This month, the Osprey Observer Community Newspapers celebrates 10 years of publishing local, positive community news in the South East Hillsborough County area, and we couldn’t have done it without [...]]]> Osprey Observer, Inc. consists of a team of 20 local residents who work together to publish more than 200 pages of community news per month.

This month, the Osprey Observer Community Newspapers celebrates 10 years of publishing local, positive community news in the South East Hillsborough County area, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

Needless to say, starting out as a one-sheet newsletter and home-based business and now, with two offices and publishing more than 200 pages in five monthly editions with a team of more than 25 people, it is a little bit of a different workplace environment here at the Osprey Observer.

The main goal when we started, was to make an impact on the local community. Our idea was to get involved and to make a difference in the community. 

At the same time, it has been important for us as a company to stay current, trained and active in the changing economic market and with social media and technology, so that we aren’t left behind.

For our business, this has included the addition of video, Facebook, an active, archived Website and the continuation of building our brand at events, festivals and with sponsorships in the community.

In addition to our community office on Lithia Pinecrest Rd., we have leased a second space in our plaza to allow for our staff meetings. This is the Small Business Center which is also open to the public for small, intimate business meetings and trainings for up to 20 people and is a service to our customers.

As a community newspaper, we find that this is what sets us apart and keeps our readers interested as we cover the news. We are supported 100 percent by local small businesses who support the free community newspaper and allow us to print and mail our editions each month.

Without the support of these businesses, we wouldn’t have the staff to send to cover community events nor the community office to be the hub of local information. 

Our staff prides itself on being available for community information. ”Its been a lot of fun to watch over the years how the paper has gone from a four-page newsletter, to five monthly editions,” says nine-year team member and assignment editor Michelle Colesanti.

“My role has been very interesting, it has never been boring and I have grown over the years from doing billing to advertising and now settling into the editorial and writing side that I have found that I really enjoy.”

In addition to concentrating on our main business, publishing newspapers that people read, we also have been active in our local chambers and encourage businesses to not just join, but actually get involved and attend events.

The best advice we can give any small business owner, is to find your niche in what you do best, and be the best, treat every customer like your absolute best customer and follow the general small business rules that will set you apart: Be On Time – Send a Thank You Note  – Follow Up – Stick to Your Core Business- Do Your Best Every Time.

If it weren’t for our loyal readers, and avid business supporters, we couldn’t do what we do in the community. So from the Osprey Observer team, Thank You!

The Osprey Observer offices are located at 900 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Call 657-2418 or visit www.ospreyobserver.com. Please like us on Facebook at OspreyObserverFans.

You only have to walk into Revolution Cycle & Fitness to see that it is not just ‘another gym’. Instead of housing a plethora of machines for different workouts, Revolution Cycle & Fitness [...]]]> Staff members from the Osprey Observer recently enjoyed a spinning class at Revolution Cycle & Fitness, located on Oakfield Dr. in Brandon.

You only have to walk into Revolution Cycle & Fitness to see that it is not just ‘another gym’. Instead of housing a plethora of machines for different workouts, Revolution Cycle & Fitness has 21 Schwinn AC Sport indoor cycling bikes, two 60-inch TV screens and a state-of-the-art sound system that is ideal for playing music.

The owners of Revolution, Victor and Christine Giordano, are cycling enthusiasts, which is what first gave them the idea to open their own studio. “We are very passionate about cycling and we saw that we were not getting the results we were looking for at other cycling classes,” said Victor. “That’s what inspired us to open our own cycling studio and people have been really excited about it.”

Revolution Cycle & Fitness is the only studio of its kind in the Brandon area and has received rave reviews from those who have attended classes. Several members of the Osprey Observer staff went to Revolution to try a class, with cycling expertise ranging from ‘newbies’ to ‘advanced’, and each staff member enjoyed the experience.

“The cycling class was a hard workout, but at the same time it was also a lot of fun,” said Jennifer Silverstein, assistant editor at the Osprey Observer. “You get to choose you fast you pedal and how much resistance you want on the bike.
Even though it’s a class setting, the instructors are sure to remind you that you can still go at your own pace.”  

