Local Sponsors Contribute to Summer Bible and Basketball Camp’s Success
Local Sponsors Contribute to Summer Bible and Basketball Camp’s Success
By Tamas Mondovics
What do 18 coaches, 26 corporate sponsors, 93 children and $4,000 in cash and donations equal? One of the most successful summer camps in the area. Bibles and Basketball Summer Camp—as it has come to be called over the years—was once again hosted by Immanuel Lutheran Church and School and led by Ed Treimanis, Chief Financial Planner of Ameriprise Financial Services, who was proud to announce that this year’s camp was an overwhelming success. Due to the overwhelming support from local Platinum corporate sponsors, Women’s Care of Brandon, William F. Price Foundation, Treimanis, and the camp’s original sponsor Neal A. Kahn of Olin Mott Tire Store, Carlos Velez of the Orlando Magic, who has co-sponsored this year’s camp and other individual and corporate sponsors, for the first time all 93 children that attended camp did so free of cost. “Our goal to ensure that no child is turned away from our Bibles and Basketballs camp due to finances was reached beyond our expectation,” Treimanis said. “Originally, we were able to let the first 77 children enjoy the camp without cost, but after the support from the community, we knew this number would be much higher.” The camp concluded with a pizza party as well as an evening charity basketball tournament at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School, which welcomed more than 200 parents, fans and local sponsors, who came out to support the event and to give back to their community. Treimanis and the Immanuel Lutheran Annual Basketball Camp have chosen (Sharing Hope for Orphans and Every Soul) SHOES to receive half the proceeds of the charity game. “We would like to extend a special thank you to Dick’s Sporting Goods, who donated equipment and prizes for the camp including basketballs, Nike bags, whistles as well as gift certificates for coaches and volunteers and coupon books for basketball related items from Dick’s,” said Ameriprise intern Jeremy Whitehead. During a recently held banquet at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, at 9331 Adamo Dr., in Tampa, awards were handed out to coaches and players for their participation. Besides the willing support of Beef ‘O’ Brady’s management team, Treimanis also acknowledged Marie Gilmore of the Osprey Observer and the Christian Voice, along with Carlos Velez and Pat Williams of the Orlando Magic for getting the word out prior to camp. For further information feel free to call Treimanis 623-5713 or contact Immanuel Lutheran School at 685-1978. To learn more about SHOES, please visit www.destinyshouse.com/shoes.
Pate’s Tae Kwon Do Academy Post Success at National Tournament
For the third year in a row, students of Pate’s Tae Kwon Do Academy in Riverview attended the 2009 AAU Tae Kwon Do National Tournament held at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale last month. The size of this year’s tournament, was approximately 1,800 competitors and was broken down into the following categories: novice, intermediate, advanced and black belt. The academy earned two gold and one silver medal as well as three bronze medals, which speaks highly of the academy’s strength in the sport.
First place winners in the Sparring competitions were 10-year-old Nigel Hart and 6-year-old Grace Stalker. While also sparring, 10-year-old Chasen Brown placed third. Twelve-year-old Mikeala Hemenway placed second Sparring and third in Forms. In the adult competition, Trish Hemenway placed third in Sparring and Forms. All of the students reside in Riverview, while Hart has been training at the academy for the past four years.
Not surprised by the success of his students, Head Instructor Robert Pate was very pleased of his team’s performance. “Our students competed in Olympic-style Sparring and Forms and always work hard to produce great results when participating in tournaments,” Pate said, adding, “They are proud and feel a great sense of accomplishment.”
Pate’s Tae Kwon Do Academy, located at 11266 Boyette Rd. in Riverview, focuses on the teaching of self-defense, self-discipline and physical conditioning, which are being taught to both children and adults, while offering martial arts classes in the evenings for the whole family. After-school care and summer camps for children are also a part of the program. “For our after-school program, we offer transportation from several schools in Riverview, and the children participate in martial arts classes every day,” Pate said.
Pate has been studying martial arts for over 20 years and, in 1992, won Grand Champion at the USA Tae Kwon Do Championships in Jacksonville, Florida. He also won a silver medal at the 1994 World Tae Kwon Do Championships in London, England. “My passion is to share my expertise in Tae Kwon Do and to motivate and encourage my students toward a true sense of self-accomplishment,” he said, mentioning that some of the many benefits of his martial arts program include enhanced self-esteem, confidence, discipline, the learning of self-defense and strengthening of the mind and body.
