Valrico
April 2025
Volume 22, Issue 4
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than 12,000 animals BLOOMINGDALE Day Camp: K-12th Grade SOFTBALL -class coasters, NATALIE CABLE REACHES Resident 7th-12th Grade Tampa BayCamp: ens®STANDOUT 1,000 CAREER STRIKEOUTS both animal lovers REGISTER NOW By Nick Nahas seekers alike. Bloomingdasince she was 6 le BuschGardens.com/camps High School years old. She th p: K-12 softball Grade star comes from an th (813) th 884-4FUN (4386) pitcher Natalie athletic backmp: 7 -12 Grade Cable’s goal has ground. Her mom always been to played field hockreach 1,000 caey at the Univerreer strikeouts sity of Maryland, ©2025 United Parks & Resorts, Inc. since she started her dad played as a freshman. club rugby at the She reached her Naval Academy goal on March 11 and her sister against Plant High plays softball as School. well. Reaching that Cable helped marker is a rare lead her team to Photos courtesy of the Bloomingdale High School. a record-breaking accomplishment for a high school Natalie Cable is a University of California, Los Angeles, season last year ©2025 United Parks & Resorts, Inc. softball signee. pitcher. Cable as a junior. It was went into the game the first time in program against Plant knowhistory that the Lady ing that she had to get Bulls went undefeated in six strikeouts to reach the regular season, and 1,000. She was locked it was their first regional into the game and didn’t championship since they know until afterward won the state champithat she hit her mark in onship in 2014. She also a 7-0 victory. Her coach, broke the school record Leah Pemberton, gave for most strikeouts in a her the game ball after season last year. the win, and her mom Cable has a big fulet her know that she ture ahead of her, not reached her goal. The just involving softball. team celebrated with her She plans to major in after the game. biochemistry and wants “It was such a surreal to attend med school at moment because we’ve UCLA as well. Her goals Natalie Cable reached 1,000 career been talking about this for right now are to help since my freshman year,” strikeouts against Plant High School on lead her team to the March 11. said Cable. “We celebratstate championship and ed with the team, and I got posted about win Gatorade Pitcher of the Year. on the team Instagram page, so that was “This is a big stepping stone,” said Cable. pretty exciting.” “I’m going to college next year, so it’s really The University of California, Los Angeles helping me prepare for the next level. It’s an(UCLA), signee has been playing softball other milestone to get me ready for college.”
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Every weekday, over volunteer, reflected on 200 of Brandon’s most nearly 42 years of servulnerable residents vice, stating, “It’s so receive a visit from fulfilling to know that a Greater Brandon people who truly need Meals on Wheels volthese meals are receivunteer driver delivering them.” ing a hot meal and a Both Parker and Murfriendly face. These phy were presented residents have been with special certificates carefully screened for at the luncheon for need, and without the their remarkable condaily meal delivery, tributions. many would have little Participating churchto no contact with othes in the program inGreater Brandon Meals on Wheels vol- clude: ers during the week. However, the Great- unteers Roberta Murphy (left) and Sue Monday: Parker were recognized for more than 42 er Brandon Meals on • First United Methodyears of volunteering service. Wheels program is ist Church of Seffner. facing a challenge. With two churches • Kings Avenue Baptist Church. stepping back from their commitment to • Westminster Presbyterian Church. the service — affecting an effort that alTuesday: ready involves more than 17 local church• St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church. es and volunteers — some of the most • Apostles Lutheran Church. at-risk community members may lose this • Presbyterian Church of Bloomingdale. crucial service. Wednesday: “We’re in urgent need, especially on • Nativity Catholic Church. Tuesdays,” said Mac MacEwen, presi• First Presbyterian Church of Brandon. dent and volunteer at the Presbyterian • Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church. Church of Seffner. “One church has al• Presbyterian Church of Seffner. ready stopped, and another will finish at Thursday: the end of March. We need more churches • First Baptist Church of Brandon. and volunteers to fill the gap and continue • St. Stephen Catholic Church. supporting these vulnerable residents.” • Brandon Christian Church. MacEwen highlighted the issue at the • Rich Valley Church. 2025 annual Volunteer Luncheon held at Friday: First Baptist Church of Brandon, where • New Hope Church. over 230 volunteers, including drivers, • First Baptist Church of Dover. chefs, bakers and coordinators, gathered For more information or to refer someone to mark 49 years of Meals on Wheels in in need, contact general coordinator Carol the community. Shick at 813-404-1973. Those interested in During the event, two dedicated mem- volunteering or becoming a participating bers of New Hope Church in Brandon, for- church can reach MacEwen at davidkmacemerly First United Methodist, were hon- wen@gmail.com. Visit www.brandonmealored for their decades of service. sonwheels.com for more details. Sue Parker, who has volunteered for 49 years, recalled when the program first began. CHICK-FIL-A FRESH LOOK...............PG 3 “I remember when it all started. I’ve been a volunteer, a cook, and it’s the abil- FOOD BANK NEW PROGRAM........PG 6 ity to serve the community that’s kept me MOSI NEW PLANETARIUM.........PG 16 coming back,” she said. FLORIDA HAWKS FC......................PG 24 Roberta Murphy, another longtime SUMMER CAMPS...................SECTION 2
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