42 minute read
HOPE FOR HER
HOPE FOR HER IS THERE WHEN WOMEN ARE IN CRISIS
By Kathy L. Collins
Hope for Her is a local nonprofit that provides a safe place for women who have experienced crisis and trauma to find the strength, skills and support they need to rebuild their lives. The organization was founded in September 2003 by Cheryl Hickman, the executive director. Hickman said, “Hope for Her is based on my own experience of being a single parent and my life hitting rock bottom.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope for Her was completely shut down from March 2020 to June 2020. However, thanks to a supportive community, Hope for Her was able to resume services and more in a brand-new building. Hickman explained, “We had been in a 1,500-square-foot modular building for the last 15 years. Bay Life Church provided it to us as an in-kind donation. We started building a new facility three years ago. Construction was completed on June 22, 2020. We were able to move into our expanded facility and start ofering services to the community.”
Hope for Her gets busy over the summer months. Hickman said, “At our peek during the summer, we typically receive about 400 calls for services. In our old building, we only had the capacity to serve 100 families a month. We were turning away three out of every four
families during the busy summers. We built a new 10,000-squarefoot facility where we can accommodate 400 families a month, ofer classes and provide a computer lab for women in need of GED, ESOL and Microsoft training.” The new building was made possible Hope for Her is a local nonproft that helps women thanks to the memin need. From housing and childcare to employ- bership and leadment, Hope for Her helps women who are experiencing trauma or crisis fnd the strength they need. ership of Bay Life Church as well as the broader community. The new building was dedicated on June 25. The community was invited to attend. Hickman said, “We are expanding into classes starting in September. We will ofer Wellness Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Each week we will ofer a diferent class. One week will be nutrition, then Zumba, then emotional health and then yoga. On months with five Wednesdays, we will ofer a self-care class.” Hope for Her is in need of both donations and volunteers. In you can, please consider giving gas cards, bedding, small appliances, housewares, clothing, towels, shoes and new underwear, including bras. If you would like to volunteer, please stop by its location at 140 Yarbrough Rd. in Brandon and fill out an application. If you are in need of help, please call 3093357. For more information, please visit www.hopeforherfl.org.
ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL-SOUTH NAMED AMONG NATION’S TOP 100 HOSPITALS
Staf Report
The group of five St. Joseph’s Hospitals, including St. Joseph’s Hospital-South in Riverview, was named among the nation’s top 100 hospitals by Fortune/IBM Watson Health®.
This is the fourth consecutive year that St. Joseph’s Hospitals has earned the honor and the fifth time overall. The four other hospitals included in the recognition with St. Joseph’s Hospital-South are St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital—all in Tampa— and St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz.
Fortune/IBM Watson Health identifies the top hospitals from a rigorous evaluation of 2,675 short-term, acute care, nonfederal hospitals in the U.S. The annual list recognizes excellence in clinical outcomes, operational efciency, patient experience and financial health. IBM Watson Health established the list to help identify the best practices that may help other health care organizations achieve consistent, balanced and sustainable high performance.
“This recognition is great news and substantial evidence of the quality care and exemplary patient experience that we are
providing to this region of Southern Hillsborough and Northern Manatee Counties,” said Phil Minden, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South president. “I thank our staf and congratulate our team and medical staf,” he said. “All have contributed to this achievement. We did this together. 2021 has been exciting for us as we finished our expansion St. Joseph’s Hospital-South in Riverview was recently named and final project, the new NICU. among the nation’s top 100 hospitals by Fortune/IBM These additions help us to meet Watson Health®. the needs of our growing area and show the commitment BayCare has made. It’s an honor to make this prestigious list and significant that this is the fourth consecutive year, a true mark of consistent excellence.” The hospitals included on the Fortune/ IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals list had better results on key clinical and operational performance indicators compared to similar hospitals, according to IBM Watson Health. These include survival rates, patient complications, health care-associated infections, 30-day mortality and 30-day hospital-wide readmission rates, length of stay, emergency department analysis and ratings from patients. St. Joseph’s Hospital- South is located at 6901 Simmons Loop, Riverview. For more informaiton, visit www.baycare.org or call 302-8000. For more information on the Fortune/IBM Watson Health Top 100 hospitals list, visit http://www.100tophospitals.com/. Organizations do not apply or pay for this honor or pay to promote their award. Award-winning hospitals and health systems serve as a model of excellence for the industry.
OPERATION LOTUS RAISES MONEY FOR FAMILY OF RIP CURRENT VICTIMS
By Lily Belcher
Melanie Brockmeier-Jordy is raising money to help the family of Janosh and Daniel Purackal (pictured above).
Following the recent tragedy in Apollo Beach that took three lives, Melanie Brockmeier-Jordy and her nonprofit organization, Operation Lotus, are working to raise money for the family of father and husband Janosh Purackal and 3-year-old son Daniel Purackal.
