Brandon/Winthrop
21
June 2021
Volume 16, Issue 6
Ph: 657-2418
SEE AD ON PAGE 32
CELEBRATING 19 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
TO CONTINUE GROWTH, BSAC SENIORS GIVE BACK WITH CHANGES NAME TO HIGH 5, INC. PB&J SANDWICH PROGRAM By Michelle Caceres
On June 4, after 58 years in the community, BSAC’s name changed to High 5, Inc.
“With partnerships with organizations like Livingstone Academy and Livy O’s, we’re impacting even more families throughout Hillsborough County.” Members of the community turned out in force for the grand opening celebration on June 4. With a ribbon-cutting, guest speakers and campus tours of the facility and surrounding 12.5-acre campus, the first official day of business as High 5, Inc. was a success. “The name change is just the beginning of what’s in store for our community, with new programs slated for 2022 and beyond as well as facility upgrades, new corporate partnerships and a laser focus on our five pillars,” he said. High 5, Inc. is located at 405 Beverly Dr. in Brandon. Its hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. For more about High 5, Inc., visit www. high5inc.org or call 689-0908.
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
should reach out to the Bridges Assisted Living Community. “We are always trying to help—we want to get involved; please call,” said Noah. Any organization interested in enlisting the help of the residents should call 413-8900 or email Noah at jnoah@bridgesretiremtent. com or Mercilliott at cmercilliott@bridgesretirement. Bridges residents make peanut butter and jellyl sandwiches. com. Summer is officially here and a group of For more information on The Bridges local assisted living residents are using the Assisted Living Community, which is lotime to give back to those in need. cated at 11202 Dewhurst Dr. in Riverview, Taking advantage of the summer and re- across from the Winthrop Town Centre in laxed pandemic restrictions, the residents Riverview, and offers assisted living and of The Bridges Assisted Living Community memory care, visit www.bridgesretirement. are making peanut butter and jelly sand- com. Nativity Catholic Church is located at wiches with the help of the PB&J Ministry 705 E. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon and can be at Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon. reached at 681-4608. The PB&J Ministry at Nativity Catholic Church collects sandwiches and delivers them to the homeless and hungry. Since May 13, the residents of The Bridges have made more than 130 sandwiches and show no sign of stopping. When asked why the residents of The Bridges Assisted Living Community chose to participate in the making of these sandwiches, Janet Noah, director of community relations, said, “The people in the community were so generous to The Bridges during the pandemic, this was just the way we could give back and show appreciation.” On planned dates, the residents of The Bridges travel together to Nativity Catholic Church and make sandwiches until their supplies for the day are out. The residents made 130 sandwiches in just one day. Coleen Mercilliott, activities director at The Bridges Assisted Living Community, expressed that making the sandwiches is “a labor of love and the residents look forward to it.” The residents are also putting together bags of feminine hygiene products with Project Lotus Restoring Dignity, which de- CHUCK E. CHEESE..................................PG 3 livers them to women who otherwise would MERCY FULL PROJECT ...................... PG 4 not have access to them. They are actively looking for more service projects to do. EYE ON BUSINESS ...................PGS 25-26 Any nonprofit organizations they can help SPORTS ................................................. PGS 33
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Since 1963, Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center (BSAC) has been impacting lives through its superior educational and athletic programming that enhances physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The center’s name has changed to High 5, Inc. “The change reflects where our organization is now and where it’s going in the future,” said CEO Chuck Burgess. ‘High 5’ references its five pillars of impact: aquatics and youth drowning prevention, after-school education, special needs education, sports and recreation as well as its community initiative. The organization will continue to provide a wide variety of programming options, including swimming, diving and tennis lessons; after-school programs; special needs education; and team and individual sports. Its facility features include an Olympic-sized pool; 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards; a 10-lane, 25-yard lap pool; 10 tennis courts; an indoor gym; sports fields; and an on-site cafe. Camp High 5, its summer camp program, began on June 1 and offers weeklong day camps for children in grades K-6. “We are so much more than sports and aquatics now, and, while our main campus is in Brandon, our programs and reach are well beyond home base,” Burgess said.
By Ariana Pedraza
With summer in the midst, Chuck E. Cheese welcomes the whole family to check out the new reinvigorated location at 1540 W. Brandon Blvd., open seven days a week from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. At Chuck E. Cheese, guests from A Kid’s Place were the first to play the dozens of new games at the renovated location.
813-689-8131 • 3159 E. State Road 60 - Valrico
