TAMPA (February 1, 2012) — For more than five decades, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has set the industry’s standard for delivering unforgettable entertainment experiences, with Broadway-style stage spectaculars like KaTonga: Musical Tales From the Jungle and innovative ice shows like World [...]]]> Busch Gardens’ Biggest Ice Show to Date Takes the Ice on 2-2-12

TAMPA (February 1, 2012) — For more than five decades, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has set the industry’s standard for delivering unforgettable entertainment experiences, with Broadway-style stage spectaculars like KaTonga: Musical Tales From the Jungle and innovative ice shows like World Rhythms on Ice. Iceploration builds on that tradition and introduces audiences to the next generation of ice shows.

Starting February 2, a cast of 20 brings to life an all-new adventure filled with world-class skaters, more than 75 original costumes, amazing aerial performances, master puppetry and live animal stars, with shows daily in the Moroccan Palace.

“The grand scale of this show sets a new standard of entertainment that further solidifies Busch Gardens as one of Florida’s premier theme parks,” said Busch Gardens Park President Jim Dean. “Iceploration reintroduces the ice show to our most loyal fans while bringing together the things Busch Gardens stage productions do best: world-class entertainment with top-notch skaters, amazing costumes, original music, larger-than-life puppets and even animal stars.”

Iceploration inspires audiences to “explore the world” on a 30-minute journey to the four corners of the earth. This multi-sensory story, told through theatrical skating and an all-new original score, is the collaboration of an award-winning creative team with Broadway credentials, including Tony Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes (The Drowsy Chaperone, Best Costume Design Tony winner 2007; Legally Blonde the Musical, Best Costume Design Tony nominee 2007).

The 30-minute show opens with Austin, a digitally savvy preteen, who believes that technology has made his generation more connected to the world than ever before. But his grandfather – and old-world explorer – argues that the boy is more disconnected than he realizes, and takes him on an adventure around the globe. Through their travels they visit the African Serengeti, Great Barrier Reef, the Arctic and the Amazon rainforest.

The adventure unfolds as they arrive in the African Serengeti. Here, larger-than-life puppets and spectacular set design bring elephants and other awe-inspiring animals to life at a watering hole. Solo and chorus skating performances accompanied by acrobatics tell an anecdote of an agile cheetah stalking graceful gazelles and meerkats.

Austin and Grandpa then dive into the Great Barrier Reef to explore the harmony of life on the ocean floor. An amazing black light transition and never-before-seen helium-filled puppets immerse the audience in the wonders of the sea, filled with parrotfish and lionfish, sea urchins, turtles and a moray eel.

In the Arctic, majestic skaters become striking snow flurries as a winter storm threatens the travelers. Austin and Grandpa witness even more beauty as they encounter the Aurora Borealis phenomenon, represented with theatrical lighting and projections. Then, they share the stage with amazing live animal stars, including a Siberian lynx and a sled of Siberian huskies as they continue to traverse the tundra.

Austin and Grandpa wrap up their adventure around the globe immersed in the lush, tropical Amazon Rainforest. Squirrel monkeys, sun conures and colorful macaws fill the air as playful frogs and a graceful dragonfly skate into the grand finale: a new signature song called “Meet the World.”

Iceploration performances are included with any daily park admission or annual Pass. For more information, visit BuschGardens.com

If you’re not already a fan, “like” Busch Gardens Tampa Bay at facebook.com or check out the park’s blog at BuschGardensTampaBlog.com to get insider updates on Iceploration and all of the park’s happenings.

It took about an hour for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR), along with multiple neighboring crews, [...]]]> Hillsborough County Fire Rescue 1st-Battalion Chief Paul McClamma from station 37 watches as his crew works on bringing a brush fire under control that started on a vacant field near the FishHawk Publix Plaza, and Tire Choice in Lithia.

It took about an hour for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR), along with multiple neighboring crews, to fight a three acre brush fire on a vacant field north of the FishHawk Publix Plaza behind the Tire Choice on Sunday, January 15, in Lithia before the flames were brought under control.

According to HCFR 1-Battalion Chief Paul McClamma, from station 37, about 12 units along with several brush fire control trucks responded to the scene.

The fire started around 12:30 p.m. and quickly spread, threatening a residential neighborhood as well as nearby businesses while many watched the flames being chased by HCFR personnel.

“We started attacking the fire from the side nearest to the homes,” McClamma said.

No buildings were damaged and there were no injuries.

While the cause is under investigation Patrick Keogh, with the Florida Forest Services, also on the scene, said that the fire was likely caused by humans.

“With conditions ripe, it takes very little for brush fires to start,” Keogh said. “From now until June it’s good for area residents to be vigilant.”

For more information on brush fires, please visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/firerescue/divisions/suppression.cfm

New State-of-the-Art [...]]]> Busch Gardens senior veterinarian technician Mary Port works with senior veterinarian Dr. Pete Black to prepare a greater anteater for a cardiology exam at the Animal Care Center.  The Center’s treatment room offers park guests views of the park’s veterinary staff conducting preventative checkups, treatments and surgeries through floor-to ceiling glass walls.

New State-of-the-Art Facility Educates Guests, Offers One-Of-A-Kind Access To Park’s World-Class Animal Care

Busch Gardens welcomes guests to closely observe and even take part in the animal care experience when the Tampa park opens its new Animal Care Center on Jan. 23, 2012. From nutrition to treatments, X-rays to surgeries, much of Busch Gardens’ animal care will be conducted in guest view in this new state-of-the-art facility.

“We are proud of the care we provide our animals,” said Mike Boos, vice president of zoological operations. “We welcome the opportunity to share our level of care with our guests, and to continue our mission of connecting guests to animals and the natural world. No other zoological facility can offer the unique, up-close experience that this new facility will provide.”

