Area Midwife Brings ChildBirth Experience To Comfort Of Home

Area Midwife Brings ChildBirth Experience To Comfort Of Home
By Jennifer Silverstein
As a mother of two who were both born at home, FishHawk resident Kim Verbarg became a licensed midwife because, “Their births were the most magical moments of my life, and I’d like to help make every woman’s birth experience just as beautiful.”Her daughters are now 12 and 17, but Verbarg has assisted approximately 200 women and their families in the birth of their babies with her business- Sweet Child O’ Mine.“I believe that women should have quality birth options which include gentle care and individual control over health-care decisions. When control and dignity are returned to women in childbirth, women and families can be empowered and bonded through their birthing experience,” she said. “I love being a part of birth and seeing this process.” As the only licensed midwife in the Brandon area, with a Lithia office for appointments, Verbarg, along with staff Areline Williams and Charlie Rae,  offers full prenatal care, including lab work and ultrasounds, home and water births as well as vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Midwife care offers a significant savings and are typically less than one-third the cost of obstetrical care and hospital birth. Maternity care at Sweet Child O’ Mine includes all prenatal exams, home visits, labor and delivery, initial postpartum care, the services of the birth assistant, complete newborn exam, 24-48 hour postpartum visit, a two week postpartum visit, a six week postpartum exam, and filing of the birth certificate. Private Insurance and Pregnancy Medicaid are accepted and  a full pregnancy through childbirth service schedule fee would be approximately $4,000.The company also offers Doula services, a professional labor coach. She attends birth with the mom as her coach and advocate in a variety of settings including at the hospital. Licensed midwives are licensed by the Florida Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, with schooling and clinical training, including at least 25 birth observations and 50 labor and delivery managements. Midwives do all of the maternity health care for low-risk women who desire out-of-hospital birth. As long as the patient stays healthy throughout her pregnancy, she will only see the midwife. Services are covered by private insurance and Medicaid.There are also a couple of hybrid options, including the homebirth hybrid option: working with patients who have an obstetrician who they are seeing for their care. If at any time in her pregnancy the patient becomes high risk, she already has a doctor. If during labor she needs physician care, she already has a doctor. “Some women feel like they have the best of both worlds with this option,” Verbarg said.The other option is for patients who qualify for Medicaid who want a hospital birth. “With this option, the prenatal care is with the licensed midwife, and then the mom will go to the hospital for delivery and take the OB on call,” she explained. “The advantage to this is that the mom receives quality prenatal care and education.” For more information or to schedule your free pregnancy test, free consultation or to discuss your birth options, please call 924-6905, e-mail midwife@sweetchildbirth.com or visit http://sweetchildbirth.com.

Upcoming Chamber Fair Focuses On Residents’ Health

Upcoming Chamber Fair Focuses On Residents’ Health
By Carisa Biesecker
Local residents with questions in regard to their health may want to stop by the Campo YMCA in March where at The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce will be holding its 11th Annual Health Fair.Planned for Saturday, March 6, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Campo Family YMCA, located at 3414 Culbreath Rd. in Valrico, the health fair welcomes residents of all ages to traverse the fair, partaking in free health screenings ranging from blood pressure, pulse oximetry, massage, vision and biomeridian/ spine screenings. There will be giveaways and demonstrations from local health-care entities. According to Tina Brock- Fallen, chair of the Health Fair Task Force, the chamber holds the event, “It is offered so that people can get free screenings and information about health issues.”Last year’s affair brought some 1,700 out to Campo YMCA, with more than 1,000 expected in 2010. “It is a great time…,” adds Brock- Fallen. The Health Fair is made possible through the sponsorships of Brandon Regional Hospital, Bills Prescription Center, The Tampa Tribune/Brandon News & Tribune, Bloomingdale Center for Radiology and Women’s Care of Brandon. For more information on being a sponsor or an exhibitor – which is $100 for chamber members and $200 for non-members, please contact Crystal Colegrove at the chamber at 689-1221, ext. 8824, or via email at ccolegrove@brandonchamber.com.

