Friday, May 3, 2013
Hillsborough County is proposing a $150,000 project to build them on several local roadways. What do you think about the plan?
Residents of Odessa’s Lake Grace Estates neighborhood may soon have new sidewalks to call their own. Hillsborough County is proposing a $150,000 project that would put sidewalks along Berea Drive, Wellesly Court, Lake Grace Drive, Anna Maria Way and Bryn Mar Way. The project is meant to provide a sidewalk connection between Lake Grace and the Farmington Hills and Arbor Lakes subdivisions. Before the shovels start turning dirt though, the county wants to meet with residents. That meeting is set for Monday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. It takes place at Keystone Park, 17928 Gunn Highway in Odessa. If the county moves forward with the plan, construction will begin this summer. To find out more, call the county at 813-272-5275. What do you think about …
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Hillsborough County officials say the time for Westchase
businesses to start looking for new garbage pickup services is now.
It’s time for Westchase business owners to shop around. That’s the message from Hillsborough County as it kicks off a whole new garbage collection program that enables commercial garbage customers to choose from three different hauling services for their garbage pickups. The county’s current contracts expire on Sept. 30 and that means businesses have to find a new hauler for their trash before the Oct. 1 start date. The county spent a good part of 2012 getting input on the way it handles trash pickup. The result was an overhaul of the residential garbage pickup program called Automated 2-1-1. The change also impacted commercial garbage customers in that Hillsborough selected three different haulers to handle pickups from businesses within …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Hillsborough County wants to hear from Westchase residents on several planned projects hoped to increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
With the Tampa Bay area continuing to top national lists for pedestrian and bicycle accident fatalities, Hillsborough County is exploring ways to make its roadways safer for those who opt to leave their cars at home. To this end, the county wants to hear from Westchase residents on nine different proposed projects meant to address the concern while increasing safety for those walking or riding bikes in the area. A series of meetings on the projects, which are estimated to cost about $8.5 million combined, kicks off on Monday, April 1. The Tampa Bay area ranks No. 2 in the nation when it comes to dangers posed to pedestrians, according to a study released by Transportation for America. It was beaten only by the Orlando-Kissimmee area in the…
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Former Hillsborough County Administrator Fred Karl died March 7.
Hillsborough County is mourning the loss of one its longstanding leaders today, March 7. Fred Karl, a former county administrator, county attorney, state legislator and Florida Supreme Court justice, was 88. A Daytona native, Karl served as an Army tank commander in World War II and was present at the Battle of the Bulge, according to The Tampa Tribune. His public service career continued long after the war was over. The Stetson Law graduate served in the Florida House from 1956-64 when he attempted a bid for the governor’s office. After that, he ran for the Florida Senate in 1968 and served until 1971, according to web sources. Karl then sat on the Florida Supreme Court from 1977 until 1978 when he opted to go back into private practice. …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
A power outage has forced the closing of some of the park’s attractions.
The power outage that closed Upper Tampa Bay Park Feb. 25 is still wreaking some havoc, but Hillsborough County says Westchase residents can once again take advantage of some of the facility’s features. The 8001 Double Branch Road park has reopened for those wishing to canoe, hike or picnic. Visitors will find the nature center is still closed and will likely remain so until sometime next week, according to Kemly Green, the parks department’s spokeswoman. In the meantime, other county parks in the area are operating at full steam. They include: To find out more about Hillsborough County’s parks in the Westchase area and beyond, visit Parks, Recreation and Conservation online.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Need to get your taxes done? The county can help.
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Thursday, January 24
Hillsborough County Extension Service is offering free tax preparation assistance for those who earned $57,000 or less in 2012. Tax filers will be able to access a self-guided tax preparation program and receive assistance, as needed, from an IRS trained and certified volunteer. This free service will be available by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. starting Feb. 5 through April 9. This service is offered as part of the United Way Suncoast Prosperity Campaign. For a list of other free tax prep sites visit www.myfreetaxes.com/tampa For more information call Lisal Leslie at 813-744-5519. Live in Westchase? The closest free tax prep location is: No appointment is required.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
County officials aren't sure what they'll build on the 1.6 acres of land.
Hillsborough County is purchasing a little more than one and a half acres of land in the Citrus Park area near the existing Little League fields on Gunn Highway. The land is an entire block of property located north of the county's Citrus Park Little League field between Alloway Street and Alema Street west of Gunn Hwy. The parcel of land is designated for recreational use, but officials aren't sure exactly what they'll do with it yet. The land purchase completes a community saga that began in 2011. In 2011, residents became embroiled in a contentious fight over what should be done with $1.6 million leftover from money set aside for the community. Some wanted a recreation center, while others wanted to use the money to expand the baseball …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Any establishment that sells alcohol would be required to post the sign.
More than 20 years ago, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners adopted what was called the "Hillsborough County Alcoholic Beverage Public Awareness Ordinance," which required all establishments that serve alcoholic beverages to post a visible health warning sign on the premises. Now county officials want those sign to include more warnings, specifically about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. County officials are proposing a new ordinance that would require alcohol servers modify their current signs to include wording about the risk of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome for pregnant women who drink. The administration and enforcement of the new ordinance would be delegated to the Code Enforcement Department. Businesses that service alcohol, including …
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The contest highlights the county's ELAPP sites, which stands for the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program.
This just in from Hillsborough county officials: Grab your camera and visit the County’s beautiful preserved lands this weekend for your last chance to participate in a photo contest that highlights Hillsborough County’s ELAPP sites. Photographs are still being accepted for the 2012 ELAPP’s Calendar Photo Contest via email through Monday, Sept. 24. More than 160 amazing photos have already been submitted. Voting is going on now and runs on the County’s Facebook page (Hillsborough FL) through Oct. 1. Contest Rules: Prizes 1st Place - Private canoe tour of Cockroach Bay Preserve Top 12 Winners – Tampa Bay Pontoon boat tour, and part of the 2013 ELAPP calendar Besides being included in the 2013 ELAPP Calendar, the top 12 photos will be …
Friday, September 14, 2012
The Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners will discuss improvements to this property and other projects.
In 1996, Hillsborough County voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase to generate funds to construct Raymond James Stadium as well as other community projects. The Community Investment Tax has continued to fund building throughout the county. On Wednesday, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners will discuss several projects that the tax will go to fund this year. Among those are improvement to the Jackson Springs Recreation Center located at 8620 Jackson Springs Road in the Town 'N Country area. "We have to bring it up to code and make it ADA accessible," said Steve Valdez, county public works spokesman. "It needs some major roof imorovements." Jackson Springs Recreation Center operates a partnership with the Boys & Girl’s …
Patty Klein
8:29 am on Saturday, May 4, 2013
I am a resident of Lake Grace Estates and have lived here 28 years. We built here on a 1/2 acre lot because we loved the rural feel. No one in this subdivision has requested or wants the sidewalks. I feel that the money that they want to spend should be given to the school board to put in more bus stops. There is only one in the front of Farmington and one in the front of Arbor Lakes. The concern… more ›