Osprey Observer Bloomingdale/FishHawk September 2023

September 2023 Volume 22, Issue 9 Ph: 813-657-2418

HILLSBOROUGH’S DENNIS JONES NAMED FIRE CHIEF OF THE YEAR

At the Naples Grande Beach Resort in July, Dennis Jones celebrated a grand moment in his momentous career, which since 2015 has involved leading Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and its more than 1,200 career firefighters, paramedics and staf

Named Florida Career Fire Chief of the Year at the July 18 event, Jones said he was “truly humbled to receive this recognition” and that he was “extremely proud to be a member of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue,” which this year celebrates 50 years of service.

With more than four decades of firefighting experience himself, Jones joined Tampa Fire Rescue in 1978, rising up through the ranks to Tampa Fire Rescue fire chief. He retired in 2010 after five years in that role.

Now, going into his ninth year as Hillsborough fire chief, Jones leads the state’s fourth-largest fire department and the largest on Florida’s west coast. Hillsborough’s 46 stations cover more than 909 square miles and last year answered nearly 140,000 alarms for service. To meet the demands of a growing population, Jones has called for an additional two stations a year for the next 10 years.

Jones is a founding member of Florida Task Force 3, an urban search-and-rescue team of trained firefighters from Hillsborough County, Tampa and St. Petersburg, which assists in disasters statewide and nationally. Jones in 2021 deployed the task force in response to the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, a suburb of Miami.

“He is a man of integrity, fortitude and

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By Linda Chion

compassion,” Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise said. “With more than 40 years of experience in fire service, chief Jones has the steadfast respect and admiration of the first responders in his charge, and as a founding member of Florida Task Force 3, there is nobody I would rather have at my side during times of crisis.”

Notable achievements under Jones’ tenure include the addition of 12 advanced life support ambulances, a second heavy rescue unit, a new fireboat, a new rescue boat, two personal watercraft and an aerial truck. The summer youth fire academy, cadet program and fire academy were either instituted or revamped under his direction, and as a result allowed for a more diverse workforce.

As for his heart for service, it was clearly evident in 2022 — during the 21st anniversary remembrance for the September 11, 2011, terrorist attacks — at Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. Veterans Museum in Tampa.

“In just two and a half hours that morning, our lives and our world were changed forever,” Jones said.

Through it all, and the disasters and pandemic that were to come, Jones has stood as a constant, being deeply moved and committed in his role now as chief first responder. For his career commitment and achievements, Jones received career fire chief award recognition from the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, which specializes in promoting and supporting excellence in fire and emergency services management.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY FLAG FLYS HIGH ABOVE BEVIS AFTER ALMOST $10,000 FUNDRAISER

Congratulations to Tuskegee University for winning Bevis Elementary School’s Fly Your Flag Competition for the second year in a row. The school recently held a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the Tuskegee victory. The Tuskegee University flag will continue to fly for the 2023-24 school year; it was also flown as the victor for the 2022-23 school year.

The Fly Your Flag Competition is an annual fundraiser for the Bevis Elementary Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) that takes place in spring of the school year. The premise is simple and operates similar to a GoFundMe. Students and faculty work together to get people to donate to the flags of their college alma maters. Participants pay $10 to add their college’s flag to the competition.

“The Fly Your Flag fundraiser has not only been a great fundraiser for its fun and competitive nature but also the opportunity it’s provided our students to learn the value of networking and teamwork,” said PTA President Amanda Winemiller.

Every penny raised through this friendly competition is put back into the school to provide teachers, classrooms and students with additional resources, which in turn support e f orts to give students the best education possible.

This year, a total of $9,955 was raised, with a total of 18 colleges entered into the competition. Aside from the many Florida schools, there were several outof-state schools represented, including The Ohio State University and the University of Georgia. The University of

By Meghan Reyes

Georgia came in second with $3,840 raised.

But the flag for Tuskegee University, a private HBCU (historically black colleges and universities) in Tuskegee, Alabama, represented an astounding $4,499 in fundraising, thanks to the e f orts of fifth grader Amirah Spicer.

“I loved telling everyone how much I appreciated them participating and also letting them know about HBCUs. And it is great to be able to help teachers with supplies,” said Spicer.

Spicer networked and even did a Facebook Live video with her family to help reach her goal of winning again this year. In last year’s competition, she raised an impressive $5,411 in just two short days.

Spicer was present with her family, the president of the local Tuskegee Alumni Association and other HBCU alumni to celebrate and help raise the flag at the celebration while the Tuskegee fight song played. The PTA also presented her with the flag from last year signed by all the teachers. Spicer now has it proudly displayed in her room.

The Bevis PTA plans to continue this fundraising competition next year. To find out how to further support Bevis Elementary, visit www.bevispta.com.

IN THIS ISSUE:

NEW BAND DIRECTOR PG 3

MOTORING TAMPA BAY PG 5

BRUCE MARSH PG 12

EYE ON BUSINESS................PGS 25-26 GET THE DIRT PG 40

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Dennis Jones, front and center, with HCFR members in attendance at the 2022 Patriot Day Remembrance at Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park.

Amirah Spicer with members of her family and HBCU alumni at the fag-raising ceremony for Tuskegee University, the winner of Bevis Elementary’s Fly Your Flag fundraiser.

The Bloomingdale Senior High School Drumline was invited by the Hillsborough County School Board to participate in Performance On The Plaza Tunes and help kick off the new school year. Read more about new BSHS band director Jordan Fraze who is dedicated to making sure the Bloomingdale Band stays successful. He is setting the tone by establishing a focus on loving music. According to him, having a love and passion for music will yield top-level performances. See the full story on Page 3.

WALK TO SUPPORT F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

DOWN SYNDROME WEST FLORIDA ON OCTOBER 21

Join F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Down Syndrome West Florida at the Al Lopez Park to unite for a common cause at the seventh annual F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Buddy Walk on Saturday, October 21.

The Buddy Walk event will begin at 10 a.m. with meet and greets, music and more. The advocacy walk will begin at 1 p.m., with team pictures to follow.

Individuals with Down syndrome must register as a walker but are free to participate and will receive a Buddy Walk wristband, T-shirt, medal and cowbell or noisemaker. Until Sunday, October 1, registration is $20 for participants ages 13 and up and includes a Buddy Walk T-shirt, a wristband, free team photos and event admission. After October 1, the price will increase to $25. Children ages 12 and under are free and must register to receive their free Buddy Walk T-shirt and wristband.

Starting at 10 a.m., participants are welcome to enjoy the festivities, including music from DJ Mark Girdwood and the MC Mark Oliver as well as bounce houses, a playground and face painting.

A complimentary lunch, prepared by Craig Wangberg and Paul Foyt, will be served starting at 11 a.m., and you’ll be able to get a picture taken with your favorite Star Wars and Ghostbusters characters. Guests are welcome to bring their own 10 ft. by 10 ft. tents, chairs and food.

Ninety-seven percent of the money

NEW BAND DIRECTOR BRINGS

LONGTIME PASSION FOR MUSIC TO BLOOMINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

raised during the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Buddy Walk goes back into F.R.I.E.N.D.S. programs and activities. The other 3 percent of the donations raised go to the National Down Syndrome Society to support its significant national advocacy, education and inclusion eforts.

“It is vital for families to meet other families, to share information and to gain that vital support,” said Ann Foyt, president of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. “Our kids also need to meet each other to make friends, and F.R.I.E.N.D.S. gives our community these opportunities.”

In September, teams who register for the Buddy Walk and raise $500 by October 1 will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card. In October, teams who raise $1,000 will be entered to win Apple earbuds; if they raise $2,500, the teams could win a $250 Amazon gift card; and if they raise $5,000, the teams could win a $500 gift card. Teams will be issued a rafe ticket for each $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000 they raise. The deadline for these incentives is Friday, October 20.

Come out to join the 2,000 participants for a day of fun and support millions of families and individuals impacted by Down syndrome at the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Buddy Walk. For more information, to participate, volunteer or donate, visit www.ds-stride.org/ friendsbuddywalk/help-guides.

Bloomingdale High School’s Rajun’ Bull Band is marching forward under new leadership. Jordan Fraze is Bloomingdale’s third band director since the school opened in 1987. In addition to being dedicated to continuing the success and traditions of the storied program, Fraze brings an unsurpassable passion for music that began very early in his life.

By Jane Owen

He has a ‘fresh set of legs’ to run with the Rajun’ Bull Band,” Sever said.

Fraze is dedicated to making sure the kids are successful. He is setting the tone by establishing a focus on loving music. According to him, having a love and passion for music will yield top-level performances.

the

Fraze started in band in sixth grade, and by seventh grade he decided that he wanted to be a band director. He was inspired by his middle school band director, Sherod King.

“The biggest part that inspired me about him was his charisma and how much he cared about his students being successful. He is my true inspiration,” Fraze said.

Fraze received his bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education from Florida State University, where he was a drum major for three years and on scholarship for French horn. Prior to coming to Bloomingdale, Fraze was the band director at Brandon High School. He continues to play French horn with the Fanfare Concert Winds community band.

Former Bloomingdale band director Jon Sever said Fraze’s longtime passion for music will empower him to serve the students and take the band to new levels of greatness.

“It was obvious that Mr. Fraze was by far the best candidate to carry on the traditions of the Bloomingdale band program.

“The superior legacy is going to continue on. Ultimately, my goal is to teach students about music, how to love music, how to play their instrument and leave band wanting to continue playing after high school. The most important thing for me is for students to have an inkling of the passion I have for music,” Fraze said.

Fraze is intent on continuing Bloomingdale band traditions and cannot speak highly enough about how welcomed he feels within the Bloomingdale community.

Bloomingdale High School Principal Dr. Marcos Rodriguez is enthusiastic about Fraze directing at Bloomingdale.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Mr. Fraze as our new director of bands at Bloomingdale HS. He has hit the ground running making music with his students and building relationships in our community. I have no doubt that he will continue to carry on the tradition of excellence our bands have had since 1987,” Rodriguez said.

For more information about the Bloomingdale Band, visit www.bloomingdaleband.com.

Te seventh annual F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Buddy Walk will have character meet and greets, music and games.

New Bloomingdale High School band director Jordan Fraze is looking forward to carrying on a tradition of excellence while leading

Rajun’ Bull Band.

TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL 9/11 HEROES RUN MOVES TO AL LOPEZ PARK

Welcoming a new face to its annual efort, the Travis Manion Foundation is partnering with Tampa’s Veteran Approved Network (VAN), a network in Tampa Bay providing veterans with access to and discounts for various educational and health resources through its free membership, to host its 9/11 Heroes Run at Al Lopez Park on Saturday, September 9.

“The 9/11 Heroes Run is not all military. It’s to honor law enforcement, first responders of all kinds,” said Toni Hedstrom, co-race director and founder of VAN. “But it’s a great opportunity for the community to come out and be part of an event that is very heartwarming.”

Founded in 2007 by his family, the Travis Manion Foundation memorializes Marine First Lieutenant Travis Manion, who lost his life serving in Iraq in April of that same year. Manion had previously traveled to Rescue 1 in New York City, which lost nearly all its men on September 11 of 2001. Deeply moved by his visit, the 9/11 Heroes Run has thus remained a key project of the foundation since 2008, honoring those who have fallen and those who continue to serve today.

With help from both national and local sponsors, this event will feature food and entertainment. Sponsor Streetlight Taco will be providing fresh chips and guacamole, and the EXTRAS, a local band, will be performing as well. Additionally, retired Major

SULLENBERGER WINS WORLD AND NATIONAL ARCHERY CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS SUMMER

By Madeline Gardner

General James ‘Hammer’ Hartstell of the U.S. Marine Corps and Florida State Senator Jay Collins are scheduled to speak at the event.

VAN will also be setting up its Veterans Village, a series of vendors who will be available to greet race attendees and hand out free merchandise. Some of these organizations and businesses will include American Legion, 2nd Amendment Armory of Brandon and Bufalo Wild Wings.

A portion of the proceeds will go directly to the Travis Manion Foundation, while the remainder will be allocated to VAN to disseminate within its network.

Hoping to difuse the mission of the Travis Manion Foundation, retired Marine and co-race director Beau Higgins, who served with Manion as the commanding ofcer of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in the Marine Corps, cited the event as an opportunity to unite the community in remembrance and the spirit of giving.

“If everybody gives back a little bit, it all adds up,” said Higgins. “… if you find a cause there at one of the booths or just someone you connect with there to make a small diference in your local community, that all adds up.”

To register for the 9/11 Heroes Run, visit https://runsignup.com/race/fl/tampa/911heroesruntampafl. Al Lopez Park is located at 4180 N. Himes Ave in Tampa.

Valrico archer Sydney Sullenberger was named world archery champion and brought home gold for the third year in a row in the Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) national championship in July.

The Columbia University sophomore traveled to Limerick, Ireland for the World Archery Youth Championship, where she qualified as the top U.S. female archer. After the initial qualification, she won all of her matches to be named the world champion for the compound under 21 women’s event.

Sullenberger also competed in the team event with two of her teammates, where they won third place in the event.

“The three of us shoot against other countries in a bracket-style system. We were able to win our matches, and we made it to the bronze medal match,” Sullenberger said about the World Archery Youth Championship. “We got to shoot on that final stage as a team of three together and we finished third, so we got that bronze medal.”

After her success in Ireland, she traveled to Iowa the next week for the JOAD championship, the final event in a five-part

By Lily Belcher

competition series. Sullenberger finished first in both the qualifier rounds and earned gold in the under-21 national championship.

“A lot of hard work has gone into this. I’ve pretty much dedicated my whole life to the sport for the last nine years,” Sullenberger said. “So, to see that hard work pay of, and to reiterate the fact that I was doing all that I needed to do and my trust in myself, my equipment and in the whole journey, is what was ultimately able to lead me to win those two championships.”

The 19-year-old archer was also named captain of her team at Columbia University, which is the only NCAA D-I archery program. Sullenberger said her coaches, Derek Davis at Columbia University and Diane Watson, have been an integral part of her success.

“Having completed my first year on that team really gave me the opportunity to train and have access to all the necessary training time and equipment to help me pursue these goals,” Sullenberger said. To follow Sullenberger’s journey, visit her ‘Sydney Sullenberger’s Archery’ Facebook page.

Pictured with his wife, Liz, retired Marine Beau Higgins will be working as the co-race director alongside Tampa’s VAN founder, Toni Hedstrom.

Sydney Sullenberger competed in the Junior Olympic Archery Development national championship in July, bringing home gold.

Sullenberger competed in the World Archery Youth Championship in Ireland and in the JOAD national championship this summer.

nitishrele@gmail.com

KIA HITS HOME RUN WITH 2023 TELLURIDE SUV!

Its list of honors and raves is endless. U.S. News’ Best Three-Row SUVs for families, Car and Driver’s 10 Best Trucks and SUVs, Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Award in the 3-Row Midsize SUV category, Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s Top Safety Picks, SlashGear’s Best Family SUV, The Car Connection’s Best Family Car to Buy — you get the picture. Honestly, the 2023 Kia Telluride is a sensational hit.

TELLURIDE (SX-PRESTIGE, X-LINE AWD)

Tires: 245/50R20

Wheelbase: 114.2 inches

Length: 196.9 inches

Width: 78.3

Height: 70.5 inches

Tow capacity: 5,000 pounds

Available in seven or eight-passenger configuration, the SUV is equipped with a sole power train: 3.8-liter V-6 engine pumping out 291 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 pounds-feet of torque at 5,200 rpm, more than tolerable to climb a mountainous terrain or navigate the sharp turns of a countryside road. The eightspeed auto gear box with paddle shifters is immaculate, ofering instantaneous up and down moves. The SUV also is fitted with a start/stop system, which turns the engine of at a halt to save fuel.

Fuel capacity: 18.8 gallons

City: 18 mpg

Highway: 24 mpg

Base price: $51,785

Price as tested: $54,120

Website: www.kia.com

By Nitish Rele

radiator grille with a gloss-black insert and dark-gray surround trim, flanked by LED projector-style headlights and black bezels. It comes standard with forward-collision avoidance, safe-exit and lane-keep assists and smart cruise control; there also are 10 airbags, a driver knee airbag, four-wheel antilock brakes with brake assist, vehicle stability/ traction control, front/ rear crumple zones, daytime running lights and a tire pressure monitoring system.

An independent MacPherson strut front and multilink rear suspension does a particularly good job of soaking bumps and potholes with skill in this front-wheel or all-wheel-drive SUV. Also worth noting is the motor-driven power rack-and-pinion steering, efortless at higher speeds or while pulling into a parking lot. Also serving the overall eforts is 59 percent advanced high-strength steel and sound-damping materials that hold wind and road noise to a minimum.

