Free physicals and shots at mobile health clinic

PLANT CITY -- If your child needs shots but your health insurance doesn't cover that, head over to Plant City, where the St. Joseph's Children's Mobile Health Clinic will stop by from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Children can get free immunizations and physicals, as long as they fall into one of these categories:

-- They are enrolled in Medicaid
-- They don't have health insurance
-- They are an American Indian or Alaskan Native or
-- They are covered by insurance that does not provide immunizations

The mobile clinic will be at 639 E Alexander St. in Plant City. It will also be at that location from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 6 and Sept. 3.

Parents or guardians should bring a photo ID, as well as a copy of the child's immunization records.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

Tonight's MLB All-Star game has ties to Brandon area

Tampa Bay Rays fans are sure to be disappointed with the announcement that Evan Longoria won't play in tonight's All-Star Game due to a finger infection. Longoria's replacement on the American League roster, though, should strike the interest of Brandon residents.

Brandon High graduate and Angels' third baseman Chone Figgins gets the nod. Figgins, 31, was a third-team All-American his senior year in 1997. He's batting .310 with 28 RBI and 26 stolen bases this season.

The game is at 8 tonight on Fox.

And representing Valrico, 11-year-old Annie Tarte, won the Pitch, Hit and Run skills competition Monday night in St. Louis, the site of this year's All-Star Game. Tarte, who plays for the Florida Fire at Bloomingdale Little League, was featured in last week's South Shore & Brandon Times.

(Times file photo of Chone Figgins, photo of Annie Tarte special to the Times) 

Kevin Smetana, Times Staff Writer

Ruskin dog park temporarily closed

[Update: We've spokenwith park owner Hal Otts, who said he plans to follow code enforcement's orders to improve the park so it can re-open. He said the complaint came from an activist for the handicapped, who said the park wasn't accessible to those in wheelchairs. Otts said he's willing to make the necessary changes, but it's been unclear what those would be, he said. He hopes to find out at the July 17 hearing. If it's expensive, he'll hold a fundraiser.]

RUSKIN -- Ott's Off Leash Dog Park in Ruskin has temporarily closed, and a sign posted at the park states that it will remain so until code enforcement issues are settled.

According to code enforcement officials, someone reported that there weren't any handicapped parking spots. Code enforcement investigated and found that the private park did not have a site plan, which establishes issues like parking before construction. It should have been filed with the Planning and Growth Management department, said John Ferdon, of code enforcement.

The park, a the corner of Southeast 21st Street and Southeast Third Avenue is owned by local veterinarian Hal Ott, who also founded the Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.), a no-kill shelter, in 2000. The park opened in 2004.

The code enforcement hearing is scheduled for July 17.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

Reliving my middle school glory, I played adult kickball

It had been almost a decade since I last played kickball as a student at Burns Middle School in Brandon. It is a kids' game, after all.

But as I wrote in a column in the recent North of Tampa edition of the Times, I spent six weeks this summer playing in the Kickball Society of Tampa Bay, an adult league in Northdale.

I admit, I let my competitive nature take over during the games. And even though my team had a dismal 2-4 record, it was still a fun month and half.

The highlight of the season came in the final week, which was theme night. My team's theme was "White Trash Bash," and we impressed the judges enough to beat out 15 other teams for a $50 bar tab.

The league resumes in September, and organizers are considering expanding to Brandon in the future. Of course, I'll let you know if that happens.

(Times photo by Daniel Wallace: That's me, in my "White Trash Bash" attire, making an out to end an inning)

Kevin Smetana, Times Staff Writer

Wild art at Center Place

"Wild."

That was my reaction after Greg Manley suggested I check out his exhibit at Brandon's Center Place.

Nothing subtle about his pop-inspired multimedia creations. The colors are dramatic, the emotions strong, the effects unexpected.

 

Manley teaches art in the public schools and at the cultural center at 619 Vonderburg Dr. He turned 50 recently and has titled his show, "4 Walls, 4 Decades, 1 Artist, Many Thoughts."

