Brandon/Winthrop
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April 2020 Volume 15, Issue 4 Ph: 657-2418
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Osprey Observer Receives Facebook Journalism Project Grant To Continue COVID-19 Coverage
Keel Farms Offers Daily Community U-Pick While Founder Serves In Army Reserve
stories of hope in our comThe Facebook munity,” said Osprey Journalism Project Observer Managing Editor (FJP) recently Marie Gilmore. awarded This is the second Community round of grants from the Network grants to FJP. Fifty recipients were 400 North announced in late March. American local “The Facebook news rooms to Journalism Project support corondoubled the total avirus reporting. grant pool to $2 milThe Osprey after more than lion Observer team The Osprey Observer team, 200 publishers was thrilled to be which now holds staff meetings virtually, was recently awarded a grant applied in the first 48 among them. from the Facebook Journalism “I know right Program to aid in COVID-19 coverage. hours after the application launched,” said now newsrooms Berisha. “The expansion are working incredibly hard made it possible to help an and long hours to keep our even greater number of newscommunity updated in all rooms navigate the economic things COVID-19,” said Liz impact of the outbreak.” Berisha, account executive with the The grants will help fulfill needs such Moore Agency. “Facebook is trying to as remote work, increased frequency of relieve some of the financial burden by publishing, combatting misinformation giving grants to newsrooms across the and serving vulnerable and at-risk country.” groups. Each of the newsrooms, which are “This is a part of Facebook’s broader located in 48 U.S. states, Washington effort to provide support around COVIDD.C., Puerto Rico and several provinces 19, including a separate $1 million in and territories in Canada, will receive $5,000 to cover unexpected costs associ- grants to support fact checkers and a recently announced $25 million in relief ated with reporting on the crisis in their grants,” said Berisha. “Access to trustworcommunities. The Osprey Observer was thy, accurate and local information is critione of eight in Florida, including WEDU cal now more than ever in our state. Tampa and The Tampa Bay Times. These small investments can help fulfill The program is run in partnership immediate needs such as increasing frewith the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and the Local Media Association (LMA) in quency of publishing, tools to work remotely, combating misinformation and the U.S., News Media Canada and The Independent News Challenge in Canada. serving vulnerable and at-risk groups.” To learn more about the Facebook “The Osprey Observer was so honJournalism Program, search for the group ored to receive notification that we were on Facebook. Visit selected by the Facebook Journalism www.OspreyObserver.com to see updatProject to receive a newsroom grant to ed coverage of local news. continue our coverage of COVID-19 and
In his absence, the April is traditionally family-run Keel Farms conblueberry harvest seatinues its essential food son in Central Florida, and beverage production with crowds flocking to as Joe Keel, his father and Plant City’s beloved Keel Farms’ founder, and regional Blueberry other family members hanFestival. dle daily operations. But this year, On the home front, though the fields are Clay’s wife, Carmen Keel, ripe and overflowing a schoolteacher, has with berries, there is no adapted to the new norm festival, and no one to of staying home, teaching pick them. her students virtually and “COVID-19 has changed everything, so U-pick blueberries are available helping the Keels’ own now in Plant City. children—a high school we’ve expanded our Usenior, the other a third grader—with their pick hours to every day of the week to schoolwork. spread people out and keep them safe,” Blueberries are $6 per pound and said Clay Keel, owner of the Keel family’s may be purchased already picked too. essential business, which includes Keel Other produce and fresh eggs are for Farms, Keel & Curley Winery and Keel sale, subject to availability. The Keel Farms Agrarian Ale + Cider. “What could Farms kitchen, located at 5210 be better than taking the whole family on Thonotosassa Rd. in Plant City, opens at a fun, food-gathering outing in the sun11 a.m. daily (after being thoroughly shine and fresh air—picking antioxidantfilled, vitamin-rich, immune-boosting blue- cleaned and disinfected), offering its savory, pub-style options to-go. Enjoy a berries?” “It’s a win-win,” he said. “Picking is an delicious take-home lunch or dinner after an exciting day of berry picking. U-picking amazing family experience, and you is between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. every day come home with lots of healthy fruit for at Keel Farms. Visit www.keelfarms.com, snacking and maybe bring home a bottle call 752-3892, Facebook and Instagram. of wine or can of cider too.” Keel Farms has taken extra safety precautions for the U-pick experience. With its 15 acres, everyone can practice social distancing. U-pickers can park for free at the tasting room, come inside and grab a bucket. These are sanitized with a chlorine disinfectant between uses and then Thank you for your patience lined with a plastic bag to hold the berries. and understanding. Some of our Tape on the floor every six feet helps stories and advertisements were keep customers safely apart. Around the approved well before printing of this farm and retail area there are hand saniedition so please note times, locatizer dispensers, handwashing stations tions, dates and details may have and full bathrooms with soap and water. adjusted, changed or rescheduled Clay is an expert in proper healthsince publication. We appreciate safety protocol since he is also a medical your support and readership of planner. He is currently activated with the Your Community Newspaper. Army Reserves Medical Command, Marie Gilmore organizing hospitals being set up in response to COVID-19, like at the Javits www.ospreyobserver.com Center in New York City.
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