Water Resource Center Closing

Water Resource Services To Close SouthShore Customer Service Branch

The Hillsborough County Water Resource Services’ SouthShore customer service center, located within the SouthShore Regional Service Center at 410 SE 30th St. in Ruskin, will close. The Brandon office will remain open and is located in the Brandon Crossings Shopping Center at S.R. 60 and Falkenburg Rd., operating from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information, call 272-6680.

Business Woman Nominated

Mary Ann Wilhelm has been nominated by the SouthShore Charter Chapter of the American Business Woman’s Association as its “Top Ten Woman of the Year” Her entry will be forwarded to ABWA’s National Headquarters for inclusion in its search for the Top Ten Women of ABWA. The SouthShore Chapter of the American Business Women’s Network is seeking new members. Meetings are held the third Monday of the month. The next meeting will be held at Apollo’s Bistro, located at 6520 Richies Way in Apollo Beach, at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 20. Dinner will be $16, including tip.

For more information, visit www.sswbn.org.

Rotary Installation Dinner Announced

The Rotary Club of SouthShore will hold its annual installation dinner on Wednesday, July 15, at 5:30 p.m., with the ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. at Ybor Grille, located at 105 E. Shell Point Rd. in Ruskin. The cost per person is $30. Rotarians, their spouses and guests are welcome.

RSVP by 12 Noon, Friday, July 10, to d.madden@verizon.net or call 645-3732.

Business Helps Combat Cancer

If you need any computer work done (virus removal, upgrade), CRT Computers will charge for parts only and all labor charges (donations) go to the Susan Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day. Any profits from newly purchased computers will also go to the Susan Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day. This is a limited time offer, ending Friday, July 31.

Please contact John Delage at 671-1108 for more details.

Cat Lovers Invited

Feline Folks is conducting the free Colony Caretaking program on Tuesday, August 18, at 2 p.m. at the South Shore Regional Library, located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin. There will be hands-on humane trap training. Residents are encouraged to bring an unopened can of food or tuna for the Feed the Tuna Chest cat food drive.

For more information, call 944-7651.

Chamber Members Can Facebook

You can now find the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce page on Facebook by simply searching for “Ruskin Chamber” and selecting “request friend.” Located at 315 S Tamiami Trl. in Ruskin, the chamber aims to keep members informed and increase the exposure of its businesses, with a “Business of the Week” being featured, along with other chamber activities.

For more information, call 645-3808.

Pancake Breakfast Kicks Off Mayor’s Race

The Pancake Breakfast/Honorary Mayor kickoff is Thursday, July 9, at Calvary Lutheran Church 5309 N. U.S. Hwy. 41 in Apollo Beach. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased in advance at the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce office.

For more information, call 645-3808.

Volunteers Needed at Library

Hillsborough County Libraries have installed automated check-out equipment at most libraries. Located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin, SouthShore Library would like to launch a pilot program to train volunteers to assist customers in checking out books and other items from the library. All necessary training will be provided.

Call Jo Combs at 672-1156 or email combsm@hillsboroughcounty.org.

Partnerships Formed For HealthFest

Coldwell Banker, Dolphin Realty has combined with South Bay Church and Wholesome Community Ministries to serve the local community with a free Back-to-School Blessings HealthFest, providing various health screening tests, nutritional seminars, hair cuts, backpacks, shoes, socks and much more on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at South Bay Church, located at 13498 S. U.S. Hwy. 301. Monetary and physical donations can be dropped off at Coldwell Banker Dolphin Realty, located at 208 Apollo Beach Blvd. in Apollo Beach.

For more information, contact Diane Allers at 545-0267.

Fundraiser Goes to the Dogs

On Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Give A Dog A Bone, located at 6114 N. U.S. Hwy. 41 in Apollo Beach, will host a dog wash for $5 using all-natural shampoo, with conditioner being $1 extra and nail trimming being $8. Kitty Groomer will be clipping cat’s nails for $8. All proceeds will benefit CARE, an animal shelter in Ruskin.

For more information, call 641-3734.

Wii Gaming for Seniors at Library

The SouthShore Regional Library, located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin, will be offering Wii gaming for seniors this summer. Dates and times include: Tuesday, July 14, at 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, July 25, at 2 p.m.; Thursday, August 13, at 4 p.m.; and Saturday, August 29, at 2 p.m.

For more information, please call 273-3652 or visit www.hcplc.org.

Beefs Hosts Summer Fun

Summerfield Beefs, located at 13326 Lincoln Rd. in Riverview, will offer the following free events: Guitar Hero Duals on Mondays at 7 p.m.; Wii Adult Bowling Monday at 7 p.m.; Kids Eat Free every Tuesday from 4-8 p.m.; and Wii Kids Bowling Wednesday at 2 p.m.

For more information, call 672-4277.