Janosh and Daniel were swimming in Apollo Beach before they were swept away by a rip current. Friends believe that Janosh was trying to save his son that night.
“I’ve never seen him without his son. If the son is around, he’s on the shoulder or just having an eye on his son,” said the Purackals’ friend, Sindhu Nadarajan. “He was a very, very responsible father and a very loving husband.”
Following their death, the executive director of the SouthShore Chamber of Commerce, Melanie Davis, reached out to Operation Lotus, a nonprofit organization that helps families through traumatic, life-changing events.
“As a widow myself, I cannot even imagine the pain the wife/mother feels,” said Brockmeier-Jordy, founder and owner of Operation Lotus. “When I started Operation Lotus, it was my vow to help as many families as I could. When I heard about this story, my heart broke and I hoped for a way to help this family.”
Brockmeier-Jordy asks that donations be made to Operation Lotus through PayPal (operationlotusfl@gmail.com), Venmo (@operationlotus) or checks (P.O. Box 3056, Riverview, FL 33569).
Donations should be flagged as ‘Apollo Beach
Family’.
“When I spoke with the family, I assured them that we would help however we could and 100 percent of money raised would go directly to them,” said Brockmeier-Jordy. “The wife/mother is having the expenses of two funerals and has lost the main income now for her family. They need some financial help to get through this devastating time.”
In addition to Operation Lotus’ fundraiser for the family of the father and son, there is also a GoFundMe for the Apollo Beach hero Kristof Murray, who died trying to save the Purackals.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) urges beachgoers to be careful and cognizant of rip currents, especially on beaches without lifeguards. Rip currents occur in any weather, not just bad, and are often stronger during low tide. Before going into the ocean, stand on the beach and look for flat spots in the line of breaking waves—these are rip currents. If caught in a rip current, swimmers should swim parallel to the shore until the rip current subsides.
CRYPTO AND COFFEE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT CRYPTOCURRENCY
By Lily Belcher
Cryptocurrency has been on the rise for years and has continued to fill headlines as people trade and invest in the new age of digital currency. The growing popularity of cryptocurrency made its way to the conversations of customers at Chill Cawfee, a locally owned cofee shop in Riverview that specializes in CBD cofee.
“We were noticing many of our customers talking about how they invest and saw the opportunity to be able to share knowledge over a cup of cofee,” said Chill Cawfee Marketing and Brand Advisor Thomas Quigley.
In response to their customers’ interest, Chill Cawfee is hosting Crypto and Cofee, a free mentorship over the summer for customers who are looking to learn more about the cryptocurrency market, every Saturday until August 28 from 2-5 p.m.
“[We chose to meet at Chill Cawfee because] it seemed like the perfect place for open-minded discussion,” said Quigley.
The first half-hour of each meeting is an introduction on how to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrency by presenting platform options available to new cryptocurrency traders. Until 3:30 p.m., Alex Gill, who has been actively trading cryptocurren-
cy for 18 months, explains market trends and shares the trading techniques he has learned through his company, Insomniac Investments Co. The rest of the event will be open to questions, discussions, and live trading. Quigley encourages new traders to familiarize themselves with the basics and terminology of cryptocurrency, but their sessions are amateur-friendly. While attending a session, Customers are welcome to enjoy a cup of cofee alongside a which usually session on how to buy, trade and sell cryptocurrency. sees 10-20 participants each week, guests are also encouraged to enjoy a cup of CBD cofee. Chill Cawfee (Cannabinoids and Wellness for Every Experience) opened in 2019 and ofers teas, kombucha and cofee from a local roaster. Part of Chill Cawfee’s business model is ensuring direct relationships with the manufacturers and farms to provide good quality and prices for their customers. In addition to its in-house drink services, Chill Cawfee provides education on the benefits of CBD and a social environment for like-minded individuals. For more information on Crypto and Cofee, contact Quigley at tomcquigley@ gmail.com or visit Chill Cawfee at 10526 Lake St. Charles Blvd. in Riverview to attend.
RIVERVIEW CLUB STUDENTS PLAN SUMMER CANOE TRIPS
By Annabelle Caraway
Alexandra Kosof, a rising senior at Riverview High School and incoming president of its Environmental Club, has been organizing canoeing trips in the Valrico area. Her passion for protecting and learning about the environment led her to this idea.
Kosof joined Environmental Club in her freshman year and rejoined this past school year when the club was restarted. So far, she has participated in two successful trips and plans to have more throughout the duration of summer break.
Outside of club activities, Kosof has been canoeing multiple times with friends and family and tries to be out in nature as often as possible.
