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Eagle Scout family tradition grows
By LINDA CHION KENNEY linda@observernews.net As a newly minted Eagle Scout at age 15, Zachary Harris has a strong sense of what he wants…
Community art contest open to teens, young adults
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Calling all young artists ages 14 to 20. The Ruskin Woman’s Club is sponsoring a coastal-themed community art contest just…
Preserving memories from analog to digital
By: Kathie Stamps If you have Super 8 film cartridges, 8mm reels or VHS tapes stashed in a closet, you know those physical forms…
Graduation approaches as final moments lead to lasting memories
Final contests, banquets and performances mark the end of the academic year, as graduation ceremonies approach for thousands of Hillsborough County high school seniors.…
Southshore Chamber Welcomes New Executive Director
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com The Greater SouthShore Chamber of Commerce has a new leader. As of May 1, Wimauma resident Bonnie Peacock joined outgoing…
South Shore Loses a Trusted Builder
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com After more than a quarter of a century of building and remodeling, mostly in the South Shore area, Borman Construction…
Side-splitting Comedy to Feature Southern-fried Humor
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Pelican Players Community Theater will present Farce of Nature, May 14-16, at the Kings Point Veterans Theater in Sun City…
‘Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive’ Meets Urgent Need in Tough Times
By LINDA CHION linda@observernews.net What began in 1993 as a one-day effort, driven by letter carriers has become the nation’s largest single-day food drive,…
Beach Paws Dog Rescue Gives Forgotten Dogs a Second Chance
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com It takes a big heart to run a residential dog rescue, but it takes an even bigger one to welcome…
South Shore Loses a Trusted Builder
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com After more than a quarter of a century of building and remodeling, mostly in the South Shore area, Borman Construction…
Firehouse Cultural Center offers affordable summer camp options
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com If you have kids ages 7 to 15 who are itching for something fun to do this summer, check out…
Valor Service Dog ‘Goose’ mission-focused in aid to Veterans and first responders
By LINDA CHION KENNEY linda@observernews.net Linda Chion Kenney Photos Goose gets a lot of love in the community center at St. John’s Greek Orthodox…
Sun ’n Fun is “Red, White and Blue at 52”
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Join East Bay Theatre as it brings its 52nd season to a show stopping close with three evening performances of…
Sun ’n Fun is “Red, White and Blue at 52”
By Troy McClellan As America celebrates 250 years of independence, the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo returned for its 52nd year with the fitting…
Sun City Center stories go digital in About the Town
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com The voice of Vern Hedricks is familiar to Sun City Center residents who tune in to Sun Radio WSCQ 96.3…
Save SCC calls meeting on golf course development threat
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Save Sun City Center (Save SCC) will host an important informational meeting to discuss emerging issues regarding ClubLink’s intent to…
Awareness, time and technology affect stroke outcomes
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com COURTESY PHOTO Valencia Lakes residents Tom and Robyn Payant recently donated funding for the addition of a fourth Tele-Specialist Stroke…
Helen Mulrennan Young laid to rest at 103
By LINDA CHION KENNEY linda@observernews.net With deep Riverview and Brandon roots, Earl Lennard, with Helen Mulrennan Young, at a school gathering. Lennard died in…
LHS teens reach out to recruit future FFA members
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Three Lennard High School FFA members recently took it upon themselves to promote the program to eighth graders who’ll be…
Haven of Hope helps woman rebuild her life
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Haven of Hope of Hillsborough president, Janet Smith, and board member Mary Huntington recently presented the keys to a 2009…
Drought, water restrictions, burn ban extended as hurricane season looms
By LINDA CHION KENNEYlinda@observernews.net South Hillsborough County residents face a critical challenge as one of the worst droughts in 50 years calls for tighter…
Listen Up: Hearing is more than listening
By Kathie Stamps Did you know that the health of your hearing is connected to your overall health? It is a common misconception that…
Grow a Florida-friendly yard with native plants
AMBER COUNCIL PHOTO Blanket flowers are low-maintenance perennials that add warm color to any Florida-friendly garden or landscape. They have a long blooming season…
Obituaries
Richard Henry Timm June 17, 1926 – April 4, 2025 Richard Henry Timm passed away in Norton, MA, peacefully, at his home with his…
Come celebrate women who’ve made a difference in South Shore
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Connie Lesko -- seen here at a family gathering at the Palmetto Yacht Club with her youngest granddaughter and namesake,…
Community partnership brings etiquette lessons to life
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Members of Girls of the World Inc. recently had a lovely time brushing up on etiquette over dinner at White…
4th annual All About Horses event is April 11
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Whether you’re a seasoned rider or simply love being around horses, you’re invited to All About Horses on April 11.…
Rare scouting trifecta earned by Riverview teen with sights set on space
By LINDA CHION KENNEY linda@observernews.net Earning top rankings in three Scouting America programs is a rare achievement, but Riverview teen John R.F. Humphreys has…
Mister Pasta puts fresh spin on fast-casual Italian
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Mister Pasta, a newly opened, fast casual Italian restaurant at 11681 Boyette Road, Riverview, specializes in fresh, house made pasta…
More than a ride: companionship driving program restores independence
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com In less than a year, the Seniors in Service Companionship Driving Program in South Shore is already proving to be…
Good Hearts
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Cathy Seale wakes each day with a calling to serve others, guided by a purpose woven into the essence of…
Inspira’s H.E.L.P. allows kids to step into real life experiences
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Bowling is much more than a fun physical activity for neurodivergent children enrolled in Inspira Tampa Bay’s H.E.L.P. Program. Its…
Fun Fest’s a wrap!
