Thrivent Action Team looking for Volunteers for Backpack Drive
Members of Thrivent Financial are forming a Thrivent Action Team in Brandon. The purpose of the drive will be to collect backpacks and items for children entering the foster care system, and participants are looking for community volunteers to join. The event will take place on Saturday, November 22 and it is aimed at collecting supplies and backpacks to donate to Child Protective Services in Hillsborough County.
When a child is removed from their home and moved to foster care they are usually given a trash bag and a short amount of time to collect important items to take with them. Kacy and Matthew Oleson, local foster parents, are running the event. They are welcoming anyone who would like to donate and/or stuff backpacks.
For a list of items to donate or to attend, contact Kacy Oleson at kmoleson1222@ gmail.com or visit www.facebook. com/events/1502929 856644085/. Thrivent Financial is represented by FRs-Matthew and Donald Oleson with offices at 101 American Center Pl. in Tampa and can also be reached at 626-5489.
Visit Thrivent. com/disclosures.
Founder of The Woman’s Group Receives High Honor
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the 2014 Small Business of the Year Awards in September. Dr. Madelyn Butler was chosen as the Outstanding Leader of the Year. Dr. Butler founded The Woman’s Group in 1998 with a vision of an all-female practice dedicated to high-quality obstetrical and gynecological care and education for women of all ages. She started the company with just six employees. Today The Woman’s Group boasts a staff of nearly 100 with four office locations and serves three Greater Tampa area hospitals. Call 347-4080 or visit www.thewomansgroup tampa.com.
Adventures Archery Family Fun Nights and Fall Archery Festival 
Ferman Chevrolet Florida Archery Slam presents the Fall Archery Festival with a 3D Archery Tournament for all ages hosted by Adventures Archery. The festival takes place on Saturday, November 22 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and includes an archery/hunting equipment, swap meet, raffles, cook out and kid events. Lunch begins at 12 Noon and 3D sign up cut off is at 3 p.m. Call or e-mail Dani with sponsorship, membership or registration questions at 664-8700 or Dani@Adventures Archery.com.
Adventures Archery also now offers Family Fun Night on Friday nights from 6–8 p.m. Cost is $20 for adults and $15 for youth ages 8 -16. Price includes pizza and soda. Call 664-8700 or e-mail dani@adventuresarchery.com to reserve a spot. Adventures Archery is located at 2210 S. U.S. 301, Ste. 200 in Tampa.
Free Wine, Beer & Liqour Tastings
Ajay Jambhekar, owner of AJ’s Fine Wines & Liquors located in the Publix-anchored Shoppes at Lithia plaza in Valrico, will host complimentary wine, beer and spirits tastings every Friday from 6-9 p.m. AJ’s will welcome Jack Daniels in the store for a special event on Tuesday, December 23 from 6–9 p.m. Stop in to pick up a gift and have a bottle of Jack engraved free courtesy of Gentleman Jack and the Jack Daniels Family. Visit the store at 3443 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico for full calendar of tastings. Call 654-6488.
Pay it Forward Sale
What’s in Store? and Gym Locker Consignment Store will be having its annual “Pay it Forward Sale” on Thursday, November 13 from 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. The celebration will include discounts, refreshments and raffle prizes. For every three canned food items customers bring in, they will receive extra raffle tickets. All food will benefit Project Sunshine. The store will close at 3 p.m. the day before to transform the space. No consignment drop offs during the sale.
What’s in Store? is located at 16727 FishHawk Blvd. and can be reached at 643-7393.
Gym Locker is located at 16729 FishHawk Blvd. and can be reached at 600-5825. Both stores are in Lithia.
Homes for Heroes Expands into SouthShore Area
Homes for Heroes, a program that offers large savings to local heroes when buying or selling a home, celebrates 13 years of bringing savings to everyday heroes by recently expanding into the SouthShore market. The newest market affiliates, Kenny Schaaf of HomeXpress Realty and Jennifer Martinez of Stonegate Mortgage, are proud to announce their new partnership with the Homes for Heroes Program. Homes for Heroes aims to help close the gap between the cost of housing for military personnel, police officers, firefighters, nurses, teachers, first responders, and others who serve the community by making them more competitive. Inspired by home-town heroes who serve and protect communities and country, a partnership of Realtors, mortgage lenders, title companies, and other affiliated service providers created Homes for Heroes, Inc. in 2001, and it is quickly spreading throughout the country. For more information about Homes for Heroes, call 394-0764, e-mail schaaf realestate@gmail.com or visit www.valricohomefinder.com.
