Osprey Observer » brandon area

Resident Remembers When Gas Cost 28 Cents

Jennifer Silverstein — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:19:20 +0000

Ever wonder what it would be live to be 100 years old? How about 103?
Just ask Bloomingdale resident Florence Geurink, who recently celebrated her 103rd birthday. Geurink has survived two World Wars, the Great Depression, she has seen man walk on the moon, gone from horse and buggy to modern car and seen much more.
In 1906, when she was born, the national average price of a three-bedroom home was $2,400; a new Ford automobile was $750.
A stamp only cost two cents; in May of this year, the cost of a stamp will jump from 42 cents to 44.
A gallon of milk and a gallon of gas cost the same price: 28 cents.
The New York Times was only one cent per issue and the annual income per family was just $486 per year.
Geurink was born in Davenport, Iowa and lived there up until 2005, when she moved to Valrico to live with her youngest daughter, Liz McGlaughlin, who she said is the biggest and best part of her life, along with her three other daughters, “because she takes such good care of me.”
Liz McLaughlin is an account executive with the Tampa Tribune, working as an outside retail sales representative in the Brandon area for 10 years. She first moved to the Valrico area in 1998 with her husband Chuck, who since passed away five years ago.
The Parish in Geurink’s hometown, Our Lady of Victory, honored her in its newsletter and, as a result, she received well over 103 birthday cards. For her 100th birthday, three years ago, Geurink received a letter from both President George W. Bush and the Today Show’s Willard Scott.
She has attended St. Stephen Catholic Church, located at 5049 Bell Shoals Rd. in Valrico, since she moved to Florida in 2005. She used to attend mass daily, but now goes at 4 p.m. every Saturday and has a front-row seat reserved for her.
“The people at St. Stephen’s have been very good,” McLaughlin said. “When she fell, she was in the hospital for about a week and then in Hawthorne Village and someone came everyday at lunchtime and bring her communion.”
Some of Geurink’s hobbies include knitting afghans for every one of her children, grandchildren and friends. She also likes to play card games like Bridge, Rummy and Solitaire, play Dominoes, and read. Her favorite authors are Danielle Steele and James Patterson. Her favorite television show is Dancing with the Stars and her two favorite movies are The Sound of Music and Pretty Woman.
Geurink was married to her husband, Clem for 73 years, and said that her marriage to him is her best memory looking back, “and the birth of my daughters,” she said.
In addition to her four daughters, Geurink has 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. She attributes her longevity to “good genes, hard work, a lot of faith and eating a piece of chocolate candy every day” except during Lent when she gives it up.

Engines Rev For ECHO Car Show

Carisa Biesecker — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:49:04 +0000

Looking to flaunt your car this February? Then why not take part in the First Annual Charity Car Show taking place at Lifestyles Family Fitness, helping locally-known charity Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) in the process.
Taking place on Saturday, February 21, at Lifestyles, located at 623 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon, car enthusiasts, alongside their family and friends, are invited to present their beloved vehicles amongst a smorgasbord of classic and custom cars from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Cars spanning the eras of 1900 to today will be exhibited as well as specialty and custom models. A variety of vendors, a disc jockey and possibly a radio station will be onsite as well as Valrico’s Kids Company and other performers. Judging of the cars will take place at 1:30 p.m. and raffles and door prizes will also be presented.
Having come up with the idea, ECHO Board member Bob Fiske, an aficionado of antique cars himself, says, “This is really the first attempt to set the base for a car show – we’re hoping to fill the lot,” with an estimated 80 cars expected.
If you are interested, call Fiske at 651-5141 or register online at www.echofl.org. A registration fee of $15 is encouraged, made payable to ECHO. Those participating in the car show are asked to arrive between 9-10 a.m. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you would like to be involved with the event as a benefactor, sponsorships of $100-$1,000 are being welcomed.
With hopes of $15,000 being raised, ECHO continues to serve the greater Brandon area through food and clothing assistance as well as referrals. Having helped 10,610 residents in 2008, ECHO Executive Director Stacey Efaw mentions, “ECHO has experienced a 15 percent increase in demand for services over the last year and expects a higher increase in demand this upcoming year.” Even with donations and food drives, including November’s Feed the Bay initiative whereat ECHO accumulated 60,000 lbs. of food, Efaw expects the organization’s reserves to hold out only until February.
Helped by approximately 90 volunteers weekly, ECHO has been a place of refuge for those in need since 1987. Located at 507 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon, the facility welcomes volunteers and donations through the hours of 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monetary donations are also welcome, going towards the purchase of perishable food items by ECHO at a discounted rate. Those who would like to help can mail donations to ECHO or donate online at www.echofl.org.