The major guest components of the new facility include a nutrition center, treatment rooms, a clinical lab and an interactive diagnostic activity. The nutrition center will feature a kitchen similar in set-up to a cooking show on television. Educators will lead demonstrations several times a day on the planning and preparation of animal diets.  Guests will even have the chance to assist in preparing and doling out the range of food the park provides its animals, from fruits and vegetables to crickets and mealworms. Nutrition demonstrations will take place during scheduled times each day.

The treatment center will allow guests to watch as Busch Gardens’ skilled vets do preventative checkups, treatments and surgeries on animals. Guests will be able to see into the rooms through glass walls, and audio capabilities will allow guests to talk to vets working behind the glass. Cameras placed over the exam table will show unique vantage points to guests who can watch on monitors. During treatments and surgeries, zoo educators will also be on hand to talk about what’s taking place. Since it is a working center, procedures will vary daily, and will not take place during all scheduled park hours due to field work, office work and other projects requiring the vets’ time and attention.  Daily schedules will be subject to change.

In the clinical lab, staff will perform tests on samples collected from the animals, such as blood, urine, and feces, using the same types of laboratory equipment used in human hospitals and veterinary clinics.  A camera connected to the laboratory’s microscope will allow guests to see exactly what the staff who are looking under the microscope see.

Guests can also participate in a diagnostic exercise by scanning an interactive activity card at several stations as they follow an animal from diagnosis to treatment to blood and lab work to a final outcome.

In addition to the guest views, the new facility will also include animal recovery and holding rooms and vet offices. The new, nearly 16,000 square-foot facility replaced the rhino exhibit in the Nairobi area of the park. The park’s former animal care center was located behind the scenes.

Busch Gardens, and its parent company, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, are world leaders in animal care, caring for more than 60,000 animals, one of the world’s largest zoological collections. Busch Gardens Tampa cares for more than 2,000 animals representing 307 species.

Busch Gardens Senior Veterinarian Dr. Pete Black consults with Dr. Cathy Lynch-Buckhorn, Associate Vice President for Women’s Health and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine, while performing an ultrasound on a white-cheeked gibbon at the Animal Care Center. From nutrition to treatments, X-rays to surgeries, much of Busch Gardens’ animal care is conducted in guest view in this new state-of-the-art facility.

Dr. Pete Black performs an annual teeth cleaning on a muntjac at Busch Gardens’ Animal Care Center. From nutrition to treatments, X-rays to surgeries, much of Busch Gardens’ animal care is conducted in guest view in this new state-of-the-art facility.

Senior Veterinarian Dr. Alex Cole carefully sutures a fire-belly toad’s ulcerated eye in the treatment room at Busch Gardens’ new Animal Care Center. The Center’s treatment room offers park guests views of the park’s veterinary staff conducting preventative checkups, treatments and surgeries through floor-to ceiling glass walls.

“Although too early to tell, if the landfill liner is breached, contaminates from the dump could leak into the Florida Aquifer where some people get their drinking water,” said Patricia Berry with Solid Waste Management during a media briefing in connection with a possible sinkhole at the Southeast Hillsborough County Landfill on C.R. 672 [...]]]>

“Although too early to tell, if the landfill liner is breached, contaminates from the dump could leak into the Florida Aquifer where some people get their drinking water,” said Patricia Berry with Solid Waste Management during a media briefing in connection with a possible sinkhole at the Southeast Hillsborough County Landfill on C.R. 672 in Lithia.

Berry added that authorities called to the scene have no proof that the liner has been punctured, but a depression in the landfill was discovered on Tuesday, December 14 by the county’s public utilities department workers, which at the time measured approximately 50 feet across and 4 to 5 feet deep was growing.

Within 24 hours the hole dropped 45 feet, growing to 75 feet across and 50 feet deep with no signs of stopping.

“The cracks around the perimeter got wider and then the ground just started going down with smoke coming out of the middle,” said landfill supervisor, Larry Ruiz, who was surveying the initial depression when the ground gave way, sinking more than 40 feet of waste into the earth.

“We don’t know at this time if there has been a breach in the bottom liner,” Berry said but added that Public Utilities officials believe that the hole was not caused by normal settling.

This is the first sinkhole at the facility, which has opened its door to serve the county in 1984.

Berry emphasized that the daily operations of the facility have been diverted to other areas of the landfill and a segment of a nearby service road has been closed. A portion of the active landfill gas collection system has been shut off within the area impacted by the sinkhole and state and local officials, environmental agencies as well as county safety officials have been immediately notified.

“There is a system of groundwater monitoring wells in operation of this facility,” Berry said. “We will be stepping up our monitoring program.”

The landfill is located on 3,300 acres at 15960 C.R. 672 in Lithia.

The area of the sinkhole contains a mix of municipal solid waste and ash from the county’s resource recovery facility.

The DEP is supposed to survey the scene on Thursday. That agency along with SWFMUD will help county authorities execute an action plan.

For more information, please visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org.

Check out our photos from the FANG Back to School Festival.

Check out our photos from the Brandon Fourth of July Parade. To download any of these pictures for free, click on the photo below, then click on the  logo under the picture, then click on the “All Sizes” button that appears above the picture. From there you can select what size you want and [...]]]>

Check out our photos from the Brandon Fourth of July Parade.
To download any of these pictures for free, click on the photo below, then click on the  logo under the picture, then click on the “All Sizes” button that appears above the picture. From there you can select what size you want and follow the link to download.

Photos from the Presentation of the July ShopLOCAL Winner – Rolling Pin.

Photos from the Brandon Foundation Check Presentation.