While celebrating the recent success, the students looked forward to training for the upcoming competition scheduled to be held in at Walt Disney World in October.
For more information about Pate’s Tae Kwon Do Academy, please visit www.patesmartialarts.com or call the academy at 758-3934.
Florida Class of Judo Instructor Honored for Six Decades of Service
Having a day proclaimed or named after someone by the mayor of a major city like Tampa is not something that happens every day, unless you are eighth-degree black belt Judo instructor, professor Ed Maley, who is celebrating 60 years of teaching the martial arts, 50 of which in the Tampa Bay area. Mayor of Tampa, Pam Iorio is scheduled to proclaim Saturday, September 12 as “Professor Ed Maley Day,” encouraging citizens to honor Maley for his achievements and dedication to playing such a major role in Tampa’s sports history. The reading of the proclamation is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, at 9 a.m. during the county commissioners’ meeting.
Maley’s long history of teaching Judo locally includes the opening of the Florida School of Judo, which began offering classes in 1959, but Maley can also be credited with working with more than 80,000 students of all ages at not only his school, but also at various YMCA facilities and recreation centers.
The numerous awards received by Maley include the 1988 Platinum Award for 50 years of teaching, the 2004 Hillsborough County Son & Daughter Award and the 2008 Black Belt magazine’s Best Traditional Judo School in the Unites States. He is included in the Black Belt World of GI Halls of Fame and has won seven consecutive championships. He has served and taught for the past six decades.
While flattered to be honored by members of the community, Maley has a simple goal: “I would like to have well adjusted students who give back to the sport, rather than students who are strictly competitors and only take from you and move on,” he said. “I want to see them reach their goals whether it is going to the Olympics or simply bettering themselves by being part of a team and working with others.”
According to now Sensei Marry Alaynick, the Florida School of Judo has more certified black belt instructors teaching under Maley than any other school in the state of Florida, posting a black belt knowledge equivalent to more than 350 years of teaching. But, while Alaynick is proud of the school’s size and impressive statistics, she wanted to emphasize that the real success of Maley’s class reaches far beyond the gym. “He shows you how to apply the teachings of Judo to everyday life,” Alaynick said. “Many of his students have grown up and given back to our community as lawyers, realtors, insurance brokers, physicians, chiropractors and military personnel, just to name a few. Many are now bringing their children and grandchildren to learn from professor Maley.”
To celebrate Maley’s 60th anniversary, the Florida School of Judo is welcoming members of the community to a special workout party, scheduled to be held on Saturday, September 12, at the Campo Family YMCA, located at 3414 Culbreath Rd., in Valrico. The festivities will begin at 9 a.m., with lunch provided from 12 Noon -3 p.m.
For more information about the Florida school of Judo please visit www.floridaschoolofjudo.net or call the Campo Family YMCA at 684-1371.
Water Resource Services To Close SouthShore Customer Service Branch
If you prefer paying your water bill in person or want to handle some water service related business in person or have been and want to visit the County’s Water Resource Services office in Ruskin, you will now have to travel a bit farther. The downturn in the economy has claimed another Hillsborough County government office, which has been operating in full swing and has been caring for the needs of local residents since December of 2005. Hillsborough County Water Resource Services’ SouthShore customer service center, located inside the county’s SouthShore Regional Service Center at 410 30th St. S.E. in Ruskin has closed its doors as of early July, directing customers to the Brandon office located in the Brandon Crossings Shopping Center at S.R. 60 and Falkenburg Rd., and is open weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and offer a full range of services.
According to Hillsborough County Water Resource Services spokes person Michelle Van Dyke, the closing of the SouthShore office is one of several steps Water Resource Services has taken in recent months to trim costs. Van Dyke explained that although the number of customers has remained about the same as last year, residents are buying less water, either to cut costs or to conserve because of water restrictions related to the ongoing drought, but added that home foreclosures and bill defaults are also impacting the department. “The SouthShore office had approximately 1,500 visits a month from customers caring for services such as billing, payment and accounts services and was staffed with four employees, who now are assigned to other duties within the department,” Van Dyke said. Incidentally, Van Dyke also mentioned that while some water restrictions have been lifted, the board has extended the basic restrictions until Friday, July 31.
