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Get To Know More About Nature At Camp Bayou

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 24, 2009

RUSKIN - Take time out to smell the wildflowers, admire new greenery on the cypress trees and delve into a discussion about pressing scientific questions about the natural landscape at Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center next month.

Operators of Camp Bayou are encouraging people to enjoy nature as part of the center's Citizen Science Symposium set for March 20 and 21.

Visitors to the symposium can participate in hands-on activities, trail walks and seminars, and see displays, aquatic invertebrates, frogs, plants, birds and more.

The symposium is free for those who pre-register at www.campbayou.org and $5 at the door.

The center also is hosting a photography contest focusing on plants at Camp Bayou in various stages of growth. Winners will be announced at the end of the symposium. For information, go to www.campbayou.org and click on "photography contest."
Camp Bayou is at 4202 24th Street S.E., Ruskin, three miles south of State Road 674.

Yvette C. Hammett

Fundraiser Helps Ex-Store Owner

EAST TAMPA - Friends and supporters of Felicia Wintons Taylor, 50, a University of South Florida graduate and former Temple Terrace bookstore owner who is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, are planning a gospel music concert at 6 p.m. Saturday at Cathedral of Faith Church, 6304 30th St.

Admission is free, but an offering will be taken on behalf of Taylor, who has no medical insurance.

"She is the kind of person who would never ask for help," said Taylor's friend, Cathy Edwards of Fort Lauderdale.

For information, call Samuel Wright at (813) 974-1399.

Joyce McKenzie
Miss Florida Visits School

NORTHDALE - Students at Claywell Elementary had a special visitor late last week.

Sierra Minott, Miss Florida 2008, stopped by the school before heading to the Special Olympic Stampede at Gaither High School.

Four student reporters interviewed Minott and asked her questions, such as "What's it like to be Miss Florida?" and "What did you have to do to become Miss Florida?" The questions were videotaped and will be played during the school's morning announcements.

She signed autographs, visited classrooms and met with the 12 students from Claywell who participated in the stampede.

"It was incentive for the kids," said Debbie Kugler, speech teacher at Claywell. "We were fortunate enough to get her to come here."

Jessica Balanza

City Rejects Bid For Old YMCA

PLANT CITY - Commissioners have rejected the lone bid received in response to the proposed sale of the former Plant City Family YMCA site, 4.3 acres at 502 E. Young St.

Hope Outreach Christian Ministries of Plant City offered $350,000.

"As the proposal is considerably lower than the appraised and assessed values, it is recommended that the bid be rejected and that we retain the property until the real estate market improves," City Manager David Sollenberger said in a report.

A Lakeland appraiser listed a fair market value of $450,000 to $475,000. Hillsborough County's property appraiser estimated the fair market value as $488,346. The YMCA let its lease expire on the property at the end of 2007.

George Wilkens

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