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Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful

Super Bowl project seeking donations

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Community partners are teaming up with the National Football League, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a Super Bowl project that will put books, sports equipment, school supplies and games into the hands of local children.

The Super Kids-Super Sharing campaign is looking to put sports equipment, books, school supplies and games into local children’s hands.

The project, called Super Kids-Super Sharing, has been implemented in every Super Bowl host community for the past 22 years, according to an NFL Green news release, and area residents are being invited to help.

Super Kids partners will host collections through Dec. 18 at their facilities, and donated items will be shared with the children the organizations serve, and with Repay Tampa Bay, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay.

Participating partners include the YMCAs of Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough Education Foundation, Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation, City of Tampa Parks and Recreation, the City of Tampa, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, and numerous schools in the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

New and very gently used books appropriate for schoolchildren, sports equipment of all types, school supplies, and board and video games can be dropped off at these locations:

  • Hillsborough Education Foundation, 2306 N. Howard Ave., Tampa: Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful Environmental Education Center, 4398 N. Riverside Drive, Tampa: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • New Tampa Recreation Center, 17302 Commerce Park Blvd.: Monday through Thursday from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon
  • East Pasco Family YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • New Tampa Family YMCA, 16221 Compton Drive, Tampa: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gently used donated items should be in excellent condition; new items also will be accepted.

For more details and complete list of participating partners and locations, visit tinyurl.com/y5pgafe3.

Published December 09, 2020

You, too, can help reduce plastic pollution

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Hillsborough County and Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful (KTBB) are inviting residents and business owners to join in the worldwide movement to reduce waste from single-use plastics.

It’s much better to do this with your plastic beverage bottles than to allow them to end up in streams, rivers, bays and other bodies of water. (File)

According to the Ocean Conservancy, six of the top 10 contributors to marine debris are single-use, or disposable, plastic products, which include common food service ware, such as food and beverage container caps and lids; beverage bottles; plastic bags; food wrappers; cups, plates and cutler; and drinking straws.

When these items are littered, or caught by the wind, they can be washed into stormwater drains that empty into streams, rivers, bays and other water bodies.

The partnership between Hillsborough County and KTBB has launched a community education initiative to inform residents, visitors and businesses about the environmental impacts of single-use plastic products and ways to combat the problem.

Individuals can show their support for ending plastic pollution by taking an online pledge to do one or more simple actions, including:

  • Taking reusable shopping bags to stores
  • Skipping plastic straws
  • Carrying a reusable cup, mug or water bottle
  • Using reusable takeout containers
  • Raising awareness by sharing tips on social media

Businesses can be recognized as a Businesses for the Bay partner by sharing what they are doing, or pledge to do, to reduce the use of single-use plastics; and, as partners also have access to educational materials for their customers. There is no cost to participate.

New online resources can be found at ReduceYourUseTampaBay.org.

To learn more about the Ocean Conservancy and its mission, visit OceanConservancy.org.

Published May 08, 2019

Zephyrhills water to donate $50K at open house

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The public will get a rare opportunity Saturday to see inside the plant that Nestle Waters North America uses to produce Zephyrhills bottled water. But it will come with some money for area charities as well.

The company says it will donate $50,000 in honor of its 50th anniversary Saturday to organization that help support cleanup and education events at parks along the Hillsborough River, the company announced in a release. Splitting the donation are Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and Tampa Bay Watch.

“One of our missions at Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful is to provide environmental education and volunteer opportunities for the community,” said Debra Evenson, executive director of the organization, in a release. “With the money contributed by the Zephyrhills brand, and the support of loyal Floridians, we will be able to expand our involvement in cleanup events, meeting at area parks and disseminating throughout communities along the Hillsborough River, to help preserve the delicate ecosystem of the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay.”

The donation was supported by a social media campaign conducted by Nestle that invited consumers to share their favorite things about Florida. More than 23,700 items were shared, which Nestle donated a dollar for each, and then rounded up to the $50,000 donation.