Taking up a sizeable space up front is a

Switch over to eco, comfort, smart and sport drive modes (snow and AWD lock for allwheel drive) via a knob on the center console. Also ofered are 10way driver and eight-way front-passenger power seats, as well as dual 12.3-inch displays: a touch screen for infotainment system, and another for digital instrument cluster; Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; head-up display; cooled/heated front and Nappa leather seats; a dual sunroof; a surround-view monitor; a tilt/telescopic steering column; a dual auto AC; stainless-steel pedals/scuf plates; satin chrome door handles; and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system. Don’t be deluded into believing that the mighty 4,524-pound vehicle lacks muscle. In fact, the gas pedal releases forceful but silent acceleration to make the Telluride an elegant, pleasing and easy-riding companion. And Kia’s five-year, 60,000-mile basic and 10-year, 100,000-mile power train warranties should convince you to sign on the dotted line.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE UTILIZES BOLAWRAP FOR GREATER SAFETY OF ALL

Two years ago, the Hillsborough County Sherif ’s Ofce had an innovative idea for preventing excessive force in emergency situations. The product BolaWrap was soon utilized in hopes to reduce threatening armory in the hands of someone who committed a felony.

Kevin Mullins, CEO of Wrap Technologies Inc., stated, “BolaWrap was designed to be the next best option after verbal commands fail — and to be used well before any other pain-inducing options — to restrain a subject being taken into custody.”

This leads to fewer abuse accusations toward the police force and the one convicted of a crime. The hard work put into this product has been reintegrated to offer a safe and efcient alternative to traditional methods that may be forceful or painful.

“The BolaWrap solution embodies the unwavering commitment to Wrap’s noharm guiding, providing a crucial tool that empowers law enforcement professionals to maintain safety and security while minimizing the risk of injury to all parties involved,” stated Mullins. This stun-gun-like machinery is beneficial to have handy in unnegotiable circum-

ENERGY-SAVING TIPS FROM TECO

By Avery Ranieri

stances. This is because it makes work easier and safer for the police and brings in subjects who have broken the law while preserving their rights. BolaWrap has already expanded to over 1,000 agencies in the United States and 60 countries nationwide. This allows officers all over the world to demonstrate and manage complex public safety scenarios.

Master Deputy and BolaWrap master instructor David Hofman of the Hillsborough County Sherif ’s Ofce said, “If the BolaWrap deployment, either alone or in combination with other tools or tactics, results in getting the individual restrained without injury or additional force, it can be seen as successful.”

The proficiency of a deputy being able to do their job is dependent on the willingness of the subject. Intense reactions can also solidify more fines for the individual under arrest, and BolaWrap is able to prevent those from stacking quickly.

Two years later, in the present day, the police force and Wrap Technologies fully intend to further the expansion of BolaWrap, eager to smoothen the conflicts in public safety and communication.

This summer has been one of the hottest on record. As temperatures soar, air conditioners have to work extra hard to keep your home cool. This can lead to electric bills that are higher than the rest of the year.

To help assist customers having difculty making utility bill payments, Tampa Electric is donating $1 million to the Share program to help customers with summer bills. Share is administered by the Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg, specifically to provide utility bill assistance.

TECO’s charitable contributions are paid by shareholders and the generosity of employees, customers and community partners, and they do not afect customer bills.

Here are a few ways to use less energy (and help reduce your power bill):

• Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher and set the fan on auto. Every degree below 78 can add 6-8 percent to the cooling portion of your power bill.

• Use ceiling fans — but only in occupied rooms. For summer, rotate the blades counterclockwise.

• Limit your pool pump to run eight hours a day or as recommended by your pool service.

• Set your refrigerator temperature to 37 degrees and your freezer to 5 degrees.

• Lower the temperature setting on your water heater to 120 degrees.

• Run the washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full.

• Close the curtains or blinds in sunny rooms to keep the heat out.

• Turn of computers and monitors when not in use, or put them in sleep mode.

• Clean or replace air conditioning filters

each month.

• Check for leaky windows and doors, including the fireplace damper if you have one.

• Make sure your attic is sufciently insulated. Learn more about how you can adjust your energy use with energy calculators (for more information, visit www.tampaelectric. com/residential/saveenergy/energy-calculators/).

To help customers better manage their energy use, Tampa Electric ofers more energy-saving programs than any other investor-owned utility in Florida.

Prime Time PlusSM is a free and easy way to earn credits on your electric bill. The average customer earns $144 per year. It does this by letting Tampa Electric reduce electricity use during periods of extremely high demand.

The free Energy Planner program is a powerful tool to save money. It allows you to plan your highest energy use during the time of day when demand for electricity is lowest. You can save about a month’s worth of electricity each year by making simple adjustments to the time of day you use electricity.

To continue to help manage your energy costs, you can get a free energy audit from Tampa Electric. The online audit identifies areas where you may be wasting valuable energy.

Tampa Electric has been encouraging sustainability for over 40 years. In that time, more than 1.38 million customers have participated in the company’s energy-saving programs. In 2022 alone, 138,000 of Tampa Electric’s customers participated in at least one energy-saving program. Visit www.tampaelectric.com for more information.

Te BolaWrap is used after verbal warning to safely restrain a person by wrapping arms and legs. It is also used to restrain people who are experiencing psychosis without harm.

Te BolaWrap is sometimes referred to as the electric lasso.

ANNUAL 5K TO BENEFIT OCULAR MELANOMA RETURNS FACILITATING AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (FARMS) YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Who is ready to run for a good cause? The fifth annual Next Step Is the Cure 5K will be on Saturday, October 7 at Alderman’s Ford Park in Plant City to help bring awareness and raise funds for research for ocular melanoma (OM). Ocular melanoma is a rare disease which affects six out of 1 million people each year. With no known cure, OM is referred to as an orphan disease; of the people diagnosed, 50 percent will develop metastasis that usually travels to the liver and the lungs.

Race directors Bernadette Boyle and Linda O’Brien have a vested interest in this disease.

Bernadette lost her husband, Joe Boyle, to this cancer, and O’Brien is still fighting with yearly scans and eye exams; O’Brien remains NED (no evidence of disease).

Their decision to organize a 5K came about in 2017 when they learned that the Melanoma Research Foundation’s ‘Miles for Melanoma’ was not going to be held in the Tampa area. In November 2017, they held their first 5K at E.G. Simmons Park in Ruskin.

Bernadette and O’Brien are excited about the new location and are appreciative of the ongoing support of the community. Packet pickup will be at Park Square in FishHawk, and they hope to continue supporting Park Square and the surrounding businesses. They will also be reaching out to area schools to see if students are interested in volunteer hours to assist on the day of the event.

The hope for this year’s event is simple: to surpass the 2022 achievements. In 2022, there were over 300 people registered, 70-plus rafe items, 20-plus sponsors and $21,400 raised and donated to the Melanoma Research Foundation.

Representatives from the Melanoma Research Foundation will speak about ocular melanoma and the research that is happening because of events like this. Also invited are a prominent doctor from Moftt, who will speak about research being done in ocular melanoma, and a doctor from Retina Associates of Florida. Their passion is exemplified through every detail because they know that every dollar raised goes directly to the Melanoma Research Foundation — Cure Ocular Melanoma.

Along with shirts, finisher medals and swag bags for all participants, there will be awards given to first, second, and third place in both the men’s and women’s groups. With 13 age groups and a fun run for the younger children, there is a place for everyone to participate.

Visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/ cureocularmelanoma and Instagram page @yournextstepisthecure to follow its posts and updates.

If you are interested in learning more about sponsoring or donating, email yournextstepisthecure@aol.com. To register for the race/walk or donate, visit https:// runsignup.com/race/fl/lithia/yournextstepisthecure or scan the QR code.

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By Carole Estes, FARMS Manager, SW Florida Water Management District

Q: What is FARMS?

A: The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems, or FARMS for short, is a program designed to serve as an incentive to the agricultural community to promote water quantity, water quality and natural systems best management practices (BMPs) to conserve groundwater use and promote resource sustainability. The program is an agricultural costshare reimbursement program that reduces groundwater withdrawals from the Upper Floridan aquifer through conservation and alternative water supply BMPs. Water quality and natural systems improvement BMPs also may be costshared in priority areas in conjunction with water conservation BMPs.

Q: What is a best management practice, or BMP, and what does that look like for FARMS?

A: Best management practices are methods that have been determined to be the most efective and practical means for improving water conservation and quality in agricultural discharges. Examples of commonly used BMPs for FARMS include surface water pump stations, water control structures, automatic irrigation controls, soil moisture sensors and weather stations.

Q: What are some of the benefits to the water resources through the FARMS program?

A: Implementing agricultural BMPs provide many water resource benefits, including reduction of groundwater withdrawals from the Upper Floridan aquifer, improvement of ground and/or surface water quality

impacted by groundwater withdrawals, applied nutrient reduction or retention and improved natural system functions within wetlands and watersheds. Approved projects support the district’s Regional Water Supply Plan, Southern Water Use Caution Area or SWUCA Recovery Strategy, Strategic Plan and Springs Management Plans.

Q: How much water has been ofset through the FARMS program?

A: From the inception of the FARMS program in 2003 through 2023, the total projected groundwater ofset from the more than 240 approved FARMS projects is 31.5 million gallons of water per day at an overall average cost-benefit of $2.43 per thousand gallons of water ofset.

Q: As a member of the agricultural community, how do you qualify for FARMS funding?

A: If you are a member of the agricultural community and have a district water-use permit, you can apply for FARMS funding. To qualify for funding, projects must be located in the district and include one or more of the following BMP strategies: utilize an alternative water supply or technology to reduce groundwater use, improve irrigation water quality and watershed ecology by reducing reliance on poorer quality groundwater and reduce nutrient applications or increase nutrient retention. The FARMS program may reimburse a grower up to 50 percent of the total project costs. To learn more about the FARMS program, visit the district’s website at www.watermatters.org/farms or contact the district at 941-404-1452.

Thin Hair?

Thin

Carole Estes is the manager of the Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program.

TAMPA THEATRE WILL PRESENT VERY POPULAR SING-ALONG SUNDAYS THIS SEPTEMBER

Tampa Theatre

will once again present September Sing-along Sundays. This very popular series will feature four favorite movies.

Jill Witecki with Tampa Theatre said, “We see you. More accurately, we hear you filling up this majestic movie palace with your favorite movie musicals. We want to reward you with more sing-alongs.”

First up, come to sing-along with The Greatest Showman on September 3. Then, Tampa Theatre will show The Little Mermaid on September 10. After that, on September 17, sing-along with Jesus Christ Superstar. Tampa Theatre will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jesus Christ Superstar with special guest star Ted Neeley. The Sing-along Sundays end with The Sound of Music on September 24. All shows are set to be presented at 3 p.m. Witecki said, “Look, we get it. You all love your sing-alongs. There is something freeing about breaking the taboo of talking during a movie. There is something ebullient about raising your voice, if not always on key, in song with hundreds of fellow filmgoers. You have proven it time and time again as a moviegoing public, gobbling up tens of thousands of tickets over the years whenever Tampa Theatre puts lyrics on the big screen.”

FLORIDA BIRDING AND NATURE FESTIVAL TO GRACE TAMPA IN OCTOBER

By Keiko Moral

By Kathy L. Collins

This very fun tradition started in February 2002 when the theater participated in the national release of a sing-along version of The Sound of Music. With its little bags of props to wave and no-brainer costume options, the novel concept quickly became one of its patrons’ favorite things and sold out a two-week run.

Witecki said, “In 2014, Tampa Theatre sold so many tickets during a weekend of sing-along Mary Poppins that when we sent the box ofce report back to Disney, our contact there called to make sure it was not a typo. Our Summer Classics supporters have twice now voted sing-along Grease into the top spot during our ‘Fans Pick the Classic’ polls. Just a few years ago, six screenings of sing-along The Greatest Showman sold out, some of them just days after going on sale, prompting the Tampa Theatre staf to pledge that we will keep showing it until the fervor wanes.”

Costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $14.50 ($11.50 for Tampa Theatre members) and are available at the historic Franklin Street Box Ofce, located at 711 N. Franklin St. in downtown Tampa. Tickets can also be purchased online at https://tampatheatre.org/.

The anticipated Florida Birding and Nature Festival, a four-day event, is set to captivate enthusiasts and nature lovers alike with its rich array of outdoor pursuits and seminars. Held from Thursday to Sunday, October 12-15 at the scenic Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, located at 6650 Dickman Rd. in Apollo Beach, the festival coincides with the peak of the fall migration of birds through Central Florida.

Promising an immersive experience in the diverse avian and wilderness treasures of the Sunshine State, this year’s festival has already observed more than 180 species of birds during previous gatherings. Participants can anticipate an all-encompassing celebration of wildlife through an enticing selection of activities, thought-provoking lectures by esteemed experts and engaging presentations by nationally renowned keynote speakers.

Te Florida Birding and Nature Festival occurs right in the middle of migration, giving us great views of birds.

Hill, Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve, Alafia River Corridor South Nature Preserve and the captivating Rock Ponds Ecosystem Restoration Project.

Due to limited availability, early registration is highly recommended to secure a place on these exclusive trips. Distinguished naturalist, wildlife photographer and writer Stan Tekiela will deliver the keynote address on Friday. On Saturday, David Johnson, the esteemed director of the Global Owl Project, will unveil the intriguing world of owls during his keynote presentation. Both keynote addresses will be accompanied by bufets, ofering a culinary complement.

“We run this festival to highlight the special natural areas of the region the management needs of the preserves, the wildlife and birds that live or migrate through here and the economic values of these natural resources,” stated Anna Paul, festival planner.

Guided by seasoned experts and, in some cases, managers of the nature habitats themselves, the meticulously crafted field trips ofer unique opportunities to explore various captivating locations. Noteworthy destinations include the enchanting Egmont Key, the unspoiled Cross Bar Ranch in Spring

Beyond the field trips and keynote presentations, the festival boasts a comprehensive program of in-person and Zoom-broadcast seminars expertly led by authorities in their respective fields. Topics of exploration encompass the ‘Secrets of Sandhills,’ the allure of ‘Why Snakes Are Cool’ and more.

Complementing the festival’s intellectual and exploratory pursuits, a free Nature Expo awaits participants on Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14 at the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center.

With anticipation building for this event, wildlife aficionados are encouraged to secure their participation in the Florida Birding and Nature Festival by visiting the ofcial website at www.floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org.

Warm up your voices for Tampa Teatre’s September Sing-along Sundays. Tis sell-out series returns with four Sundays of follow-the-bouncing-ball fun.

DAVENPORT’S DAILY DELIGHTS CELEBRATES OVER A DECADE OF DELICIOUS HOMEMADE MEALS

With the school year already in full swing, cooking easy and healthy meals can be a struggle for busy families. For over a decade, Davenport’s Daily Delights has been trusted to deliver delicious family meals across the community. These homemade takeout meals have become a source of immense comfort for many in the Tampa Bay region.

Menus at Davenport’s Daily Delights are updated weekly and include delicious meals for families, like this pancetta and corn salmon salad.

“We’ve created a way for modern families to bring back family dinners. The family tries new dishes, and the picky kids actually love them,” said Peggy Davenport, owner of Davenport’s Daily Delights.

New menus are posted on Davenport’s website and updated each week, with deliveries being ofered not just in Southeastern Hillsborough County but throughout the Tampa area as well. Past events such as Thanksgiving in August, with turkey breast, gravy, cranberries and an assortment of delicious pies, ofered a variety of food options for even the most selective eaters.

Besides just creating tasty food, Davenport is also always finding a way to support the community during difcult times. During the pandemic, she wanted to give back to those who were sufering from food insecurity. In 2021, Davenport’s Daily Delights partnered with Lasagna Love, a global nonprofit dedicated to feeding those in

LOCALLY OWNED PINCH A PENNY POOL PATIO & SPA CELEBRATES 15 YEARS

By Ava Benedict

need. Middle and high schoolers alike came together to help make lasagna and distribute it to people who were unable to aford food.

Creating a family-centered atmosphere is Davenport’s ultimate goal, with plans being made for expanding the business through a brandnew catering menu and single-size portioned meals in order to make dinner time a breeze for busy households.

Although her business has grown tremendously since it first started 11 years ago, Davenport still faces numerous struggles as a small business owner. With inflation and food prices on the rise, it is difcult to serve quality homemade meals at an afordable price. Davenport credits her amazing employees for helping her run Davenport’s Daily Delights and is extremely proud of all the work they have been able to accomplish over the past decade. She especially loves seeing how much customers enjoy and appreciate the meals she makes.

“My favorite part of being a business owner is the customers we’ve met throughout the years,” said Davenport.

To learn more information about Davenport’s Daily Delights, visit its website at https://davenportsdailydelights.com/ or send an email to davenportsdailydelights@ gmail.com.

