CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE

WATERSET KICKS OFF FALL FOOD DRIVE EFFORTS WITH CONCERTS

Staf Report

SouthShore community Waterset by Newland has begun its annual fall tradition of collecting nonperishable food donations for a local SouthShore food pantry, the Community Cupboard, in afliation with Feeding Tampa Bay.

Waterset by Newland is owned in a joint venture partnership between North America Sekisui House, LLC (NASH) and Brookfield Residential, and is managed by Brookfield Properties. These partners share a commitment to sustainable development practices and apply these core values to the vision, planning and development of their communities. Waterset by Newland is one of more than 20 communities this partnership manages together across the U.S.

The fall donation drive has traditionally been linked to Waterset’s popular Concerts for a Cause music series, which collects food donations in lieu of admission. In 2020, the concert series was interrupted by the pandemic. However, the community still raised 10,000 meals last year through a series of no-contact food drives. This year, Waterset hopes to exceed that number.

“I am consistently blown away by the generosity of our Waterset residents and the members of the surrounding community. Before, during and now after the pandemic, they have shown their commitment to giving back to the SouthShore area and helping neighbors in need,” said Lynda McMorrow, marketing manager for Waterset by Starting on September 25, Waterset will once again Newland. host the Concerts for a Cause every Saturday, featurTo kick of the fall ing popular cover bands local to Tampa Bay. food collection this year, Waterset hosted another no-contact food drive. This food drive alone raised enough meals to feed almost 100 families—and it’s just the beginning. Starting on September 25, Waterset will once again host the Concerts for a Cause every Saturday, featuring popular cover bands local to Tampa Bay. Concerts at Waterset take place at The Lakeside at 7450 Parkshore Dr. in Apollo Beach. All concerts are open to the public, and are free to attend. Attendees are asked to bring donations for Feeding Tampa Bay in place of admission. Concertgoers should bring lawn chairs and blankets and get ready for a great evening of music and fun for the whole family. For more information, visit www.watersetfl. com/concert.

LOCAL ATHLETES WIN BIG AT MOVE UNITED JUNIOR NATIONALS TOURNAMENT

By Michelle Caceres

Riverview resident Emanuel Martinez-Mulero was one of six local competitors who took home a medal at this year’s Move United Junior Nationals tournament.

The first time Riverview resident Emanuel Martinez-Mulero attempted the sport of archery, he quit after the first day because it caused finger pain from drawing the bow. He was 6 years old at the time.

Luckily, he isn’t a quitter and gave it another go, because now, at 14, he won a silver medal at this year’s Move United Junior Nationals in Denver, Colorado. Martinez-Mulero was recognized for his skill with a compound bow in the U15 age bracket. The Move United Junior Nationals, in its 37th year, is North America’s oldest and largest continually held competitive sports event for athletes with disabilities, and contested sports include archery, para-triathlon, para-powerlifting, shooting, swimming and track and field events.

“I encouraged Emanuel to try archery again, and I’m glad I did,” said mom Maria Mulero.

Emanuel, an eighth-grade student who attends Florida Virtual School, owns his own bow and said he now uses a finger release to help him grip the bowstring. He practices three times a week to hone his skills.

“I was really happy that I won a medal in my first big competition,” he said.

Kira Stevens also won big at the event. She won 12 gold medals (six in track and field and six in swimming). She doesn’t let her cerebral palsy slow her down, and she dreams of making the 2024 Paralympic team. “I’m going to be working really hard to make my dream a reality,” Stevens said.

In total, six athletes from Hillsborough County took home 28 gold, seven silver and two bronze medals while setting five national records. Other athletes were J.T. Gerstner (track and field, age 11), Dani Kanas (track and field, age 16), Logan Krepop (track and field, age 19), Stevens (swimming and track and field, age 17) and Momo Sutton (swimming and track and field, age 14). Krepop was also honored with the Spirit of Excellence award for exemplifying sportsmanship, leadership and athletic achievement.

All six athletes participate in Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation’s adaptive sports, a signature program that provides year-round sports and recreation to promote healthy lifestyles and recreational and competitive sports opportunities.

For more information about Hillsborough County adaptive sports, visit https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/ en/residents/recreation-and-culture/ sports-and-athletics/hc-adaptive-sports or call 744-5307. For more information about the Move United Junior Nationals, visit www.moveunitedsports.org.