“Canoeing allows our club to have bonding with members and helps us to familiar-
ize ourselves with the nature around us. You can’t appreciate it if you haven’t been around it,” said Kosof. Club sponsor and AP Environmental Science Teacher Michael Pettyjohn further elaborated on the efects the canoeing trips bring. “A lot of students have little experience interacting with nature. It’s those interactions that grow their genuine love for wildlife and the environment that play a vital role in them wanting to protect it. Also, it lets us evaluate Riverview High School Environmental Club students organize the status of the river, the student trips during the summer months. trash situation, invasive plants and animals and the quality of water. This is the foundation of how we can dedicate volunteer hours in cleaning it up,” said Pettyjohn. In addition to the canoeing trips, Kosof plans to create a miniature, native Florida ecosystem during her term as president. She would like to set up an aquarium with a drip irrigation system that includes native plants and animals. To create more services throughout the upcoming school year, the club will look for them in nature preserves in addition to removing invasive species. Kosof and the Environmental Club are also looking for local sponsors to help them expand the club and take their ideas to a greater scale. If interested, please contact Kosof at 7342457.
THREE SON FARMS IN DOVER OFFERS FLOWER U-PICK
By Annabelle Caraway
School’s out and summer is at its peak. For those seeking places to check out this summer, Three Son Farms is the perfect place to visit for socially distanced fun with friends and family.
After its annual spring harvest, this family-run strawberry farm decided to grow fields of flowers. This is its first year doing a U-pick field, where people can enjoy the afternoon picking beautiful sunflowers and colorful zinnias.
This farm is cash only, with one sunflower or four zinnias for $1 each.
“The flowers are good for the soil. They also give families something to do after school. Next year, we hope to change up colors and add diferent types of flowers to the mix. Also, after the summer, we will continue having sunflowers throughout the fall,” said Gerald Williams, one of the owners of Three Son Farms.
Three Son Farms is heavily family-oriented, with sons helping with labor and their mom running the stand. The setup is quick and easy. When you arrive at the farm, you receive a pair of shears and a bucket to carry the picked flowers. Once you’re into the fields, its like an adventure— making your own paths and looking out for the perfect flowers to take home.
Along with flower picking, there is a stand where people can buy vegetables and other assorted items produced by the farm.
Not only is picking flowers enjoyable, but there are multiple photo opportunities to capture the overall beauty and experience. One of its most unique aspects is the serenity along with it being of the beaten path. Three Son Farms can be found at 3906 McIntosh Rd. in Dover. Before visiting, check out its Facebook page @ ThreeSonFarms for hour specifics.
Starting out with the sunfower feld.
A boy out with his family enjoying the colorful fowers.
NEW GAME OVER ESCAPE ROOM OFFERS NEW THEMES
By Kate Quesada
Are you looking for a diferent way to bond with your family, friends or coworkers? Does the idea of trying to escape from a locked room with a clock counting down every second sound like fun? Then you need to check out Game Over Escape Rooms, located on Causeway Blvd., which opened earlier this year.
Owned by the Stone family, Jefrey, Robin and Blake, who have lived in the area since 1990, Game Over Escape Rooms’ Tampa location ofers four different rooms themed to every last detail with puzzles and electronics to enhance the experience.
According to Jefery, the four rooms, Lost City of Atlantis, Money Heist, Philosopher Stone and Haunted Mansion, are showrooms for Game Over Escape Rooms North America.
“The rooms have been chosen because they are so diferent from each other. One is creepy, one is magical, one is fantasy and the last is adventurous,” he said. “Lost City of Atlantis is a Poseidon-themed room with some really cool, first-ever-in-an-escape water features.”
The Stone family are no strangers to escape rooms. After founding 13 businesses in the Brandon area, from computer manufacturing to physical rehab, open MRI and
ambulatory surgery center, Jefrey teamed up with his wife, Robin, a speech therapist by trade, and son, Blake, who has a college degree in finance, to design and hand-build Legends Escape Room in Brandon. The family decided last year to Jefrey and Blake Stone, owners of Game Over Escape Rooms. grow their business by joining with Game Over Escape Rooms, the world’s largest escape room company. “This is the 87th location for Game Over Escape Rooms in 15 countries,” said Jefrey. “The Rome, Italy location has 27 rooms and Game Over in Slovenia has 10 rooms.” Game Over has more than 360 rooms built
Team Osprey escaped the new and running worldwide. Philosopher’s Stone Room at Game Over Rooms are often rentEscape Rooms. ed out for birthday parties and team building events for all ages as solving the puzzles can aid in development of communication, problem-solving and leadership qualities. Interested gamers are invited to check out more about Game Over online at https://tampa.escapegameover.us. The website ofers information about each room to help residents decide which one they want to try first and reservations can be made online. For more information, call 372-0040. Game Over is located at 10266 Causeway Blvd. in Tampa.
SMILELYNN PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY GIVES FREE BOOKS TO LOCAL KINDERGARTENERS
By Amy Schechter
Health and wellness is about a child’s mind and body, and Dr. Casey Lynn with SmileLYNN Pediatric Dentistry has made it his mission to ensure the children in his community are set on the right path. For that reason, he partnered with Apollo Beach Elementary and Doby Elementary to provide books from the school book fair to every kindergarten student.
