Brandon/ Winthrop
August 2024 Volume 19, Issue 8
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BRANDON’S OWN TENNIS STAR SECURES SILVER MEDAL AT THE OLYMPICS
By Lily Belcher
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT #1456
Olympic silver I had some good remedalist Austin sults,” he said. Krajicek grew up He won the watching tennis. NCAA doubles From seeing the championship in his legends of the game final year of college on VHS tapes to sitbefore joining the ting on the sidelines ATP Tour in 2011. while his dad played A decade later, he in local leagues, Krabecame an Olympic jicek was eager to athlete in the Tokyo start playing at the games but faced Brandon Swim and the hardest loss of Tennis Club, known his career when he today as High 5, Inc. came in fourth. Now, almost 30 Last year, he years later, he has Brandon native Austin Krajicek won a silver medal was ranked the in tennis with his partner, Rajeev Ram. won his first Olymnumber one duo in pic medal in the the world with his men’s doubles tourpartner. This year, nament in Paris. he finally became He had a dream an Olympic medalof playing profesist alongside Rajeev sionally, but he Ram, his partner knew it was a goal and fellow U.S. tenthat only a small nis Olympian from handful of aspiring Carmel, Indiana. athletes achieved. Ram is a three-time “Sometimes I Olympian, two-time think you have to be Olympic medalist a little bit unrealis- Austin Krajicek won a silver medal in men’s tennis (two silvers) in tendoubles in Paris in the beginning of August. tic to meet some of nis doubles, includthese higher goals,” Krajicek said. ing France 2024 and Rio 2016. His father motivated him by instilling in “It’s hard to put into words,” Krajicek him the belief that he could do whatever he said. “It really is a pretty awesome event.” wanted to do. So, he did. “The outpouring of support was a little After attending Alafia Elementary School bit overwhelming,” he said. “It was really in Valrico, he started homeschooling in mid- special to see how big of a deal it was and dle school so he could play travel tennis full important. And I think that makes it ultra time. As a teenager, he was traveling inter- special and something that we’ll never fornationally to play tournaments and training get.” with a private coach. High 5, Inc. CEO Chuck Burgess couldn’t After high school at IMG Academy, a be more proud to know another Olympic local preparatory boarding school for ath- athlete from the High 5, community. letes, he signed on with Texas A&M Univer“We are so proud of the caliber of athsity as a Division I athlete. letes that got their start here, and we want “I think even before college, I was like, to continue the legacy into the future. Con‘OK, I’m definitely going to give it a shot at gratulations, Austin, and know you continue the pro tour.’ And then in school, in college, to inspire your hometown athletes.”
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OLD MCMICKY’S HOSTS ADOPTION DAY FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES By Jamie Lu Day, the farm also hosts Child Adoption Match Days, in which children spend the day with prospective adoptive families and are then matched to their forever homes. These events are important to the people at Old McMicky’s farm because “it is part of our farm’s mission to serve local children and families and our community,” said Old McMicky’s Farm’s Child Adoption Education Days and Child Zuckerman. “Actually, at Adoption Match Days help children find their forever homes. our last match day a couple of months ago, Every child deserves three children were a loving home, but the matched with their process of adopting a forever families. The child can often be conChild Adoption Edfusing and overwhelmucation Day’s goal ing. This September, is to help find more Old McMicky’s Farm is prospective adoptive hosting its annual Child families.” Adoption Education Day To support Child to help families better Adoption Education understand the adoption Day, community members can spread the process and feel more equipped to welcome word about the event or become a sponsor. a child into their lives. Sponsors will be widely promoted and recThe first Child Adoption Education Day ognized in the community. in 2016 was attended by over 30 new proThe event will take place on Saturday, Sepspective adoptive families — and this year, tember 28, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. All prospecevent coordinators expect to see even more tive families are welcome to join, no matter growth. The event takes the mystery out of where they are in the adoptive process, and adoption by walking “people through the can attend by registering for free on the adoption process so they know how it works farm’s website at https://oldmcmickys.com/ and what to anticipate,” according to Ralph child-adoption-education-day-3/. SponsorZuckerman, owner of Old McMicky’s Farm. ship information can also be found at this The event is being held in partnership link. with Family Support Services, the leading Through Child Adoption Education Day, children’s agency for Pinellas and Pasco Old McMicky’s Farm and local agencies will counties, and Children’s Network of Hillswork to eliminate any obstacle that stands borough, the leading children’s agency for between a child and the “loving, safe, secure Hillsborough County. Families will have a and encouraging family” that they deserve. chance to hear presentations by local agencies about the adoption process as well as the firsthand accounts of five local adoptive families and their children about the impact HART OFFERS FREE RIDES...........PG 3 adoption has had on their lives. Following the presentations, prospective adoptive par- FORGOTTEN ANGELS ........... ...........PG 5 ents can also meet with the agencies and ROTARY SPOTLIGHT ............. .........PG 6 the adoptive families to learn more about SUMMER INTERNS.........................PG 16 the process. EYE ON BUSINESS...................PG 32-33 In addition to Child Adoption Education
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Dr. Jesse Alonso and his wife, Nery Alonso, both proud graduates of Durant High School, are excited to announce the grand opening of Alonso Family Dental, P.A. at 915 N Parsons Ave., Brandon, FL 33510. See more in Eye on Business on pages 32-33.
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