Valrico
26
October 2022
Volume 19, Issue 10
Ph: 813-657-2418
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CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
DRUMLINES WILL PERFORM AT VFCC SHOP LOCAL HOLIDAY EXPO
Staff Report
The Valrico Fishhealthy lifestyles and Hawk Chamber of relationships to teens Commerce is hosting through its Teen its VFCC Shop Local Impact program, Holiday Expo on Satto parents through urday, November 5 its parent program from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and to teachers and Patrons will be able other youth leaders to shop at this annuthrough its classal vendor market in room education proThe Valrico FishHawk Chamber of Comthe teachers’ parkgram. ing lot at Blooming- merce will host its VFCC Shop Local Holiday “We will be there dale Senior High Expo event at Bloomingdale High School on with a fun booth for Saturday, November 5 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. School, families,” located said Osprey at 1700 Observer Bloomingmanaging dale Ave. in editor MaValrico. rie GilmThis event ore. “This is has been such a fun held by the event and I chamber love to shop for over local and five years support our and offers local busimore than nesses.” of Valrico 40 vendors B o o t h who will space at the be showcasing event is still local products available and and services. In costs just $60 addition, memper business. bers of local high For more inschool drumlines formation and will be making an to register, appearance and visit https:// having a ‘friendvalricofishly’ drumming hawk.org/. competition and The chammuch more. ber wants to Each year, thank Diathere is also a coveted flamingo deco- mond Member HiTech Automotive and rating contest where vendors can dress Platinum Members Backbone Construcup their flamingos for the general public tion & Roofing, The Brothers That Just to vote on in different categories. Do Gutters, Citizens Bank & Trust, ExProceeds from the event support the cellence First Insurance, Cruise Planchamber’s 2022 Charity of Choice: Im- ners of Valrico and MIDFLORIDA Credpact. The Impact Program promotes it Union.
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ARE YOU READY TO
VOTE? 2022
General Elections November 8
Are you ready to vote in the general elections on Tuesday, November 8? See the Osprey Observer’s political guide in the back section to help you prepare to vote. There are three ways to vote: early voting, mail in your ballot and track your ballot or vote on election day. Your vote is your voice making every vote count. Read about the local candidates on pages 31-37. For more information about how to vote, dates and videos, visit https://www.votehillsborough.gov.
CONSERVATION KEY TO HSWCD YOUTH AND ADULT CONTESTS AND PROJECTS
By Linda Chion
Hillsborough Soil and the volunteer board are Water Conservation DisSonja Brookins, Karen Cox trict (HSWCD) youth conJaroch, Mark Proctor and, tests are gearing up as the appointed to fill a vacant nonprofit HSWCD prepares seat, Melissa Jackson. for its showcase tent at the “Soil and water conserHillsborough County Fair in vation districts address a November. large number of community Held annually are speech, needs dealing with natural photography, rain barrel resources conservation, decorating, youth hortieducation and understandculture and land judging ing,” Tompkins said. “We contests, along with two program for youth and poster contests and the adults and offer a vast arHSWCD board member Envirothon ‘environmental ray of services for agriculAndrew Brooks helping to plant Olympics.’ some 20,000 longleaf seedlings at tural interests, including Moreover, the annual the Lower Green Swamp Nature cost-share programs to Hillsborough 100 Conservasupport environmental and Preserve in Plant City. tion Challenge involves conservation enhanceyouth and adults in ments.” road, river, beach and The summer poststream cleanups; tree er contest focuses plantings; communion ‘Our Perfect Polty gardens; recycling linators, Bees, Birds, and repurposing efBats and Butterflies.’ forts; and more. The Focused on watertwo-year ‘Operation sheds, the ‘One Water’ Artwork from first-place finisher Giulia Pollination’ pledge for Jones in the HSWCD 2021 ‘Healthy Forests’ school-year contest, projects runs in conrun in conjunction poster contest. junction with Rotary with the National AsInternational and the sociation of ConservaRotary Club of Brantion Districts, allows don Global Eco. for top finishers to adSet for display from vance from district to Thursday, November state to national com3 through Sunday, petition. The deadNovember 13 at the line is April 28, 2023. Hillsborough County Cash prizes for both Fair, at the county faircontests are awarded grounds in Dover, are to first, second and posters and decorated third-place finishers in rain barrels, which will five grade categories. be auctioned off at the HSWCD’s sixth an- Each entrant receives a certificate and free nual Great Plant Auction, set to start at 1 county fair ticket. p.m. on November 13. Also on display, vying For more, visit www.hillsboroughswcd. for ribbons, are Youth Horticulture Show com, call Tompkins at 813-477-8332 or entries, including bonsai, bromeliads, cac- email bjt6890@yahoo.com. ti, succulents, ferns, palms, herbs, foliage and flowering plants. Orchestrating HSWCD programs, projects and activities for inner city, urban, NEW ROCK BOX SEATING.................PG 3 suburban and rural communities is ex- OSPREY OBSERVER WEBSITE PG 5 ecutive director Betty Jo Tompkins, who EYE ON BUSINESS ...................PGS 25-26 answers to a five-member board elected and chaired by Andrew Brooks. Also on EYE ON POLITICS .....................PGS 31-37
IN THIS ISSUE:
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