January 2022
Brandon/Winthrop Edition
Page 3
DISCOVER THE FUN AS FLORIDA STATE FAIR OPENS FEBRUARY 10
FDOT SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON I-75 IMPROVEMENTS
Mark your calgrilled all-beef endars because hotdog, applethe Florida State wood bacon and Fair is coming icing drizzled on to town. Held top. at the Florida To prepare to State Fairgrounds eat all the delifrom Thursday, cious fair food, February 10 to residents are Wednesday, Febinvited to parruary 23, the fair ticipate in the offers food, fun, Deep-Fried Dash entertainment 5K and Fun Run. and even educaThe run, which tion for the whole The Florida State Fair opens on Thursday, February 10. starts at 7 a.m. family. on Saturday, FebThe Florida State Fair, ruary 19, takes particifirst held in Tampa in pants through the fair 1904, has become one of grounds on the 5K and the largest events in the fun runs. state, attracting more All proceeds from than 500,000 people the Deep-Fried Dash during its 12-day run. will benefit the Florida The fair boasts the largState Fair Foundation, est midway in the USA, a a 501(c)(3) whose misrobust agricultural prosion is to improve and gram, a circus, interactive support agricultural, animal exhibits and new scientific and educaattractions each year. tional programs at the As the first state fair of the year, the Florida State Fair like Cracker Country Florida State Fair is the first to debut new Living History Museum, Ag-Venture and foods as well as all of the unique fair foods more. visitors have come to know and love. Participants can register today at According to the fair’s website, some of https://floridastatefair.com/5K/. this year’s unique food items include the It’s affordable family fun at its best. caramel apple cinnamon roll, which is a Armbands for unlimited rides and other cinnamon roll topped with warm cinna- advance ticket deals are available online. mon apple pie topping, drizzled with warm For more information about the Florida caramel; deep fried banana pudding, which State Fair, please visit www.floridastateis donut holes topped with banana pud- fair.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter ding, whipped cream and caramel drizzled and/or Instagram. on top; and the donut dog, which consists The Florida State Fairgrounds are locatof a homemade Long John donut, freshly ed at 4800 U.S. 301 in Tampa.
Since the Hillsborough County section of Interstate 75 was completed in 1985, population growth along the highway’s path in the last 37 years now makes a timely journey from Southern Hillsborough County to points north and south a gamble because of delays caused by heavy traffic, as well as the driving mishaps that road congestion sometimes plays a role in. To address the need for improvements to I-75 as it passes through Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is developing projects to increase the traffic capacity and overall safety on a 41- Improvements being planned for Interstate 75 will be the subject of an FDOT-hosted public hearing on January 27 at mile stretch of the highway, and it is the Hilton Garden Inn in Riverview. inviting the public to a hearing on the proposed work. The hearing is important for people to take an interest in part of Project Development and Environ- how their transportation needs are being ment Studies the agency is conducting to met. evaluate proposed improvements. “The feedback of the community is very There are two projects under develop- important to FDOT with every project we ment. One starts at Moccasin Wallow Rd. study so we can take into account the in Manatee County and goes north for 23 needs and concerns of the citizens,” she miles, ending south of U.S. 301 in Hills- wrote in an email. borough County. The other extends for 18 The public hearing will take place on miles, from south of U.S. 301 to north of January 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., with the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Hillsborough Coun- main presentation starting at 6:30 p.m. It ty. will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in RivProposed features include the addition erview, located at 4328 Garden Vista Dr. of 12-foot express lanes in each direction Virtual participants must register on the in the median as well as improving safety FDOT I-75 project website at www.fdotdfeatures and stormwater management in- 7studies.com to participate. frastructure. Project information is available for reThe public is invited to participate in the view on the I-75 project website and in process by attending a hearing on Thurs- person at the Brandon Regional Library and day, January 27. The hearing will be held in the Ruskin Branch Library until Monday, person with online capability. February 7. Materials can also be viewed Kristen Carson, public information di- at FDOT District Seven’s office at 11201 N. rector of FDOT’s District Seven, said it is McKinley Dr. in Tampa.
By Kate Quesada
By Brad Stager
(Take Out Only)
YBOR Room
Now OPEN!
27 Years in Brandon!