For more information, contact Water Resource Services Customer Service at 272-6680.
Mosaic Plans Big Bend Terminal Expansion
Rezoning for a proposed 500,000 sq.-ft. fertilizer storage warehouse building project near TECO at Mosaic Big Bend Phosphate Terminal Facility in Apollo Beach has been scheduled to go before the Hillsborough County Zoning Hearing Master at the end of this month.
According to Mosaic spokesperson Russell Schweiss, the new facility will save the company shipping and storage costs over the long run.“This new facility will help us lower the cost of distribution, thanks to the location as well as the additional automated conveyer technology system,” Schweiss said. While the start of the construction is planned for the summer of 2010, Schweiss was not able to comment on the cost. He did, however, mention that although the facility will only employ about 10 people, the construction project will provide jobs and boost the local economy.
Of course, as it is true with any new project, Mosaic also has a number of hurdles to get through before it can begin the construction of the facility located on U.S. 41, just north of the Tampa Electric Co.’s Big Bend Power Station. One of these hurdles is to address the concerns of the community, which Mosaic is happy to remedy hosting of a community meeting explaining its project. Schweiss explained that residents are mainly worried about noise and the increase in daily truck traffic, which will not be a notable increase in the community and should create very little noise.“Residents are encouraged to attend so all of the concerns can be addressed by company representatives present,” he said. The public meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 13, from 6–7:30 p.m. at the Apollo Beach Recreation Center, located at 664 Golf-to-Sea Blvd.
Mosaic’s new $20 million, 110,000 sq.-ft. headquarters building under construction near FishHawk Ranch in Lithia is on schedule as well providing jobs to about 400 existing employees with room for expansion.
For more information about the new Mosaic warehouse expansion please visit www.mosaicco.com, or visit www.apollobeachchamber.com, or call the chamber at 645-1366.
BAYSL Registration Kicks Off
With new fields under construction, and the club going through a major makeover in the next two years, the Brandon Area Youth Soccer League (BAYSL) is posed to begin registration for its upcoming fall and winter season. The league, which was established in 1976 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1977, is an affiliate member of the Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA), one of the largest members of the United States Youth Soccer (USYS).
According to league President Joanne Quinn, the club’s main goal is to promote and develop soccer in the Brandon area with an emphasis on youth development. “Our philosophy is to provide each player the opportunity to play soccer in a supportive and rewarding environment that emphasizes fun, enjoyment and skill, while learning at a level that fits his or her interest and ability,” Quinn said, adding, “We also want to create a challenging environment for those who seek to reach their full potential.”
Quinn emphasized that BAYSL has become a full-service soccer organization with teams for children and adults, as well as those with special needs (TOPS), which is clearly visible through the league’s growth, both in numbers, as well as in team and individual achievements. It posted more than 1,900 participating members, which includes 400 select and premier players, 1,300 recreational players (about 140 teams), close to 150 adult players and about 80 TOPS players.
Of course, this kind of operation requires plenty of work on the part of all involved, such as the approximately 200 volunteer coaches, 20 volunteer board members, a full-time director of coaching (DOC), two assistant DOCs, a part-time club administrator and other volunteers adding to the count.“BAYSL’s continued growth and excellence,” Quinn said, “is because of all these people working together to keep it moving forward and staying as one of the best clubs in Florida. We are constantly striving to have the best coaches and trainers, whose primary goal is to develop players in four basic areas: technique, tactics, psychology and physical fitness.”
Proud of hosting The Brandon Cup every President’s Day weekend, which annually draws about 100 teams, BAYSL is confident to benefit the Brandon area as a training ground for skill development, self-confidence, teamwork and sportsmanship. “Soccer players need excellent training, coaching, facilities, and support to be successful,” Quinn said, and added that although BAYSL is able to provide all of this right now, the addition of the new fields, scheduled to be ready for the 2010-2011 season, will make the club even better.
