Brandon/Winthrop
31
August 2023
2
Volume 18, Issue 8 Ph: 813-657-2418
CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
AWARDS RECOGNIZE 2023 GREATER BRANDON FOURTH OF JULY PARADE FLOAT WINNERS & BEST IN SHOW
“A lot of us hear about how great Dr. Lennard was and what kind of a leader he was,” Ayres said. “For me, it’s a personal connection because I’m hearing about him from my mom and dad, Interim Superintendent Van Ayres and Brandon High Principal Jeremy who worked closely Klein with Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce members and with him.” scholarship recipient Sebastian Rodriguez at Brandon High School. What one hears In his first visit to Brandon High School about Lennard “is his character, and how he since being appointed as head of the Hills- treated people every day,” Ayres said. “And borough County School District, Van Ayres that’s what I hope to live up to.” gave a pep talk to teachers, congratulated a Ayres made his remarks outside the student scholarship recipient and paid trib- school auditorium before a group of Branute to one of the school’s first-ever gradu- don chamber representatives, who were at ates, who was also superintendent. Brandon High to award a $1,000 scholarThat would be Dr. Earl Lennard, who en- ship to Sebastian Rodriguez, a recipient of tered the school system as a first grader the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce at Palm Elementary School and retired as Ernest Hernandez Jr. Scholarship. superintendent of schools in 2005, having “I feel very grateful to have the opportuniworked as a teacher and in a myriad of dis- ty to be awarded a scholarship for my good trict positions. Lennard was in the first grad- deeds and for what I’ve done as a student uating class of Brandon High in its current and young person,” said Rodriguez, who location, at 1101 Victoria St. in Brandon. plans to study music at Hillsborough ComWhat once was an uncommon journey is munity College. Moving forward, “I’m going now a repeat production, with Ayres, the to be a voice for other people.” newly appointed interim superintendent of Ayres also aims to be a voice for the peoschools, replacing Addison Davis, who re- ple he leads — a point he made clear to edusigned effective July 14. Ayres entered the cators meeting in Brandon High’s auditorium school system as a kindergartner, started — that with a supportive environment, eduhis career as a science teacher at Blake High cators can do their best for students. School, served as principal at Jefferson High Ayres said. “You can’t do it alone, we’re School (his alma mater) and rose through way too big [a school district]. You’ve got to the ranks of administration. believe in people, and that’s my philosophy.” “This is year 27 for me in the school disCount among those people is Brandon trict, and as a teacher I worked underneath High Principal Jeremy Klein, who spoke Dr. Lennard,” Ayres said. about the landmark school’s sprucing up, His parents, Hillsborough High School which includes landscaping upgrades and graduates Van and Nuri Ayres, worked a new student bathrooms. combined 68 years in the school district, in“The work we’re doing here every day cluding Nuri’s terms as principal at King and with our teachers is about elevating the inSickles high schools and Van’s 33 years of side, and to really get people from the outteaching career technical education at Leto side to know that we’re doing great things High School. here at Brandon,” Klein said.
The annual the club offers Greater Branits services for don Fourth of networking July serves as and fundraising a walking billevents. board of local Among addiofferings, includtional awards ing businesses presented, Best and nonprofits Musical Marchthat contribute ing Unit went to to the quality of the New World life in the GreatCelts, which is er Brandon area dedicated to Tessera of Brandon (Best Decorated Vehicle). and beyond. promoting and This year was supporting Celtno exception, ic history and with awards culture. Heroes granted again Paradise, an to some of the outdoor laser most creative and archery tag and spirited units center in Branin the march, as don, received well as the most Best Amateur colorful. Float. Best ProIn that regard, fessional Float Best Krewe went went to HillsNew World Celts (Best Musical Marching Unit). to Costumers borough County With a Cause, founded 13 years ago by Fair organizers, set for the 2023 fair from T.J. McDonnell and a group of friends. Ac- Saturday, November 2 through Tuesday, cording to McDonnell, the club donates November 12 at the Hillsborough County “100 percent of whatever we raise when- Fairgrounds in Dover at 215 Sydney Washever we raise it” while living in the cosplay er Rd. world, which entails playing a character in Rounding out the award recipients are costume, and often to bring moments of Brandon Moose Lodge, for Most Unusual joy to hospital-bound youth. Vehicle, and GFWC Brandon Junior WomMany of the parade award recipients an’s Club, for Best Theme. As for Best recognized at The Regent in Riverview on Youth Cheerleaders, that went to WaterJuly 12 cater to kids or seniors, includ- set Oilers, set to start its inaugural football ing Boy Scouts of America, awarded Best and cheerleader season on rented fields at Marching Unit, and Tessera of Brandon, a the newly opening SouthShore Sportsplex senior living community, which won the in Apollo Beach. award for Best Decorated Vehicle. Visit the Roundtable on Facebook at In all, 10 awards were given, including www.facebook.com/tcroundtable. the Best Overall Award, which went to Slingshots of Tampa Bay, founded in 2017 by U.S. Navy veteran Dwayne Aikens of Riverview as a family-oriented group for POKER TOURNAMENT.....................PG 3 owners of the Polaris Slingshot, a three- EMPTY NESTERS ...............................PG 6 wheeled vehicle that is a cross between HONORARY MAYOR ..........................PG 9 automobile and motorcycle. Given the Slingshot’s crowd-drawing appeal, es- EYE ON BUSINESS................PGS 25-26 pecially with music and light upgrades, PIZZA FOR PETS .............................PG 26
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VAN AYRES VISITS BRANDON HIGH WITH LEGACY, UPGRADES AND SPIRIT IN VIEWBy Linda Chion
Slingshots of Tampa Bay received the Best Overall Award for it’s float in the Brandon Fourth of July Parade. Represenatives were on hand to receive the award. For more information on the parade winners, see full story above or visit the Community Roundtable on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tcroundtable.
By Linda Chion
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