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Tampa Bay Watch Honors Plant For Helping Install Cement Oyster Domes

Environmental restoration organization Tampa Bay Watch has recognized Rinker Materials Florida Crushed Stone Cement Plant, Brooksville for its participation in the Bayshore Boulevard Oyster Domes Project in Tampa. Rinker donated the use of their crane and staff to help lift the heavy, cement oyster domes over the seawall and into Hillsborough Bay.

The marine-friendly, concrete oyster domes promote oyster growth and create habitat for many species of fish and wading birds. The domes also stabilize the shoreline and help filter impurities out of the water. A mature oyster can filter up to 10 gallons per hour, so the more oysters, the cleaner our bays will be, Tampa Bay Watch said.

Rinker Materials was instrumental in the efficient placement of the 120-pound domes. Previously, Tampa Bay Watch staff and volunteers moved the domes by hand; the Rinker crane and experienced personnel greatly enhanced the installation process. They participated in two phases of the project, installing a total of 810 domes in 2005 and 2006.

Tampa Bay Watch Environmental Scientist Chris Sutton expressed his appreciation of the company’s contribution. “It was fantastic how much easier the Rinker Materials crane made our job, and their employees were great to work with. Their assistance played a big part in making the Bayshore project such a huge success.”

Tampa Bay Watch also has begun a new community-based habitat enhancement program to create oyster bars throughout Tampa Bay. Oyster communities help stabilize shorelines, provide hard bottom habitats for fish and wildlife resources and promote water quality improvements in the Tampa Bay ecosystem.

Tampa Bay Watch organizes community events to build oyster reefs in shoreline areas of Tampa Bay. These reefs are composed of fossilized oyster shell and are constructed structurally similar to natural oyster communities found throughout Tampa Bay.

On the day of an oyster-building event, community groups and local volunteers shovel loose oyster shell into buckets. Volunteer boaters also participate by delivering the buckets of shell to the site where the oyster bars are to be constructed. The buckets of shell are handed off to other volunteers and staff, who deposit the shell on the tidal flats.

Tampa Bay Watch is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) stewardship program dedicated exclusively to the charitable and scientific purpose of protecting and restoring the marine and wetland environments of the Tampa Bay estuary encompassing over 400 square miles of open water and 2,300 square miles of highly developed watershed. Tampa Bay Watch involves more than 10,000 youth and adult volunteers each year in hands-on habitat restoration projects.

For more information of upcoming events, becoming a volunteer or member, call 727-867-8166.

Be A Foster Parent

In some cases, animals surrendered to the Humane Society are too young, too small or have health needs that make them unavailable for immediate adoption. When feasible, these animals are placed in foster homes until they can be recommended for adoption. For more information on being a Foster Parent, call the Humane Society of North Pinellas at 727-797-7722..

Safety Harbor Obituaries

Pedro Pabon-Crespo, 88, Safety Harbor, died August 1, 2006 at James A. Haley VA Medical Center, Tampa. He came here in 1999 from his native Puerto Rico, and retired from the U.S. Postal Service where he was a post office guard. He was an Army veteran of World War II and enjoyed Latin music. Survivors include three daughters, Iris Lopez, Safety Harbor, Blanca Aldea, Boynton Beach, and Elizabeth Pabon, Atlanta; three sons, Pedro Jr., Palm Harbor, James, Puerto Rico, and Louis, Wingdale, NY; a brother, Felix, and a sister, Prebo Pabon, both of the Bronx, NY; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Patricia J. Cromie, 79, Safety Harbor, died August 3, 2006 at home under the care of Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. She was born in Detroit and came here in 1970 from Frankenmuth, MI. She worked 23 years in Pinellas County as a hearing aid specialist and state examiner for hearing aid licensing. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Largo, and the Red Hat Society at the Barrington, Largo. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing cards, traveling, and arts & crafts, with a special interest in ceramics. Survivors include two sons, Thomas, Atlanta, and Christopher, Brandon; three daughters, Robin Strohm , Safety Harbor, Kimberly Stryjewski , Medfield, MA, and Lois Clark, Madison Heights, MI; a brother, Thomas Peters, Vero Beach; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Helmuth F. Hoell, 79, Safety Harbor, died August 6, 2006 at Mease Countryside Hospital, Safety Harbor. He was born in Czechoslovakia and came here in 1974 from Brattleboro, VT. He was a self-employed building contractor for 30 years in Vermont and locally worked as a wine steward at Long Boat Key Club. He was a member of Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor. He enjoyed golf, bingo, playing cards, feeding ducks, fishing and cooking. Survivors include two sons, Robert C., Clearwater, and Perry, Omaha, NE; and three grandchildren.