Revolution Cycle is a 45 minute class that the Giordano’s refer to as their ‘cardio party’ and research shows that, on average, indoor cycling classes can burn anywhere from 400-700 calories per class.

There are no membership fees, as at Revolution you can pay per class or they have different ‘class packages’ that are good all year long and each person’s first class is free.

Revolution Cycle & Fitness is located at 524 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon. For more information about cycling and to check their class schedule, call 447-1410 or visit their Website www.revolution-cycle.com.

As the low-tech methods associated with Internet fraud and identity theft like purse snatching or “dumpster diving,” are being replaced by high-tech techniques like “phishing” [...]]]> HCSO Cpl. Bruce Crumpler, left and detective Phil Newman speak to a senior residents gathered at the Riverview Civic Center during a recent seminar on identity theft and Internet fraud.

As the low-tech methods associated with Internet fraud and identity theft like purse snatching or “dumpster diving,” are being replaced by high-tech techniques like “phishing” or  “skimming” through deceptive e-mails or malicious software known as “spyware,” one thing remains unchanged; identity theft is a crime and no one is safe.

Identity theft tops the list of consumer complaints that are reported to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) which estimates that  as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year.

While everyone is a target, senior residents find themselves especially vulnerable as they take a shot at maneuvering their way through the Word Wide Webb.

To educate and protect them, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office held an informational seminar last month organized by HCSO Riverview Community Service Officer Barbara Jones and supported by and co-sponsored by P.R.I.D.E.  (People of Riverview, Informed, Dedicated, Educated) and the Riverview Hobby Club.

The well-attended free event was held at the Riverview Civic Center at 11020 Park Drive, and welcomed a number of detectives including HCSO Economic Crime Division Detective Phil Newman, who spoke to those present at length on the topic.

“Trust Nobody,” Newman said, as he drew attention to the fact that seniors were raised at a time when most people could be trusted, adding, “Things have changed.”

Newman emphasized the importance of paying close attention, to be aware and suspect all and to make use of all resources available such as asking questions.

“Legitimate people will not mind you asking questions,” he said. “If in doubt, be patient. Call your neighbor, grand kids friends and family.”

Barbara Adams of Riverview, a recent victim of identity theft, spoke highly of the effort by the sheriff’s office to educate the public on the topic.

“I am very frustrated with all of this, but the seminar provides a great forum to learn,” Adams said. “I hope they keep it up.”

For more information about how to avoid becoming a victim, please call the sheriff’s office at 247-0893 or visit the FTC at www.ftc.gov.

The Greater Brandon Area Friends of Scouting Committee in conjunction with the Gulf Ridge Council Timucua District Boy Scouts of [...]]]> You can help support the over 3,000 boys who participate in the Boy Scouts in the Brandon/SouthShore area by attending the 2nd Annual Soaring Eagle Dinner on Thursday, February 23 at The Regent in Riverview.

The Greater Brandon Area Friends of Scouting Committee in conjunction with the Gulf Ridge Council Timucua District Boy Scouts of America will host its Second Annual Soaring Eagle Dinner on Thursday, February 23, at The Regent in Riverview. All members of the community are invited to attend. The Regent is located at 6437 Watson Rd. in Riverview. Social hour begins at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7 p.m.

This year’s Soaring Eagle Award recipient is Richard Eatman. According to Becky Jordan, co-chair for the dinner, “The Soaring Eagle Award was established as a means of recognizing members of the greater Brandon/SouthShore area who has had a significant impact on Scouting and in the southeastern area of Hillsborough County.”

In addition to presentation of the Soaring Eagle Award, the keynote speaker will be USF Bulls Football Coach, Skip Holtz. Jordan said, “We are exciting to have Coach Holtz as our guest speaker.”

Molly Blanton, District Executive, Timucua District, Gulf Ridge council,l said, “Our Soaring Eagle Dinner is an opportunity to bring together people from around the community and share with them a little of what our Boy Scouts (and Cubs and Venturers) are doing around our area.” Blanton added, “It is also an opportunity for us to recognize an outstanding community builder.”

There are no tickets to attend the event. Funds raised by the dinner are by means of donations and/or pledges to Scouting.  The dinner is a major source of support for the area packs and troops.

