Bloomingdale/FishHawk See O u Ad O n r Page 21
FEBRUARY 2017 Volume 16, Issue 2 Ph: 657-2418 C E L E B R A T I N G
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Bloomingdale Welcomes Brodie As New Full Time Community Resource Deputy
100 Camp Out To Welcome New Valrico Chick-fil-A Location
The first order allows our of business for the resource deputies new year at the to focus on their Hillsborough own communities,” County Sheriff’s Bullara said. Office Brodie joined Bloomingdale HCSO as a U.S. Community Navy veteran in Substation’s 1994, and has monthly meeting served in a numwas something ber of positions area residents within the departhave been anticiment, which pating since last included a sevensummer. assignyear-long Photo By Billy Hightower While ment as resource Newly selected HCSO Bloomingdale Community Resource Deputy, James Brodie, deputy at addressing a front left, is joined by District 4 Major Robert number of Bullara, HCSO Detective James Howell, County Eisenhower changes for the Code Enforcement officer Christine McCombs Middle School in and Gibsonton Community Resource Deputy Apollo Beach. coming year, the Luke Hussey. small group of “I am a peoregular attendees gathered last month at ple person,” Brodie said. “It is great to be the station, 3622 Erindale Dr., in Valrico, back into this phase of law enforcement also welcomed HCSO Deputy James and to work closely with residents in the Brodie as the community’s new full time community again.” resource deputy. “I am honored and feel privileged to A graduate of Armwood High School, have been chosen as the Bloomingdale Brodie, 47, a local resident and a 23-year Community Resource Deputy,” he said. “I veteran with the Sheriff’s Office, is ready couldn't have asked for a better introducto take on his new role in place of Deputy tion. I am very impressed with the memLuke Hussey, who accepted the position bers of this community, their involvement in August of 2016 following the retirement and their passion to ensure the safety of Master Deputy Curtis Warren. and the security of their community and Warren served the Bloomingdale neighborhood.” community as CRD since 2010, following Brodie wants to focus on local projthe retirement of Pete Maurer, who ects such as neighborhood clean ups and served the station for 12 years. the annual drug take back event, while Hussey, was also serving as the promoting vigilance on the part of each Gibsonton CRD and was chosen to fill in member of the community. for Warren, on a potentially permanent “One of the biggest issues we have basis, until HCSO’s District 4 Major to deal with is crime of opportunity,” he Robert Bullara decided to let Brodie take said. To contact the Sheriff’s Office, the helm in Bloomingdale. Bloomingdale Community Substation, “This was a sensible decision and please call 242-5501.
Filled with occasion. “It’s a variety of totally worth it,” festive and he added. “It’s charitable camping, it’s events includfun, it’s suping awarding porting the the first 100 community customers and, of course, with a year free food. That supply of about sums it Chick-fil-A up for me.” meals, Owned Valrico’s first and operated stand-alone by Paul and 5,300-square- A large group of Chick-fil-A fans who were among the Tammy first 100 adults that won a one-year supply of free foot Chick-filHolmberg, the Chick-fil-A meals, at Valrico’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant, A restaurant new restaurant are enjoying a drumming session directed by Drum Circle Facilitator Jana Broder, owner of Drum Magic. is located at opened on time and as 2010 scheduled last month. Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico, and is a Appropriately called, First 100, much-welcomed addition to the recently Chick-fil-A’s signature event, which dates opened Crest Pointe Towne Plaza, back to 2003, makes room for the first anchored by the new Walmart 100 local customers to camp out on Supercenter. restaurant’s parking lot for 24 hours leadTo keep the diehard Chick-fil-A fans ing up to grand opening. and campers occupied during the day, The new restaurant brings close to restaurant owners arranged for a 30100 jobs to the community and becomes minute Zumba Class as well as a drumthe 22nd Chick-fil-A location within a 25ming to the beat session courtesy of mile radius of Valrico. Drum Magic, which supplied each particiChick-fil-A opened its first Florida Continued on Page 8 restaurant in 1971 at Cordova Mall in Pensacola. For days leading up to the ribbon In This cutting ceremony on Thursday morning, Issue January 26, 2017, restaurant management and experienced staff from near and far welcomed hundreds of local resiHOA HOT TOPICS ...............................PG 7 dents and guests, to take part in the traFUNDRAISER FOR STUDENT...............PG 9 ditional opening festivities. Thanks to the helping hands of the HURRICANE SAFETY .........................PG 18 fist 100 customers who have camped out MOTORING ......................................PG 27 overnight awaiting their reward, events included the preparing food to treat the SPORTS CONNECTION...............PGS 32‐33 needy at local charities with Chick-fil-A CHALKLINES .....................................PG 37 meals as well as putting together 10,000 meals for the Feed Children Everywhere ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT................PG 42 organization. EYE ON BUSINESS...........................PGS 45 “This is my third Chick-fil-A , First 100 campout,” said USF student, READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE Jonathan Valentine, who showed with a group of his friends to support the festive www.ospreyobserver.com
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Randall Middle School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) student Natalie Santiago, 12, right, smiles for the camera, while classmate Andrew Caceres, 13, helps Stella Mann of Valrico learn how to use her iPad during the school’s annual MLK Service Day. The technology tutoring session was just one of many community outreach events held at the school and throughout surrounding area. Read more on the Randall MLK Service Day in this edition.
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