Riverview
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August 2026 Volume 24, Issue 8
26
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CELEBRATING 24 YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
RIVERVIEW’S EUGENIA GUTIERREZ MARKS 100 REMARKABLE YEARS
ST. JOSEPH’S THERAPY CAT HONORED BY THE FLORIDA BAR
In 1926, U.S. volunteered Route 66 was through her officially estabchurch to lished, A.A. Milne assist famiintroduced the lies in need. world to WinShe also Scan here to purchase n i e - t h e - Po o h e m b ra c e d and students healthy livtook the very ing and roufirst Scholastic tinely took Aptitude Test. two-hour That same year, walks and on July 26, a reremained Eugenia Gutierrez, a Riverview resident who recently celebrated her markable woma regular 100th birthday, is pictured with her granddaughter, Lisa Meadows, an named Eu- and great-granddaughter during a special celebration hosted by at the gym genia Gutierrez throughout Hillsborough County Adult Day Services. was born in San José, Costa Rica. her 60s, 70s and 80s. Now a Riverview resident, Gutierrez reHer adventurous spirit extended well becently celebrated her 100th birthday sur- yond the gym. Gutierrez traveled throughout rounded by family, friends and the staff who Central America and visited Mexico, Colomhave become an extension of her family at bia, Canada and many parts of the United Hillsborough County Adult Day Services. States before eventually making Florida her The Wimauma Senior Center hosted a fes- home. tive Roaring Twenties-themed celebration Family has always been at the center complete with music, dancing and a fashion of Gutierrez’s life. She is the proud mothshow featuring staff and members dressed er of six children and has played an active in 1920s attire. role in raising generations of her family. “Not in her dreams did she imagine that Today, her legacy includes 16 grandchilher birthday was going to be this type of dren, 32 great-grandchildren and seven event,” said her daughter, Dora Huerta. “The great-great-grandchildren. Wimauma Senior Center has become her “It’s an honor and a blessing to have her second home. She comes every day. She’s as a grandmother,” said granddaughter Lisa very happy, and I’m very grateful.” Meadows. “It’s a big milestone. One hundred Gutierrez’s century-long journey has been is a big deal.” defined by service to others. After studying The birthday celebration also highlightnursing in Costa Rica, she became both a ed the important role Hillsborough County registered nurse and an obstetrics nurse, Adult Day Services plays in the lives of lodedicating her career to caring for others. cal seniors and their caregivers. The proShe immigrated to the United States in gram provides comprehensive health, social, 1981, settling in Reno, Nevada, where she supportive and therapeutic services for continued serving her community through a functionally impaired seniors in communihome health agency until retirement. ty-based settings. Centers are located in Five years ago, she moved to Riverview to Tampa, Brandon, Plant City and Wimauma. be closer to Huerta, but her active lifestyle For Gutierrez, however, the celebration has never slowed down. was about much more than reaching the A woman of deep Christian faith, Gutier- century mark. It honored a lifetime devoted rez has always believed in helping those less to faith, family, compassion and caring for fortunate. Throughout her life, she encour- others — a legacy that continues to inspire aged others to pursue nursing careers and everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Bentley, St. Bentley, a Joseph’s Hosmale Chinp i t a l - S o u t h ’s chilla Persian pet therapy cat that just resince spring cently cel2025, was ebrated his honored by the 14th birthFlorida Bar’s day, was feaAnimal Law tured in the Section during Animal Law an event in OrSection’s lando. Bentley newsletter. received the “We were 2026 Rikki so thrilled, Mitchell Mepleased and morial Animal honored that Achievement Bentley was Award. selected Since 2017, to win the the section has From left to right, at the Animal Law Section’s event: Devon Florida Bar chosen one an- Polo, St. Joseph’s Hospitals volunteer resources director; Kathy award,” said imal annually Hofstad, Bentley’s owner and handler, holding Bentley; and R i ve r v i ew ’s to receive the Kim Wallace, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South’s volunteer manager. Kathy Hofsaward for providing exemplary service. tad, Bentley’s owner and handler. “It’s Bentley is a hospital volunteer and pro- a great testament to the importance of vides pet therapy to patients, patients’ pet therapy and the value it adds to so loved ones, visitors, medical staff and many people.” team members at St. Joseph’s HospiKim Wallace, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South in Riverview and the BayCare tal-South’s volunteer manager, said Outpatient Center near the hospital’s the Animal Law Section learned about campus. Bentley from reading social media posts The bar’s Animal Law Section has and online articles originating from St. been in existence for 10 years and Joseph’s Hospital-South. works to improve laws relating to an“The committee is out of Tallahassee imals. According to the Animal Law and nominated Bentley after reading Section’s website (https://flabarani- our St. Joseph’s Hospital-South pages. mals.org/), the organization promotes It was really cool that Bentley was chothe study and understanding of laws, sen,” she said. “I was very taken aback regulations and court decisions involv- with the event we attended. It was a lot ing animals. The organization educates, bigger than I thought it would be. We advocates and organizes around animal felt honored to be there. It was nice for issues and introduces animal-focused Bentley and our hospital.” bills in Florida legislative sessions. Some Read the Osprey Observer 2025 artiof the bills introduced by the group in cle about Bentley: www.ospreyobserver. the 2026 legislative session focused com/2025/10/move-over-dogs-bentleyon animal cruelty, veterinary medicine, the-cat-joins-hospital-therapy-team/. handling of animals and testing of cosmetics on animals. Bentley’s award is named for a theraWOMAN TURNS 100..................................PG 3 py dog named Rikki that in 2011 helped pass the nation’s first law allowing ther- TRUE HEROES CPR...........................PG 5 apy dogs to accompany child victims of ROCK ORCHESTRA..........................PG 14 sexual violence into criminal courtrooms ACTIVE LIFE GAMES....................PG 24 to help them testify.
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