Each week, 10 local residents will be pleasantly surprised to receive gift certificates for local businesses, restaurants and retailers in their mailboxes. Each Monday, entries are drawn from newspaper and online submissions to the Shop Local campaign and it is easy to win! Read more

Presbyterian Church Announces Christmas Services The Presbyterian Church of Bloomingdale, located at 710 E. Bloomingdale Ave., has scheduled the following services for the Christmas season: Sunday, December 7 - Advent week two; Sunday, December 14 - Advent week three; Sunday, December 21 - Advent week four; Reverend John Wintringham will preach and the service will include a special Call to Worship with family music, readings, candles, Christmas decorations and poinsettias for the Advent season. Don’t miss the Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 21, at 10:30 a.m. The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, with communion, is at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 24. Merry Christmas to all. Call 654-3699 for any questions or details.

St. Andrew’s Upcoming Events St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, located at 3315 Bryan Rd. in Brandon, will be unveiling these events within the upcoming months as follows: On Wednesday, December 3, and Friday, December 5, the St. Andrew’s UMC theater group is pleased to present the warm hearted production Tis the Season. This funny and heart-warming show is about a local group of people trying to put together a live nativity, and the hilarious antics as the live animals get loose and the police have to step in. Both shows will take place in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. For further information, contact Brenda Gibbs at brendagibbs@verizon.net. On Sunday, December 7, during the 9:50 a.m. Contemporary Service, there will be a Christmas Celebration. Come and experience a morning of glorious praise and worship Christmas favorites with the Praise Team, choir and orchestra. Finally, on Wednesday, December 10, please join members for A Celebration of Lessons & Carols. Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center, followed by a special evening of Lessons & Carols in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. The St. Andrew’s UMC chancel and hand bell choirs will be featured, plus readings and congregational singing of favorite Christmas carols. The dinner price for adults is $6, children is $4, 3 and under is free. The carols at 7 p.m. are free as well. Finally on Wednesday, December 24, St. Andrew’s hosts its Christmas Eve celebration O’ Holy Night. There will be a family service at 4:30 p.m., a contemporary service at 6:30 p.m. and traditional services at 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. These services will speak on the meaning of Christmas and the true source of hope in this world. All events are free and open to the public. For dinner reservations or more information, please call the church at 689-6849. Residents can also visit www.StAndrewsBrandon.org.

FBC Presents Christmas by Candlelight The music ministries of First Baptist Church of Brandon and Tampa Baptist Church are joining together to present Christmas by Candlelight. On Saturday and Sunday, December 6-7, at 6 p.m., the service will be held at First Baptist Church of Brandon located at 216 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon. This powerful and upbeat celebration of the birth of Jesus, featuring a cast and crew of over 200, is under the direction of David Shenning and Randy Barton (choir), Kevin Lewis (orchestra) and Becky Lawrence (drama). Everyone is invited. There is no charge for admission. Doors open one hour before the program begins. For more information, call 689-1204. Meditation Held in Brandon Residents are welcome to a Buddhist meditation evening in Brandon with American Buddhist teacher, Dr. Anika Trancik. The class, entitled Resisting the Urge to Retaliate, will present an introduction to meditation from the Kadampa Buddhist tradition and includes two guided meditations and a short talk, suitable for beginners. Everyone is welcome. It will be held at Unity in Brandon located at 115 Margaret St. on Thursday, December 11, from 7:05-8:30 p.m. A donation of $9 or $5 for students or those with limited income is welcome. For more information, call 727-797-9770 or visit www.MeditationInTampaBay.org.

Apostles Lutheran Holds Festival The Apostles Lutheran Church invites residents to experience the pageantry and merriment, wonderful food, music theater and the wonder of the nativity, all woven together throughout the performance to celebrate the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World, at the Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival. The dates of the festival are December 4, 5, 6, 7 at the Apostles Lutheran Church located at 200 Kingsway Rd. in Brandon. Admission is free with performance times being 8 p.m. for the evening performances on December 4, 5 and 6. For Sunday’s December 7 matinee, performance begins at 3 p.m. For more information, contact aim@apostleslutheran.net or call 689-2571. Craft and Bake Sale Announced Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church, located at 604 N. Valrico Rd. in Valrico, will host its First Annual Christmas Whistle Stop Craft Show and Bake Sale on Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., featuring homemade crafts, baked goods, jewelry, quilts, candles, etc. It will highlight local vendors, a silent auction and entertainment. For more information, call 689-3130 or visit http://holyinnocentsvalrico.com.

