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New Tampa Skate Park Is Almost Ready To Roll

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 21, 2009

NEW TAMPA - Local skateboarders have a month to brush up on a batch of new extreme tricks before the opening of the New Tampa Skate Park.

Team Pain, a skate park design-build company that employs young skaters to do the work, is on schedule to complete the course next to the New Tampa Recreation Center, 17302 Commerce Park Blvd., by mid-March, project manager Brad Suder said.

The 15,000-square-foot park will open to the public shortly after the construction workers conduct a series of test runs and city inspectors give the final OK, which should take a few more days.

"We get good advertising when they drive by on school buses from the middle school and high school," said Mark Staffieri, a senior project manager at Cutler Associates, the general contractor.

"Several kids stop by frequently to see what's going on. The public interest is there."

Kenneth Knight

Community Pitches In

LUTZ - Children at Schwarzkopf Elementary will have more ways to get exercise during the school day once a $14,000 fitness circuit opens.

The school will install 15 stations this spring near the playground and covered court. Students will be able to hop among activities, trying out steps, vaults, beams and climbing apparatus.

The parent-teacher association raised about $7,000, mostly through a golf tournament last year, said PTA President Julie Wiltse. The Hillsborough County School District matched the amount.
Wiltse wanted a PTA project that would show parents their money makes a difference. Families had asked where the money they donated went, and Wiltse thought it would be more effective to do a lasting project instead of several small contributions to the school.

Courtney Cairns Pastor

Recruiting Gardeners

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - People interested in starting community gardens need to head over to Sweetwater Organic Community Farm at 3 p.m. today.

Councilwoman Mary Mulhern will be there to facilitate gardeners to share ideas and resources, and to help organizations recruit volunteers.

The meeting also will include people talking about their experiences creating community gardens. After the presentations, organizations will register volunteers and give information on their projects.

The farm is at 6942 W. Comanche Blvd.

A staff report

Chairman Takes Gavel

PLANT CITY - A new chairman has taken the reins at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce.

Ed Verner, whose business interests include part ownership of the Dallas Bull nightclub, took the gavel from Paul Hackney at an annual installation banquet.

Other officers installed included Charles Harris of Holiday Inn Express and Suites, chairman-elect; Hackney, immediate past chairman; Matt Buzza of Sunshine State Federal Saving and Loan, treasurer; Lee Williams, Felton's Meat & Produce, community and government affairs division chairman; Gail Lyons of Regions Bank, growing businesses division chairwoman; Kerrie Gafford of Wal-Mart, membership division chairwoman; and Doug Driggers of Tampa Electric Co., economic development division chairman.

Tom Daramus received the chairman's award for outstanding service, with Hackney calling him a tireless worker at his church and chamber special events. The ambassador of the year award for the third year in a row was Jodi Smith, physician development specialist at South Florida Baptist Hospital and community leader.

Dave Nicholson

Add Tickets To Your List

PLANT CITY - Many Sweetbay Supermarkets are selling admission tickets to the Florida Strawberry Festival at a discount.

Select Sweetbays in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties will sell the discounted tickets through the end of the festival. Advance tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 12, compared with $10 and $5, respectively, at the gate. Children 5 and younger are admitted free with a paying adult

Advance discount tickets can also be purchased at the festival ticket office, 2209 W. Oak Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

For information, call (813) 752-9194 or go to www.flstrawberryfestival.com.

Dave Nicholson

Students Host Market

BRANDON - The student ministry at the Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon will host a giant flea market next weekend to raise money for members' summer camp and mission trips around the world.

The sale will be from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the church, 2102 Bell Shoals Road, at the corner of Bell Shoals and Brooker roads.

For information, call (813) 689-4229.

Felix L. Martinez

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