Bloomingdale/FishHawk
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July 2016 Volume 15, Issue 6 Ph: 657-2418 1 5
Y E A R S
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P U B L I S H I N G
Hillsborough County Counts On AwardWinning Lithia Water Treatment Plant
By Marie Gilmore
C O M M U N I T Y
By Kathy L. Collins
munications tool for us, and we ask that voters review the new cards carefully to ensure that their name, address and party affiliation are correct, and to see whether their precinct or Election Day place has changed.” After each U.S. Census is conducted every 10 years, the Legislature redraws the districts from which Florida voters elect their state representatives, state senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives (Congress). Redistricting is the process of redrawing Every voter in Hillsborough County should be aware of the redrawn districts for the U.S. Congress and State Senate seats the districts to adjust up for election this year. for uneven growth rates in different parts As you prepare to vote in the upcomof the state. Districts determine which voting Primary on August 30 and General ers participate in which elections. Election on November 8, it is important Redistricting is standardized by the that every voter in Hillsborough County Continued on Page 4 be aware of changes made as a result of U.S. Congressional and State Senate redistricting. Hillsborough County will now be repIn This resented by four Congressional districts Issue (districts 12, 14, 15 and 16) and four State Senate districts (district 18, 19, 20 LOCAL CANDIDATE FORUM...................PG 6 and 21). As a result of renumbering, you may be represented by a different conFREE SUMMER MEALS........................PG 14 gressman or state senator; it all depends HOA HOT TOPICS.................................PG 18 on where you live. If you are a registered voter, you LOCAL BREAKFAST SPOTS....................PG 25 should have received a new Voter CHALKLINES.........................................PG 37 Information Card. This will provide you with the pertinent information on which ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT...................PG 42 district you now live in with respect to the SPORTS CONNECTION..................PGS 56‐57 U.S. Congress, State Senate, County Commission and School Board. READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE According to Craig Lattimer, the www.ospreyobserver.com Supervisor of Elections, “The Voter Information Cards are an important com-
Postal Customer
Osprey Observer 918 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Brandon, FL 33511-6121
FishHawk Elementary School (FHC) Principal Pamela Bush is joined by Troop 16 Life Scout Ryan Schmidt, along FHC students Ryan Spitzer and Brandon Deal after receiving the school’s first Buddy Bench. Schmidt built 22 benches to earn his Eagle Scout Badge. The bench encourages children to play together without leaving anyone out. If a child sees another child sitting on the bench it is a signal that they don’t have anyone to play with. FHC is located at 16815 Dorman Rd. in Lithia.
N E W S
New State Senate And Congressional Districts Could Change Voting Locations, More
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PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT #2397
When Ruskin and Paul Haskins Apollo Beach, accepted a all of Brandon, position at the the FishHawk Lithia Water area all the Treatment way to Plant almost Falkenburg five years and across to ago, he knew Thonotosassa. he enjoyed “This is the working with biggest water water treatfacility that the ment systems county owns,” and he knew said Haskins quite a bit during a tour Lithia Water Treatment Plant Operator Paul Haskins is of the plant. about part of the team that produces more than 55 percent of processes all of the water needed in Hillsborough County each day. “We produce and procemost of the dures. What he didn’t realize was that he water being used in the county every would become an award-winning operaday.” tor of the Lithia Plant and would find his The Lithia Plant is located on a career passion and calling at the Lithia secure facility just off of Lithia Pinecrest station. Road and Fishhawk Boulevard. The locaThis spring, Haskins was honored to tion sits on 55 acres bordering the Alafia receive the American Water Works River and Lithia Springs area. On site are Association Marvin N. Kaden Award for four, 5 million gallon water tanks, two Outstanding Water Treatment Plant giant pipes bringing water into the facility Operator. He accepted the award at a from the aquifer which is fed by 17 area ceremony held at the Gaylord Palms wells and also by a Tampa Bay Water resort in April where the Lithia Plant also regional pipe system, which blends treatreceived the Most Improved Class B ed regional water into treated wellfield Water Treatment Plant award. water. In addition, a 5 million gallon “It was an honor to be recognized,” reclaimed water tank helps provide said Haskins. “We are providing the water reclaimed water for irrigation use. for about fifty-five percent of the popula“We operate twenty-four hours per tion of Hillsborough County and most day, three hundred and sixty five days per people don’t realize the huge volume of year and are always keeping an eye on water we produce every day.” the weather and the news and making The Lithia Plant was originally built to sure there is never an interruption in supply water to South Hillsborough water service for our customers,” Haskins County in 1988. The plant produces an said. “We are testing the water analyzers average of 34 million gallons per day. twice per shift or every four hours to verify Currently, the Lithia Plant serves resithat the water quality is perfect and has dents in South Hillsborough county from Continued on Page 9
P O S I T I V E
Serving Our Customers in 3 Locations: Lithia • Big Bend, Riverview • Sun City Center