What do live music, a castle, a zoo and over a half ton of food have in common?  They’re all a part of the 18th annual Denizens of the Deep Southern Family Fish Fry being held Saturday, November 5, at Rotary’s Camp Florida, located at 1915 Camp Florida Rd. in Brandon, north of [...]]]>

Guests enjoy the food being served at a previous Denizens of the Deep event. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, November 5, at Rotary’s Camp Florida beginning at 11 a.m.

Staff Report

What do live music, a castle, a zoo and over a half ton of food have in common?  They’re all a part of the 18th annual Denizens of the Deep Southern Family Fish Fry being held Saturday, November 5, at Rotary’s Camp Florida, located at 1915 Camp Florida Rd. in Brandon, north of S.R. 60 off Lakewood Dr.  All the fun begins at 11 a.m. and rocks on until 4 p.m.
Denizens is a perfect opportunity to have a great time with family and friends, eat some great food and support worthy local charities in the process. For the members of Brandon ’86 Rotary, Denizens is a time to work hard to raise money for those charities.
Ron Shillady, board member of Rotary Brandon ’86, is coordinating this year’s event.  Shillady said, “This will be our 18th Denizens event held at Rotary’s Camp Florida. One of our goals is to enlist local Brandon businesses to participate with their sponsorships. This gives them recognition as well as provides money for our charities. It’s hard work for our members, but we have dedicated members that happen to be great people.”
The event is an all-you-can-eat of delicious fish, shrimp, hush puppies, sausage and more.  Beer, soft drinks, coffee and tea are also included.  While adults are enjoying the live music, children have games and events galore in the kid’s area, including a two-story bouncy castle and separate bouncy slide all under the watchful supervision of Brandon Y volunteers.
The cost is $25 per adult, $10 for children, ages 13-18, and children 12 and under get in free with a donation of one can of food, per child, for the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO). In response to current economic difficulties, prices have been reduced from last year.
Great food and fun with family and friends, Denizens of the Deep has become one of the don’t miss events of the year and ranks as one of Brandon’s largest charitable fundraisers.  For more information and directions, please call (863) 670-0410.

Additionally, the [...]]]> Chipotle Mexican Grill, the restaurant chain known for serving Food With Integrity, will open its newest location in Brandon at 829 E. Bloomingdale Avenue on Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. Located on Bloomingdale Avenue, just west of Bell Shoals Road, the new Chipotle will be the company’s first restaurant to open in Brandon.

Additionally, the new restaurant will host a pre-opening fundraising event on Sept. 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the Bloomingdale High School Band, which will perform at the beginning of the event in front of Chipotle’s new restaurant. For five dollars, guests will receive one of Chipotle’s signature menu items (a burrito, salad, tacos or burrito bowl) and a drink, and 100 percent of the proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Bloomingdale High School Band.

Check back for more information on the restaurant’s grand opening.

Imagine having a headache so excruciating it requires surgery. Chiari is a neurological disorder where the brain descends out of the skull and puts pressure on the spine. It affects people of all ages, races, causes many symptoms including severe headaches, neck pain, and weaknesses in the arms, legs, balance and respiratory problems.

Plant [...]]]>

Serenity Harper and her children Gabrielle 15, Willow 13 and Riley 7 are fundrasing for the the Fourth Annual Conquer Chiari Walk Across America to be held on Saturday, September 17, 2011 in Al Lopez Park, 4810 North Himes Ave. Tampa.

Imagine having a headache so excruciating it requires surgery. Chiari is a neurological disorder where the brain descends out of the skull and puts pressure on the spine. It affects people of all ages, races, causes many symptoms including severe headaches, neck pain, and weaknesses in the arms, legs, balance and respiratory problems.

Plant City resident Serenity Harper is the site organizer for the Fourth Annual Conquer Chiari Walk Across America to be held on Saturday, September 17, 2011 in Al Lopez Park, 4810 North Himes Ave. Tampa.

Harper, who has had problems since birth, was diagnosed with chiari, along with her daughter.

And tragically women have a 50 percent chance of passing the disease to their child.  Pregnancy can make chiari worse. Doctors are trying to identify the chromosome that causes chiari.

Chiari limits activities such as running or weight lifting. And while some people think car accidents cause the disease some people think it’s congenital.

“There is so little knowledge about it,” Harper stated. However, what Harper knows as well as other chiari patients is chiari gets worse without treatment. Unfortunately, brain surgery is the only choice patients have.

“It’s about quality of life,” Harper remarked. “I am not any better off,” said Harper who has been through 2 surgeries.

Because of the trauma inflicted on her physically, Harper spent 7-8 days in ICU with numerous complications to the point of almost losing her life.

“I see too many times people have the second surgery because surgeons don’t have enough knowledge. That’s my belief,” Harper stated.

The Chiari Walk will raise money and educate people about chiari.  Chiari is a foreign to many people.

“I hope to find more effective treatments for my daughter and other people and find out more about genetic links,” Harper concluded optimistically.