The checks will be officially presented during a community open house at the Zephyrhills plant Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local residents and businesses, along with government officials and employees will have a chance to take part in a free day of family activities, including a tour of the bottling facility, a barbecue lunch, face painting, games, and a visit to the WaterVentures Learning Lab.

The lab is a traveling science center that teaches families and young people about environmental stewardship. It’s supported by Nestle, and visited more than 250 schools over the past year. It features watershed tables, recycling exhibits, a relief map of Florida’s water features, and a display of the Florida aquifer, where the spring water for the Zephyrhills brand is obtained.

The Zephyrhills plant, located at 4330 20th St., in Zephyrhills, employs 250 people locally, and 900 throughout the region. Nestle bought the brand in 1982, part of a company that was originally founded in 1964.

Tampa Bay Water funding nonprofit conservation projects

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Tampa Bay Water is offering $20,000 worth of mini-grants to help fund projects and events sponsored by local community groups, non-profit groups, schools and universities that help promote protection of the region’s drinking water sources.

The deadline to apply for the grant is Oct. 31. To qualify, applicants need to provide a plan for a project or event that is related to source water protection in the Tampa Bay Water service area. The program grants funds from $2,000 to $10,000 for community-based activities, including but not limited to, river cleanups, stormwater nature walks, and educational field trips.

“The mini-grant program helps those who are dedicated to protecting our region’s drinking water sources, and it ensures that our ecosystems remain healthy and functioning now and into the future,” said Paula Dye, mini-grant program manager for Tampa Bay Water, in a release. “

Last year, the agency awarded four $5,000 mini-grants that funded projects and events managed by Lowry Park Zoo, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Keep Pasco Beautiful and Friends of Brooker Creek.

Keep Pasco Beautiful ran a poster contest for elementary students that focused on educating them about the importance of protecting drinking water sources. Its Tampa Bay counterpart used its grant to fund its environmental program, which included interactive and educational presentations for elementary through high school students throughout Hillsborough County.

Lowry Park Zoo raised its outflow structure to reduce the amount of wastewater discharge during heavy rain events, playing a role in keeping a Hillsborough River tributary clean.

Friends of Brooker Creek built an exhibit at the Brooker Creek Preserve in Pinellas County. The hands-on exhibit illustrated the elements of the water cycle and how surface and groundwater flows move through the watershed.

Mini-grant applications will be reviewed, with winners notified before the end of 2014 for funds that will be available in 2015.

To apply, visit tinyurl.com/TBWMiniGrant. For information, call Paula Dye at (813) 996-7009.

Humana offering up to $350,000 for nonprofits

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The Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the insurance company Humana Inc., has relaunched its signature Humana Communities Benefit program, which awards multi-year grants totaling $350,000 to eligible nonprofit companies.

The program is now underway in the Tampa Bay area, as well as Chicago and San Antonio, Texas, for organizations focused on promoting healthy behaviors and relationships.

But now Humana wants the online community to be involved, letting an online vote be a part of the overall judging process.

“This new approach with Humana Communities Benefit is a natural evolution for the program as Humana and the Humana Foundation work to improve the health of the communities we serve nationwide,” said Bruce Broussard, president and chief executive of Humana, in a release. “We have added several new features to the program, including the online vote, which provides an opportunity for each community to have a stake in which organization in each region is awarded our $350,000 grant.”

The new program will award nonprofits a three-year infusion of funds, enabling the winners to receive $200,000 the first year, $100,000 the second year, and $50,000 in the final year. The funds will be used to create new programs or enhance ongoing activities that have a positive, transformational impact on the organization and the community.

Tampa Bay was one of three locations chosen because it employs more than 3,500 employees here, more than in any other area outside of their Louisville, Kentucky, headquarters.

The foundation has given more than $8 million to nonprofits in 11 communities nationwide since starting in 2003. The previous program awarded one-time, $100,000 charitable grants, including one to Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful in 2013, which used the money to build the Humana Educational Pavilion at the Florida Learning Garden in Tampa.

Locally, the competition is open to local nonprofits in Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando and Pinellas counties. Applications can be submitted to Humana.com/hcb, but must be completed by June 30.

