Bloomingdale/ FishHawk
See Our Ad On Page ____ 30
February 2025 Volume 24, Issue 2
See Our Ad On Page 25
Ph: 813-657-2418
CELEBRATING 23 YEARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
4TH ANNUAL PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETINGS COMING FOR SOUTH COUNTY PIPELINE PROJECT TO BENEFIT NEWSOME ATHLETES The entry fee for the tournament is $50 per player, and the event is proudly supported by the Newsome High School Athletic Boosters. Interested in becoming a sponsor? The tournament is still looking for more partners to support this important cause. Players who register by Monday, February 10, will receive a tournament T-shirt. Important Details for Participants: Advanced Tournament: Time: 7:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Format: Games to 11, win by 1, traditional scoring Maximum Teams: 16 Minimum Recommended DUPR Rating: 3.6 Intermediate Tournament: Time: 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Format: Games to 11, win by 1, traditional scoring. Recommended Skill Level: Solid pickleball knowledge How You Can Help: Donations to the Newsome High School Community Space are greatly appreciated. Your contribution will help foster stronger connections among students, athletes, and teachers. Donors will be recognized on event shirts and in publicity materials, leaving a lasting impact on the local school community. For more information or to register, visit www.nhsboosters.com/?product=pickleball-tournament. Hawk Park is located at 5721 Osprey Ridge Dr, Lithia, FL 33547. Mark your calendar for February 22 and join us for an unforgettable day of pickleball and community fun!
To meet the longterm water needs of this area, Tampa Bay Water is building a new South Hillsborough Pipeline that will carry up to 65 million gallons per day of additional drinking water to the fast-growing Southern Hillsborough County service area. The project will run for 26 miles with the pipes installed up to 60 inches in diameter and carry a price tag of $505.7M, with up to $84M funded by Hillsborough County. Construction is expected to start as early as fall 2025, with an anticipated completion date in spring 2029 although the pipeline is expected to be in service late by 2028. The pipeline will start at Tampa Bay Water’s Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant in Brandon, connect to Hillsborough County’s Lithia Water Treatment Plant and end at the county’s new connection point at Balm Riverview and Balm roads. The pipeline will provide redundancy between the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant in Brandon and Hillsborough County’s Lithia Water Treatment Plant. Tampa Bay Water is conducting several community meetings along the South Hillsborough Pipeline route. These community meetings will allow staff to share information and answer questions. In order to hear information that is most relevant to you, please review the map and attend the meeting whose section is closest to your home or business. Residents along the route will receive an invitation postcard indicating which meeting they should attend. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. with an open house where attendees can peruse maps and informational boards and ask questions of project staff in attendance. Then at 7 p.m., Tampa Bay Water staff will make a formal presentation on the project, followed by a question-and-answer period. When asked about the impact this proj-
ect will have on residents, Brandon Moore, public communications manager of Tampa Bay Water, summed the project up perfectly with the simple statement “shortterm pain for longterm gain,” stating, “It’s been 20 years since the Tampa Bay area has had a pipeline project of this scale.” It was apparent that the project team had spent a significant amount of time planning the project around minimizing the impact on those that live in the area. Tampa Bay Water’s engineering consultants analyzed 10 routes (five northern segments and five southern segments), resulting in a shortlist of three top-ranked consolidated routes. The routes were evaluated against 13 selection criteria, which included noncost factors, such as public inconvenience, safety, environmental impacts and permitting, as well as project cost. Sam Flowers, construction manager of Garney Construction, added, “To expedite the project, crews are working Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Crews will be able to lay up to 50 ft. of pipe per shift (2-25 ft. pipe segments), and we will employ multiple crews.” Some night work is planned to minimize impacts on local businesses. Three-block (street) rolling closures will be used, with the process being: Forward Block (staging of equipment and dewatering), Center Block (open cut pipe installation) and Trailing Block (restoration). The dewatering Continued on Page 11...
IN THIS ISSUE: NEW BURGER OF FAME ..................PG 3 MOTORING FLORIDA ........................PG 5 NEW OFFICIALS ..............................PG 08 EYE ON BUSINESS ................PGS 25-26 AMA SUPERCROSS. ........................ PG 33
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
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Get ready for a day of friendly competition and community spirit at FishHawk’s Fourth Annual Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, February 22, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hawk Park in Lithia. This year’s event promises something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just looking for some casual fun. The tournament kicks off with an Advanced Tournament in the morning, featuring a cash prize for the winning team. This session runs from 7:30 a.m. to noon, with games played to 11 points (win by 1). A maximum of 16 teams will compete, and while it’s not a DUPR event, players with a minimum rating of 3.6 are encouraged to join for more competitive play. For those who want to join the action but aren’t ready for the pressure of a cash prize, an Intermediate Tournament will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The format remains the same—games to 11, win by 1—but participants should have a solid understanding of pickleball basics to keep the matches competitive and fun. This year’s tournament isn’t just about sport—it’s also about giving back to the community. Proceeds from the event will help fund a new community space at Newsome High School. The space will serve as a hub for athletes to hold meetings and dinners, clubs to plan activities, and teachers to collaborate and plan curriculum. Funds raised will go toward furniture and paint, with interior decorator Veronica Perkins of Pish Posh donating her services to decorate the space.
By Brian Bokor
Staff Report
Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
Feld Motor Sports Inc. announced that tickets are on sale for all 17 rounds of the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, part of the SuperMotocross World Championship series. Round 5 will be in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, February 8. See page 33 for the full story.
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$40 OFF BRAKES Includes Free Brake Inspection Not to be combined with any other offer. Only valid at Riverview, FL - Boyette location.
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