From Hillsborough County New

Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department To Discuss Strategic Plan At Public Meetings


Hillsborough County is holding a series of public meetings to discuss a new strategic plan for the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department (PRC). This plan has been developed to provide long-term financial sustainability and efficiencies that would result in improvement of services and a cost savings. Public comment is encouraged on this plan. All meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on the following dates:

South County locations

• Tue., June 7: Gardenville Recreation Center, 6219 Symmes Road in Gibsonton

• Wed., June 22: Riverview Civic Center, 11020 Park Drive in Riverview

• Thu., June 23: Ruskin Recreation Center, 901 6th St. S.E. in Ruskin

Efficiency opportunities in this strategic plan that will be discussed at the public meetings include:

• Upgrading in maintenance by contracting park and athletic field maintenance to local businesses in the community

• Development of earned income opportunities including naming rights, sponsorships, and advertising

• Establishing additional partnerships with community organizations to extend limited resources

• Consolidation of smaller recreation centers into larger recreational facilities

• Improve technology to allow online registration, payments and easy access of information

PRC has evolved over the past 45 years from a department that was operated with mobile services for recreation, few small sports complexes, and a small conservation and natural resources area, to the current parks system with more than 70,000 acres of land, an award winning conservation lands program, more than 50 sports complex facilities, more than 180 parks with a multitude of opportunities, and 42 staffed community centers.

As a result of declining budgets, PRC proactively implemented changes over the past 5 years. A major change was the implementation of fees. In some cases, the fees were accepted as a positive plan to maintain accessibility in areas such as the County’s Regional Parks. In other cases, such as Summer Camp and the After-school programs, fees resulted in reduced attendance, and not enough revenue to sustain these programs.

Parks, Recreation and Conservation continues to be a top priority in Hillsborough County. However, tough economic times make it necessary to reassess the financial sustainability, funding levels and role of the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department.

All meeting facilities are ADA compliant. For additional assistance, or for more information, call Rina Rojas, Parks, Recreation and Conservation at (813) 635-3501.

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Pen some Poetry

From TBEP news:

Florida is being overrun by invaders. From Burmese pythons, Bufo toads and lionfish to creeping air potatoes and Brazilian pepper, non-native pests are playing havoc with our habitat. The Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) wants you to help us draw attention to invasive plants and animals in a creative way by submitting an original poem in our Invasive Species Poetry Contest.
The Invasive Species Poetry Contest is open any resident of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Pasco or Polk counties. Poems will be judged and awarded in Adult and Junior (18 and under) divisions. Poems may be written in any format - rhyme, limerick, haiku -- creativity and originality are encouraged. Top prize in each division is $250!
To enter, go online to www.tbep.org/poetrycontest.html  . Poems must be submitted by June 30, 2011.

Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Workshops To Be Held On June 16

Hillsborough County Extension will offer the following Florida-Friendly Landscaping Workshops on June 16 at the Extension Office, 5339 County Road 579 in Seffner.

Compost Happens Workshop at 10 a.m.
Attend a Compost Happens Workshop and learn to turn trash to treasure. Each household will receive a free compost bin and thermometer. This workshop is sponsored by the Master Composters of Hillsborough County, Hillsborough County Extension, Hillsborough County Public Utilities Department, and the City of Tampa's Department of Solid Waste.
Water-Wise Workshop at 11 a.m.
The Water-Wise Workshop teaches how to have a healthy and attractive lawn and landscape, while still conserving water. Tips on installing and using micro-irrigation are also presented. This irrigation method not only conserves water, but is not as restricted by current water restrictions as traditional in-ground irrigation systems! Hillsborough County residents attending this workshop for the first time will receive one free micro-irrigation kit.
Register for both workshops online at www.eventbrite.com/directory/Florida/Seffner
For additional information, contact Hillsborough County Extension at (813) 744-5519.

Hillsborough Extension Hosts Family-Friendly Open House

Hillsborough County Extension, a cooperative service between the County and the University of Florida, is hosting an open house on Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their main office, 5339 County Road 579 in Seffner. This open house features free family-friendly hands-on activities and exhibits, make-and-take home projects, presentations and garden tours.