Women of Destiny Welcome Onething Prayer Center, located at 777 W. Lumsden Rd. in the Oak Park Plaza in Brandon, will be hosting Women of Destiny, a program for prospective Christian leaders, speakers and writers which will be held on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. This practical application workshop will provide opportunities for women to learn the skills needed to pursue their destiny. A $10 registration fee is required and there will be a total of nine monthly workshops with a fee of $10 per class. Each class will include live call-ins from the National Leadership Team of Proverbs 31 Ministries. All materials are included, and participants receive a certificate upon completion of the course. You can register and view the 2008-2009 workshop curriculums by going to www.onethingprayer.com and clicking on “Ministries.” If you have specific questions, contact Ann Marie Peterson at 500-9411.

C.A.I. Announcements Concerned Action, IncHRIST will hold Orientation on thought-action process, repressed anger, grace, forgiveness and choosing a happier life the first and third Monday of each month, from 7-9:30 p.m., December 1 and 15, at C.A.I.’s office, located at 3813 Ravenna Dr. in Valrico and the third Friday of each month from 12:30-4 p.m., December 19, at Lighthouse Gospel Mission, 7211 S. 78th St. - Riverview. Canoeing, Rope Swings and Family Fun will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on December 20 and 21. Sunday Services are from 3:30-4:15 p.m., December 28, at one of four assisted living facilities in Brandon. At the I Am HOPE Café a free hot meal, help and referral assistance to the homeless, needy singles and families in our community will be provided every Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 6-7 p.m. at Mango Baptist Church and every Saturday from 9-10 a.m. at two locations: Mango Baptist, located at 11619 E. MLK Blvd. and Brandon Church of the Nazarene, located at 114 N. Kingsway Ave. The Share and Prayer Group’s Journey through the Bible is covering one book of the Bible at a time at the groups pace every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at CAI’s Office. Santa’s Surprise will be on December 13: All donated toys, money, food and serviceable clothes go to invited needy families conscientiously working on the roots to past burdens and back to self-sufficiency. Call 689-9552 for directions, more information or to make a donation to Santa’s Surprise.

PlayMania to Honor Gymboree Memberships As reported this week, Gymborees in Hillsborough County abruptly closed after the franchise owner filed for bankruptcy. Whitney and Todd Brundage, owners of PlayMania, Inc. recognize that this is an unfortunate event at a time when many parents cannot afford to purchase another membership. PlayMania will be honoring Gymboree memberships with any purchase of equal or lesser value. PlayMania will also be honoring any deposit given on a Gymboree Birthday Party. Located in Riverview on the corner of Big Bend Rd. and U.S. Hwy. 301, PlayMania is an indoor play center for children up to age 6. Featuring open play, classes and birthday parties, PlayMania is becoming widely recognized in the Riverview area. For more information, please call 649-8919 or visit www.playmaniatampa.com.

KCC Collects Candy for Troops In honor of Veteran’s Day, Kid’s Community College FishHawk collected candy to be sent to military men and women. The children of KCC decorated brown paper bags and enclosed a special thank you for protecting our country. Eighty goodie bags of donated candy were sent to Operation Shoebox, which is a non-profit organization that sends care package to our overseas military. To learn more about KCC, visit www.kidscc.org.

Bulls Seek Sponsors Please join Bloomingdale Head Baseball Coach Kris Wilken and the Bulls baseball team as they raise funds for the upcoming 2009 baseball season with their 13th Annual Golf Tournament. This event has supported the team for the last 12 years. It is seeking corporate sponsors and partners for this event. Tournament will take place Monday, December 22, at 12:30 p.m., with registration at 11 a.m., at the River Hills Country Club located at 3943 New River Hills Pkwy. in Valrico. The entry fee is $100 for Four Man Scramble and includes green and cart fees, awards, dinner and more. The registration deadline is December 15. For more information, call Brenda Acquaviva at 643-5833.

Lacrosse Registration Begins The Hillsborough United Lacrosse Club, formerly the Bloomingdale Lacrosse Club, will be having open registrations for U13 and U18 age groups. The U13- middle school registration fee is $125 and the U18- high school registration fee is $200. Beginners and experienced players are welcome. Registration will be held at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s located at 4330 Bell Shoals Rd. in Valrico, with registration dates of Monday-Wednesday, December 1-3, from 6-8 p.m. Please e-mail questions to Coach DePinto at Bloomingdalelacrosse@yahoo.com.

