Valrico
15
January 2023
Volume 20, Issue 1
Ph: 813-657-2418
Y EIAN R REVIEW See Pages 31-35
CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
HELEN MULRENNAN YOUNG REFLECTS ON 100 YEARS OF COMMUNITY IMPACT
By Linda Chion
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
By Kathy L. Collins Eastern HillsCrossroads Produce is borough County located at 10463 County is the epicenter Road 39 in Lithia. They of Strawberry are open Monday through Season. Now Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 through the mid p.m and from 10 a.m. to 6 to end of March p.m. on Saturday and Sunis the time to day. Crossroads Produce is get and enjoy open year round and offers the ripest and fruits, vegetables, pickled sweetest strawitems and boiled peanuts berries grown along with flowers and right here in our plants. own backyard. The Market Several local at St. Martin’s producers and farmers offer Farm is located roadside stands that are the at 4802 James perfect spots to pick up some Redman Blvd. in of those delicious berries. Plant City. The Strawberry season runs from strawberries are late December to mid March grown on their and culminates with the Anfields. They are nual Strawberry Festival in open 10 a.m. to Now is the time to get fresh, ripe, deli- 6 p.m. daily. The Plant City. The Berry Barn, located at cious and locally grown strawberries. Market at St. 3931 S.R. 60 in Dover, is an The farms are abundant in the area Martin’s Farm is operating strawberry farm as are the produce markets where you open throughout can get the strawberries now through and the place to get fresh the year and ofmid March. strawberries along with othfers a delightful er fruits, vegetables and raw honey. The assortment of season fruits and vegetaBerry Barn has a kitchen that offers bles. up strawberry milkshakes, strawberry Lott’s First Choice Family Farms is shortcakes and more. The Berry Barn located at 804 SR 60 West in Plant City. is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. They were established in 1949 and are and only accepts cash. The Berry Barn is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to only open from January through March. 6:30 p.m. Parkesdale Market is located at 3702 Wolfe’s Produce Market is located W. Baker Street in Plant City. They are at 6005 U.S. Hwy 301 S. in Riverview. open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during They are open Monday to Saturday from strawberry season. Strawberries are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 6 grown on their farm. In addition, they p.m. on Sunday. Wolfe’s is open year offer their world famous strawberry round and offers a delightful selection of shortcakes and milkshakes. You can get fruits and vegetables in addition to the a wide variety of fresh fruits and vege- seasonal strawberries. tables throughout the year. Goodson Farms is located at 12405 County Road 672 in Wimauma. They are open Monday through Saturday from 10 ROSATI’S NEW OWNERS............... PG 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. Strawberries are grown MOTORING TAMPA BAY ................ PG 5 and harvested on site. They too offer HIKING WITH A VIKING ............... PG 8 a variety of treats such as strawberry shortcakes only during strawberry sea- EYE ON BUSINESS ..........................PG 25 YEAR IN REVIEW ......................PG 27-31 son.
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Known for her and children homeless “gracious heart and because of domestic positive spirit,” Helen violence. Mulrennan Young is “My crochet minisset to celebrate her try means everything 100th birthday on to me because when I Monday, February crochet, I concentrate 27. on what I’m doing Young is the and not on the things youngest and last that I can’t do,” Young surviving sibling of said, who suffers from a family whose pioadvancing arthritis. neering heritage in “I get satisfaction Eastern Hillsborough knowing that what County is duly noted I’m making is going to with the naming of bring joy into someMulrennan Middle one else’s life.” Photo courtesy of Helen Mulrennan Young. School in Valrico, For her wisdom Helen Mulrennan Young in 2022 upon which opened in and largesse, Young 2003 at 4215 Du- receiving the Spirit of Kiwanis Award at Beef in 2022 received ’O’ Brady’s in Apollo Beach. rant Rd. the Spirit of Kiwanis The school sits on land that was once the Award from District Governor Karla Nielsen homestead of Joseph and May Mulrennan during an Apollo Beach visit. Young, reads and their children, Annie Mae, John, Joe, the plaque, “with her gracious heart and Margaret, Bud, Frank, Tim and Helen. positive spirit inspires us all to become betYoung, in 2006, became the last surviv- ter servant leaders and to live our highest ing sibling with the passing of Martin ‘Bud’ and best lives.” Mulrennan at age 93, a farming pioneer By rights, Young never should have made with a citrus grower’s hat who managed it past her early years. “When I was 9, my the family’s 160-acre Mulrennan Groves, appendix ruptured, and back in those days now home to houses and the school. Her that was like getting a death warrant,” brother Joseph ‘Jody’ Mulrennan served as Young said. “In fact, the doctor told my parpresident of the Greater Brandon Chamber ents to start planning my funeral.” of Commerce, which he helped to establish What has kept her alive, Young said, is in 1959. her enduring faith. Also, that she eats a lot Also active in community life, Young is of vegetables, keeps medications at a minia member of the Kiwanis Club of Great- mum, has a holistic doctor, stays fit and acer Brandon, which her brother Bud joined tive and keeps her mind engaged. as a charter member in 1960. She is a Her faith has gotten her through her darklong-standing Cornerstone Baptist Church est days, Young said, most notably after her congregant, where she is known for her cancer diagnosis while taking care of a blind crochet ministry. husband battling Parkinson’s disease. For more than 23 years, Young has cro“There are a lot of struggles and joys in cheted blankets and hats for newborn ba- life,” Young said. “It takes those struggles to bies and afghan blankets for newly mar- appreciate the good times that you have beried couples. She crochets also for many cause if you had it good every day and you others, including cancer warriors, Tampa didn’t have to be concerned about anything, General Hospital patients and the Lioness you would just go along in life and take it all Project, whose mission is to help women for granted.”
TIS’ THE SEASON FOR FLORIDA STRAWBERRIES
entire purchase
Sunflower Cafe 3452 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico 813-65-SUSHI
Only valid with regular menu. With this coupon. Must present before submitting payment. Before tax. One coupon per visit. Not valid with other offers Offer expires 1/31/23
Congratulations to Our Favorite Things Sweepstakes Grand Prize winner Courtney Cook, Early Bird winners include Carol Poole with the Express Oil & Tire Engineers Riverview, Linda Greenfield with the McAuley Fine Jewelry Blue Topaz necklace and Jennifer Hydock with True Lies Fishing Charter. Thank you to all our sponsoring businesses & readers for entering!
3452 Lithia Pinecrest Rd, Valrico (Located in the SteinMart Plaza)
813-65-SUSHI
Mon - Fri 11:30-2:30 & 5-9 | Sat 12-9 Sundays 12-8:30 (Serving lunch until 3 p.m.)