Riverview/Apollo Beach
Pages 45-52
June 2019 Volume 17, Issue 6 Ph: 657-2418 C E L E B R A T I N G
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Hard Working Graduates Recognized At Design Phase Complete On New 10-Mile Migrant Student Senior Banquet South Coast Greenway Trail By Michelle Caceres
By Kate Quesada
Relations Strategist Chris Wilkerson. The trail will offer many options for residents looking to exercise or explore the area. “The proposed design includes a 492-foot-long pedestrian bridge, wayfinding signs and pavement markings, landscaping, benches, bike racks, shade shelters and trash receptacles,” said Wilkerson. In addition, the trail will provide connectivity to Hillsborough Community College’s (HCC) Southshore Campus along with three residential roads; Dovesong Trace Dr., Meadow Glade Dr. and Oak Pond St. According to Wilkerson, the design stage of the project is nearing completion and construction is anticipated to begin Plans are in the design phases for the first phase of in Spring 2020 and end in early the South Coast Greenway Trail which will 2021. eventually extend from Little Manatee River to The projected cost for the Symmes Rd. in Riverview. The first phase is a 1.2 project is $1,702,000, with mile stretch in Ruskin. Hillsborough County has good news $85,000 for design and $1,617,000 for for residents who enjoy the outdoors. construction. Representatives recently hosted a public To learn more about the project, meeting showing design plans for the please visit www.HCFLGov.net. first phase of the South Coast Greenway Trail, a 10-mile project that will extend from Little Manatee River Preserve to InThis Symmes Rd. in Riverview. The first Issue phase, known as 1 A, is a 1.2 mile stretch in the Ruskin area that will extend from Shell Point Rd. to 19th Ave. FOURTH OF JULY PARADE..................PG 3 near 30th St. CHAMBER RIBBON CUTTINGS .........PG 12 The trail will be 12 feet wide and will be paved to accommodate travel, exerWARRIOR GAMES ............................PG 15 cise and recreational uses for cyclists and pedestrians between Hillsborough HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..........PG 16 and Manatee counties. EYE ON BUSINESS .....................PGS 25‐26 “Hillsborough County’s Master Plan identifies the South Coast Greenway as CHALKLINES .....................................PG 28 a major nonmotorized paved trail facility ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT................PG 36 in south Hillsborough County that will be part of the SUNTRAIL Connector and PREPARING FOR HURRICANES..PGS 42‐43 will increase trail connectivity between READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE Hillsborough and Manatee counties,” said Hillsborough County Senior Media www.ospreyobserver.com
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When Lennard senior throughout the country in Isabel Hernandez Valdez the summer months, was a young child, her when Florida’s growing papa, a migrant farm season has ended, to worker in Wimauma, sat find work in states like patiently at their kitchen Texas, Michigan and table after long days in the Georgia, where there fields and taught her to are fields that need haradd, subtract, multiply and vesting. divide using dried beans “We help students and grains of rice. catch up and make sure “No matter what time that they have all the he finished working in the requirements necessary field he always had time for graduation,” said for me,” she said. “He USF Center for Migrant Lennard senior Isabel played a big part in my Education Recruiter Hernandez Valdez accepts an Rosie Mendez. educational journey.” award from Legislative Aide to Valdez and her family Commissioner Sandy Murman For students who Jeffrey Huggins at the Migrant have fallen behind in celebrated an important Student Senior Banquet. milestone in that journey their academics or who at the Migrant Student Senior Banquet, need to finish school quickly to help prosponsored by the SouthShore Chamber vide for their families, the University of of Commerce and local businesses. South Florida’s High School Equivalency Thirty-seven high school students Program offers migrant students a path to were recognized for their achievements; earning a GED in as little as two or up to 30 from Lennard for earning their high eight weeks. school diploma and seven students for “These students get to stay on USF’s earning a GED through the High School campus and complete a rigorous proEquivalency Program at the University of gram aimed at teaching them the material South Florida. necessary to pass the GED tests,” said Speakers at the ceremony included Mendez. Lennard High Migrant Advocate Olga Valdez, who is the first in her family Perez and Legislative Aide to County to graduate from high school, appreciates Commissioner Sandra Murman, Jeffrey the recognition for her hard work. Huggins. “This is very special to me,” she said. The banquet was Perez’ vision and “It means so much to be able to celebrate included a buffet of chicken and rice, this achievement with my family memsalad and sodas, a photo booth and give- bers.” aways. “This celebration has grown into Valdez plans to attend Hillsborough this wonderful event that recognizes the Community College in the fall. Her hard work and dedication of these stumama, Silvia Valdez, is proud of her dents,” said Perez. accomplishments so far and hopes for a Migrant students face obstacles that better future for her daughter. make graduating from high school a “I don’t want her out working in the more difficult task. Some families travel fields like us,” she said.
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Bryant Martinez, lead art instructor for the Winthrop Arts Mobile Art Factory, surrounded by the students in the program, unveiled a public art piece they created together at Wimauma Elementary School on Wednesday, May 8. Read full article on page 36.
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