Verify Network Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Valrico FishHawk Chamber of Commerce invites the community to a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome Verify Network LLC on Veteran’s Day, Tuesday, November 11 at 9 a.m. at the River Hills Country Club located in Valrico at 3943 New River Hills Pkwy. Verify Network LLC is a full-service background screening company owned by Air Force Veteran and FishHawk Ranch Resident, Michael Levy who has over 25 years of experience in human resource services. Enjoy patriotic themed treats and refreshments in honor of Veteran’s Day and welcome one of our own veteran’s into the Valrico FishHawk business community. E-mail info@valricofish hawk.org for more information.
New Movie Theater Coming to Gibsonton in 2015
Goodrich Quality Theaters, Inc., headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., announces plans to break ground in early 2015 for a new 80,000 sq. ft. 14-screen state-of-the-art multiplex in Gibsonton. The theater will feature one large-format auditorium, bar and grill, and VIP recliner seating in all auditoriums. The facility is being developed by Anthony Properties of Dallas, Texas and designed by Paradigm Design. The premium theater facility will feature Giant Digital eXperience, Goodrich’s cutting-edge large format auditorium, with a giant 80-ft.-wide screen allowing floor-to-ceiling viewing. In addition, the theater will offer all-digital projection and 3D, as well as the latest technology and amenities including premium Dolby Atmos sound system and a massive concession stand with self-serve drink refill stations. The development, located between the Super Walmart and I-75 on Gibsonton Dr., is poised to become a regional entertainment destination with 175,000 sq. ft. of space. For more information, visit www.goodrichqualitytheaters.com.
Fifth Third Bank Helping Military Families
This Veterans Day, Fifth Third Bank has partnered with the Folds of Honor Foundation and Rebuilding Together to serve military families in the Tampa Bay area. Now through Saturday, November 15, all 48 Tampa Bay-area Fifth Third banking centers will collect and match donations for Folds of Honor Foundation, a non-profit that provides scholarships and other assistance to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or wounded in action. The bank will match up to $5,000 locally. On Thursday, November 6 more than 15 local bank employees will join Rebuilding Together, a non-profit that provides critical home repairs and renovations for low-income families, to refurbish the home of Robert Belle, a 72-year-old veteran who lives in Tampa. For more information on Fifth Third services and locations, visit www.53.com.
The Barn at Winthrop hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
In September, The Barn at Winthrop in Riverview hosted a multi-chamber open house and ribbon cutting ceremony with the Greater Riverview and Brandon Chambers of Commerce. The large crowd was treated to an overview of the facility with ideas for staging events.
The Barn at Winthrop, located at 11349 Bloomingdale Ave. next to Winthrop Town Centre, offers event venue space for all types of events. The facility can hold from 200-350 people depending on the set-up, and pricing varies for weekdays and weekend events. For more information, call 684-2276, e-mail director @winthropbarntheatre.com or visit www.WinthropBarnTheatre.com.
Give Back to Breast Cancer Survivors
On Saturday, November 8, Bliss Permanent Cosmetics will team up with three advanced make-up artists to give back to breast cancer survivors as a way of giving back to the community and to those ladies who are warriors. Three lucky ladies will receive procedures which include free eyebrows, eyeliners and areola pigmentation after mastectomy. Please contact Sandra Caballero at 523-0435 to schedule appointments. Space is limited with one procedure per client. Bliss Permanent Cosmetics, Inc. is located at 101 Flamingo Dr., Ste. E in Apollo Beach. Visit www.BlissPermanent Cosmetics.com for more information.
Sugar Plum Fairy Tea
The Brandon Ballet and the Sugar Plum Fairy is hosting its Annual Sugar Plum Fairy Tea on Sunday, November 16 from 2-4 p.m. at The Regent located at 6437 Watson Rd. in Riverview.
This magical afternoon is complete with delectable desserts, riveting story time and appearances by The Nutcracker characters.
Tickets for adults (ages 13 and up) are $20 and tickets for children (12 and younger) are $15.
For tickets, visit www.tututix .com/brandon ballet or call 684-4282.
Budget Storage Holds Ribbon Cutting
The Brandon Chamber of Commerce and Budget Storage hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at the opening of the newest self-storage facility located in Brandon at 607 E. Bloomingdale Ave. The event took place last month with Tampa’s Woman of the Year, Elizabeth Fisher. Fisher is the CEO and President of the Selah Freedom, a non-profit confronting the issue of sex trafficking, slavery and exploitation through advocacy, training and helping the victims with restorative services.
Budget Self Storage is partnering with Selah Freedom by providing collection bins at five of their locations for people to drop off donations of personal care, toiletries, beauty products and gift cards for survivors. Call 476-4999.
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