Riverview/Apollo Beach
6
January 2023
Volume 21, Issue 1
Ph: 813-657-2418
Y EIAN R REVIEW See Pages 31-35
CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
HONORARY MAYOR’S RACE RETURNS TO COMMUNITY FOR 2023 AS A WOMAN’S CLUB EVENT By Linda Chion
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
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Candidates for A small percentthe annual race age of proceeds for honorary will help offset mayor of Riveradministrative view will be unexpenses, Jofko der the auspices said. of the Riverview Wanting to get Woman’s Club, more involved in whose members community life, have agreed to Jofko said she organize the joined the club in event after the 2018. “I wanted Greater Riverto get involved in view Chamber club leadership of Commerce because I wantstepped aside. Photo courtesy of Linda Chion. ed to see the club The deadline Riverview Woman’s Club President Jill Jofko (left) grow,” Jofko said, to apply to run with Donna Fore, who co-founded the club in 2012 noting an uptick with Jeanne Burkeson. is Sunday, Janin membership uary 15, with as the pandemic fundraising set eases. to begin WednesTo be eligible day, February to run for the 1. The race conhonorary mayor’s cludes at 8 a.m. race, a candidate on Wednesday, must live, work or March 1. Results volunteer in the will be announced Greater Riverview on Thursday, March 2. As is the tradi- area and be at least 21 years of age. Destion, the race is won by the candidate ignated charities must be federal 501(c) who raises the most money for charity (3) tax-exempt nonprofits and have one of through fundraising events that promote three designated ties to Riverview: They community spirit and nonprofit mission must have an office in Riverview, docuawareness. mented service to the Riverview commu“We’re really excited about keeping nity or membership drawn primarily from that tradition going and to benefit local Riverview residents. Each candidate can charities,” said Jill Jofko, president of the designate no more than three benefiting Riverview Woman’s Club, which recently charities. celebrated its 10th anniversary and now For more on the club and its high school accepts men into the club as well. senior scholarship program and mayor’s Club co-founder Donna Fore said that race, visit www.riverviewwomansclub. to avoid any perceived conflicts of inter- org. The club meets on the third Wednesest, no one in the woman’s club is going day of the month and was set to convene to be running for honorary mayor and the at the Riverview Tap House at 10656 club itself will not be a benefiting charity. New East Bay Rd. in Gibsonton.
Congratulations to Our Favorite Things Sweepstakes Grand Prize winner Courtney Cook, Early Bird winners include Carol Poole with the Express Oil & Tire Engineers Riverview, Linda Greenfield with the McAuley Fine Jewelry Blue Topaz necklace and Jennifer Hydock with True Lies Fishing Charter. Thank you to all our sponsoring businesses & readers for entering!
PEPIN ACADEMIES HOSTS DRAG RACER TO SPEAK TO STUDENTS
By Lily Belcher
Pepin Academies certifications behosted a drag racfore they enter the er to speak with its workforce. Pepin auto-shop students Academies is curat the beginning of rently working to December 2022 afhave its students ter Pepin purchased certified in automoa trailer from Right tive service excelTrailers Inc. lence as well. Pepin Academies Right Trailers had given auto- Right Trailers president and drag racer brought his also interviewed car to Pepin Academies for a presentation. motive technology six students from teacher Steve Conti the program to a grant to purchase assess what they a detailing trailer are learning and to for his students to build morale and use when working confidence. on car detailing. “The Pepin AcadAfter delivering emy has been a the trailer, Right great place to let Trailers offered to us bring all this into have drag racer and also,” said Conti. Right Trailers presi- Students got to showcase their detailing skills in “I’m really grateful the new trailer purchased from Right Trailers. dent Michael Scott for the faculty, stucome out with his dents and parents drag racing car and that I have to work a junior dragster. with.” “He put on a With the help of great show. The Pepin Academies, students were all Conti has built a engaged for two network of indusand a half hours. try contacts that We set up a detail he passes onto his area and showed Forty students from Pepin Academies were visited students to help the use of the trailthem get job opby a drag racer in December 2022. er,” said Conti. portunities in the Scott visited the Riverview location to field. teach 40 students from the Riverview and In addition to the automotive program, Tampa campuses how to drag race and de- Pepin Academies has a growing welding tail drag racing cars specifically. During the program and strong relationship with Unipresentation, Scott and his son and daugh- versal Technical Institute to help students ter engaged students by asking questions, receive post-secondary training. showing them parts and techniques and alFor more information on Pepin Acadelowing the students to showcase the skills mies’ programs, please visit its website at they were building in the new detailing trail- www.pepinacademies.com. er. Pepin Academies’ career and technical education programs teach students about PG 3 cars, repairing, detailing and maintenance, YOUR PIE SPECIAL EVENT among other skills that will allow them to MOTORING TAMPA BAY ................ PG 5 pursue a career in automotive services. The HIKING WITH A VIKING ............... PG 6 new trailer will give students more opportuEYE ON BUSINESS ................PGS 25-26 nities to have hands-on experience with car detailing and allow them to gain detailing YEAR IN REVIEW ..................... PG 31-35
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