Cub Scouts Keep Active in Community Cub Scout Pack 632 of FishHawk Fellowship Church doubled its size in September, adding 48 new recruits to its ranks. It is apparent that these new recruits are serious about Scouting, as 25 boys were promoted to the rank of Bobcat this month. Pack 632 also participated in a book drive this past October, providing 1,040 books for a new library started at the Head Start Center in Balm, which is part of the Redlands Christian Migrant Association. Two Newsome High School students, Tommy Lair and Niall Brown, approached the pack about doing a book drive for migrant workers in the community. While Lair and Niall were volunteering their time tutoring migrant adults and children, they learned that these families did not have a library and decided this was something they wanted do for those less fortunate. Many of the books donated by the pack came from the Scouts’ own personal collections, with Webelos Scout Zachary Fobert donating the most at 150. It’s still not too late to join the pack. Call Cubmaster Rich Young at 413-6973 or email richyoung87@hotmail.com.

Come Eat Breakfast with Santa Enjoy breakfast - pancakes, sausage and a beverage - with Santa on Saturday, December 6, from 8-10:30 a.m. at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s FishHawk location at 16773 FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia. Children are welcome to come and have their photo taken with Santa for an additional fee. The cost is $5 per adult and $2.50 for children under age 12, in advance, while at the door the cost is $6 per adult and $3 for those under 12. All proceeds will be donated to the Newsome High School Marching Band. Come listen to the Newsome Jazz Band perform while taking part in a 50/50 and themed basket raffles. Attendees are encouraged to drop off unwrapped toys, nonperishable food or gift cards for Newsome band’s charitable endeavor of adopting needy families in the community to give them a memorable Christmas. For more information, email newsomebandfundraising@verizon.net or call 695-0677 to purchase tickets.

Julestarz Kicks Off Outback Bowl Game Members of the Julestarz Academy for the Performing Arts Company dance team in FishHawk Ranch have been selected to perform in the pre-game and half-time shows during the 2009 Outback Bowl Game in Tampa on January 1. Julestarz Company members will join other members of the Just for Kix National Dance Team from around the country which will include several hours of practicing, visiting local attractions and competing in the Just for Kix National Dance Team Competition. Last year, the Julestarz dancers performed in the Orange Bowl half-time show in Miami. The company members also perform at a variety of local events and festivals throughout the Tampa Bay area. Julestarz, located at 16132 Churchview Dr., Ste. 202, in Lithia, offers classes in dance, musical theatre, Kwan Fu and private music lessons. For more information on Julestarz, please visit www.julestarzacademy.com or call 661-9037. Trade Your Pokemon The Brandon area Pokemon Trading Card Game League welcomes players to its free weekly league, meeting at the Bloomingdale Library at 1906 Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico. Please check for additional league dates at www.go-pokemon.com, under organized play and leagues. For additional information, please contact Teri Smith at tncsmith@mac.com or 436-0206.

LLT Thanks Locals for Donations LLT Academy, a charter school located at 6771 Madison Ave. in Tampa, would like to thank the following businesses for their donations to the school’s Learn to Earn Store: Caspers (McDonalds), Wendy’s (Bloomingdale), Dunkin Donuts (301, Riverview), Learning Express (Valrico), Albertsons (Valrico), Winn Dixie (Valrico), Chili’s (Lithia), Red Lobster and Olive Garden (both Brandon). It also thanks its very supportive parents for their donations as well. Based on behavior, children at the school have play money deposited in their account and at the end of each nine week grading period, each student with a positive balance in their “account” gets to go the Learn to Earn Store at the school. Here they purchase merchandise or gift cards with the “money” they earned. As a school, there is a need for help from the surrounding community with donations of gift cards or merchandise to “stock” this store. As a charter school, it has families that come from Plant City to Pinellas and Apollo Beach to Land O’Lakes. The school appreciates anything area businesses can give to help its students. All gifts are tax deductible. If you are interested in helping LLT for its December Learn to Earn Store, or have any questions, call 234-0940. To learn more, visit www.ltacademy.com.

Cadets Honor Veterans In November, Newsome JROTC cadets took a small trip to Randall Middle School to perform for the veterans who are teachers. Cadets from each of the JROTC teams showed off their team skills in front of the whole school. Teams that performed included the Exhibition Team, the Rifle Team, the Color Guard and the Raider Physical Challenge Team. There was a special individual drill performance done by cadet Robert Salka. Each year, for the past two years, the Newsome JROTC Wolf Battalion conducts the fundraiser Operation Patriot, bringing toiletries such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and other hygiene items to give to the incapacitated veterans at the B. Lopez State Veteran’s Nursing Home. This year, the cadets brought in 798 toiletry items to donate to the veterans. Operation Patriot is meant to show the veterans the cadets’ appreciation for their service to this country. Operation Patriot not only benefits the veterans, but the company that brings in the most items receives points that counts towards the Best Company at the annual Field Day.

Once in a long while I can get someone from the Osprey Observer to give me an old family recipe from the past. I lucked out this month with one I think you’ll like. It is different and little bit special because it came from Vermont, the state where I was born. From Kitchen of Patricia Tracy. The recipe came from my Great grandmother…in Vermont. Years ago my great grandparents owned a large horse farm. They raised stallions and each year planted a mile field of Pumpkins for children at Halloween. Kids came from miles around to gather pumpkins to carve. My great grandmother came up with lots of Pumpkin recipes, but this one was everyone’s favorite on cold winter nights.
Vermont Pumpkin Soup Ingredients:
½ cup onion 3 tbsp. Butter 2 cups mashed cooked pumpkin 1 tsp. Salt 1 tbsp. sugar ¼ tsp. nutmeg ¼ tsp. ground pepper 3 cups chicken broth (fat free) ½ cup half & half
Directions: Chop onions and gently brown with butter in pan. Put mashed pumpkin with onions in pan. Add salt, sugar, nutmeg & pepper. Slowly add chicken broth & beat thoroughly, but do not boil. To serve, pour into a tureen and add the cream. Makes 4 to 6 servings. Yummy! P.S. Unusual tip for the kitchen: Do not use bread or cornbread stuffing in the turkey. They pull moisture out of the meat and add to the cooking time. To reach a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees with stuffing in the cavity, breast meat will reach 185-190 degrees and be OVERDONE. Bake the stuffing separate in a cassero9le dish.

Valrico State Bank FishHawk Blvd. recently hosted a Smart Women Finish Rich seminar. The seminar encourages financial freedom and is the first step towards managing one’s own finances. For more information, contact Anita Silverstein at Valrico State Bank in FishHawk at anita.silverstein@valricostate.com.

Jaymer-Que Celebrates Anniversary & Grand Opening of Ms. Cyndi’s Cafe On December 3, head over to Jaymer-Que Southern BBQ and Ms. Cyndi’s Corner Café for a third anniversary/grand opening celebration. Customers bringing in three non-perishable items for the Bell Shoals Baptist Church food pantry will receive one free pork sandwich from the restaurant which’s menu features a wide range of BBQ dishes and sides from ribs and chicken to beans and potatoes. Ms. Cyndi’s Corner Café, which recently opened, is Jaymer-Que’s sister restaurant offering homemade soups, sandwiches and more. For more information, call Jaymer-Que at 6JQ-4BBQ. Both restaurants are located in the Albertson’s Plaza on Lithia Pinecrest Rd., just north of the intersection with Bloomingdale Ave.

After Image Salon Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Located at 15258 FishHawk Blvd., Ste. 500, After Image Salon recently celebrated its membership in the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting. The salon, owned by David and Donna Froncillo, offers a wide range of spa and salon services including hair, massage and facials with current specials for military and a $99 spa package. For more information, call 653-7727.

Local State Farm Agent Supports Safety Belts If you have driven by Newsome High School (NHS) recently, you may have noticed a severely wrecked car sitting on the corner. This is just one way that State Farm Agent Melissa Snively and NHS student government are trying to get the attention of students and faculty. This campaign is part of a countywide contest called “Battle of the Belts” to get high school drivers and their passengers to wear safety belts. “Battle of the Belts” is coordinated by the Hillsborough County Traffic Safety Team (CTST) and dedicated to all Hillsborough County teens who lost their lives in a car crash because they were not wearing a safety belt. “Car accidents are the number one cause of death for teenage drivers in the U.S.” says Snively, citing the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “If we can save lives by simply wearing our safety belts, it would just make sense to promote regular use among all drivers, especially teenagers.” Newsome High School was the 2007 winner of the “Battle of the Belts” competition for highest percentage of students wearing their safety belts. The school hopes to hold the title again for 2008. A safety belt survey will be conducted sometime after the November campaign at each high school in the county. The NHS Student Government has taken an active role during November to create awareness of the contest among students. They hope to convince their peers to always wear their safety belts. Supporters of this contest include The Katie Marchetti Memorial Foundation, St. Joseph Children’s Hospital of Tampa, Heads Up of Safety and State Farm Insurance. For more information about “Battle of the Belts” and any of the supporting organizations, please visit www.battleofthebelts.com or call 727-579-2000. To reach Snively, call 662-3622.