Stowers Honored With School Naming

Marie Gilmore — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:24:52 +0000

By Michelle Caceres
Hillsborough County School Board named the Lithia elementary school located adjacent to FishHawk Ranch after Richard “Dick” Stowers, 79, a local civic leader and businessman that revolutionized the funeral business in the Brandon area. Born in Hillsborough County, Stowers grew up in the Palm River area when Brandon was just a sleepy bedroom community. Ironically, Stowers fondly recalls his younger days of courting young ladies on the property where the elementary school now resides. He and his friends would swim in the lake and park their cars on its banks. “That area was a real lover’s lane,” he says. As an 8-year-old boy, Stowers attended the funeral of a young neighborhood girl, an experience that irrevocably altered the direction of his life. “I knew from that moment on that I wanted to be a funeral director,” he reflects. His big break came in 1960, when a friend loaned him the money to purchase the James Brandon Homestead located on S.R. 60. After remodeling the historic home, he opened Stowers Funeral Home in 1961. “Going into business for myself has given me a lot of opportunities to help other people and that’s a lot of fun,” said Stowers. Throughout his life, he has donated his time and money to many organizations, including the Brandon Kiwanis Club, Brandon Elks Club and Boys and Girls Club of Brandon. He was an active member of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. Stowers and wife Raymetta have five daughters and one son. Raymetta said the naming is the perfect birthday gift (he’ll turn 80 on the 4th of July) for a man who never asks for anything. Friends signed petitions and wrote compelling letters to the school board in favor of using Stowers’ name. “It was wonderful to see so many people come out to support Dick and all he’s done for Brandon,” she says. Other schools receiving names in November include the middle school sharing the same campus, named in honor of the late Glenn Barrington, a long-time educator and school board member. Strawberry Crest High, located near Plant City and its adjacent elementary school, David E. Bailey Jr. Elementary, honoring a former educator and Plant City historian, were also named. Stowers says he hopes the children at his school will learn from his example to go after their dreams. “I hope each child at the school will have a vision to do something great,” he said. For more information about the schools named in November visit www.sdhc.k12.fl.us.

