For the benefit of boaters, a notice regarding training activity around MacDill AFB this week: 2/3/2014  MacDill Air Force Base FL,  The 6th Security Forces Squadron will be conducting maritime training and filming in and around the waters of MacDill AFB.  Flares, flash-bang concussion grenades, high intensity lights, long range acoustic devices and eye-safe lasers will be used during the training.  Please direct any questions to the Public Affairs office at 813 828-2215

We are almost there……….each day we are getting closer to the realization of  dredging the access channels to our wonderful waterfront community.  None of us could have imagined three years ago that channel dredging would be part of the “Bringing the Beach Back to Apollo Beach”.

We really need your help now in getting all of us to our goal.  We are so close……..but this isn’t horseshoes or hand grenades….so we can’t just be close, we have to have all of our funding in place.

We have had some expenditures for permitting and for soil analysis of the dredge material.  Both are mandatory expenses but they have taken some of our “dredging” funds.

If you can, please contribute to our cause and help bring the beach back to Apollo Beach.

Thank you for your consideration,

The A.B.W.I.G. Board

Bowling for dollars, ABWIG crosses the finish line

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The organization’s final fundraiser pushed them over their $250,000 goal. Photo Mitch Traphagen

The goal: to ensure that Apollo Beach remains a waterfront community

By MITCH TRAPHAGEN

For the past three years, ABWIG, the Apollo Beach Waterways Improvement Group has been beating the drums and knocking on doors in an effort to ensure that Apollo Beach remains a waterfront community. Their goal was to raise a quarter of a million dollars to dredge the north, south and main channels leading into the community from Tampa Bay. After countless fundraisers, monthly meetings, open houses and words (and no small amount of dollars) of support from area businesses, county officials and consultants, that goal has been reached with a final fundraiser held on Sunday. ABWIG turned three years of work into success.

Read the rest of the article here:  http://www.observernews.net/thisweek/front_page/4530-bowling_for_dollars_abwig_crosses_the_finish_line.html

 

Keller Williams $10,000 Donation Brings Dredging Funding Closer To Goal

By Tamas Mondovics

“We have come a long way and still have more work to do, but donations like the one provided by the Keller Williams SouthShore Office will enable us to complete the task at hand,” said Apollo Beach Waterway Improvement Group president, Len Berkstresser, during a recent open house meeting.

Berkstresser was pleased to receive a $10,000 donation check from the Keller Williams SouthShore Office, which helped the group to inch even closer to its financial commitment.

The townhall-style meeting is part of a series of events since the endeavor began several years ago and  has once again brought together more than 80 SouthShore area residents who were eager to hear and discuss the group’s ongoing effort to raise funds in order to dredge the three channels in Apollo Beach.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.ospreyobserver.com/2013/10/keller-williams-10000-donation-brings-dredging-funding-closer-to-goal/

The Board of ABWIG would like to recognize all of the people who made the recent fundraiser at The Alley at South Shore a huge success.  We appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to our cause and we want to say,  “THANK YOU”.

Event Sponsors:

Century 21 Beggins Enterprises, Craig and Angelique Beggins, Southern States Enterprises, Camp Bow Wow, Affiliated Title Services, Land & Sea Masters, D.R. Horton, Brisa del Mar, Team Brumbach – Keller Williams.

Event Coordinators:

Frank Cannoe, Aixa Moore, Michelle Theodores, Sarah Meyers, Molly Rizzi, Kim Guillory

Support Team:

Joann Soloss, Melissa Nicholson, Susie Brush, Victor Terrazas, Margo Philips, Christine Nargi, Michael Daniels, Joel Brumbach, Steve Latchford, Charma Owens, Miriam Gates, Carleen Lester, Jeanne Gleason, Maureen Coviello, Andrea Rich, George Theodores, Victoria Ginty, Eileen Eletto, Bill Sinopoli, Nancy Conley, Beth Christo, John Restrepo, Lisa Cillo, Jaci Stone, Barney Schumacher, Barbara Monahan, Melanie D. Morrison, Ron Simpson, Julie Huff, Eros Dahl, Lovchuk

The ABWIG board would like to issue a HUGE THANK  YOU to everyone who worked hard to make it happen and those who came out to support our fundraiser last Sunday at The Alley at South Shore.