Before COVID-19, Dr. Lynn kept many books in his ofce for children to read, and he often would allow parents to take them home as children became attached. When he had to remove the books from his ofce, he realized many families may lose access to literature when libraries closed and schools went virtual. Just as dentistry is about preventative care and maintenance from a young age, early literacy is often a marker of a student’s success later in life. For that reason, he created the SmileLYNN Reader’s Program to ensure students can begin to build home
libraries. A native of Brandon, Dr. Lynn always wanted to come back and serve the community in which he grew up. “The community has really embraced our ofce, and I want to help wherever I can,” he said. Plus, Dr. Lynn made sure to buy books from the schools’ book fairs to ensure a percentage of what he spent would go back to each Te Lynn family: Casey and his wife, Megan, with their children, Annabelle, Maverick and Sawyer. elementary school. “I want every kid to be able to have books and develop a love of reading,” he said. He hopes to expand to other local elementary schools in the future. Dr. Lynn’s practice is an extension of his love for kids and his passion for health. He designed his ofce to feel like a home, so children associate going to the dentist with positive experiences. His gentle approach helps children of all ages feel comfortable during cleanings and procedures. Additionally, he has options in place for comfort whether your child needs a more extensive procedure or may have special needs which make dental care challenging. He wants to give all families the tools they need to have good oral hygiene across a lifetime. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.smilelynndental. com or call 296-6018. SmileLYNN Pediatric Dentistry is located at 122 Harbor Village Ln. in Apollo Beach.
PEPIN ACADEMIES NAMES NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Staf Report
Pepin Academies recently announced it has named veteran educator Monika Perez as its chief operating ofcer (COO) to oversee its three campuses in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties that serve students with learning and learning-related disabilities.
In this role, Perez will oversee internal operations across all Pepin Academies campuses, including the Riverview location, and implement program and facility expansions.
Perez has served Pepin Academies for the past 17 years. She began her career with the schools as director of Pepin Academy High School, then a small ninth12th grade charter school, in 2004. Since starting, in her roles as assistant principal and principal, she has been integral to the growth of the schools, which now serve more than 1,000 students across the two counties from third-12th grade as well as a transition program for students up to age 22.
“Through the years, Pepin Academies has become a second home to me,” said Perez. “My love for this school and what it stands for now drives me to help others find their ‘home’ in our therapeutic educational environment. As COO, I now have the chance to help unify our campuses and carry this vision further.”
The newly created position comes as part of Pepin Academies’ long-term development plan. It recently opened a new campus in New Port Richey and is in the process of remodeling its Riverview campus with phase one of the expansion set to be completed in July. “When it came time to choose a COO for Pepin Academies recently announced it has Pepin Academies, we named veteran educator Monika Perez as its were very fortunate to chief operating ofcer. have one of the most qualified candidates right under our own roof,” said Jef Skowronek, MST, Ph.D., executive director of Pepin Academies. “As Pepin Academies looks to unify its eforts, grow and expand, I’m confident that having Monika in this role will ensure those families and students that need us most will be well-served by our therapeutic educational environment.” Perez received a Bachelor of Science in communication disorders from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Education in educational leadership from the University of South Florida. In addition to her roles at Pepin Academies, she has also served on numerous charter school application review committees to advance educational choice in the community. Her service to Pepin Academies and the community earned her Pepin Academies’ Peregrine Falcon Outstanding Employee award in 2017. For more information about Pepin Academies, visit pepinacademies.com.
LOCAL ADULT MARCHING BAND GIVES ADULTS THE CHANCE TO MARCH AGAIN
By Ariana Pedraza
Have you ever marched in a band? Maybe in high school or in college? Do you miss it? Bill Findeison, a local band director, started the Second Time Arounders Marching Band and Auxiliary because he did too. If you have ever marched in a high school or college band and have dreamed of doing it one more time, this is the band for you.
Findeison started the band of the question, “What happens to all the people who have marched in band?” After they graduate, they do not get to march again. He decided to give ex-band members another opportunity to be involved in a band again. He advertised the band in a newspaper for a few weeks with the date of the first re-
hearsal and 75 people showed up. They borrowed instruments when they could and that year they played in the St. Petersburg Festival of the States parade, and after that quickly organized a second season. About 40 years later, the band has grown up to over 400 people. Candace Rotolo, who was in color guard in high school and is now a third-year member of the rifle line and public relations coordinator in the band, expressed, “I’d never thought I could march again 30 years later, but I got to and I have been so happy to be able to have that shared experience again. It was so wonderful to share the experience with so many people again.” The Second Time Arounders have found themselves among people from all walks of life joined by the same love for the music and marching as well as the comradery that comes with it. The band includes people from all around the Tampa Bay area, as far out as Orlando, and people that travel and stay here in the winter from out of Te Second Time Arounders Marching Band and Auxiliary is state. looking for members. The band is not only about the actual music, but about the people as well, Findeison explained, saying, “Half of the band is performance, music, twirling, etc., but the rest is the social lives. People find friends and meet. I got married from the band.” The band has participated in many parades around the country, including the Macy’s parade. The group once visited Dublin, Ireland as well. In fact, they are planning on returning there this upcoming season. If you are interested, visit secondtimearounders.org for the schedule, rehearsal dates, to meet the band and to ask questions.