Feed The Bay Event To Help The Needy

Marie Gilmore — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:03:31 +0000

By Donna M. Rogers
Based on the motto, “Together we can do more,” 14 churches in the Brandon area and two grocery store chains will join forces to combat hunger and poverty in a practical way. Due to the overwhelming basic needs of our community, the food pantries of charities in the Bay area cannot keep up with the demand to feed the needy. The goal is to collect 150,000 pounds of food to stock the shelves of 12 local charities. “Our economy is affecting families from all walks of life, and it is our desire to reach out to these people and share the love of Christ in a very practical way,” says Pastor George Thomasson from Bell Shoals Baptist Church. Church members will be given a preprinted grocery list at their morning worship service on Sunday, November 23. The church leadership will then encourage its congregation to leave church and go shopping at a participating Sweetbay or Publix Supermarket between the hours of 8 a.m.-2 p.m. for the benefit of those in need in our community. Feed the Bay participating supermarkets will be ready as store employees will have shelves stocked with grocery items requested by the charities, and trucks will be open and ready to receive these items to be delivered to the various charities. Sweetbay Supermarkets will provide trucks at each of their locations for delivery of the food. In addition, they have committed to giving a five percent donation of store sales from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on November 23 to the participating charities. Recipients of the collection include ECHO (Emergency Care Help Organization), Metropolitan Ministries of Tampa, Day Star Faith Center, America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay, Women’s Resource Center, Everyday Blessings, Life Center of Brandon (formerly Brandon Care Center), Bread of Life, Good Samaritan Mission, Inc., Manna on Wheels Ministries, Beth-El Farm Worker Ministry and Cynthia Pinckney Ministries. Stacey Efaw, executive director of ECHO, is concerned about the state of our community. She says, “One thing that scares me most is that over the past month, over 70 percent of our clients are new clients, meaning they have not had to ask for help before. We are seeing people from all industries that have lost their jobs and need assistance -licensed electricians, plumbers, realtors, bankers, landscapers, employees of the car industry, etc.” Efaw also shares, “I had a man crying at the front desk of ECHO; he is a licensed tradesman, has worked all his life and has never had to ask for help. Last month, he sold all of his tools so he could pay his bills. He was so humbled and so grateful to receive the food that we gave him.” Efaw also expressed her thanks, “Without Feed the Bay, we may not make it through the holidays. I cannot express my gratitude enough to this community of for putting this opportunity to serve together. You are going to help thousands of people!” The community is encouraged to participate in this effort to “Feed the Bay” by visiting http://feedthebay.org. Anyone can help. You can purchase gift cards from any grocery store and drop them off at a participating local church for distribution, which include: Bay Life Church, Bay Life Riverview, Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Bell Shoals Baptist Church-East Bay, Big Bend United Methodist Church, Celebration Church, Cornerstone Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Brandon, First United Methodist Church of Brandon, First Presbyterian Church of Brandon, FishHawk Fellowship, Grace Community United Methodist Church, St. Andrews United Methodist Church and The Crossing Church. For more information about this project or how to volunteer, please visit http://FeedtheBay.org, call Liz Brewer at 299-6745 or call Cindy Perkins at 661-3696, ext. 246.

Public Meeting To Discuss Lithia Pinecrest Road Project Development & Environmental (PD&E) Study

Marie Gilmore — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:27:51 +0000

Public Meeting To Discuss Lithia Pinecrest Road Project Development & Environmental (PD&E) Study

Hillsborough County, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), will hold a public meeting to discuss the Project Development and Environmental Study for Lithia Pinecrest Road in the Brandon area.

The Study evaluates the proposed widening of Lithia Pinecrest Road from SR 60 (Brandon Boulevard) to CR 39. The study length is approximately 10.95 miles.
The meeting is being held to obtain your input regarding the location, conceptual design and environmental effects of the alternatives for the proposed project’s needed improvements.

County Staff and representatives from FDOT will be at the meeting to discuss the details of the project and answer any questions residents may have. Please attend, we welcome your input.

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 18
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Palmetto Club, 17004 Dorman Road
All meeting facilities are ADA compliant. For additional assistance, please call us.
For more information, please call Steve Valdez, Public Works Department, at 272-5275 (TTY: 301-7172).
Visit us on the Web at – www.hillsboroughcounty.org.

Eye On Business

Kate Quesada — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:10:43 +0000

Photographers Recognized
Local photographers Edward Booth and Betty Huth, owners of Huth and Booth Portrait Gallery, recently received the Florida Service Award for service to the profession at the Florida Professional Photographers Annual Convention.
“We both were honored to receive the Florida Service Award given for service to the profession,” says Booth. “Receiving this award in just three years is very unusual.”
According to the duo, they have worked together for 18 years to create family portraits with the expectation that they will be handed down from generation to generation.
“We pride ourselves in providing our clients with exceptional portraiture of families and children,” says Booth. “It’s a pleasure that we continue to strive for, that of seeking excellence in preserving precious memories.”
Since moving to the area from California in July of 2005, Huth and Booth have been active members in the Riverview and Greater Brandon area communities volunteering their services to numerous charity organizations, clubs and civic centers. They are also members of the Brandon ‘86 Rotary Club.
The Huth and Booth Portrait Gallery is located at 11711 Nikki View Dr. in Brandon in Lake Brandon Professional Park. For more information, call 571-2100 or visit www.hbphoto.com.

