Fresh Market continues to grow its chain of specialty grocery stores with new locations in Naples, Fla. and Brandon, Fla.The new Naples store will be located in the Eagle Creek shopping center at the intersection of Highway 41 and Highway 951. The new Brandon store will be located in the Lithia Crossing shopping center on Lithia-Pinecrest Road. The stores will be the company’s 34th and 35^th in the state.

“We are excited about our continued expansion in the South, and in Florida in particular,” said Randy Kelley, senior vice president of real estate and development for The Fresh Market. “We look forward to building on the success of our other Florida locations, where we have enjoyed a strong and loyal customer base, and to providing customers in the East Naples and Marco Island area, as well as Brandon and surrounding areas, with the same quality products and excellent customer service.”

The Fresh Market has built its reputation on being an extraordinary food destination store. “From bountiful produce and a full-service meat counter to convenient prepared foods and an in-store bakery,” said Craig Carlock, the company’s president and CEO, “customers will discover that our stores are committed to variety, freshness and value as well as superior customer service.”

About The Fresh Market, Inc.

Founded in 1982, The Fresh Market, Inc. (NASDAQ: TFM) is a specialty grocery retailer focused on providing high-quality products in a unique and inviting atmosphere with a high level of customer service. The company currently operates 129 stores in 25 states, primarily located in the Southeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, with plans for continued expansion throughout the country. The Fresh Market is an equal opportunity employer.  For more information, please visit www.thefreshmarket.com.

New Attraction will be the First Drop Tower of its Kind in the World

Tampa, Fla. (June 11, 2013) – For more than five decades Busch Gardens® Tampa has delivered some of the world’s most exciting thrills.  Rides like Cheetah Hunt®, SheiKra®, Montu® and Kumba® have set the stage, and Busch Gardens is ready to drop big news.

In spring 2014 Busch Gardens Tampa is taking guests’ experiences to new heights with Falcon’s Fury^TM, the first drop tower of its kind in the world.  Additionally, with no connecting structures, it will be the tallest freestanding drop tower in North America.

Falcon’s Fury

No bird can match the speed of a falcon in its hunting dive. The falcon is the fastest animal on Earth, reaching speeds of 200 mph. Designers were inspired by this bird of prey during the development of the new attraction.

Falcon’s Fury will stand at 335 feet and take riders soaring 60 mph straight down. Located in the Timbuktu™ area, Falcon’s Fury will be visible from any location in the park and even across the Tampa Bay area.

At the ride’s highest point Busch Gardens has added an element of surprise.  Like its bird of prey namesake, riders will pivot 90 degrees in midair to a face-down dive position. An instant later they’ll plunge 60 mph at 3.5 Gs straight down with speed and power like they’ve likely never experienced before.

Construction in the Timbuktu area of the park has already begun, and Falcon’s Fury is scheduled for completion in spring 2014.  For more updates about Falcon’s Fury at Busch Gardens Tampa, go to FalconsFury.com or drop in to BuschGardensTampaBlog.com.

The Busch Gardens animal care team has started introducing the cubs to the Edge of Africa attraction at the park, where guests can see the cubs all summer long and beyond. More information and updates about the progress of the new cubs will be posted on BuschGardensTampaBlog.com.

Busch Gardens is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™, a leading theme park and entertainment company that delivers personal, interactive and educational experiences that blend imagination with nature. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is best known for its 11 U.S. theme parks, attractions that hosted more than 24 million guests in 2012. Each of these theme parks offers a distinct entertainment experience that connects guests to the world and to one another.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ also is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a worldwide leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for one of the largest animal collections on the North American continent and has helped lead advances in the care of species in zoological facilities and in the conservation of wild populations.

http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-tampa

It is expected that 1-million motorcyclists will take to the streets on Ride to Work Day. In the Tampa Bay area, Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill located at 9847 E Adamo Dr, Tampa, FL 33619, just behind the Brandon Harley-Davidson, is using this opportunity to help the community. Owner Michael Tolley is a motorcyclist and rides to work most days. His Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill is motorcycle friendly and caters to the motorcycle community promoting the establishment as a motorcyclist’s social destination with great food, service and entertainment. Michael and his wife Simone, also have big hearts and helps the community where the can, often hosting and/or organizing charitable activities.