D.R. Horton, Inc. Announces New Single Family Community A new community of single-family homes in Plant City, built by highly-acclaimed national builder D.R. Horton, is welcoming families with open arms and the key to a comfortable, neighbor-friendly lifestyle with Whispering Woods. Whispering Woods features 143 single family homes, each backing up to conservation area and ponds for the ultimate in non-invasive living. The homes are based on seven new floor plans with four optional elevations per plan, including but not limited to stone accents and front porches. These one- and two-story homes are built to suit every level of buyer at every stage of their life-from those needing a minimal 1,749 sq. ft. of living space to those who wish to sprawl out in 2,879 sq. ft. of living space. Within that living space, residents will be enveloped in minimum 9-ft first floor ceilings, ceramic tile in all wet spaces and wall-to-wall plush carpeting in common areas, and beautiful maple-look cabinetry that exquisitely accents GE® appliances. And for storage needs, spacious closets are in every room, and a 2-car garage is included. Amenities include a pool, cabana, tot lot and a hiking trail that the whole family can enjoy together. Sales of Whispering Woods open to the public on Saturday, December 13 at 10 a.m. at D.R. Horton’s Magnolia Green Sales Office, located at 3207 Azalea Blossom Dr. For more information on Whispering Woods, or any other D.R. Horton communities, call the Magnolia Green Sales office at 717-7501 or visit http://tpa.drhorton.com.

Edward Jones to Host Holiday Open House Elijah Heath, a local financial advisor for the financial services firm Edward Jones, invites the public to attend a Holiday Open House at 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, December 18 at 16132 Churchview Dr., Suite 201, Lithia. “We are happy to be part of the Lithia community and would like to express our appreciation for the confidence and support we receive year-round,” Heath said. Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliates, in Canada and the United Kingdom. Edward Jones is headquartered in St. Louis. For information, call 657-2078 or www.edwardjones.com.

BNI Helps Business Owners The Valrico Money Source Chapter of Business Networking International (BNI) is hosting an open networking meeting on December 4. This informative meeting will demonstrate recession-proof marketing ideas and concepts for small business owners and will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the River Hills Country Club in Valrico. A meeting fee of $5 is charged to cover room and breakfast fee. Interested parties need only e-mail Teresa Rojek at trojek@rojekhomeservices.com to reserve a seat and for additional information or directions (reservations required). For more information, call Rojek at 833-0223 or visit www.bniwcf.com.

Pinch A Penny Celebrates Two Years Pinch A Penny Boyette/FishHawk, located at the intersection of Boyette Rd., Bell Shoals Rd., and FishHawk Blvd., is celebrating two years in business this month taking care of residents swimming pool needs. “We are proud to be a Florida state contract licensed Pinch A Penny, offering not only supplies and expertise at our retail store, but on-site repair and cleaning at your swimming pool with skilled technicians,” said owner Kim Zerr. Hours are Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call 657-1054.

Business Hosts Retirement Seminar What are you doing now to secure your financial future? Plan Retirement is hosting a retirement seminal on Tuesday, January 13, to help residents learn the best ways to financial stability . The program will reveal proven techniques to help residents preserve capital, decrease risk exposure and reduce tax burden. There is not charge or obligation, just information that can help you choose appropriate financial options if you are retired or preparing for retirement. The event will take place at 7 p.m. at Delaney Creek Lodge, Brandon. For more information, call Marsha at 263-7611.

Resident Earns Professional Designation The slumping Real Estate market in Florida has homeowners searching for ways to help bring a profit in the sale of their homes. Home Staging® has become one such tool. By properly cleaning, de-cluttering and preparing a house for the market before it is listed homeowners have a better chance of selling their home in record time and for more money, in fact an 80 percent better chance according to nationally collected statistics found on Stagedhomes.com. Bloomingdale Teresa Rojek, accredited as an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP®) in 2006, is now serving the Tampa Bay area as an Accredited Staging Professional Master (ASPM®). Teresa is among 350 Master Stagers nationwide. The ASP and ASPM designation are the only Staging designations recognized by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Rojek, owner of Rojek Home Services received hands-on instruction from the creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz. For more information about Home Staging in the Tampa Bay area, contact Rojek at 833-0223 or trojek@rojekhomeservices.com.

Snap Fitness Opens in Lithia With the holiday season underway, what better time to start an exercise regime? And the newly opened Snap Fitness on FishHawk Blvd. makes it easy to get in shape. The fitness center, featuring a variety of cardio and exercise equipment, can be accessed 24 hours a day so members can attend at their convenience. Staff are in the location during business hours. Rates start at about $1 a day and members do not need to sign a long term contract and can pay as they go. All members can visit any of the Snap Fitness locations around the country and access bonus online training, nutrition and wellness services. Branches are also expected to open soon in Valrico at the intersection of Brentwood Hills Blvd. and S. Mt. Carmel Rd. and Brandon at Providence Lakes Blvd. and Providence Rd. For more information, call 341-SNAP (7627) or visit www.snapfitness.com.

