Cockroach Bay restoration begins

RUSKIN -- Construction crews have started working on the 43-acre Cockroach Bay restoration project, led by the nonprofit Ecosphere Restoration Institute.

We first wrote about the project when the company received a $750,000 grant as part of the national stimulus package.

During the one-year project, construction crews and nursery professionals will remove invasive species, regrade the land to create marshes and uplands, and put in native plants.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

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Lennard High to hold football meeting tonight, cheerleading next week

Attention high school athletes in Ruskin: Lennard High will hold a parent/student informational meeting tonight at 7 in the gym for those interested in playing football this fall.

Those interested in trying out for cheerleading should attend a meeting at 9 a.m. Monday in room 509 at the school, 2002 E Shell Point Road, Ruskin.

Paperwork for fall sports is available in the school's main office. For more information, call assistant principal for administration David New at (813) 641-5611, extension 238.

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

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

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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Go on a butterfly safari

RUSKIN -- No need to visit a pricey butterfly garden to see the colorful creatures. This week, at Ruskin's Camp Bayou, you can go on a guided walk to look for butterflies, bees, moths and hummingbirds.

The walk is from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday. It costs $1. It's limited to 20 participants.

The walk is part of a national effort to spread information about the importance of pollinators, such as bees, because many of America's crops require pollination.

Camp Bayou is 3 miles south of State Road 674 at the end of 24th Street SE in Ruskin. It's open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Visit the camp's Web site for more information.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

Photo: A bee lands on some wildflowers. Courtesy of Camp Bayou.

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Controlled burn in Ruskin today

RUSKIN -- The parks department is conducting a controlled burn today atthe Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve.

The one-day burn, at 3709 Gulf City Road in Ruskin, is being done to help restore the ecology of the preserve and to control the prevalence of non-native species.

For more information, residents can call the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation & Conservation Department at (813) 672-7876.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

Be a backyard scientist

RUSKIN -- Become a scientist for a day at Ruskin's Citizen Science Symposium on March 20 and 21.

Go on a hiking "expedition," sketch plants and listen to a University of Florida butterfly expert talk about his research. There's plenty of activities from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both days at Camp Bayou.

The event is free for pre-registered participants, otherwise it's $5. You can register by visiting Camp Bayou's Web site and clicking on the "Citizen Science Symposium link."

Camp Bayou is three miles south of State Road 674 at the end of 24th St. SE in Ruskin.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

No, you don't have to dress like a tomato

RUSKIN -- Step aside, strawberry royalty of Plant City. Ruskin has its own fruit-themed contest.

The 2009 Ruskin Tomato King & Tomato Queen Tournament is now open for registration. Anyone 18 years or older who either "lives, works or plays in Ruskin" can enter. Registration ends March 31.

But before you grab your beauty creams, the Ruskin Community Development Foundation wants to point out that it's not a looks-based pageant. The goal is to raise funds for charities and the community.

Each contestant will raise funds for a charity or not-for profit project. The man and woman who raise the most money will win. Half of all the money raised will go to charities picked by the contestants and the rest with go to the foundation for Ruskin projects.

Entry forms are available online and in the lobby of the Ruskin Branch of Fifth Third Bank, 1020 N U.S. 41. Registration is free.

The winners will be announced May 2 at the Ruskin Tomato & Heritage Festival at E.G. Simmons Park. They'll each get a two-night stay at the Resort and Club at Little Harbor and a box of Ruskin tomatoes.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

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Improve your family relationships

RUSKIN -- You love 'em, you hate 'em, but you can't live without 'em. Yep, we've all got families. Now, how to peacefully co-exist?

The county is offering free seminars for singles and couples with children age five who want to improve their relationships with their spouse, children or other family members.

The first meeting is Saturday in Ruskin at the Ruskin Neighborhood Service Center, 201 14th Ave. SE. 

And don't worry about bringing the kiddies -- child care is free, and there's free breakfast and lunch as well as door prizes. People interested in attending must meet income guidelines.

For more information or to register, call Serena Cisneros at (813) 272-5140, ext. 3167.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer