🌱 Strawberry Fest Announcer Car Crash + Hillsborough Co. Controversy

Hi all! Carlos Hernandez here with your Wednesday edition of the Tampa Patch newsletter, full of all the local information you need to know right now. Today you'll find news about...

• Florida Strawberry Festival announcer Randy Scott and his family were tragically killed in a car crash in Parrish on Tuesday.
• Residents in south Hillsborough County are concerned about a homeless organization opening soon near in the old Riverview Library building.
• Honeycomb Cafe is now open inside Hooch & Hive in North Hyde Park.

But first, today's weather: Partly sunny. High: 90 Low: 72.

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Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. City of Tampa has completed the purchase of a historic Black cemetery for $100,000 after a developer bought the cemetery at auction. The Cemetery Society will celebrate the successful purchase with a 100-year celebration. A history researcher said many of the Black residents buried at the cemetery were once slaves, served the U.S. military, and helped to build Tampa. (Tampa Patch)
2. Florida Strawberry Festival announcer Randy Scott and his family were tragically killed in a car crash in Parrish. The car crashed into a dump truck and the driver was hospitalized. The accident is now under investigation by authorities. (Bay News 9)
3. Hillsborough County District 5 Commissioner Donna Cepeda is planning to present a county commendation to River Tampa Bay Church pastors Rodney Howard-Browne and his wife Adonica. The pastors and commissioner are known for being favorites of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' InfoWars. The church has also allegedly hosted QAnon and conspiracy theorists in the past, according to Creative Loafing. (Creative Loafing Tampa)
4. Residents are concerned about ECHO or Emergency Care Help Organization opening up where the old Riverview library once stood on Riverview Drive near U.S. Highway 301. The organization claims they primarily help single mothers and help prevent homelessness and hunger amid an affordable housing crisis. Some residents have claimed without evidence that the organization could bring crime to the area. (WFLA)
5. Honeycomb Cafe is a new coffee shop now open inside Hooch & Hive in Tampa's North Hyde Park neighborhood. The shop is open from Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to noon. Guests can enjoy coffee and desserts that are made-to-order. (That's So Tampa)

Today in Tampa:

• Toddler Time at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (10:15 a.m.)
• Biostation Celebrates Opening In Midtown Tampa With Open House. (5 p.m.)
• Run Club at Armature Works. (6 p.m.)
• Growing Veggies And Herbs at John F. Germany Public Library. (6 p.m.)
• Yoga at Midtown Tampa (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers shared: "We've signed WR David Moore, OLB Markees Watts and S Kedrick Whitehead following rookie minicamp. 📰: bccn.rs/3IeR9GK" (Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Facebook)
• Tampa Police Department shared: "Tampa Police Honor Guard represented the City of Tampa at the 42nd annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service in Washington, D.C., paying respect to all law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities." (Tampa Police Department via Facebook)
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay shared: "Starting May 26 through Aug. 6, celebrate all summer long with extended park hours, all-new entertainment, and fireworks on select days during Summer Nights. Plus, save up to 50 percent on Tickets, Fun Cards, and Annual Passes." (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay via Facebook)
• City of Tampa shared: "Hurricane season starts June 1. Are you #TampaReady? ⚠️ Make a plan: visit FloridaDisaster.org. ⚠️ Get a kit: gather supplies for 3+ days. ⚠️ Stay Informed: Text TAMPAREADY (or TAMPALISTA for Spanish) to 888-777 to subscribe to emergency alerts." (City of Tampa via Facebook)

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• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (May 19)
• Sweet & Savory Croissant Class At Sur La Table With Truly Grass Fed Butter (May 20)
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• Understanding Social Security - Free Online Course (May 24)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (May 26)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Tampa Patch newsletter? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com