Judging, including an online component, begins in August.

Median trees are safe, but community help is needed

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A county official has assured residents of Lutz that Hillsborough County will remove just a few of the 135 trees in the medians of U.S. 41, as the highway runs through the community.

Rob Seuss, the county’s division director for public works operations, told residents “there are four live oaks that have become sight distance issues (for motorists) that must be removed.”

Officials says Hillsborough County no longer plans to rev up the chainsaws to take out more than 100 trees in the medians along U.S. 41 through Lutz. (file photo)
Officials says Hillsborough County no longer plans to rev up the chainsaws to take out more than 100 trees in the medians along U.S. 41 through Lutz. (file photo)

His remarks came during an evening meeting on Oct. 29 at the Lutz Community Center that was attended by about 50 people.

Walmart donated $5,000 to help cover tree maintenance costs, but the actual costs are about $11,000 a year, Seuss said. So, additional efforts are being made to find sponsorships from local businesses or community groups.

The preservation of the trees, however, does not hinge on raising private funds, Seuss said.

“The county is committed and we will continue to maintain this,” he said. “The trees will remain.”

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful has agreed to take on the task of seeking additional private sponsors and also managing the contract for crews to maintain the medians.

Professional help is needed because the trees are in the middle of a busy highway, said Daisy Packer, environmental program coordinator for Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. Her group is also interested in working with groups or individuals that want to adopt a portion of the road — or the entire stretch — to pick up litter.

Road adopters commit to a two-year contract, which involves four cleanups a year, Packer said.

“We provide gloves, bags, garbage bags and safety training,” she added.

Besides keeping the area attractive, adopting a road is a great way to build a sense of community because it encourages neighbors to get out and meet each other, Packer said.

The Lutz Citizens Coalition recently signed on to adopt Sunset Lane. And, the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has been cleaning up Lutz Lake Fern Road for years.

While some groups are interested in adopting roads, others are more interested in doing community plantings, Packer said. That can be arranged.

Anyone who wants to help cover the costs of maintaining the trees in the U.S. 41 median, help keep area roads clean, or participate in community plantings should call Packer at (813) 221-8733.

 

Community to meet about trees Oct. 29

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When word got out about Hillsborough County’s plans to cut down trees in the U.S. 41 medians in Lutz, it took howls of protests to silence the chain saws.

Armed with promises from State Sen. Jon Legg, R-Lutz, and Hillsborough County officials to work with the community to find another solution, a meeting has been set for Oct. 29 to discuss what to do instead.

It took a partnership among several groups to work out a plan to prevent chain saws from taking down the trees in the medians along U.S. 41 in Lutz. Those who banded together to help protect the trees included, from left, Debra Evenson, executive director of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful; Chris Smith, assistant manager at the Walmart in Lutz; State Sen. John Legg; and Sam Calco, Louise Friar, and Mike White of the Lutz Citizens Coalition. (Photo courtesy of the Lutz Citizens Coalition)
It took a partnership among several groups to work out a plan to prevent chain saws from taking down the trees in the medians along U.S. 41 in Lutz. Those who banded together to help protect the trees included, from left, Debra Evenson, executive director of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful; Chris Smith, assistant manager at the Walmart in Lutz; State Sen. John Legg; and Sam Calco, Louise Friar, and Mike White of the Lutz Citizens Coalition. (Photo courtesy of the Lutz Citizens Coalition)

The county had planned to cut down the trees because it wanted to return maintenance of the medians to the Florida Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the highway. The state roads department would only take over if 91 of the 135 trees in the median were removed.

The trees slated for destruction were 64 crape myrtle, 14 wax myrtle, seven live oaks, three Shumard oaks and three red maple.

After a contentious community meeting on Jan. 24, however, the county put the brakes on that plan and agreed to return to the community for another meeting to discuss potential solutions.

Recently, the trees won a two-year reprieve, when Walmart stepped forward with a $5,000 check to cover maintenance costs. That solution resulted from a partnership between Legg, Hillsborough County, the Lutz Citizens Coalition and Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.