The Rutledge family has owned and operated their Pinch

A Penny Pool Patio & Spa store for 15 years. “My parents started the business in 2008, and I joined the business in 2010 after I graduated from college,” said co-owner Jim Rutledge. “In 2019, we started to expand the store, and we wanted to get more involved with our community by helping them remodel their existing pools.”

To do this for their community, they created a state-of-the-art pool-remodeling studio at their store. “Most pool stores have a design studio, but not a lot of them have a remodeling studio,” Jim said. “This is what makes our store diferent from other pool stores in the area. We have the software that can make a 3D rendering of your backyard and overlay the diferent materials you may consider for your pool remodeling. It’s a great tool to help our customers along with the decision-making process.”

Their store is also designed to help their customers make remodeling decisions when it comes to the landscape of their home. “We wanted our store to look like your backyard,” Jim said. “We did this to help illustrate and show the material we would install at your house. We have a full showroom so our customers can visualize and consider for their home.”

By Libby Hopkins

Another service that the Rutledge family ofers is an aftercare service for the pools they install or remodel. “Many people think once their pool is finished and full of water, they’re done,” Jim said. “That’s not the case. In order to make sure all the work that was done doesn’t get degraded, there is a 30day curing process. Our business model includes three days a week of servicing the pool. We take that pool under our umbrella for 30 days after the pool gets filled.”

The Rutledges’ store is located across the street from Newsome High School in FishHawk, and since it’s family-owned, their customers can feel like family too. This is just one of the reasons why their store was the winner of the 2023 Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave. “Being a locally owned and operated franchise, this award means so much for our business and helps us become more recognizable in our community,” Jim said. “We appreciate the support from our community.”

The Rutledge’s Pinch A Penny Pool Patio & Spa store is located at 16715 Fishhawk Blvd. in Lithia. To learn more about the diferent services it ofers, contact Jim at 813-655-3700 or store191@pinchapennystores.com.

Te Rutledge family has owned and operated their Pinch A Penny Pool Patio & Spa store in FishHawk for 15 years.

Pressure washing is a delicate service that should be done by someone with experience. That’s why you should hire someone you trust to clean the exterior of your home — like Pro221 Pressure Washing, which has the experience and expertise to safely clean your driveway, pool cage, roof and more.

Pro221 ofers a wide range of services within residential and commercial exterior cleaning. Some of its services include exterior house washing, driveway cleaning, pool deck and lanai cage cleaning, fence cleaning as well as low-pressure soft wash roof cleaning. Many times, Girdwood is able to quote services based on pictures of your home or business without being on-site.

“I enjoyed the work as it is quite satisfying to take something dirty and make it look new again,” said Mark Girdwood, owner of Pro221 Pressure Washing.

Many customers have their home pressure washed at least once a year. Professional exterior cleaning can significantly increase your curb appeal and can even prolong the life of your home’s roof.

When Pro221 visits to clean, you do not need to be home, just close all windows and clear any areas that will be cleaned, and you will receive an electronic invoice once the cleaning is done.

Pro221 Pressure Washing serves the

LOCAL INSURANCE AGENT HELPS SENIORS WITH OPEN ENROLLMENT

By Libby Hopkins

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

Greater Hillsborough County area, including, but not limited to, Dover, Durant, Brandon, Sydney, Mango, Riverview, Valrico, Sefner, Plant City and Lithia.

Girdwood moved to Florida in 2001 and worked in various restaurants for many years. After trying every position in the restaurant industry and working for over 20 years as a restaurant Manager, Girdwood discovered that he was tired of the long and unpredictable hours. Wanting to be home more to spend more time with his wife and children, Girdwood took a risk and started his first business in 2022.

“I knew deep down that there had to be a way I could utilize my customer service skill set and be home more with my family to be a better husband and dad,” said Girdwood.

The name Pro221 Pressure Washing was inspired by Proverbs 22:1, which says: “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

Girdwood is a one-man show whose attention to detail and commitment to his customers have earned him a loyal following, and he is proud to ofer quality cleaning to the community.

For more information or to inquire about Pro221 services, call or text Girdwood at 813-699-0304, email info@pro221.com or visit https://pro221.com/.

Michele Bartock has been in the insurance industry for 19 years. She is a general lines, life, health and annuities agent. “I started my own business, MB Insurance Solutions, in 2020 because I wanted to help seniors and those under 65 that have disabilities understand Medicare,” Bartock said. “I love talking about insurance, which makes me very different than most people.

I love to teach people all the diferent aspects of Original Medicare, supplements/medigap policies and Medicare Advantage policies. I can write plans anywhere in Florida, but most of my clients are local in the Osprey Newspaper area.”

There are many kinds of insurance out there and Bartock makes sure she finds the perfect plan for her clients. “There is no one plan that is perfect for everyone, and that is where I gather details about the insured, their doctors’ medications, if they want to see how covered, if they want/need money back towards their Part B premium or if they love to travel and want a plan that works when out of state,” Bartock said. “My goal is to give the insured options so they can choose the best plan that will cover what matters most to them.”

Bartock made a promise to herself and to her clients that she would be better than agents who just write a plan and then are never heard from again. “I want to be there to help my clients when they have questions

or need to make changes due to life changes,” Bartock said. “I am happy to review nonclients’ coverage and I will never suggest they change if that is not in their best interest.”

Bartock walks people through the process to get their Medicare card if needed and will do appointments in their homes or at a local restaurant or cofee shop. “Annual enrollment period (AEP) is coming soon, October 15-December 7,” Bartock said.

“That is the time when I ofer to review every policy to make sure that any new doctors and meds are covered. This is the time of year you can make changes to your plan. You can go from a Med. Adv. to Original Medicare with a supplement and drug plan or to another Med. Adv. plan. You can also go from a supplement to a Med. Adv. plan if your finances have changed. I look up all the plans that I write with and give them the best options to choose from.

If you miss AEP and have a Med. Adv. plan, you can make one more change, January 1-March 31, during MA OEP.”

Bartock can also write life insurance, dental plans and other auxiliary plans, such as accident or cancer plans. “I am also licensed to write health insurance for 65 and under and have been helping clients pick plans on healthcare.gov.” Bartock said.

For information, visit https://medicareoforida.com/, call 813-767-2878, or find her on Facebook at https://fb.me/mlbartock.

Not only does Pro221 Pressure Washing ofer quality work, but it is also passionate about keeping homes looking brand-new.

Michele Bartock has been in the insurance industry for 19 years. She started her own business, MB Insurance Solutions, in 2020.

PRO221 PRESSURE WASHING IS LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED AND FOUNDED ON PROVERBS 22:1

ANDERSON SEAMLESS GUTTERS OFFERS ALL TYPES OF QUALITY GUTTER CARE

As a veteran-owned and operated company, Anderson Seamless Gutters strives to ofer quality work while showing appreciation to community heroes. Throughout its three years in operation, the business has assisted customers with all of their gutter needs in a personal and dedicated fashion.

Customers may choose between a variety of services, such as installation of 6-inch K-style seamless aluminum gutters, gutter guard selections, gutter cleanings and repairs. For customer convenience, work estimates are free, and purchases come with a 15-year leakproof warranty.

A 10 percent discount is given to all veterans, first responders, educators and other heroes. As a veteran himself, the owner, Eric Anderson, prides himself in the appreciation of miliary customers.

Anderson Seamless Gutters is the way to go for premium gutter results.

“I don’t consider it giving back. I see it as showing those who signed the dotted line that we understand what it entails and, with or without uniform, they are still very much appreciated and loved for what they were willing to do for the freedom we all enjoy,” said Anderson.

Striving to stand out from the rest, Anderson Seamless Gutters makes each and every exchange a personal experience that is guaranteed to produce quality results.

By Anna Edlund

Each business interaction starts and ends through communication with Anderson directly. Every piece installed and sold is done by Anderson alongside his team.

“Far too often people spend their hard-earned money for work to get done, and if, or when, something goes wrong, the buck gets passed. It’s like pulling teeth to get the issue resolved. That starts and stops with me. Very rarely do I get repair calls on my work, but when they do call, they get an answer,” Anderson assured. Being in the gutter installation business for 10 years previous to starting his own company, Anderson considers his skills to be fine-tuned over the years. He also considers the industry to be not just his job, but his passion.

“I was being restricted while working for other gutter companies that are just looking for a quick turnaround and a check. Working for myself allows me to take my time to ensure my customers get the best work possible. We don’t charge by the hour; we charge by the foot. It’s always quality over quantity,” Anderson said.

For more information or to receive an estimate, please call Anderson Seamless Gutters at 813-334-6335.

N o p r i o r c o d i n g r e q u i r e d I m a g i n e y o u r e i n t e r e s t e d i n l e a r n i n g h o w t o c o d e b u t y o u h a v e a b s o u t e l y n o p r i o r e x p e r i e n c e w i t h i t D o n ' t w o r r y ! C o d i n g c o u r s e s a r e d e s i g n e d t o b e c u s t o m i z a b e a n d c a t e r t o l e a r n e r s o f a l l e v e l s , i n c l u d i n g b e g i n n e r s l i k e y o u r s e l f

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Havana NIGHTS O C T O B E R 6 2 0 2 3 Dining, Dancing & Inspiration Live Entertainment by Hot Tonic Tickets $125 | Table of 8 $1200 A n g e l F o u n d a t i o n F L . c o m Presenting Sponsor For Tickets & Sponsorships Visit:

The Community for Women of St. Stephen Catholic Church is a diverse group of women who gather for fun, fellowship, service and to lend a helping hand. Its mission is to assist the priests and the parishioners of St. Stephen to serve others through social and spiritual events.

Some of the members of the Community for Women at a recent presentation on human trafcking

The church’s social events are packed with informative speakers, spiritual gatherings and game nights, and this year the hope is to incorporate some field trips to enhance its ministry. Meetings have a casual atmosphere; after taking care of business, the women gather to just relax and enjoy each other’s company. It is truly a ministry supporting the fellowship of women.

The church works to change lives by organizing and leading many events that benefit the community, such as ‘Underwear Sunday,’ where it serves 16-plus impoverished elementary schools in Hillsborough County. During a weekend in September, the parishioners bring in diferent sizes of undergarments for both boys and girls, then it is divided and distributed to local schools in our surrounding area. Another organization St. Stephen supports is THORN (Thankfully Helping Others Real Needs). One of the biggest gatherings at St. Stephen is the fish fry during Lent; working along with other ministries, money is raised for the parish to help with the purchase of equipment or support

Staf Report

other ministries that need assistance. Fish fries are noted for the delicious fish dinners and awesome desserts; join in the festivity, meet new people and enjoy the evening with family and friends on Fridays during Lent.

In addition, the St. Vincent de Paul committee will be hosting its 25th annual tea on Saturday, October 7. This event is another example of how the Community for Women sponsors a fundraiser. Through fundraising, St. Vincent de Paul can provide monetary support to people in the community. If you would like to attend the tea, please use the following email for more details: amyjometz@gmail.com.

Do you love to play bingo? Then join the fun on the fourth Tuesday of every month in the Family Life Center at the church (located at 10136 St. Stephen Cir. in Riverview). Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and games begin at 6:30 p.m. Gather with your family and friends for a fun night and win cash prizes. All the proceeds of bingo provide support to the numerous ministries that are close to the members’ hearts and impact members, the parish and the surrounding communities in many ways.

l

COMMUNITY FOR WOMEN WORKS TOGETHER TO HELP CHANGE LIVES

Craft nights are another fun activity the Community for Women members participate in together.

St. Clement Catholic Church, located at 1104 N. Alexander St. in Plant City, ofers a weekly food pantry known as My Brother’s Keeper Food Pantry. Its mission is to help feed the needy of the area in Hillsborough County and surrounding the Plant City area.

The food pantry is open every Friday (except the first Friday of each month). The regular hours are 7-11 a.m.; in the winter months, the food pantry is open from 8 a.m.-12 Noon.

Pat Haggard is the volunteer director of the food pantry and thrift store. She has been with the church of 15 years. St. Clement Catholic Church has been ofering the food pantry for over 40 years.

According to Haggard, “We serve all of Hillsborough County. This includes the homeless, register guests and many migrant workers,” Haggard added, “We do not require any documentation in order to receive service from our food pantry. Those in need simply fill out a form from the USDA which asks for name, address, the number in the family and how and why they qualify. There is a checklist for them to choose the response.”

By Kathy L. Collins

Volunteers pick up donated food on Mondays and Wednesdays. Haggard explained, “We prepare boxes of food on Mondays and Wednesdays. This includes food received from USDA and donated food from the community. We also pick up food from McDonald’s. We are a part of a test program called No Food Goes to Waste.”

The St. Clement Catholic Church Food Pantry has seen an increase in the number of people in need of food aid. It helps an average of 180-200 families each week. Annually, it gives out approximately 200 pallets.

In addition to the food pantry, St. Clement Catholic Church has a thrift store known as the Golden Door Thrift Store, which is a resource for those in need. It ofers good-quality used clothing and household items at a low cost. The thrift store is run by volunteers, and all proceeds support the food pantry.

If you would like to help, you can make a monetary donation or donate nonperishable goods such as canned soups, pasta, cereal, beans, rice and peanut butter. For more information, visit www.stclementsfoodpantry.com/food-pantry or call 813-767-4105.

Bruce Marsh, a painter and long-time resident of Ruskin, will have an exhibit of his artwork, hosted by the School of Art and Art History in the University of South Florida (USF) College of The Arts, through Thursday, September 7. The exhibit is featured in the Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery, located at 3801 USF Holly Dr., FAS 100 in Tampa.

The exhibit is called Bruce Marsh - A Six Decade Survey. The exhibition will feature over four dozen oil paintings and watercolors that will trace his career from 1963 when he was in California, where he grew up and attended University of California, Santa Barbara, to the present in Ruskin, where he paints almost daily in his studio on the Little Manatee River.

Marsh was invited to teach at USF in 1969. He retired in 2003 as a professor emeritus. The exhibition will trace themes and threads of ideas and concepts that have been an interest and focus for Marsh for six decades.

Marsh’s paintings are thought out. They are intellectual and they are visceral. His works stimulate all the senses. The exhibition will demonstrate that Marsh is a painter’s painter, meaning that he is committed to the process of painting as well as to all that goes on before putting

By Kathy L. Collins

the paint to canvas — the thinking and planning, the strategy, the invention and the intuitive response to an idea, a subject or a concept.

Paintings in the exhibition demonstrate Marsh’s interest in many themes, including the landscape and particularly the land around Ruskin that has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. He made annual trips to Utah between 2005 and 2010. The rock formations and light inspired him to make paintings that encourage us to question our ideas about perception. A cabin in the woods pushed him in other directions and experiments.

In looking closely at Marsh’s works from the past 60 years which were chosen for this exhibition, you can appreciate the subtle refinement of Marsh’s approach. When looking at the paintings, see how Marsh pays attention to the edges in his brushwork. You can see the balance he maintains in contrasts of dark and light in each area of the composition.

Marsh said, “No part is more important. Each has the same energy and each mark creates the total integration.”

The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

For more information, please visit www. art.usf.edu and https://brucemarsh.net.

Film With Live Orchestra

Fri, Sept 22, 7:30 pm

Sat, Sept 23, 2 pm

At the Mahaffey Theater

Tickets: $25, $35, $45, $55

All fees included

The Music of James Taylor, Neil Diamond & Paul Simon

Starring Michael Cavanaugh

Sat, Sept 16, 8 pm, Mahaffey Theater

Hough Family Foundation Masterworks

Holst’s

The Planets

Sat, Sept 30, 8 pm, Mahaffey Theater

Sun, Oct 1, 7:30, Ruth Eckerd Hall

Raymond James Pops

Cirque Dances with Troupe Vertigo

Sat, Oct 7, 8 pm, Mahaffey Theater

Sun, Oct 8, 2 pm, Mahaffey Theater

Michael Francis, Music Director

St. Clement Catholic Church in Plant City ofers a food pantry for anyone in need of food assistance. It also has a thrift store which ofers low-cost, quality goods. Funds from the thrift store help ofset the cost of the food pantry.

Bruce Marsh, a resident of Ruskin, has been painting for over 60 years. An exhibit of his artwork is on view at the Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery, located at 3801 USF Holly Dr., FAS 100 in Tampa, now through Tursday, September 7.

Valrico (Located in the SteinMart Plaza)

PROTECTED SEASON FOR BATS IN THE ATTIC ENDS JUST IN TIME

Chances are if you have lived in the area for long, you know someone who has had to deal with a bat infestation and subsequent bat eviction in a home. Having lived in FishHawk for 19 years, I knew bat infestations were not uncommon in the community. Nonetheless, I was still shocked to discover I had some uninvited guests in my attic.

