Two Sections, 36 Pages of Community News
Valrico See O u Ad O n r Page 19
February 2017 C E L E B R A T I N G
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Volume 14, Issue 2 Ph: 657-2418
P U B L I S H I N G
Strawberry Festival Offers More Than Food, Music And Iconic Racing Pigs
By Kate Quesada
strawberry milkshakes, corn dogs, Kettle Korn, Amish Doughnuts and chocolate covered bacon. The festival also offers an impressive lineup of musical acts with many free concerts throughout the time and tickets available at an extra cost for headliners including Willie Nelson, 3 Doors Down, Little Big Town, The Bellamy Brothers, Elle King and Patti LaBelle. “We sell about 9,000 seats to every show and offer 3,000 free seats on a first come, first seated basis in the Morrow Steel Free Grandstand,” said McNair. However, events included in the ticket price include something for everyone with seven livestock shows, contests, displays and exhibits. Highlights include the Cabot Strawberry Smoothie event where Cabot Creamery will be creating the World Record Strawberry Smoothie on Friday, March 3 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., ROBOCARS “Big Blue” and “Yellow Jacket,” the Tampa Bay Times Race Zone and nightly entertainment in the Public Showcase Tent. There are also magic, circus and milking shows, pig races and food contests from corn dog and strawberry mashed potato pie eating to strawberry stemming. Times for these events are available on the Website
Continued on Page 10
C O M M U N I T Y
By Tamas Mondovics
The A pair of public Delaney/Archie Creek open-house format Watershed project meetings held in budget is $700,000 Brandon and in and is funded through Riverview last the Stormwater Fee month allowed area Capital Improvement residents to learn Program. about a variety Both recent meetdrainage and flood ings gave attendees a control projects as chance to review as well as the County’s well as to comment on master plan the proposed plans updates for the that are a part of the Delaney/Archie Countywide Creek Watershed Watershed Master located in central Plan Updates. Hillsborough The master plan County. update provides the Armed with County Public Works officials hosted a County with valuable maps and backpair of public meetings last month to discuss proposed water drainage and information on floodground information, flood water control projects. ing within the waterCounty Public shed, including an updated hydrologic Works representatives, were on hand for and hydraulic (H&H) model that is used both meetings to assist attendees with by the County, the Southwest Florida their concerns and questions and input. Water Management District (SWFWMD) The Delaney/Archie Creek and local developers as best available Watershed drains approximately 36 square miles and is generally bounded on information for project analysis and permitting. the north by Palm River Road and the For more information and watershed CSX railway, to the west by Hillsborough maps, please visit the County’s Bay, to the east by Valrico Road, and to Stormwater Projects page at www.hillsthe south by the Alafia River. boroughcounty.org. While the majority of the proposed projects for 2017 are planned west of I75, the event presented valuable information about the entire watershed master In This Issue plan, the process of which began in late 2013. According to Project Manager, PUBLIC SAFETY...................................PG 7 Junshan Su, a final report with recommended flood relief projects was complet75 YEAR ANNIVERSARY......................PG 8 ed in late 2016. MOVIE FILMED LOCAL .......................PG 9 “Drainage and flood control projects planned for east of I-75, including areas TRAFFIC RELIEF ................................PG 10 of Riverview, Brandon and Valrico will be CHALKLINES....................................PG 23 proposed this time next year,” Su said, adding that the Valrico and east Brandon PARK RENOVATION ........................PG 33 communities are actually located within CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL.......PG 34 the Alafia Watershed. Su also mentioned that Hillsborough READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE County has 17 watersheds dividing up the projects and their timelines. www.ospreyobserver.com
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Osprey Observer 918 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Brandon, FL 33511-6121
Photo Courtesy By Tamas Mondovics
Drum Circle Facilitator, Jana Broder, owner of Drum Magic, leads a large group of Chick-fil-A fans a drumming session last month at the newly opened Chick-fil-A restaurant in Valrico. The event was part of the new restaurant’s grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration that awarded the first 100 customers with 52 free meals.
N E W S
County Hosts Public Meetings For Stormwater Drainage And Watershed Master Plan
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PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT #2397
The Florida Strawberry Festival, with its delicious food and exciting entertainment, has been a local favorite since 1930 and is back this year from March 212, promising to be better than ever. According to festival Public Relations and Media Representative On Friday, March 3, at 3:30 p.m., the iconic Lauren McNair, Willie Nelson will offer a concert at the the strawberryFlorida Strawberry centered food at Festival, just one of the event is the many headline performers coming to always one of this year’s festival the biggest March 2-12. draws. “We have about 150 food vendors with a wide variety of choices, so there really is something for everyone,” said McNair, who explained that strawberry shortcake is the most popular food item with about 250,000 sold during the 11-day festival last year. McNair added that one of the best ways for strawberry lovers to navigate the event this year is by using the Strawberry Central page on the Website and mobile app. “Visitors can use Strawberry Central to see a complete list of every food item we offer. It is the go-to place for those who come here for all things strawberry,” said McNair. Other popular food items include
P O S I T I V E
See Ad On Page 8
Mention this coupon when ordering. Not valid with any other offer. Limit 1 per visit. Valid at WOW! Brandon only. Expires 3/15/17