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Father’s Day Engraving Event At AJ’s Fine Wine & Liquor

Join Ajay Jambhekar, owner of AJ’s Fine Wine & Liquor, for his Father’s Day engraving event featuring a wide selection of spirits to have engraved, including a variety of Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve Bourbons. These make for perfect personalized gifts for dad and are also perfect for thankyou presents or a ‘just because.’ The engraving event will take place at AJ’s Fine Wine & Liquor, located at 3443 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico, on Saturday, June 11 from 6-9 p.m. Preorders are highly encouraged, and there are no quantity restrictions. Call AJ’s at 813-654-6488 to make your preorder selection.

Superior Residences Of Brandon Offers Memory Care Services

Superior Residences of Brandon ofers the finest senior living experience for those needing memory care services. It has an experienced and caring team who have the professional skills to administer complex treatment plans and the sensitivity to make residents feel at home. They make residents feel better, function more independently and manage chronic conditions. Superior Residences of Brandon is located at 1819 Providence Ridge Blvd. in Brandon. Additional information can be found on its website at www.superiorbrandon.com or by calling 813-657-8587.

Hampton Inn & Suites Celebrates Two Years

The Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa Riverview Brandon, commemorating its two-year anniversary at this location. When staying at this hotel, you can fuel up on the free hot breakfast and wind down in the relaxing pool. In between you can catch up on work or your electric social life with free Wi-Fi. Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa Riverview Brandon is located at 10240 Causeway Blvd. in Tampa and is conveniently located for the Port Tampa Bay cruise terminals, Riverwalk and Busch Gardens. To learn more about Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa Riverview Brandon, visit its website at www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ tparvhx-hampton-suites-tampa-riverview-brandon or call 813-497-4590.

Huntington Learning Center Under New Management

Huntington Learning Center Brandon recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce in honor of its new management team and to commemorate the center being a part of the community for 28 years. Huntington Learning Center Brandon is excited to move forward with a new drive and goals to build strong connections and involvement in the community while strengthening the academic needs of area students. Using highly trained tutors in multiple areas of education, Huntington works with students of all ages and abilities, helping them to improve their grades, build organizational skills and self-confidence and develop overall good study habits. Offering individualized programs with flexible schedules, Huntington Learning can help raise test scores and fill in the gaps for students who need a little extra assistance or help to avoid the summer slide. A summer at Huntington leads to a better school year, so make this time count. Huntington Learning Center Brandon is located at 1590 Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico. For more, call 813-681-1500 or visit its website at https://huntingtonhelps.com/center/brandon.

Te Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce celebrates Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa Riverview Brandon’s two-year anniversary.

StretchLab Opens In Brandon

StretchLab is a unique wellness concept, ofering customized assisted stretch sessions. No two bodies are the same, and no two stretches at StretchLab are the same. One-on-one stretching is about identifying the tightness and imbalances in your body and customizing a stretch routine that is just for you. There are a lot of diferent benefits from stretching, and some include: increased flexibility and range of motion, improved posture, reduced stress and improved sports performance. StretchLab is located at 11235 Causeway Blvd. in Brandon. More information can be found at www.stretchlab.com/location/brandon or by calling 813-734-8687. You can also

follow it on Facebook @ stretchlabbrandon.

Alley Cat Pest Control Celebrates 15Year Anniversary

Alley Cat Pest Control recently celebrated its 15th anniversary with a ribbon-cutting from the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce. It is a full-service company specializing in integrated pest manageAlley Cat Pest Control recently celebrated its 15th anniversary with a ribbon-cutting from the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce. ment for the prevention of unwanted pests in your home or business. Family-owned and operated, and named after the beloved family cat, Alley Cat Pest Control proudly serves the local community. To learn more about Alley Cat Pest Control, visit www.alleycatpestcontrol. com or call 813-671-3838.

Sweetwater Kayaks Opens New Location At Bull Frog Creek

Sweetwater Kayaks has had a location in St. Petersburg for the last 23 years and is very excited to now be servicing the eastern side of the bay. Its new location is at the General Store & Market at 11307 U.S. Hwy. 41 S. in Gibsonton, giving access to Bullfrog Creek. It is currently open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., for kayak, stand-up paddleboard and canoe rentals as well as instruction, sales and repairs. For more information, visit its website at www.sweetwaterkayaks.com, call 727-5704844 or follow it on Facebook @paddleswk or Instagram @ sweetwater.kayaks.

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SIXTH ANNUAL HALLE GRACE TOY DRIVE WILL DONATE TOYS TO LOCAL HOSPITALS

Halle Grace Heilman’s sister, Neeley, bringing toys from the toy drive to young children in the hospital.

The Halle Grace Foundation is hosting its sixth annual Halle Grace Foundation Toy Drive until May 30 to celebrate Halle Grace Heilman’s 22nd birthday. Halle passed away in July of 2015 after suffering from a rare chromosome deletion, but, following her death, her family established a foundation in her name to keep her memory alive and celebrate her life.

“It makes her birthday something we still celebrate every year. We know that other kids are getting presents on her birthday, so that makes us happy,” said Jillian Heilman, mother of Halle and founder of the nonprofit organization.

The toy drive is its way of giving back to their community and supporting young children like Halle who are in the hospital. The toys suited for patients up to 18 years old will be donated on Halle’s birthday on Thursday, June 2 to Tampa General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and other hospitals in the area.

“One of the things that brought her a ton of joy, especially when she was a little kid, was when the toy cart came by, and it would come by every day of the week, and there would be a new toy she could pick out,” said Jillian. “It would just brighten her day no matter what her treatments were or if she was going to surgery.”

Last year, the toy drive collected over 2,100 toys and donated to five locations, and the foundation hopes to surpass that number this year. The drive donated 300 toys in its inaugural year in 2016 and has grown exponentially since. The Halle Grace Foundation has worked with other schools and organizations to ofer service hours to student volunteers that help collect toys

and advertise the collection.

Halle battled for 15 years against the illness, taking joy in proving the doctors who limited her wrong. She learned to dance, developed a love for fine cuisine despite being on a feeding tube for years and even ran a 5K at 7 years old.

To donate, drop toys of at 2928 Chelsea Woods Dr. in Valrico, Melissa Snively’s State Farm ofce in Lithia, the Florida Hawks FC soccer fields in the FishHawk Sports Complex or Bloomingdale High School.

To donate on Venmo or for information, contact jillianheilman@gmail.com. For information on Halle’s story, visit thehallegracefoundation.org.

By Lily Belcher

Each year, toys are donated to local hospitals supporting pediatric patients.