James Robert “J.J., Jimmy, Big Bro” Johnson, 58, Safety Harbor, died August 6, 2006 at home. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, and moved here this year from Grapevine, TX, where he owned Jim’s Courier Service. He had been a seasonal resident here since 2004. He worked as a longshoreman in New York and was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of New Hope Fellowship Church, Chico, TX, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10093, Safety Harbor, and Amber Glades Community, Safety Harbor. Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Laura; a stepson, John M. Marshall III, Hometown , IL; a stepdaughter, Tyra K. Marshall, Grapevine; a brother, Gary, Queens; two sisters, Arlene Prost and Dawn Valentine, Brooklyn; several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; and a granddaughter, Zaylak Baldwin, Grapevine.

Justin P. Kampfe, 25, Safety Harbor, died August 12, 2006 at home. He was born in Vail, CO, and came here in 2005 from Phillipsburg, KS. He was an Army ranger and served in Afghanistan and Falusia. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Phillipsburg. Survivors include his father, Roger L. II, Aransas Pass, TX; his stepmother, Ginger Kampfe, Phillipsburg; a sister, Elyse Kampfe, Manhattan, KS; two stepbrothers, Tyrel A. Billings and Joshua D. Billings, both of Phillipsburg; and his paternal grandmother, Doris Kampfe, Phillipsburg.

Jean Sidnie Bain, 77, Safety Harbor, died August 19, 2006 at Hospice House Woodside, Pinellas Park. She was born in Berlin, WI, and came here in 1958 from Milwaukee. She was a beautician and was Lutheran. Survivors include a daughter, Wendy, Safety Harbor; two sons, Scott, Longview, TX, and Craig King, West Allis, WI; a brother, Elmer Pomeroy, Wisconsin; and three grandchildren.

Anthony John Adamowicz, 64, Safety Harbor, died August 24, 2006 at home under the care of Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. He was born in Highland, MI, and came here in 1996 from Michigan, where he worked 34 years as a facilities engineer for Ford Motor Co. He was Catholic and a member of the Dunedin/Clearwater Elks Lodge 1525. Survivors include his wife, Carol; three sons, Daniel, Plymouth, MI, and Ronald and Jason, both of Livonia, MI; a daughter, Jacinda Baker, Westerville, OH; two brothers, Arthur, Northville, MI, and Joseph, Belle River, MI; two sisters, Susan Rees and Judy Anderson, both of Farwell, MI; and eight grandchildren.

Janet L. Goldstein, 56, Safety Harbor, died August 26, 2006 at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater, She was born in Springfield, MO, and came here in 1985 from Highland Park, IL. She was a surgical nurse at Morton Plant Hospital and a member of Heritage United Methodist Church and the North Pinellas Republican Club. Survivors include her husband of 35 years, Harvey; a son, Todd, Safety Harbor; a daughter, Amanda Becker, Alexandria, VA; her mother, Mary Lou Piercey, Clearwater; and a grandson, Tyler Becker.

Paulette Ann Perkins, 58, Safety Harbor, formerly of New Port Richey, died August 27, 2006 at Marliere Hospice Care Center New Port Richey. Born in Paterson, NJ, she came to Florida in 1989 from Indiana. She was a state of Florida program supervisor and member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Survivors include a son, Dr. Michael Perkins, Silver Spring, MD; her parents, William and Esther Gross, New Port Richey; and two brothers, Ken Gross, South Lake, TX, and Bill Gross, Galesburg, MI.

Mary Lou Stewart, 68, of Largo and formerly of Safety Harbor, died August 28, 2006 at Hospice House Woodside, Pinellas Park. She was born in Moss, MS, came to Safety Harbor in 1981 from Oklahoma City and moved to Largo in 1997. She was a vice president at Barnett Bank and a docent at Eckerd College. She was a volunteer at the Lord’s Kitchen at Shiloh Baptist Church and was a past president of the Palm Harbor Rotary and the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks. She enjoyed traveling. Survivors include two daughters, Margie Strealy, Oklahoma City, and Darleen Bradley, Hot Springs, AR; and four grandchildren.