Riverview/Apollo Beach
7
June 2022
Volume 20, Issue 6
Congrats 2022 Grads! See Page 10
Ph: 813-657-2418
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS ENCOURAGES
RESIDENTS TO REGISTER TO VOTE By Kathy L. Collins
Craig Latimer, the supervisor of elections for Hillsborough County, conducted a student-designed “I Voted” sticker competition. Iliana Otero, a senior at Sumner High School, was this year’s winner. Her sticker will be handed out during early voting.
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
By Sharon Still
Like many events that took a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ruskin Tomato and Heritage Festival is back. Dubbed as the major social event of the year up until the early 1950s, mark your calendars for Friday, June 17 for the Ruskin Tomato Queen Pageant and Saturday, June 18 for the daylong festival. Put on by the Ruskin Community Development Foundation (RCDF),
The Ruskin Tomato Festival Queens from 2019, left to right in the front: Anna Bello, Anniylah Murrell and Savana Bunting. And in the back: Nicole Liles, 2018 Ruskin Tomato Festival Queen.
the Ruskin Tomato and Heritage Festival, in existence since 1934, promises something for everyone. According to the History of Ruskin, the annual springtime Ruskin Tomato Festival was put on in hopes of attracting visitors to Ruskin and to celebrate the area’s agricultural richness. Tomato sandwiches and other delectable tomato dishes will be featured, along with other food from vendors and food trucks plus arts and crafts, dance team performances, cook-off contests, bounce houses and other activities for children. Additionally, musical guests will showcase some of SouthShore’s greatest country, rock, pop and Latin entertainers. This year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, said organizer Joe Zuniga, noting that the new location in downtown Ruskin will likely attract more people. Families can spend the day
sampling famous Ruskin tomatoes and grabbing a burger or lunch while shopping for local crafts and honey and enjoying entertainment. Zuniga, Ruskin’s honorary mayor, also will emcee the Tomato Queen Pageant, which will take place on June 17 at Southshore Falls starting at 7 p.m. Admission is $5, and Tomato Queens will be crowned by age group, starting from 0-5 years up to 41 years and older. Those who earn the title will represent Ruskin at different events throughout the year, including the Veterans Day Parade, and hold the honor of crowning next year’s queen in their age group. The Ruskin Tomato and Heritage Festival is be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on June 18 at 633 1st St. NW. Proceeds from the event will be put toward the growth and development of the SouthShore community. For further details, visit the event’s Facebook page or email info@zunigamarketing.com.
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This summer, there will be important elections held in Hillsborough County. If you want to exercise your right to vote in the primary election, which is set for Tuesday, August 23 (early voting will be held Monday, August 8 through Sunday, August 21), you must be registered to vote by Monday, July 25. This is also the deadline to change your address or change your party affiliation. Florida is a closed primary state, which means that you must be registered with a political party to vote in that party’s primary races. However, everyone can vote in this election, regardless of their affiliation, because there will be nonpartisan races for school board and judges and nonpartisan issues on the primary ballot. A primary election is used to nominate a candidate to move on to the general election. The primary also narrows down the number of candidates in nonpartisan races and may include amendments or referenda. There has been a lot of reporting about
election law changes made. Readers should know that the rules around registering to vote have not changed. Voters can visit votehillsborough.gov or registertovoteflorida.gov to register online, or they can visit any supervisor of election office to fill out an application. Voter registration applications can also be found at public libraries. The voter registration application is also used by registered voters who need to update their name, address or signature. One change that is applicable relates to requesting a Vote By Mail ballot. Voters now need to provide their driver license number or the last four digits of their social security number, whichever can be verified in their voter record. The easiest way to make the request is online at votehillsborough.gov/votebymail or by calling 612-4180. All Vote By Mail requests will expire after the 2022 general election and need to be resubmitted after each general election. In 2020, a U.S. census was conducted (one is conducted every 10 years). the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, the Hillsborough County School Board and the Florida Legislature redraw district boundaries to reflect changes in population. After maps are approved, precinct boundaries are adjusted. The voter registration database is updated as well. Even though only some voters will have a change in their districts or precinct, every voter will receive a new voter information card. Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer said, “If you are not registered to vote, do not put that off. Get registered today so that you are ready. To make sure your voter information is current, look it up at votehillsborough.gov/ voterlookup.” Latimer added, “Unfortunately, we are seeing a lot of misinformation about elections. If you have questions, get your information from a trusted source—your elections office.”
UPCOMING RUSKIN TOMATO FESTIVAL CELEBRATES TOWN’S HERITAGE
Southshore Bay, a fast-growing community by Metro Places, has officially opened its lagoon, the first in Hillsborough County. The lagoon features crystal-blue waters, beaches and a wide range of activities, allowing residents to live a coastal lifestyle in the suburbs. Metro Places and Metro Lagoons have two more lagoons under construction at Mirada in Pasco County and at Brightwater in Lee County. Both are slated to open at the end of 2022. Read full article and future locations on page 12.
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