Apr 27 min read

Keystone Connection News - APRIL 2024

Updated: Apr 3

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Photo of the month provided by Jane Whitehurst.

Send in a photo caption to keystonecivicsect@gmail.com, the best one will win a prize at the general meeting. Submit your photo for picture of the month to info@keystonecivic.org

Congratulations to the 2024 KCA Board of Directors

The election was held March 28th at the annual meeting, there were 72 members present. Nominees had to accrue a majority of votes (51%+) from members present thus 37 votes were required to secure the position. We are pleased to announce the following members have been selected to represent KCA. Take the opportunity to meet them at Spring Fling, April 6th, they are eager to hear from you and make connections within our community.

Brook Houck, President Regina Hernandez, Director

Michael Couch, Vice President Robin Mueller, Director

Trish Lawton, Secretary Angela Murphy, Director

Michael Atherton, Treasurer Rich Roseberry, Director

Heather Heath, Director Jane Whitehurst, Director

If you would like to join the KCA Board of Directors, there are currently three positions available to be filled during the mid-term election. Please complete the Nomination form below and submit for review. We welcome all volunteers who wish to work with our team to support our Keystone - KCA Mission!

COMPLETE THE FILLABLE BOARD NOMINATION FORM AND SUBMIT RIGHT HERE!

Spring Fling, April 6, 11AM-4PM

FREE, FAMILY EVENT
Chili Cook Off- Come vote for the tastiest in Keystone- TEN ENTRIES.
Classic Cars, Fun Games for the Kids, K9 Unit, Fire Engine Visit
Live Band- Bring a chair or a blanket, have a picnic and connect with us
50+ Vendors- Something for everyone.

Student Volunteers, earn hours, sign up here.

Please reach out to kcaspecevents@gmail.com if YOU would like to volunteer.

COME EAT LUNCH WITH US!

KCA earns a % OF BBQ sales

Raffle Prizes Include:

ACE Weber Charcoal Grill
Pinch a Penny Giant Pool Floats
Elev8 Nerf Guns
Son Nails Gift Certificate
Papas Pizza Gift Card
BJs Gift Card
and more

Celebration of Life

April 20,2024 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Clara Rose Lawhead, MS, RD, LD, FADA

Past President, Keystone Civic Association 2023-2024

by Cassandra Leonard

It is with deep regret we have to inform you that we lost an amazing woman and respected leader, Clara Lawhead, who served on the KCA BOD since 2017. Clara passed at her home peacefully with family by her side on the eve of March 26, 2024 due to end stage Breast Cancer. Some may not know that Clara was a striving survivor of Cancer since 2012, yet a recurrence presented itself in 2018 with metastatic cancer to her bones which was deemed incurable. It is a miracle in itself that Clara continued her life missions to always give and look out for others while keeping this to herself. This is who Clara was, and I believe staying focused on her goals and personal mission(s) is what kept her going strong all these beautiful and memorable years. I am honored to have been a part of her life and considered a friend.

Clara and her family have been residents of Odessa for 45 years. She was a mother of two, to daughter Becky and son Ryan as well as a foster parent to deserving children. She was treasured by grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was one of the founding members and President of Pasco Food Bank Inc. in 1990, renamed to Suncoast Harvest Food Bank Inc, that later merged with Feeding Tampa Bay in 2012. Clara continued her mission on the BOD for Feeding Tampa Bay to recent years.

Clara was a Board Certified Fellow and Licensed Dietitian who worked for the Florida Department of Health /Public Health for 42 years, retiring as Director of Community Health Promotion Division. She had various teaching appointments at Universities, Honorary Speaker engagements, received Board appointments at USF, Health and Human Services, and the Department of Health division of Medical Quality Assurance. Clara wrote cook books for patients with HIV, had laws changed to make eating seafood safer in restaurants while lobbying for healthier school lunches, and so much more. In her tenure, Clara received many awards and merits, too many to share. I’d say she was more than an accomplished woman!

Clara always exemplified herself as a true leader and friend who served KCA and this community with experience, wisdom and integrity. She was a woman who deserves to be respected and honored for her dedication for years to come.

The Lawhead family wishes to notify everyone that their Mom’s dedication to the community and especially those impoverished and disadvantaged has not gone unnoticed. The proof is in the Brick and Mortar as she will forever be remembered when the Feeding Tampa Bay dedicates it’s new facility in honor of their mother, Ms. Clara Lawhead on the morning of May 23, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Feeding Tampa Bay are welcome in Memory of Clara at this link: https://donate.feedingtampabay.org/give/504336/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=donate-button&utm_campaign=donate-main#!/donation/checkout

Her efforts to combat food insecurity go back as far as her daughter can remember. Her ability to work with different people from all backgrounds and to energize and organize numerous charity events is remarkable. She gave ALL her energy to important matters. She was passionate about Keystone and her Family hopes you have it in your hearts to share the same LOVE for our community so it can be preserved and appreciated by future generations. Please keep her family in your prayers during this difficult time. We send our Love to Clara and her family.