Cardel Homes Introduces Evening Hours Cardel Homes, the builder of single family, multi-family and resort homes in locations across North America, plans to accommodate homebuyers’ schedules by providing new model home hours. The new hours are as follows: Monday-Friday, 2-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 Noon-6 p.m. Having over 30 years in the construction business, Cardel attributes its success to dedication to quality, fairness and community involvement, being an active member of the Tampa Bay community. For more information, visit www.cardelhomes.com.

The Palmer House Bed and Breakfast in Lithia is ready to cater to your holiday guests. Gail Palmer, owner of the Palmer House, said that she would like to thank the community for another great year and for its love, support and encouragement. Even in tough times like these, she said that the Palmer House is still a thriving business. “We have a lot of repeat customers,” she said. Palmer said Palmer House caters to locals, out of town guests, weddings, baby showers, holiday parties and more. Palmer House is located at 2221 Hinton Ranch Rd. in Lithia and is described as having a “country feeling.” Each Suite is decorated with a different theme: suite memories, spring garden, southern cabin, suite memories and country morning. Palmer House and all of its suites are currently decorated for the holidays, with a tree in each suite and a larger tree in the grand room. Palmer says her most popular room is also the newest, Suite Memories. It has been open for about a year, she said. Activities that Palmer offers include horseback riding and canoeing. Upcoming holiday activities at Palmer House include a Christmas Tea with Joa Jane of Lah-Tea-Dah. The tea will be held at Palmer house on December 14 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25, with tax and tip included and are available through Lah-Tea-Dah. Tickets are not available at the door. To order your tickets, please call Jane with Lah-Tea-Dah at 326-4921. Next year, Palmer said she plans to start doing mystery dinners, couple’s retreats, network events, a wellness weekend with RobZFitness and financial coaching to be called “Romance and Finance” with Mike Larkin with Larkin Finance. Palmer also puts out a newsletter with specials in it every month. She said she will have specials in the newsletters for the holidays, Valentine’s Day, football packages for football season and more. “Basically we will have a new special every month,” she said. Palmer is active in the community, being a member of the FishHawk Area Networking Group (FANG). She said she also gives back to the community by providing gift certificates to Palmer House for any event, like silent auctions. “We are always willing to give to charitable organizations because giving is better than receiving,” she said. She said that her and her husband would like to wish the community a blessed Christmas; “We’re successful because of you,” she said. She would also like to personally thank the Osprey Observer and Marie Gilmore for their outpouring in the community. She said she is also very excited about the shop local campaign and supports and pledges to shop local. For more information on the Palmer House and its upcoming events or to book a room, call Palmer at 654-0961 or visit the Website at www.palmer-house.com.

“I feel comfortable with my decision and I am very relieved and excited about moving on to college. I am looking forward to playing the sport I love at my new school,” said Newsome High School senior Jessica Alexander after officially signing her commitment of attending Coastal Carolina University during a ceremony at Summerfield Crossings Golf Club. A talented athlete who enjoyed soccer as her main sport, Alexander started playing golf when she was 12 years old. After a decision to take some time off playing the fast moving game she decided to concentrate her attention on golf, a decision that changed her athletic career for good. She developed a passion and love for golf and has been training with her swing coach, Shane Gillespie of the Inner Circle of Golf, for the pats four and a half years. While her main strength is driving distance (260-280), Alexander is working on improving her percentage of hitting greens in regulation. Her most recent golf highlight was coming in tied for nineth out of 74 women at the Florida State Women’s Stroke Play Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida at the LPGA International Golf Course. “I am so proud of Jessica and how well she has done,” said Alexander’s mom, Caroline, adding, “This game takes a lot of dedication including practices, five-six days a week. There were many times when Jessica couldn’t do things with friends because of having to get ready for a tournament.” While playing the game she loves, Jessica walks in the footsteps of many exemplary young athletes who make sure that education is not neglected. Well liked by all who know her, she is in the top 10 percent of her class at Newsome High School and has a 3.76 un-weighted grade point average and a 5.32 weighted GPA. “I am planning on majoring in Exercise and Sport Science” she said. Understanding that golf is one of those sports one can play beyond college, Jessica is not shy sharing her goals for the future. “I would ultimately like to play golf professionally and my goal is to earn a top playing spot at Coastal by my sophomore or junior year,” she said. For more information about area high school sports and athletic programs, please visit www.highschoolsports.net.