The Sun City Center Fun Fest drew large crowds of people March 14 to the Community Association’s Main Campus. Visitors enjoyed learning about all…
Rotarians set for 16th Annual Crawfish Festival in Riverview
By LINDA CHION KENNEY linda@observernews.net Vendors, volunteers, sponsors and advance food orders are “highly encouraged” for the 16th annual Crawfish Festival in Riverview, with…
Post 246 hosting social for Legion’s 107th birthday
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com American Legion Post 246 will celebrate The American Legion’s 107 years of honoring its century-plus service and dedication to Veterans,…
Operation Medicine Cabinet returns March 27
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Home Instead Senior Care and HCA Florida South Shore Hospital are once again teaming up…
All aboard for SCC Model Railroad Club open house at Fun Fest
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com The Sun City Center Model Railroad Club will host an open house during Fun Fest from 9 a.m. to 2…
Mold-contaminated debris addressed as hurricane season approaches
By LINDA CHION KENNEY linda@observernews.net With hurricane season three months away, a report from the Hillsborough County Citizens Advisory Committee sounds the alarm on…
C.E.R.T.: helping neighbors when it matters most
COURTESY PHOTOS SCC C.E.R.T. educates residents on disaster preparedness and provides hands-on training in fire safety, as seen here; light search and rescue; disaster…
Irish food, music and magic await at St. Paddy’s Day festivity
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com Cypress Creek Assisted Living & Memory Care will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration from 11 a.m. to 2…
Brandon’s 70th annual Fourth of July Parade, debuts Youth Logo Contest
By LINDA CHION KENNEY linda@observernews.net A scene from the 2025 Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade. De Soto Lodge No. 105 out of Riverview,…
Camp Bayou Spring Fest: nature, discovery and family fun
By LOIS KINDLE lekindle@aol.com You and your kids are invited to celebrate the arrival of spring at Camp Bayou Saturday, March 28, from 9…
Kids get chance to shine on Broadway this spring break
By LOIS KINDLE This spring break, March 16–20, why not let your kids trade screen time for showtime! The Firehouse Cultural Center and East…
Step into spring at the RWC Fashion Show Luncheon
By LOIS KINDLE Members of the GFWC Ruskin Woman’s Club are hosting their Spring Fashion Show Luncheon from noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, March…
Gamble Plantation State Historic Park
By Kathie Stamps From tourists to neighbors and historians to artists, people have visited the Gamble Plantation in Ellenton for 100 years. In 1925,…
HCSO Fraud Workshop: Stay informed on latest scam tactics
By LOIS KINDLE Last year, Sun City Center residents lost nearly $15 million to various forms of fraud. These unexpected and often devastating financial…
Let the good times roll: A Night in the Big Easy
By LOIS KINDLE If you’ve never been to New Orleans—or you can’t wait to go back—the Firehouse Cultural Center is bringing the magic of…
Hillsborough 4-H Club raises voice against overdevelopment
By LINDA CHION KENNEY Donna Holt, her kids and their 4-H Club associates have been doing a lot of research about Hillsborough County land-use…
Make advanced life decisions now – while you still can
By LOIS KINDLE We never know when the moment will come when decisions we intended to make ourselves must be made by someone else.…
Native plants, local roots: Councils open plant nursery in Ruskin
By LOIS KINDLE Council Growers Sod has officially opened its new retail nursery at 3226 24th St. SE, Ruskin. Whether you’re starting a major…