Blanton explained, “The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations.” Blanton added, “The Boy Scouts provide fun and challenging programs for young people that build character, train them in responsibilities of participating citizenship and develop personal fitness.”

The Brandon/SouthShore areas are home to over 150 Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout Troops consisting of over 3,000 boys and over 900 adult volunteers.

If you would like to support Scouting, the Soaring Eagle Dinner is a prime opportunity for you to enjoy a dinner catered by Southern Gourmet Catering, hear a guest speaker and help honor a community leader. To RSVP, contact Molly Blanton at 210-1788 or mblanton@boyscouting.com.

By Adam Musgrave

A series of fundraising events is underway that aims to provide assistance for the family of Diego Duran, the 12-year-old boy struck by celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve.

Two events so [...]]]> 12-year old Diego Duran has garnered national support since being struck by celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve.

By Adam Musgrave

A series of fundraising events is underway that aims to provide assistance for the family of Diego Duran, the 12-year-old boy struck by celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve.

Two events so far, a barbecue dinner and a garage sale, have met with great success, drawing an outpouring of support for the Duran family. The dinner took place on January 21 and the garage sale on January 28 and 29.

 The dinner alone drew more than 300 people, according to Teo Leonard, who helped to put the event together. A local DJ and magician also attended to provide entertainment and to ensure the dinner’s success.

In addition to individuals like Leonard, a number of corporate sponsors have come together to help out. Among the many organizations offering assistance are Sweet Bay, ACE Hardware and the South Shore United Methodist Church.

There has been no shortage of groups looking for ways to help. The  garage sale was sponsored by the Firehouse Cultural Center and the SouthShore Arts Council. The barbecue dinner was planned and run by family friends with the support of other individuals in the community and each of these groups offered its sponsorship on its own.

Since the beginning, the family has asked only for the thoughts and prayers of supporters, stressed Leonard. In the long run, however, he and others believe that efforts to raise funds will be of great help to the Duran family.

“The family needs a hundred percent of its effort to go to supporting Diego’s recovery,” Leonard said. He said that the fundraisers that he and others have been planning exist to ensure that they are allowed to do just that.

Meanwhile, a Facebook page devoted to Duran has garnered support and prayers from across the country. Every day, status updates appear, apprising followers of Duran’s progress and concerned members of the community offer their encouragement and prayers for the Duran family.

For more information on Duran’s continuing recovery, to offer support, or to make a donation, visit “Friends of Diego Duran” on Facebook.

Members of the Riverview Chamber of Commerce, [...]]]> Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Earl Lennard, left, shakes and with Dick Stowers, during a ribbon cutting celebration of the new Boys & Girls Club now open in Riverview. The cub is located at 6809 Krycul Ave. in Riverview, on a two-acre property owned by Resurrection Catholic Church.

Members of the Riverview Chamber of Commerce, joined by members of the community gathered together for a special ribbon cutting in late January to celebrate the opening of the new Riverview Boys & Girls Club, located at 6809 Krycul Ave. in Riverview.

The more than 200 in attendance got the chance to tour the facility and hear a few words from local community leaders and financial supporters of the project, including Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Earl Lennard, Boy & Girls Club Tampa Board Member and Alumnus Joe Garcia,  Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee, George Simmons who administers the Mabel & Ellsworth Simmons Charitable Foundation and Dick Stowers, just to name a few.

While construction of the $1.6 million club, began last June, the project was actually launched in 2006 after a generous $750,000 donation from the Campo family.

Attendees such as Simmons, not only praised the effort to build the new club on the two-acre property owned by Resurrection Catholic Church, on behalf of the community and its young residents, but were proud of being a part of contributing to see it  become a reality.

“This meant a lot to me, and to a lot of people, who have worked very hard and donated a lot of money to see this project all the way through and this facility built,” Simmons said.

In agreement, Lennard emphasized that with the Riverview area growing, the need was recognized for a local Boys & Girls Club.

“The facility will help our  youngsters to have something to do in a positive after school environment,” Lennard said. “I want to thank everyone who has helped to make this come true.”

The Riverview club boast of a 6,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse that includes a multipurpose room and computer lab, a game room, an activity center for arts and crafts, a kitchen and an outdoor basketball court pavilion.

