Riverview/Apollo Beach
7
December 2021
Volume 19,
Issue 12
ENTRY FORM IN SECTION 3
Ph: 657-2418
CELEBRATING 19 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
RIVERVIEW WIDOW OF NAVY VETERAN GETS A NEW FENCE
MISSY LENNARD NAMED PRINCIPAL AT NEW WATERSET PREK-8 SCHOOL
By Kate Quesada
By Tatiana Ortiz
part of opening as an admin,” she explained. “It has been an extreme honor and privilege to serve the FishHawk families at Stowers. We have built many wonderful traditions together. I am very proud of the Cowboys, but I am thrilled to have the opportunity to take on this new role.” The yet unnamed WaMissy Lennard, a Riverview resident and daughter of former Hillsborough County Superintendent of Schools Earl Lennard, was terset school, which will Ella McFarland, her son, Waleed McFarland, along with Johnson & Johnson volunteers smiling in front named principal of the new Apollo Beach pre-K-8 school located be home to 1,600 stuof Ella’s home. dents, is a Hillsborough in the Waterset community last month. A group of volunand the need for County International teers from Johnson & assistance with reA familiar name will Baccalaureate proJohnson gave a helppairs and accessibil- be taking the helm at the gram magnet that will ing hand by dedicatity modifications for new school opening in infuse science, teching their time to conlow to median-in- Apollo Beach’s Waterset nology, engineering, struct a new fence come veteran fami- community next fall. Misarts and mathematics for Riverview resilies,” Rivera said. sy Lennard, a Riverview with an internationdent Ella McFarland, Ella shared how resident and daughter al-minded focus. This who is a widow of a she will benefit of former Hillsborough is the first magnet Navy veteran, Curfrom her new fence. County Superintendent elementary school in tis McFarland. The “With my new of Schools Dr. Earl J. Lenthe SouthShore area McFarlands were married for 59 years. He fence, I will no longer need to be concerned nard, was named prinand the first pre-K-8 passed away in 2016. Due to Ella’s limited about animals coming in my backyard,” Ella cipal of the new PK-8 school in Southeastern income and general poor health, she found said. school last month. Hillsborough County. maintaining her modest home difficult. Ella retired from driving a school bus for Missy, who has lived Students in grades The efforts of this project were part of more than 21 years. She remains active and and worked in Southeastpre-K through eighth last month’s Habitat for Humanity of Hills- works part time for the Hillsborough County ern Hillsborough County can apply to attend the borough Florida, Inc.’s Veterans Initiative Sheriff’s Department as a crosswalk guard her whole career, was honored to be cho- school via the Choice Program through Week of Service, which occurs annually at Warren Hope Dawson Elementary School. sen to open the new SouthShore school. Saturday, December 11. during the week leading up to Veterans Day. “Overall, I am so grateful to the volun“I am thrilled to be returning to South Missy will continue on at Stowers as This would be the fourth year of it. In addi- teers and Habitat for Humanity of Hillsbor- Hillsborough County,” said Missy, who principal until February, 2022, when she tion, The Home Depot Foundation and Bank ough Florida, Inc. for assisting not only me attended Gibsonton Elementary, Eisen- will move to the new school while making of America sponsored the seven days of ser- but also other military families as well,” Ella hower Middle and East Bay High Schools sure there is a smooth transition at both vice for these veteran initiative projects. said. herself. “I am looking forward to making locations. Nitza Rivera, Veterans Build and neighBeing able to give back to veterans holds connections that will support, enhance For more information about the school, borhood revitalization program manager at a special place in Rivera’s heart because she and engage the community in a variety of which is located at 5995 Covington GarHabitat for Humanity of Hillsborough Flor- is a veteran herself who served in the Army ways.” dens Dr., call 272-4692. To learn more ida, Inc., mentioned what the goal of the for 23 years. Volunteers will also be needed Missy attended the University of Cen- about Hillsborough County’s magnet Veterans Build Week of Service is. for the upcoming Veterans Build, which is tral Florida for undergrad and the Univer- schools, visit www.hillsboroughschools. “The goal of Veterans Build Week of Ser- slated to kick off in January 2022. sity of South Florida for a master’s degree org/magnet. vice is to raise awareness about the need for For more information, visit https://www. and postgraduate work and has worked affordable homeownership opportunities habitathillsborough.org. as a teacher, reading specialist, assistant principal and principal at local schools, including Gibsonton and Symmes Elemen- POTHOLE RELIEF ...................................PG 3 taries. Most recently, she was the opening LOCAL AUTHOR...................................... PG 4 principal at Stowers Elementary School EYE ON BUSINESS...................PGS 25-26 in Lithia. GIFT GUIDE................................. SECTION 3 “This is the third school I have been a
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Great Gifts That Will Really Start Their Engine!
From left to right: Sierra Calo, Malayna Calo, Kendall Reighard, Elli Coleman and Ally Ford. The Bell Creek Academy Girls Bowling Team had no less than a historic season. See the full story on Page 5.
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