Riverview/Apollo Beach Sip & savor through flavorful eats SELECT DATES
mar. 9 – may 19 Concerts included with admission! ©2024 United Parks & Resorts, Inc.
Read About Concert Lineup On Page ___ 22
March 2024
Volume 22, Issue 3
Ph: 813-657-2418
See Our Summer Camp Guide On Pages 37-45
CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
14TH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL IS EAST BAY RACEWAY IN FINAL LAP: CLOSING SET FOR OCTOBER BACK WITH GOOD MUSIC, FOOD By Sharon Still & FUN FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS It is the time with his By Makenzie Atkins festival, was born and raised in south Louisiana and grew up eating Cajun-style food. Being able to combine his passion for Cajun food and his passion for helping the community is what makes this festival so special to him. “Getting crawfish around here can be challenging, so the crawfish fanatics have made the event what it is today,” said Broussard, “and the support of the community has been incredible.” All Crawfish Festival proceeds support charitable causes. Beneficiaries include community organizations working to alleviate poverty, illiteracy, hunger and disease. Funds also provide area youth scholarships and leadership development. Last year, the FishHawk-Riverview Rotary Club Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, awarded $35,000, with roughly 90 percent allocated locally. For more information and a complete list of recipients, visit www.fishhawkriverviewrotary.org. The Rotary Club is excited to bring the 14th annual Crawfish Festival presented by ‘Laissez le Bon Temps Rouler’ title sponsor Chris Ligori & Associates back for the community to enjoy good music, good food and good company. To learn more about the Crawfish Festival, prepurchase meals or sign up as a sponsor or vendor, please visit www. luvcrawfish.com.
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT #2118
Fourteen years ago, two friends were looking for a way to raise money for the Rotary Club and give back to local charities and high schools. From this passion, the Crawfish Festival was started to bring the community together with good food, shopping and entertainment. This year, the 14th annual Crawfish Festival is on Saturday, April 13 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Founders Square Park in Winthrop Town Centre. The free event will feature live music, food vendors, kids’ activities and shopping for everyone to enjoy. Guests can purchase meals during the event or avoid the lines and purchase online ahead of time. If you are bringing the whole crew, purchase the Family Pack for $70, which includes two Cajun-style crawfish dinners with corn and potatoes, your choice of two ho tdogs or hamburgers, two beers and two nonalcoholic beverages. You can also purchase individual Cajun-style crawfish dinners with corn and potatoes for just $25. There will be a la carte items for purchase with Crawfish Cash, including pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, smoked fish spread, red beans and rice, gumbo, drinks and more. Advance purchase of tickets and Crawfish Cash is highly recommended. Michael Broussard, co-founder of the
end of an grandchildren. era for TamAs for East pa residents Bay Raceway and racing Park, Varnaenthusiasts dore said that from around Mosaic will the country, use the propas East Bay erty as an Raceway Park extension to is set to close Head out to East Bay Raceway Park and pick up some race its two phosthis fall. Feb- merchandise to keep the memories of the track alive after it phate stacks, closes in October. ruary marked explaining the final Winternathat he has been told tionals at the famed 3 feet will be removed 1/3-mile dirt track, from the ground surand when racing seaface and leveled. son concludes in OcWhile the winter tober the local icon months attract the will close its gates most fans to East Bay for good. Raceway Park, there East Bay Raceway is still excitement Park opened in 1977 and ahead for those who three generations of want to experience the race fans have flocked nostalgia before it ends. to the warm weather “Any of our Late Modto kick off racing seael and Sprint Car events son. Current owner and are great entertainment president Al Varnadore, for the family,” he said. born and raised in DoLucas Oil Dirt Late ver, has been at the Models have been an helm for the last 22 attraction at the track years and has seen the since 2005. He addindustry change over ed that it was standtime with costs skyrocketing, driving ing-room-only at Winternationals and out the everyday people building cars in expects an even larger crowd at the their backyards and focusing on preci- track’s ‘Grand Finale,’ a $50,000-to-win sion and specialty-built vehicles. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race As what Varnadore refers to as “the that concludes the season on Saturday, right time,” in 2019, the park entered October 12. into a purchase agreement with The East Bay Raceway Park is located at Mosaic Company, a phosphate-mining 6311 Burts Rd. in Tampa, just off U.S. 41, company which owns all the neighboring and can be reached at 813-677-7223; properties. The agreement gave Mosaic Check out its event schedule and find the option to purchase the 28 acres in more information at https://ebrp.co/. five years. Five years have passed, and the planned sale will go through in 2024. Varnadore commented, “It is bitter- SUN N FUN..............................................PG 3 sweet. The cost of racing has gone up MOTORING..............................................PG 5 so much that the market is killing itself.” ESTATE PLANNING............................PG 6 He plans to stay around the racing EYE ON BUSINESS ..........................PG 25 scene but added that he turns 65 in May and it’s time to slow down and spend RAPTOR CENTER OF TAMPA......PG 46
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Do you love the game of pickleball? Enter in the tournament as a single player or grab some friends and play as a team in the Impact Program’s third semi-annual Pickleball Tournament with an Impact fundraiser on Saturday, March 23, at High 5 Inc. All proceeds from the event will go to Impact, which promotes healthy lifestyles and relationships to teens. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.whatisimpact.com.
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