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mar. 9 – may 19 Concerts included with admission! ©2024 United Parks & Resorts, Inc.
23
March 2024
Volume 21, Issue 3
Ph: 813-657-2418
Read About Concert Lineup On Page ___ 12
CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
A KID’S PLACE RECEIVES $50,000 GRANT AFTER STAFFER IS NAMED LIGHTNING COMMUNITY HERO
ARMWOOD UNVEILS INNOVATIVE STEAM LAB WITH RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AND OPEN HOUSE Staff Report
The Lightning ity of its choice Community Heat each home roes program game, where is the signature celebrating the p h i l a n t h ro p i c community heinitiative of the roes has become Lightning Founa beloved signadation and has ture moment. To been lauded for date, the proits innovative gram has honcontributions ored more than t h r o u g h o u t Local resident and A Kid’s Place youth counselor Sharon 575 heroes the sports Alvarez was a recent recipient of the Tampa Bay Lightning and distributCommunity Heroes Award. community. ed more than In 2011, Lightning $31M to nearly 750 owner Jeff Vinik, along unique nonprofits. with his wife, Penny, Alvarez did not know launched the program she was nominated for as a collaboration the Tampa Bay Lightwith the Vinik Famining Community Hely Foundation and the roes Award. Lightning Foundation “I had no idea I had to celebrate deserving been nominated for the heroes and distribute award,” Alvarez said. “I funding to nonprofits was at a staff meeting throughout the Tampa where I got an award Bay community. for being at A Kid’s Recently, A Kid’s Place for 15 years. Place employee Sharon When they told me I Alvarez was honored won. I had no clue.” as the recipient. She is Alvarez was truly a youth counselor at A Kid’s Place and honored to be nominated. loves working with the children at the “I was happy just to be honored at A local nonprofit. Kid’s Place with the 15 years of service “I’m known for my cooking,” Alvarez award,” Alvarez said. “It was amazing said. “The kids love when I cook and al- winning the Hero Award. The ultimate ways want to help when I do cook for prize was that A Kid’s Place was presentthem. When a new child comes into A ed with $50,000 that will help our orgaKid’s Place, I ask them what they like to nization.” eat, and I do my best to make it for them. If you would like to learn more about It’s a way for me to get the child to open the Tampa Bay Lightning Community Heup.” roes Award, you can visit their website Since it was established in 2011, the at www.nhl.com/lightning/community/ Lightning Community Heroes program community-heroes. For more information has been honored to celebrate a local hero about A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay, visit and donate $50,000 to a nonprofit char- https://akidsplacetb.org.
Armwood High skills can help them School was proud achieve their profesto celebrate the ofsional goals, whatevficial unveiling of its er those might be.” STEAM Lab space Armwood High with a ribbon-cutting School faculty, staff, ceremony on Februstudents and other ary 21. supporters of STEAM The ceremony feaeducation were in tured notable speakattendance at the ers, including Prinrecent open house. cipal Dina Langston, The session offered a representatives from comprehensive overthe Building Excelview of the lab’s calence Foundation, Ampabilities, including azon representatives professional developand esteemed school ment opportunities board members. for educators interAmong the guests ested in integrating was Ted Newfield, innovative technolocomputer science gies into their curricteacher at Armwood ulums. and the STEAM Lab “We are thrilled project lead, whose Armwood High School recently celebrated to unveil this new vision and dedication the opening of its new STEAM Lab, made STEAM lab space, have been instrumen- possible with a $25,000 grant in honor of which represents a STEAM teacher Ted Newfield. tal in bringing this significant milestone project to fruition. in our commitment to Funds for the new fostering excellence in edSTEAM Lab were providucation,” remarked Prined through an Amazon cipal Dina Langston. “This award granted to Newinitiative would not have field in 2023. Newfield been possible without was one of just 10 selectthe determination of Mr. ed among thousands of eligible teachers Newfield, our computer science teacher, as an Amazon Future Engineer Teacher and the unwavering support of our comof the Year Award recipient and received munity partners and stakeholders.” $25,000 to expand computer science Armwood High School is located at and/or robotics education at his school. 12000 U.S. 92 in Seffner. It was recentThe Amazon Future Engineer program is ly recognized with a National Award of a computer science and STEM education Merit Distinction from Magnet Schools program that seeks to afford all young of America. For more information, visit people the opportunity to explore their www.hillsboroughschools.org/armwood. potential. “We were excited to fund the development of Armwood High School’s STEAM Lab and equally thrilled to join 2023 Am- TAMPA BAY RODEO..........................PG 3 azon Future Engineer Teacher of Year EASTBAY RACEWAY CLOSING.....PG 5 Ted Newfield to celebrate opening the ESTATE PLANNING............................PG 6 space to students,” said Sam Blatt, economic development manager at Amazon. EYE ON BUSINESS.................PGS 22-23 “We want students to know how explor- SUMMER CAMP.....................SECTION 2 ing and building foundational STEAM
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29 Years in Brandon! SUN’n FUN Aerospace Expo celebrates its 50th Anniversary during the fly-in, April 9-14. The celebration kicks off with an Opening Day Concert, featuring Dylan Scott with special guest Sara Evans. Daily airshows will include demonstrations by the USAF Thunderbirds, the USN F-18 Super Hornet Demo Team, Tora Tora Tora and Ghost Squadron. Full story on page 33.