Bloomingdale/FishHawk
15
February 2022
Volume 21, Issue 2
Ph: 657-2418
See Our Ad On Page: 27
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
BRIDGES DENTAL HIRES NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND VALRICO NATIVE DR. DAUBy Lily Belcher
Valrico native Dr. Caroline Dau graduated from Newsome High School and was eager to work in her hometown after going away for college.
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
By Michelle Caceres zar-i-Sharif and ended on November 22 when they settled in Tampa. They were in Afghanistan 27 days after the government collapsed. Words can’t adequately describe the fear they experienced as they struggled to secure transportation out of the country. The family is now living in FishHawk Ranch. “FishHawk is such a beautiful community, and the people here are very kind,” The FishHawk community has supported the Shayan family, who said Ruhullah. “When we go have settled here after escaping from Afghanistan. for a walk, passersby tell us they’re sorry our journey was Many FishHawk residents serving in the so difficult and ‘Welcome to America.’” military can claim at least one AfghaniRuhullah is grateful for the communistan deployment during their career. For ty’s support as they acclimate to AmerFishHawk resident and U.S. Army Lieuican life. From pots and pans to clothing tenant Colonel Cornelius Batts, he spent to leads about jobs, FishHawk residents years in Afghanistan. His last assignment was working as an advisor to the Afghan have helped ease the transition. A GoArmy’s program to educate and empower FundMe has also been set up to help the family purchase a vehicle. women into leadership positions. Nicola can’t thank the community When the Taliban entered the Afghan enough. “I really want to extend a thank capital of Kabul, completing a rapid takeyou to all the members of the communiover over the country with a speed that ty that have stepped up and helped,” she surprised many Afghans and Americans said. “Their life in this country is off to an alike, many of those same women in posiamazing start because of the kindness of tions of power were in fear of their lives. the FishHawk community.” One of them was Zainab Shayan. She The Shayan family can now safely conand her husband, Ruhullah, both served template the journey to this new land as officers in the Afghanistan National with its new customs and traditions, Army (Zainab for 11 years and Ruhullah some of which have brought back frightfor 13 years), and both feared for their ening memories. When neighbors shot off lives (and the lives of their two children) fireworks on New Year’s Eve, their chilafter the government collapsed to the dren mistook it for gunfire. Ruhullah asTaliban. They were both on duty the day sured them they were safe. the government fell. Ruhullah’s brother“We are at peace now,” he said. in-law contacted him and told him that To learn more about the Shayan family the Taliban was shooting members of the or to donate funds to help them purchase security forces. a vehicle, visit https://www.gofundZainab reached out to Batts and another Army officer to help her with the me.com/f/help-afghan-military-famicritical paperwork that would allow her ly-in-america. family to escape the country. “Helping this family was really important to my husband,” said Batts’ wife, BLACK ROCK FARMS ...........................PG 3 Nicola. MOTORING TAMPA BAY ................... PG 5 Even with the right paperwork, the Shayan family endured a harrowing jour- EYE ON BUSINESS...................PGS 25-26 ney that began on September 17 in Ma- SPORTS ......................................... PGS 44-45
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In January, Newsome High School graduate Dr. Caroline Dau started working for local dentist Bridges Dental in Valrico. Dau was raised in Valrico and attended Randall Middle School before starting at Newsome. She left Florida to attend the University of Notre Dame, where she majored in biology, and got her Doctorate in Dental Science at the University of California. She was eager to return to Florida and excited to serve her hometown community as a dentist. Dau first discovered her interest in science by watching Bill Nye the Science Guy on PBS. She originally considered going into research, but it lacked the human interaction she enjoyed in dentistry. “I really love being a dentist,” said Dau. “It brings me great satisfaction to be able to establish relationships with my patients and
provide them with a service to improve their overall health and self-confidence.” Dau described the dedication Bridges Dental has to both their customers and employees. Dr. Laura Bridges, who owns the practice, is a working mom, like Dau, and prioritizes a healthy work-life balance in the office. Dau’s work-life balance is especially important because she has two toddlers with her husband, Brandon Waracksa, who is an economics teacher at Durant High School. Bridges was also raised in Valrico and attended Bloomingdale High School. Bridges wanted to continue to work in her hometown so she can serve her own community. “ Yo u know how you can walk into a place and feel that everyone is happy to be there? I felt that way when I walked into Bridges Dental, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that environment,” said Dau. Dau has had many patients that have been hesitant and scared to go to the dentist because of a bad experience they have had in the past. She said that their fear is usually eased during their first appointment and that she treats each patient how she would treat one of her own family members. “It is not easy to gain someone’s trust and it isn’t something that I take lightly,” she said. For more information on Bridges Dental, visit its website bridgesdental.com or contact 654-3399 or info@bridgesdental.com.
COMMUNITY SETS UP GOFUNDME TO WELCOME AFGHAN REFUGEE FAMILY
Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
Tampa’s historic movie palace, Tampa Theatre, will roll out the Red Carpet and provide guests with lots of choices of how to watch the 94th Annual Academy Awards ® on Sunday, March 27 at the Tampa Theatre in downtown Tampa. See full story on Page 39.
2/28/2022
$40 OFF BRAKES Includes Free Brake Inspection Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
2/28/2022
