Julius Tharpe was a longtime resident and high school basketball coach, as well as a referee for youth and adult leagues in Osceola County. In 2019, a tournament designed to be a fundraiser for Tharpe’s medical expenses in a fight against cancer quickly became a memorial when he succumbed to his illness prior to the event.
This Tournament now serves as a Memorial. The Julius Tharpe Memorial Foundation helps fund and sponsor youth basketball players who wish to participate in leagues and camps who don’t have the financial ability to do so.
This year’s Julius Tharpe Memorial Basketball Tournament will be held Saturday starting at 8:00 a.m. at the St. Cloud Civic Center (3001 17th St.).
It’s a 5-on-5, full court tournament open to adult teams 18 and over. The fee is $250 per team with cash prizes awarded to the winning team. The Tournament is free for spectators. Concessions and raffle prizes will be available. For more information contact Tommy Billiteri, 321-443-4414 or email Tbilliteri@gmail.com.
There are several opportunities in St. Cloud to donate food items to ensure that everyone has a happy Thanksgiving. The Business Connections
The Business Connections Group, which meets bi-weekly at the Beef O’Brady’s in St. Cloud, is holding a Thanksgiving food drive, and asks for the community’s help. The group is assembling baskets of food for the less-fortunate this year for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. They will be accepting non-perishable food items until Nov. 19. For more information or to schedule a donation pick-up, email Hello@themarketects.com.
Make a splash and donate to the Chris Lyle Aquatic Center’s Food Drive. Non-perishable food items will be collected until Thursday, Nov. 18 at the Center (2991 17th St.). For more information, contact St. Cloud Parks and Recreation at 407-957-7136.
Support A Hero for Kids! Its 4th annual Thanksgiving food and gift card drive. This group of super heroes is collecting canned hams, non-perishables and gift cards to help support children, families and the community.
Other donation spots in St. Cloud are: 10th Street Produce and Deli (920 New York Ave.), Signal Zero Supplies (315 Commerce Center Dr.), HBH Law and United in Love Adoptions (701 13th St.), A Clear Choice Title and Escrow (119 E. 13th St.), Sports Clips Haircuts - St. Cloud Commons (2807 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy.), CP Diesel & Automotive (1500 Park Commerce Ct.), Wise-Partner at Compass Florida, (1112 New York Ave), and Toho Marine & Outdoors, (3701 Friars Cove Ln.).
Donate and support these local businesses that care about the community.
St. Cloud residents, clean out your clutter, and offer up “Another man’s treasure.” The City-Wide Garage Sale will be next weekend, Nov. 19-21. All residents and property owners within the City limits automatically qualify for the City-wide, no-fee permit and do not need a hard copy permit. For more information call, 407-957-8427.