What you may not know is that the nesting, or maternity, season for bats in Florida runs from April 15 through August 15. During this time, it is a felony to remove them, unless a special permit is received for extenuating circumstances. Additionally, they are a protected species year-round, meaning it is illegal to harm or kill them at any time. Bats are an important part of our world’s ecosystem. All 13 species natural to Florida eat insects, which aids in limiting disease in humans and damage to agricultural crops.

We discovered our resident bats after hearing what sounded like scratching noises in the attic. Listening closely to the outside softs, we heard squeaks and realized it was likely bats. What else to do but watch and wait? About 15 minutes after sunset, the bats began to leave for their nightly adventures. The size of the soft opening they flew from was almost invisible and the number of bats that came out was both amazing — and, frankly, alarming. While I appreciated their importance to our environment and had nothing personal against my new tenants, I also knew I needed to call a professional for safe removal.

So, why are they nesting in so many attic spaces in the area?

“As development progresses, they have less and less natural habitat. In Florida, their natural habitat is large, old-growth trees. When they have less of that available, they’ll start looking elsewhere. They can take advantage of what are essential-

By Jennifer Hurst

ly home defects, and, while not ideal, this also keeps them away from prey,” said Marc Salveson, owner of Gotcha Wildlife Removal LLC. It only takes one sliver of an opening in a soft and some bat pheromones for bats to get the word out that there’s a new lodge in the area.

Signs of a resident colony include the presence of guano (droppings), an ammonia smell in a room or scratching noises or squeaking sounds in the attic or softs — or you can do what we did and watch and wait after sunset.

Bat houses are a safe, environmentally friendly option to assist in preventing an attic colony, but they are unfortunately not allowed in most HOA communities. They should be installed professionally, as there are height and direction-facing recommendations and typically work best if installed right after hibernation season.

I scheduled my eviction of my Brazilian Free-tailed bats with Gotcha Wildlife Removal and anxiously awaited the post-August 15 date, watching them take flight from the soft each night, growing in numbers.

After the initial inspection, the process involved sealing multiple openings that were barely visible in both the softs and where the stucco meets the soft. The final step was to install a trap door.

“The check valve is a screen that is designed to be a one-way eviction, as it borders of the entry and funnels them down to an exit point with no ability to reenter,” said Christian Badalament of Gotcha Wildlife Removal.

And while I hoped they remain safe as they find a new home, I also happily toasted their exit.

If you think you may have your own bat colony (or any other uninvited critters), you can contact Gotcha Wildlife Removal at 813-205-5877 or visit www.gotchawildliferemoval.com.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

Christian Badalament with Gotcha Wildlife Removal worked to seal all of the potential openings and set up the one-way eviction door for the bats.

Photo courtesy of Wildlife Removal of Florida Bat colonies often roost in attics as natural habitats dwindle.

The Southwest Florida Rheumatology practice ofers a team of experts who work to diagnose and provide complex treatment regimens for over 200 distinct rheumatologic conditions. With a focus on having supportive and helpful staf, the practice welcomes Dr. Maria Skopis to the team.

Dr. Skopis originally grew up in Tarpon Springs before she went to medical school at Nova Southeastern University in Davie. From there, she went on to do a residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai Miami Beach. Finally, she completed her rheumatology fellowship at the University of Miami. With a passion for helping others and the medical field, she knew this was the profession for her.

“It’s the opportunity to make a profound impact on others by treating debilitating autoimmune conditions and arthritis,” said Dr. Skopis.

She expressed that establishing close relationships with her patient and seeing firsthand the diference a rheumatologist can make has been the most rewarding part of her career thus far. She strives to continue to provide quality and compassionate patient care as she begins her journey at Southwest Florida Rheumatology.

“I am very excited to join the Southwest Florida Rheumatology team, where I will meet and establish connections with new patients. The team has been extremely welcoming and supportive of me, and I am very

CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE GALA WILL SUPPORT MISSION TO END NATIONWIDE DRUG SHORTAGE

By Bella Ferretti

lucky to have this opportunity,” she said.

Dr. Skopis and the rest of the team diagnose and treat common rheumatologic diseases such as osteoarthritis, gout, lupus and infectious arthritis, along with rarer disorders. These professionals provide complex medical treatments to alleviate autoimmune disease symptoms and improve their patients’ quality of life. Patients begin with a consultation to determine symptoms, followed by further investigation through labs, X-rays and physical exams for a complete diagnosis.

“Services at the Southwest Florida Rheumatology include infusion and injection therapy, and we are now doing infusions and injections for treatment of nonrheumatic diseases,” said ofce manager Deborah Bricker.

While also involved in clinical research trials, the practice collects new information on active patients who have yet to find successful medications on the current market. As the practice expands its scope of service oferings, collects new information and expands its team of professionals, patients can count on this trustworthy ofce to do everything possible for solutions.

For more information on Southwest Florida Rheumatology’s staf, services and more, visit www.swflrheum.com or call 813-6722243. Located at 11954 Boyette Rd. in Riverview, Southwest Florida Rheumatology is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Angels for Change is hosting their third annual Champions for Change Gala at the beginning of September to support the nonprofit’s mission to stop the nationwide shortage of lifesaving drugs.

Founder Laura Bray established the organization in 2019 after her daughter struggled to get lifesaving medicine. While her daughter was fortunate enough to survive three drug shortage treatment crises, Bray knew other families were facing the same crisis.

Angels for Change Chief Change Maker

Laura Bray hosts an annual gala to raise money to support the nonproft’s mission to end the shortage of lifesaving drugs.

“Since our founding in October of 2019, with your help and inspiration, Angels for Change has helped patients and hospitals navigate scarcity and shortage to get hundreds of courses of lifesaving medication both in the United States and abroad,” Bray said in the Champions for Change Gala letter.

The fundraiser allows change makers, like Bray, to advocate for change at the White House, APEC Medical Product Supply Chain Dialogue and the Captis 23 Conference, where Bray was this year’s keynote speaker.

The gala will begin with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner, a silent auction and dance. This year’s program will include speaker Beth Gore from the Oley Foundation, which works to support those living with at-home IV or tube feeding, and the

By Lily Belcher

Change Maker of the Year, who will be announced at the gala.

The gala will be hosted at The Gathering at Armature Works on Saturday, September 16 at 7 p.m. Individual tickets can be purchased for $150 or a table for eight can be purchased for $1,200 online. Donations can be given online as well.

Communications and development manager Michael Ottman said the nonprofit is hoping to host 250 people and raise over $100,000 to support its mission.

“All funds go back to supporting patients. We helped 700,000 last year through our Project PROTECT,” said Ottman.

Project PROTECT is a mission to partner with pharmaceutical supply chains to support the production of essential medicines that are vulnerable to the nationwide drug shortage. Through this project, Angels for Change is hoping to secure these vulnerable, lifesaving drugs for the patients who need them. This will be done by awarding grants to drug manufacturers who are willing to take proactive measures to prevent a shortage of these medicines.

For more information on the gala and Angels for Change’s mission, visit its website at www.angelsforchange.org.

BACK!

Te practice welcomes Dr. Maria Skopis to the team.

ANGEL FOUNDATION FL GENERATES SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH ANNUAL GALA

As the Angel Foundation FL in Florida celebrates 20 years serving families in the community, the organization will be hosting its 2023 Evening of Hope – Havana Nights Gala. The gala will be held at The Regent, located at 6437 Watson Rd. in Riverview, on Friday, October 6 from 7-10 p.m. Tickets for the event start at $125 per person, tables for eight are available starting at $1,200 and sponsorship opportunities are now open for the event.

This year’s gala will transport you to a Havana night with live music from the Latin band Hot Tonic, a silent auction, dancing and testimonies from families and Angel Providers.

“The highlight of the event is the inspiring testimonies from families served through the Foundation Angel Program along with recognition of our Angel Providers, Junior Angels and the many volunteers who serve at the foundation all year long,” said Liz Brewer, chief executive ofcer at the Angel Foundation FL.

The annual Evening of Hope gala is a very important event as the Angel Foundation FL is completely community supported and funded through its two signature events, the Sporting Clays Classic and the gala. By at-

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

tending this event, you are supporting those in the community who need the foundation.

The Angel Foundation FL works to connect families in need with businesses which have the resources to help them.

The organization found that many businesses want to help the community with their time and services but do not know where to start or how to find those in need. The Angel Foundation FL ensures that these families will get support with services like car repairs, home cleaning and repairs and lawn care that are donated by the Angel Providers or paid for by the Angel Foundation FL.

The Foundation Angel Program began in 2006, and the foundation has since helped thousands of families through life-threatening illness or catastrophic events. The goal is to give families help and hope during their worst days so they can focus on their loved ones.

For more information about this year’s gala, contact Brewer at 813-689-6889 or info@angelfoundationfl.com or visit https:// angelfoundationfl.com/evening-of-hope-gala/. If you are interested in becoming part of the Angel Team which serves families in crisis, visit https://angelfoundationfl.com/.

Last year, guests enjoyed live music, dancing and dinner from local restaurants at the Evening of Hope Gala while generating support for community members who need it.

A LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT: OFF TO A GREAT START TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR FOCUSING ON THE ABC’S

With the first month of classes completed, I am happy to say that we’ve had a great start to the school year in Hillsborough County Public Schools.

“Hillsborough Strong, Ev eryone Matters” has been our motto throughout the summer — with more than 24,000 employ ees working towards the same goal of creating the best education for your children. Since becoming your interim superinten dent, I have also wanted to stress the importance of student attendance in our district; that Every Day Matters

Nationwide, we are witnessing school attendance as a major issue, with chron ic absenteeism — missing 10 percent or more of the school year — widespread across school districts. One out of three students nationwide is chronically ab sent, and students in our district are no exception. Research has shown that chronic absenteeism negatively impacts students, in both their academics and be-

By Superintendent Van Ayres

havior.

To combat this, I want parents and guardians to know that our district is focusing on the ABCs — Attendance, Behavior, and Course Performance. The ABCs are powerful predictors of high school completion. By coming to class every day, students can be engaged in their coursework and on the path to

It is understandable that there are situations in which a student has to miss a day of school, but I want to encourage families to keep an open line of communication with their child’s school and ensure that any missed work is made up, so your student does not fall behind. Our schools have resources to provide stability to children and families during challenging times. By working together, all of us — our schools, families and community — can ensure all children get to school every day so they have an opportunity to learn, succeed and realize their dreams.

OSPREY HEIGHTS GRACIOUS RETIREMENT LIVING SHINES WITH RESIDENT FASHION SHOW

Osprey Heights Gracious Retirement Living, a haven for vibrant and active seniors, recently turned the spotlight on its residents with a spectacular fashion show. The event, generously sponsored by Dillard’s, showcased the elegance and style of these residents, proving that age is no barrier to glamour and fashion.

Jane Carter, a resident known for her creative spirit, played a pivotal role in planning the fashion show that entertained her fellow residents.

“I had planned and carried out two other events that were very successful and well received. As I was laying in bed one night, I had the idea of the fashion show. Most of the models agreed to be in it, and Dillard’s agreed to furnish the fashions. A real partnership between Dillard’s and myself was born. Management at Dillard’s was spectacular to work with,” said Carter.

While Carter was unfortunately unable to attend the event due to unforeseen circumstances, her presence was felt in every meticulously planned detail. With her boundless enthusiasm, Carter spearheaded the conceptualization of the fashion show, leaving a mark on the hearts of all those who participated.

Throughout their lunch, residents were treated to glimpses of fellow residents strutting down the aisle, showcasing an ar-

813-974-7889

*

By Keiko Moral

ray of outfits. The runway was their dining area, and every table was a front-row seat to the evolving parade of fashion.

The residents displayed their fashion choices, bedecked in the latest fashion trends provided by Dillard’s. The audience was treated to a captivating display of outfits, from casual to sophisticated elegance, as the residents owned the spotlight.

In a heartening display of community spirit, the management of Dillard’s stepped forward to not only sponsor the fashion show at Osprey Heights Gracious Retirement Living but also to go the extra mile in ensuring the residents felt truly special. As the fashion show unfolded, Dillard’s management extended their generosity by ofering personalized shopping experiences and even opening their doors early to cater to the elderly residents.

But the fashion show is just one example of the vibrant life at Osprey Heights. This spirited community is known for its calendar brimming with engaging activities. Up next on its agenda is an eagerly anticipated casino night. Residents and guests alike are gearing up for an evening filled with games, laughter and camaraderie.

Osprey Heights is located at 2808 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico. For more information, call 813-652-0922 or visit its website at https://seniorlivinginstyle.com/ osprey-heights/.

Some of the resident models in their stylish outfts sponsored by Dilliard’s.

GRAND WEDDING SHOW COMING HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HILLS RECEIVES GRANT FROM AARP FOR DESIGN COMPETITION

Craig Beckinger is the owner and the creative mind behind ABC Event Planning. He has planned, designed, hosted and managed dozens of events across a broad spectrum of categories, including birthday parties, quinceaneras, corporate conferences, weddings and anniversaries and more. “I’ve been doing this professionally since 2014, as ABC Event Planning provides unparalleled service for any occasion,” Beckinger said. “I have the knowledge, expertise and creativity needed to not only plan your event, but also to ensure your event goes of without a hitch. So, if you’re looking for a reliable event planner for your next event, look no further.”

Beckinger is now hosting the wedding event of the year, The Grand Wedding Show. The event will be held on Sunday, September 17 at The Westshore Grand from 1-4 p.m. “The concept of hosting a wedding event at Westshore Grand originated from our aspiration to ofer couples an extraordinary and unforgettable experience for their special day,” Beckinger said. “Our aim is to provide a distinctively elegant ambiance that would create enduring memories for both the couple and their guests, as well as providing vendors with opportunities to interact and sign new clients.”

The Grand Wedding Show promises to be a lavish and enchanting afair. Attendees can anticipate a beautifully decorated venue adorned with captivating lighting and sophisticated decor, setting the ideal

By Libby Hopkins

tone for a romantic celebration. “The event will feature a diverse array of wedding-related vendors showcasing their oferings, including photographers, florists, DJs, rental companies and more,” Beckinger said.

“Guests will have the opportunity to explore the latest trends and garner inspiration for their own weddings. Additionally, Satin & Lace will be presenting a fashion show at 3 p.m., spotlighting the latest wedding styles.

With a ticket priced at $10, attendees will not only gain entry into the event but also stand a chance to win one of their stunning dresses valued at $2,000.”

Vendors interested in participating can do so by visiting the event’s listings on Facebook and Eventbrite. “They also can reach out to ABC Events, info@abceventplanning.com, or call 813-765-0670 to express their interest,” Beckinger said. “Each $10 ticket fee will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, supporting their valuable cause.”

Beckinger is a cancer survivor himself, specifically from high-grade B-cell lymphoma, and is generously donating 100 percent of the registration fees to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Visionaries of the Year campaign. “My intention is to facilitate connections and foster relationships between vendors and couples in the midst of wedding planning,” Beckinger said.

For more information about the event or to be a vendor, please contact Beckinger at 813-765-0670.

Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County was one of eight Florida organizations to receive a grant from AARP as part of its nationwide program to make communities more livable. Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County will use the funding to help raise awareness of accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, as an afordable, accessible solution for seniors and others who are struggling to find safe, afordable, decent homes. Specifically, the funds will be used to host a design competition, not to construct ADUs.

Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County is hosting a design competition to help raise awareness of the need for and viability of accessory dwelling units in our community. Funding for the competition comes from AARP.

By Kathy L. Collins

sign firms can submit ADU designs, which a panel of experts will review at a community event. Design winners will produce usable construction documents that Habitat or the public can use to build the ADUs.

The goals of the project are to create a range of housing options for older adults and all residents in need while showcasing smart thinking and concepts to build support for larger eforts.

According to www.tampa.gov, accessory dwelling units are residential housing units that function as a secondary use to a primary use on an existing property. They function as fully independent living quarters with a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area. Examples of ADUs are mother-in-law cottages, tiny homes and garage apartments.

The plan is to organize a design competition that creates usable ADU plans and raises awareness in the community of the potential of ADUs to provide afordable housing for low to moderate-income residents, including seniors in need of accessible, stable housing.

The grant period runs through Monday, November 30, at which time the winner of the competition will be announced. Local architecture schools, architects and de-

Catherine Coyle, chief operating ofcer for Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County, said, “Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally through constructing and preserving homes; advocating for fair and just housing policies; and providing training and access to resources to help families improve their housing conditions. It is part of what we do.”

Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County hopes to share the designs with local agencies and government ofcials to foster a collaborative discussion on policies related to and funding for the use of ADUs throughout the community as a viable and efective way to help address the ever-increasing need for afordable housing.

