Good morning!
It is certainly possible to describe all cemeteries as monuments to the past but the Ruskin cemetery is something more, it’s a remnant from “Old Ruskin,” with the concept of a Commongood Society. Founded in 1908, chosen as the highest, driest ground in the area, today it is in need of both volunteers and funds. Check out Lois Kindle’s headline article about it in this week’s Observer News landing on driveways today.
Today’s weather: OK, so things are a bit repetitive these days. Just think about how the folks feel working at the National Weather Service Office in Ruskin:
“Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 103. Light and variable wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.”
During the evening and overnight hours, expect isolated showers and thunderstorms and a low around…..here’s a shock…. 76.
Personal forecast: Playwright Anton Checkov once said, “People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.” True, perhaps, of course Checkov lived in Russia, not Florida. Still, be happy! It could be 300 degrees (or something like that) as it is in Phoenix.
Eye on the tropics: It seems Tropical Storm Don turned political with Twitter memes so let’s not go there…just like he (the tropical storm or what’s left of him) won’t come here. From the National Hurricane Center:
For the North Atlantic…Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
The National Hurricane Center has issued the last advisory on the remnants of Don, located over the southeastern Caribbean Sea.
A low pressure system located more than 1100 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing a large area of cloudiness and showers. Some slow development of this system is possible during the next day or two while it moves toward the west-northwest or northwest at 10 to 15 mph. After that time, environmental conditions are forecast to become unfavorable for development.
* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…30 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days…low…30 percent.
What to do?
At the SouthShore Regional Library, again today, we have Baby Time, Toddler Time and Story Time starting at 10 a.m. Hey, who doesn’t like stories?
At 2 p.m., check out the health benefits of cooking with fenugreek seeds. Limited to 40 participants and registration is required either at the desk or by calling 813-273-3652.
At 4 p.m. there is open orientation for the library’s recording studio.
The 6 p.m. time slot is shared by the Mac Jongg people and the NEEDLE PEOPLE!
At 6:30 p.m. teens and adults can join art instructor Melissa Miller-Nece to learn the techniques of using color pencils. Class size is limited to 22 people, registration is required at the desk or by calling the number above.
Also….go retro and check out a book (just don’t forget to bring it back).
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.
Check out what’s playing at the Ruskin Family Drive-In.
Happenings in Hillsborough:
From 9 a.m. is 1 Million Cups Tampa at the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center. Visit: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/calendar/02-business/2017/20170719-1-million-cups
Also at the E.C.E. is “Design Thinking” at 12:30 p.m. This free program goes into what design thinking is and how to apply it to startups and product development.
Also at 9 a.m. at County Center in downtown Tampa is a Board of County Commissioners meeting.
At 10 a.m. at the E.C.E. is another free event entitled “Business Cash Flow.” Visit: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/calendar/02-business/2017/20170720-business-cash-flow
It’s also FREE FISH WEDNESDAY! Pick up your free mosquito-eating fish for your pond or birdbath thanks to the University of Florida and Hillsborough County Mosquito Control. You can pick up your fish at UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, 1408 24th St. S.E. in ruskin. For more information call 813-635-5400.
There is a bunch of other stuff going on. Check out the Hillsborough County calendar here: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/calendar
Happenings in Manatee:
Just a heads up for tomorrow: There is a “Red Light Camera Hearing” from 2 to 5 p.m. at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave W. in Bradenton. Go early, DO NOT blow through red lights. Just a suggestion.
The county calendar is located here: https://www.mymanatee.org/home/county-calendar.html
The print edition of The North Manatee Observer News also contains numerous things to get you out of the house and into the beauty of Manatee County.
News to know:
Print is way cool. The Observer News website contains only a small portion of what is in the print editions (yes, there are four editions!). Pick one up. We’re everywhere. Mostly.
And, in the end:
On this day in 1595, astronomer Johannes Kepler, while lecturing about something way over my head, had an epiphany which would lead him to Mysterium Cosmographicum. Which effectively was a theory about the geometrical underpinnings of the universe (according to the American Physical Society, www.aps.org).
Sometimes I’ll have an epiphany, too. But mine are usually in the form of, “Hmmm. A chocolate chip cookie would be good right now.”
On this day in 1845 The Great New York City Fire began. It was the last “great fire” to affect Manhattan and it left a mark: 4 firefighters and 26 civilians were killed; 345 buildings were destroyed.
On this day in 1963, Capt. Joe Walker of the USAF, flew an aircraft into space, reaching an altitude of 347,800 feet in a North American X-15 hypersonic rocket-powered plane. And then he did it again the next month. Technically, Capt. Walker was the first American in space.
Lizzie Borden, approximately 1890. Photographer unknown.
And, in the end…On this day in 1860, Lizzie Andrew Borden was born. She would go on to infamy after being tried — and acquitted — for the Aug. 4, 1892 ax murders of her father and step-mother in Fall River, Mass. After her acquittal, the state chose not to charge anyone else with the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden.
After the trial, Lizzie and her sister Emma moved into a new house. Lizzie changed her name to Lizabeth. Emma moved out in 1905 after an argument over a party at the home. They never saw each other again. It would be hard to argue that Lizzie had a great life. She remained the prime suspect in the murders, after all. In 1927, she passed away at the age of 66 from pneumonia. She left $30,000 to the Fall River Animal Rescue League (well over a half million today) and much less but still considerable sums to a friend and a cousin. The entire family is buried together in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River.
For those who seek such things, you can stay at the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast where, according to the owner, the room in which Abby Borden was found murdered is the “most requested room.” This coming Aug. 4 will be the 125th anniversary of the murders. Would you spend the night?
Have a great Wednesday. See you tomorrow morning.
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.
