Bloomingdale/FishHawk
33
January 2024
Volume 23, Issue 1
Y EIAN R REVIEW
Ph: 813-657-2418
36
CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
LOCAL GIRL MAKES JEWELRY TO HELP ANIMALS INVOLVED IN MAUI FIRES
COMMUNITY CELEBRATES LONG-AWAITED BELL SHOALS COMPLETION
By Brian Bokor
By Ashley Abene
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
Commissioner Michael Owen was at the recent ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of the newly widened Bell Shoals Road.
Residents and commuters who travel Bell Shoals Road will have a finished new corridor this month as a ribbon-cutting event celebrates the completion of the expanded roadway. The 3.1-mile corridor has two new vehicle lanes, bike lanes and sidewalks in both directions. A new traffic signal has been added at Starwood Avenue, and the existing signals at Glenhaven Drive, Rosemead Lane and Bloomingdale Avenue have been upgraded. In addition, the existing bridge over the Alafia River was widened. These tremendous enhancements will accommodate higher traffic volumes, improve stormwater drainage and boost the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Additionally, they will increase access to transit and alternative transportation while preserving infrastructure assets. The new Bell Shoals Road corridor is the latest in a string of massive infrastructure projects in Hillsborough County, including the Bruce B. Downs Boulevard expansion, the Citrus Park Drive extension and the Paseo al Mar Boulevard overpass connecting U.S. 301 and U.S. 41 in South County. All of these projects increased safety for drivers as well as pedestrians and bicyclists, and improved mobility across the county. The Bell Shoals Road project cost just over $70 million, including land acquisition and construction. The project was paid for with a variety of funding sources, including the Community Investment Tax (CIT), federal grants and mobility fees. The widening plans were introduced to the community at an open house public meeting held at the Bloomingdale Library in October 2018 with construction beginning soon after, so the excitement to announce completion of the five-plus-year project was palpable. Representatives from five of unincorporated Hillsborough County’s seven districts
were present for the ribbon-cutting, along with Carl Harness, chief human services administrator for Hillsborough County; Kim Byer, assistant county administrator of the Public Works Administration; and Suzy Watts, Bloomingdale Neighborhood Association president. “Bell Shoals is major thoroughfare for this community and all of East Hillsborough,” District 5 Commissioner Donna Cameron-Cepeda told the crowd, adding that the road and its artilleries “serve tens of thousands of people each day.” District 4 Commissioner Michael Owen, a longtime resident of the area, followed by explaining how important completion of Bell Shoals was to the surrounding area. He said, “This is where multiple communities come together to share this road,” including Brandon, Riverview to the west, Lithia to the south and Valrico to the east, while emphasizing there is still “more work to do on this side of town” as growth continues. Owen commended county staff and fellow Board of County Commissioners colleagues, stating that over the past year they’ve “turned a focus over to roads and infrastructure” after “hearing loud and clear from constituents,” promising to stay the course. He mentioned Lithia Pinecrest Road and Triple Creek Boulevard as roads that are “desperately needed”, with the Bell Shoals widening being the first step to achieving that goal.
IN THIS ISSUE: FLIGHT TO HONOR .............................PG 3 MOTORING TAMPA BAY .................PG 5 PARTNERS IN GIVING..................PG 10 EYE ON BUSINESS ...................... .PGS 25 NEW ADVENTURE ISLAND...........PG26
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In August 2023, and animals (as well as a series of wildfires people), so she decidbroke out on the ised to make necklaces land of Maui, Hawaii. to sell. We work a lot One FishHawk girl who with Peacefield Farm attends Bevis ElemenSanctuary (owned tary School, Brynley by John and Emma Lavayen, was very conHoel) and knew they cerned for the welfare had friends in rescue of the animals on the in Maui. We asked for island exposed to that recommendations for fire. She has a passion rescues that were in for animals, and she the area that were knew this wildfire had affected by the wildBrynley Lavayen sells necklaces at Peacefield Farm Sanctuary to raise to have a negative imfires.” money for animal rescues in Maui, pact on the animals in As of now, BrynHawaii to help animals who have Maui. She decided that ley has raised over suffered in the wildfires. she needed to find a $1,000 from selling way to help. these necklaces. EvAfter brainstorming ery dollar donated ideas with her mom, through the purchase 8-year-old Brynley beof a necklace is split gan making and selland sent directly to ing necklaces to raise two animal rescues money for a couple of in Maui: the Good Cat animal rescues on the Network and Leilani island. Brynley sells Farm Sanctuary. The her necklaces through Good Cat Network resword of mouth, social cues cats and kittens media sites and in-perfrom Maui and puts son events at Peacethem into good homes field Farm Sanctuary in Brynley Lavayen loves helping animals on the mainland (since Gainesville. Maui is overcrowded in any way that she can. Customers can make with feral cats). Leilani specific requests for neckFarm Sanctuary reslace designs, such as pickcues cats and farm aning a chain or ribbon and imals. To find out more choosing a charm or even information about these a birthstone. The cost of animal rescues, visit each necklace is $15. h t t p s : / /g o o d c a t n e t Brynley’s mom, Heathwork.org/mauistrong/ er Lavayen, said, “Brynley and https://leilanifarmBrynley Lavayen makes all kinds has lived her whole life of necklaces with ribbon or metal sanctuary.org/. helping animals. She is a strands and any charm or birthTo find out how to huge vegan and animal support Brynley in her stone of choice. rights advocate. When we were speak- efforts to help animals impacted by the ing about the Maui wildfires, she knew wildfires in Maui, contact her mom at that this would greatly impact wildlife heatherch3@gmail.com.
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1/31/2024
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1/31/2024