Bring School Supplies To Eighth Annual Back To School Festival

July 12, 2010

1405

By Marie Gilmore

This year’s eighth annual FishHawk Area Networking Group (FANG) Back-to-School Festival will benefit local needy children with back-to-school supplies. With more than 100 local business booths, samples from 10 restaurants, music, extracurricular demonstrations, exhibits from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, free giveaways and door prizes, there is lots to do. The Back to School Festival is scheduled for Saturday, July 24, from 9 a.m.-12 Noon at the FishHawk Youth Sports Complex located at 16120 FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia. Admission is free but $10 worth of new school supplies or a $10 cash donation is requested that will benefit the YMCA migrant children effort. Last year, more than 400 students received supplies as a result of the event.In addition to food and business booths, Theatre Arts & Dance Alliance (TADA) will emcee the event with sound system provided by Pure Power Productions and performances from TADA, Music Showcase and Sidekicks Martial Arts. There will be family-friendly games and activities. Chick-fil-A at Lake Brandon Village, Formaggio’s Italian Restaurant and Sno Cones, Ol’ Kentucky Kettle Corn and others will provide samples.“This is one annual event that highlights the summer,” described Chick-fil-A at Lake Brandon Village owner Paul Holmberg. “We have been participants every year for eight years, and each year, it continues to grow and expand.”In addition to food, event and business booths, representatives from all the sports complex’s teams will be represented to talk about fall registration requirement.The event is sponsored by the St. Pete Times/Brandon Times, Kids ‘R’ Kids Valrico, CruisePlanners, Brandon Regional Hospital and Osprey Observer.For more information, visit www.fangconnect.com, call Denise Graf at 657-2418 or e-mail denise@ospreyobserver.com.FANG is an organization of more than 100 local business owners who meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Palmetto Club, located at 17004 Dorman Rd. in FishHawk Ranch, to network, do community service and host events, promoting local businesses. For more information, stop by any meeting or contact Graf.

Caption: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office will bring its bomb disposal robot to the Eighth Annual FANG Back to School Festival on Saturday, July 24, 9 a.m.-12 Noon.