Riverview/Apollo Beach
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February 2019 Volume 17, Issue 2 Ph: 657-2418
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Y E A R S
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P U B L I S H I N G
Spurlino Y Opening Meets Quick Success
By Michelle Caceres
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
The Florida Aquarium Opens $4 Million Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center In Apollo Beach
By Preston Rudie
was made possible through a unique public-private partnership consisting of groups who all shared the same common goal of working to achieve and maintain healthy sea turtle populations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) contributed $3 million, The Spurlino Foundation and others donated $690,000. The Florida Aquarium contributed more than $400,000 and TECO Energy helped make through a generous land use agreement. A ribbon cutting was recently held to welcome the Florida Aquarium’s $4.1 million Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center to Apollo Beach.
The Florida Aquarium officially opened its $4.1 million Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in January in Apollo Beach. The two-story, 19,000 sq. ft. center features five different rehabilitation pools including one of The Florida Aquarium’s $4.1 million Sea Turtle the state’s deepest turtle-exclusive Rehab Center recently opened in Apollo Beach. dive pool with observation window. “We are grateful to continue to “We rescue sea turtles from around expand our partnership with such a world Florida and beyond, but during winter class facility like The Florida Aquarium,” months, there is a growing need for more said FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton. animal care facilities to rehabilitate cold Since inception, the Florida Aquarium stunned sea turtles,” said The Florida has helped rescue and rehab more than Aquarium President and CEO Roger 150 threatened or endangered turtles. Germann. “This center is opening at the right time, and The Florida Aquarium will be able to dramatically increase the number of sea turtles it cares for during the In This year.” Issue The pools at the new care center range in size from 1,500 to 25,000-gallons. The sea turtle dive pool, which NEWLAND HELPS FIGHT HUNGER. ....PG 3 reaches a depth of 11 ft., will be used to AVOID URBAN COYOTES ....................PG 6 assess buoyancy issues, swim conditioning and food trials before turtles are MANATEE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS .....PG 9 cleared by FWC to be returned back into GRCC CITIZEN OF THE YEAR.............PG 10 the wild. The center also includes a state-ofBUSCH GARDENS CELEBRATES 60....PG 14 the-art sea turtle surgery suite. FLORIDA STATE FAIR ........................PG 22 “We believe we have a responsibility to be good stewards of our environment CHALKLINES .....................................PG 28 and the animals that depend on it, and ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT................PG 37 this investment will only help us further our mission of protecting and restoring READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE our fragile blue planet,” Germann added. The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center www.ospreyobserver.com
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tion of the project, including but not limited to the Spurlino family, Hillsborough County commissioners, YMCA governance board members, architects and construction companies and business leaders. Located at 9650 Old Big Bend Rd. in Riverview, the 33 acre Spurlino Family YMCA complex is more than a gym. In addition to group exercise programs and equipment, it features a pavilion perfect for Members of the community and civic picnics with leaders attended the ribbon-cutting friends and famiceremony at The Spurlino Family YMCA. ly, outdoor socAs the ribbon-cutting ceremony was cer fields, drawing to a conclusion outside of the Airmasium (outSpurlino Family YMCA’s newest facility door basketball), in Riverview, dozens of local residents a one-mile outwere already door walking inside signing track, a two-story up to take kids’ play area, advantage of its wellness proSpurlino YMCA health and wellassociate Barbara grams and a lap ness programs. Sharp assists Apollo swim pool conBeach resident Apollo Katrina Summers and nected to a Beach resident her children Chloe zero-depth entry Katrina and Reilly. family pool with Summers was fun play features and a waterslide. signing up for Riverview resident Ella Fernandez the family Riverview resident Ella was attending as one of the facility’s Hernandez is one of The membership. newest employees. Spurlino Family YMCA’s The mother of newest employees. The 17-year-old has wanted to two with a third work at the YMCA since she first heard child on the way said she has been lookthat it was coming to Riverview. She ing forward to the opening for months. applied and was hired as a lifeguard. “My husband works out and now my “I look forward to being a welcoming children can safely play in the supervised face and making people feel safe and kids play area while I work out too,” she comfortable,” said the teen. said. She also plans on scheduling family Facility hours are Monday to Friday 5 time at the facility pool. a.m.–10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday New members were not the only rib7 a.m.–6 p.m. Membership fees start at bon cutting attendees. Center executive $37 per month. director Jeremy Hester welcomed memFor more information, call 436-5890 bers of the community and thanked or visit www.tampaymca.org. everyone who had a hand in the execu-
P O S I T I V E
7441 US Hwy 301 S, Riverview 1 Mile North of Alafia River, Riverview Flea Market Plaza
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