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Fourth Of July Parade Nets Winners Galore

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: July 16, 2008

BRANDON - Independence Day, Brandon-style, began typically. By 5 a.m., people were staking claim to shady parade-viewing spots along Parsons Avenue. By 7:45 a.m., roads were being closed. By shortly after 8 a.m. in lawyer B. Lee Elam's office library, the new honorary mayor of Brandon was announced. Tammy Holmberg, owner of the Lake Brandon Village Chick-fil-A, won the race.

As Holmberg accepted, she waved a tiny slip of paper in the air. "I got this June 2 in a fortune cookie at the start of my campaign," she said. "It says, 'mayor.'... I've carried it with me the whole time."

The honorary mayor's race is a community fundraiser. Candidates are sponsored by civic groups and raise money for their chosen charities. The one who collects the most wins.

Holmberg, representing Brandon South Rotary, clinched her victory by raising about $5,000 more during her campaign than her opponent, Jake Piascik, who co-owns Dream Limousine and Anytime Taxi LLC and was sponsored by Brandon '86 Rotary. Each dollar equaled a vote.

Together they collected about $45,000 for Brandon charities.

Holmberg raised money for the Dream Factory's Brandon chapter, which makes wishes come true for critically ill children; greater Brandon YMCAs and the children's theater at Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association.

Piascik's "votes" will go to the Emergency Care Help Organization, which helps families in need; A Kid's Place, which provides shelter for kids in crisis; and The Trey Curry Foundation, which helps Brandon area children in memory of 20-year-old Trey Curry of Valrico, who died earlier this year.

At the parade-staging area, Ken Ward of Lithia and his 8-year-old daughter, Katie, climbed into a shiny red convertible. Ward was chosen as Brandon's Father of the Year based on an essay written about him by Katie, who attends FishHawk Creek Elementary School.

As the noisy, colorful procession marched and rolled past the viewing stand at 505 W. Robertson St., Sandra L. Murman, former state representative for District 56; Laurie Goldman, general manager of the Westfield Brandon mall; and Karen Crumley, an advertising representative with The Tampa Tribune, served as judges and picked category winners.

The Brandon Lions Club won the award for best representation of the parade theme, "Celebrating 50 Years." That's how long the parade sponsor, the Roundtable Charities of Greater Brandon - referred to locally as the Presidents' Roundtable - has been in existence. This year also was the 50th annual Brandon Fourth of July parade.

The Brandon Lions have been represented in the parade since its inception, said member Bo Hurley.

Hurley and club members Michael Kirk, Ben and Judy Brown, and Kevin Rees were joined on the Lions' fire truck by representatives of Newsome High School's Leo Club, including junior Hillary Stallings and sponsor Lindsey Ragsdale.

The Bloomingdale and Brandon Summer Band won best musical marching unit. Band members from the two high schools traditionally march together in parade under the direction of Jon Sever of Bloomingdale High.

River of Life Cluster of United Methodist Churches entered a float that earned an award for best musical vocal unit. The group consisted of members of Limona Village Chapel United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church of Brandon, First United Methodist Church of Seffner, St. Andrew's United Methodist Church of Brandon, Riverview United Methodist Church and South Shore United Methodist Church of Apollo Beach.

The Krewe of Fort Brooke won an award for best krewe, and the New World Celts won for best amateur performance.

Stepps Towing Service was deemed to have the best amateur float; Tampa Electric Co. won for best professional float; Sweet Memories was feted for best-decorated vehicle; and Kevin Merschdorf Home Improvement won most unusual vehicle.

The Brandon Cowboys cheerleaders took the prize for best youth cheerleaders; Boy Scout Troop 11 won for best marching unit; and Lighthouse Ministries won the Presidents' Roundtable's best overall award.

Independence Day, Brandon-style, ended typically. By early afternoon, marchers and watchers alike were cooling off at home or enjoying a free lunch under the spreading oaks at Limona Village Chapel.

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