SELECT NIGHTS JUNE 13 - AUGUST 9
Brandon/ Winthrop
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 9
June 2025 Volume 20, Issue 6
©2025 United Parks & Resorts, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ph: 813-657-2418
See Our Ad On Page 22
CELEBRATING 23 YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
REFLECT ON CLUB’S 65TH NEW ROUTE FOR THE 2025 KIWANIANS ANNIVERSARY AT FORD’S GARAGE
BRANDON 4TH OF JULY PARADE
Staff Report
event. Randall Munsters, parade marshal, said, “I want everyone, young and young at heart, to join us and have a great time, but be safe, keep your group together, watch your children and stay behind the curb at all times. One thing about our parade is there is no throwing of items into the crowd. The participating units have walkers who pass out their goodies!” And spectators, please do not walk across the parade route for any reason. The county’s sheriff department will be there and watching, as will safety officers and volunteers. Parade Chair Lela Lilyquist said, “GBAN is so excited to grow this signature parade with more participants and hope to get back to a pre-COVID-19 crowd of spectators. We are sure you’ll like the new shady route and water stations. Bring your chairs, drinks, snacks, etc. and sit back and enjoy; sneakers are recommended, along with sunscreen, hat or visor for a better experience.” GBAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that was formed just last year, and it needs volunteers, all ages 16 and up. Students will receive community service hours. Call Lilyquist at 813-493-9644 if you want to sign up.
As a freshman at someone who is in Armwood High, Angechild-raising years, lena Baldi started her you need to build a four-year association community around with the Key Club sponyou, and that is sored by the Kiwanis what the KiwanClub of Greater Brandon, is Club does better which in May celebrated than anything else I its 65th anniversary. know.” Indeed, for all “Kiwanis gave me an age groups, including opportunity to develop retirees with more leadership skills and to time to volunteer, give back to my com“Kiwanis is a great munity in ways that I place to get involved wouldn’t have been able with community Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon at Ford’s to do otherwise on my events,” Amatangelo Garage Restaurant in Brandon. own,” said Baldi, now 24. added, “and to sur“It provided the structure you need to give round yourself with a ton of love.” back, to have that experience, which in turn President-elect Lynn Langowski said she allowed me to get what I needed to apply got involved because of her friend Sandy for college scholarships. Kiwanis helped set Weicherding, who took Langowski to a Kime up for life.” wanian-supported health fair, where comThat an anniversary tribute begins with a munity eye exams, hearing exams and imkid’s Kiwanian experience is by design, as the munizations were offered. decades-old club is known for its focus on “After Sandy passed from ovarian cancer, youth initiatives, including the Terrific Kids I felt the calling to try and fill her shoes,” character-building program in elementary Langowski said. “Kiwanis truly is a family, schools. Kiwanis International supports also and it’s all about giving back to the children, the K-Kids program for grades one through which I love.” five and the Builders Club for grades six Past President Julie Knurek said she through eight. joined when her grandchildren were enrolled Baldi offered her remarks at the 65th an- at Symmes Elementary, where there was no niversary celebration for the Kiwanis Club Terrific Kids program and she wanted to of Greater Brandon, held at Ford’s Garage start one. The program now is in more than in Brandon in May. The club charter was 20 area schools. signed May 11, 1960, including by a mem“It’s all about giving back,” Knurek said. ber of the pioneering Mulrennan family, for “It’s all about watching kids grow up and whom the middle school in Valrico, off Du- become good citizens.” rant Road, was named. The Project Smile program at Gibsonton “I joined the club in 1997, at the behest Elementary is a major club initiative, foundof my uncle, Bud Mulrennan, who was a ed to ensure children and their families have charter member,” said past club President enough food to eat over the weekend and Jim Young, for whom a burger is named at during the school breaks, as well as necesFord’s Garage, in tribute to his Kiwanian as- sary school supplies. sociation. “I was starting to miss my time in For more on the club and its initiatives,, the service, and Uncle Bud suggested I get visit www.brandonkiwanis.org. involved with Kiwanis. I’ve loved everything I’ve done with the club, but mostly my work with teenagers, and their Key Club programs ROUGH RIDERS IN D.C.................................PG 3 at area high schools.” VALEDICTORIANS............................ PG 8 Beyond its youth support, Kiwanis for adult members allows for connections that CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE................PG 18 AVID PLUMBING..................... .........PG 22 transcend casual friendships. “Kiwanis is like an extended family,” said EYE ON BUSINESS.................PGS 30-31 Kiwanian Dustie Amatangelo. “If you’re
IN THIS ISSUE:
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
ECRWSS EDDM
Postal Customer
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT #1456
The 2025 Brandon Fourth of July Parade is on. The presenting nonprofit, Greater Brandon Action Network (GBAN), is hard at work to bring our community the 68th year of this parade. The parade has a new route planned for this year, which is shorter and has more shade to help with the heat. It hopes that this will for a better parade experience. The lineup area will still be on Lumsden Rd, (between Kings Avenue and Parsons Avenue), and the parade begins at Lumsden Road and Parsons Avenue, heading North on Parsons Avenue to Vonderburg Drive, where the parade turns left and continues to Oakfield Drive and takes another left turn to Eichenfeld Drive, where it takes the last left on Eichenfeld Drive, continuing south and ends right before the curve. The parade exits into the Women’s Care driveway heading to its facility, where the parade will disband. Volunteers in the parade can be picked up there, and all vehicles must exit onto Kings Avenue. Remember, safety first! This year, Music Showcase on Oakfield Drive is hosting the judges’ reviewing stand, and the parade’s returning announcers are Mike and Sherry Moore, along with D.J. Cody Palmer to add patriot music to our
By Linda Chion
Monster Jam is coming to Tampa Bay at the AMALIE arena! Grave Digger is the most decorated monster truck, hunting its fifth Monster Jam World Finals Championship this year. The full article with details is on page 20.
Expires: August 1, 2025