For more information on Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County, please visit www.habitathillsborough.org.

Craig Beckinger is the owner and the creative mind behind ABC Event Planning. On Sunday, September 17, Beckinger will be hosting Te Grand Wedding Show at Te Westshore Grand from 1-4 p.m. Tickets are $10 to attend.

CHILDREN’S DREAM FUND HOSTS SECOND ANNUAL GALA

The Children’s Dream Fund is hosting its second annual Dreaming Like It’s 1981 gala in September to fund local kids’ dreams.

The Children’s Dream Fund is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 to make dreams come true for West Central Florida kids with life-threatening illnesses. Last year, it hosted the Dreaming Like It’s 1981 gala to raise money for the organization and received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback to make the gala an annual event.

“People had so much fun at our last event … that we decided to bring it back,” said executive director Amanda Grifn. “We’re just really excited to have this signature event every year and bring critical dollars for our dream kids.”

The gala will be hosted at Armature Works, located at 1910 N. Ola Ave. in Tampa, from 7-11 p.m. on Friday, September 22. The event will begin with a cocktail hour, followed by a sit-down dinner and presentations from the organization, including stories from some of its dreamers. After dinner, the Spazmatics, an 80s music cover band, will perform and entertain guests.

“They’re such a fun 80s band that gets everybody out on the dance floor,” said

EIGHTH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT WILL SUPPORT VETERANS IN NEED

By Lily Belcher

Grifn. “It’s a party after we ask people to support our mission and help grant more dreams for kids in our community.”

The Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies are the presenting sponsors for the event.

The Rays partnered with The Children’s Dream Fund when the team came to Tampa and has hosted a number of the nonprofit’s events.

“They were our presenting sponsor last year as well. The Rays have been supportive of the Dream Fund since their inception in 1998,” said Grifn. “They have been supporting us ever since they came to the Tampa Bay community and we’re just so lucky to have them in our backyard.”

Corporate sponsorships are available for the event and can be purchased online. Sponsorships range from $15,000 platinum sponsorships to $1,500 table sponsorships. Community members can purchase patron tickets for $500 or individual tickets for $150. The organization is accepting rafe item donations as well.

To purchase tickets or for more information on the gala, visit https://childrensdreamfund.org/events/ or call 727896-6390.

Hillsborough County Veterans

Helping Veterans

will host its eighth annual golf tournament on Saturday, September 30 to fundraise for its mission of providing assistance to local bay area veterans in need.

The golf tournament will take place at Summerfield Crossings Golf Club, beginning at 8:15 a.m. with a shotgun start. Preregistered golfers can check in as early as 7 a.m. and will be treated to lunch from East Coast Pizza and an awards ceremony at 1 p.m.

Other awards will include first place, second place, longest drive and closest to the pin. Veterans Helping Veterans will also award bowling tickets to the lastplace award winner.

“It would be great if we could raise $30,000. Typically, when [veterans] come to us, they are needing help with their rent, house payment, food, utilities, telephone, car, transportation, all of those things,” said secretary Joe Eletto.

Tickets for a group of four cost $500 and individual tickets are available for $125. The tournament is looking for more sponsors, ranging from hole sponsorships available for $200 to Medal of Honor sponsorships for $3,000.

This year’s Medal of Honor sponsor is Pop a Beer Bar & Grill, a veteran-owned

By Lily Belcher

and operated restaurant in Tampa.

Eletto said the biggest challenge has been finding sponsors and getting responses from businesses to sponsor diferent holes. However, he said finding their photographer was especially easy.

Veteran Bill Kirkland will be photographing the event again this year for the tournament.

The tournament is the major annual fundraiser for Veterans Helping Veterans.

The organization is a nonprofit that advocates for the support of veterans in Hillsborough County and supports their basic needs.

“It benefits the needy veterans. That’s our whole purpose: helping needy veterans. We are their last resort for help,” said Eletto.

The event will be located at 13050 Summerfield Blvd. of Big Bend Road in Riverview. To support the event, golfers can preregister for the event and companies or groups can purchase one of its 12 sponsorship options. To register, visit https://hcvhv8.ezregister.com/.

For more information, contact Eletto at 813-789-8682 or elettoc21@gmail.com or visit the Veterans Helping Veterans website at www.hcveteranshelpingveterans.org.

Hillsborough County Veterans Helping Veterans is hosting its eighth annual golf tournament fundraiser at the end of September.

Te Children’s Dream Fund will host its second annual Dreaming Like It’s 1981 gala in September.

Clash Of Te Bay Flag Football Tournament

Registration is underway for Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation’s first-ever Clash of the Bay, a four-on-four flag football tournament that will showcase the region’s top talent. The weekend long has three divisions: women’s, recreational and competitive. All participants must be 18 or older. Games will be held at Skyway Sports Complex, located at 3901 George Rd. in Tampa, and SouthShore Sportsplex, located at 6110 Waterset Blvd. in Apollo Beach, on Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8. For more information, contact Mike Russ at russmi@hcflgov.net or call 813309-5686. Visit https://app.ontask.io/ workflow/fa5906e7-3686-4318-b1389221c388e564 to register your team for the event.

Autism Alliance Water Safety Workshop

Join the Autism Alliance for a water safety workshop on Saturday, September 30 from 12 Noon-2 p.m. at High 5 Inc., located at 405 Beverly Blvd. in Brandon. Drowning is the leading cause of death for individuals with autism, so

it’s crucial to stay prepared and keep our kiddos safe. During the workshop, you can expect to learn about water safety, witness a CPR and AED demonstration and receive a free swim lesson voucher. Reserve your spot at https:// donorbox.org/autism-water-safety-workshop. There is a $25 registration event, which will be reimbursed at check-in. Visit https://autismalliancefl.org/ or email info@autismalliancefl.org for more information.

Denim And Diamonds Bar-BQue

Save the date for the Hillsborough Republican Party Reagan Day Denim & Diamonds Bar-B-Que on Friday, October 13 at International Event Venue, located at 6463 W. Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa.

You are encouraged to wear your jeans, bling and patriotic things to the event, which will include guest speakers Senator Rick Scott, State Attorney Suzy Lopez and master of ceremonies Will Witt. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the VIP reception is at 6:30 p.m. and the banquet begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.hillsborough.gop.

A Kitten Place Rescue Black Cat 5K Run

Local cat and kitten rescue A Kitten Place is holding its annual Black Cat Halloween Run on Saturday, October 21 in the Twin Lakes neighborhood and is looking for vendors and corporate sponsors for the event. It

is a fun family event; feel free to dress up in your Halloween costume. There will be a DJ, food, costume contest rafe prizes, a silent auction and more. For more information, please email akittenplace@gmail.com. To register for the event, visit https://runsignup. com/race/fl/valrico/blackcat5kwalk.

Sponsors, Special Needs Resource Vendors And Volunteers Wanted For F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Buddy Walk

The annual F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and National Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk will be taking place on Saturday, October 21 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Al Lopez Park, located at 4802 N. Himes in Tampa. Come celebrate, advocate and educate for the down syndrome and special needs community. FRIENDS is also looking for sponsors, special needs resource vendors and volunteers for the event. Please visit its website at www.friendssupport.org for more information.

Designer Handbag Boo Bash Bingo

The Brandon Junior Woman’s Club is hosting a designer handbag boo bash bingo. The event will take place on Thursday, October 19 from 6 p.m. at New Hope Church, located at 213 N. Knights Ave. in Brandon. There will be 10 rounds of bingo, and winners can choose between a selection of designer handbags and totes from Kate Spade, Coach, Brahmin, Dooney and Bourke and more. Light bites and refreshments are also included in the ticket price. Tickets are available from www.gfwcbrandonjuniors.org and cost $40. This event is always extremely popular, so register early to make sure you are not disappointed. Additional in-

formation about the event can be found by emailing bjwc. fl@gmail.com.

Bloomingdale Community Garage Sale

The annual Bloomingdale East and West Community Garage Sale will be on Saturday, September 9, beginning at 8 a.m. There will be over 100 homes participating throughout the community. Visit the Bloomingdale Neighborhood Association Facebook page for details and updates.

Let’s Get Healthy Wellness Expo At Westfeld Brandon

The Let’s Get Healthy Brandon Wellness Expo Presented by Walmart Health returns this summer for an event all about health for all ages. Meet local businesses that can help you on the path to being the best that you can be, from pediatrics to geriatrics and from spiritual to physical. Health care, insurance, aesthetics, fitness, dental, eye care, weight loss and everything in between will be on display in the Westfield Brandon mall, located at 459 Brandon Town Center Dr. in Brandon, on Monday, September 11 between 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

East Hillsborough Democratic Club Meeting

The next East Hillsborough Democratic Club meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12 at Brandon Crossroads Bowl, located at 609 Crater Ln. in Tampa. You can also join by Zoom; use the Mobilize link under the calendar on its website

Compiled by Jenny Bennett jbennett@ospreyobserver.com

BRANDON FOOD TRUCK PARK OFFERS CUSTOMERS A UNIQUE EATING EXPERIENCE

Brandon Food Truck Park, a new venue for local food trucks, has already made its mark on the local community. Trucks from all over gather there to serve up mouthwatering dishes each and every day. From Caribbean cuisine to homemade tacos, there is a delicious meal to satisfy every taste.

A staple at Brandon Food Truck Park is The Daily Beignet, a business dedicated to serving authentic New Orleans pastries. The Daily Beignet’s hours are on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and it is occasionally open on Friday mornings. Items on its menu include flavor-topped beignets, like strawberry cheesecake, maple bacon and lemon blueberry, as well as a beignet breakfast sandwich. Since 2018, owner Reid Stains has been using his food truck as a way to bring people together and enjoy quality treats.

“We strive to create a daily place for people to hang out with family and friends,” said Stains. He cites Brandon Food Truck Park as one of the main reasons his business has continued to grow and thrive within the community. He loves being able

By Ava Benedict

to see regular customers and get to know more about their lives. He hopes to make the park a permanent location for his business and use it as a way to expand its customer base even further.

“Our goal is to make this our permanent location while creating a strong, welcoming, community and family atmosphere,” said Stains. Besides being the permanent home for several food trucks, Brandon Food Truck Park also hosts various events throughout the month. Eight breakfast-themed trucks were parked on August 13 to serve up some delicious Sunday brunch, with food options including co f ee, doughnuts and even boiled peanuts. Besides scrumptious dishes, the park o f ered face painting and yard games for families, all while collecting valuable materials for kids in need. School and laundry supplies were also donated at the bash to benefit A Kid’s Place, a local organization that provides resources for children in foster care. For more information, visit its Facebook page at Brandon Food Truck Park or visit it at 1010 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Brandon.

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

Te Daily Beignet is the perfect spot for a tasty treat on the weekend, having plenty of new and delicious options to try every time.

A GLIMPSE INTO PAST OSPREY OBSERVER INTERNS’ LIVES:WHERE ARE THEY NOW

The Osprey Observer’s annual internship program welcomes several new interns each summer, many of whom pursue journalism even after the internship. Let’s take a look at where a few of them are now.

Sofa Celis Celis took part in the internship in 2022. Graduating high school with her Associates in Arts degree, Celis is attending Hillsborough Community College with plans to transfer to the University of South Florida.

“I am very grateful for having this internship last year since it did get me all my community service hours and was very beneficial. I plan on hopefully doing another internship for communications,” said Celis.

Breanna Maye

Maye is currently a stay-at-home mom who has three daughters with her husband. Her internship with Osprey Observer fueled her initiative at the University of Florida to be a part of the journalism program there.

“I got to study under some incredible journalists and had the opportunity to grow my writing even more and be published in some cool publications,” said Maye.

After graduation, Maye also interned at The Ledger in Lakeland, where she was able to report her own stories and help with formatting the newspaper.

Madeline Gardner

Gardner was an intern during 2022 and currently attends the University of Florida, majoring in English. Gardner continues to be a freelance writer for the Osprey Observer

“Whether it is discussing the selfless deeds of community members or captur-

ing the excitement surrounding upcoming drives and area events, writing for this publication reminds me of how much good triumphs in our local community and how imperative it is that we take the time to recognize it. I am verily grateful for every interview I have been fortunate enough to take,” said Gardner.

Sydney Burken

Burken recently graduated from the University of South Florida with a major in political science and a minor in mass communications. She is pursuing a job in marketing and sales in the Tampa area. Burken says that this internship pushed her out of her comfort zone into a more realistic world in college and academics where she had to rely on the clients’ schedules rather than her own.

“With this journalism internship, I learned a lot about the small businesses around Valrico, Brandon, Apollo Beach and more. I loved being able to promote these lesser-known businesses and help bring in new clientele for them. My favorite byline I wrote will always be about Flip Flops & Fitness, a gymnastics center run by the most generous man located of of 41 in Apollo Beach. His stories and the conversations we had were the highlight of my internship,” Burken said.

Jasmine Haroun

Haroun was an intern in 2019 and then was a freelance writer for the Osprey Observer until late 2020. She is grateful for her internship experience because it helped develop her writing style and skills as well as form connections with the community. Haroun is a second-year honors student at the University of South Florida studying biomedical sciences.

Haroun said, “I’ve always loved how the Osprey Observer focused on the positives within the community, and being a part of that was something special. I loved every moment of it — the people, the stories, the mentorship.”

Halie LeSavage

LeSavage took part in the Osprey Observer’s internship nine years ago and has done nothing short of flourish in her career since then. Currently the fashion commerce editor at Harper’s Bazaar magazine, LeSavage leads the magazine’s fashion trends and overall shopping coverage online. LeSavage has traveled with her job to places such as Copenhagen, Denmark to San Francisco, California, “reporting on a wide range of topics within the world of luxury fashion.”

LeSavage reflected on her time at the

By Sophia Walck

newspaper by saying, “Interning at the Osprey Observer reinforced all the fundamentals of writing and editing that I use every day at work. And it was the job where I had my first story in print — something I’ll never forget!”

Arianna Hooker

Hooker, a 2022 intern, is now a rising senior at Newsome High School and is the online editor-in-chief and business manager of the Wolf Tracks school newspaper. Hooker plans to major in journalism and business, hoping to one day have a Christ-based news company. This internship provided a sense of community to Hooker and helped her hone her writing skills.

“The Osprey Observer internship got me to where I am today by allowing me to learn the importance of having vast community connections and getting involved in one’s neighborhood,” said Hooker.

Ariana Pedraza

Pedraza took part in the Osprey Observer internship two summers ago and is now a senior at Newsome High School. Pedraza hopes to study international studies before going into law school. Other than writing, Pedraza spends her time involved in her school’s orchestra and band programs, where she’s a drum major for marching band. Her favorite part about this internship was having the opportunity to write about the Newsome Marching Band when the band remained successful despite changes in directors.

Reflecting on the internship, Pedraza remarked, “I have learned and continue to learn so much about journalism and interacting with others and have been able to meet so many incredible people and learn their stories through this newspaper.”

BREANNA MAYE MADELINE GARDNER

JASMINE HAROUN HALIE LESAVAGE

ARIANNA HOOKER

SOFIA CELIS

SYDNEY BURKEN

ARIANA PEDRAZA

Habitat of Hillsborough gears up this month for another season of helping veterans in need of quality housing! Actual construction will be closer to Veterans Day November 11, but the foundation begins with fundraising & a fun-tastic way to do that is here now!

Friday, September 22, is the 5th Annual Veterans Inshore Slam Fishing Tournament. This event has raised more than a half-million dollars for Habitat Hillsborough’s Veterans Initiative. The tourney includes breakfast, weigh-in, and an after-party with games, prizes, a bucket of goodies and a t-shirt.

Organizers are still welcoming sponsors & teams this month. You can learn more about the tournament, the November Veterans Build event, and the overall initiative that helps lowincome veterans with repairs all year long. Go online to habitathillsborough.org and click the link for Builds & Special Events!

Get 5 bedrooms, 4 garage bays, 3 bathrooms, plus a 2-story outbuilding with loft & workshop on 1 acre at this customized property in Riverview s Shadow Run!

