Bloomingdale/ FishHawk
March 2025 Volume 24, Issue 3
LAST Your CHANCE! Transform Sale Up ToHome with Up to 25% OFF Select Flooring
60! *
See Our Ad On Home to more than Page 12,000 animals 38 coasters, and world-class
%OFF
WATERPROOF FLOORS
See Our Ad On Page 31 Ph: 813-657-2418 Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay has camps animal C E L E for B R both ATIN G 2 3lovers YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS and thrill seekers alike.
* SELECTED FLOORS
than 12,000 animals ALAFIA CANOE RENTALS REOPENS FOR th Day Camp: K-12 Grade -classADVENTURES coasters, AFTER HURRICANE DAMAGE th th ® Resident Camp: 7 -12 Grade ens Tampa Bay By Marie Gilmore double lovers hurrithe Cribbs family to both The animal REGISTER NOW canes that battered make their home livseekers alike. the region in 2024 able again. The wish caused significant list is still active, BuschGardens.com/camps th along the damage seeking to replace life p: K-12 Grade Alafia(813) River, 884-4FUN even jackets and paddles (4386) th th reaching areas that lost in the flood. mp: 7 -12 Grade had never floodThe grand reopened before. For Sybil ing celebration will Cribbs, who has lived feature food trucks, and worked from her bounce houses and a ©2025 United Parks & Resorts, Inc. river home since the chance to thank ev1960s, this was an eryone who contribunprecedented event. uted to the business’ Sybil, who has operatrecovery. Sybil, who ed Alafia Canoe Rent- Alafia Canoe Rentals owner Sybil Cribbs sur- is recovering from a als since 1976, saw rounded by her family, who are reopening the broken hip she suffloodwaters reach the legacy family business on Saturday, March 8. fered just before the second floor of her home — hurricanes, will be there to something she had never greet customers and celexperienced before. ebrate her 85th birthday ©2025 United Parks & Resorts, Inc. In the days following with the community. the storm, family, friends, “We’ve kept the rental neighbors and local Rotarprice at $25 for an all-day ians came together to help canoe rental,” Sybil shared. restore this beloved com“With food trucks and munity business. Now, after spring break just around months of hard work, Alathe corner, it’s the perfect fia Canoe Rentals is set to time for a river adventure.” reopen on Saturday, March Alafia Canoe Rentals be8. Sybil’s granddaughter, gan in 1976 when Sybil’s Lindsey Cribbs, and future husband, trying to navigate son-in-law, Brian Brading, will lead the the floodwaters near their home, returned grand reopening festivities, marking a new with not one but four canoes. Those four chapter for the riverfront business. canoes grew into a fleet of nearly 200 “Hurricane Milton really hit us hard,” by the 1990s. Although two other canoe said Brittany Brading. “But with the help rentals popped up nearby over the years, of our incredible community and the Rota- Alafia Canoe Rentals is still the oldest on ry Club, we’re ready to welcome everyone the river. back to the oldest canoe rental on the Ala“We’ve been through floods, tough fia River.” times and a lot of hard work, but we’re Immediately after the storms, volun- still here,” Sybil said. teers from the community gathered to If you’re planning to visit, it’s recomhelp restore the site, lifting canoes back mended to call ahead to confirm river onto racks, clearing away over 2.3 tons of conditions. For more details, call 813-689debris and rebuilding walls and the roof of 8645 or visit Alafia River Canoe Rentals’ the house. Donations, including those from Facebook page. The business is located at an online Amazon wish list, have allowed 4419 River Dr. in Valrico.
TER NOW
By Lily Belcher
In the 10 years “[Busciglio] Cheryl Busciglio has plays a pretty good been playing golf at amount of golf, but River Hills Country even she was just Club, she has never kind of amazed scored a hole in one. at what just hapMuch less two. pened,” said Pacana. That is until the Pacana said they beginning of Februrecognized her at ary. the tournament and Busciglio hit a have broadcast her pair of holes in one accomplishment all during a club tournaover social media. ment event she was He said the monthplaying in with some ly tournament at the friends. golf club, includ“Everybody’s exing both men’s and cited,” she said. women’s groups, “We’re all happy and Cheryl Busciglio hit two holes in one at the hosts around 65-70 beginning of February, a rare feat. never expecting for players. it to happen again.” “It’s just an aweThere is a one-insome feat,” he said. 67-million chance “It’s something that of someone scoring not many people can two holes in one in ever say that they’ve the same round. had. … It’s a pretty “I was just cool experience to stunned and just have at our club.” couldn’t believe that Busciglio will it happened again continue to play in because for it to monthly tournahappen once is, like, ments, but she said crazy itself,” she she is not expecting said. to hit another pair of Busciglio, 73, holes in one again. switched to golf “It’s always just after tennis began for fun,” she said. taking too heavy of Cheryl Busciglio hit two holes in one at the “It’s just for fun.” beginning of February, a rare feat. a toll on her knees. For more informaGolf is a little easier on the body, she tion about River Hills Country Club, losaid. cated at 3943 New River Hills Parkway She said her favorite part of the sport in Valrico, or to join the club, visit www. is getting to be outside with friends. riverhillscountryclub.com or call 813“Just getting out and being among 653-1554. everybody and out in the sunshine,” she said. “It’s a hard, but fun, game.” She plays two or three times a week, CHICK-FIL-A 27TH YEAR..............PG 3 typically in the morning at the club. MOTORING TAMPA BAY ................PG 7 The club’s head golf professional, Eric Pacana, said they’ve seen two holes in SOUP FOR THE SOUL ........................PG 9 one on the same day, but never from the FLOORINGMASTER .............. ...........PG 17 same person. SUMMER CAMPS..................SECTION 2
IN THIS ISSUE:
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
ECRWSS EDDM
Postal Customer
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT #1456
ens.com/camps -4FUN (4386)
LOCAL GOLFER CHERYL BUSCIGLIO HITS RARE PAIR OF HOLE IN ONES DURING RIVER HILLS TOURNAMENT
Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
See Our Summer Camp Guide Section Two
1/31/2024 2/29/2024 3/31/2025
$40 OFF BRAKES Includes Free Brake Inspection Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
2/29/2024 3/31/2025 1/31/2024