By Brian Bokor
The past 15 months have been quite the ride for Jillian and K.J. Lynch, owners of Leaven Brewing, located at 11238 Boyette Rd. in Riverview. Not only did they have to scramble throughout 2020 to save their growing business, they also welcomed their first child, Winter Rae, in May. One of the ways the Lynchs were able to adapt also opens an interesting conversation for Florida brewers about locally grown hops.
“It’s so nice to get back to beer and being able to focus on the ingredients behind beer,” said Jillian. “It’s what makes craft ‘craft.’ We just received 10 pounds of locally grown dried Cascade hops to be used in an upcoming release.”
The two have experienced far more than expected since opening their neighborhood brewery over three years ago. The first two years saw steady growth driven by exceptional word-of-mouth reviews from around the community, then came March 2020 when the couple was forced to close the tap room and ofer to-go only service due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Although distribution plans were in Leaven’s future, the immediacy of the situation threw uncertainty and untimely cost into how best to accomplish this and other goals for the brewery. Starting with crowlers, then bottle releases and eventually settling on six-packs, the staf worked continuously towards finding the best way to keep their business moving forward and at the same time keep customers coming back.
Legislative changes required a food service license, so again the couple was forced into making a costly decision by having to acquire their own food license to remain open. Fortunately, adding a kitchen was also in the couple’s long-range plans with a new kitchen concept for the brewery now being discussed.
“We had to reach into savings and spend when money wasn’t coming in,” said K.J. “Continuing to invest at a time when many businesses were closing their doors was not comfortable.”
Thanks to ongoing support from the local community (afectionately named ‘The Leaven Fam’), the brewery prevailed over all setbacks and came through stronger than before.
“We were able to keep every employee on staf throughout the pandemic and did not lose any of our 144 Mug Club members,” said Jillian.
As for those locally grown hops, in the mid-2010s, the University of Florida began experimenting with hops at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Wimauma based on skyrocketing demand of the product thanks to the explosion of small craft breweries. Florida brewers traditionally purchase hops from outside the state with the majority coming from Washington, Oregon and Idaho where the climate is ideal mainly due to the length of light received during the growing season. Shipping fresh hops, hop pellets and hop oil to Florida is expensive and can take days, with the harvest season limited to late summer and early fall. With Tampa Bay area’s nearly 80 breweries and approximately 300 statewide, the need for local sustainable hops in Florida was undeniable.
To solve the problem of not enough sun, research added LED lights over the crops in order to extend daylight until 11 p.m. during the growing seasons. Additionally, due to relatively warm winters, Florida farmers enjoy two harvests per season compared to only one from states in the northwest.
The plants, which grow upward similar to vines, have been studied using two diferent types of trellis, straight versus ‘V’-shaped, as well as three diferent heights in order to ascertain which methRiverview brewers Jillian and K.J. Lynch of Leaven Brewing are planning to use locally grown hops in an upcoming release. od yields maximum results. Florida farmers are interested in the research, but the ability to grow the plant is not the only challenge. Overall, crop quality is what will be needed to garner acceptance of locally grown hops and ultimately test the crop’s commercial viability for both farmers and brewers. This is where Leaven as well as several other local breweries get involved with the program. Brewers are invited to the farm and asked to rate the hops based on aroma strength and quality as well as oil and resin production. To date, the Cascade variety has shown the best results of the 14 planted, which is fortunate as this is a popular choice of many brewers with Leaven looking forward to using their 10-pound allotment in an upcoming release. UF has taken the lead on this and other nontraditional crops being grown at GCREC in order to enable local farmers to sustain and profit from high-value products such as hops, artichokes, pomegranates and blackberries. Visit UF’s Facebook page @UFHortLab or YouTube channel (UF Horticultural Crop Physiology Lab), where videos of the projects headed by Professor Zhanao Deng and Assistant Professor Shinsuke Agehara can be viewed. Visit www.leavenbrewing.com for more information on Leaven Brewing.
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TECO CONDUCTS ANNUAL TRANSMISSION LINE INSPECTION
By Lily Belcher
Neighbors who noticed low-flying helicopters last month did not need to be concerned. On June 15, Tampa Electric Company (TECO) began the annual inspection of Tampa Electric transmission lines as part of an ongoing inspection of the company’s transmission equipment. The aerial survey requires a single low-flying helicopter to fly within the view of urban and rural roads and neighborhoods, but citizens should not be alarmed.