Annual Boy Scout Drive Benefits ECHO

Annual Boy Scout Drive Benefits ECHO
By Tamas Mondovics
Every year during the month of February, Boy Scouts across America conduct the Scouting for Food Good Turn drive benefitting local charities and organizations in the Tampa Bay area such as ECHO, America’s Second Harvest and Metropolitan Ministries, that in turn help the hungry.Thanks to the 41 scout units located in the Eastern half of Hillsborough County, “Timucua” district, which amounts to approximately 1,200 boys, this year, will be no different.  According to local Scouting for Food Chairman Walter L. McKnight, on Saturday, February 13, Scouts will distribute food bags in a neighborhood of their choice and then will return on the following Saturday, February 20,  to collect the bags left on doorsteps filled with personal care and non-perishable food items.“The Scouts have been involved with this effort for decades and this is their opportunity to give back to the community,” McKnight said adding that other than the satisfaction of helping local residents the boys do not receive a reward for their hard work. In 1988 the first nationwide “Scouting for Food” collection was held.  In that first year more than one million Scouts collected an estimated 65 million items of non-perishable food items.McKnight said that doing their share, last year local Scouts have collected 20,000 pounds of non-perishable food items for ECHO, but said that the goal this year is 25,000, which he said is achievable by the Scouts’ covering more neighborhoods. “We have noticed that participation has grown over the years and we hope that an increase of return will again be evident this February,” he said.ECHO Executive Director Stacey Efaw could not be happier as she explained that drive comes at a time of great need; as many food pantry shelves are empty or nearly so. “This is one of our major food drives for the year,” Efaw said. “We are very thankful for the young Scouts effort in behalf of the community. The drive replenishes the shelves until the next one in May by the U.S. Post office and residents are appreciative on a daily basis.”For more information about ECHO and the upcoming Boys Scout Good Turn Food Drive please call 685-0935 or visitwww.echofl.org.

Elementary’s Charter Forges Expansion For Middle School

Elementary’s Charter Forges Expansion For Middle School
Staff Report
The Hillsborough County School Board unanimously approved the charter application for Kid’s Community College Middle School in Riverview.The Riverview expansion will see the construction of a 5,000-sq.-ft. campus in phase one, followed by planned growth in its second year. The educational leader currently employs 95 associates, and this latest expansion will add 20 jobs in Riverview over the next two years. “Expansions such as this not only offer new professional opportunities in a profession recently besieged by cutbacks and layoffs, but it also encourages economic stimulus in a local rural community that is experiencing its fair share of financial challenges,” commented Kid’s Community College President Timothy Kilpatrick. Lake Saint Charles Director of Charter School Operations Nicole Williams attributes the continued growth and success of the organization to a continued focus on putting the student and community needs first and placing a high value on the associates of the company. “Being able to work with our board, parents and this community to plan this growth has allowed us all to grow and bring the company’s long-term vision into clearer focus in the community. Naturally, that is to the benefit of the students, and it’s exciting to be able to extend our successful system of learning into the middle school arena.”   “The children in our program are individually motivated and encouraged to perform at an advanced level, are held to a higher standard and we enjoy an extremely high satisfaction rating with our parents. The group of professionals we select to lead our middle school will continue to be the best and brightest in their fields and must be creative, committed and passionate about individual student success,” concluded Kilpatrick.  The middle school campus will only admit 66 families in its first year, increasing enrollment to a maximum of 198 students by year three. Open enrollment for the middle school will begin in January for the much anticipated August 2010 opening. Parents interested in enrolling a student are encouraged to call 671-1440 for registration information. Interested educators should forward their resumes and cover letters to: Colleen Donovan, c/o Kid’s Community College, 10530 Lake St. Charles Blvd., Riverview, FL  33578, or e-mail to info@kidscc.org.  Please visit www.kidscc.org for more information or to enroll/apply online.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEWS

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 11, 2010

UPDATE – Be Patient And Wait For Frozen Pipes To Thaw

Hillsborough County Water Resource Services (WRS) has received more than 300 phone calls this morning from customers whose water pipes are frozen.

The reports are coming from across the county, but appear to be most numerous in the Valrico, Brandon, Northdale and Westchase areas.

The only pipeline break at this time is on Metheny Circle, near Wilsky Boulevard and Hanley Road in the Town ‘N Country area. A leak in the 4-inch line does not appear to be weather-related and repairs are affecting about 20 homes.