Tennis Store Opens at BSAC
The Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center (BSAC) is now home to the Brandon area’s first tennis pro shop, The Tennis Shack of Florida, offering a wide variety of products for every tennis player’s needs, from apparel to custom stringing services.
According to owner Tim Plossl, the store will carry brands including apparel by Adidas and Fila and shoes by Adidas, Fila, Prince and Babolat.
For more information, call 315-9810 or visit www.mybsac.org.

New Business Brings Fun to the Streets
Valrico residents James and Josette Delaney are bringing a taste of the tropics to the Brandon area.
The Delaney’s recently opened a franchise of Kona Ice, a traveling Hawaiian Ice van offering 20 flavors of shaved ice and ice cream.
In addition to traveling through local neighborhoods, Kona Ice can be scheduled for private parties or group events.
“Kona has its most fun when they are supporting the community,” says James. “Whether you are a school, a church, or an organization looking for fundraising ideas, Kona Ice is there to help. In a time crunch, don’t worry because under the right conditions we can serve over 200 people in less than an hour.”
For more information, call 484-6595 or visit www.kona-ice.com.

A Massage and Rehab Clinic Opens in Brandon
A new clinical, medical and rehab massage clinic, A Touch of Wellness, opened its doors recently at 915 Oakfield Dr. Ste. A. and celebrated with a Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, August 15.
“A Touch of Wellness, is a massage and rehab clinic with a softer feel which caters to the diversity that is part of what makes Brandon so great,” says Scott Robinson, L.M.T., owner. “We specialize in auto injuries, sports injuries, and any soft tissue injuries. We also offer nutrition consulting, nutritional supplements, and will be adding a chiropractor to the practice within the next 45 days.”
The practice’s two massage therapists are trained in a variety of techniques from Neuromuscular Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy and Reiki to Hot Stones and Relaxation massage.
In addition to taking patients at their Brandon office, A Touch of Wellness makes outcalls for any patients not ambulatory and offers corporate accounts.
For more information, please call Robinson or Sharon Aldrich, L.M.T., M.M.P. at 689-7799.

New Store is 4Reel
With fall on the horizon, the temperatures will be just right for outdoor activities like fishing and camping and a new store, 4Reel Fishing and Camping Supplies, which opened recently in the SteinMart-anchored Lithia Crossings Plaza makes shopping for those outings a breeze.
From camping lanterns and air mattresses and fishing tackle and hooks, 4Reel has a wide variety of supplies.
“Our store carries something for every person in the family,” says Cheryl Phelps who owns the store with her husband Mike. “We have fishing and camping supplies for the most experienced to the up and coming.”
Valrico residents who grew up fishing and camping on the Alafia River, the Phelps see the Bloomingdale area as a perfect place for the store.
“The area is so family oriented as well as out going and that combination spells camping and fishing,” says Cheryl.
4Reel Fishing And Camping Supplies is located at 3430 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. and can be reached at 651-5151. For more information, visit www.4reelfishingsupplies.com or stop by the store Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Aquali Opens In Valrico
With a wide range of services from master technicians, Aquali Salon and Spa opened recently on Erindale Dr. in Bloomingdale.
“All of our stylists are master technicians, many of whom have furthered their skills by becoming educators for product lines, including Alterna, Rusk, Sexyhair and Scruples,” says stylist Hannah McArty.
The full service salon and spa offers services including hair color, perms, relaxing techniques and hair extensions and spa services including acrylic nails, manicures, spa pedicures, facials and full body waxing.
“Aquali salon and spa is a green friendly environment,” says McArty. “Not only do we recycle, we offer coffee and fruit flavored water in glasses rather than non bio-degradable cups. We are trying hard by taking small steps to preserve our environment just as you are at home.”
Aquali Salon and Spa is located at 3652 Erindale Dr. and is open Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
For more information, call 653-3736.

