Walk to benefit rape victim

VALRICO -- The Bloomingdale High PTSA is hosting a 5k walk/run on Saturday, with 50 percent of donations raised to benefit the Bloomingdale library rape victim. The walk starts at 9 a.m. at the school, 1700 E Bloomingdale Ave.

-- Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer

Learn about fatal palm tree disease

SEFFNER -- Scientists recently discovered that a fatal disease is now attacking Florida's state tree, the sabal palm. And while there's no way to completely eradicate Texas Phoenix palm decline, researchers have found ways to help prevent its spread and save pricey palms.

Palm tree expert Monica Elliott, of Ft. Lauderdale, will be visiting Hillsborough County to discuss the disease. She'll be at the extension office at 5339 County Road 579 in Seffner on Nov. 13. The first session, from 9 to 11 a.m. is for professionals and the second, from 1 to 3 p.m., is for the general public. You can register here.

Texas Phoenix palm decline is killing several types of palm trees in the Bay area, as well as several surrounding counties. Read more about it here.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

District 12 candidates run TV ads

In a last push to garner votes, the candidates for U.S. House District 12 are running television ads.

Incumbent Republican Adam Putnam is running one about his energy policy and one about his health care plans. Both were filmed in his hometown, Bartow, and can be found here.

Democratic candidate Doug Tudor will be running an ad about accountability. It was filmed in Lakeland. He's got some other clips that he won't be running on television because of the cost, he said, and they can be found here.

District 12 includes parts of eastern Hillsborough County.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

TECO inspects power lines

Wonder what that chopper was doing flying low over Providence Road this morning?

Not to worry. It was just Tampa Electric Co. checking the condition of power lines.

The utility company's helicopter is flying rural and urban areas of eastern and southern Hillsborough County as well as Polk County to inspect some 3,800 utility poles and towers. Inspections will also take place in parts of Tampa and Temple Terrace. The process is expected to be completed in December.

The helicopter will fly below 100 feet most of the time, and may hover in one spot for as long as 10 minutes, according to a TECO press release. 

--- Jan Wesner, Times Staff Writer

How to help Crosstown crash victim Summer Moll

BRANDON -- Since Wednesday's story about the agonizing recovery of accident victim Summer Moll, 4, readers have asked how they can help. Summer was critically injured Sept. 10 when a wrong-way driver smashed into a car driven by her mother on the Crosstown Expressway. Jennifer O'Boyle died at the scene.

Although she has a dozen pins holding her little legs together, Summer is on the mend. She is currently being cared for by her grandparents, Tammy and Art Rosian, who have set up a trust for her continuing care. Make out any checks to Tammy Rosian (Summer's grandmother) as trustee of the Summer Moll Trust. Send to her attorney, Mac Greco III, 501 N Morgan St., Tampa FL 33602

-- Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer

To get you through the week...

RUSKIN -- Forecasters are predicting a sunny weekend with temperatures in the 70s, so it's time to start making plans for outdoorsy fun.

One of South Shore's biggest events, the annual Ruskin Seafood Festival, is on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be vendors selling all kinds of seafood -- from lobster to grouper to oysters -- and live music, a children's activity area, boat show and more.

Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Find more information online.

And if that's not enough seafood for you, head over to the annual Denizens of the Deep Southern Family Fish Fry from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Camp Florida, 1915 Camp Florida Road, just off Lakewood Road in Brandon.

The event is sponsored by Brandon ‘86 Rotary to raise money for several local charities. The cost is $25 for adults, $10 for those ages 13 to 18 and free for kids 12 and younger. Besides the chow, activities include live music, face painting and bounce castles.

Call Kerri McDougald at (813) 516-7660 or visit the Rotary's Web site for more information.

-- Jessica Vander Velde and Jan Wesner, Times staff writers

Go on Halloween tour at Dinosaur World, if you dare

PLANT CITY -- Hide the children!

On second thought, bring the children to Dinosaur World, where some really sinister people have arranged to scare the daylights out of your family. You will celebrate Halloween, and help the Thontosassa Volunteer Fire Department.

Dinosaur World, off Interstate 4 at exit 17, has allowed organizer Jim Beam to set up his little shop of horrors, which once operated around Halloween at Pizza Shack on State Road 60 in Brandon. Beam, a Brandon electrician, has an ongoing interest in the macabre. An ever-present mascot, a taxidermized dog, keeps him company in his hearse.

He promises not to spare the gore, which you can check out at his Web site, fearlovers.com. Proceeds will benefit the Cork Knights of the Thonotosassa Volunteer Fire Department, which is strapped for cash of late. Gate prices are $12.75 for adults and $9.75 for children. The Halloween exhibit runs Thursday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Thursday, and opens at 7:30 p.m. on Halloween. There's a non-scary Halloween tour available on Friday only for young children from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 545-0561. 

-- Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer

Seffnerfest marks early Veterans Day celebration

UPDATE: The car to be raffled off is a silver 2001 Dodge Neon, five-speed. You can look it over at C&J Auto Sales, 11715 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

SEFFNER -- Businesses and civic organizations will show their wares on Nov. 8 when the first Veterans Day Seffnerfest gets under way. The event, organized by the Greater Seffner Chamber of Commerce, offers a plum to one lucky raffle winner: wheels. The Chamber will give away a used car or truck, although the make and year have yet to be confirmed.

Organizers promise a silent auction, a bounce house for kids and catering from Hungry Harry's Famous Barbecue (requested donation to eat: two cans of food).

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Mango, 11619 E Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. You can buy $10 raffle tickets at the event or at Colonial Bank,1707 S Parsons Ave.; Service 1st Credit Union, 11752 E Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; or Regions Bank, 11314 Causeway Blvd. For more information or to set up a booth or get on board as a major sponsor, call 843-0894. Deadline for early registration and a $25 discount is noon Wednesday. Deadline for all registrations is noon on Oct. 31.

-- Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer

Fundraiser to benefit 4-year-old Crosstown crash victim

VALRICO -- In the seven weeks since another driver slammed into her mother's car, Summer Moll, 4, has tentatively but steadily recovered. Her mother, Jennifer O'Boyle, died in the Sept. 10 crash on the Crosstown Expressway, and Summer was in critical condition with numerous broken bones.

Summer is now back home and living with her grandmother, Tammy Rosian. But the cost of her care continues to mount. To help defray those expenses, Success 101 is hosting a fundraiser Wednesday at Beef 'O’Brady’s, 2561 E State Road 60 (at Miller Road) in Valrico, from 5 to 9 p.m. The evening includes raffles (an iPod, gift cards and more), and the restaurant is giving 20 percent of the tab to the Summer Moll Trust.

"We’re glad to help, and hopefully we can help out as much as possible," Beef 'O'Brady's manager Jordan Gifford said.

Cheryl Riemann, the other driver in the crash, has pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter and other charges.

Andrew Meacham, Times staff writer

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Firefighters battle blaze near Plant City

PLANT CITY -- Firefighters are battling a blaze at a house on Burton Road in Plant City.

When they got to the scene at 3202 Bruton Road just after 1 p.m., the fire was already consuming the one-story, wooden home and ammunition was going off, forcing firefighters to stay back.

It does not appear that the fire will spread to other buildings, a Hillsborough County Fire Rescue dispatcher said.

The residents are out of the house, according to Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley. The cause has not yet been determined.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

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