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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County commissioner hosting Saturday meeting

Got something to tell your county commissioner? Recently elected Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner is holding a meeting for residents from 10 to 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Bloomingdale library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., in Valrico. Beckner is one of three county commissioners who holds at-large seats. Four others represent districts throughout the county.

Check out this week's Brandon & South Shore Times stories

Check out these stories from this Friday's edition of the Brandon & South Shore Times:

-- A Riverview cemetery, which is the resting place of many of the area's earliest prominent citizens, needs some TLC.

-- Eastern Hillsborough County is getting its first International Baccalaureate program at the new Strawberry Crest High School.

-- There's lots to do if you live in the Sun City Center area. 

-- Doug Bennett, Times staff writer

Boats to light up MiraBay in holiday parade

APOLLO BEACH -- The MiraBay community is holding its annual holiday parade of lighted boats tonight to benefit Southeastern Guide Dogs.

The boats will make their way around the MiraBay Lagoon beginning at sunset. Spectators can watch the parade from the community's clubhouse and welcome center. An award will be given to the best decorated boat.

After the parade, there will be a reception and silent auction at the welcome center. MiraBay is located at 205 Manns Harbor Drive in Apollo Beach.

-- Kevin Smetana, Times staff writer

Apollo Beach celebrates anniversary

APOLLO BEACH - Someone's turning the big 5-0. And what better way to celebrate the Apollo Beach community anniversary than with food, fun and music for everyone?

If that sounds like a good time to you, then check out the slew of events lined up by the Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce this weekend. The happenings include:

- Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a community fun day at TECO South Shore Community Event Park at Dickman and Noonan Branch roads. Also expect a plant sale, arts and crafts, a farmer's market, and business and community organization displays. Live music will be provided by the Warehouse Rockers, Apollo Beach Elementary Dolphin Magic and others.

- Sunday, Dec. 7, have fun all day!

From 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., have brunch at Apollo's Bistro, located within the Apollo Beach Racquetball and Fitness Club at 6520 Richies Way. And from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., stop by the Tampa Sailing Squadron Open House, which is next to the Lands End Marina on Apollo Beach Boulevard.

Festivities continue with a kite fest from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Apollo Beach Nature Habitat, located on the north end of Surfside Boulevard. And from 1 to 6 p.m., there will be a Toys for Tots Collection Party at the Ruskin VFW at 5120 N US 41. Don't forget to bring one new unwrapped toy if you want to attend.

Go to the chamber website at www.apollobeachchamber.com.

- Chandra Broadwater, Times staff writer

Deck your boat with boughs of holly ... fa la la la la

APOLLO BEACH -- Itching to get out those holiday decorations? Well, don't forget to decorate your boat!

Take part in the 25th annual Lighted Boat Parade on Dec. 13, hosted by the Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Tampa Bay Sailing Squadron.

The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. Private and commercial boaters are invited to cruise from the North Basin across the front of Surfside Boulevard to the South Channel. Boaters will then meander through various Apollo Beach canals. The event ends at 9:30 p.m. at the Symphony Isles Canal.

The tradition also includes awards for best in show, as well as the three best vessels among sailboats and power boats larger than 30 feet and smaller than 30 feet.

Mandatory registration begins at 8 a.m. Dec. 13 at the Sailing Squadron on Apollo Beach Boulevard. A captain's safety meeting is afterward, and coffee and doughnuts will be served.

Entry is free to all boaters except commercial vessels. Donations are appreciated, with all proceeds going to the Apollo Beach Waterway Improvement Group to dredge the community's canals.

For more information, contact the chamber at 645-1366 or Bruce Gocek of the Tampa Bay Sailing Squadron at 245-6744.

Chandra Broadwater, Times Staff Writer

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How do you know it's winter in these parts? The manatees!

APOLLO BEACH -- A sure sign winter is coming: The Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center is open.

The center, along the warm-water discharge canal at Tampa Electric's Big Bend Power Station, is open until April 15. It features a wooden boardwalk over the water, a garden and habitat displays, a snack bar, and decks from which to view the manatees.

The animals are attracted to the plant's warm water when temperatures in the bay fall below 68 degrees. On a cold day, dozens of manatees gather right off the observation decks, their snouts sticking up out of the water.

Observers have reported seeing as many as 300 of the gentle giants in the canal at once, according to Tampa Electric. That's about 10 percent of the state's total manatee population.

The center also attracts hordes of human visitors, and it can be crowded on weekends. Tampa Electric says more than 2.7-million people have visited since the center opened in 1986.

Kids can have a "scavenger hunt" for plants along the boardwalk. Pick up the guides at the entrance to the long dock and see how many of the plants you can find. Be sure and watch for barracudas, stingrays and other assorted sea life.

The Manatee Viewing Center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission and parking are free. Check out the center's Web site for directions and other information.

(Times photo by Carrie Pratt)

Jan Wesner, Times Staff Writer

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The animals need your help

APOLLO BEACH - Like lions, tigers and bears? Then Elmira's Wildlife Sanctuary could use your help.

The group plans to hold a benefit luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The Copper Penny Restaurant will sponsor the lunch, and tickets are $20 at the door.

To RSVP, and for more information, call (941) 776-8975, or e-mail info@elmiraswildlife.org. The Copper Penny is at 16701 U.S. 301 S near Wimauma.

Other events throughout October and November are on the books as well. They include:

- Oct. 25 and 26, member open house. Volunteers are needed to park cars and staff the information table among other duties.

- Oct. 31 and Nov. 1-2, Seafood Festival. Help is needed setting up for the event on Oct. 31. Volunteers are also needed to help at the festival Nov. 1 and 2.

The Wimauma sanctuary has ongoing needs for volunteers to help with the animals, do yard work, maintenance, shopping, small office tasks and to cover the sanctuary. If you can help, call 385-4595.

You can find Elmira's online by clicking here.

Chandra Broadwater, Times staff writer

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Looking for homemade Halloween costumes

Are you a crafty parent or grandparent who has made some stinkin' cute costumes for your kids for Halloween in the past? (Or, you overachiever, you...you're already done with this year's costume?)

We want to run pictures of adorable kids in their homemade costumes in an upcoming edition of the Brandon & South Shore Times with fun facts.

Please e-mail a picture of your cute kids in their handmade costumes to: dbennett@sptimes.com with this information:
Costume name
Name of costume maker
Kid(s) name(s) and age(s)
How long it took to create
What materials you used
Cost of the materials
Neighborhood you live in

Our deadline is THIS Friday, Oct. 17. If your kid's costume is from Tarjay, that's okay! Just forward this to your crafty friends!

-- Dong-Phuong Nguyen, Times staff writer

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Meeting on canal dredging is Oct. 8

RUSKIN -- If you missed the first meeting on the proposed special taxing districts for canalfront homeowners, you can catch the same presentation on Oct. 8 in Ruskin.

At 6:30 p.m. in the Lennard High School auditorium, 2002 Shell Point Road, project manager Martin Montalvo will discuss the proposal that could charge canalfront property owners additional property taxes if they choose to have their silt-filled canals dredged.

Read about the ordinance and some questions that were brought up here.

An additional meeting will be scheduled soon in the northwestern part of the county. A formal hearing by the County Commissioners will be held at an unspecified date.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

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