Walmart said it would revisit the matter in two years, Legg said. Meanwhile, efforts can be made to broaden support.

Now that a temporary solution has been found, another community meeting has been set for 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the Lutz Community Center, 98 First Ave., N.W.

The meeting is intended for volunteers in Lutz who may want to participate in the maintenance of the medians along U.S. 41.

Mike White, founder and president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, said he’s happy with efforts made to date to preserve the trees.

“I think it’s a win-win,” White said. “The voice of Lutz was heard loud and clear.”

He said the solution demonstrates great follow-through by Legg, the county, Walmart, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Hillsborough County and the Lutz Citizens Coalition.

“Everyone stepped up to the plate,” White said.

On another front, the Lutz Citizens Coalition recently received approval to adopt Sunset Lane, from U.S. 41 to Livingston Avenue.

White said he expects the cleanups to occur about a half-dozen times a year, followed by a social gathering of the volunteers.

 

Trees in Lutz get temporary reprieve from chainsaws

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Trees in medians on U.S. 41 in Lutz are being spared the ax – at least for now.

Walmart has agreed to donate $5,000 to pay for maintaining the trees, which should cover the cost for about two years, said State Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz.

The company said it would revisit the matter then, Legg said. Meanwhile, that provides time to seek other potential contributors to help cover the cost.

Trees marked with an orange ‘X’ in medians along U.S. 41 in Lutz would have been chopped down in January if Lutz residents had not kicked up a storm of protests. The trees are now safe, at least for a couple of years. (File photo)
Trees marked with an orange ‘X’ in medians along U.S. 41 in Lutz would have been chopped down in January if Lutz residents had not kicked up a storm of protests. The trees are now safe, at least for a couple of years. (File photo)

Hillsborough County should be credited for its cooperation, Legg said, which helped to ensure the trees were not cut down.

In January, the county marked 135 trees in the medians, either with a ribbon or an orange ‘X.’ The 44 trees with a ribbon would be saved; the 91 with an orange ‘X’ would be cut down.

Lutz resident Donald Hassinger spotted the markings on the trees and began making inquiries. When he learned the trees with the ‘X’ would be destroyed, he began rallying Lutz residents to mobilize on the issue.

After fielding protests from residents, the county put the brakes on the planned tree removals and called a community meeting.

The county had planned to cut down 64 crape myrtles, 14 wax myrtles, seven live oaks, three Shumard oaks and three red maples.

County officials told the crowd packed into the Lutz Community Center in January that it needed to remove the trees because the county didn’t have the money to maintain the medians. They had planned to turn the medians over to the Florida Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over U.S. 41.

The DOT, however, told the county it had to remove the designated trees first. Trees were selected for removal based on the tree’s type and condition.

Legg, who was present at the meeting, told the crowd he was confident a different solution could be found. He connected with Mike White, founder and president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, who called around and found out how much the maintenance would cost.

Walmart has stepped forward to cover two years of maintenance costs, Legg said. Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful will administer the funds for the work.

This arrangement solves the immediate problem, Legg said.

“I think it’s a very good solution,” White said. “Walmart stepped up to the plate. Now, I think it’s time for the community to show its appreciation, by patronizing their store, by including them in the community.”

Solving the maintenance problem is more difficult than it might seem at first blush, Legg said.

“It appeared that there was a very simplistic solution,” Legg said. However, it’s not possible to merely get volunteers to do the work.

The trees are on islands in the middle of a busy highway. Anyone doing maintenance on the trees must carry a certain level of insurance, Legg said.

Legg said he’s happier with this short-term solution than with what could have happened.

“I thought it was a bone-headed move to cut down the trees,” Legg said.

The county may have been the one with the chainsaws, but it wasn’t the county’s idea to take down the trees, Legg said. That was the DOT’s call.

Walmart presented the $5,000 check during a ceremony on Sept. 30 at its 1575 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. location in Lutz. A release from Legg’s office said the solution came as a result of a partnership between Walmart, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Hillsborough County, multiple Lutz community civic associations, Legg, and Corcoran & Johnston Government Relations.