Low HOA fees & few deed restrictions make this a great place for your ATVs, RV, boats or more while still living close to good schools, shops, restaurants, recreation spots & travel routes! You’ll find new carpet & luxury vinyl plank floors to complement existing tile throughout the home, as well as a new refrigerator, quartz counters, undermount sink & tile backsplash to enhance the central kitchen. Outdoor spaces include a screened lanai & stone-pavered patio, 2 doublebay garages, the barn-style outbuilding & a well-pump storage shed. $625,000

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Catch the backyard beach vibe at this pink palace with solar-heated spa plus an outdoor kitchen in a screened & roof-sheltered lanai! You'll love coming home to this 1/4-acre corner in the part of Riverglen, where a flexible floor plan offers several options to suit your family's needs. In 2,634 SF you'll find 4 beds & 3 baths in a 3-way split; 2 front & 2 rear rooms for living, dining, or specialty use; French-doored office or den; a central kitchen with breakfast nook & serving bar; & 3 sets of sliders that open to the pool lanai with its gas grill, mini fridge & bar sink in a granite counter for Florida-style entertaining. Recent improvements include HVAC 3 years ago & stainless-

Uptown Cheapskate Celebrates Opening With Ribbon-cutting Ceremony

The Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening and ribbon-cutting event of new member Uptown Cheapskate at its new location in Brandon. Owner Amber Watt, along with her family and staf, welcomed guests and gave a tour of the impressive store. Uptown Cheapskate buys your gently used clothing and ofers amazing deals on fashion brands that you want. It is located at 11229 Causeway Blvd. in the Lake Brandon Plaza in Brandon. To learn more about Uptown Cheapskate, visit its website at www.uptowncheapskate. com/location/brandon/ or call 813-4093014.

New Rage Room, Splatter Paint And Axe-throwing

Destination, iSmash Ribbon Cutting Sept 14

iSmash, the popular entertainment destination for rage rooms, splatter paint and axe throwing, has a new location in Tampa Bay. iSmash will celebrate its ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Valrico Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, September 14 at 863 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon from 12 Noon-2 p.m. iSmash brings 5,000-plus square feet of adrenaline-filled activities where you can blow of steam and truly let go without any

consequences. With rage rooms that can accommodate solo smashers and up to 15 people, iSmash Tampa ofers a variety of smash session packages.

Unleash your creativity with glow-in-thedark splatter paint, make unforgettable memories, take home your work of art and let iSmash clean up the mess. iSmash Tampa also introduces high-tech axe-throwing lanes with a variety of digitally projected games, including tic-tac-toe, Connect 4 and Zombie Hunt. For more information, visit http://ismashtampa.com.

FastFrame Of Winthrop

FastFrame of Winthrop is a family-owned and operated business that ofers expert custom picture framing for artworks, photographs, memorabilia and treasured objects, as well as canvas stretching. It goes through

a quick and easy design process with each customer to ensure satisfaction with the final product. If for any reason you are not satisfied with any aspect of the final piece, a 30-day design guarantee is provided alongside a lifetime guarantee on the craftsmanship of each piece. FastFrame of Winthrop is owned by Aki Weaver and David Escobar. It is located at 6128 Winthrop Town Centre Ave. in Riverview and can be reached by calling 813-436-0044. You can visit its website at https://fastframe.com/ for additional information.

Comprehensive Center For Dermatology Breaks Ground On New Location

Comprehensive Center for Dermatology has just broken ground on a new ofce space that better fits its practice. The new location

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL REVIEW SEE PAGES 32-33

will be at 5627 Skytop Dr. in Lithia, near its current ofce at 5607 Skytop Dr. in Lithia. For updates on the building process and to see dermatology and aesthetic services offered, please visit its website at www.ccdermatology.com.

Te Bridges Retirement Community Hosts Brain Fitness Workshop

Is your mind as sharp as it could be? Do you struggle to remember phone numbers or shopping lists? Our brains are powerful, and even more so when we understand how our brains work and what we can do to improve our memory. A workshop, ‘The Aging Brain: How To Maintain Brain Fitness,’ will be held on Wednesday, September 27 at The Bridges Retirement Community from 11 a.m.-12 Noon. It will answer questions as to what happens to our cognitive abilities as we age and how we can maintain them. Dr. Brianne Stanback, director of community engagement for the Cognitive Aging Lab at the University of South Florida, will present the workshop. The Bridges Retirement Community is located at 5921 Stockport St. in Riverview. Please call 813-413-8900 to reserve your seat.

Edge Pools Now Ofers Resurfacing

Edge Pools now installs ecoFINISH pool resurfacing. This has many benefits compared to traditional concrete finish, including: no harsh chemical startup, no wait time to swim, pH swings in the wa-

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Uptown Cheapskate celebrates its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting in partnership with the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce.

Aki Weaver and David Escobar celebrating the opening of their new FastFrame of Winthrop store.

Comprehensive Center for Dematology breaks ground on a new ofce location.

Congratulations to Danielle Stevens, owner of Vine Vegan in Brandon, for raising over $42K in the month of June, awarding her the title of Honorary Mayor of East Hillsborough. In partnership with the Valrico FishHawk Chamber of Commerce, this annual event raises much-needed dollars for local charities. Tis year, Hope for Her, the Impact Program and A Kid’s Place were the benefciaries.

ter will not afect the finish, a surface smoother than a pebble finish and many more. An ecoFINISH coating has the same 10-year warranty as a traditional concrete finish and can be applied to both concrete and fiberglass pools. To find out if an ecoFINISH resurfacing is right for you, call 813-2302838. Additional information on all of Edge Pools’ services can be found on its website at https://edgepoolsfl.com/.

Tampa Bay Job And Career Fair

Looking for a new job? How about a career? The Tampa Bay Job and Career Fair on Monday, September 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Coliseum, located at 535 4th Ave. N. in St. Petersburg. Come dressed to impress with your resume and meet with over 50 local companies that have immediate employment needs from entry level to skilled trade, health care and managerial positions. The event will also have several of the area’s top schools for continuing education and is a great way to examine ways to further develop your skills and review the career prospects of tomorrow. Admission and parking are free; no preregistration is required.

HCA Florida Brandon Hospital Women’s And Babies’ Services

Donates $8K To March Of Dimes

Hundreds of babies are born at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital each month. The Women’s and Babies’ Services team’s goal was to raise more than ever this year for March of Dimes, and they achieved it by raising $8,745.50.

HCA Florida Brandon Hospital is located at 119 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon. For more information, visit www.hcafloridabrandon-

By Jenny Bennett

hospital.com.

Save Te Date For Te Ruskin Seafood Festival

The SouthShore Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce that the much-anticipated 33rd annual Ruskin Seafood Festival is set to take place on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3 at E.G. Simmons Park. This hometown festival will feature fun, food and entertainment for attendees of all ages.

The Ruskin Seafood Festival is inviting local businesses, vendors and sponsors to participate in this year’s event, please visit https:// ruskinseafoodfest.org for more information.

Top Shelf Virtual Services Assists

Podcasters

Local business Top Shelf Virtual Services recently launched with the goal of helping both new and experienced podcasters start and manage their podcasts. It provides strategies to both grow and monetize podcasts as well as provides monthly podcast audit, management and strategy calls. For more information, visit www.topshelfvirtualservices.com or call 813-347-9147.

Latitudes Tours Recognized As A Traveler’s Choice Award Winner

Latitudes Tours of Ruskin has been recognized by Tripadvisor as a 2023 Traveler’s Choice Award winner in the tours and outdoor activities category. The award celebrates businesses that have received great reviews from travelers on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months, and Latitudes Tours stood out by consistently delivering positive experiences.

Captain Dave, owner of the business, said, “Every tour is unique, from the music selection to the narration. We always put the customer first and tailor each tour experience to the people we have on board.”

For a limited time, Latitudes Tours has a summer special in which kids under 12 cruise for free (10 a.m. tours only) with a paying adult. Call 813-641-1311 to reserve your spot.

Latitudes Tours is located at 580 Bahia Beach Blvd. in Ruskin. For more information on tours, visit its website at www.latitudestours.com.

LEMONADE STAND REACHES NEARLY $90,000 IN DONATIONS FOR ANIMALS IN NEED

At only 11 years old, local resident Delanie Dennis has raised almost $90,000 for local pet charities — one cup of delicious lemonade at a time.

Delanie has been serving her homemade lemonade at her family’s restaurant, Cafe Delanie, since April 2019. To raise funds for local animal shelters and charities, the cafe features new specials daily and weekly.

From bufalo chicken salad to stufed cheeseburgers, these tasty meals paired with lemonade have changed the lives of both animals and humans alike.

“I can’t believe it,” said Andy Dennis, Delanie’s father and owner of Cafe Delanie. “I would never have guessed that it would grow this much.”

Delanie was just 7 years old when she was inspired by the famous American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) commercials and Alex’s Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer. She devised the idea of a lemonade stand to help both animals and the community. Her amazing work for these organizations has received national recognition, with her lemonade stand having been featured on Good Morning America in March this year.

Some of her favorite parts of the experience were seeing the paperwork the night before and meeting Jennifer Aniston. Del-

By Ava Benedict

anie also became the recipient of the 2022 ASPCA Kid of the Year Award for her generosity towards animal organizations. This year, she is set to receive the Youth Hero Good Deed Award from the American Legion Auxiliary. Her contributions toward animal shelters and rescues have continued to gain attention, with CBS News, ABC Action News and Southern Living all highlighting her commitment to helping animals in need. Recently, the large medical media company MJH Life Sciences began selling Delanie’s lemonade in support of her stand and the Animal Welfare Association (AWA), a no-kill shelter located in New Jersey. The Dennis family traveled over a thousand miles to ofcially hand the check of over $3,000 over to the AWA, helping to ensure the safety and health of shelter animals and the prevention of animal cruelty. Although she’s accomplished a lot in four years, Delanie continues to aim high and is working to reach $100,000 donated toward animals in need.

“My big hope is to inspire other kids,” said Delanie.

To learn more, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/delanieslemonadestand.

Delanie Dennis was featured on Good Morning America in March this year.

SEVENTH ANNUAL TEXAS HOLD ’EM POKER TOURNAMENT TO HELP LOCAL VETERANS

Susan Ciof, a realtor with RE/ MAX Realty Unlimited, has been in the realty business for 20 years while also supporting numerous activities and charities in the area, such as Trick or Treat Street and the yearly Texas Hold ’Em Tournament, to help local veterans and their families.

“A few years ago, a coworker of mine, Michael Markus, had asked for help with getting Christmas gifts for families of veterans that were just transitioning to new housing with the help of St. Vincent de Paul CARES,” Ciof said. “That year, we had a few families/children that our brokerage and fellow realtors helped. … I felt it was hard to ask a fellow realtor to sponsor a whole family when there were a lot of big-ticket items. I told Michael we should have a fundraiser so we can pay for the big tickets out of what we raised.”

The fundraiser they created was the Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament, which is in its seventh year.

“Now we have it at Summerfield Golf Club because the tournament has gotten so big,” Ciof said. “We are hoping to get more players this year. We have to make up more expense that are not being covered this year so we need more sponsors and players.”

The tournament will take place on

By Libby Hopkins

Friday, September 29 at Summerfield Crossings Golf Club at 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $50. Ciof and her team are hoping to raise more than $5,000 in this year’s tournament.

“I wouldn’t be able to run this fundraiser without the community sponsorships of East Coast Pizza, Nothing Bundt Cakes, the Osprey Newspaper and others,” Ciof said. “Most importantly, my RE/MAX Realty Unlimited family and all the realtors from our ofce that not only donate their money but their time and support. This office is the best ofce I have work in my 20-plus years in this business.”

Ciof and her team love being able to help our local veterans.

“We love to give back to the veterans,” Ciof said. “They are blown away from what they get for Christmas, and we try our best to get everything on their wish list.”

If you’d like to play in the seventh annual Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament, you can visit the Facebook event page at www.facebook.com/events/161946070233642. If you would like to be a sponsor of the tournament, you can contact Ciof at 813956-8513.

RE/MAX Realty Unlimited will host its seventh annual Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament to help local veterans on Friday, September 29 at Summerfeld Crossings Golf Club at 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $50 to play.

ROTARY SPOTLIGHT:

ACTIVITIES,

Brandon And Brandon ’86

On August 8, the Rotary Club of Brandon helped kick of the school year at Kingswood Elementary School with lunch and a surprise for the teachers and staf, announcing that together with the Brandon ’86 Rotary Club, they purchased 110 new books for their Sunshine State Young Readers Awards (SSYRA) Program. While staf enjoyed pizza, salad and dessert provided by the clubs, Rotarians shared with them their commitment to service while learning about additional opportunities for service at Kingswood.

The Rotary Club of Brandon meets on Tuesdays at 12 Noon and the Brandon ’86 Rotary Club meets on Fridays at 8 a.m. Both clubs meet at the Rivard-Simmons Rotary Event Center, located at 3007 S. Kings Ave. in Brandon, and are always looking for individuals interested in serving our community and “doing good in the world.” For information, contact Debbie Meegan at debbiemeeganrotary@gmail.com.

Interact Club Of Tampa Bay

All area high schoolers interested in service, leadership, food, and fun are invited to the first meeting of the Interact Club of Tampa Bay on Monday, September 11 from 6-8 p.m. at the Rivard-Simmons Rotary Event Center, located at 3007 S. Kings Ave. in Brandon. The Interact Club is sponsored by the Brandon ’86 Rotary Club. For more information, contact Chad Norgard at chad@norgardinsgrp.com.

MEETINGS & MORE

Brandon Global Eco

Brandon Global Eco meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. on Zoom. Members are from the immediate area and other states. Its primary focus is environmental education and ecological friendly projects; for this mission, it has planted 20,000 trees in Plant City with a statewide grant and planted greeneries around newly built houses for Habitat for Humanity.

Visitors around the world are welcome at all Brandon Global Eco meetings. Join the club on September 11 for guest speaker Bob Inglis, a former South Carolina congressman, whose main objective is to address climate change in a bipartisan constructive manner. For more information, contact Bruno Kazenas at bkazenas@comcast.net.

FishHawk-Riverview

Join the Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview on Thursdays from 5-6:30 p.m. for FishHawk-Riverview Rotary After Hours or on Mondays at 12 Noon for its daytime club meeting. Visit www.FishHawkRiverviewRotary.org for guest speakers and meeting locations. In addition, the 39th Alafia Lighted Boat Parade is coming on Saturday, December 2 at the Riverview Civic Center, located at 11020 Park Dr. in Riverview. For more information or to join the decorated boat contest, enter your famous chili in the chili cook-of or choose a sponsor level with guaranteed exposure and recognition of your business, visit www.alafiaboatparade.com.

Did you know that Florida is home to over 4,000 bears?

That’s right, Florida black bears, a subspecies of the American black bear, are native to the state and have been permanent residents here for thousands of years. Florida black bears prefer to live in dense, forested habitats that include a mixture of swamp, palmetto and flatwood territories which provide both shelter and food sources. They historically and presently can range throughout the state but are mostly found in pockets within the central, northern, southeastern and panhandle regions of Florida.

These inquisitive mammals are omnivores, and their diet is predominantly made up of plants. Over 70 percent of their food intake comes from foraging for plants, fruits and insects. They also eat acorns, nuts, palmetto hearts, small mammals, deer, boar and carrion. Florida black bears live an average of 20 years in the wild. They are solid black, with the possibility of small patches of lighter colors on their muzzle or on their chest. Males on average can reach 250-450 pounds, while the slightly smaller females average 125250 pounds. Black bears have flat, fivetoed feet with claws that do not retract, making them especially skilled climbers. They mate every other year, typically in the summer from June to August, with an average litter size of two to three cubs. Cubs stay with their mothers for around

1.5 years, and once the juveniles have claimed their independence, the breeding cycle will begin again. An interesting fact about Florida black bears is that they do not hibernate. Rather, they enter into a phase called denning. This period of reduced activity is common during ‘winter’ months and takes place in a den. Pregnant bears will also den in the winter in order to give birth safely inside their nests. These dens can be created from tree cavities, fallen logs or made directly into the ground like a nest using dense vegetation or thickets. Florida black bears face the challenge of living in our rapidly developing world. Human and bear conflicts are rare and can be avoided by respecting their space and habitat. The greatest threat to our native bears are habitat destruction, degradation and roadway collisions. It is also important to reduce bear encounters by keeping trash sources lidded, ensuring outdoor pets or camping food sources are secured and being aware and alert of the wildlife among us. We can do our part to keep Florida wild and abundant and share this land for generations to come.

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 behavior and conservation. To reach her, email fshhawktnr4@gmail.com.

Te Rotary Club of Brandon and the Brandon ’86 Rotary Club joined together to donate over 100 books to Kingswood Elementary School.

Former South Caroline Congressman Bob Inglis will speak via Zoom at the upcoming Brandon Global Eco meeting.

WINTER PARK OFFERS A CHARMING CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, known afectionately as ‘The Morse,’ houses an eclectic variety of American art, spanning 120 years, and the world’s foremost comprehensive collection of masterpieces by Louis Comfort Tifany. Located in the quaint town of Winter Park, 15 minutes from downtown Orlando, this beautiful gallery is a feast for the senses. Enjoy light classical music in the background in a dimly lit, cool gallery as you wander through displays of paintings, pottery and the world-famous Tifany masterpieces of glass, color and design.

