Two Sections, 36 Pages of Community News
Valrico
See Pgs. 26-32 August 2016 C E L E B R A T I N G
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Y E A R S
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Volume 13, Issue 8 Ph: 657-2418
P U B L I S H I N G
Hillsborough County Residents Urged To Focus On Safety For Local Blue
By Tamas Mondovics
C O M M U N I T Y
By Tamas Mondovics
now encouraged to download on their mobile devices available both the Google Play and Apple stores to collect data on litter removal. During last year’s Coastal Clean Up, 4,928 volunteers collected 18,837 lbs. of miscellaneous debris (wood, metal, tires, etc.) from around 86 clean up locations that included 1,746 acres of park, 56 acres of wetland, 41 miles of shorelines, nearly 30 miles of roadways and 37 acres of trails. The total number of trash bags filled amounted to 2,876. KTBB officials also want to thank volunteers for their participation in the Photo courtesy KTBB The Tampa Bay Dragon Boat Club gears up July 5th, After Fireworks Cleanup that to remove litter from the Hillsborough River in has resulted in the cleanup of more September 2015. than 10 acres of park land, 4 miles of trails and prevented more than 2,149 Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful (KTBB) is lbs. of litter and debris from entering into now recruiting volunteers for the Hillsborough River and Coastal Clean Up, Tampa Bay. World Oceans Day, on Saturday, one of the organization's largest annual June 11 had 512 volunteers remove events. 25,501 lbs. of marine debris from locaScheduled for Saturday, September tions along the Hillsborough River, McKay 17, the event will be KTBB’s 29th annual Bay, the Garrison and Seddon channels clean up, which according to Environmental Program Coordinator, Tom and Tampa Bay. “We could not accomplish all of this Damico, fits the organization’s mission without our willing, hardworking volunperfectly as it provides environmental education and volunteer opportunities that teers,” Damico said. For more information or to get the develop individual responsibility and enviregistration link, email Damico at tdamironmental stewardship. “This event is an amazing opportunity co@keeptbb.org. for the community to get a better perspective of what it takes to keep our coastlines clean, how important this event In This is, and how we can move forward as it is Issue pared with education,” Damico said, adding that the six-hour of service comLOCAL PODCASTERS.............................PG 4 mitment is a great way to develop leadership and project coordination skills while DESIGNER SUNGLASSES BINGO............PG 8 meeting new people in the community. ZERO ENERGY HOMES........................PG 10 Since 1989, KTBB has provided bayarea residents of all ages with opportuniHOA HOT TOPICS................................PG 15 ties for meaningful service. Tampa Bay CHALKLINES.......................................PG 24 Beautification, founded in 1989, and Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful, founded in SPORTS CONNECTION.......................PG 25 1992, merged in 2012 to form KTBB. Last year, more than 16,000 KTBB ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT.................PG 33 volunteers took part in 972 community READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE projects throughout Tampa Bay. Damico added that this year the www.ospreyobserver.com organization has developed a Marine Debris Tracker app that volunteers are
Postal Customer
Osprey Observer 918 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Brandon, FL 33511-6121
Photo by Tamas Mondovics
Brandon area residents Dee Fridella and Rita Moorman take a minute during the 2016 Candidate Forum to examine the Hillsborough County Commission Map along with the map of the recently redrawn districts for the U.S. Congress and State Senate seats for the upcoming primary scheduled for August 30 and General Election on November 8. The 22nd Annual Candidate Forum was held at the Bell Shoals Baptist Church, located at 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. in Brandon.
N E W S
Volunteers Needed For Annual Coastal Cleanup
ECRWSS EDDM
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT #2397
Shining some light on the reality of violence against police in many communities, NLEOMF issued a new report with preliminary data through July 20, which revealed that In a show of support and community partnership, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Sgt. Harrison Bashner (left) along with deputies Stephanie 67 law Quintana, Jonathan Rosa, Kenzie Basilone and Jeffrey Belcher pose for a photo with HCSO’s #Your Support Matters sign at the Osprey Observer enforcement officers have Community Newspapers. Amidst the recent violence against officers across the nation, HCSO has been able to maintain a great community been killed in partnership and has received much support throughout the county. the line of Recent headlines that read, “Law duty in 2016—an eight percent increase Enforcement Firearms Fatalities Spike 78 over the same period last year (62). Percent in First Half of 2016” or “Ambush Key facts included, that firearmsKillings of Officers Increase More than related fatalities (32) spiked 78 percent in 300 Percent” are just a fraction of the dis- the first half of this year from 18 during turbing and sad reality of violence against the same period last year. members of law enforcement throughout Ambush-style killings of law enforcethe country. ment officers have increased more than Cities like San Diego, Baton Rouge 300 percent from the same period in and Dallas took center stage as topics of 2015, as 14 officers were shot and killed discussion in July, not as summer vacain ambushes, seven were killed stopping tion destinations, but places where offia suspicious person and five officers cers were killed after being ambushed by were killed while executing a tactical a lone gunman. arrest or high-risk warrants, the reports "Each day some 900,000 men and said. women work to keep our communities Texas led all states with 13 officer safe, and we owe each of them a debt of fatalities; followed by Louisiana with gratitude,” declared National Law seven officer deaths. California, Colorado, Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and (NLEOMF) President and CEO Craig W. Virginia all lost three officers (as of the Floyd. “All American citizens should be writing of this article) thus far in 2016. outraged at the number of officers who Amidst the increase of such violence, have been targeted, shot and killed this however, many are finding ways to show year.” Continued on Page 5
P O S I T I V E
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