"The Open House is a great way for the residents of Hillsborough County to have fun while learning about the services we offer," said Debra Jo Kinsella, Hillsborough County Extension Director. "Most people know extension as traditional agriculture or 4-H programming, but there’s so much more in the way of education, outreach and solutions to everyday problems – including money management, balancing work and family, nutrition and food safety, and landscape pest control. In addition to faculty and staff giving demonstrations and presentations, we want to showcase our tremendous volunteer base and non-profit partners."
Tours of the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden, led by Master Gardener volunteers will present garden designs that convey landscape and maintenance ideas, showcase plants that are outstanding performers in central Florida, and provide a beautiful serene setting for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of visitors.
Attendees can also view demonstrations and displays and hear presentations on a variety of topics like home canning, cisterns for rainwater harvesting, the health of urban trees, micro-irrigation and turf alternatives. Extension’s faculty and staff are subject matter experts in the fields of agriculture and natural resources, horticulture and Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, 4-H youth development, and family and consumer sciences. They will all be on hand to answer questions.
All ages are welcome; however the open house is most appropriate for children in grade 3 and up and adults. Registration is not required.
For additional information contact Hillsborough County Extension at (813) 744-5519, or visit http://hillsborough.extension.ufl.edu.
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Friday, May 20 is Endangered Species Day

Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for people young and old to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and everyday actions that people can take to help protect our nation’s disappearing wildlife and last remaining open space. Protecting America’s wildlife and plants today is a legacy we leave to our children and grandchildren, so that all Americans can experience the rich variety of native species that help to define our nation.


Learn more: http://www.stopextinction.org/esd.html

Are you on a social network?  This Endangered Species Day, show your support for threatened and endangered species by replacing your profile picture or avatar on Facebook, Twitter or Google with a picture of your favorite species .

Hurricane Season starts June 1.

Are you prepared?

2011 Prediction: http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2011/05/19/hurricane_forecast_above-average_year
Get all your questions answered at the Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo on Sat., May 21 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at MOSI. Learn more about the Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo online at www.tampabayhurricaneexpo.com/.
If you can't make it out to the Expo, there are a number of resources you can take advantage of at your own convenience:
EVACUATION
- Know your evacuation level. Find yours at - http://gisweb.hillsboroughcounty.org/heat/
- Find out what fire station and hospital is closest to your house? Best to know before you need it – http://gisweb.hillsboroughcounty.org/heat/
- Would you like an interactive Web site? Check out the Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool to find your property – http://arcims-prod.hillsboroughcounty.org/website/htmlviewer/heat/cf.htm?Title=Hurricane%20Evacuation%20Assessment%20Tool
- There are many things you should be aware of when returning home - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency/info/flooding.cfm?oid=05
GUIDES
· Pick up your 2011 Hurricane Guide, The Official Guide For The Tampa Bay Area, at local post offices and libraries, or view it online at - www.tbrpc.org/tampabaydisaster/hurricane_guide2011/HG_2011.html
· You can start shopping for your hurricane supplies now. Don’t know what to buy? Here is a weekly list to help spread out the costs - http://bit.ly/140cWK
SPECIAL NEEDS
· Have a family member who need special assistance to evacuate? Find out many of the requirements at - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency/hurricaneinfo/disabledprep.cfm  
BUSINESSES
· Do you have your business Go Box? Find out what you need at - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency/hurricaneinfo/businessprep.cfm  
PETS
- Have a pet? Plan for them, too. Find out more at - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices/information/disaster.cfm
-Need to shelter your pet. Great pet sheltering preparation tips are found at - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency/programsservices/shelteringpets.cfm
Hurricane Season runs June 1 through Nov. 30.
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Still time to register for Backyard webinar with NWF

Ready to learn how to green your garden and help wildlife?


Join National Wildlife Federation's Director of Education, Eliza Russell, and homeowners to learn how you can take the steps to create a more wildlife-friendly garden at your home, in a park, at your church, or at your place of business.

Date: Thursday, May 19, 2011
Time: 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Creating a wildlife-friendly backyard webinar will discuss:

•Creating a site inventory and analysis: What do you already have to work with?
•How to add more wildlife friendly features
•Adding native plants to support wildlife
•Providing the 4 essentials elements for wildlife - food, water, cover, and places to raise young
•Using sustainable gardening practices to help your garden grow

And it's FREE! Click here to register: http://online.nwf.org/site/Calendar?id=105201&view=Detail

Spiders in Space... finally!

Visit Camp Bayou starting this weekend to see our land-based complement to the Spiders in Space project.

From the Spiders in Space listserv:

This morning’s successful launch of STS-134, carried two juvenile Nephilia clavipes spiders to orbit. Each spider has its own space condo with attached separate chambers for fruit flies, serving as the spider’s food source.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour will rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station Wednesday morning. On Thursday morning, around 9:41 EDT, the spider habitats will be transferred to the station.
Images of the spider’s first days in microgravity should be available by the weekend at http://www.bioedonline.org/.
You can also connect with BioEdOnline on Twitter and Facebook!