The centerpiece of the museum is the awe-inspiring Byzantine chapel, built in 1893 for the Chicago world’s fair. The chapel is arguably Tifany’s most impressive creation, and Hugh F. McKean, former student and preserver of many of Tifany’s art, said, “The chapel was his favorite among all his works.”

Measuring only 39 feet long and 25 feet wide, words fail to accurately describe the beauty and magnificence of this chapel, and it alone is worth the $6 admission to the museum. Gallerygoers can’t help but sit in stunned silence admiring the inlaid lectern, altar cross and baptismal font. Look above

By Jef Hoening

and marvel at the one-of-akind Electrolier, a massive electric chandelier in the form of a three-dimensional cross.

The chapel had quite a journey to Winter Park from the Chicago World’s Fair; to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City; to Tifany’s Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall, barely surviving a devastating fire at the estate in 1957; and then finally was salvaged from the rubble and resurrected, in a sense, at The Morse. The curators also rebuilt the beautiful Dafodil Terrace of Laurelton Hall inside the museum.

Just outside the museum exit, browse through the eclectic boutiques and shops of Winter Park Town Center. For lunch or dinner, try Boca or Orchid Thai Cuisine. Just want a snack? Find one of the two French pastry shops and select your favorite fresh pastry and a cofee. And, weather permitting, enjoy Winter Park’s Scenic Boat Tour, established in 1938, for a leisurely pontoon boat ride through Winter Park’s chain of lakes.

For more information, visit https://morsemuseum.org/ and www.scenicboattours. com.

September is beginning to cool the water and air temperatures down some. With that comes a fury of fishing opportunities. The bait will be on the flats and the target species will be a little anxious to feed more aggressively with the cooling. Redfish will be schooling up and wandering the flats and backwaters looking for food.

Redfish will be found many times by looking for the big pushes or wakes as these schools begin to forage in masses. The main idea for getting on to these is to try and pattern them accord ing to tides and times. If the school gets past you, do not chase them. Just pull away from the area, move around them a good distance and get back in front. Cut pin fish, cut mullet or live greenies will work just

fine on these fish. Once the bite begins, hold on because they will be very aggressive this time of year.

Trout will still be a good choice on the flats with artificial and live baits. Gag grouper opened up on September 1, and the inshore and nearshore bites will be amazing. It is a shortened season this year, so hurry and get your bite in. Pinfish work great for these fish on a 4/0 to 6/0 hook, 60# braid and 80# leader.

Snook season has also opened up. These fish will be cooling of with temperatures and be very hungry. Greenies are always the best bet for targeting and locating these fish. Make sure you catch plenty of greenies and chum some to find the points that work the best.

Te Tifany Chapel saw over 1 million visitors at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

Leaded glass garden windowpanes were a favorite design of Louis Comfort Tifany.

Stay Healthy This Summer

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BY NICK NAHAS

BLOOMINGDALE BULLS CONTINUES TO BUILD WITH NEW HEAD COACH

The 2023 Bloomingdale High School Bulls will have to build continuity under first-year head coach Patrick Murphy. Murphy replaces the program’s all-time win leader, Jacob Coulson, who accepted the head coaching job at Lecanto High School. The team returns three key players from last year’s team that had significant playing time.

The Bulls will be led by young sophomore quarterback Dillon Rose-Bailey, who started six games last season. The quarterback performed well after he was thrust into the spotlight when senior leader James Coney went down with an injury. The freshman came in and immediately won his first career start against rival Durant. He continued to show poise throughout the season, throwing 10 touchdown passes for 1,048 yards and rushing for two touchdowns.

Murphy is impressed with the sophomore’s work ethic. He said Rose-Bailey is constantly asking his receivers if they want to have extra passing sessions on the weekends and does additional strength and conditioning training alongside quarterback training in his own time. The young gunslinger has shown accuracy with his intermediate throws while having a lot of velocity on the ball. He can make plays outside of the pocket with his mobility, throws a great deep ball, can stretch the sidelines and has a strong grasp of the ofense. It’s safe to say that the success of the season will mainly rest on the arm of Rose-Bailey.

The head coach is happy with his team’s young talent and potential. They will have a very young and inexperienced squad with only two returning starters that had significant playing time last season in senior linemen Brandon Mecomber and Darion Thomas.

Key players include Thomas, who will

play both sides of the ball; big bruising running back Otis Reed; running back Christian Dorset; transfer Kylan Tamulonis, who is a great athlete and will play both sides of the ball; junior receiver/defensive back Simon Castillo; outside linebacker Jadon Svendsen; senior receiver Darien Martin; senior Isaiah Zellner; and senior kicker Stefan Vera, who has a strong leg.

The team’s strength will be their secondary. They will have to improve on understanding the new ofensive schemes, gaining crucial experience in situational football, eliminating big plays on defense and rallying to the football with good gap control.

Murphy knows that there will be growing pains in his first season with a young and inexperienced team; however, he expects to compete for a district title and wants his team to be competitive throughout the season and gain experience. His team motto is “Whatever it takes.” The coach is big on preparation Monday through Thursday and believes that if his team buys into this, they will be successful.

Bloomingdale has one of the toughest schedules in Hillsborough County, having to play against Sumner, Armwood, Durant, Tampa Bay Tech, Newsome, Gaither and Wharton, but they have a chance to win their district if they can beat East Bay in the last

SCHEDULE ROSTER

BY NICK NAHAS

NEWSOME WOLVES START SEASON WITH STRONG OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE LINE

The 2023 Newsome High School Wolves will compete for a district title this season behind strong offensive and defensive line play.

The Wolves will be led by firstyear signal caller junior Noah Guenther. Head coach Christian Yockey said that the QB had a great offseason and is one of the hardest workers on the team. The coaching staff expects big things from him in his third year in the offensive system. Guenther boasts a solid GPA and a grasp of the offense, as well as a strong and accurate arm and leadership skills.

Yockey thinks that this is the biggest and strongest team that he’s had at Newsome. The program prides itself on its mental and physical toughness. Yockey said that more players will play both offense and defense this year to help contribute. The Wolves have an older and more experienced roster with 31 seniors and 38 juniors. They will replace only 17 seniors from last year.

The offensive and defensive lines will be anchored by senior offensive and defensive tackle Dwayne Bain, who currently has three D-I college offers. Senior offensive guard Elijah Seeley, senior center Reagan Bre and junior offensive guard Garrett Weisgerber are all key returning players on a bulky offensive line. They also return two junior tight ends in Nate Hohlfeld and Clayton Brown, who will be prominent in an offense that runs a lot of tight-end sets.

Other key offensive returners include junior running back Malik Hassoun and senior Eli Hiscock, who will play both linebacker and running back and has three D-I offers. Punter/kickoff specialist D.J. Page

was first-team all-conference last season and will be a key contributor on special teams.

The biggest improvement on the team will be the defense, returning more experience than the previous season. Key players include junior linebacker Jett Buzbee; safeties Jonathan Kerce and Tristan Mitchum, who had seven interceptions last season; and corners Tariq Sapp, Ryan Toefield and Martin Taylor, who will lead the secondary.

Former 12-year Newsome head coach Ken Hiscock returns to the team as defensive coordinator.

The team motto is “Earn it 23.” Yockey said that his team has worked the entire offseason to be able to compete and gain the respect of its opponents. The staff has preached to the team to play a full 48 minutes. They think they can win their district and want to compete for a state title. The team has made it to the third round of the playoffs before.

The Wolves missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons last year, but they will have a good opportunity to get back to postseason play. Newsome has one of the toughest schedules in Hillsborough County, having to play against Sickles, Tampa Bay Tech, Wharton and Gaither, but they have a winnable district if they can get past Durant and Sumner.

SCHEDULE ROSTER

PIECEMAKERS QUILT GUILD OF BRANDON BRINGS QUILTERS OF ALL AGES TOGETHER

The love of quilting is shared across the globe through local quilt guilds. A quilt guild is a group of quilters who gather to discuss their quilting projects and share diferent skills they have learned. A local group, Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Brandon, has been ofering informative programs and terrific classes with quilters ranging in age from their early 20s to late 70s since 1989.

Quilters of this guild include some who have won awards in national shows and some who are planning their first projects. The primary purpose is to advance quilting and to promote interest and appreciation of the art of quilting. It also aims to share quilting information with others and restore a high standard of designing techniques.

Piecemakers member Janet Adams spoke on what makes the quilt guild special: “I think what makes our guild special are the members. They are kind, welcoming and freely share their time and talents with the group. We are active in community projects and donate member-made quilts to groups such as Quilts of Valor and Joshua House, as well as a local hospital NICU.”

By Ella Shockley

Members of Piecemakers have many opportunities to get involved through a position on the board or a committee. Whether you’re meeting friends in a group, learning through a workshop or even teaching in a workshop, the opportunities are endless. Additionally, every member is asked to make at least one lap quilt or baby quilt a year to be donated to one of the organizations supported by the guild.

Every three years, the quilt guild hosts a quilt show. Members work in the intervening years on their quilts entered for judging. The event also features ‘marketplace’ items to sell and rafe baskets to win. The next quilt show is being held on October 10 and 11, 2025. Many members are already starting their quilts for the upcoming show.

Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 6:45 p.m., with social time beginning at 6 p.m. The members meet at New Hope Church, located at 213 N. Knights Ave. in Brandon. All are welcome to join. If you or someone you know is interested in joining Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Brandon, more information can be found at https://brandonquiltguild.com/.

Tennis Courts with tournament quality LED lights that deliver tennis fun morning, afternoon & night! Add online booking for Golf & Tennis plus programming for the entire family and it’s a winning combination! Memberships available to fit most budgets!

Local veteran recipients of Quilts of Valor donated by the Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Brandon.

PIZZA FOR PETS FINDS FUR-EVER HOMES FOR SHELTER ANIMALS

Local program Pizza for Pets advertises using flyers of adoptable animals within takeout orders in an attempt to save them from high-kill shelters.

Lauri Partanio, owner of Professional Pets Florida, has given loving homes to over 35 pets and recruited a multitude of restaurants and sponsors to her cause since beginning the program in February.

Seeing firsthand how animals can be so easily overlooked in shelters throughout her experiences working with them, Partanio sought a way to help her community in a successful way.

“It pulls at my heartstrings because I know that they’re adoptable, they just need some time to be featured. Some senior, medically needy, special needs, some just happy, healthy pets. Being able to help just a little bit is so fulfilling,” said Partanio. What started as just flyers on pizza boxes expanded to multiple restaurants and businesses that were eager to contribute. The first to take interest was Vine Vegan, a plant-based restaurant, which added ‘Plants for Pets.’ Many establishments followed after with their own versions, such as ‘Pints for Pets,’ ‘Protein for Pets’ and ‘Pasta for Pets.’

Adopting through the flyers ofers unique benefits, such as a free adoption

By Anna Edlund

and Professional Pets Florida’s Discount for Life Program. Any pet adopted from the organization is given a helping hand with any pet-sitting or dog-walking needs, which is especially beneficial for apprehensive new owners. Additionally, the pets are all microchipped, spayed or neutered and vaccinated, free of charge.

“It’s filled my cup; I never expected this project to help 38 animals find their forever homes,” Partanio stated as she reflected upon what she started.

Many small businesses have graciously sponsored the program, but more help is required to expand it further. The more sponsors, the more restaurants can be included, and the more possible owners can be reached.

Anyone interested in sponsoring can send an email to pizzaforpets@gmail. com with their business information.

Those who want to adopt one of the loving pets can take a flyer to the Pet Resource Center at 440 N. Falkenburg Rd. in Tampa to redeem their free adoption.

For information on the cause, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pizzaforpets or the website at https://professionalpets.net/pizza-forpets/.

Photo courtesy of Lauri Partanio.

Pizza for Pets program founder Lauri Partanio poses alongside a loving pet.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF DELIVERING OSPREY OBSERVER NEWSPAPERS

Ever wonder how copies of the Osprey Observer or Christian Voice get delivered to local businesses in the area? Walking into your local YMCA or church, you might see newly printed copies of your favorite local newspaper, the Osprey Observer, waiting for someone like you to grab a copy. Well, I had the opportunity to deliver the copies with Bill Andrew, the go-to delivery manager for the Osprey Observer.

I met Andrew at 9 in the morning at the Osprey’s ofce. He discussed the plan. First, we would pick up Christian Voice and the Bloomingdale/ FishHawk edition of the Osprey Observer from the printer. Then, we would start our long day of deliveries. We grabbed some water and headed on our way to our first stop, Newspaper Printing Company (NPC) in downtown Tampa. Along the way, Andrew and I talked about countless topics ranging from music to journalism to cats. Picking up the papers from NPC was swift and efcient. The newspapers were driven on a forklift down to the car, leaving Andrew and I to organize them into his car, almost like an intense game of Tetris — with newspapers. The first load was the start of the August edition for Bloomingdale/FishHawk, a much smaller load than what was to come, the August edition of the Christian Voice Andrew showed me his method for attack,

By Ella Shockley

or, in other words, how to organize all the copies in his trunk. After this, we were on our way once again.

On the drive over to our first delivery I asked Andrew how he first started delivering the Osprey. He responded with, “I retired in September of 2022 and needed just a little more income but didn’t want a job that required me there at certain times. I put the word out that I was retiring, and bam! This came along.”

He also discussed how he enjoys designing his route and seeing the friends along the way.

The rest of the day included stopping at many places near Apollo Beach to drop of the Christian Voice, such as Bell Shoals Church of Apollo Beach, St. Anne Catholic Church and many others. On the way back up to the ofce, we made stops at Village Inn and Spurlino and Campo Family YMCAs. When we arrived at the ofce, we unloaded the copies of Bloomingdale/FishHawk and the leftover Christian Voice Copies that still needed to be delivered at a later date.

Driving with Andrew for a day was incredibly insightful, showing what a strong, family-like bond the team at the Osprey Observer has with each other, and showing that good news comes from a truly fantastic group of journalists.

Newspaper Printing Company is where all the copies of the Osprey Observer and the Christian Voice are printed for delivery.

BRANDON-BASED REEMPLOYABILITY INC. SUPPORTS INJURED WORKERS & MORE

Even in the safest workplaces, it’s inevitable that injuries occur. Getting injured workers back to their jobs following an injury is a challenge for most companies.

Headquartered in Brandon, ReEmployAbility Inc. is the largest national provider of specialty return-towork and transitional employment programs. ReEmployability’s innovative transition to work program, Transition2Work, matches injured workers with nonprofit organizations in need of resources. The injured employees remain productive by performing light-duty work and have an avenue for earning their regular income and benefits until they recover.

CEO Debra Livingston began her career working as an insurance claims adjuster and founded ReEmployAbility in 2003 based on a passion for helping injured workers return to work.

“I was always passionate about helping people get back to work. And then, as we started placing injured workers in nonprofits, workers were giving us feedback and saying, ‘This has changed my life,’” Livingston said.

This year, ReEmployAbility has placed Transition2Work participants with nonprofit organizations in all 50 states. As of the first half of 2023, more than 5,000 participants in Transition2Work have collectively volunteered for over 1.1 million hours to support almost 2,000 organizations. The company is having a meaningful im-

By Jane Owen

pact across the country and right here locally.

ReEmployAbility assists many local nonprofits, including Metropolitan Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, ECHO and Lighthouse Ministries.

Jean Nieves Palma (JP) began working at the Lighthouse Ministries Brandon Thrift Store in February through the Transition2Work program after being injured at his job with Tesla.

“They ofered this modified duty, which is a blessing. It was an amazing option to have. It has been fantastic to work while I have my injury limitations,” JP said.

Diana Copley, Lighthouse Ministries Brandon Thrift Store operations manager, is thankful for the partnership with ReEmployAbility.

“We have a close relationship with ReEmployAbility. The volunteers we receive from them have become such an important part of our team. They are a huge help. It really makes a diference,” Copley said.

On top of helping local nonprofits, injured community members and companies, ReEmployAbility was No. 10 in the 2023 Tampa Bay Times Top Workplaces (Small Category).

One of the foundations of ReEmployAbility is the belief that giving back helps individuals, as well as the community. Livingston shared that one of the full-circle benefits of starting Transition2Work is that it benefits everyone involved.

For more information about ReEmployability, visit www.reemployability.com.

From left to right: Lindsey Bressi, Jean Nieves Palma, Diana Copley and Angela Fulgieri at Lighthouse Ministries.

SOUTH HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESSES

If you are looking to support businesses right in your own backyard, join the South Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce for its Fall Business Expo in Sun City Center. The chamber hosts two expos every year, and the next one will take place this fall. The Fall Business Expo will be on Thursday, October 5 from 9 a.m.-12

Noon at Sun City Center Community Hall, located at 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd. in Sun City Center. Admission is free for all community members to come and learn about the businesses in the area.