According to club director Fred Spencer it is hoped that as more funds become available, the club will turn the court into an enclosed gymnasium.

The club will operate from Monday-Friday, 2-6 p.m., with two full-time and four part-time staff attending to the more than 100 children who otherwise would likely be unsupervised after school.

Commenting on the importance and benefit of having such facilities available for local youth, Gee shared some statistic with the audience based on the results of a crime rate survey in the area after the opening of the Brandon  Boys and Girls Club.

“After the Brandon club was built, we found a 50 to 60 percent reduction in daytime burglaries,” Gee said. “There was little doubt that building a club in Riverview would be beneficial and make a difference.”

Adding to the economic benefit of having a club operate in the area Gee said that it costs $114.44 a day to house juveniles in the county jail and $276 a day to house juveniles in state custody.

On the other hand, he continued, it costs just $13 a day to send a child to a Boys & Girls Club, which only helps them to  to stay in school and become productive citizens.

“It’s a good investment, it makes good business sense and it’s the right thing to do,” Gee said.

The Riverview club is currently at capacity with many more on the waiting list, which to Brad Baumgardner, president of the Tampa Bay Boys and Girls Club, simply validates project’s importance and necessity.

“The fact that we’ve had so many enrolled and so quickly only goes to show you the great need in this community,” Baumgardner said. “We didn’t even have to advertise as the kids tell other kids about the club. It is a great place for these kids because it combines fun with a purpose.”

The Riverview Boys and Girls Club has enough funds to run its operation for the next 3-4 years.

The Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay network currently includes 15 clubs in Hillsborough County and another three in Pasco County and is now celebrating 85 years of serving the community.

For more information about the Boys and Girls Club please visit www.bgctampa.org.

Instead of sleeping in on their day off, approximately 50 students volunteered their time on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and went down to the Alafia River and Lithia [...]]]> Student volunteers from Randall Middle School spent time on Martin Luther King Jr. Day cleaning up the environment along the Alafia River and Lithia Springs Park.

Instead of sleeping in on their day off, approximately 50 students volunteered their time on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and went down to the Alafia River and Lithia Springs Park to clean up along the river banks and in the camp ground. The environmental clean-up was organized by the Randall Area Youth Service (R.A.Y.S.) Council.

R.A.Y.S. Council is an elective class option for students at Randall Middle School, which sponsors events like Relay for Life, Kick Butts Day, handles recycling through the school and advises students on where they can earn volunteer hours. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Clean Up is an example of ways that the R.A.Y.S. gives other students the opportunity to earn volunteer hours.

“The 50 volunteer students were recruited by the R.A.Y.S. Council to ‘Take a day on, not a day off’,” said Kristy Verdi, R.A.Y.S. Council sponsor and teacher.

The volunteers departed Randall Middle School at around 8:30 a.m. Along with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department Environmental Division, the students helped clean up the environment to protect the river and the surrounding watershed. 

Most of the clean-up took place near the Lithia Pinecrest Bridge, where students and adult supervisors wore gloves and filled bright orange bags full of debris found along the river and in the park. Over the course of around four hours, the volunteers filled the bed of a pickup truck full of orange trash bags and even the remains of a rusty, old box spring.

“Each year, Americans are encouraged to follow the example of Martin Luther King, Jr. of giving back by using the federal holiday to help in their community,” said Verdi. “This clean-up was our way of living up to that example.”

Randall Middle School is located at 16510 FishHawk Blvd in Lithia. For more information on the R.A.Y.S., contact Kristy Verdi at Randall Middle School at kristy.verdi@sdhc.k12.fl.us or call 740-3900.

By Donna Campisano

The 2012 Relay for Life of Fishhawk, to be held Saturday and Sunday, March 31 and April 1, at Newsome High School in Lithia, continues its fundraising efforts. In [...]]]> Brooke Bailey and Clay Patterson rally support at the 2012 Relay for Life of Fishhawk Spirit Night at Sonic.

By Donna Campisano

The 2012 Relay for Life of Fishhawk, to be held Saturday and Sunday, March 31 and April 1, at Newsome High School in Lithia, continues its fundraising efforts. In a recent January fundraiser, Sonic generously donated 10 percent of the proceeds to Relay teams.

