Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Neighborhood report

Briefs: Barbecue lovers can dine closer to home

By MICHELLE JONES and LETITIA STEIN
Published September 16, 2005

SEFFNER - Got a hankering for Hungry Harry's pulled pork? Now you won't have to cut your day short.

Harry Wright opened his second restaurant Wednesday at 2006 S Parsons Ave. in Seffner.

Since 1985, Land O'Lakes residents have eaten Wright's barbecue, both at Hungry Harry's Famous Bar-B-Que and at local charitable events.

Wright is known by just about everyone in the Central Pasco community for his big heart and vivacious personality.

"I always wanted to be here in Seffner," Wright said. "I tried to get this place two years ago, but it didn't work out."

Earlier this week, Wright and his family painted his new restaurant in Seffner bright red, similar to his Land O'Lakes location. Previously this building housed Rodeo, Floribbean and Pot Belly's barbecue restaurants.

It will be open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. His son-in-law, Chad Hudson, will manage it.

Wright says he has always had a great clientele, and many folks from the Brandon area drive up to Land O'Lakes for his barbecue.

"I am proud to be in beautiful downtown Seffner," he said. "It's real homey, like Land O'Lakes."

- MICHELLE JONES

SEFFNER - On Sept. 30, residents can air their concerns about a plan to dig a 39-acre borrow pit behind Interstate 4.

Lorton Industries wants to excavate 700,000 cubic yards of sandy dirt at the site, at the southwest corner of Pruett and Kingsway roads.

Residents have objected to the noise and dust, as well as the impact on a neighborhood already pockmarked by excavation sites. Hillsborough school officials have raised concerns about heavy trucks traveling so close to bus routes for nearby schools.

Despite the concerns, a land use hearing officer approved the request in April.

The Seffner Community Alliance and Taylor Road Civic Association both have filed appeals.

The borrow pit request has dragged on for two years. A land use hearing officer originally denied the request, citing concerns over adding another borrow pit to a neighborhood that already has to contend with eight ditches and landfills within a mile.

After losing an appeal, Lorton sued Hillsborough County. Last September, a Hillsborough circuit judge sent the matter back for another hearing.

Now a special hearing of the Land Use Appeals Board is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 30 in the second-floor boardroom at the County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd., in downtown Tampa.

- LETITIA STEIN

BRANDON - Celebrate life at the 18th annual Brandon Care Pregnancy Center Banquet. Scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 27 at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, 2102 Bell Shoals Road, Brandon, the banquet is the center's major fundraiser.

There will be testimonies from two of the center's clients and a live auction, which will include American flags flown over the nation's Capitol donated by U.S. Reps. Michael Bilirakis and Adam Putnam.

The Brandon Care Pregnancy Center provides a support system for girls and women with unplanned pregnancies. Through Christian counseling, the center touches lives in areas of parenting, abstinence, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy tests and adoption.

"And we need the communities' support," said Cookie Gray, executive director of the center.

Call 654-0491 for tickets and information.

- MICHELLE JONES

[Last modified September 15, 2005, 11:02:11]