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Public Hearing For Expansion of Valrico Rec Center

Marie Gilmore — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:02:44 +0000

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
March 5, 2009
Public Meeting Scheduled to Discuss the Proposed
Phase II of the Development of the Valrico Recreation Center
Hillsborough County will hold a public meeting to discuss Phase II of the Development of the Valrico Recreation Center.
The proposed project includes adding a football field, along with an irrigation system and lights. In addition, parking will be expanded. Phase II is budgeted at $250,000 through CIP (Capital Improvement Program) funds.
The park currently has a recreation building that houses the after-school and summer playground program, walking trail, basketball court, playground, parking and landscaping.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the details of the project and receive public input. County staff will be at the meeting to answer any questions residents may have.
Please attend, we welcome your input.
* Date: Tuesday, March 10
* Time: 6:30 p.m.
* Place: Valrico Recreation Center, 707 S. Miller Road, Valrico, FL 33594

All meeting facilities are ADA compliant. For additional assistance, please call us.

For more information, residents should call Steve Valdez, Public Works Department – Quality Assurance Section, at 813-272-5275 (TTY: 813-301-7172)

Lithia Pinecrest Road Widening Public Meeting Draws Crowds

Tamas Mondovics — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:17:29 +0000

Hundreds attended a recent public meeting concerning the proposed widening of approximately an 11 mile section of Lithia Pinecrest Rd. from its current two travel lane roadway to a six travel lane roadway, affecting the Brandon, Bloomingdale and Lithia communities from S.R. 60 in Brandon to C.R. 39. Local residents who showed up at the Palmetto Club at FishHawk Ranch to hear more extensively about the project had the opportunity to view maps, elevations, a video presentation of the proposed change, as well as talk to county officials on-hand to address questions and concerns. Hillsborough County, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), has been working on preparing a Project Development and Environment (PDE) Study to consider the proposed widening of Lithia Pinecrest Rd., which according to county officials and many local residents, at this point, is simply not sufficient to handle the traffic. “Portions of this roadway currently operate below the county’s adopted minimum acceptable level-of-service standard,” said Hillsborough County Engineering Division Public Works Center Project Manager William Alford. Alford explained that the meeting was strictly about gathering information and that the improvements are intended to accommodate both existing and future traffic volumes as well as enhance motorist safety and reduce emergency response times. But while area residents in general agree that something needs to be done, just as many were unsatisfied due to the lack of information offered by the county. For starters, county officials were faced with complaints that the video presentation of the project seemed to be short on facts. The hot topic that seemed to concern most included the lack of traffic lights planned for the Valrico portion of the project. “I don’t see how they can talk about safety. It is difficult to turn onto Lithia Pinecrest going north now. How is that going to be better trying to cross three lanes and then merge in to three lanes of traffic without a traffic light,” said Gene Will of Valrico, who has lived on Hummingbird Ln. for the past 40 years and is very concerned about being able to turn northbound onto Lithia Pinecrest once the six lane road project is completed. For many residents the small but problematic as well as infamous, Bell Shoals Road and Lithia Pinecrest intersection just a few yards south of Lumsden was the worry of the day-although not on the agenda for the meeting-the proposed road widening plan will include the turning Bell Shoals Road, into a cul-de-sac, cutting traffic flow from it to merge onto Lithia Pinecrest. That is a big problem for Sue Curd with Curd and Associates who feels that the change would choke or at least alter the volume that her business generates. “I will lose business,” she said. Jim Barfield, also a Valrico resident for the past four decades whose wife Jean became Honorary Mayor of Brandon in1996, was disturbed by the fact that the County took this long to decide on thinking about the roads. “The County has been passing out building permits to developers for years. Now they have a problem on their hands and rightly; nobody is happy,” Barfield said. Good, bad or ugly, the meeting seemed to have accomplished its purpose and as expected could and would not please everyone while provided an opportunity to hear or to be heard. One thing is sure. This project will be done and Lithia Pinecrest Road will be a six lane major artery for commuters even if its success remains to be seen. For ore information about the project or for project updates, public comments and concerns please visit www.lpcstudy.com.

RH Holds Season’s First College Signing

Tamas Mondovics — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:38:50 +0000

Known for its high number of students who receive both athletic and academic scholarships year after year, Riverview High School has once again wasted no time to hold its first college signing of the 2008-09 school year.
Continuing in the tradition of parents, friends, teachers and coaches who gather in the principal’s conference room for a festive occasion, the school hosted a college signing for Kayla Webb in September.
Webb, who has played for the Sharks’ girl soccer team, was excited to sign her letter of intent on attending and, of course, playing soccer for Tennessee Temple University, a choice, she admitted was not too difficult to make since she will be joining her best friend Brandy Schock, who had signed with Tennessee Temple University at the end of the last season and began attending this year.
“My coaches and Brandy have convinced me to take this road, and, now, I can hardly wait to start,” Webb said.
Pleased with Webb’s success, Riverview High School Athletic Director Ron Wardlow began the ceremony by sharing his thoughts with those present.
“The greatest joy for a school is to see a student succeed and advance both academically and athletically,” Wardlow said, adding, “We are extremely proud of Kayla and wish her the best at her new school.”
Riverview High School principal Robert Heilman was also proud of Webb and her decision when he said, “I am pleased with your choice, not only of the sport but of the education as well. We wish you a successful future.”
According to Steven Houle, who has coached the girls soccer program at Riverview for the last three years and has now tuned the responsibility over to the school’s new head soccer coach Katie Reed, Webb was essential to the Sharks’ success.
“Kayla is a happy spirit, and I have enjoyed her company on the team. She has played and is capable of playing well in every position. She is a team player and never questioned her coaches. I am honored to have had her here with us,” Houle said.
Webb’s future college coaches Matt Smith and assistant coach Carlos Goncalves were also present during the celebration. While Webb will play-out most of the current season, she will be graduating early.
For more information about upcoming events and future college signings, please call the school at 671-5011, ext. 222.