Riverview/ Apollo Beach
May 2024
Volume 22, Issue 5
Ph: 813-657-2418
See article on page 39
CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
SPOTO AND EAST BAY CADETS RANK KREWE OF SOUTH SHORE MARAUDERS FUNDS SCHOLARSHIPS, EVENTS & MORE IN THE COUNTY’S JROTC TOP 10
By Ashley Abene
as “dependable, reliable, hardworking and honest.” She has also been named Cadet of the Year in two consecutive years and was chosen as the battalion commander by her peers. “Her spot was earned by her ability to balance a heavy Kayla Walters was ranked third in the County’s top 10 JROTC cadets. workload,” Spoto High School Cadet Elena WorkNieves said. man and East Bay High School Cadet Kayla In addition to her time with the JROTC Walters each earned a spot on the list of program, Walters works, serves as the seHillsborough County’s top 10 Junior Re- nior class vice president and is the softball serve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) ca- team captain. She will graduate with her dets. Associate of Arts degree and be second in Workman joined Spoto’s JROTC program her class. She has also earned 220 volunwhen she transferred from Newsome High teer hours throughout high school. School during her sophomore year. Senior Walters will attend Florida State Uninaval science instructor Paul Lewis said versity in the fall, where she will join the she quickly acclimated to Spoto’s program university’s ROTC program as an MS3 and and now serves as the community service the national guard. officer. “The JROTC program instills in stu“Elena aggressively pursues community dents the values of citizenship, service to service volunteer opportunities, which help the United States, personal responsibility our cadets become better citizens,” Lewis through education and mentoring,” Nieves said. “It’s the epitome of citizen develop- said. ment.” Each year, Hillsborough County’s 28 proShe is ranked second in her class and was grams send their top cadets to service-speranked the sixth-fastest female cross-coun- cific boards to represent the schools. try runner at the national competition. Af“It is always an honor to recognize our ter she graduates in May, Workman will JROTC programs here in Hillsborough attend the University of Florida with the County,” Superintendent Van Ayres said. United States Marine Corps ROTC schol- “The competition was tough, and they arship. should be very proud to be named one of Walters also earned a top spot in the the top cadets.” county during her time with East Bay’s For more information on Spoto or East JROTC program. Master Sergeant Army in- Bay’s JROTC programs, visit www.hillsborstructor Marilyn Nieves described Walters oughschools.org.
it holds a backto-school drive for Gibsonton Elementary School. KSSM is one of the only krewes that participates in the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA, chartering two local groups. The Krewe of South Shore Marauders hosts an annual back-to-school drive Many KSSM and delivers supplies to students at Gibsonton Elementary School. members are involved as either There are all types of krewes throughout the Tampa Bay area, usually seen scoutmasters or committee members as in Mardi Gras-related parades. But well. As a nonprofit, the Krewe of South the word ‘krewe’ itself breaks down to mean a social organization. One such Shore Marauders often volunteers time with the Greater Southkrewe, the Krewe of Shore Chamber of ComSouth Shore Marauders merce at the Ruskin (KSSM), is a unique loSeafood Festival. It also cal nonprofit group that offers a scholarship to originated and is based East Bay Highschool sein the SouthShore area niors. of Hillsborough County. According to the KSSM KSSM’s motto is website, regarding the “One for all and all for East Bay Highschool one, laugh, respect one scholarship, “Knowing another and do good that many students with deeds.” Members take that motto seriously, often dressing up an A grade point average would easias pirates for parades. But more than ly get scholarships, KSSM Foundation that, KSSM enjoys having fun while started presenting B and B+ senior high school students in the South Shore area helping others in the community. Determined to start a krewe that was with scholarships. Since the beginning, inclusive of all ages and genders, in 2002 the KSSM Foundation has awarded over Jane Braswell, Jayne Lauve and Randy $85,000 in scholarships to deserving Haan founded the Krewe of South Shore students.” KSSM has regular meetings on the Marauders. The ages of members have varied from 20s to late 70s, making this first Monday of every month. For more krewe the most age-diverse in existence. information on the Krewe of South Shore Aaron Malo, president of KSSM, said, Marauders or its community events/ “We are a bunch of fun-loving and some- involvement, go to KSSM’s website at times mischievous pirates, … but all in www.kssmarauders.com. all, our goal is to improve the community that we live in and have some fun while doing it.” KSSM is a very active organization USF CHOOSES CONTRACTOR........PG 3 and has a separate 501(c)(3) charitable MOTORING TAMPA BAY..................PG 5 foundation that is involved in communiBOLTS BREWFEST..............................PG 7 ty events. Members have participated EYE ON BUSINESS.................PGS 25-26 in the Coastal Cleanup, Habitat for Humanity and the Buddy Walk. Annually, CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE.. .............PG 39
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Season ticket renewals and new subscriptions are now available. Prices for the nine-show season package range from $392-$1,036. For more information, call the Straz Center Ticket Sales Office at 813-229-STAR (7827) or visit www.strazcenter.org. Individual show tickets will go on sale at later dates, to be announced. See Page 22.
Open Tuesday - Friday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 9 AM - 6 PM 701 S..US Hwy 41 S Suite D, Ruskin