With at least two more nights of freezing or near-freezing temperatures expected in this cold snap, WRS offers the following tips:

• Protect pipes, especially if they are exposed or the house or building insulation is insufficient. Look for where the water service enters the structure, and use an old blanket or material available from a home improvement store to insulate the pipe if it is exposed.
• Homes and buildings with crawl spaces are particularly susceptible to wind and freezing temperatures, so outdoor pipes should be protected from the elements.
• Secure water meter covers so the meter and surrounding pipes are not exposed.
• Insulate or cover exposed backflow prevention devices on fire lines and irrigation systems.
• Disconnect any outside water hoses from spigots, as water trapped inside can freeze and crack the hose.

Customers whose pipes are frozen are urged to be patient and wait a few hours for temperatures to warm and the pipes to thaw. Never use an open flame to thaw out a pipe.

If a pipe does burst, turn off the water supply by using the home’s shut-off valve, typically located under a sink or just outside the structure. If you are unable to shut off the water and are a WRS customer, immediately call Customer Service, 813-272-6680, or after regular business hours, 813-744-5600.

New Arbor Reserve Community Planned For Bloomingdale Avenue

New Arbor Reserve Community Planned For Bloomingdale Avenue
By Carisa Biesecker
Residents who live near Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico have had some grievances in the past with the acreage that lies on Bloomingdale Ave., battling the onslaught of developers with hopes of big-box stores and apartment complexes, but they now have found equal ground, as Bloomingdale Developers constructs Arbor Reserve Estates with the help of Zephyrhills’ South End Development.According to Hillsborough County Public Information Manager Willie Puz, this quaint, 33-single-family home development will sit upon 12.53 acres of land located between Lithia Pinecrest Rd. and Mulrennan Rd., almost adjacent to the Lithia Pinecrest Publix. He adds, “The developer is also extending the existing westbound right-turn lane on Bloomingdale Ave. onto Lithia Pinecrest Rd.”These custom-built homes, with square footage starting at approximately 3,000 sq. feet, will be encompassed within a gate and lush landscaping and regulated by a homeowners’ association. Described as “mid-range to high-range all-custom homes,” owner Naheem Francise, of Bloomingdale Developers, states, “I wanted to do something different…This is truly going to be custom homes, not low-end track homes. Homebuyers are going to get exactly what they want.”He says that he chose this parcel of land, having financed the project himself, because of the “potential” he said he saw in it. Having primarily worked in commercial construction before, he asserts, “It is just a great location.”With residents in the surrounding neighborhoods having gone up against real estate company Crosland from 2005-2008, they are now breathing a sigh of relief. Back then, Crosland was campaigning for the development of a luxury apartment complex containing retail space by the name of Vittoria on 18.42 acres located directly next to the land being developed, just east of the intersection of Bloomingdale Ave. and Lithia Pinecrest Rd., behind the Albertson’s-anchored shopping center and north of the Publix-anchored plaza.  Valrico resident Kevin Dorsey, homeowners’ association president of the 650-home Buckhorn Estates, as well as president of the Valrico Organization Interested in Controlled Expansion (VOICE), states, “We feel that the building of single-family homes is an appropriate use of the land east of Lithia Pinecrest Rd.,” adding that “large commercial developments, such as ‘big boxes,’ like Walmart or large apartment building developments, are not appropriate uses for land east of Lithia Pinecrest Rd.” Still, Dorsey believes that with additional housing, roadways will have to be altered, saying: “Increasing traffic along Bloomingdale Ave. and Lithia Pinecrest Rd. is an ongoing problem for all residents living in this area. However, large traffic attracting developments, such as I mentioned previously, would be brutal for our residents. Even with more homes being built in this area, Hillsborough County will be required to step up and improve this section of Bloomingdale Ave. and other local roads to handle the additional traffic.”Working in conjunction with Bloomingdale Developers and South End Development is Hamilton Engineering & Surveying, Inc. For more information on Arbor Reserve Estates, call Ginger Crabtree, of Florida Executive Realty, at 832-5400. Signage of the neighborhood should be installed within the next three-five weeks. To learn more about VOICE, visit www.MyValricoVoice.org.

