VALRICO EDITION
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February 2026 Volume 23, Issue 2
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23 SEE OUR AD ON PAGE _____
CELEBRATING 24 YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
BLOOMINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL
DRUMLINE KICKS OFF HILLSBOROUGH DAY AT THE CAPITOL
By Jane Owen
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT #1456
Spending time with the students was part of that. Jordan Fraze, Bloomingdale’s band director, said it was an honor for Bloomingdale to be selected to represent The Bloomingdale High School Drumline at Hillsborough Day at the Capitol. Hillsborough County’s muOn January 28, sic education community leadprograms. ers and business “The stuowners from Hilldents walked sborough County away from invaded the state’s this event capital. Hillsborwith a feeling ough Day at the of pride knowCapitol is a day ing that they when people from represented Hillsborough County set sail for Tallahassee to share the their school and county well through their heritage of the county and connect with performance,” Fraze said. Jon Sever, supervisor of secondary mulawmakers. This year, for the first time, Hillsborough sic education for HCPS, said BloomingdaCounty Public Schools (HCPS) kicked off le students left a powerful impression on the event with pomp and circumstance. everyone. “The Bloomingdale High School DrumBloomingdale Senior High School’s drumline played and represented the music pro- line delivered an outstanding performance, showcasing not only their remarkable mugrams of Hillsborough County schools. School board member Patti Rendon said sicianship but also the pride, discipline and Hillsborough Day at the Capitol was excit- excellence of Hillsborough County and Hillsborough County schools,” Sever said. ing. The students shined on Capitol Day, and “It was an incredible day for our community. I was excited watching Blooming- HCPS made their trip impactful. The day before the event, Bloomingdadale High School band perform. They put on an impressive performance,” Rendon le’s students were able to visit Florida State University (FSU). They observed a said. Rendon was thankful that Lt. Gov. Jay rehearsal for the FSU Symphonic Band, Collins and State Representative Danny took a tour of campus and attended Alveraz took time to visit with Blooming- a masterclass given by the marching dale’s students after their performance. chief’s Big 8 Drumline. They learned They were there to collaborate on is- practice techniques at FSU to further sues that matter to Hillsborough County. their musicianship.
By Libby Hopkins
LeAnne Crabtree of Seffner is an author, a motivational speaker and the owner of LeAnne’s Old Fashioned Cookie. Her cookies have been warming the hearts and igniting the taste buds of her customers for more than 36 years. Crabtree is known for having a servant’s heart and LeAnne Crabtree of Seffner poses with her solid gold flute from the Wm. S. Haynes giving back to her Company, a lifelong dream that now plays a role in her motivational speaking as she continues to inspire the community through faith, music and service. community whenever she gets the “The company makes a solid gold flute chance. Her two books, God Has a Sweet what I absolutely fell in love with when I Tooth and The Encourager, have inspired saw it,” Crabtree said. “I knew owning a many people in our community. gold flute was something I would never “I love being a part of this community and have, or so I thought.” giving back to it when I can,” Crabtree said. One day, while her husband was at work, In addition to being a baker, entrepre- God spoke to him and told him his wife neur, motivational speaker and author, deserved to have her dream come true of Crabtree can now add ‘performer’ to her owning the gold flute, Crabtree said. resume. “When he came home from work, he “Ever since I was little, I loved playing the told me what God had told him and he said flute,” Crabtree said. “I always wanted to to me, ‘We are going to get you your gold have my own gold flute made by the Wm. flute,’ and I was in total shock,” Crabtree S. Haynes Company. My father’s friend had said. “It took a few months, but when it arone of their flutes, and he let me play it. It rived, I was so thankful.” was an absolutely amazing experience that Crabtree did a live unboxing of her flute I have carried with me my entire life.” on her Facebook page and even played it The Wm. S. Haynes Company is one of the for her followers. oldest flute-making companies in the world. Now, her gold flute goes everywhere The company started in 1888 making wood with her. During her motivational speaking flutes. By the 1920s, it started making silver sessions, she plays her flute for her audiflutes. In 1935, the Wm. S. Haynes Compa- ence. ny made the first American platinum flute “I love how my flute has helped me to infor the leading flutist of the time, Georges spire so many people,” Crabtree said. “It’s Barrère. truly a gift from God.” The Haynes Company has such a long and If you would like to learn more about rich history that it is no wonder some of Crabtree or buy one of her books, visit her the most eminent flutists in the world are website at https://leannecrabtree.com/. so attached to their Haynes instruments. Principal flutists of the world’s greatest orchestras, international soloists and recording artists, college professors at the most THE GALLERY TAMPA......... .............PG 3 elite musical and academic institutions — MAYOR’S RACE....................................PG 6 professionals at the very highest levels of KAPPA UPSILON.................... ...........PG 12 artistry and achievement every day trust STRAW FEST QUEEN............ ...........PG 18 their Haynes flutes to inspire, challenge and EYE ON BUSINESS..........................PG 34 enrich their musical lives.
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