Cruise Planners Offers Deals
October is National Cruise Vacation month and Sherry Leybovich ECCS, CTA, owner of Cruise Planners, is celebrating with The World’s Largest Cruise Event, offering clients values and incentives on cruise travel to the world’s top destinations.
“The World’s Largest Cruise Event is a celebration where lucky agents like me get to give the gift of great savings on cruises, and our clients are the guests of honor,” says Leybovich. “Best of all, Cruise Planners is extending what is traditionally one special night into an entire week of offers and incentives, so the gifts will keep coming from October 4 to the 10.”
According to Leybovich, a prize-a-day giveaway has been incorporated into this year’s cruise event week where clients can enter a daily contest for fabulous prizes and ultimately be entered into the week end grand prize of a free cruise.
Cruise Planners will host a cruise night on October 6 from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Palmetto Club located at 17004 Dorman Rd. in FishHawk Ranch where clients can learn more about Cruise Planners and the new Royal Carribean Oasis of the Seas, which will be the largest cruise ship in the world when she debuts in December 2009. Representatives from the US Postal Service will be on hand to take applications for passports and to answer questions on the new regulations concerning passports. Lights refreshments will be provided by Bellafia Chocolate Boutique and Lah-Tea-Dah.
Founded in 1994, Cruise Planners is an American Express Travel Services Representative national cruise agency headquartered in Coral Springs, that operates a franchised network of more than 700 experienced travel professionals who independently book cruises and other associated travel. Leybovich has also earned many personal awards and is one of the top franchisees within Cruise Planners. She is currently one of the finalists for home based business of the year through the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, call at Leybovich 657-0844, or visit www.cruisesforu.com.

Hospital Welcomes New CNO
“Susan Laber, RN, BSN, MHA, CHCQM, has been promoted to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of Brandon Regional Hospital,” says Mike Fencel, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, “replacing Cheryl Goforth who was promoted to CNO at Trident Health Systems, in Charleston, South Carolina.”
Prior to assuming this role, Laber was the Interim CNO for several months, as well as Assistant CNO at Brandon, from 2006-2008. Since her promotion, Laber and her family have relocated from the Sarasota area to FishHawk Ranch.
Laber’s vision for her nursing team can be boiled down to “do what is right for patients first and inspire others to do the same thing. The opportunity lies in providing an environment where patients are the number one priority; use data to make positive changes; challenge the status quo and create a positive culture where nurses want to work.”
For more information, call the hospital at 571-5105.

Bonefish Grill Awarded Top Honors
Consumers have voted and the results are in: Bonefish Grill has been awarded the Platinum Award in the seafood category at this year’s Consumers’ Choice in Chains Awards. Platinum is the highest honor. The annual survey, conducted by Restaurants & Institutions magazine and now in its 28th year, is considered a key measure of success for restaurant chains across the nation.
For the 2008 awards, more than 3,100 consumers were asked to rate 120 restaurant brands on eight customer satisfaction attributes: food quality, menu variety, value, service, atmosphere, cleanliness, reputation and convenience.
“We are especially thrilled that this award is voted on by consumers,” says John Cooper, President of Bonefish Grill. “It means our customers appreciate the lengths we go to in delivering an exceptional dining experience. Congratulations and thanks go to our teams across the country.”
Patricia Daily, Restaurants & Institutions’ publisher, says, “The R&I Consumers’ Choice in Chains awards is a people’s choice award that conveys to the industry and beyond which restaurants have earned consistent business and guest loyalty and why.”
Complete survey results are available through Restaurants & Institutions magazine (www.rimag.com).
For more information and sample menu from the restaurant, visit www.bonefishgrill.com.

