Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo and FREE DAY at MOSI!  The 2015 Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo encourages Bay area residents to “Be Ready”

What:         2015 Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo
When:        Saturday, May 30th, 10 am – 4 pm
Where:       MOSI, 4801 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa

The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County, in partnership with MOSI, will host the 2015 Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 30th, at the Museum of Science & Industry. Admission to the Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo is FREE, and will include access to MOSI’s exhibit galleries. In addition, Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo guests can enjoy one documentary film in the Florida Hospital IMAX® Dome Theatre for only $5 per person (children under 2 admitted FREE).

At the EXPO, attendees will learn what to do before, during and after a storm.  Residents will learn the importance of having a solid disaster plan in place well in advance so that they can quickly recover after a storm.  Additionally, MOSI’s STEAMpunks will provide science demonstrations and activities, while the adults enjoy a variety of speakers and vendors. Attendees also will have the chance to win one of two Kindle Fire HDs.

The Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo attendees will be able to attend question-and-answer weather panels, held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., to hear from meteorologists representing local news stations and the National Weather Service. Additionally, a public safety panel will be held at noon and a cybersecurity panel will be held at 2 p.m. Additional sessions on pet care and preparation techniques will also take place throughout the day.

 For more information visit www.TampaBayHurricaneExpo.com.

Covington Estates HOA would like to remind residents that:

• No parking is permitted on the common areas, including streets
• Vehicles are not permitted to block the sidewalks at any time
• Residents need to adhere to the posted 20-miles per hour speed limit

With the warmer temperatures and school being out for the summer, many children and adults alike are out and about throughout our community.

Please take the time to remind all of the drivers in your household as well as visitors to obey the speed limit, come to a complete stop at the stop signs, and drive cautiously throughout Covington Estates.

At 20 mph the stopping distance needed is 69 feet. Statistics have shown that the incident of pedestrians and bicyclists hit by a car are three times higher in a residential neighborhood that those recorded on the highways.

Thank you for your cooperation. Keep Covington Estates Safe!

Did you know you can run your irrigation system for ten minutes a week during restricted dates and times to check for adjustments and maintenance issues? As long as someone is visibly attending the system while it is turned on, it is legal. If you can’t see the irrigation system operating, you won’t know what needs to be repaired.

Now that plants are starting to grow, they will need water; more water than at any other time of the year. This is because Spring is our driest season. If you have an in-ground irrigation system, now is the time to turn it on and see what maintenance the system may need.

If you’re worried about a high water bill from an inefficient irrigation system and would like your system calibrated, call Paula Staples, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, Public Education Program Coordinator, at 813-744-5519 Ext. 54142, to see if a free calibration will save you money.

County residential solid waste customers (not commercial customers) may now get up to 2 cubic yards of mulch per year at no additional cost.

To pick up mulch, customers are required to present their current property tax bill (showing their solid waste assessments) and appropriate identification to the on-site attendant.

Lynn Barber is the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods agent at Hillsborough Extension. Reach her at BarberL@hillsboroughcounty.org.