CFA JasonCFADiMeo, Jason.DiMeo@AllWealth.comP(813)490-6610 100 N Tampa Street, Suite 3750, Tampa, FL 33602 All Seasons Wealth is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities are ofered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services are ofered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Do you understand the risk in your portfolio? Do you know if your portfolio is truly diversifed? Contact us for a complimentary risk assessment today.

When it comes to cleaning your ﬂoor, not only is there much work to do but also there’s quite a bit of know-how needed, such as the proper cleaning solutions, methods and equip ment. If you have ﬂooring that must be cleaned, getting pro fessionals like Gecko Floor Care is best.

FAMILY-OWNED GECKO FLOOR CARE HANDLES SERVICES PROFESSIONALLY

“We moved down here and started from scratch. I had had some experience with steam cleaning in the past, but I decided to go into Gecko Floor with my sons,” said Dennis.“Iwanted a business that they could grow, and basically I always wanted to have a family business with them,” he added. Gecko Floor Care provides services for both residential and commercial properties, typically doing residential cleaning between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and saving commercial cleanings for later in the day to not interrupt businesses’ operating hours. Its services in clude cleaning carpets; area rugs; tiles and grout; wood, concrete and luxury vinyl floors; and upholstery, and it also does pet stain removal and pressure washing.AtGecko Floor Care, its cleaners are expe rienced, trained pro fessionals, as they did training through the Carpet and Rug Insti tute and IICRC. What’s more, the business was presented with the Best of the Best Peo ple’s Choice Award for Best Carpet Cleaning in 2019 and 2020 by the Tampa Bay Times “These are truly the best floor cleaners out there! I’m beyond happy to find out that it’s a father and son team as well,” said custom er Jessie D. Ronnie N., another customer, said, “Just had our tile, grout and an area rug cleaned and couldn’t be happier. We’ve used Gecko Floor Care a couple of times now and always happy with the results.” So, no matter the spill, stain or filth, you can be assured that Gecko Floor Care will make your floors good as new. Plus, every thing it uses is kid and pet-friendly. For information, visit www.geckofloor care.com or check out its Facebook page @geckofloorcare. To book an appointment, call 813-924-7344.

By Taylor Wells Dennis Napoli, between his sons Eric (left) and Kevin Napoli (right), holding the Best of the Best People’s Choice Award for Best Carpet Cleaning that Gecko Floor Care won in 2019.

Gecko Floor Care is a family-owned and operated business that has been around for seven years now. It be gan with founder and owner Dennis Napoli wanting to operate a business with his whole family, including his wife, Lori Napoli, and their two sons, Kevin and Eric. The family came from Cleveland to live in Florida in 2015 and started the com pany soon after.

Page 48 Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition Volume 21, Issue 9

Osprey Observer Bloomingdale/FishHawk September 2022

Articles inside

Kids R Kids Of Valrico 20 Years Later