PEPIN ACADEMIES ENCOURAGES CLASSROOM ADOPTION

Staf Report

Pepin Academies Foundation has commenced its second annual Adopta-Classroom campaign to help equip teachers and students with needed school supplies for the 2021-22 school year. Individuals and businesses are invited to participate by sponsoring or adopting a classroom, with the option to donate to one Pepin Academies campus or support all three of its Tampa Bay area campuses, which includes a location in Riverview.

Adopt-a-Classroom funds will provide teachers with needed academic enrichment materials. Teachers will have the opportunity to identify their individual classroom needs, a crucial step in granting schools the flexibility needed to adapt their teaching practices to suit the individual needs of their students.

“Our goal is to best support all our Pepin Academies’ classrooms across Tampa Bay and give teachers and students the supplies they need to maximize their potential in a positive educational environment,” said Don Orrico, director of development at Pepin Academies Foundation. “We’ve already seen the impact of last year’s generous donations, and we look forward to seeing lives continue to change in the future.”

Since launching the campaign last school year, the schools have raised $19,000 and impacted the lives of 19 teachers and 414

students. Pepin Academies also received an in-kind donation worth $110,000 of deep cleaning services for its schools. “Last year’s Adopt-a-Classroom campaign ensured my Pepin Academies Foundation has commenced its second students reannual Adopt-a-Classroom campaign to help equip ceived the best teachers and students with needed school supplies for the 2021-22 school year. supplies for our forensic science class,” said Tanja Diederich, a forensic science teacher at Pepin Academies. “Thanks to the generous support of our local communities and businesses, I was able to give my students state-of-the-art crime scene kits, gloves and more to help aid their excitement for learning. This was especially meaningful considering the difculties of the past school year.” Pepin Academies Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports all of Pepin Academies’ campuses. Pepin Academies are public, tuition-free charter schools located in Tampa, Riverview and New Port Richey that serve students with learning disabilities in grades 3-12. Qualified as exceptional student education (ESE) center schools, Pepin Academies provides a positive therapeutic environment that focuses on improving academic success and social achievement. Adopt-a-Classroom donations can be securely made online at pepinacademiesfoundation.org.

ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL-SOUTH USES TECHNOLOGY TO PREVENT CHEMOTHERAPY HAIR LOSS

Staf Report

The infusion center at St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is utilizing the innovative DigniCap® Scalp Cooling System to help minimize hair loss for chemotherapy patients.

Positive results from an FDA trial published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicate that seven out of 10 patients using the DigniCap system kept at least 50 percent of their hair. DigniCap received FDA clearance in 2015. DigniCap may minimize hair loss from certain chemotherapy treatments for women and men with tumors associated with breast, ovarian, uterine, prostate and other tissues. It is also said to help with earlier hair regrowth following chemotherapy.

“Limiting the loss of hair during chemotherapy is way of providing psychological support for patients and helps to alleviate aspects of fear and anxiety about these life-saving treatments,” said Brian Frazier, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South’s interventional services manager, who oversees the hospital’s infusion center. “The technology assists in helping patients maintain their ap-

pearance and can lift their spirits during the time they are undergoing chemotherapy.” The DigniCap Scalp Cooling System consists of a computerized cooling unit managed through a touch screen display and an attached cooling cap. The cap is fitted to the head and temperature-regulated coolant continuously circulates through specially designed channels in the cooling cap. Scalp cooling limTe infusion center at St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is utilizing its the amount of chemotherapy the innovative DigniCap® Scalp Cooling System to help mini mize hair loss for chemotherapy patients. - agent delivered to the hair follicles. This causes cellular activity in the localized scalp area to slow dramatically. With these two reactions, the follicles absorb fewer chemotherapy agents and hair loss is significantly reduced. Scalp cooling is efective with many chemotherapy drugs, but not all. A doctor can determine if scalp cooling is compatible with a treatment. St. Joseph’s Hospital-South opened in February 2015. Part of BayCare Health System, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South features all-private patient suites and ofers emergency care, surgical services, imaging, intensive care, obstetrics, an NICU, cardiac catheterization and more in a peaceful, relaxing and family-centered environment. Located south of Tampa in Riverview, the all-digital, state-of-the-art facility is specially designed to make patients and visitors as comfortable as possible during their hospital experience. Learn more about St. Joseph’s Hospital-South’s infusion center at https:// baycare.org/hospitals/st-josephs-hospital-south/services/cancer.