Winn-Dixie Helps Hurricane Victims
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. announced recently that customers can help their neighbors affected by the 2008 hurricane season by simply donating at any neighborhood Winn-Dixie.
Winn-Dixie is implementing its “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” program in all of its 521 stores as a way to assist the American Red Cross, which has seen its Disaster Relief Fund depleted after an active year of disasters.
The Red Cross provided food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to the communities affected by the storms that battered Florida and the Gulf Coast during the past month. Similar efforts across the country have forced the Red Cross to launch a national drive to raise $100 million to keep the Disaster Relief Fund afloat.
Winn-Dixie customers will find “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” donation sheets available at all registers, where they can donate an amount between $0.50 and $500 directly to the American Red Cross. The cashier will scan the Neighbors Helping Neighbors donation sheet, which automatically adds the amount designated by the customer to the total bill.
“Our neighbors face a long and difficult recovery process, and we want to do everything we can to help them,” says Terry Grooms Derreberry, Winn-Dixie manager of corporate giving. “Our hearts go out to those who were impacted by these storms.”
The American Red Cross provides immediate response in more than 70,000 disasters each year through its Disaster Relief Fund. Disasters include fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and tornadoes. Contributions to the relief fund are used to provide food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to victims as needed.
The Winn-Dixie in the Bloomingdale Plaza at 179 Bloomingdale Ave. can be reached at 681-7337. For more information, please visit www.winn-dixie.com.

Soccer Program for Challenged Youth

Tamas Mondovics — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:48:03 +0000

Thanks to TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) many mentally and physically challenged youth in the Brandon area, from ages 5 years and up, will have the opportunity to be a part in a busy athletic season while playing soccer.
“The program is both social as well as athletic, designed for children and some young adults with disabilities the opportunity of learning the game and having some fun at the same time,” said TOPS local founder Ken Muzyk.
Muzyk explained that through the generosity and support of local businesses as well as organizations such as BAYSL (Brandon Area Youth Soccer League) TOPS, a national soccer program, will begin its tenth season this year on September 13, and will end on November 8, with a party as well as a trophy for each player.
As it was true in previous seasons the support of the community allows each player to be supplied with cleats, shin guards as well as uniforms at no cost while the program is carried out in a caring coaching environment.
According to Muzyk, TOPSoccer was designed not as a competitor to the programs run by other sports organizations for people with disabilities, but rather as a complementary program that works hand in hand with organizations like Special Olympics to expand the overall training and competition opportunities for young people with disabilities.
“This is an excellent program and it works well, which is why it has been able to exist for almost a decade. Muzyk said, adding, “We have on an average 120 athletes some of whom are in a wheelchair and many of them returning for the tenth time.”
While there are no practices during the week games are played on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon at the J.C. Handley Park Soccer Complex, located at 3104 South Kings Avenue in Brandon.
The sports complex is also the location for registration which is scheduled for September 20. Each player is required to bring his or her birth certificate, Individual Education Plans (IEP), and a parent or guardian with photo I.D.
Volunteers are still needed to help with several parts of the TOPS program. For more information please visit www.brandonsoccer.comor call 657-5271.

Taste Of India Now Open

Nora Zaki — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:34:29 +0000

If you desire a trip to India, but are unable to do so, perhaps Taste of India restaurant can fulfill that craving. Opened only a little over a month ago, Taste of India delivers multifarious spices, an authentic atmosphere and foods that reflect the wide, regional diversity of India to serve the Brandon area.

“There have been extremely limited options [for Indian food] outside of [restaurant] chains. It’s an independent business that Brandon needs,” said Jim Guarnieri, a third-time occupant here. With a five-year-old sister restaurant in Melbourne, George Thomas, one of five owners, realized an authentic, fresh-food Indian restaurant was repeatedly requested by customers who received catered dishes. “People drove to Melbourne to get Indian meals,” said Thomas.

Thomas, who received a bachelor’s degree from India in Hotel Management and served as an assistant food manager at Cocoa Beach rose up within the food industry business and craved his own country’s meals. A signature dish, Chicken-65, which consists of crispy, rice-battered, fried chicken with curry leaves and green chiles, was named for a toddy shop, which provides alcoholic beverages, in Kerala, India. A No. 65 toddy shop chef, Thomas one day created a dish in which he dipped chicken in rice flour and then fried it in vegetable oil which turned famous. Thomas’ favorite dish is Malabar Addu Curry- tender goat meat, marinated in mint sauce for five days cooked with potatoes, carrots and coconut. There are vegetarian, seafood, regional and side-dish options for the non-meat eater as well. Gobi Manchurian, a batter-fried cauliflower draped in a spicy sauce of chiles and soy sauce and adorned with tomato, onion, bell pepper, garlic and herbs, is popular, too.