During the June 17th Ride to Work Day, Uncle Mike has decided to donate 10% of all food & beverage sales to the Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive Children & Families. Anyone visiting Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill on June 17th simply mentions Sylvia Thomas Center and their lunch or dinner order will benefit Sylvia’s Kids.

Dave “Flash” Morgan of the Saturday Dance Party on Q105 and the Rockin’ Roadshow is an avid motorcyclist and supporter of the Sylvia Thomas Center. In support of this event, Flash plans to be at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill from 11:30AM to 1:30PM enjoying lunch and a day on the motorcycle.

Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill is located on the same property as Brandon Harley-Davidson. The staff at the World’s Greatest Harley-Davidson dealership is no stranger to charitable activities often serving as the venue for its own charitable events. When Brandon Harley-Davidson heard about this event, being a supporter of the Sylvia Thomas Center, they decided to also contribute. Anyone visiting the Brandon Harley-Davidson on Ride to Work Day and mentioning Sylvia Thomas Center will be entered to win an in-store $250 Gift Card from the dealership.

With all these incentives and a chance to help a great cause making a tremendous difference in the lives of adoptive children and their adoptive families, we not adorn your motor cloths, pull back the throttle and motor your way over to Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill and Brandon Harley-Davidson to Ride, Eat and Help Sylvia’s Kids.

About Sylvia Thomas Center
The Sylvia Thomas Center, founded in 2000 to fill an unmet need for adoptive children & families, provides intensive case management services to families in crisis. It is our objective to help these families create the “forever family” these children need and deserve. For more information visit http://www.sylviathomascenter.org or call (813) 651-3150.

Residents planning to visit Lithia Springs Park will have to forgo swimming for at least until early next week.

The Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department has closed the Lithia Springs swimming area earlier today due to elevated levels of bacteria found in the waters from recent rainfall.

According to County spokes person Kemly Green, the spring’s closure will be in place “until an acceptable water sample reading is received by the Hillsborough County Health Department.”

Green said that the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department will submit a new water sample to the Hillsborough County Health Department on Monday, June 17.

“If no elevated levels are found, the Lithia Springs swimming area will reopen and the health advisory will be lifted,” she said.

The Lithia Springs Regional Park is located at 3932 Lithia Springs Road in Lithia.

Signs have been posted and staff is on duty to monitor and alert the public of the health advisory. Patrons can still camp, picnic and use the playground.

For information on the Lithia Springs Regional Park, contact the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department at 813-744-5572.

The largest outdoor original artwork in the state of Florida is not only located right in our own backyard, but it was also designed and produced under the direction of a local artist, Michael Parker of Ruskin. The mural project was supported by community volunteers and art students from Hillsborough Community College Ybor Campus.

“American Journey” is located on a warehouse facing Adamo Dr. between 17th and 19th Streets at Ybor City’s Southeast corner.

The 12,000 square foot mural incorporates three themes: The Journey Through Life; The Conflict Between Tradition and Progress; and The American Experience.

The faces of two women dominate the mural. Also featured in this massive mural are Ybor City natives Frank Adamo and Tony Pizzo. The neighborhood’s namesake, Don Vincente Martinez-Ybor is also featured.

Parker explained, “We felt strongly that the piece should illustrate that our rich heritage is more than a story hidden in books or museums and cataloged as ‘the past.’ It is rather a foundation upon which we stand today

Parker was chosen from a pool of artists. Parker said, “There is no other place like Ybor City.  I have always been a visitor of Ybor, but never understood the complexity of it’s nature.  Creating a mural for a community is a great opportunity for community members to come together and explore what makes their place unique and special to them.  Creating a visual image to represent it was a monumental task.”