All chamber member businesses are able to purchase a booth or space to promote any and all information about each business. Many vendors even have drawings and giveaways all day long. Pricing for vendor booths ranges from $60 to $350, depending on business type and size of space.

“Many of our vendors have been attending our expos for years,” said Lynne Conlan, former executive director for the South Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce. “A couple of favorite things everyone looks forward to are the best brownies ever from Sun Towers Retire-

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

ment Community, the doughnuts to die for from Steve Overton with The Overton Group and we all appreciate the fresh grilled hot dogs from the Sun City Center Rotary Club.”

The South Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce Expos are popular with the members and the public because everyone is given the opportunity to talk one on one. Businesses get to meet with customers while community members get to see what goods and services the local businesses have to ofer.

Established in 1961 as the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce and later renamed, the chamber has been located in the heart of Sun City Center since 1984. The goal of the chamber is to bring life to the community through supporting great places to work, live and have fun. The chamber of commerce exists to advocate for local businesses, from small startups to well-established businesses.

For more information regarding the South Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce and its events, please visit www. southhillsboroughchamber.com or contact Sherell at 813-634-5111 or sherell@ southhillschamber.com.

until September 30th

Te South Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce supports local businesses throughout the year in order to continue bringing vibrant life into the community.

HCC PARTNERS WITH TAMPA ELECTRIC TO TRAIN ELECTRICAL LINE WORKERS

Hillsborough Community College

(HCC) and Tampa Electric (TECO) have partnered to invest in the new Electrical Line Worker Training Program through the HCC Foundation and Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education (ICCE). Program training will be held on the HCC Brandon campus.

“After months of preparation, the Brandon campus is delighted to partner with TECO to launch our Electrical Line Worker Program this fall,” said Dr. Deborah Kish, HCC Brandon campus president. “TECO’s support, both financially and as a program advisor, is paramount to the college’s ability to provide this critical training.”

Qualifying students will have the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills needed to pursue a career in the electric utility industry as a line worker trainee. TECO has pledged more than $300,000 annually for scholarships and relevant program equipment to run this new training program, thanks to the company’s Workforce Development Fund.

“Due to TECO’s generous scholarship support, those who would not otherwise be able to aford this training can now do so,” Dr. Kish said.

The program will include 420 hours of training over a four-month period. Upon completion of the program, students will earn certifications in OSHA 10-hour training, bucket truck rescue, CPR and AED, pole-top rescue and first aid. Students who successfully complete the program will have a chance to interview with TECO for an entry-level electrical line worker position.

WHAT DOES IT COST NOT TO HAVE LIFE INSURANCE?

Hillsborough Community College to develop this new program,” said Archie Collins, president and chief executive ofcer of Tampa Electric.

“We rely on skilled line workers to safely and reliably maintain our electrical grid – and to engage with our customers in the community. This program will help to diversify the pool of candidates that we draw from to sustain our team of line workers into the future.”

This new training program is scheduled to start in fall 2023. For more information on the training program and to apply, visit the Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education website at www.tampatraining.com/ electrical-line-worker. ICCE is HCC’s corporate training arm that provides customized business solutions for local companies and individuals. To learn more, visit www.tampatraining.com.

Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves more than 830,000 customers in West Central Florida.

The Hillsborough Community College Foundation supports HCC in its mission to deliver afordable education opportunities that help students become successful, produce citizens. Through annual scholarships, endowments, program and faculty support and college-wide funding initiatives, the foundation has awarded more than $12 million since 2000 and changed thousands of lives for the better.

HCC serves more than 42,000 students annually at its five campuses located throughout Tampa Bay. For more information, visit www.hccfl.edu.

It’s probably not on your calendar, but September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. And that means it’s a good time to become more aware of the benefts of having life insurance — and the dangers of not having it.

Unfortunately, confusion about some of the basic elements of owning life insurance may be keeping people from getting the protection they need. More than half of uninsured Americans say they have put of purchasing coverage because they don’t know what to buy or how much they need, according to Life Happens and LIMRA, two nonproft organizations that provide research and education about life insurance. Yet, while this confusion may be understandable, a delay in acquiring appropriate insurance can be costly in more ways than one. From a strict dollars-and-cents perspective, it’s generally much more afordable to buy life insurance when you’re younger. But there are potentially much greater costs involved in not having insurance when it’s needed — and these costs are personal.

To be specifc, what is it worth … … to know your family could stay in your home if something happened to you?

… to know your children could continue their education plans?

… to know your debts could be paid without burdening your family?

Clearly, if you were to assign these benefts a “price tag,” it would be pretty high. And that’s the value of owning sufcient life insurance.

So, let’s return to the issue of people putting of buying insurance because they don’t know how much they need, or what type they should have:

• How much is enough? You might hear that you need life insurance equal to about seven to 10 times your pretax annual salary. That’s not a bad “ballpark” fgure, but not everyone is playing in the same ballpark. To get a true sense of how much of a death beneft you require from your life insurance, you’ll need to consider a variety of factors, possibly including your current income, spouse’s income, the size of your mortgage (in addition to other liabilities), number of children, educational expenses and fnal expenses for funeral arrangements.

• What type? You can essentially choose between two basic types of life insurance: term and permanent. As its name suggests, term insurance is designed to provide coverage for a designated period, such as 10 or 20 years. Generally speaking, term insurance is quite afordable for most people, especially when they buy policies as young adults. On the other hand, permanent insurance, such as whole life or universal life, is usually considerably more expensive than term insurance. This is because permanent insurance premiums, in addition to providing a death beneft, help build cash value, which you can typically access through loans or withdrawals, giving you additional fexibility should your fnancial needs change over time. In choosing between term and permanent insurance, you’ll want to evaluate several issues, such as how long you think you’ll need coverage and how much you can aford to pay in premiums.

Finding out about the benefts, costs and types of life insurance can help you make informed choices to help protect your family for years to come — so don’t delay learning what you need to know.

edwardjones.com/adam-benabram

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

“Tampa Electric is proud to partner with

GET THE DIRT: RAINWATER HARVESTING: NOW

IS THE TIME

BY LYNN BARBER, URBAN HORTICULTURE AGENT

If you haven’t attended a rainwater harvesting workshop with our ofce, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, you may want to sign-up to participate. We are well into the rainy season and can most certainly capture this free resource.

Extension ofers rainwater harvesting workshops where participants learn about the benefits of collecting rainwater, the components of a rainwater collection system, the amount of water you can collect, rain barrel construction, mosquitoes and rainwater collection, do’s and don’ts, connecting multiple barrels and the installation of overflow accommodations. Instructions regarding safety considerations, maintenance and painting barrels are also provided.

Rain barrels are devices that collect rainwater used mainly for landscape irrigation. These devices reduce stormwater runof and erosion as they catch and contain rain. This process decreases the amount of potable water used for landscape irrigation because you use the water you capture to irrigate landscape plants, not edibles.

Rainwater harvesting is important because 1 inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof yields 623 gallons of water. Florida’s annual precipitation average is 53.7 inches. If we had the rainwater holding capacity, each of us could harvest more than 34,000

gallons each year.

That’s why we teach residents how to make their own rain barrels because one is definitely not enough. Most wish they had more barrels. Past workshop attendees have said that since participating in this training, they have purchased additional rain barrels from feed stores or online. They love the conservation aspects of rainwater harvesting and are glad to do their part in decreasing stormwater runof and erosion.

Hillsborough County residents can attend a rainwater harvesting workshop with our ofce, in person or via Zoom, and learn this easy and inexpensive water conservation method. If you live in a deed-restricted community, follow your homeowner association architectural control or landscape committee procedures before you incorporate changes in your landscapes, including the installation of a rainwater harvesting system.

We provide one rain barrel per household which has been drilled and spigoted. Some rules apply. From February through November, we ofer compost, microirrigation and rainwater harvesting workshops on the first Saturday of the month. To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/o/ufifas-hillsborough-extension-8606873308. Contact Lynn Barber at labarber@ufl.edu.

Rainwater harvesting barrels.

Decorated rain barrel.

BLOOMINGDALE YOUTH SPORT ASSOCIATION HOSTS MLB PITCH, HIT & RUN

Bloomingdale Youth Sports Association

(BYSA) held its first-ever Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run event on July 16.

Major League Baseball (MLB) Pitch Hit & Run is a free one-day event for boys and girls ages 7-14 that provides a fun experience for participants and an opportunity for them to showcase their baseball and softball skills. Athletes are tested and their measurements are recorded. Winners in each age division are determined by a cumulative score. The winners have a chance to advance to two higher level competitions: a team championship held in MLB stadiums, hosted locally at Tropicana Field, and an all-expenses-paid trip for two to compete at the national finals, which is hosted at the World Series.

BSYA President David Nolte said the event was a tremendous success and that BSYA is looking forward to continuing hosting it.

“The MLB Pitch, Hit & Run event held at Bloomingdale Youth Sports Association was a great way for kids from all over the area to showcase their skills in baseball and softball with a chance to win a free trip to the MLB All-Star game. We had an excellent turnout with kids coming from all over Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties and even as far away as Sarasota. It is a great event that we look forward to holding again next year,” Nolte said.

LOCAL AUTHOR PUBLISHES

By Jane Owen

164 kids registered for Bloomingdale’s Pitch, Hit & Run event. Next year’s goal is to have over 175. Once it reaches that number of participants, BYSA will be hosting an automatic qualifying event and its winners will automatically move on to the state-level team championship.

Brennick shared that BYSA loves to engage the community. The community is welcome to use the BYSA fields because they are a Hillsborough County park.

Two fields are open to the public, which are first-come, first-served from dawn to dusk, and the T-ball field is open as well.

“We like to focus on things we can do within the community. We have an amazing nonprofit, volunteer organization right here in our backyard,” Brennick said.

Congratulations to BYSA’s 2023 Pitch, Hit & Run winners:

Softball: Division 7/8, Madison Ooley; Division 9/10, Madilyn Jarocki; Division 11/12, Victoria VanAlmen; and Division 13/14, Chanel Williams.

Baseball: Division 7/8, Owen Fiedler; Division 9/10, Henry Brennick; Division 11/12, Christian Gaines; and Division 13/14, Dylan Dahlback.

For information about MLB Pitch, Hit & Run, visit www.mlb.com/pitch-hit-and-run.

For information about the Bloomingdale Youth Sport Association, visit www.bysafl. com or email bysaflorida@gmail.com.

AUTISM AWARENESS PICTURE BOOK SUITABLE FOR CLASSROOMS

Everyone knows the story of “Goldilocks and The Three Bears.” The wellknown fairytale focuses on self-awareness and respect for others. Apollo Beach author Amy Nielsen has published a oneof-a-kind retelling of the story. Neilsen’s picture book, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder,” is an endearing retake on the story that provides an understanding of autism.

When Nielsen’s youngest of four children, Barclay, was born, she decided to leave her career as an educator and librarian to focus on raising him. At 18 months, Barclay regressed with his previously learned skills.

Within a year and a half, he was diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder.

“It was a lot in a short time for our family to absorb. But that’s what families do — you shift. For me, that shift was learning everything I could about autism, finding the most qualified providers and making sure my son never felt his diagnosis defined him,” Nielsen said.

Neilsen became passionate about autism awareness education. She created a blog and podcast to share her family’s journey, educates Barclay about his autism and teaches him to be part of the conversation in advocating for himself and educating others. She says she is most proud of her “Goldilocks” picture book.

“I wrote it as an educational tool for nonautistic children to learn about the complexities of the disorder through a familiar fairytale. But, coming from an edu-

By Jane Owen

cational background, I wanted to also give educators and parents a framework for how to take this story to the next level,” Nielson explained.

The book is an excellent classroom tool. It includes a glossary of autism terms along with easily understood definitions and discussion questions to bring a child’s understanding of the autistic traits seen in “Goldilocks” to real-world scenarios they might experience with their autistic friends.

Barclay has benefited first-hand from his mom’s book.

Last year, when he started second grade for the first time in a public school, his teacher used “Goldilocks” with his peers prior to his arrival. The students were excited to have an autistic classmate, and, for the first time, Barclay has many same-age friends.

Nielsen’s publisher, Wild Ink Publishing, is ofering teachers a 20 percent discount for the month of August. Email abigail@ wild-ink-publishing.com with the grade and school. Also, if any students draw pictures of “Goldilocks,” Wild Ink will include them on its website.

“Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder,” second edition, was published in May and can be ordered on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. In addition, Nielsen has a media company, Mayflower Media, where she creates book trailers for authors, with which she is publishing a young adult novel, Worth It, in May 2024.

To learn more about Nielson, visit https://amynielsenauthor.com.

BYSA board member Sarah Brennick said

Some of the athletes at Bloomingdale Youth Sports Association’s Pitch Hit & Run event on July 16 (left to right): Lisander Perez, Jackson Ocasio, Jackson Calandro, Ryan Grant, Kayson Tucker, Antonio Robinson-Vidi and Henry Brennick.

JADE HEALTH MED SPA OFFERS

WELLNESS AND RELAXATION SERVICES

Ofering a multitude of cosmetic and wellness services, Jade Health strives to be a haven for clients to feel their best both inside and out. Co-owners Kelly Kellner and Amanda Kuhns, alongside their team of experts, have spent the past two years dedicated to serving the Tampa community and fulfilling all of their clients’ beauty needs.

The spa’s services include a variety of topnotch treatments, such as laser hair removal, dermal fillers, Botox sessions, microneedling, routine esthetician services and so much more. There are additionally many relaxing experiences ofered, including an infrared sauna, massage chairs and cryotherapy. Professional expertise is available through programs like wellness exams and weight-loss programs.

“One of my favorite treatments is Morpheus8, which is our RF microneedling device. It stimulates collagen production and can be customized to each client’s needs. It aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing the best possible care and delivering transformative results for those seeking skin rejuvenation and enhancement,” said Kellner. Setting the center apart from neighboring facilities is the attention to client satisfaction that Jade Health expresses.

By Anna Edlund

Spending time within the business is known to be more than just an appointment but also a sanctuary of sorts where guests are gifted with the best possible experience.

“Our clients’ well-being is at the core of everything that we do. Understanding their unique needs and concerns has emphasized the significance of personalized care and individualized treatment plans. This approach has not only strengthened our relationships with clients but also enhanced their overall experience at Jade Health,” stated Kellner.

To celebrate Jade Health’s two years of successful treatment and connections, the company will be hosting an anniversary celebration on Saturday, August 26 from 4-7 p.m. The event will include food trucks, giveaways, promotions and more for the community to enjoy.

“Owning and operating Jade Health has been a journey of growth and self-discovery. As we continue to evolve and expand our oferings, we are excited about the future of Jade Health and the positive influence it will have on our clients’ lives,” Kellner said.

To find out more information or book an appointment, visit the Jade Health website at www.jadetampa.com.

Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation will once again host the Active Life Games in October. Exercise is great for the body and mind and is particularly important as we age. The Active Life Games help promote physical and mental fitness through an Olympics-style competition that attracts hundreds of adults ages 50 and older each year.

You can register for the 2023 Active Life Games by visiting www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/residents/recreation-and-culture/recreation/tampa-bay-active-lifegames. Registration ends on Friday, September 22.

The Active Life Games began in the 1980s. They ofer a variety of contests for all skills and fitness levels. This year’s Active Life Games will be held over a twoweek period in October. Week one begins on Monday, October 2 and runs through Saturday, October 7. Week two begins on Sunday, October 8 and ends with a closing ceremony on Friday, October 13.

The Active Life Games’s events will include track and field, shufeboard, pickleball, billiards and horseshoes. Individual competitions are held at a variety of locations throughout Hillsborough County.

In addition, the event includes new games and new venues this year. For the

By Kathy L. Collins

first time, basketball shoot-out and lawn bowling will be part of the competition. Lawn bowling will be held at the Eberhart building in Sun City Center.

The Active Life Games closing ceremonies will be at the newly constructed New Tampa Performing Arts Center.

Further, golf will be hosted at Summerfield Crossing and tennis will be at the Sun City Tennis Center.

Mikah Collins, program coordinator for Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation, said, “I love seeing the athleticism and camaraderie at Active Life Games. Seeing athletes, sometimes in their 90s, competing and pushing themselves is truly inspiring.

Pickleball and table tennis have produced some of the most heated competitions I have witnessed.

The cost to participate is $25 for one event or $30 for unlimited events. There is an additional $30 charge for those participating in the golf competition, which includes a cart.

In addition to being a lot of fun and a great way to stay in shape, the Active Life Games serve as a regional qualifier for the Florida Senior Games. The Florida Senior Games will be held from Saturday, December 2 through Sunday, December 10.

Jade Health co-owners Kelly Kellner and Amanda Kuhns proudly ofer top-notch care to each of their clients.