Hillsborough County to host Shred Fest 2017 in Apollo Beach
By LOIS KINDLE
Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation and Consumer and Veterans Services are partnering to bring Shred Fest 2017 to the Apollo Beach Park and Recreation Center March 4.
The event is a kick off for Consumer Protection Week, a national effort started by the Federal Trade Commission as an outreach to help people understand their rights as consumers and learn how they can become more savvy in making financial decisions, said Eric Olsen, director of the Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Services Division.
Shred Fest will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include on-site document shredding; a fun, fast-paced fitness shred competition; and a skateboard shred contest.
Area residents are invited to have outdated files and papers containing their personal information securely destroyed on site by Legal Shred at no charge. The shredding will take place from 10 a.m. to noon and is being sponsored by the county to prevent documents with sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands, where it can be used to commit identity theft or other forms of fraud.
It’s an opportunity for residents to get rid of their old tax returns and medical records, credit card and bank statements, billing invoices and pay stubs, virtually any document with identifying information on it.
There is a limit of five containers, and staples are permitted. But items such as CDs, DVDs, X-rays, hard drives, binders, binder clips, plastics and other non-paper items cannot be included.
Registration for the fitness shred contest starts at 10 a.m. and will take place from 11:10 a.m. to noon. Professional trainers will offer free fitness tips to participants in two age groups — 29 years and younger and 30 years and older — who can compete for prizes in the Push-Up/Pull-Up/Sit-Up in 60 Seconds challenge.
A free lunch of hot dogs and potato chips will follow, courtesy of Friends of the County Parks.
Then it’s on to the Skateboard Shred High Ollie Contest, set to take place from 1 to 2 p.m.
Registration for this event also begins at 10 a.m.
There are four age groups: 8 and younger; 9 to 12; 13 to 15; and 16 and older. Helmets and notarized waivers are required to participate. Prizes will be awarded in this competition, as well.
Throughout Shred Fest, Hillsborough County Consumer & Veterans Services staff members will be available to share information about the services they offer and provide expert advice on a wide variety of safety and consumer-related topics.
The Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Division investigates consumer complaints filed by county residents and visitors, with the goal of returning any lost assets.
“We also conduct community outreach and education programs and provide information on consumer-related issues, identity theft, fraud and financial awareness to help people protect themselves from being victimized and protect the money they earn,” Olsen said. “We have a department-wide focus on public safety.”
The Apollo Beach Park & Recreation Center is at 664 Golf and Sea Blvd. For more information, call 813-671-7635.