Time change serves as reminder to check your irrigation timer and system. The Southwest Florida Water Management District is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers this weekend, which is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time.

Saturday night we will “spring forward,” and turn our clocks ahead one hour. The time change is also a good time to make sure your irrigation system timer is set correctly to ensure your system operates consistently with current water restrictions.

Know and follow your local watering restrictions, but don’t water just because it’s your day. Irrigate your lawn when it shows signs of stress from lack of water. Pay attention to signs of stressed grass, such as a bluish-gray color, lingering tire tracks or footprints and leaf blades that are folded in half lengthwise.

Effective March 13, tighter water restrictions will be in effect in Hillsborough County. That includes limiting lawn watering to once a week.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board enacted the tighter restrictions in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties due to below normal rainfall, reduced river levels and increasing water supply concerns. Continue reading →

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind Hillsborough County residents that Spring Break is next week, March 11-15, and encourage everyone to remain vigilant in observing and reporting crime or suspicious activity. You should immediately report any/all suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch at (813) 247-8200. In the event of an emergency or a crime-in-progress, please dial 911! In addition, the best way to deter crime from ever occurring is to practice good crime prevention. Here are a few tips to help you protect yourself from becoming the victim of a crime:

Continue reading →

2/24/13 UPDATE: Precautionary Boil Water Notice Lifted

Tampa, FL February 22, 2013 – A power failure affecting the City of Tampa David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility resulted in either temporary low pressure or loss of water service for customers. TECO and City of Tampa crews are on-site and working to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

All customers within the City of Tampa water service area are reminded to follow precautionary boil water for a minimum of the next 48 hours. Additional information and details will be provided as they become available on tampagov.net/water.
A Precautionary Boil Water Notice fact sheet is available online at www.tampagov.net/dept_Emergency_Management/files/Boil_Water_Notice_FactSheet.pdf

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr’s office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It’s a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won’t stick around. After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won’t want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

Send this to everyone you know because it is useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can’t reach a phone. You can even carry your car keys you in case you fall outside. You can activate the car alarm and then people will know there’s a problem. Thanks to April Welsh for this safety tip!