High Tea for Hope occurs on Friday, February 10. This traditional English high tea will take place at The Tea Cup Room on Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Brandon beginning at 5:30 p.m. Besides sandwiches, soup, salad, scones and petit desserts, there will also be a 50/50 raffle and silent auction. Tickets are $30 per person; contact Mary Kathryn Kennedy at 376-0013 to purchase.

Another Spirit Night will take place on Thursday, February 16, at Bloomingdale Pizza on Bell Shoals Rd. in Valrico. They will donate a portion of their sales from dine-in, carry-out and delivery orders to 2012 Relay for Life of Fishhawk. In order to receive the donation, you must mention that you are ordering in support of the Fishhawk Relay for Life.

Theater Arts & Dance Alliance (TADA)’s Relay For Life Team will host an Improv Dessert Theater on Friday and Saturday, February 3 and 4, from 6:30-8 p.m. Off the Top will perform the comedy Improv, “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” Audience participation is encouraged. Admission is $5.

According to Lillian Kraack from TADA, “We will also hold a Parents Night Out on Saturday, February 11, from 6-10 p.m. The cost is $10 per child (ages 4-12). A pizza dinner will be provided and they’ll provide a Movie/Dance party. TADA is located at 16711 FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia. For more info on either of these events, call 571-0901.

One of Relay’s main purposes is to honor cancer survivors with a survivors’ lunch and walk. If you’ve ever been diagnosed with cancer, register as a survivor.

You can also purchase a luminaria “in honor of” or “in memory of” someone who has battled cancer.

Go to the 2012 Relay for Life of Fishhawk Website at http://mainacsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=37368&pg=entry and click on “Sign Up.”

For more information, register a team or to get fundraising ideas, attend the next Fishhawk Relay meeting on Tuesday, February 7, at 6 p.m. at Stowers Elementary School, or contact Cathy Vallianatos, Community Representative, at 685-0670, ext. 5457 or cathy.vallianatos@cancer.org.

Popular legend claims that Saint Valentine was a Roman priest, who lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius supposedly created a law in Rome which ordered [...]]]> It’s commonly believed that Valentine’s Day is a romantic holiday because of Saint Valentine but it’s really Geoffrey Chaucer who first associated Valentine’s Day with romantic love.

Popular legend claims that Saint Valentine was a Roman priest, who lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius supposedly created a law in Rome which ordered that the young men in the city could not marry, as he believed that married men did not make for good soldiers. Valentine secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young couples anyway, which got him thrown in jail. The story goes on to say that the night before Claudius made Valentine a martyr, he wrote the very first ‘valentine’ card to a young girl identified as his beloved. He is said to have signed at the bottom of the note ‘from your Valentine’. 

Actual history tells us that Saint Valentine is the name of many martyred saints of ancient Rome, with ‘Valentine’ meaning worthy, strong and powerful. Nothing is known about the Saint Valentine whose feast is celebrated other than his name and that he was buried at the Via Flaminia on February 14.

It was not until the 14 century during the High Middle Ages in England when the Saint Valentine’s Day feast became associated with romantic love, thanks to Geoffrey Chaucer and the traditions of courtly love. It is in Chaucer’s poem Parlement of Foules that the first record of is made of romantic love with Valentine’s Day.

From the 14th century to today, Valentine’s Day and romantic love goes hand-in-hand with the tradition of couples exchanging Valentine cards and other gifts. While heart-shaped boxes full of chocolate and red rose bouquets have become Valentine’s Day gift classics, there are several other ways to celebrate the day using local stores and restaurants.

The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) is hosting a unique Valentine’s Day experience under the stars of their planetarium called Total Eclipse of the Heart. The event begins with tasty treats that are proven to evoke feelings of love and includes a light dinner underneath a changing sky. Couples will be able to view a starlit sky over Paris, Buenos Aires and Niagara Falls while listening to tales of ancient love stories and more. The cost to attend the event is $100 per couple and $80 for MOSI member couples. Seating starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14. Pre-register your reservation by calling 987-6000.