The process of creating a mural this large and complex takes years. Parker and hs team interviewed people and extensively researched the history of Ybor City.

Parker said, “Helping a community to create a piece of art that represents themselves in a thoughtful and encompassing way is an honor. We are so proud to be able to offer to this community something that can make us all stop for a moment and reconnect with each other.”

Parker has executed several other murals in the area including “Head, Heart and Hands” which graces the old Clark Furniture building in Ruskin.

For more information on “American Journey,” please visit www.yborartproject.com.

Winthrop Town Centre in Riverview is unique for its setting and the variety of merchants. But as you walk around, there is something else that sets it apart- the artwork that graces the area. Much of this artwork is there thanks to Winthrop Town Artist, Bryant Martinez.

Martinez has always believed that art brings a community together. He also believes that art and education are inseparable. That is why the Winthrop Collaborative Arts has its first art intern.

Susan Sahab is a senior at USF studying art history. Martinez said, “Susan’s a pioneer. She sought this position and it validates a need for the arts in the community.” Sahab chose to work in the community rather that studying abroad because “This is a real life experience. It is teaching me what it is really like to be an artist and what it is like to work in a local gallery,” said Sahab.

Since coming to Winthrop, Sahab has seen that a lot of people wear many hats when it comes to art in the community. She attended a meeting with City Council members the first day and the next day she was setting up an exhibit in the Beaux Arts Gallery. “I would not get this broad range of experience if I had chosen another path,” said Sahab.

During her internship, Sahab will play an integral part in all that is happening in Winthrop. This includes a mural, statues and a community garden. She will also help curate exhibits for he Beaux Arts Gallery’s Thursday Night Live! which take place on the last Thursday of each month.

In addition to working in Winthrop, Sahab is also doing an internship at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) in Tampa.

Come see all that is taking place with the Winthrop Collaborative Arts in Winthrop Town Centre in Riverview.

The Crawford Studio at the SouthShore Regional Library offers a great selection of free art classes for both children (pre-k and up) and adults. The studio has 18 instructors, two of whom will be new this fall. Both are well respected and talented local artists.

Nicole Lamothe creates original artwork and teaches drawing, painting, and methods of hand building functional and sculptural ceramics to children in private schools. Lamothe received her MFA degree from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA and her BA from Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH.  Her work has been exhibited throughout New England and Tampa, FL.

Lamothe will be teaching drawing, painting, collage, ceramics and photo transfers. Laurie Burhop, Art Coordinator said, “I am very excited about Nicole joining our teaching staff.  She will bring lots of enthusiasm, creativity and variety to our art programming.”

Arthur Dillard is an accomplished artist whose studio is located in Bradenton. He holds a B.S. Degree from Florida A & M University and his work has been exhibited throughout the United States.

Dillard will be teaching watercolors to adults and teens. Dillard will conduct a two-part class teaching the students techniques. They can then go home and work further on their watercolor. The following week in class they will finish their piece.  Burhop said, “Arthur comes with many years of experience and is well-known in the area.  SouthShore Regional Library is very excited and fortunate that he is joining our art instructor staff.” Burhop added, “All our art instructors are certified art teachers or practicing artists.”

Registration is required. Class registration is available one month prior to the start of class and all information posted online on www.hillsboroughcounty.org.  You can register at the SouthShore Information Desk or by calling 273-3652. The Library is located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin.

For Riverview resident, Karlton Meadows, physical fitness and being in the best shape possible is not just a part of life, it is his life. It was a personal outlook that led him to his commitment last year to set his eyes on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“My childhood dream and the fact that my older brother was a champion runner before his knee surgeries are the reasons why I am training to be the future Olympic 800-meter run Gold Medalist,” said Meadows, who lives with his wife of 24 years in Riverview’s South Fork Subdivision and whose plethora of medals earned for competing in various road races and Track and Field meets.

