NEW! Brandon/Winthrop
See Article On Page 35 C E L E B R A T I N G
December 2017 Volume 12, Issue 12 Ph: 657-2418 1 5
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Capital Tacos Offers Scratch Kitchen And Opens New Dining Destination Near The Mill
By Michael Smith
Capital’s core menu consists of 25 chef-created signature items with all the ingredients made from scratch every day and served in five different varieties (i.e. The Five Ways To Capital): as a taco, burrito, rice bowl, salad or nachos. The restaurant is also launching a Capital
Capital Tacos has opened a new location at 119 W. Bloomingdale Ave. and John Moore Rd. in Brandon. It joins The Mill and Olde Town Pizzeria.
Brandon location
where all of the tortillas will be made from scratch. Side items include scratch-made Mexican rice, black beans and pinto beans. A variety of beverage options are available, highlighted by a wide-selection of domestic, Mexican and local craft beers, as well as wine, specialty Mexican sodas, iced tea and a mix of its own line of Capital fountain soda flavors. Capital also offers complete kids meal options. The Brandon location is beginning with a “silent opening” with limited hours from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for the remainder of the year (the restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day). In January, the restaurant will shift to a 2-8 p.m. schedule, and then go to full hours in February (Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.). To learn more about Capital Tacos, visit capitaltacos.com. You also can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @CapitalTacos.
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Capital Tacos has brought its awardwinning combination of traditional Mexican cooking and regional Tex-Mex flavors to Brandon. The restaurant, which also has locations in Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel and New Port Richey, opened its Brandon store at 119 West Bloomingdale Ave., next to Olde Town Pizzeria and The Mill, on Monday, December 18. “Capital Tacos food is freshly prepared and made from scratch, and served in a quick, affordable, friendly way,” said co-owner Josh Luger. The restaurant, which was founded in 2013, has been awarded by Foursquare/Yelp as having a Top 3 taco in the United States (and the top outside of Austin, Texas). “We pride ourselves on being a local, homegrown business that establishes deep ties in the communities we operate in, and can thankfully say that each of the communities we operate in have welcomed us enthusiastically with open arms,” Luger said.
Bakery at the
Photo by Tamas Mondovics
Spoto High School sophomore and member of the Hillsborough County All-County Band, Isaias Martinez, was honored last month for his solo performance by Superintendent Jeff Eakins. Martinez is a nominated member of the State High School Honor Band and ranked near the top of his class with a 4.8 GPA.
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C O M M U N I T Y
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Hillsborough County Opens Veterans Resource Center And World War II Memorial
By Tamas Mondovics
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Thursday, December 7 proved to be extra special for Veterans living in Hillsborough County and surrounding communities thanks to the dedication of two brand new additions to the Veterans Memorial Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Photo by Hillsborough County Museum: the Veterans World War II veterans stand during the dedication ceremoResource Center and the ny of the Veterans Resource Center and the World War II memorial. World War II memorial. A large crowd of including 520 service members from guests including some local WWII veterHillsborough County who died in the war. ans also gathered for the ceremony for The facility salutes U.S. servicemen the 76th anniversary of Pearl Harbor at and servicewomen of all eras, and has the park and museum located at 3602 memorials to veterans from the Seminole U.S. Hwy. 301 N. in Brandon. Wars through the ongoing War in As it was reported by Hillsborough Afghanistan, County officials said. County communications, event guest The Veterans Memorial Park and speaker Army Maj. Gen. James Dozier Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans said, "It's appropriate for us to make Museum proudly welcomes visitors to these dedications on the 76th anniversary reflect all its memorials of Purple Heart of Pearl Harbor.” recipients, POW/MIA forces, and war While commenting on the lessons dogs, among other exhibits. learned during WWII Dozier added, “We For more information, please visit still live in a very dangerous world. www.HCFLGOV.net. Leadership and preparedness are everything." The new 8,000 sq. ft. Veterans Resource Center offers services for local In This veterans, who number more than 98,300 Issue in Hillsborough County, the largest veteran population among Florida's 67 counties. MILITARY AGRICULTURE TOUR..........PG 3 “The new services center is the result LOCAL GRAD BECOMES TV STAR. ......PG 4 of a unified effort by our local Veterans, Veteran advocates, Hillsborough County EVENING IN MAYBERRY .....................PG 6 government and the State of Florida,” MAYFLOWER DESCENDENT ...............PG 9 said Assistant Hillsborough County Administrator, Dexter Barge during an STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL CONCERTS .PG 10 earlier event. EYE ON BUSINESS ............................PG 25 The building has a multipurpose room for training and events. Funding for CHALKLINESS....................................PG 28 the $2.2 million facility included $1.9 milSPORTS CONNECTION...............PGS 38‐39 lion in grants from Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity. READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE The WWII memorial honors those www.ospreyobserver.com who participated in that global conflict,