Riverview/ Apollo Beach
January 2025 Volume 23, Issue 1
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CELEBRATING 23 YEARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
THE YARD AT WATERSET TO OFFER NEW HOUSING, RETAIL, AND DINING OPTIONS By Brian Bokor
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Growth in and achieve. around the Waterset Jason and Jennicommunity in Apollo fer Babinec, OwnBeach has exploded er-operators of Planover the past decade, et Smoothie Apollo with much of this Beach and residents progress focused on of Waterset since residential neighbor2018, opted to open hoods, particularly their business in The locations south of Big Yard for that specifBend Road. The Yard ic reason, in order at Waterset, located Jason and Jennifer Babinec, owner-operators of to give back to their Planet Smoothie Apollo Beach and team. on Paseo Al Mar Blvd community. Franbetween chise opUS 41 and portuniWaterties were set Blvd, available focuses in Braon bringdenton, ing much Clearwaneeded ter and new retail Ta m p a , options to but the the area couple providing a passed, gathering saying, spot for locals as well as building a sense of “It was important to open here (Waterset), community among Waterset businesses and because we really wanted to be part of our residents. (photo The Yard at Waterset) community and support the area in which Currently, the blossoming development we chose to live”. You get a sense that it is has five tenants open in Planet Smoothie, not all about profit with these Owners; it is Wingstop, Crunch Fitness, The Learning about wanting to serve the community and Experience, and Pet Paradise with plans offer people who live nearby more options showing a variety of new options coming without the need to travel miles. soon mixing a blend of dining options with The Babinec’s informed me a majority of health related and financial services. More Owners they know in The Yard are local resadditions coming with Phase 2 delivery ad- idents who share the same sense of shared vertised for 4th quarter 2025. responsibility in providing a wonderful exThe Citizen at Waterset, with 236 units, perience to all future customers who visit. and Ridley at Waterset, with 400, offer Most employees at Planet Smoothie attend ample rental opportunies within walking or have attended East Bay High or Lennard distance of The Yard. Local businesses, like High helping further promote the sense the recently opened Planet Smoothie, wel- of community Jennifer and Jason hope to come occupants of both complexes as well achieve. as folks using the gym, daycare, or pet sitOpened less than a month, Jennifer was ting services to stop by and try what they excited to announce they were “serving over have to offer. Building that kind of relation- 100 customers a day with several regulars ship between residents and local businesses already coming in to order their favorites!” is exactly what Owners in The Yard hope to Story Continued on Page 21.....
100 WOMEN WHO CARE RIVERVIEW/ FISHHAWK REACHES $100,000 MILESTONE IN CHARITY DONATIONS By Marie Gilmore In a heartwhat can be warming disaccomplished play of comwhen we all munity spirit, pool our re100 Women sources and Who Care Rivmake a dife r v i e w/ F i s h ference in the Hawk achieved lives of those a remarkable around us.” milestone in The Kiwanis December: colClub of Branlectively dodon was deeply nating over grateful for the $100,000 to At its December meeting, 100 Women Who Care Riverview/ generous donalocal chari- FishHawk donated to Kiwanis Club of Brandon bringing its tion, which will total contributions to charity since 2018 to $100,000. ties since its help fund their founding. The continued efforts group, dedicated in supporting the to improving lives community’s youth. in the Riverview “This donation will and FishHawk make a real differcommunities, ence in the lives celebrated this of so many young achievement by people in our comselecting the Kiwanis Club of Brandon as munity,” said Lynn Langowski, member the recipient of their December donation. of the Kiwanis Club. “It’s inspiring to see For those unfamiliar with the initia- how local women are using their collective, 100 Women Who Care is a simple tive power to create positive change.” but powerful concept: women from the Since its inception in October 2018, 25 area gather four times a year, each con- local non profit organizations have retributing $100. At each meeting, three ceived donations. Additionally, the Shultz local charities are nominated, and after Family Foundation offers a 50% matchbrief presentations, one is selected to re- ing grant up to $5,000 each quarter in a ceive the collective donations. With 100 special partnership with registered 100 women in the group, that’s $10,000 per Women Who Care organizations. meeting, with the potential to make a sig100 Women Who Care Riverview/Fishnificant impact on local causes. Hawk meets quarterly. The next meetThe Kiwanis Club of Brandon was cho- ing will be held Wednesday, March 12, 6 sen in December for its ongoing work p.m. at Vine Vegan restaurant located at with local youth, including its weekly 2080 Badlands Dr, Brandon, FL 33511. backpack feeding program, support of Find 100 Women Riverview/FishHawk scholarships and community service on Facebook at https://www.facebook. projects. Its mission aligns with the core com/100WWCRiverviewFishHawk. values of the group, making Kiwanis a perfect recipient for this milestone contribution. “Reaching the $100,000 mark is not TASTE OF SCOUTING ........................PG 3 just a number—it’s a testament to the MOTORING FLORIDA ........................PG 5 power of women coming together with CRUISE PLANNERS.........................PG 15 a shared purpose,” said Debbie Matice, a member of 100 Women Who Care Riv- EYE ON BUSINESS........................PGS 25 erview/FishHawk. “This milestone shows YEAR IN REVIEW........ .......... PGS 30-34
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