Bloomingdale/FishHawk
30
April 2023
Volume 22, Issue 4
48
Ph: 813-657-2418
CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
ALAFIA RIVER CANOE RENTALS HAS BEEN LOCAL SOURCE ON THE ALAFIA FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS
RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM DEDICATED TO INAUGURAL PRINCIPAL MARCIA ELLIOTT
By Lily Belcher
By Jonathan Hurst
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
Randall Middle was founded, ElSchool dedicated liott appealed to the gymnasium to local teachers to its inaugural princicome join her new pal, Marcia Elliott, staff and establish at the end of Feba school that the ruary. community would Elliott served as trust to educate Randall’s principal their kids. She also from its opening in broke from the 2000 until 2008 traditional sevand was responsien-period structure ble for laying the followed by most foundation of a schools and estabproductive learning lished a five-in-five A plaque in front of the gymnasium was fixed and teaching atmoblock that would alsphere for students to dedicate the gymnasium to Randall Middle low teachers to fully School’s first principal, Marcia Elliott. and faculty. dive into a topic “It was challengand ensure their ing at first because students underI wanted everything stood it before to be perfect for evgoing home for erybody. I wanted the day. an atmosphere that “It’s always everyone could live student-focused, and learn and be free and that’s alof having to worry ways what we’re about anything,” said trying to do, and Elliott. “… I wanted she really drilled everybody to feel that home. And [like] a part of the I think that has Current Randall Middle School Principal Claire school.” carried on,” said Mawhinney unveiled a plaque dedicating the The gymnasium media specialist gymnasium to Marcia Elliott. was officially proCynthia Hardy, claimed the Marcia Elliott Gymnasium who has worked at Randall since it opened. by the school board at the beginning of Elliott’s contributions to Randall Middle 2020 for the school’s 20th anniversary. School extended beyond overseeing the The gymnasium was chosen because, pri- construction of the building and formation or to serving as Randall’s principal, Elliott of a teaching staff. As the inaugural prinwas a physical education teacher. Due to cipal, she was responsible for establishing COVID-19, the school did not have a chance a mission statement, teaching environment to host a gathering of current and retired and student code of contact that would faculty and staff to recognize Elliott until withstand community, generational and sothis year. cial changes in the following years. “When she was here, she set a very strong foundation for both academics and student behavior. And it’s very hard to open a school because, not only do you have to RIVER HILLS CHILI COOK-OFF....PG 3 oversee the physical building of the school, KICKBALL TOURNAMENT..............PG 7 but you have to build the camaraderie,” COACH SPOTLIGHT..........................PG 11 said Claire Mawhinney, current principal of EYE ON BUSINESS.........................PG 25 Randall. When Randall’s middle school team SUMMER CAMP GUIDE .............. SEC 3
IN THIS ISSUE:
Postal Customer
ECRWSS EDDM
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT #2118
For those looking cal flood waters that for a fun activity for would come around the whole family or their house — and maybe just an afterultimately returned noon in nature, look with four of them. no further than Alafia Over the next decade River Canoe Rentals, or so, those four calocated on the banks noes grew into a fleet of the Alafia River just of canoes and kayaks, off of Lithia Pinecrest peaking close to 200 Road. Tucked among in the 1990s. While the trees, Alafia Rivthe success sparked er Canoe Rentals has two other canoe served the Southrentals nearby in the Sybil, owner and operator of Alafia River eastern Hillsborough Canoe Rentals, has maintained this local past, in 2023, Alafia County area for close River Canoe Rentals business since 1976. to 50 years. For a stands alone as the mere $25 for a full oldest canoe rental day’s rental of a cafor the Alafia River. noe, it is difficult not “We just stuck to have a good time it out through the navigating the twists floods and some and turns of the Alatougher times, and fia. we are still here,” When you pull up Sybil said. to Alafia River CaWhile it has sold noe, you are quickly off about half of greeted by owner those canoes in reand founder Sybil (who cent times, that has prefers her last name not not led a downturn, as be used), from where she the company is firmly operates the business beentrenched in the comneath her house, as she munity it serves, and has for decades. From the there are no plans to time you approach the go anywhere anytime stand to when you return soon. Most popular in to the docks, Sybil is the the springtime, as that epitome of customer seris when the river is the vice. With her answering most stable, it attempts any questions you may to operate year-round. have about the river and the area she If you find yourself interested, it is recknows like the back of her hand, you can ommended to call ahead of time to make feel confident that you will have a great sure the river is navigable. For more inday on the river when renting here. formation, call 813-689-8645 or visit its This long-standing business came to be Facebook page, Alafia River Canoe Rentin 1976 when Sybil’s husband went out als. It is located at 4419 River Dr. in Valto get a canoe to navigate the periodi- rico.
Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival has returned with a globally inspired culinary experience featuring 79 chef-crafted and mixologist curated tastes inspired by cultures from around the world. Plus, 23 headlining acts from different genres will take the stage throughout 11 event weekends. The festival runs now through Sunday, May 21.
04/30/2023
$40 OFF BRAKES Includes Free Brake Inspection Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
04/30/2023