With 20 years of Naval Service behind him, Meadows, 43, currently works as a TRX instructor at Anytime Fitness located at 11252 Boyette Rd. in Riverview.

His achievements also include becoming a Light Heavyweight Body Building Champion in 2002 shortly after attaining the 2001 Male Athlete of the Year Nominee Award, all of which now rightly serve as a catapult to fulfilling his dream.

“Winning these titles were indeed proud moments for me, but they did not satisfy the childhood dream I had of being a World and Olympic Champion,” he said.

After realizing that he was running as fast as he did a decade-and-a-half ago, Meadows made his commitment to the Games in February of 2012.

“I believe that I have been blessed with this speed and drive so I must be a good steward and custodian and take it to the highest level of competition available,” he said.

With less than three years to go, Meadows is taking his training for the games seriously by conditioning, which has included sessions on the TRX Suspension Trainer for core strength, mobility, balance and power, which he said is equipment that allows him to target his muscles without overly stressing on his joints.

The rest of the time, Meadows use the tracks at University of Tampa and MacDill Air Force Base for his speed work and do his distance runs in his Riverview neighborhood along the main street in South Fork.

As an inspiration of his dream-fulfilling  journey, Meadows gives credit to a higher being as he said that God has blessed him with much more than just great genes and stern pertinacity.

“God has systematically brought people into my life who have the expertise I need to maximize my potential as a world class athlete and champion runner,” he said.

Meadows’ inspirations include 24-Hour Run IAU Ultramarathon 2013 World Championships individual Men’s Gold medalist, Jon Olsen, as well as U.S. Ultramarathon Team member and the 2012, 24-Hour Run World Champion, Army Sgt. Mike Morton.

Anyone interested in learning more about Meadows and cheer him on as he works toward his Olympic aspiration may log onto http://www.ideafit.com /profile/karlton-meadows, or email   injinjiuk@hotmail.com.

Scores: East Bay 20, Spoto 0; Lennard 16, Riverview 7.

As a continuation of the regular season, teams across Florida came together last month to measure up their strength during the 2013 spring football jamboree.

Local teams were divided up into groups of four, or in some cases two, to participate in two quarters along with some additional adjustments to the officials’ regular season rules.

Jamboree host Lennard took on Riverview; East Bay had a chance to face off with Spoto at Longhorn Stadium.

East Bay began the jamboree seeming a bit rusty at first on the field, even as Indians quarterback Chris Carpentier, reached the Spartans end zone multiple times right from the start.

The games first official points did not come until midway through the second half when Chris Greene scored on a 10-yard run.

Devin Hart and Jude Holston followed the Indians momentum with two more rushing touchdowns on plays of 11 and 10 yards, while the East Bay defense limited Spoto to just one first down.

The night’s second match-up, however, proved to be a much different ball game as the deciding score on a low-scoring two quarters came down to the final seconds.

Riverview took a 7-0 lead early as Lennard answered back with Darren Daniel’s score on a 43-yard run.  The game was tied until the last 30 seconds, when Sharks Junior Ellis Shaw kicked a 39-yard field goal giving Lennard the 10-7 lead.

The night also saw a performance by Armwood who welcomed Strawberry Crest. Durant and Plant City ended its jamboree with the scores of Plant City 23, Durant 0;  Armwood 34, Strawberry Crest 0.

Newsome hosted its jamboree by welcoming Bloomingdale Brandon and Tampa Catholic.

While the Bulls and the Eagles tied at 13, the Wolves could not put anything on the board against the visiting Crusaders, led by quarterback Kyle Ploucher, who completed a 51-yard pass to Tre Watson followed by Kenny Bryant’s 55-yard touchdown in the game’s final seconds.

For more information please visit www.c2cschools.com.