“The inspections are part of the company’s ongoing maintenance of transmission equipment to provide the highest level of reliability,” said a press release from TECO.
The survey is conducted by OneSpan Powerline Services of Birmingham, Alabama, which was hired by TECO to ensure the validity of the inspections. Homeowners can expect a helicopter to fly 30 to 300 feet above the lines while workers use a mix of infrared technology and traditional cameras to inspect TECO’s 1,300-mile system of high-voltage transmission lines.
“They look for ‘hot spots’ along the lines, which can indicate a problem with a line or equipment,” said Tampa Electric Media Spokesperson Cherie Jacobs. “If they find
a hot spot, they inspect further and analyze the issue and report it to us to resolve.” The inspections took place from 8 a.m. until sundown each day throughout June, when the weather permitted. Local law enforcement was notified and was aware of the helicopter patrolling the area. “These inspections allow us to proactively replace equipment before it fails, which helps to maintain reliability. We like to do these inspections before the peak of A OneSpan helicopter will be used to survey TECO’s storm season,” said 1,300-mile system of high-voltage transmission lines. Jacobs. This inspection was part of TECO’s 10-year storm plan, which aims to reduce outage times for customers after extreme weather events. The plan invests as much as $150 million a year to trimming trees, converting overhead lines to underground lines and surveying company transmission equipment. This helicopter survey is part of the annual budget and comes at no extra cost to customers. As a result of its Storm Protection Plan and mission to improve reliability, TECO has reduced momentary power outages and strengthened wooden poles to prevent them from falling down or breaking in strong winds. For more information, visit tecoenergy. com or contact Jacobs at cljacobs@tecoenergy.com.
LITHIA SPRINGS REOPENS SWIMMING AREA
By Amy Schechter
The long wait is over. After more than a year, Lithia Springs Conservation Park has reopened the ever popular natural swimming area. In the aftermath of COVID-19, the park’s staff members are acutely aware of the need for public safety. Therefore, the reopening includes capacity limits, social distancing and separate swimming slots.
Park Manager Mike Simons is very excited for guests to experience the refreshing hideaway, saying, “We’re the only natural spring in Hillsborough County. We have 72-degree water that you don’t have to drive to the beach for. It’s in your backyard, and if you have never experienced it, it’s simply gorgeous.” He noted that people come from all over Hillsborough as well as Polk County to cool off and escape the summer sun.
Swimming times are currently divided into two four-hour swimming time limits, with a maximum capacity of 200 swimmers per time slot. The first
opening is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the second slot is open from 2 to 6 p.m. The hour in between allows the staff to sanitize the area in preparation for more guests. In addition to the spring-fed swimming area, the park includes diverse plant communities, Lithia Springs Conservation Park is now open again for swimming. cypress swamps, hardwood hammocks, picnic tables, hiking trails and more than 40 campsites. All campsites have at least 30 amp RV hookups with numerous having 50 amp hookups. Most campsites are 40-80 feet in length and can accommodate a variety of setups. It’s the perfect place for you and your family to explore Florida’s natural wonders. Plus, camping sites are available for nonprofit 501(c) youth groups, which offer a more rugged camping experience. Lithia Springs Conservation Park is located along the Alafia River at 3932 Lithia Springs Rd. in Lithia. They are open in spring and summer from 8 a.m. -7 p.m. There is a $2 entry fee per vehicle to enter the park and guests must pay an additional $2 per person 1 year of age and older for wristbands to enter the swimming area. For more information on the park and camping fees, visit http://www.hillsboroughcounty. org/en/locations/lithia-springs-park or call 744-5572.
Karla Marie Carolan, J.D.
As always, we are here for any legal support you may need and wish everyone good health.
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VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP CONNECTS CHILDREN TO WILDLIFE FROM HOME
Staf Report
For those not quite ready for in-person summer camp and those needing an alternative to fill a gap in summer experiences, there is an exciting virtual ofering this summer, and it’s open to families and camp organizations. Manatee Lagoon, Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium have partnered to offer the Wild About Wildlife Virtual Summer Camp program for children 6 to 9 years of age. The weekly virtual summer camp sessions will feature half-day morning schedules filled with animal observations, experiments, games, crafts and educational lessons hosted by educators from each organization. In addition to daily live lessons, the camp will include a variety of prerecorded and supplemental at-home activities and printables.