Instead of buying a box of predetermined chocolates, go to The Original Leena’s Chocolates, located at 1048 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico. Leena’s offers customers a variety of decadent treats ranging from chocolate covered popcorn and designer cookies to apples dipped in caramel, rolled in nuts and dipped in chocolate and of course, chocolate covered strawberries. To ensure that your sweetheart loves each and every chocolate in her gift, Leena’s does custom gift baskets. For more information, call 643-8500.

Sumatra Bistro, located at 1602 Oakfield Drive in Brandon, will be tapping into French culture by having a Julie and Julia Movie Weekend with all French cuisine and very special wine selection. The bistro will also be open on Valentine’s Day for a special dinner. To make your reservation for you and your special someone, call 655-6200.

If you are a fan of heart shaped boxes filled with chocolates and other goodies, you are going to love Formaggio’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria’s heart shaped pizza. For the same price as a large pepperoni pizza, you and your other half can share a delicious heart shaped pizza pie. Formaggio’s, located at 3474 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., is already taking orders for this special pizza. To place your order today, call 643-1415.

Instead of celebrating Valentine’s Day over dinner, celebrate with your loved one over a romantic brunch. The Tea Cup Tea Room, located at 1107 Lithia Pinecrest Rd in Brandon, is hosting a Sweetheart’s Brunch and High Tea on both February 11 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and February 14 from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Ladies, if your guy makes a reservation then he will receive advice on a special gift to get you as well as a 50 percent-off-one-item coupon for the Tea Cup’s gift shop.
For more information or to make a reservation, call 654-6543.

For a romantic weekend getaway, look no further than Palmer House Bed and Breakfast, located at 2221 Hinton Ranch Road in Lithia. Palmer House offers a Romantic Getaway Special which includes a two night stay in their Suite Romance or Suite Memories room, full breakfast for both days, champagne, flowers, specialty chocolates, a basket of snacks and a candlelight dinner. For more information, call 654-0961 or visit www.palmer-house.com.

With a plethora of local gift and restaurant options, each Valentine’s Day gift is sure to be a success.

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is ready to recognize local students for their positive contributions through the Youth Excellence and Achievement (YEA!) Awards. 

Created in 2010, the YEA! Awards recipients [...]]]> Randall Middle School student Jessica Martinez, 15, received the Youth Excellence and Achievement Award (YEA!) for Success Despite Difficult Odds last year.

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is ready to recognize local students for their positive contributions through the Youth Excellence and Achievement (YEA!) Awards. 

Created in 2010, the YEA! Awards recipients are honored for showing initiative, innovation and a commitment to themselves and others, while pursuing excellence in a leadership capacity demonstrated in academics, community service, athletics, performing arts, conservation or other areas.

To ensure that a student is once again recognized this year, the BOCC is accepting nominations until Friday, February 3, which may be submitted for both middle and high school students. 

In explaining the three main categories, Hillsborough County spokesperson Carol Michel said that in the area of leadership, students demonstrate a positive impact on others in an ongoing endeavor, such as sports, academics and the arts, just to name a few.

As for the Success Despite Difficult Odds, a student demonstrates the ability to overcome tremendous personal difficulties to attain success and a positive impact on others.

The third area, Volunteer or Community Service, speaks for itself as a student allocates discretionary time to helping others or completing a project that has added to the betterment of the community.

Last year’s Success Despite Difficult Odds YEA! Award winner was Randall Middle School student Jessica Martinez, who despite many surgeries, hearing loss and other challenges, proved herself to be  outgoing, friendly, dedicated to her schoolwork, organized and refused to give up in the face of adversity.

Other winners included Stewart Middle School student Laura Osorio,  Freedom High student Liat Sanz (Leadership), Leon King Senior High School student Benjamin Carpenter (Success Despite Difficult Odds), Mann Middle School student Kelsey Bone and Freedom High School student Elisa Berson (Volunteer or Community Service).

The YEA! Awards will be presented at a Board of County Commissioners meeting in March.

The YEA! Awards nomination form can be completed and submitted online or submitted to the county Communications Department, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 1st Floor, Tampa, FL 33602 or by fax to 276-8695. 

For information on the awards, visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/bocc/about/awards.cfm or call 272-5314.