The upcoming season’s coaches registration is now scheduled for Thursday, August 13, from 6-9 p.m., at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, located 9331 E. Adamo Dr. in Tampa.Player registration is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and Thursday, August 27, from 10 a.m. -1:30 p.m. and from 6-9 p.m., at J.C. Handly Park, located at 3104 S. Kings Ave., in Brandon. Registration will continue on Saturday, August 29, from10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, August 30, from1 a.m.-4 p.m., at Dick’s Sporting Goods located at the Brandon Westfield Mall.
For more information, please visit its Website at www.brandonsoccer.com, or call 684-5948.
Black Blue Wrestling Camp Gets Local Youth Moving
The catchy phrase “Get Moving” is this year’s theme for the ever-popular Black and Blue Summer Wrestling Camp, held at Riverview High School, that is once again being offered to provide an opportunity for local youth to get active over the summer, with wrestling Coach William Sargable at the helm.
Emphasizing the importance of the program, Sargable commented, “With the growing cases of childhood obesity, it is imperative that kids get off of the couch and out from in front of the computer and get moving,” he said.
Although the camp has a wrestling theme, there is no shortage of different games and sports to provide variety and fun for all, a staple of the summer camp.
“The focus this year is on fun and games. We have minimized the wrestling activities and added new games and skill activities. For instance, this year we added flicker football and “catch.”
Sargable explained that the campers are working on some of the fundamental skills, like throwing a ball and using a glove to catch it, but added that, this summer, there is another significant change due to Hillsborough County Schools’ new “closed campuses” policy on Fridays.
“Camp is only Monday through Thursday, however, we have added an additional hour each day to make up for the loss of a day,” Sargable said, adding, “Camp favorites are dodgeball, kickball, and ‘snake-in-the-grass’, but to find out what snake-in-the-grass is…you have to come to camp.”
While helping with the program as camp counselors, a number of high school wrestlers also play all the games and have just as much fun as the rest.
With June’s session over, the Black and Blue Wrestling Camp is going strong and will continue with two more sessions, scheduled for July and August.
For camp times and dates as well as more information about the Riverview High School wrestling program, please contact Sargable at 671-6009 or william.sargable@sdhc.k12.fl.us.
Gym’s Pro Fighter Status A Benefit To Athletes & Residents
Brandon’s newest and Tampa Bay’s second Extreme Fitness Championships (XFC) training facility, located at 1076 E. Brandon Blvd., opened its doors to the public last February with no need of introduction. Today, many are familiar with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting or the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), but its promoter, XFC, is now developing a reputation for producing younger, lesser-known fighters and opening gyms like the one in Brandon.
“This 7,500-sq.-ft. gym, which doubles the size of the first one, will not only become a staple in the community and a template for many more to come, but it will benefit us in terms of name recognition,” said XFC President John Prisco. “It helps to develop fans and to build our brand.”But, according to Prisco, many are also recognizing the fact that the gym is much more than just the eight-sided-cage the sport is mainly known for. “This XFC facility isn’t exclusively for our MMA fighters,” he said, adding that about 95 percent of the gym’s members are there to get in shape, with approximately 40 to 50 new members being added each month.“The troubled economy does not weigh on business,” he said. “More and more people are becoming interested as they realize that not only is it a place to get in shape, but it is also a great stress reliever in these economic times.”
The gym offers classes ranging from beginner to advanced, featuring a similar curriculum as its sister center in Tampa, offers Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, and women’s fitness, including a women’s boot camp and a kids MMA program for youths ages 7 – 15. While mentioning the benefits of the center’s cardiovascular training, which seems to be the focus of many of its classes, Prisco emphasized the diversity of the level of fitness training one can achieve.“This is truly a one-stop fitness shop,” Prisco said. “Whether you are a pro-fighter, want to be a pro fighter or simply want the benefits of great cardiovascular health, coordination, and wellness while learning some self defense, we have what is needed for everyone to meet their personal goals.”
As a tradition, XFC’s Brandon location also holds open tryouts prior to its events, including the one held last month where close to 40 MMA fighters showed up, with Julien Williams earning a fight slot on Saturday, September 5, at the St. Pete Times Forum.
For more information about Brandon’s XFC Training Center, please visit www.xfctraining.com or call 381-3811.
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