Sharon Bokor the Broker Florida Real Estate Experts

09/16/2026

🤖 𝐈 𝐀𝐌 𝐀𝐈.

𝐁𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝. 𝐁𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝. 😂

The property at 1200 E. Bloomingdale Ave., on the north side of Bloomingdale just east of Bell Shoals Road, is being cleared for a three-bay Take 5 Oil Change.

And before anybody goes there: 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. 𝐈 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐭.

According to the approved plans, Take 5 will construct a one-story, 1,645-square-foot building on 0.71 acres. The project includes three drive-through service bays, six parking spaces and direct access from Bloomingdale Avenue. Hillsborough County approved the plans Aug. 28. I have not found a projected opening date.

Bokors Corner first reported this project nearly a year ago. When I saw the property being cleared, I went to Google and searched “Bokors Corner + Bloomingdale oil change” to find my original story.

That’s also the fastest way to find something previously reported on this page: Search Google using 𝐁𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 + 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. It’s exactly how I search my own reporting when someone asks about an older project.

This time, Google’s AI Overview answered the question and identified Bokors Corner as one of its sources.

So, for everyone who thinks artificial intelligence is the smartest thing in the world, I have troubling news: 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐄. 😂 And I can assure you, I am not the smartest person in the world.

AI still depends on information produced by actual people. Feed the internet garbage, and that garbage can eventually appear in an AI-generated answer. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

But this property means much more to me than another development story.

Twelve years ago, I was walking my dog Bear at this exact corner when I noticed a yellow rezoning sign: 14-0323. I went home, looked it up and started reporting what was proposed there.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫.

Bear came before Marley, and Marley came before Scooter. Three generations of dogs later, I’m still reporting what’s happening around Southeast Hillsborough.

Bear and I walked through that little wooded area all the time. It was one of our regular places, so watching the land being cleared brought back more emotion than I expected. Buildings change. Roads change. Dogs come into our lives and eventually leave us. But some places remain permanently connected to where our stories began.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞.

Yes, a Take 5 Oil Change is being built there. But that corner is also where one yellow rezoning sign, one walk with Bear and one question — “What are they building here?” — started everything that became Bokors Corner.

Now Google’s artificial intelligence is using Bokors Corner to answer that same question for someone else.

🤖 𝐈 𝐀𝐌 𝐀𝐈.

𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥. 😂

𝐁𝐎𝐊𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐒
Brandon Septic Tank Service Inc. • Barnett Gill • BubbaQue's-BBQ

09/09/2026

🕰️ 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 — 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐎 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟐

Earlier this morning, I introduced you to 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲, whose gravesite has remained just feet from Stearns Road for more than a century.

Now we're going just 𝟏.𝟑 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 to another piece of old Valrico — and this one is being brought back to life.

The 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧-𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 at 4206 Durant Road, across from Mulrennan Middle School, dates to around 1890 and has quite a history of its own. Hillsborough County currently recognizes it as a historic resource.

According to historical records, the house was built by 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐤 for 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐡 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧, an early Brandon-area businessman.

Galvin and his wife, Mary Ellen, moved to Hillsborough County from Massachusetts in 1888. He opened 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧'𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 near Brandon's railroad depot, operated one of the area's early sawmills and later served as chairman of the Hillsborough County Commission and clerk of the circuit court. He died of typhoid fever in 1905 at just 45 years old.

So where does the 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 name come from?

In 1912, 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 of Kingston, New York, purchased the house and approximately 40 acres for his brother 𝐄𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 and Eugene's wife, 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥, who was described in historical records as a talented painter.

The house itself is pretty remarkable. A historic county inventory described it as one of only two known surviving Hillsborough County examples of its type, featuring an old 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧-𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐫 “𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐭” 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 that helped move air through the home while separating the heat of the kitchen from the main living area.

And here's the best part:

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭.

I got the opportunity to walk through the house — upstairs and downstairs — while the restoration is underway. Much of it is stripped to the original framing, exposing old wood floors, walls, fireplaces and the staircase.

And yes, 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟒𝟎-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝-𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐲.

But it's also pretty damn cool.

𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬. I've included a look inside, the existing house and the plans showing where this restoration is headed.

From John Carney's gravesite to the Galvin-Carl House — 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏.𝟑 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭.

One has been quietly resting beside the road for generations.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫.

𝐁𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 — 𝐁𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐫

09/09/2026

🐾 𝟔𝟎 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐒. 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐈’𝐌 𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆.

We’re now at 4,427 verified signatures calling for a new, humane Pet Resource Center for Hillsborough County.

If you haven’t signed yet, please take 𝟔𝟎 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 and 𝐚𝐝𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞!