Demographically speaking, Thomas has noticed his customers are wide-ranged in age and ethnicity. “Small catering parties, doctors’ conferences, older crowds and UCF [University of Central Florida] students come here,” said Thomas. UCF has a large Indian student population.

Because India is 83 percent Hindu, figurines of Hindu gods and dried mango leaves hanging above the door adorn the restaurant. When starting a day of business, the mango leaves believe to bring good luck. Seedlings are sprinkled in vases near the door and it is said that a business should grow as tall the seedling.

Thomas believes the 60-customer seating is always nearly full because “we all work as a team and from the heart.”

Taste of India is located at 902 E. Brandon Blvd. Its number is 689-4040 or visit www.tasteofindiafl.us.

Come Meet Your Congressmen August 20

Jennifer Silverstein — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:04:53 +0000

On Wednesday, August 20, the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce will feature Brandon area congressmen at a congressional update luncheon. Congressman Adam Putnam and Congressman Gus Bilirakis will be in attendance.

The congressmen represent Florida’s 9th and 12th Congressional Districts which encompass the Brandon area.

Located along the gulf coast, the 9th Congressional District spans parts of suburban Hillsborough, west Pasco and northern Pinellas counties. It is currently represented by Congressman Gus Bilirakis.

Florida’s 12th Congressional District encompasses much of Polk County as well as parts of rural and suburban, east Hillsborough County and a small piece of west Osceola County. It is currently represented by Republican Adam Putnam.

The congressman will address attendees with updates from the committees on which they serve and will also discuss issues being debated in Washington, D.C.

The luncheon will be held at Winthrop Theatre located at 11349 Bloomingdale Ave. and will begin at 12 Noon. Registration begins at 11:45 a.m.

The price to attend the luncheon for chamber members is $18, while non-members pay $23. Corporate tables are also available (with eight seats with preferred table location and signage) for members for $170 and for non-members for $210.

For more information or to register, contact Allison Braden via e-mail at abraden@brandonchamber.com or by calling 689-1221, ext. 36.

Westfield Brandon Cash 4 Class Begins

Marie Gilmore — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:13:55 +0000

In the midst of reduced spending on education, Westfield Brandon will present more than $17,500 to schools in the greater Brandon area.

Cash 4 Class at Westfield Brandon, in its third year, is a program that encourages local families and friends to show their school spirit by shopping at the mall over a two-month period to earn “points” and, ultimately, cash for the school of their choice. Schools must be state-accredited schools teaching first – 12th grade students. Between August 1 and September 30, customers can turn in their receipts at the Westfield Concierge.

Each dollar spent equals one point. Shop on Mondays to receive double points at every store, and also receive double points with any Westfield gift card purchase, anytime. Double points are also offered for shopping any day of the week at any store in Westfield Brandon’s new wing.

Points are added to the school of the shopper’s choice. A tally board will keep a total of each school’s points. Rankings will be based on a point-per-student ratio to ensure an even playing field for all schools. The highest point-per-student ratio will determine the winning school.

The top three schools will win cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. Fourth and fifth place schools will also win prizes.

Last year’s winners included first place Nativity Catholic School, second place Immanuel Lutheran School and third place Apollo Beach Elementary.

Immanuel Lutheran administrative assistant Lisa Talbott says it sent out email blasts and encouraged parents and church members to show their support by shopping at the mall.

The school used the $5,000 prize to purchase an accelerated reader enterprise. “It gave us Internet access and helped us improve our AR program,” said Talbott.

Westfield Brandon marketing director Dawn Richter says that towards the end of the program the competition becomes extremely aggressive. “Last year schools actually brought people to the mall by the busload.” Approximately 10 schools were in an extremely close race.

“As popular as this program was last year, I expect it to be even more important this year,” said Richter. “The schools need the money.”

For more information about Class 4 Cash, visit www.westfield.com/brandon or contact Richter at 661-5100.