Good morning!
It’s Wednesday and and it is the Summer Solstice. I hope you’ve made plans to enjoy the longest day of the year. And no, there isn’t more time in the day, just more sunshine-time.
Tropical Storm Cindy is churning away almost directly to our west out in the Gulf of Mexico. The Tampa Bay area is not at risk of a hit but Cindy is a rather large storm. Fortunately our forecast is 100 percent Tampa Bay-weather-in-summer, albeit breezier.
Today’s weather: From the National Weather Service Office in Ruskin:
“Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 103. Breezy, with a southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.”
From now until roughly September-o’clock our low is forecast to be 76.
Personal forecast: Avoid wearing that polyester suit. We’re heading back into the 90s with three-digit heat indexes.
Eye on the tropics: Tropical Storm Bret is no more. Tropical Storm Cindy is forecast to dump copious amounts of rain….elsewhere. The warnings extend to the western Florida Panhandle. According to the National Hurricane Center:
For the North Atlantic…Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Cindy, located a couple of hundred miles south of the central
Louisiana coast.
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.
What to do?
The SouthShore Regional Library in Ruskin is offering a whole host of things to do today. A couple of cool things: “Cooking with Incredible Spices: Health Benefits of Coconut Oil” at 2 p.m. and “Recording Studio Open Orientation” at 4 p.m.
The SouthShore Regional Library schedule is found here: http://hcplc.evanced.info/signup/calendar?lib=10
Busch Gardens in Tampa celebrates “Summer Nights” with extended hours.
MOSI, the Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa is offering free admission to exhibit galleries to active duty military personnel and up to five immediate family members from today through Aug. 13. Proof of service is required. https://www.mosi.org/explore-mosi/plan-your-visit/special-offers/
Check out what’s playing at the Ruskin Family Drive-In. And yes, I really do want to hear about the chili cheese dogs.
Happenings in Hillsborough:
The county is mosquito spraying in our area, generally during the overnight hours when the weather cooperates. Don’t be surprised if you see a twin engine aircraft flying at 300 feet. Despite what someone might jokingly post on Facebook’s “Ruskin Folks,” it’s not trying to take out the old Ruskin movie theater. And let’s not even talk about the chemicals and stuff. For this week, just enjoy the fact that there should be fewer mosquitos.
1 Million Cups: 1 Million Cups is a Kaufmann Foundation educational program put on every Wednesday morning. Two presenters from startup companies in Hillsborough County talk about their companies, problems, and challenges. The audience is made up of entrepreneurs, advisors, and people getting ready to start their own companies.
Time: 08:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Location: Entrepreneur Collaborative Center, 2101 E Palm Ave, Tampa
Contact: (813) 204-9267
Fees/Admission: RSVP
There was once a day when the end of snowbird season meant the end of traffic problems for a few months. That day is gone. Make plans to attend this: Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Stacy White, District 4, and Vice-Chairman Sandra L. Murman, District 1, will host a South County Transportation Town Hall meeting on Monday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lennard High School auditorium in Ruskin.
Happenings in Manatee:
Eco Art Class at Emerson Point Preserve: Calling all adventuresome, crafty, and environmental campers!
June 26- June 30, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The cost is $125. Program recommended for age 9-12 year olds. Please register for the camp by calling 941-742-5923 ex 6010.
Something fun to make plans for:
Starting in July, 2017 and continuing each month, Bunker Hill Vineyard and Winery will be offering “Complimentary” (FREE) wine classes on just about every facet of wine production and wine enjoyment.
Our first class “How to Read a Wine Label” is the necessary and critical foundation upon which all the other classes will be built. You are encouraged to bring a clean/empty bottle of your current favorite wine for us to dissect and discuss.
This first class will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2017 from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm. Reservations are required.
A Complimentary (free) wine tasting will be offered to each adult attendee after the class.
Oh, don’t bring the kids — unless they’re old enough to have a mortgage or are your drivers.
For information: http://www.bunkerhillvineyard.com
It’s finally the day! “Before You Tie the Knot” at 6 p.m. at the Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Service, 1303 17th Street W, Palmetto. This is a series of workshops meeting from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. each Wednesday for five weeks, May 31, June 7, 14,21, and 28. To register call Nelly Nelson at (941) 722-4524. Pretty cool that a county is offering it.
The Manatee County calendar is located here: https://www.mymanatee.org/home/county-calendar.html
News to know:
Pick up an actual printed copy of the Observer News — it is stuffed full of cool stuff in surprising places.
And, in the end:
The story of the late 1700s is a fascinating one. So much happened that it is truly staggering. On this day in 1788 the U.S. Constitution went into effect after the ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified it. Mitch Traphagen Photo
In 1788, the Constitution of the United States went into effect on this day as New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. You’d think ratifying stuff would be easier with only 13 states but…they were 13 pretty independent states, each with their own specific interests. So yeah, no matter what, it was a big deal on this day.
Who knows what they teach in history classes these days? I do know that a lot of history has happened since my high school days. On this day in 1982, John Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity for his assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. Yes, in that case, the guy actually shot the president.
Outside of history class, kids today no longer have to go into school hallways and practice for a nuclear attack. Yes, we were actually told very definitely, “DO NOT look into the bright flash” of a bomb exploding. That’s because kids are smarter today and they probably know that putting your head between your knees is not likely to save you. So instead, we rely on things like sanity to keep all of us from nuking the daylights out of each other. And we tend to be careful with big countries (with a good number of nukes) like China.
So it might come as a surprise that on this day in 1900, China actually declared war on the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Japan. It was a much bigger deal in China than it was here. Lacking an internet (except for time travelers in conspiracy theories), it’s possible that not everyone knew about it. And most certainly even fewer understood it. Suffice to say that China was a bit of a mess in those days — there were rebellions, concubines and powerful offspring, threats of executions and more. It’s hard to know where to start.
But fortunately, for us it really didn’t. Start, that is. And still today, while crazy things are now happening all over the world, we’re trying to keep it that way.
Have a great day and a happy Summer Solstice!
Observer Today is a morning briefing out (usually) by 7 a.m. (or so) and updated until around 10 a.m. Do you have news tips or suggestions for this feature? Please email or leave a comment.