Last Meeting To Voice Opinions On Lithia Pinecrest Parcel Announced

Last Meeting To Voice Opinions On Lithia Pinecrest Parcel Announced

By Michelle Caceres

Months after residents learned that a 19-acre parcel of land near their Valrico homes was in the process of being rezoned, opponents of the plan are still fighting against the change.More than 100 residents showed up at a meeting to plea with Zoning Hearing Master Steve Luce, who heard their numerous reasons as to why they oppose the proposed plan. The group donned red shirts in a show of solidarity, forming an impressive sea of red and filling the room at the County Center to capacity.The group says the construction of a commercial eyesore in the midst of its residential area- an area already in a close proximity to shopping and eating establishments- will cause an increase in traffic to already failing roadways, an increase in noise, a boost in crime levels, stormwater runoff from the development and a decline in property values.Valrico resident Lynea D’Angelo says fighting this rezoning proposal has felt like a full-time job. “I eat it, drink it and breathe it,” says D’Angelo.The 19.25-acre parcel is an open field and located east of Lithia Pinecrest Rd., between Brooker and Valrico roads. It is currently zoned ASC-1, meaning the property can be used for either agricultural purposes or for a housing development with a maximum of one single-family home per acre. The property owners, GLH Enterprises, L.L.C., are hoping to rezone the property as PD, a planned development. They hope to develop an office complex and shopping in the space.Neighborhoods abutting the property include the original Buckhorn Estates, Chelsea Woods, Lithia Oaks, Brooker Trace, Buckhorn Manor, High Point Estates, Oakwood Ravine and Buckhorn Gold Club Estates.Vincent Marchetti, attorney for the property owner, says his client has made significant changes to the project, including agreeing to postpone construction on a portion of the project until Lithia Pinecrest is widened to alleviate resident’s concerns.“My client has gone out of his way and has incurred significant expense to ensure comment from the public is obtained on this project,” says Marchetti. “We have listened to their issues.”D’Angelo says this cause has brought unity to many people living in neighborhoods that abut the property. “We’ve made some great friends out of this,” she says.The final decision about rezoning will be determined by the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, January 12, at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the County Center, located at 601 Kennedy Blvd. E. in Tampa. The meeting is open to the public.For more information, e-mail D’Angelo at lynea.dangelo2@verizon.net or call her at 661-8397 or contact Marchetti at vmarchetti@foley.com.

Red Light Camera Installed At Bell Shoals And Bloomingdale

Red Light Camera Installed At Bell Shoals And Bloomingdale
By Tamas Mondovics
Amidst some dispute over their effectiveness, motorists will now be under the watchful eye of red light cameras at a number of intersections throughout Hillsborough County.The county’s first red-light intersection became operational in late October, at Dale Mabry Hwy. and W. Waters Ave. in Tampa, with an initial 60-day warning period which will end on Tuesday, December 29.Since then, the county installed five more cameras four of which are located northwest of Brandon Blvd. including the intersections of Fletcher Ave. and Bruce B. Downs Blvd.; Sligh Ave. and Habana Ave.; Waters Ave. and Anderson Rd. and Brandon Blvd. and Grand Regency Blvd. The Bloomingdale Ave. and Bell Shoals Rd. intersection has also received a red light camera, welcomed by area residents who expressed appreciation for the installation during the community’s monthly council meeting at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office District 4 Bloomingdale substation.“Hopefully this will increase driver awareness and reduce accidents at this dangerous intersection,” said District 4 Community Resource Deputy Pete Maurer.Cameras will take images of cars and their license plates, then a sheriff’s office employee will review the video before issuing a citation, which will become public record. An appeal can be heard by a hearing officer. The cost for red light runners will be $125 and will escalate in $75 increments following the second citation to a maximum of $500. There will be an exception in some cases, including drivers clearing a path for emergency vehicles.According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, red-light cameras reduce traffic accidents by almost 25 percent.The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on behalf of the equipment last year based on data by the sherriff’s office which has issued nearly 3,800 red light citations, blaming hundreds of them on red-light runners.Commenting on the results, which promise a decrease in broadside collisions, some have noted that rear-end collisions may increase as drivers become more aware of the camera—possibly after receiving a fine—and slam on the brakes to avoid getting caught. This seems to be causing concern over the efficiency of the traffic data; Sheriff Corporal Darrin Barlow was not worried.“The department is confident that the red-light cameras will make a difference,” he said, but added, “The sheriff’s department meets monthly monitoring the latest crash data.” For more information about the county’s effort of the red-light cameras, please visit www.hcso.tampa.fl.us.

