Brandon/Winthrop
15
September 2021
Volume 16, Issue 9
Ph: 657-2418
SEE $5 OFF $50 PAGE 28
CELEBRATING 19 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
HONORARY MAYOR CANFIELD CHAMPA BAY FIRE ENGINE BENEFITS LOCAL CHARITIES FINDS HOME IN BRANDON By Kate Quesada By Kate Quesada
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT #2397
events themselves were amazing and so much fun.” As part of her duties over the next year, Canfield will attend ribbon-cuttings for new businesses in the area. “I am really looking forward to attending the ribbon-cutThe 2021 Brandon Honorary Mayor’s Race, won by Melissa she Canfield, co-owner of Hi-Tech Automotive, raised money for four local charities. tings,” said. “It is fun Local charities are already benefitting to see new from the 2021 Brandon Honorary May- businesses open and succeed and I like or’s Race which took place over the sum- to be there to support them.” mer. Canfield received sponsorships from FishHawk resident and local business many local businesses she would like to owner Melissa Canfield was named may- thank, including The George Shea Team or in July after campaigning by holding (major sponsor), the Osprey Observevents and raising funds for weeks. She er (media sponsor), Valrico Law Group, recently presented checks from her fund- Cardinal Roofing, Canine Cabana, Marlin raising to the charities she ran to benefit. James AC, Dream Vacations, Chick-fil-A Raining Cats and Dogs Shelter and Sanc- Bloomingdale/Lumsden and HiTech Autuary and Rotary’s Camp Florida each re- tomotive. ceived $16,612.50; Canfield’s sponsoring As for advice to anyone interested in 501(c)(3), the Valrico FishHawk Cham- running for mayor in the future, Canfield ber of Commerce, received $4,430; and said to keep it simple. The Community Roundtable, which orga“Surround yourself with a group of nizes the event, received $6,645. hardworking, supportive people that see Canfield, co-owner of HiTech Automo- the bigger picture,” she said. tive along with husband Joe, had a com“Don’t get caught up in the event planmittee that helped her plan and run her ning and the amount of money that will events, something that she said was her be raised, but stay focused on the charfavorite part of the experience. ities, which are the real reason to ever “The committee was such a fantastic do this.” group of 15 people that loved and supTo learn more about Raining Cats and ported me the whole way,” she said. “I Dogs Shelter and Sanctuary, call 704have got to say that the events were my 4915, and visit rotaryscampflorida.org favorite part too. I know all the hard to learn more about Rotary’s Camp Florwork that went into them; however, the ida and it’s services.
be one of the most photographed fire engines in the nation. HCFR leadership hopes that the truck is a point of pride and morale boost for the more than 1,200 firefighters, paramedics and other members who have worked A new Champa Bay-themed fire truck is making its home at so hard for the past Hillsborough County Station 9 in Brandon. 18 months providing Hillsborough County Fire Rescue’s (HCFR) lifesaving services to the residents of Hillsnewest fire engine hit the streets of Bran- borough County. don this month, and it is impossible to miss. “We mainly just want to recognize the The new engine, named ‘CHAMPABAY’s Fire great spirit of this community,” said Jones. Truck,’ has been professionally wrapped with “We’ve had some great success with our pro sleek championship logos from the back- teams, and we just want to call that out with to-back Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay this brand-new fire truck.” Lightning, the Super Bowl Champion Tampa To learn more about Hillsborough County Bay Buccaneers and the American League Fire Rescue, visit www.hillsboroughcounty. Champion Tampa Bay Rays. org. The new engine will serve the residents of Hillsborough County from Station 9 in Brandon, one of the busiest stations in the county. Beaming with pride over the successes of Tampa Bay’s professional sports teams, HCFR’s CHAMPABAY’s Fire Truck was specially designed to recognize the accomplishments of the Bay area’s professional sports champions while retaining the reflective colors and other visual safety features of a traditional fire truck. The full length of the passenger’s side of CHAMPABAY’s Fire Truck is dedicated to the Lightning. The full driver’s side honors the Buccaneers, while the front and back of the truck celebrates the Rays. The new truck was professionally wrapped by FASTSIGNS Brandon and partially funded by HCFR partner Ten-8 Fire and Safety and Pierce Manufacturing. The wrap cost HCFR less than $7,000, while the majority of the cost was carried by the partners. “We are very proud of the teams that represent our community,” said Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Fire Chief Dennis Jones. “And we know these teams also support the community in many ways, just as the first FUN FRIDAYS ...........................................PG 3 responders do, so we felt it was a natural JUST AROUND THE CORNER PG 8 connection.” EYE ON BUSINESS ...................PGS 25-26 CHAMPABAY’s Fire Truck is expected to
IN THIS ISSUE:
FOOTBALL REVIEW..................PGS 31-33
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See pages 31-33 for our Sports Editor Nick Nahas’ excellent coverage of the Fall High School Varsity Football teams at our local area high schools. We will put the full series online at www.ospreyobserver.com. Have a great season!