“We are thrilled to ofer the community this unique, virtual camp experience once again,” said Sarah Marmion, manager of Manatee Lagoon. “Manatee Lagoon is part of Florida Power & Light Company’s commitment to make our communities a better place to live and raise a family and be responsible stewards of the environment. Our hope is that this virtual program provides families
and camp organizations a flexible and fun way to keep curious minds engaged and connected to the environment throughout the summer months.” The virtual summer camp is free for families and individuals with a voluntary Manatee Lagoon, Loggerhead Marinelife Center donation option (LMC) and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium to support the have partnered to ofer the Wild About Wildlife environmental Virtual Summer Camp program for children 6 to 9 and educational years of age. missions of the organizations that helped make this program possible. New this year, summer camp organizations can also register to access the camp’s content for $50 per week for login access of one device. “We are incredibly excited to partner with LMC and Manatee Lagoon to bring marine science education to youth,” said Aly Busse, associate vice president for education at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. “This is an exciting model that builds on Mote’s extensive, award-winning, virtual learning programs to provide highly engaging, interactive and educational experiences throughout the summer, especially to children who may not otherwise have access.” Camps run through Friday, August 6, and space is limited. To register for camp, please visit visitmanateelagoon. com/virtual-summer-camp.
SCHOOLS TO FOCUS ON ACCELERATED LEARNING IN FALL
By Superintendent Addison Davis
This is the first in a series of columns Hillsborough County Superintendent of Schools Addison Davis will be writing.
This past year, our teachers, administrators and support professionals were champions for children, providing students emotional support and targeted instruction during a historically unique time in education. Students across the nation contended with distance learning, interrupted instruction due to quarantines and mental health impacts that must not be understated.
For these reasons, our team of high-quality educators at Hillsborough County Public Schools will focus on an accelerated learning style rather than traditional remediation when returning in the fall. This proactive approach exposes children to relevant grade-level content while concurrently scaffolding the skills from previous years that students may still need to master. In other words, instead of going backward, we will teach strategically in the present.
In the past, traditional remediation may have been successful in addressing learning gaps for students over a summer break, where an educator has the time to review all concepts the student has not yet grasped. But the pandemic has changed the way we must engage students who have what we call “unfinished learning.” In this upcoming academic year, our educators will strategically utilize data to analyze each learner’s skills and tailor lessons to individual needs. What will this look like for your child? It may mean a significant focus on small group instruction coupled with targeted supports based on individualized student data. Our district will spend professional development time with teachers before the school year begins focusing on accelerated learning. Additionally, we will update curriculum guides to highlight prerequisite skills that students may require, making it a more straightforward process for teachers when they return from a much-deserved break.
This critical work will require a growth mindset from our students, teachers and caregivers to realize our success. Administrators, educators, parents and students must set high expectations to close these learning gaps while recovering mentally and socially from the efects of the pandemic.
We know COVID-19 exacerbated learning loss, but we cannot fall victim to the remediation mentality. Our students are talented, determined and resilient. Together, we will create collaborative learning opportunities that champion student achievement and accelerate Hillsborough toward a brighter future.
By Libby Hopkins
21 & Change is an all-volunteer Florida nonproft organization that believes in the value of all human lives and that all should have the opportunity to discover their full potential. Te organization recently held its Champions for Change Challenge this past May. Tis is an annual, multidimensional event that promotes inclusion and ability for the diferently abled in our community.
21 & Change is an all-volunteer Florida nonprofit organization that believes in the value of all human lives and that all should have the opportunity to discover their full potential.
The organization feels that everyone is born with the inherent right to freedom, to self-determination, to dignity and to respect. “We believe in a day when our children will be seen as ‘diferently abled’ and not disabled,” said Yani Bodor, director of advocacy and co-founder of 21 & Change. “We believe there will be a day when we end the Down syndrome ‘syndrome’ and secure the full measure of civil rights for the diferently abled. We will not rest until what we believe is achieved that champions inclusion, education and human rights for the diferently abled.”
The organization recently held its Champions for Change Challenge this past May. This is an annual, multidimensional event that promotes inclusion and ability for the diferently abled in our community.
The event brings together diferently abled children and young adults, their parents/guardians, service providers, community leaders and local businesses to witness the abilities and capabilities of those who have developmental disabilities.
The format for the event includes a series of fun, scalable, physical exercises and team-based events to demonstrate ability and build confidence in each person and team. Teams consist of both typical and diferently abled participants, each with a coach/trainer. The event concludes with trophies and medals for the participants. “The Champions for Change Challenge started as an event to promote inclusion and ability for children and young adults with developmental disabilities,” Bodor said. “We wanted to do something fun, challenging and diferent that would bring people of all abilities together and help to chip away at the stereotypes folks have about those with developmental disabilities. As the parents of two children who are developmentally disabled, we thought this was important and would be a good thing to do.”
Since the first event, the Champions for Change Challenge has proven to be an emotional event for people who attend or participate. “We’ve had volunteers say they were forever changed by what they experienced during the event with these kids and young adults,” Bodor said. “Parents have experienced a full range of emotions as they watch their children complete exercises, team events and grow in confidence about their own abilities.”
The event has grown steadily over the last three years in participation, attendance and fundraising. “We ofer sponsorships for local businesses and corporations and solicit donations from individual donors to support our nonprofit mission,” Bodor said. “We want to attract more differently abled children and young adults and their families to participate in this event. An important aspect to this event is the attendance of community leaders and our state’s representatives.” The next Champions for Change Challenge will be in the spring of 2022.