Veterans Park Expands To Honor Vets From WWI To Present

By Jennifer Silverstein

With Veterans Day still fresh in the minds of all Americans, including those in Hillsborough County and the greater Brandon area, the Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park and Museum and the museum committee recently held a ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of the master renovation plan.The current Veterans Memorial Park sits on 35 acres on the corner of U.S. Hwy. 301 and the Tampa By-Pass Canal. Last year, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) awarded the park and museum $2.5 million, which was originally to be used for a sports complex. According to the Chairman of the Museum Committee and President of the Hillsborough County Veterans Council, David Braun, the master plan for the park expansion will be done in seven phases, beginning with the installation of a new entryway and signage, overall road and running service infrastructure and an icon inside the park. The icon final design will be decided on Monday, December 14 at the Veterans Council meeting and will have the phrase, “The price of freedom is visible here,” inscribed on it. During the fourth phase of the expansion, observation decks and what is being called the “freedom trail” will be constructed, followed by the exhibits and war memorials, including the 12 Theaters of War, beginning with the Seminole Indian War, and going all the way through today’s Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Volunteers and ideas are still needed for the 12 Theaters of War. “We need people to jump on board,” Braun said. If anyone would like to volunteer or has an idea, they can contact him directly at 310-8513 or call the Veterans Museum at 744-5502. The Vietnam veterans in the Tampa Bay area are also selling engraved bricks to be placed in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza, which will be used to create a walkway with two helicopters and a Jeep from the Vietnam era on either side of it. Four-inch by 8-inch bricks with three lines of text and 15 characters per line will cost $50. The same sized brick with two lines of text and a logo costs $50 and an 8-inch by 8-inch brick with three lines of text and a logo will run you $100. “And bricks you buy together will stay together,” Braun assured. To purchase a brick, visit www.hcmemorials.com.

Thankgiving Day Big Give Gets Even Bigger In South Shore

By Kelly Legg
South Shore’s Big Give is an example of how a grass roots effort can change a community. Beth Howard, owner of South Shore Gallery in Apollo Beach, felt a calling to feed people in need on Thanksgiving Day 2008.  Just by word-of-mouth, the community came together and served over 300 needy families.  “I was feeling led to organize an event to help people and families here in South Hillsborough County,” said Howard.  “Everything just started falling into place. Everyone I asked was excited to be a part of it.”The event is being held again this Thanksgiving Day beginning at 11 a.m. at Beanie’s Family Sports Grill, located at on 2002 S. U.S. Hwy. 41 in Ruskin. The restaurant’s owner, Beanie Tichy, cooked 40 turkeys last year that were donated by South Bay Hospital.  “This was such a rewarding event last year,” said Tichy. “We expect to feed 600 people this year.”“People in the area have been so generous,” said Howard. Last month, The South Shore Anglers held a fishing tournament and event coordinator, Steve Hoffman, donated the proceeds to The Big Give. “That gave us the jump-start we needed for some of our funding needs,” said Howard.  Feeding the multitudes is no easy task. Currently, South Shore’s Big Give is looking for more donations and volunteers. “We need crews to help cook, set-up, serve, clean-up, and deliver meals to people that have no transportation,” says Howard. “We are also hoping for more local business sponsors and individual donations to help offset the cost.”  Last year, the event needed drivers to deliver meals to those who were unable to drive to Beanie’s because of transportation issues. “We are planning on packing up several hundred to-go meals and deliver them to people on Thanksgiving Day,” says Tichy.  “We need people who are able to make these deliveries.”Those who can’t help on Thanksgiving Day can stop by and drop off canned goods at Beanie’s on 2002  U.S. Hwy. 41 S. to help re-stock the shelves at the South Hillsborough Community Cupboard. Canned goods are being accepted beginning at 11 a.m. only on Thanksgiving Day thursday, November 26, at Beanies. Some of the dry goods needed are spaghetti sauce, canned chili, soup, vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, boxed macaroni and cheese, rice, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo and soap.To donate to this event, or to volunteer, please call Howard at 687-0483 or e-mail at beth@southshoregallery.com.