Bloomingdale/ FishHawk
January 2026 Volume 25, Issue 1
Ph: 813-657-2418
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 18
Y EIAN R REVIEW Pages 30-34
CELEBRATING 24 YEARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
NEWSOME TAKES HOME BEST MARCHING BAND IN 2ND PARADE OF LIGHTS
LITHIA BOY SCOUT TROOP 665 HONORS VETERANS AT BAY PINES CEMETERY
By Brian Bokor
By Olivia Clark
it organizations. Participation also extended to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsborough County Fire Department, county commissioners, school board members — including the superintendent — as well as local officials, beauty queens, Hope for Her and PCAT each received $5,000 from the proceeds of the dance studios and youth 2nd Brandon Parade of Lights. teams. The The Brandon parade also Parade of Lights featured wrapped up its holiday second year with favorites, a celebration and including, awards ceremony of course, held Thursday, DeSanta and cember 18, at The Mrs. Claus.” Regent in Riverview, Reflectrecognizing parade ing on the participants, volunscope of teers and communithe event, ty partners following anCanfield other successful holiday added, “It’s event. absolutely The annual parade amazing how drew an estimated many people 10,000 spectators along were involved its route and featured in this.” 2,861 participants repreLed by senting 115 floats, undergrand marscoring the rapid growth shal Caitlin of the event in just its secLockerbie of ond year. 10 Tampa Melissa Canfield, paBay News, the parade traveled from South rade chairperson, used the ceremony to put Lakewood Drive along Oakfield Drive, crossthose numbers into perspective. “2,861. What is that? That is the amount ing Kings Avenue and ending at Vonderburg of participants that we had this year in the Drive. High school marching bands from parade,” Canfield said. “What does that con- Armwood, Bloomingdale, Brandon, Newsome and Riverview helped set the tone, sist of? 112 floats.” “Those entries included the parade’s grand while thousands of spectators lined the marshal, 10 Tampa Bay News anchor Caitlin route to watch floats from businesses, nonLockerbie, along with five local high school profits, performance groups and community marching bands, five local Gasparilla krew- organizations. Awards were a major focus of the evening, es, 38 local businesses and 24 local nonprof-
Troop 665 of Lithsignificance due to ia participated in its multi-generathe annual Wreaths tional history. Across America “There are vetobservance at Bay erans buried here Pines National Cemfrom World War I, etery on Saturday, World War II, VietDecember 13. Rising nam, and Korea,” before sun,the Boy Teagle stated. “It Scouts dedicated helps the Scouts their morning to a understand not powerful ceremony only the contribuof service and retions of our current membrance. service members Upon arriving, the and veterans but Scouts assisted with also the sacrificunloading wreaths es made by their from Wreaths Across families. This is a America trucks and multi-generational arranging boxes A Scout from Troop 665 stands at attention after cemetery.” throughout the cem- placing a wreath in honor of a veteran during the Troop 665 has etery for volunteers. been participating annual ceremony. Once the event in Wreaths Across commenced, Troop America for about 665 members five years. Teagle spread out across mentioned that the the grounds, placexperience leaves a ing wreaths at the lasting impression gravesites of veterans. on the Scouts. Each Scout paused “They come to read the veteran’s away thankful for name aloud before the service of the standing at attention men and women and rendering a hand salute as who served,” Teagle said. a sign of respect. “Bay Pines holds a very Participation in the obserstrict veteran ceremony, vance has become a longstandand it gives them perspecing tradition for the troop. tive.” “It is a yearly tradition that Teagle said the event the troop does,” said Robert reflects the values emphaTeagle, Scoutmaster, Troop sized within the troop. 665. “We sell wreaths as a “Respect, honor and fundraiser, and it reminds the boys of the service are core values we teach,” Teagle service members.” said. “This experience reinforces the imFollowing the wreath placement, a cer- portance of remembering and honoring emony was held to honor members of the those who served.” United States Armed Forces. The Scouts joined members of the Civil Air Patrol in escorting both active duty and retired vetHUSTLE HARD RUNNING ����������������PG 3 erans as wreaths were placed to represent each military branch. The final wreath was MOTORING TAMPA BAY �����������������PG 5 laid by the troop’s Senior Patrol Leader in FL. STRAWBERRY FEST....................PG 9 honor of prisoners of war and those missing STUDENT SUCCESS..........................PG 17 in action. EYE ON BUSINESS........................ PGS 25 Bay Pines National Cemetery holds special
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Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
Congressman Vern Buchanan announced the recipients of the 16th Congressional District Fire and Rescue and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Awards. Sun City Center Emergency Squad received the Dedication and Professionalism Award. See Full Story On Page 26.
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$40 OFF BRAKES Includes Free Brake Inspection Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
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