Bloomingdale/FishHawk
October 2018 Volume 17, Issue 10 Ph: 657-2418
See Our Coupon On Page 19 C E L E B R A T I N G
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Y E A R S
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Parents Form Non Profit To Make Schools Safer & Sponsor ‘Start with Hello’ Week
By Kate Quesada
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
HCSO Honors Deputy And Welcomes New K9 Morrell To The Team What makes K9 Morrell so special to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO)? It’s in the name! Although K9 Morrell is just a puppy, he has a big role to fill on team HCSO. Not only is he the youngest patrol dog on the DUI team eventually integrating with the SWAT Team, but also this energetic puppy carries on a legacy as the namesake for the beloved Deputy Larry Morrell. Deputy Morrell, a Valrico resident, lost his batDebbie Morrell tle to pancreatic meets K9 Morrell cancer in June 2017. Master Deputy Brian Pulido and Deputy Morrell spent eight years together on the DUI squad. Master Deputy Pulido proudly said, “Sheriff Chronister let me not only choose a name for this K9, but also gave me the honor of selecting him. That is just the close family environment Sheriff Chronister creates in this department.” K9 Morrell and Master Deputy Pulido are together 24/7 training, getting to know each other and building trust. “When comparing similarities, Deputy Morrell and K-9 Morrell both have a big heart and commitment to the service,” added Pulido. K9 Morrell is a Belgian Malinois born August 14, 2017. He joined the team in late August and will continue training to achieve his Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Certification at the end of October. Debbie Morrell, Deputy Morrell's widow and a third grade teacher at FishHawk Creek Elementary School, fell in love with K9 Morrell the first time she met him. As she gave Master Deputy
By Kathi Hayes
Pulido a hug and thanked him for honoring her late husband, she said, “He was a hero to many people and he will always be my hero.” The young puppy and Debbie Morrell bonded instantly. As she played with him, she laughed looking upward and said, “I think K-9 Morrell listens better than Larry.” “K9 Morrell is very special to all of us at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The late Deputy Larry Morrell's legacy lives on through this puppy that will quickly grow into a consummate protector of this great community. I'd like to think that Larry is smiling down on K9 Morrell and will be watching as he helps keep everyone safe," said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. For information about HCSO K9 Unit, visit www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/A-ZDirectory/K/K9-Unit.aspx or follow K9 Morrell on twitter #K9Morrell.
In This Issue HOA HOT TOPICS ...............................PG 7 FALL ACTIVITIES ...............................PG 10 BUDDY WALK...................................PG 13 EYE ON BUSINESS ....................PGS 25‐26 SPORTS CONNECTION...............PGS 32‐33 POLITICAL SECTION...................PGS 45‐53
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do today to help now Three and to make a lasting FishHawk impact.” moms are takNewsome High ing the huge School in Lithia is the task of making group’s pilot project, schools safer and with help from into their own school staff they have hands. identified three areas Jessica where equipment will Coffman, help make the school Tessa FishHawk residents Tessa Fullerton, Jessica safer immediately: Fullerton and Coffman and Jennifer Misnik have started a cameras Additional Jennifer non profit and are looking for help from the community to make schools safer. on campus, classMisnik recently room window coverings and additional PA founded The Coalition for School Safety speakers. The funding budget for these (CSS), a non-profit, 501(c)3 grass-roots organization planning to improve safety in projects is $100,000. “The county doesn’t have the money schools through the use of equipment for these items which can go a long way and early mental health intervention. towards making our kids safer,” said “We have all been disgusted by the Coffman. events that have taken place all over the The second way the group is working country in recent years,” said Coffman to make an impact is through early interwho has four children, ranging in age vention and a focus on mental health. from 6 to 18 years old, in local schools. “In every school there are students “Watching the headline we knew we had who feel left out and alone. Those stuto do something to make an impact for dents are more at risk to become victims our families.” of bullying, violence and depression,” said The tragic events that took place at Coffman. Stoneman Douglas High School in In an effort to reach those students, Parkland last February hit very close to CSS teamed up with ‘Start with Hello,’ a home for Coffman, whose nephew is a free program that raises awareness and student there. educates students in the community “After watching what happened there through activities, discussions and public and seeing what he and his friends went through, we decided we need to start act- proclamations. Created by the parents of students who suffered in the Sandy Hook ing now,” she said. tragedy, the program sponsors a ‘Start The group spent a lot of time brainstorming ways they could make the great- with Hello’ week in September every year. Newsome participated last month and est impact and after speaking with comCSS members have a goal of bringing it munity members and school officials to many more local schools, from elecame up with a two-part plan. mentary to high, next year. “We decided right away not to get For more information, visit www.coaliinto the politics of it,” said Fullerton, who tionforschoolsafety.com or find the group has two children, 16 and 20 years old. “Our goal was to find things that we could on Facebook.
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LITHIA Newsome High School, in conjunction with Coalition for School Safety, kicked off #StartwithHello week! Student Council, SGA and administration were all there to say HELLO, hand out beads, high five, cheer and sing to welcome students on campus. They are selling shirts in preparation for Green Out day on Friday, September 28 to support mental health awareness and kindness. For information, visit www.sandyhookpromise.org/startwithhelloweek and www.Coalitionforschoolsafety.com.
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