Vol. 27 | Iss. 06 | June 2023
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LAKE BRANDON CHICK-FIL-A CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
By Makenzie Atkins Noel
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Columns: Grace Notes: Hooked On Books: Faith & Footprints: News From The Wire:
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As the Lake Brandon Vilconsin with his wife and four lage Chick-fil-A celebrates school-aged children to open 25 years of serving the comthe Brandon location. When munity, it also thanks its custhey moved to the community, tomers for being loyal for so the family immediately became many years! involved in local schools, local When owners Paul and sports and local community Tammy opened the location events. The Chick-fil-A cow on June 18, 1998, it was the could be seen walking in comfirst free-standing Chickmunity events, 5K races, school fil-A in Brandon and only the and church carnivals and anysecond free-standing Chickwhere the community gathered. fil-A in the Greater Tampa This community involvement Paul and Tammy Holmberg (far left), owners of two Chick-fil-A locations in Bay Area. During construction, the area, are known for their generous and charitable hearts and love being has resulted in numerous commubusiness owners in the community. staff was hired out of a trailer nity awards. onsite. The Brandon Longtime custommall was just about to er Leslie Haxton loves open, the Lowe’s Home the two locations and Improvement Center says, “Chick-fil-A is like hadn’t broken ground Cheers, where everyone yet and there were knows your name.” She fields for miles around! orders a large coke ev“We didn’t know ery day, “because Chicka soul,” Tammy said. fil-A has the best ice, “We opened a little cups and syrup mixture,” Chick-fil-A and we and she pairs it with the didn’t know if it would famous Chicken Minis. be successful or not The first Chick-fil-A Lake Brandon Village Chick-fil-A owners Paul and Tammy Holmberg (far left) and the leadership because it was on store opened in 1967 in celebrate 25 years of serving and supporting the community. Lumsden and there Atlanta, Georgia and the store near Bloomingdale High School were still cows grazing company now operates and instantly found success with both 2,909 restaurants across 48 states, as next door, when we opened.” Fast forward 25 years and there isn’t locations. well as in the District of Columbia and “Both Paul and I are proud of what Puerto Rico. an empty space for miles and the Lake Brandon Village Chick-fil-A now has we have accomplished over the last Chick-fil-A Lake Brandon Village is 25-year journey in the Brandon commore than 80 employees. Throughout located 11325 Causeway Blvd, Branthe years, the store has been reno- munity,” said Tammy, “and have seen don, FL 33511 and Chick-fil-A East vated twice, most recently to add the many great changes in the area.” Brandon/Valrico is located at 2010 Paul has now been a veteran frandouble drive-thru lanes and the covBloomingdale Ave, Valrico, FL 33596. ered drive-thru area with podium or- chise owner and operator for over 31 Visit www.chickfilabrandon.com, dering. In 2017, Paul and Tammy also years with Chick-fil-A and moved to stop by the restaurant or visit www. opened the Bloomingdale Chick-fil-A the Brandon area from Racine, Wis- facebook.com/chickfilabrandon.
“SUNNY’S PJS” DRIVE COLLECTING PAJAMAS FOR FOSTER CARE CHILDREN
By Madeline Gardner
For FishHawk resident Robyn Walters, diagnosis, Walters’ being collected by the WFFCS through its “empty affectionately nicknamed “Sunny” by her family and friends took closets”, or collection sites, whose hours are made ten grandchildren, the routine surrounding it as an opportunity available on the WFFCS website. bedtime has always been a sacred one, and to get the communi- These locations include Temple Terrace United incomplete without a pair of cozy pajamas ty involved with her Methodist Church located at 5030 E Busch Blvd. in ready in hand. Having raised five children mission. Upon inviting Temple Terrace; Riverview United Methodist Church of her own and previously fostered 32 kids, the Director of Fam- located at 8002 U.S. Hwy 301 S in Riverview; and Walters has always made it a priority to enily Advocacy of the Theater Arts and Dance Alliance (TADA) at 16711 sure brand-new nightwear remains available West Florida Foster FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia. For those interested in in her home. Care Services, Jan- making a monetary donation, there is a direct link Although no longer actively fostering chilet Rinaldi, to attend available on the WFFCS website. dren, Walters held steadfast to this passion a Riverview Woman’s Hoping that this drive will one day indeed become while volunteering with the West Florida Club meeting in April a nonprofit, Walters is appreciative of all the supFoster Care Services (WFFCS) on a previas the guest speaker, port she has received from friends, family, and the ous project. Upon speaking with a friend and fellow Howard began to realize the connection between community. volunteer, Barbara Howard, Walters expressed her Walters’ aspirations and the work of the WFFCS. “I cannot begin to say ‘thank you’ enough for takdesire to start a nonprofit organization dedicat- After confirming a partnership between Walters’ ing the smallest, little sliver of a dream that I had ed to providing children in the foster care system and WFFCS, “Sunny’s PJs” drive was born. before I knew I had any kind of illness that I might with opportunities to receive new pajamas, one she “Her family and friends decided to host this do- not someday be able to do it, and making that wish planned to christen as “Sunny’s PJs”. nation drive in her honor as a way to help her still come true,” said Walters. “There’s no amount of “Pajamas are something we all take for granted,” fulfill that dream and give her some encouragement gratitude I can begin to show them.” said Walters. “They deserve at least one pair of new while she’s going through her cancer treatment,” For more information on this drive or to make a pajamas when they come in.” said Rinaldi. donation, please visit wffcs.org or the WFFCS FaceHowever, after her stage IV Pancreatic Cancer Donations of brand-new pajamas are currently book page.