Bloomingdale/ FishHawk
May 2024
Volume 23, Issue 5
Ph: 813-657-2418
33
See article on page 39
CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
FISHHAWK CREEK ELEMENTARY CELEBRATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY
By Linda Chion
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
By Nick Nahas
Tampa Bay Lightning read the book, they finradio play-by-play broadish it and say, ‘I really caster Dave Mishkin had enjoyed that, I’m glad I an idea for a novel in the read the book,’ beyond early 2000s. After exany kind of message. I periencing some writer’s think that Noah’s story block, Mishkin put the is one in which the mesproject away for several sage is that you are not years. In 2022, he was defined by the circuminspired to finish what he stances in your life, and started when faced with he finds a way to lead a the possibility of a long Tampa Bay Lightning radio play- much more fulfilling life.” offseason without calling by-play broadcaster Dave Mishkin Mishkin has been the wrote his first novel, Blind Squirrel. Lightning hockey games, Tampa Bay Lightning rawith the team on the brink of dio play-by-play broadcaster elimination. since 2002. The Yale graduMishkin fleshed out the stoate spent the prior 11 years ry in his mind for five or six as a minor league hockey weeks before even writing. broadcaster before joining the The Lightning ended up going three-time Stanley Cup-winto the Stanley Cup finals after ning club. facing elimination in the first “I love what I do,” said round of the playoffs against Mishkin. “I was very lucky at the Toronto Maple Leafs. a young age to find something Around the time the team that I enjoyed and then find started the playoff series against the Av- somebody to pay me to do that thing,” he alanche, he had written a chapter outline joked. “I’ve gotten great pleasure from with the core ideas of the book. The first doing something that I love and feel chapter that he wrote was actually the grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to final chapter of the novel. do it for all these years.” “The inspiration came years and years The author will donate some of the ago, but once I realized that I had the proceeds of the book to Tampa Bay story I knew that I had to see it through,” Thrives, a coalition of community leaders said Mishkin. “I wouldn’t have been able committed to improving mental health to live with myself if, after all these years, and substance use disorder issues in our the story came together in my mind and I region. According to its website, the goal didn’t actually see it through.” of the organization is to strengthen beBlind Squirrel is about a minor league havioral health outcomes by mobilizing hockey player who has mental health is- communities, improving early intervensues after losing his parents in a car ac- tion and guiding access to professionals. cident at a young age. The story mostly For more information about the book takes place in Hershey, Pennsylvania, or if you’d like to order the novel, which where Mishkin is from. The book’s pro- is available in digital and print, visit tagonist, Noah Nicholson, after having www.blindsquirrelnovel.com. a good career, starts his mental healing process after a career-ending injury to his eye. According to Mishkin, by the end of ARRIVE ALIVE TOUR.......................PG 3 the book Noah is in a much better place than where he began, and he is able to MOTORING TAMPA BAY..................PG 5 live a much better life. He hopes that this RACE FOR EDUCATION....................PG 6 part of the story will resonate with his EYE ON BUSINESS.................PGS 25-26 audience. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT...........PG 43 “First and foremost, I hope if people
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Among those “She was always celebrating the there for us when 20th anniversawe had problems in ry of FishHawk the classroom, ofCreek Elemenfering suggestions tary School in to help us in our Lithia are the teaching. She knew seven teachers everybody by first who have been name.” at the school In a conference since its openroom at the school, ing, an achieve- Several of the charter year teachers and administrators Frigo referred to ment that gives (front row, left to right): Ginger Elea, charter assistant the plaque on the testament to the principal; Pam Bush, charter principal; and Barbara wall that marks Franques, charter area director. school’s stature. the 2004 establishSo applauds Jim Hamilton, former deputy ment of the school. It notes the school’s falsuperintendent of schools, who oversaw the con mascot and its founding motto, “Soaring school construction boom that marked the to excellence in academic achievement and final years of Earl Lennard’s term as super- character education.” It notes also the charintendent of schools. According to Hamilton, ter staff, including assistant principal Ginger from 1998 through Lennard’s retirement in Elea and the seven teachers who continue to 2005, the Hillsborough County School Dis- work there today: Frigo, Amanda Johnson, trict constructed, renovated and/or added Jason Judd, Megan McGreevy, Elizabeth space to nearly 100 schools. Duckworth Sierra, Tina Trombley and ReAmong the more than 70 schools built becca Vercher. from scratch to accommodate new growth At the anniversary ceremony in April, and relieve overcrowded schools were Ran- Bush gave a “beautiful speech,” as did Bardall Middle, Newsome High and Bevis and bara Franques, Bush’s area director, Frigo Stowers elementary schools in Lithia. said, as the community joined together to As for the seven teachers at work at Fish- remember a special school at a special time Hawk Elementary for 20 years, “that’s really taking root in a burgeoning community. a testimony to the quality of the school and “I’m blessed to have been here this many the community,” Hamilton said. “Teachers years,” Frigo said, noting that when she don’t stay for that length of time in places started there were four fourth grade classthat are not great places to teach. When rooms. Now there are nine, and nine likewise I see teachers who have been in the same for just about every grade level. She gave place for 20 years, I know the principals at high marks to Sims, noting that while his that school were great principals and that style differs from Bush’s, he “makes it fun” the parents at those schools were great and also is “very understanding and always school supporters.” checking in on us in our classrooms.” In a break from teaching her fourth grade “The FishHawk family, that’s how I refer class at FishHawk Creek, Melissa Patterson to this school,” Frigo said. “I love my staff, I Frigo discussed her 20 years at the school love my grade level and I love the communiand the long-serving principal who opened ty. Anything we need, the parents are very the school in 2004. Principal Pam Bush supportive.” stayed until Steven Sims, the current princiFishHawk Creek Elementary is located at pal, succeeded her in 2019. 16815 Dorman Rd. in Lithia. For more, visit “Pam was always very understanding www.hillsboroughschools.org/fishhawkabout people who had children,” Frigo said. creek.
LIGHTNING RADIO PLAY-BY-PLAY BROADCASTER DAVE MISHKIN WRITES FIRST NOVEL, BLIND SQUIRREL
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Rebecca Scarcelli and family traveled all the way to Texas for a glimpse of totality. Whether our readers were at work, school, home or traveling, many people stopped and put their busy lives on hold to experience the 2024 solar eclipse. To see more fun photos from our readers and find out when the next eclipse sighting will happen, see page 14.
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