The Pinecrest Pilots 2008 Super Midget Cheerleaders had a lot to celebrate on Saturday, November 8. This team of 35 girls ages 9-11 performed a near flawless routine in an effort to defend the title of FYFCA Cheer-Off Champion. Defend it, they did! This first Place Cheer-Off Championship title is this team’s third in four years. “These girls have worked hard this year. They have pulled together as a team and we are so proud of them!” said head coach, Michelle Groat. She and Lisa Dimsdale have been coaching together for four years. This year their coaching staff included Tracy Coggins, Krisy Gilmore and Kelly Gilmore. “We couldn’t have done it without them,” Lisa said. In addition to the first place trophy, the Pinecrest Pilot Super Midget Cheerleaders also earned the title of Large Group Grand Champion. Their score was the highest of the day for cheer squads of 16 or more girls. Many of the girls said they were excited about winning first place, but the Grand Champion title is something they never expected. The FYFCA Cheer-Off Champion title is the second first place trophy this team has won this year. On October 26, they also took home first place at the Antioch Pow Wow. Twenty of the girls on the team have been cheering together for several years. These girls know what it is like to win. They worked hard to prepare themselves and their teammates for another victory. At the same time, this year there were quite a few who had never cheered before. “It is amazing to see what these girls are capable of both physically and mentally. The way they learn the routine, learn difficult stunts and tumbling techniques and perform it all in front of a crowd,” one proud parent commented. These girls and their coaches work hard. Six hours a week of practice that begins in July and continues through the end of November. The girls cheer for their football team every Saturday, with a game time of 12 noon. There is no doubt that cheerleading is sport.

Thousands of local elementary students were given a gift that keeps on giving. In the spirit of Service Above Self, its motto, local Rotarians from District 6890, divided local schools in order to distribute more than 24,000 dictionaries to local students. Brandon South Rotarians delivered more than 1,400 dictionaries itself to Dover, Symmes and Yates Elementaries. Dictionary project coordinator for the group, Linda Wright volunteered to coordinate with the schools in order to make the donations in person to the students. “I felt I wanted to get more deeply involved and this goes right to the heart of Rotary’s aims for literacy,” says Wright who owns the Cork & Olive store in the Lithia Crossings Stein Mart-anchored plaza on Lithia Pinecrest. “It was great fun going to the schools and the teachers and children all seemed so appreciative of the dictionaries.” Brandon South Rotarians received thank you letters, cards, pictures and messages of appreciation from the students who received the dictionaries. “Our teachers and students were very excited to receive this wonderful tool for learning,” said Dover Elementary principal Marie Caracciola. “I assure you, they will be well used!” Brandon South Rotary, in coordination with its parent district 6890, donated the dictionaries as part of the Dictionary Project, www.disctionaryproject.org, which started in 1995 and has lead to more than four million students receiving dictionaries. “Each year our 46 Rotary Clubs distribute approximately 20,000 dictionaries,” explains district representative Ed Odum. “The objective is to provide dictionaries to every 5th Grade student in our district, which covers Hillsborough, Highlands, Hardee, and Polk Counties.Many clubs have changed the gift to 4th grade classes, since that is the year they prepare for FCATs. The cost of the books alone is approaching $40,000 annually.” Dictionaries purchased through the program cost $1.70 per student and paid for by the District with Rotary dues. The project began in 1992 when Annie Plummer of Savannah, Georgia gave 50 dictionaries to children at a school close to her home. She then began fundraising and gave more than 17,000 dictionaries to students. She passed away in 1999, but her project lives on and today, more than 7.9 million children have received dictionaries through the dictionaryproject.org, a nonprofit organization. Local Rotaries and Kiwanis service organizations have embraced the project and pass out the dictionaries each year. Brandon South Rotary meets at 12 noon Wednesdays at Buckhorn Country Club. For info visit www.brandonsouthrotary.org.

