Bloomindale Art Students Paint Windows

BLOOMINGDALE ART STUDENTS PAINT COMPANY WINDOWS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

By Lily Belcher

The Bloomingdale High School Art Club painted festive holiday designs on the windows of the Farmers Insurance Valentino Agency on November 5 as a service project for the students.

Art teacher Pamela Reeves and seven of her students visited the company on Fishhawk Boulevard in Lithia and painted fall designs on the windows. Art club students painted pumpkins with the names of the Farmers Insurance agents, surrounded by detailed leaves, flowers and a cornucopia on the door.

“Our FishHawk ofce understands how important it is to support local businesses and encourage education so we can be successful together as a community,” said Colleen LaRosa.

LaRosa, Valentino Agency employee and mother of an art club student, approached Reeves with the idea of having Bloomingdale High School students paint the windows in October. The Valentino Agency purchased the art supplies and donated to the club before getting their windows painted by the students.

“It meant so much to me personally that the Valentino Agency could partner with the Bloomingdale High School Art Club to

show support to our local school by showcasing these talented students’ artwork with hopes that as a result it helps draw new potential customers’ eyes to our Seven Bloomingdale High School students painted colorful windows fall designs on the windows of the Farmers Insur- and draws them ance Valentino Agency. into our ofce to hear about our products that we have to ofer,” said LaRosa. The Bloomingdale Art Club has been a part of the school since it was founded, but this is Reeves’ first year as the teacher. Reeves was a student and vice president of the art club in 1990 when they had a local window painting contest. Now, she is trying to revive the program and is hoping to start a Bloomingdale window-painting contest after the new year. “Bloomingdale Art Club has been around since the start of school. I recently moved to Bloomingdale to become the art teacher, so we are trying new things,” said Reeves. The Bloomingdale Art Club is willing to paint additional windows for companies that are looking to bring some holiday cheer to their business. For more information on the Bloomingdale High School Art Club or to have company windows painted, email Reeves at pamela.reeves@hcps.net.

CIGARS ON THE BOULEVARD TO HOST PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS FOR FUNDRAISING EVENT

By Lily Belcher

Cigars on the Boulevard will host an autograph and photo session with famous wrestlers at the Apollo Beach store to raise money for the Cauliflower Alley Club on Monday, December 5 at 6 p.m. Fans can pay $20 to receive autographs and photos from all the wrestlers and all profits will be donated to the charity.

Fidel ‘The Cuban Assassin’ Sierra, Haku, B. Brian Blair, Hector Guerrero, Steve Keirn and Kahagas will attend the event, taking pictures with fans who pay the $20 fee. Some of the wrestlers will bring their championship belts for guests to pose with as well.

“It’s an association that wrestlers, boxers and stuntmen from Hollywood movies put together years ago,” said wrestling promoter Hal Jefery.

The Cauliflower Alley Club aims to support wrestlers, boxers and stuntmen who do not have the financial resources to receive medical treatment or pay of medical bills from their time in the profession.

“The money we raise goes through a private group of our leaders in the club that sipher money of to them to pay

their bills and get the medical help they need,” said Jefery. The $20 fee will allow guests to take a picture with all the wrestlers and receive an 8 x 10-inch Hector Guerrero photo of each wrestler for autograph. “We give away thousands a year to help support these retired athletes. It’s a good organization, and most people don’t know about it be-

Haku cause they are not behind the scenes with wrestling or boxing, … but it’s there, and it’s there to help others,” said Jeffery. The autograph-signing event is being presented in association with Frontier Cigars, which are available at all Florida Tobacco Depot and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits locations. Cigars on the Boulevard is a clean, upscale cigar restaurant that invites guests to drink and socialize at its Apollo Beach lounge. It has over 130 types of cigars, including traditional and local cigars. Cigars on the Boulevard is located at 1438 Apollo Beach Blvd. near Lands End Marina and is open from 3-11 p.m. every day. For more information, visit www. caulifloweralleyclub.org.

B Brian Blair Steve Keirn