Brandon/ Winthrop
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August 2025 Volume 20, Issue 8
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CELEBRATING 23 YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
BRANDON COUPLE IS THRILLED TO BE IN THE RUNNING AS AMERICA’S FAVORITE COUPLE
By Libby Hopkins
24/7 drop-off & pickBy Lily Belcher
doorstep delivery, w Cindy Tilley Tilley said grew up in fosChronister will ter care. Now, be attending 1928 East Bloomingdale Av she’s helping because many 1529 SouthofDale Mabry those that are the kids who Hw aging out of age out of fos- | Sca My.TideCleaners.com the state’s care ter care often through her end up in Chrononprofit, Fornister’s jails and gotten Angels. detention cenTilley was ters.OFF If they can % placed in the find a home at Dry cleaning order foster care sysForgotten AnPresent coupon at drop-off. Not valid on wash & laundry, household gels, items, fur, leather, wedd tem in fourth shesuede, hopes alterations. Participating locations only. No com grade. When will stay 6/30/25. 9/15/2025 with other coupons.they One-time use expires she aged out, out of trouble. OODC20 she learned Bert’s Barrawhat it is like to cuda Harley-Danot have a famvidson in Clearily and have to water is also figure things out sponsoring the on her own. celebration and She doesn’t has donated want other kids motorcycles for to know what Tilley’s team to Forgotten Angels hosts fundraising events in the that feels like. raffle off in the “I want to community throughout the year to support its mission. past. make sure that Forgotten Angels doesn’t “The motorcycle community has been fail them,” said Tilley, the group’s found- very supportive,” Tilley said. “A lot of the er. people we find do ride in different riding At the end of October, the organiza- groups. A lot of them have come from tion will host its 10-year anniversary different walks of life.” celebration, including a campout with She said it takes a lot of love and supguests, such as Sheriff Chad Chronis- port to help the children that age out of ter, food influencer Joel Hansen and The foster care. Bone’s Mike Calta. “These kids belong,” Tilley said. The campout will also be a fundrais- “They’re not someone you should be er for the organization so Tilley and her looking over. They shouldn’t be forgotteam can keep helping foster kids. ten.” “We get calls from schools all the time The 10th anniversary celebration and with kids that are living in their cars and campout will be held from Thursday to have nowhere to go at night,” Tilley said. Sunday, October 23-26. “So, those are our at-risk kids. So, for us, Tickets for the event cost $125. Day it’s just making sure that these kids have passes are $50. a chance in life where their parents have failed them.” She said people are coming from HANDS IN MOTION..............................PG 3 around the world to support the event, KIDS TAG ART..................................... PG 7 including campers from Denmark, CanaCHE VITA................................... ...........PG 18 da and the United Kingdom. Some of the celebrity guests are those SCHOOL GRADES,.................. ...........PG 22 who have been longtime supporters of EYE ON BUSINESS.........................PG 30 the organization.
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The search it.’” is on for the The finals ultimate love begin on Fristory with day, August the nation29, and end wide Ameron Thursday, ica’s FavorSeptember ite Couple 4. Votes will contest. The be reset, contest is and public hosted by voting will actor Jeff determine Goldblum which finaland his ist will be wife, Emi- Bonnie and Jim Parr of Brandon are contestants in the nationwide the winner lie Living- America’s Favorite Couple contest. The contest is hosted by actor of the 2025 ston, and is Jeff Goldblum and his wife, Emilie Livingston, and is sponsored by A m e r i c a ’ s s p o n s o r e d Variety magazine. The winning couple will get $20,000 and have Favorite Coutheir journey celebrated in a Variety advertorial. by Variety ple contest. magaThe ‘Grand zine. The Prize Winwinning ning Coucouple ple’ will be will get announced $20,000 on or and have around Fritheir journey celebrated in a Variety ad- day, September 19. vertorial. Whether you’re newlyweds, “We would both truly love to win the lifelong partners, or a dynamic duo with a contest,” Bonnie said. “It would be an story that inspires, entertains, or warms honor to be voted ‘America’s Favorite hearts, this is your moment to shine! Couple.’ We are thrilled to have gotten Local Brandon couple Jim and Bonnie this far. Many younger people have given Parr entered the contest and are cur- us the compliment that they want to be rently in the second spot for the ‘wild- like us when they retire. That makes us card’ portion of the contest. so happy, as we try every day to be an “Our love began at a singles dance,” example and stay in the ‘light.’ We love Bonnie said. “I wasn’t much of a dancer, life and cherish every moment of our life but Jim asked me to dance, and it just together. We are seldom seen apart. We came real easy. We hardly left the dance already plan on most of the money going floor that evening. We danced, talked, out to help others, through our church laughed and got to know each other.” and the various ministries we are a part The couple is still dancing 28 years of now.” later. If you would like to learn more about “Many people have said they would America’s Favorite Couple contest, you like to be like us when they are our ages, can visit its website at https://americaswhich are 78 and 81,” Parr said. “Our life favcouple.org. If you would like to learn centers around our faith, as we thank more about the Parrs, you can visit their God for putting us together. We also Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ have a motto: ‘If it’s not fun, we don’t do share/p/15jbwmuqLL.
FORGOTTEN ANGELS OFFERS A FUTURE Dry clean BEYOND THE FOSTER SYSTEM ANDsuit that TURNS 10 WITH CAMPOUT EVENT
New Hope Church of Brandon has partnered with the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace to help build the parts for 20-25 bunk beds for this year’s Bunks Across America, which takes place from Saturday, September 6, through Saturday, September 13. See Full Story on Page 7.
Expires: October 1, 2025