The Walk is free to participate, and those who preregister and donate $25 receive a Conquer Chiari shirt.  There will be activities such as face painting and raffle. You can pre- register online at

www.conquerchiari.org, or e-mail serenitypaige@yahoo.com or contact Harper at 990-7801.

By Brittany Rollings

If you’ve been meaning to try out some of Tampa Bay’s best restaurants, mark your calendars, a great opportunity is just around the corner. The 2011 annual DINE Tampa Bay Restaurant Week will take place August 19-September 2 offering diners specially priced three-course meals at some of the area’s beat restaurants, with participants including [...]]]>

If you’ve been meaning to try out some of Tampa Bay’s best restaurants, mark your calendars, a great opportunity is just around the corner.
The 2011 annual DINE Tampa Bay Restaurant Week will take place August 19-September 2 offering diners specially priced three-course meals at some of the area’s beat restaurants, with participants including Brandon’s own GrillSmith and a wide variety of cuisines from fondue to sushi from downtown Tampa to the Pinellas County beaches.
In addition to their standard fare, each participating restaurant will provide a special Restaurant Week menu which will suggest three options for each course. The special menu will offer $25, $35 or $45 prix-fixe, three-course menus (appetizer, entrée and dessert) throughout the week. Prices are per person and exclude beverages, tax and gratuities.
Valrico resident Shannon Carlton attended the DINE Tampa Bay launch party recently and is looking forward to taking advantage of special offers to try some new spots during restaurant week.
“What a great way to try new restaurants in our area,” says Carlton, who was in New York City for its restaurant week four years ago and was very excited to find out Tampa was joining the dining trend. “The celebrity cook-off and food samples at the launch party were an excellent way to get diners excited about what is sure to be a great event.”
Presented by Tampa Bay & Company and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, DINE Tampa Bay, has been designed to stimulate business and introduce new customers to restaurants located throughout the Tampa Bay area.
“DINE Tampa Bay offers visitors, convention attendees and local residents the opportunity to experience Tampa Bay area fine dining restaurants at a value price,” said Vice President of Partnership for Tampa Bay & Company Joyce Fisk. “Plus, participating restaurants have the opportunity to expose new potential customers to the wonderful dining options that are available.”
For more information, add “DINE Tampa Bay” on facebook, visit www.dinetampabay.com or call Tampa Bay & Company at 223-1111.

There is a place in Wimauma, only about five or six miles south of Sun City off U.S. Hwy. 301, that is home to some magnificent creatures. These animals live on seven acres tucked away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but to the volunteers at Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary, these animals’ well [...]]]>

Dawn Duckett, Volunteer of the Year 2010 shares some enrichment time with Freddie the lynx. Duckett has worked with Freddie all of his life. He is one of three lynx at Elmira's living next door to Ginger, a rare Spanish lynx.

There is a place in Wimauma, only about five or six miles south of Sun City off U.S. Hwy. 301, that is home to some magnificent creatures. These animals live on seven acres tucked away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but to the volunteers at Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary, these animals’ well being is a top priority.
The animal asylum is named after one of its residents, a 9-year-old black bear Elmira.
The sanctuary is home to mostly big cats and bears, but there is a variety of species that make up the 50 residents at Elmira’s. All but one of these majestic animals was born in captivity. This sanctuary is a place for animals that could not survive in the wild.
“All the animals have their own personalities and they need a home,” said volunteer director Deborah Kaprive.
Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a non-profit organization, has always been funded by generous donations and fundraisers.
“We are entirely staffed by volunteers,” said Kaprive.
After much consideration and gaining approval from the USDA, Elmira’s sanctuary is now open to the public for tours. Tours will be held every first and third Saturday of every month from 11a.m. to 12 Noon. Admission for the tours is $10 for adults, and $5 for ages 17 and under and free for children 3 and under.
“The tours are a lot of fun and we are excited to be open to the public,” said Kaprive.
Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary is always in need of qualified volunteer help.
“There is something for everyone here to help with,” said Kaprive, “We need all the same things that every household needs.”
Volunteering is not all fun and games here though, but helping the animals is very rewarding.
“You won’t be hugging cougars; these are wild animals,” said Kaprive.
The staff is dedicated to making the animals that call this place home comfortable and happy. One visit to the sanctuary and it is easy to see that these animals are happy to call this place home.
“We aren’t here to entertain; we are a sanctuary,” said Kaprive.
For more information about volunteering, donating, or becoming a member of Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary visit them online at www.elmiraswildlife.org.
On Sunday, August 21, Elmira’s will celebrate its official grand opening with an event called “Thai one on for the Tigers.” This event will be held from 4-8 p.m. It will consist of authentic Thai food, live music and a tour of the animals. Admission will be $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
To contact Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary, call (941) 776-8975 or visit www.elmiraswildlife.org. Elmira’s is located at 13910 Seminole Trl. in Wimauma. Take exit 246 off I-75.

By Josh Massaro

One northbound lane of Parsons and the westbound turn lanes on Windhorst are closed. Additional detours and lane closures are possible as Public Works crews begin the repairs.