Clara's Celebration of Life will be held at the Keystone Park on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 1 PM to 4 PM. If member/visitors would like to support the family for Clara's Celebration, a non-refrigerated covered dish and/or light non-alcoholic beverage is welcomed and appreciated.

News Obituary

NEXT GENERAL MEETING: APRIL 25, 2024

6: 30PM Social/Sign In

7:00PM- 8:30 PM Meet.

Together, we can build strong relationships and function effectively. Support the new KCA BOD as they tackle their first meeting.

General Meeting Speaker: Valerie J. Harwood Ph.D.

"Jody" is a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of South Florida, Tampa. Her expertise revolves around water microbiology and water quality (microbiological). Her research uses forensic technology (like PCR) to track sources of fecal contamination in rivers, lakes, bays, and oceans. This is a vital topic for our area, don't miss it.

ROADSIDE CLEAN UP: APRIL 27, 2024, 7:00 AM

MEET AT KEYSTONE PARK. ADOPT A ROAD PROGRAM

Students receive community service hours.

Families welcome.

Vests and Reachers will be provided.

Thank you Jim Gothard for organizing.

Adopt a Road Registration or

email us at Info@keystonecivic.org

LAND USE NEWS: Defend our KOCP

Transportation Survey: https://www.access2050.org Due April 15

Your voice holds the key to shaping the future of transportation in Hillsborough County. Join us in this transformative journey by sharing your thoughts and ideas through our interactive Access 2050 survey, designed to gather valuable insights. This brief survey allows you to actively participate in shaping the transportation roadmap for Hillsborough County.

By leaving your email address at the end of the survey, you’ll be eligible for prizes.

ZONING APPLICATIONS:

VARIANCE REQUESTS:

APPLICATION VAR24-0611 Camp Brorein- 16901 Boy Scout Rd. Greater Tampa Bay Alliance seeks to build a 12,000 sq ft recreation center/dining hall. This requests increases the sq footage 4,500 feet from their current allowable footprint.
APPLICATIONS VAR24-0426, VAR24-0427, VAR24-0428

Request(s) to encroach development into the 30' wetland setback on three parcels.

Our RESOURCES page also has direct links to the BOCC website for submittals. Be sure to include the Case Number and address for projects that concern your immediate area.

HOW TO REPORT NON-CONFORMING LAND USE ACTIVITY

What constitutes a call to the County or Code Enforcement :

Illegal dumping or activity.
Illegal FILL of property in low wetland areas that do NOT have a Permit.
Anything "noticeable" that does not indicate a permit.

For IMMEDIATE action, call to report CODE VIOLATIONS.

CODE ENFORCEMENT HOTLINE: 813-274-6600

NON EMERGENCY SHERIFF OFFICE: 813-247-8200

or report online at this link online.

KEYSTONE CURRENT MONTH Hillsborough County Zone Hearing Maps Look Up).

To support or oppose the applications submit your letters to: Hearings@Hillsboroughcounty.org

Learn About The Zoning Process and See Available Resources : Click Here

AGRICULTURAL NEWS: KEYSTONE HERITAGE

The KCA agricultural committee wants to remind everyone that the best resource for our state’s agriculture needs can be found at www.fdacs.gov, the website for The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Click on the ”By Topic“ section and you will find an array of topics. Areas of interest are varied and include topics such as “concealed firearms” and “recreation and leisure”. Under the livestock tab you will find information on everything from bees to alpacas.

Two years ago, we had a horse in our Keystone area showing some abnormal neurological signs. Even though this horse was vaccinated for eastern equine encephalitis, it had sadly contracted this deadly virus. The agricultural committee recommends that we keep pets and livestock vaccinated, it is a rarity for the vaccinations to fail. At the FDACS website you can find which diseases affect different livestock species and which vaccinations they should be receiving.

Another very helpful website especially for horses is the Equine Disease Communication Center website, equinediseasecc.org, here you can easily look up disease alerts, how to report a disease, and disease information for both the USA and Canada.

KEYSTONE MAP: The Boundaries of the KOCP

Membership Updates

Please be sure to keep your information up to date i.e. email, phone and address. Please include your spouse's name in your membership information so we may acknowledge your family member(s). Renew or become a member here.

Have questions on membership OR if you have any updates to your email as this is the MAIN source to contact you please contact us at Info@keystonecivic.org or via the website inquiry, someone will respond as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience.