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Riverview/Apollo Beach

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November 2016 Volume 15, Issue 11 Ph: 657-2418

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County, ABWIG Celebrate Opening Of Newly Restored Beach At Apollo Beach Nature Preserve By Tamas Mondovics

Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman, center, is joined by Assistant County Administrator Dexter Barge, Apollo Beach Waterway Improvement Group (ABWIG) President Len Berkstresser and area residents during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly restored 2-acre beach at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve. The project involved 11,000 cubic yards of sand for the beach that was retrieved during the dredging of three nearby channels.

Hillsborough County and members of ABWIG, who have raised and contributed $226,000 toward its success. “When it began, this project was supposed to be just a dredging of the three channels,” said ABWIG presidents Len Berkstresser, who explained that further discussion of the project revealed the opportunity to restore the beach at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve, 6760 Surfside Blvd. “We had a chance to bring the beach back to Apollo Beach,” he said. “So we decided that instead of giving the dredged sand away, we would use the sand to rebuild the beach. This meant that we had to get new permits, and to go back to the drawing board.” Today, the wide, white-sand beach is promising to be a popular amenity for nearby residents and visitors. The project includes a 50-space parking lot and the creation of several

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Members of the Apollo Beach Waterway Improvement Group (ABWIG), Hillsborough County officials and members of the community gathered last month to celebrate the completion of a $1.5 million shoreline restoration project as well as the official opening of a newly restored beach to replace the one that had washed away years ago. The event was led by Assistant County Administrator Dexter Barge and, attended by a sizable crowd of local residents, who despite the unseasonably colder temperatures came out to witness the long awaited opening ceremony. The project itself included a 2acre beach renourishment, the construction of eight erosion-control breakwaters at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve, which involved 11,000 cubic yards of sand for the beach that was retrieved during the dredging of three nearby channels. The project, took nearly six years from start to finish and was the result of a partnership between

Photo By Tamas Mondovics

The kite flies high above Apollo Beach residents Justin Garte and his two-year-old twins Carter and Connor as the trio enjoys some quality time at the newly restored two-acre beach at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve. Garte, his wife Amanda and two other children Lilly, 5, and London, 3, promised to regularly visit the new beach, which was the result of a partnership between Hillsborough County and the Apollo Beach Water Improvement Group, ABWIG.

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C O M M U N I T Y

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Alafia Lighted Boat Parade And Chili Cook-Off Kicks Off Holiday Season It’s that time of year again. The holiday season is upon us and all of the wonderful community events that go with it. Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 3 for the 33rd Annual Alafia Lighted Boat Parade and Chili CookOff put on by The Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview. This year’s lighted boat parade will kick off at Williams Park Boat Ramp, 9425 U.S. Hwy. 41 and the boats will travel down the river to the Diddy, circle around and make their way back to the final destination, River’s Edge Lounge & Marina, located at 6226 Ohio Ave. in Gibsonton, where there will be an awards ceremony. Tammy and Rick Connolly, owners of Advanced Auto Air in Gibsonton, will be participating for their second year. “We've gone from watching it on friends’ docks over the years to now participating and it is so much fun,” said Tammy. “We love the Alafia Boat Parade and all the great people that come together to put it on.” The Rotary Club of FishHawkRiverview is partnering with the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department to hold the Chili Cook-Off and viewing of the Boat Parade at the Riverview Civic Center, from 5-8 p.m. Santa will be on-site for photos with the children and local community vendors will be displaying their businesses. “The Boat Parade is great community event because we are able to celebrate the season with an event unique to our natural resources, our rivers, in particular,” said Dr. Kim Tyson, chairman of the Boat Parade Committee for the Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview. “Everyone can enjoy the decorated boats and taste some great chili in our cook-off, which engages our community to participate on many levels.” There are still spots available for ven-

By Sharon Still

dors as well as sponsorship opportunities. All proceeds from this event will fund charitable projects such as our Clean Water and Latrine Project in Honduras, Friends of the County Parks, Head Start Reading, ECHO, Brandon Outreach Clinic and scholarships for local high school seniors, among others. Boaters interested in participating in the Boat Parade this year, should contact Mike Broussard at MichaelBroussard34@yahoo.com. Boaters are asked to make a $25 donation while members of the community are also encouraged to show their support by making donations. For more information, contact Dr. Tyson at hummingbird133@verizon.net.

In This Issue HOA HOT TOPICS ...............................PG 7 HOLIDAYS AT THEME PARKS. ...........PG 10 YOUTH CENTER................................PG 12 EYE ON BUSINESS ............................PG 25 RECRUITING FOSTER PARENTS ........PG 32 GIFT GUIDE ...............................PGS 34‐39 SPORTS.............................................PG 46