Crop for a Cure Announced

A scrapbook crop will take place on Saturday, August 8, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Bayou Pass Village Clubhouse, located  at the corner of 14th Ave. S.E. and 24th St. S.E. in Ruskin. The cost is $35 and includes: raffles, door prizes, vendors, lunch and a donation made in your name to benefit the fight against breast cancer.

Please RSVP by emailing bsgetz@verizon.net.

RUMC Announces Camp EDGE

Riverview United Methodist Church, located at 8002 S. U.S. Hwy. 301 in Riverview, invites all children from 3 years old-fifth grade to attend Camp EDGE Vacation Bible School from Sunday-Thursday, July 12-16, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., with a parents’ program on Friday, July 16.

Registration forms are available at www.riverviewflumc.org. For more information, call 677-5995.

Simmons Loop Hosts Boomerang Express

Simmons Loop Baptist Church Boomerang Express Vacation Bible School will be from Sunday-Thursday, July 26-30, from 6-9 p.m., at 6610 Simmons Loop.

For more information, call 677-9310 or 741-0450.

Church Initiates Christmas in July

The annual Calvary Lutheran Church Christmas in July, to benefit Mary and Martha House and local area schools, will be held Wednesday, July 15, at 6 p.m. at 5309 N. U.S. Hwy. 41 in Apollo Beach with a Christmas dinner and Christmas carol. The cost is $7 per person, $25 per family (immediate members) and open to the public. All proceeds will matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Attendees are asked to bring a back-to-school item to be placed under the Christmas tree.

Reservations can be made by contacting the church office at 645-1305.

Health Fair Announced

On Saturday, August 8, the First Baptist Church of Riverview, located at 8626 S. U.S. Hwy. 301 in Riverview, will be hosting a health fair from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., partnering with Moffitt’s Community Education and Outreach Department. The event will offer community health screenings and education; and include refreshments, music and other activities.

For more information, email Jeannette.Palencia@moffitt.org.

Teens Summer Art Classes

The John Crawford Art Studio at the SouthShore Regional Library, located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin, will offer ages 11-18 the following summer classes: Wednesday, July 22, from 6:30-8 p.m.- Watercolor Pencil; Wednesday, August 12, from 6:30-8 p.m.- Acrylic Painting.

For more information, call 273-3652.

Homeschooled Students Have Options

TechPlayzone, located at 13208 Boyette Rd. in Riverview, announced its home school schedule and will be offering Robotics Level I on Fridays from 9-10 a.m. for $25 per month; Computer Science I (Video Game Creation) on Wednesdays from 9-10 a.m. for $25 per month; Jr. Scientists on Fridays from 10:15-11 for $20 per month; Robotics Level II on Wednesdays from 9- 10 a.m. for $25 per month; Web Design and Animation on Wednesdays from 9-10 a.m. at $25 per month; Computer Science II (Programming Concepts) on Wednesdays from 10:15- 11:15 a.m. at $25 per month. All classes listed will run from September –May, excluding December. Families who enroll in more than one course receive a 10 percent discount. Families with multiple students receive an additional 10 percent off each additional sibling.

To learn more, visit www.techplayzone.com/techplay or call 684-7329.

Camp Offered for Girls

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF) invites girls entering first through 12th grades to discover camp this summer. Space is still available in July at the council’s camp property Camp Dorothy Thomas in Riverview. Camp programs such as high adventure, equestrian, arts, video, swimming, sports, science, photography and more are open to all girls ages 6 – 17, whether or not they are registered Girl Scouts.

Additional information regarding each camp session and online registration is available on the council’s Website: www.gswcf.org.

Special Deals from PlayMania

Join PlayMania, located at 10655 Big Bend Rd. in Riverview, for Family Fun Night, every other Friday evening from 6-7:30 p.m. Check out its schedule to see this month’s themes. Also, the Drop-off Sports Class is coming soon. This class will help your child understand organized sports, including how to have fun, improve or learn skills, numbers, make new friends and, of course, be healthy. Summer camps are almost here. Now is the time to reserve your spot. Check out the summer camp page for more information on dates, themes and pricing.

To sign up or for more information, send an email to info@playmaniatampa.com or call 649-8919.

Troop Revamps Camp Bayou

The Native People’s Camp at Camp Bayou was recently given a facelift by the young ladies from Brownie Troop 1243 and Junior Troop 356, both from Ruskin. The exhibit had been created by three Eagle Scouts a few years ago but had been showing signs of weathering over time. The Native People’s Camp is ready for guests – either free informal visits or formal programs requesting a modest charge per person. In addition, the simulated archaeology dig offers visitors the opportunity to be ‘archaeologist for a morning’- pre-registration required.

If you have a group that would like to schedule a formal program for either the Native People’s Camp or the archaeology dig, please email campbayou@yahoo.com or call 363-5438.

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Carisa Biesecker
Carisa is a Senior News Reporter and Assistant Editor at the Osprey Observer. When she's not at work, she continues to write, working on future projects; hangs out with friends and family, her best friend (aka her husband) and her four dogs.