Children Prepare to Hunt for Easter Eggs This Weekend

Kids are invited to several Easter Eggstravaganza events.

There will be plenty of colorful candy-filled Easter eggs to go around when several area churches host Easter Eggstravaganza events Saturday, March 23, and Sunday, March 24. FishHawk Fellowship Church, 15326 FishHawk Blvd., Lithia, will host its annual Easter Eggstravaganza March 23 from 10 am. to 2 p.m. Activities will include bungee jumping, a rock-climbing wall, an Easter egg hunt, pony rides, free food and drawings. Journey Church, 1310 John Moore Rd., Brandon, will host its community Easter Eggstravaganza Saturday, March 23 at 10 a.m., where children will hunt for more than 60,000 Easter eggs. There will be food and other festivities as well. Grace Community United Methodist Church at FishHawk, 5708 Lithia-Pinecrest Rd., Lithia, also …

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FishHawk and Channing Park Residents Petition Against Proposed Power Line

Tampa Electric held an open house Thursday evening in FishHawk Ranch to explain its proposed power line and substation expansion, and take comments from residents.

At an open house meeting Thursday night about proposed power lines, Tampa Electric's message to FishHawk Ranch and Channing Park residents was, we're here to listen.  The residents' message to TECO? Not in our backyard.  Since mailing notices to households in the area on April 2, TECO has faced growing opposition to its proposed plans to build a 40 mile high-voltage power line that would stretch from TECO's Polk Power Station in southwestern Polk County, run through FishHawk Ranch and Channing Park, and terminate at the company's FishHawk Substation. The project also proposes building a new substation near Balm-Boyette Road and Aspen Avenue, and expanding the Polk Power Station.  Several TECO representatives set up shop in a meeting room …

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H & R Block Joins Blessed Bottoms to Collect Diapers

The charity was started by a FishHawk Ranch mom intent on collecting diapers for moms too poor to purchase them for their babies.

It was an impromptu conversation with a neighbor in October that got the ball rolling for Debi Rucker. "The neighbor's sister runs the Detroit Area Diaper Bank and he was telling me about the great need for diapers. My heart just went out to this women," said the FishHawk Ranch mother age two, ages 2 and 6. "I've been fortunate. I've never had to struggle to buy diapers for my children. And it broke my heart to think of the mothers out there who can't buy diapers," she said. "It's often overlooked. No one really thinks about the cost of diapers but my eyes were opened to it. Rucker did a bit of research and was astounded to discover there was no diaper bank in Tampa Bay similar to the one in the Detroit area. "So, with the support of my …

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5 Things to Know Today, July 27

Here's some things you might want to know as you go about your day.

1. Visit Park Square Cellar Wednesday, July 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. for "The Man of La Mancha" Renaissance Cocktail Party. Park Square Cellar, 16132 Churchview Drive, will host an evening full of knights, chivalry and fundraising to support the St Stephen Theatre Troupe as its prepares for a performance of "Man of La Mancha" at the Nativity Youth Center Stage in August. Tickets for the fundraiser are $25 per person and include two drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Guest also will have a chance to interact with characters from the show. Costumes are welcome. 2. The Brandon South Rotary Club meets at noon Wednesdays at the Buckhorn Springs Golf & Country Club, 2721 S. Miller Road, Valrico. 3. Teen Game Zone is held Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. at the …

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5 Things to Know Today, June 20

Summer camps and a benefit for a mom in need are on tap for today.

1. Do you constantly complain that your teen has no concept of money? Here's a camp that may help. Hillsborough County Extension, in partnership with United Way of Tampa Bay, is offering a Money Adventures Camp for teens age 13 to 16 years old. The camp will feature hands-on learning activities dealing with credit, banking, car buying, and job searches and interviewing. The camp will also include fun afternoon field trips to go bowling, visit MOSI/IMAX and play miniature golf.    The Money Adventures Camp will take place June 20-24 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hillsborough County Extension Office, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, 33584.  Regular registration is $30. The registration fee covers all field trips and lunches. For more …

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Journey of Faith

Mothering, Military and Church

How can mothering, military, and church all combine into one common theme?

Bloomingdale, Fishhawk, Riverview, and Lithia have a wide range of employment opportunities.  One of the largest areas of employment for this area is our military personnel.  Churches and church groups have a huge opportunity to witness to this unique group of individuals while they are stationed here near MacDill Air Force Base. A huge group of importance to individuals who move around a great deal during their tenure with the military is Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS).  “One of the first things, if they are already familiar with the group, for military moms is a MOPS group” said Holly Rowlette, MOPS International Area developer. Rowlette and her husband are in the military for the “long-haul.”  While Rowlette herself no longer serves, …

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5 Things

5 Things to Know Today

Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin your work week.

1. "The Best Time of Year" is the theme for this year's Florida State Fair, which opens Thursday at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa, and runs until Feb. 21. Featured activities this year include a Corndogs n' Country concert Friday, Feb. 11, with Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Jake Owen, Sunny Sweeney and Brett Eldredge performing the 1-800 Ask Gary Amphitheater. Ticket prices are $20 and also include admission to the fair. The doors open at 5 p.m. Regular prices for the fair are $10 for adults and children over age 12 and $5 for children ages 6 10 11. Fair-goers can save up to $4 on tickets by purchasing them at Sweetbay Supermarkets now through Feb. 9. Pepsi armband tickets are $30 each and are valid for a single-day …

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Valrico Sound Expert Gives Churches Fair Hearing

Resident Paul Garner wires area religious facilities for superior sound.

A Valrico resident is helping to make sure that all members of a congregation can tune into their pastor during Sunday sermons. Paul Garner has teamed up with Danley Sound Labs of Gainesville, Ga., to rewire area churches for superior sound. Garner, owner of  CSI: Christian Sound Installations, was recently hired to install a sound system in FishHawk Fellowship Church's 400-seat sanctuary. Like so many mid-sized churches, FishHawk Fellowship opted for a one-size-fits-all sound system years ago when it built its facility, said Garner. "It can be more truthfully described as a doesn't-fit-at-all sound system," said Garner. The church called on Garner and his AV design and installation firm to remedy the church sound problems. In turn, CSI …

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