If you would like to learn more about the Riverview-based 21 & Change nonprofit, you can visit its website at www.21andchange.org or call Bodor at 910-273-7049.
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F.R.I.E.N.D.S. NEEDS HELP FINDING AFFORDABLE SPACE FOR ADULT ACTIVITY CENTER
By Debra Garcia
Every day, individuals with special needs, young or adult, search for direction and ways to improve their lives, as it can be very hard for them. This is where Down syndrome awareness group F.R.I.E.N.D.S. (Families, Respect, Inspire, Education, Networking for Down Syndrome & Special Needs) comes in, and it needs help.
Starting back in 2014, Executive Director of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Ann Foyt has done everything in her power to help the group raise funds for an activity center for adults with Down syndrome. This way they have a place to work and learn to be more independent.
It has been trying to raise money for a potential center for quite a while now. During the last football season, volunteers worked at Raymond James Stadium, and they will again for the upcoming season. Led by Jeff Green and Paul Foyt, a concession stand is run on the third floor. Adult members have worked alongside volunteers, raising money and gaining job experience, which helps them later in life.
Money is also raised by hosting farmers markets in the spring and fall and hosting fundraisers. Just recently, F.R.I.E.N.D.S. had a first annual B Street Shoot-Out at FishHawk Sporting Clays. Later this month, a Coach bag brunch and bingo event will be held. All money raised will go to the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. activity center.
F.R.I.E.N.D.S. does not just hold events for adults in need, but kids too. Thanks to its many partners, it has plenty of programs to help children as much as possible.
“We Rock the Spectrum helps us bring our Baby F.R.I.E.N.D.S. playgroup for birth to 5-year-olds. Livingstone Academy lets us host our fun adult dances and family game nights. For our After-School Finnegan Boisseau and Logan Tucker at ZooTampa for World Down Syndrome Day in March.
Specials, they visit April LaCava’s [Hold] Our Horses in Valrico. For Pinellas, we have partnered with ResCare to bring an adult dance in Clearwater,” said Foyt. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. also partners up with the Outback Bowl, Ken Brownlee of the Brownlee Group/ Keller Williams Realty, Caspers Company, American Metals Supply, A.R. Savage & Son, MaAnn Foyt at her desk helping run F.R.I.E.N.D.S. as rine Towing of Tamexecutive director. pa, the Tampa Bay Pilots Association, Ross Spano Law, Fidelity National Title, Hitchcock Law Group and Runnels Insurance, which all help raise funds and awareness for the activity center. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. needs an activity center in the Brandon area as soon as possible. “A coffee shop or tea room or ice cream shop would work well. We just need a place,” said Foyt. To volunteer at F.R.I.E.N.D.S., fill out an application at www.friendssupport.org or visit its Facebook page @ FRIENDSWESTFLORIDA for more information.
FUNTAMPA.COM SHARES TAMPA AREA’S HIDDEN GEMS WITH THE COMMUNITY
By Libby Hopkins
Riverview realtor Kerin Clarkin has an alter ego who is a total foodie and locavore. His alter ego is still named Kerin Clarkin, but instead of selling real estate, he is sharing some of the hidden gems of Tampa Bay. “I do a lot of fun things and a lot of the time it involves food,” Clarkin said. “People in Riverview know me as the realtor who does food and fun.”
Because of his reputation for food and fun, Clarkin started his Fun Tampa website. “Fun Tampa is your source for food and fun reviews from diferent places throughout the Tampa Bay area,” Clarkin said. “We only promote locally owned businesses and encourage you to let us know about the coolest places to go.”
Clarkin finds all the best places to go to eat, have fun and party, and he does it all for free. “There are so many places in Tampa and we want you to know about them all, especially the locally owned ones, because supporting local and being a community advocate is extremely important to me,” Clarkin said.
Clarkin believes we live in the best city to have fun. “When people say there is nothing to do in Tampa, I have a hard time believing them,” Clarkin said. “There are so many cool and fun things to do in Tampa and just
outside of Tampa. This is why I do what I do with Fun Tampa; I want our community to know that there are so many things to do in Tampa and a lot of these places and things are so close to them.” Clarkin loves getting suggestions from his followers about local places or restaurants they have been to so Riverview realtor Kerin Clarkin has an alter he can go and check ego who is a total foodie and locavore. them out. “I love learning more about new places or new restaurants for me to go and check out,” Clarkin said. “Most of the time, when I go to a new restaurant or place and start doing a live video, the owners are shocked to find out I’m doing this all for free. I’m not doing it to get a free meal or get into a place for free, I’m doing it so their business gets more trafc. It’s all about supporting local.” If you’d like to learn more about Fun Tampa or if you’d like to make a suggestion for Clarkin to visit, you can go to Fun Tampa’s website at www.funtampa.com or email Clarkin at info@funtampa.com.