Looking for something to do with the family during the holidays? Take them out for a drive to the following neighborhoods for a look at some of the most extravagant Christmas lights and decorations. Bring along hot chocolate, blankets and maybe even some hay in the bed of a truck. Christmas Lane Christmas Lane, which is located at 2091 Wooten Rd. in Dover, is put on by Lane Wetherington along with a group of 20 volunteers, consisting of family and friends and offers something for every member of the family, including a visit from Santa himself. According to Wetherington, it takes him and the volunteers about a month and a half to put up the lights, displays and the small train that children ride. He began on November 1 and plans to work all the way up to opening day, December 1. “It would not happen without the help of the volunteers,” he said. “It started when I was a kid with a fascination for lights.” Wetherington, whose birthday is in November, says he would ask for Christmas lights as gifts. Later, he bought a company specializing in commercial lighting which added to the display. “We’ve been given some things and built others,” says Wetherington, who estimates that about 45,000 people toured the annual display last year. This year, he says they have added a Toy Store/Shop, where elves are hard at work making toys for good little girls and boys. Hot chocolate, popcorn, hot dogs and other foods are served throughout the display, served by the volunteers. According to Wetherington, his December electric bill is about $3,500. Rumors have circulated that TECO picks up the tab for Wetherington’s bill, but he said “the only help I get from them is a bill in the mail.” Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Christmas Lane is open from 6-10 p.m. every night through December 28, the Sunday after Christmas. Santa will be arriving on December 19 and will be at Christmas Lane until December 24. He will come out from 7-9 p.m. every night except Christmas Eve; he will be coming out for only one hour, from 6-7 p.m. Christmas Lane will close if it is raining. “We do it for the kids,” he says. Wetherington said he likes to emphasize that there is well-lit parking and off duty officers that volunteer their time to come out as security so it’s a safe place for moms to take their kids. To get to Christmas Lane, take S.R. 60 to Dover Rd., go north for about three miles and turn right on Wooten Rd. Barrington Oaks Barrington Oaks, located off of Lumsden Rd. in between Bryan and John Moore roads, consists of 51 homes, most of which decorate for the holidays. Decorations range from blowups to nativity scenes and more. Gates to the community open daily at 6 p.m. and stay open until 11 p.m., except on Christmas Eve and Christmas, where the lights stay on until 12:30 p.m. Cranberry Lane Another standout display in the area is at 407 Cranberry Ln., between Parsons Ave. and Kingsway Rd., just north of Clay Ave. The display includes 12,000 lights with snowmen playing in fake snow. Homemade wooden characters and houses display snowmen skiing on a slope, selling trees, riding in a sleigh and ice skating. In Santa’s workshop, reindeer learn to fly, and a train makes a delivery to the elves. Brandon Forest Brandon Forest is located in Seffner off of Parsons Ave. north of Windhorst Rd. and south of Wheeler Rd. From S.R. 60, travel north up Parsons Ave., go through the Windhorst Rd. light and make a right onto Forest Circle. A Brandon Forest resident for 20 years, Brenda Cannon said people come from all over to see them [the lights]. “Almost all the houses do the lights; I love it, being part kid. I have a talking snowman and people will yell out how much they like him and kids walk by and look at him,” she said. There are luminaries for a very nice glowing feel and people walk around and talk to neighbors. Some of the neighbors dress in elf costumes and green tights and hand out candy to kids she says. “I so love it, it is why I wanted to move in this neighborhood ever since I was a kid living in Mango and still love and I am almost 60,” she said. “It is the way things should be with all of us instead of holed up in our houses not caring about each other.” The busiest nights to see the lights are December 23 and 24, the two nights before Christmas. Cannon said that most families with small children come through before 9 p.m., but people can drive through before those days and after that time. Wexford Green Wexford Green, located right off of Valrico Rd. in between Durant Ave. and Lumsden Rd. is a community located on a dead-end road, Wexford Green Dr.

The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the 2008 Small Business of the Year Awards. The annual recognition gala, featuring a red carpet theme, was held in October at The Palmetto Club at FishHawk Ranch. Fifteen area businesses were recognized as finalists at the Chamber’s annual event, sponsored by Bank of Tampa - Brandon Division. Supporting sponsors include Alday Donalson Title, Hanna, Lemar & Morris, P.A., State Farm- Melissa Snively Agent, and The Brandon News & Tribune/ The Tampa Tribune. Dave Mishkin, radio voice of the Tampa Bay Lightning, was the celebrity emcee for the 2008 event. One winner from each of the five categories was announced. Each finalist and past recipients of this prestigious Chamber award were also honored and featured in a video presentation. Nominations were received from the 1,800-plus members of the Chamber and divided into categories based on the number of employees or type of business. Judges reviewed the applications and interviewed the candidates to determine the finalists. The judges made personal visits to the finalists’ places of business, to conclude the judging process and determine the five winners. Award categories include home based businesses, minority and woman owned businesses, businesses with one-five employees, six-15 employees and 16 or more employees. This year’s winners include: Home Based Business Black Diamond Associates, LLC Minority or Women Owned Business Brandon Montessori School at River Hills 1 to 5 Employees Huth & Booth - The Portrait Gallery 6 to 15 Employees i9 Sports Corporation 16 Plus Employees ServiceMaster 24 Hour For more information on this event, visit the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s Website at www.brandonchamber.com or call Jamie Reid at 689-1221, ext. 43.