Sign here:
tinyurl.com/PRCHillsborough

If you’ve already signed, please share this post. Every signature strengthens the message that Hillsborough County’s animals deserve better.

𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝟓,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘!!! 🐾

09/09/2026

🕰️ 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 — 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐎 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟏

If you use Stearns Rd to cut through Valrico, you've probably driven right past him.

Long before Stearns Rd became the heavily traveled cut-through it is today — and before development transformed this once-rural part of Valrico — 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.

𝐈𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.

Just feet from the roadway at 𝟑𝟒𝟎𝟑 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐑𝐝 sits Carney's gravesite, where he has rested since 𝟏𝟖𝟓𝟔.

Carney was a farmer and private in 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚 during the Third Seminole War.

He received 𝟏𝟔𝟎 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐬 under the Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 and farmed the property. The county says he also helped provide food for fellow soldiers.

His life came to a violent end on 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟕, 𝟏𝟖𝟓𝟔.

Historical accounts say Carney was working his fields when he was attacked and killed by Seminoles. He was 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 and later buried on his property..

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝.

Over the next 170 years, rural countryside gave way to subdivisions and development, while Stearns Rd became a busy cut-through across Valrico.

What was once a quiet country road now carries a steady stream of traffic past a grave that's been there since 1856.

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲'𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝.

Part of his original headstone was stolen in 2004. A new military headstone was placed at the site in 2005, while 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬.

Today, Hillsborough County maintains the 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞.

So next time you pass that little gravesite on Stearns Rd, you'll know who's there.

𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏𝟕𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬.

𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲: 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐 — 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧-𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐝.

09/03/2026

Thousands sign petition demanding county keep promise for new Pet Resource Center

Animal advocates say they're not against the stadium — but they worry funding for the Pet Resource Center could be pushed aside.

"Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers got a new stadium in 1998, the Rays got a new stadium in basically 2028, and this [PRC] was built in 1988," said Brian Bokor, who signed the petition and shared it with his 35,000 Facebook followers. "Two sports stadiums, large arenas got built, and we're still sitting in a 40-year-old facility."

Bokor told Tampa Bay 28 News that the petition isn't about choosing between baseball and animals.

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners has a budget meeting scheduled for next Thursday, according to Bokor. Petition organizers say they plan to attend and encourage others to show up as well.

"When people show up, they do listen," Bokor told Tampa Bay 28 News. "The meeting on the 24th is the meeting that determines what stays in the CIT budget for fiscal year '28. So that's kind of the one where the rubber meets the road, and we want to make sure that that money stays."

Bokors Corner Southeast Hillsborough News Sharon Bokor the Broker Florida Real Estate Experts

A petition calling on Hillsborough County to honor its commitment to build a new Pet Resource Center has garnered more than 2,000 signatures — and advocates say they're just getting started. Read the full story at the link in the comments below.

09/01/2026

🦋 Sometimes the smallest things become the biggest moments.

I was clearing yard debris a couple days back and noticed a Monarch caterpillar on the ground...I moved it to a Milkweed plant having no idea how close it was to the chrysalis stage...then the next day...this!

With colder temps coming, I moved the chrysalis to a protected spot on our patio...In a few days, this tiny green case should open...

Nature is pretty incredible when you slow down long enough to notice it. Enjoy your weekend!

09/01/2026

Apparently, I didn’t take enough abuse last week, so naturally, I decided to start this week by reporting on subdivisions again.

🏘️ 𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝟏𝟕𝟐-𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐊𝐘𝐇𝐀𝐖𝐊 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘

Mattamy Homes is moving forward with Skyhawk, a new 172-home community along Balm Boyette Road south of Rhodine Road in Riverview.

Large portions of the 102-acre property have already been cleared, and Hillsborough County released the project’s civil plans for construction on Aug. 14.

Plans show 94 lots measuring approximately 50 by 120 feet and 78 lots measuring approximately 60 by 120 feet.

Community amenities are planned to include a swimming pool, playground, 2,912-square-foot amenity building, sport court and dog park.

Mattamy is also preparing three showcase homes, including an on-site sales center. The approved plans include improvements along Balm Boyette Road.

The plans do not identify home prices or an opening date.

Bokors Corner will continue following the project as construction moves forward.

© Bokors Corner Original Reporting
By Brian Bokor
Bokors Corner Realty | Florida Real Estate Experts
813-708-2266

𝐁𝐎𝐊𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐒

Brandon Septic Tank Service Inc.
BubbaQue's-BBQ
Barnett Gill

08/29/2026

I love calm people.

08/27/2026

I'm tired of watching people struggle to make ends meet!

Send a message to learn more

08/27/2026

If Bokors Corner Realty offered an MLS listing of your residential property for $50 would you be interested?

Send a message to learn more