Visit any day through July 31, or at a reception this Thursday night from 5:30 to 7:30.

Marlene Sokol, Times Staff Writer

Sand bags available this weekend

BRANDON -- I love this much-needed rain we've been getting lately, but I'm hoping we don't get a repeat of Wednesday's downpour.

Still, county officials aren't taking any chances. The weekend forecast says we'll have a rainy weekend, so they'll continue to offer sand bags to people who live in flood-prone areas -- that includes Brandon, the South Shores area and Plant City.

Residents can pick up sand bags at the following County Fire Stations:

-- Station 4, 11826 U.S. 92 in Seffner
-- Station 18  1706 S Kingsway Road in Seffner
-- Station 26, 5302 W Thonotosassa Road in Plant City
-- Station  27, 4705 E Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon
-- Station 12, 8612 Gibsonton Drive in Gibsonton
-- Station 17, 101 First Ave NE in Ruskin
-- Station 29, 626 Gulf & Sea Blvd. in Apollo Beach
-- Station 16, 9205 Kevin St. S in Riverview
 
They'll be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this weekend. The sand bags are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents should bring their own shovel and must fill the sand bags themselves. There is a limit of 25 bags for each household.
 
For more information, call public works customer service at (813) 635-5400. 
 
Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

(Photo: Times Staff files)

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There's plenty to do in Brandon on Fourth of July

BRANDON -- The Fourth of July weekend has arrived, and you don't even have to leave Brandon to celebrate. As long as Mother Nature cooperates, the annual parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lumsden Road and Parsons Avenue.

A Brandon tradition for half a century, the parade draws thousands of locals every year. The organization behind the parade, the Community Roundtable, is in a transition. Check out a story in today's South Shore & Brandon Times about the group's effort to attract new members.

After the parade you can hit up the Westfield Brandon mall for Brandon Blast, a two-day festival that starts at 10 a.m. Saturday. There will be plenty of kids' activities and a rib competition. It's also the site of the area's only professional firework show, which takes place at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Enjoy, be safe and have a happy Independence Day!

Kevin Smetana, Times Staff Writer

(Photo: 2008 Brandon parade, Times files)

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Polk Commissioner Randy Wilkinson joins District 12 congressional race

BRANDON -- Polk County Commissioner Randy Wilkinson has announced plans to challenge former state Rep. Dennis Ross for the Republican nomination in the District 12 congressional race.

Though he has yet to formerly file, Wilkinson announced his plans to a small group in Brandon, saying that fixing the economy would be his No. 1 priority.

The Democrats running for U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam's seat are Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards and Navy veteran Doug Tudor, who ran against Putnam last year.

District 12 includes Brandon, south Hillsborough County, Polk County and part of Osceola County.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

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Flooding closes several area roads

BRANDON - Wednesday's record rainfall in the Tampa Bay area left much of the region flooded, forcing the county to close several roads in the 60 & South area.

Allamanda Avenue is closed between 79th and 87th streets in the Progress Village area. The floods forced more than a dozen families to evacuate in Progross Village.

Owens Road is closed between State Road 674 and Sweat Loop in the Wimauma area, and Gornto Lake Road is closed between Causeway and Town Center boulevards in Brandon.

All three roads are closed until further notice. 

Kevin Smetana, Times staff writer 

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Flood advisory for Brandon, Plant City

BRANDON -- Leave your car in the garage today, if you can. A flood advisory -- meaning flooding is imminent or happening now -- has been issued for Plant City and Brandon.

Earlier this morning, a tornado warning was issued for the Brandon area, but it was lifted at 8:15 a.m. A tornado was spotted on National Weather Service radar, but it is unclear if it touched down.

Lumsden Road seems to be particularly bad. The drainage ditches on the south side of Lumsden makes turning right tricky. A car seems to be stuck in the deep water on Lumsden near the O'Brian's pub.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer