Riverview/Apollo Beach
7
May 2022
Volume 20, Issue 5
Read About A Local Family’s Experience On Page 17
Ph: 813-657-2418
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
2022 TASTE OF GRCC ANNUAL EVENT ORGANIZED BY GREATER RIVERVIEW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE By Kate Quesada
The Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) is rolling out the 2022 Taste of GRCC event this month with incentives for residents to try local restaurants.
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
By Linda Chion Milestone moments are coming up for both the Hillsborough County School District’s newest school and one of its most endearing and beloved longtime educators, Catherine ‘Missy’ Lennard, who plays a key role as principal in both instances. School board members at their April 5 meeting approved a mascot for the newly opening Dorothy C. York Innovation Academy after incoming students cast their votes. Its school colors are deep red, navy blue and silver, and York’s students will be known as the ‘Admirals.’ “I’m excited they chose Admirals because there’s a large military population in the area,” Lennard said, “and it reflects the nautical aspect of being in Apollo Beach.” A school of choice in the Waterset by Newland community, York is built to accommodate 1,600 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, but it will not have an eighth grade class in its first year. The school is at 6440 Tideline Dr. in Apollo Beach. Lennard is the inaugural principal as well for Dick Stowers Elementary School, which debuted in 2009 in Newland’s FishHawk Ranch community in Lithia. She was set to be at the school on May 7 for the fifth grade clap-out, which by tradition welcomes back in their caps and gowns graduating high school seniors who once attended Stowers. The clap-out on the last day of school, Friday, May 27, is especially poignant this year, Lennard said, as “this year’s graduating class of high school seniors are our inaugural kindergartners, so we’ve had the chance to see a complete graduating class of Stowers Cowboys come full circle.” Until her replacement is named, Lennard
Principal Catherine ‘Missy’ Lennard wearing a hard hat during construction in April at Dorothy C. York Innovation Academy in Apollo Beach, a school of choice set to open in August.. Photo courtesy of Linda Chion.
is running both schools as principal and will be doing so through the end of the school year, according to school spokesperson Tanya Arja. As for York, Lennard’s tasks include staying abreast of construction and furnishing details, meeting with parents and hiring teachers and staff. York is a school of choice, which means families from throughout Hillsborough can apply for their children to attend. The second choice application period ended in April. A third round will be held in the summer to fill any remaining seats. For choice and York Innovation Academy updates, visit Hillsborough County Public Schools at www.hillsboroughschools. org and search accordingly.
IN THIS ISSUE: FOOD PANTRY.........................................PG 3 RIVERVIEW WOMAN’S CLUB .....PG 15 EYE ON BUSINESS...................PGS 25-26 SPORTS CONNECTION.....................PG 46
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Are you looking for an excuse to try some of the delicious restaurants in the SouthShore area? This month the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) is rolling out the 2022 Taste of GRCC event. From Wednesday, May 25 through Thursday, June 30, community members are encouraged to support GRCC restaurants through dining in, getting takeout or ordering delivery, and they can get rewarded for doing so. “In this initiative, our goal is to increase community exposure and social media engagement for our local food and beverage establishments,” said Teri Perkins, the chamber’s administrative services manager. According to Perkins, community members can win a wide range of fantastic prizes by simply visiting the restaurants on the list provided and posting about it in the Taste of GRCC Facebook group. The full list of restaurants is available on the Facebook page and includes more than 60 delicious options for all palettes. “In this event, participants are supporting local, having fun, getting out of their comfort zone to try new restaurants and
winning prizes,” said Perkins. For the chance to win one of the dozens of prizes with a minimum value of $25, community members can post a picture of their purchase on the Taste or GRCC Facebook group page and tag the selected restaurants. The GRCC has an email available for submissions (taste@ riverviewcham ber.com) for those who do not have a Facebook account. Each submission will receive one entry into a prize drawing. There is no limit to the number of entries. “We encourage community members to invite their friends, family and colleagues to participate in the 2022 Taste of GRCC and use our hashtag, #tasteofgrcc,” said Perkins. “Participants can win prizes on Win It Wednesdays; the other prize winners will be posted on the Taste of GRCC Group in July.” Further details can be found on www. facebook.com/groups/tasteofgrcc2022 or www.riverviewchamber.com. Participating food and beverage establishments must be Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce investors. If you own a food and beverage establishment and you wish to become a part of the Taste of GRCC, please contact Debbie Kirkland, GRCC director of investor relations, at debbie@riverviewchamber.com or 813234-5944.
DOROTHY C. YORK INNOVATION ACADEMY ANNOUNCES MASCOT
Oliver Estates & Specially Fit Farm provides animal therapy for individuals with disabilities, prevocational training, job opportunities, education, goat yoga, fitness classes and an adult day training program with daily activities for individuals with developmental disabilities. The land currently has llamas, goats, mini pigs and mini donkeys. Mark Oliver plans on adding more farm animals and is in the process of building a community garden as well. Read full article on page 11.
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