Lithia Springs rebounds from drought, provides a summer cool-down

  

We showed you a disturbing photo of Lithia Springs all dried up several months ago (at left) in the South Shore & Brandon Times. And now some good news: the summer attraction off the Alafia River in Lithia is full of water and swimmers.

Apparently the recent rain has helped.

I enjoyed a recent afternoon off from work at the spring with my nephew and sister. I consider it a hidden jewel in eastern Hillsborough County. It was probably my first time at the county park in the past decade or so, but after experiencing the cool water on a HOT day, somehow I think I'll find my way back before summer ends.

For those who have never been, Lithia Springs is a large swimming hole with clear water and little-to-no danger from wildlife. There are several lifeguards on duty keeping watch on the hundreds of kids and adults who bask in the water.

It costs $1 to get in, which even in this recession, is manageable for most people.

(Photos by Times staffers Skip O'Rourke and Kevin Smetana)

Kevin Smetana, Times Staff Writer

Commissioner Beckner to visit Ruskin on Friday

RUSKIN -- As I report at public meetings in the South Shore area, I've noticed a trend. Many residents in the south part of the county are concerned that, although they're paying taxes like any other unincorporated Hillsborough County resident, they're not receiving the same services as those near the urban core.

At a SouthShore Roundtable meeting, several attendees said they were upset that the county was closing its water department customer service office at the SouthShore Regional Service Center in July.

Others said that although they like the idea of mass transit, they're skeptical that Ruskin, Sun City Center and Apollo Beach will be adequately serviced.

If you have concerns of your own, you'll have the ear of a county commissioner in Ruskin this Friday.

Commissioner Kevin Beckner will meet with residents at the Ruskin Branch Library from noon to 2 p.m. He says he welcomes the public to voice their concerns and share their ideas for their community.

No appointment is needed. Residents will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

The library is at 1 Dickman Drive S.E. in Ruskin (off of U.S. Highway 41).

Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

Got long hair? Need a new do? You can help!

For those of you in the mood to help, or get that shorter cut you've always wanted to try, then head to the Brandon Town Center this weekend.

The New Identities Hair Studios of Tampa Palms will be around Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 1 and 2) snipping off hair 10-inches or longer to donate to Locks-Of-Love. The group is known for turning your hair into snazzy pieces that those who have lost their own can wear and feel more confident about themselves.

All hair services during the two-day event are free to the public. New Identities will make sure Locks-Of-Love receives the hair donations.

So make sure to check them out between Victoria's Secret and Forever 21 in the mall. And don't forget to shoot them an e-mail at NiHairStudio@yahoo.com, or call Marc at 979-0760. 

- Chandra Broadwater, Times staff writer

Check blood pressure, cholesterol while the kids play at Riverview health fair

RIVERVIEW -- A local health fair is offering free screenings and testings for cholesterol levels, blood sugar, blood pressure, pregnancy and memory while children can enjoy a bouncy house, face painting and other games.

The health fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at First Baptist Church of Riverview and the Centro Cristiano Familiar, 8626 U.S. 301 in Riverview. Participants can also donate blood, renew their driver's licenses, attend a hurricane preparedness workshop and try to score a limited number of haircuts provided by the Salon at Remington.

For more information, call (813) 677-6377.

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Bay area triathlete battled countless surgeries to compete

One of the perks of this job is getting to meet interesting people and write stories about them. Often the topics are new to me, but it's always fun to learn and write about something that I'm unfamiliar with at first.

However, it's even better when the rare chance to cover something that I'm passionate about comes along, as it did last week. 

Buzz Hoge, an avid marathon runner and triathlete from St. Pete Beach, died recently after battling and training through numerous medical problems and operations. The 75-year-old overcame open-heart surgery and a kidney transplant before running in the 1996 Boston Marathon with his wife, Rose. 

Those closest to him say running in Boston was Hoge's proudest moment in his endurance sports career. His family says Hoge often inspired others to run, bike and swim.

Here's a link to the full story, which ran in Saturday's Times.

(Photo courtesy of Buzz Hoge's family)

Kevin Smetana, Times Staff Writer

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Music and a mural

 

PLANT CITY -- Artist Blake Emory picked up his saxophone Thursday as he stood in front of the mural that he and two other Plant City artists painted on the side of Hannah's II Antiques in the city's historic downtown.

The mural is based on Norman Rockwell's 1943 April Fool's Day cover for the Saturday Evening Post. The trio of artists, which calls itself the Dr. Brothers, finished the painting in seven days.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

(Photo by Skip O'Rourke, Times staff photographer)

Plant fair in Valrico

VALRICO --When I visited Willow LaMonte's organic backyard garden last fall for this story, I was amazed with the number of plants and herbs she managed to fit behind her Valrico home. She had apple trees, culinary herbs, mushrooms and much more.

This Sunday you can get a peek into her suburban oasis at a plant fair at her home from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be vendors selling herbs, plants, vinegars, honey, sauces, organic seeds, organic cotton clothing, and books on gardening and sustainability. Local band Key of Life will perform.

The fair is free and there will be activities for children, including leaf stenciling and flower pressing. A "natural food court" will feature vegetarian food, such as wood-fired organic pizza, veggie and oat burgers, watermelon gazpacho, nut pates and dips, organic snow cones and fruit smoothies, as well as fair trade organic coffee and teas.

LaMonte encourages visitors to bring dry food and canned goods for local food banks. Her home is at the end of Ray Road, off South Miller Road in Valrico.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

(Photo: Willow LaMonte works in her garden, by Martha Rial, 2008)

Tent city coming near you?

Have you been keeping track of the proposed tent village out our way (well kind of, it's near the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino) on Hillsborough Avenue? Then mark your calendars: County commissioners are slated to discuss the project again Aug. 11.

On Tuesday, commissioners voted to direct county staff to review county laws and define conditions needed to approve the very controversial project. 

Catholic Charities has hopes to mirror its Pinellas Hope project across the bay, and has 12-acres at E Hillsborough Avenue and Harney Road ready to use. The group has asked for zoning that would allow it to use the land as a campground for 250 people for up to 90 days at a time. You can read the most recent article here.

With a mix of tents and sheds, it would provide temporary emergency housing for homeless. And with about 10,000 such residents in the county - the highest in the state - there's a need that no one's denying.

It's coming up with a solution that seems to be the problem. What do you think?

Chandra Broadwater, Times staff writer

Don't leave your furry friends in the car!

Just in case some of you pet owners missed this story that ran earlier this week, please read!

The article is a good reminder of why not to leave your pet in the car, even just for a few minutes. Especially for us Floridians. We don't want any "solar powered Easy-Bake" ovens down here!

Chandra Broadwater, Times staff writer

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