By Times staff writers
Published November 11, 2005
Winners of the Greater Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce's 2005 Small Business of the Year awards were announced on Oct. 20.
Jana Broder, owner of Drum Magic, won in the home-based business category. She started teaching her African drumming class in Concord, Calif., and continued it as an after-school program at the YMCA when she moved to Brandon in 2001. She has taken the class to senior centers, youth detention centers, schools and corporations that use it as a team-building activity.
Tracy Halfman, owner of Drug Screen Solutions, won in the category for businesses with one to five employees. Her business offers on-site drug testing to area employers, as well as paternity tests, and it also sells a kit that tests whether a drink is spiked.
Michael Wick, president of Serenity Meadows Memorial Park Funeral Home and Crematory, won in the next-largest business category. Founded in 1998, Serenity Meadows provides funerals, cremations, burials, entombments and cremations scattering.
Heather Ochalek, owner of Music Showcase, won in the category for businesses with more than 16 employees. Her music store sells, rents and repairs instruments and also offers lessons in 20 studios. It also has a performance space that can hold 130 people.
- S.I. ROSENBAUM
Homeowners association has openings on board
The Bloomingdale Homeowners Association has three openings on its board of directors.
The volunteer directors can choose from the following areas in which to get involved: neighborhood improvement, public safety, road improvements, government services, schools, community activities and more, according to the association.
The board meets on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the community office at 3509 Bell Shoals Road.
For more information, call 681-2051.
- SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
Development on agenda for civic association
Development is on the agenda for the Apollo Beach Civic Association's meeting on Thursday.
Guest speakers include representatives from the county's planning and growth management department and Newland Communities, which is proposing a major subdivision to be called Waterset between Big Bend Road and 19th Avenue NW.
Waterset could bring about 5,000 homes for the area. Newland Communities is the developer behind MiraBay, FishHawk Ranch and Covington Park.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Apollo Beach Recreation Center, 664 Golf and Sea Blvd.