A good time was had by all, some great bowling competition, lots of really cool cars at the car show, an exciting pool tournament and lots of great silent auction items went home with some happy bidders. 

Sunday, October 20th, 2013

11:00am to 3:30pm

The Alley At South Shore

10221 Big Bend Road, Riverview FL

Team tickets: $250 – 5 team members per lane includes bowling, shoes, food and fun!!

Compete in the tournament by creating your own team of 5 players or by letting us assign you a team.  $50 per person for single player

8 Sponsor lanes are available to $500 – Sponsor lanes provide VIP lanes for up to five team members.  You may prominently display your business and advertising materials.

Charity Car Show

All Classes, Years, Makes and Models can enter.  $10 per entry.

Contact Frank at (518) 365-4145

Tickets available at:  Century 21 Beggins, Keller Williams South Shore and South Shore Chamber of Commerce or call (813) 400-4949

Watch the Buc vs. Falcons on the big screen!

Drink Specials! Pool and Dart Tournaments!

Support ABWIG and have a ball.

UPDATED OCTOBER 28th, 2013

The #2 Channel Marker has been raised.  At this time there is a #2 mark but it is not lit.  We are working on getting the light and solar panel installed.

FACTS ABOUT THE #2 CHANNEL MARKER AT THE MAIN CHANNEL

ENTRANCE FROM THE BAY:

• The #2 channel marker at the Bay entrance to the South Channel was knocked down by a power boat on Sept. 8.
• A temporary Hazard to Navigation marker was placed and has also been damaged by collision.  Beware!  This temporary marker is not lighted.  It is a white pole floating marker, rising only a few feet above the water.
• A Notice to Mariners has been issued by the US Coast Guard.  Boaters have also been notified by social networks.
• TRANSIT THIS LOCATION WITH CAUTION.  Channel marker #2 is canted at an angle off the bottom.  No part of the marker is visible above the waterline.  The marker could be struck by boats at low tide.  The hazard marker is difficult to see, being unlit and low to the water.
• Apollo Beach Waterway Improvement Group, Inc. (“ABWIG”) took over responsibility for the privately maintained channel markers in the North, South and Main Channels, in connection with its channel dredging project. (TSS had previously been responsible, since the 1980s.)
• ABWIG has 45 days to replace this aid to navigation.
• Channel marker #2 is a beacon and dayboard on an 18″ square, 25′ long concrete piling, estimated to weigh 3,000 pounds.
• ABWIG led a dive crew of TSS members and County Parks & Recreation personnel to determine the condition of the marker and develop a plan to repair and restore it.
• ABWIG is working with Parks & Recreation to modify its barge to reset the concrete piling.  (TSS’s work barge was not operational.)
• If ABWIG’s efforts to raise and reset the piling fail, ABWIG will be forced to hire a contractor.
• After the piling is reset, ABWIG will work with Parks & Recreation to replace the light and repair the other components.
• The US Coast Guard has declined to assist and will not identify the boater who collided with #2.

ABWIG is working diligently to replace the #2 channel marker.

Check out the latest article!  We are in the news again.  If you did not attend the Town Hall meeting, check out the information in the article.  Please note:  there are several references to dredging canals in the article, this should state channel not canal.

APOLLO BEACH — Despite the community’s name, visitors would be hard-pressed to find the beach in Apollo Beach.

 Twenty years of erosion have stripped away the beach’s sand, leaving behind a rocky berm that’s hardly suitable for sun bathing and sand castles.   

Click on the link below to read the entire article.

http://tbo.com/south-shore/improvement-group-plans-to-put-beach-back-in-apollo-beach-20131002/