Gibson Marine Construction

Drone Video of the Seawall at Sand Key Park

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Protecting and Preserving Sand Key Park, Florida

According to the Pinellas County, Florida Parks and Preserves website, Sand Key Park is a public park comprised of ninety-five acres, located on Sand Key Island, a barrier island situated between the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida mainland. It is a popular destination, welcoming more than one million visitors each year.

It is very important that Florida’s public parks, like Sand Key Park are protected and preserved. The seawall being constructed along the water way is a key component of the 2018 Sand Key and Treasure Island Nourishment Projects currently underway this summer.

Drone Video Showcasing the Seawall Construction Project at Sand Key Park

This drone video gives us a bird’s eye view of the project. The video starts in an area where work on the seawall has been completed and where you can see a man enjoying his afternoon of fishing. The video then continues down the waterway towards the areas of the seawall still under construction. This can gives us a peek at the all of the engineering and construction work that goes into building a stable seawall, capable of withstanding hurricanes, tropical storms, and the foot traffic of over one million park visitors each year.

Once the drone approaches the bridge spanning the waterway from Clearwater Beach to Sand Key Island, it turns around to head back in the direction from which it came. And if you look closely at this point, you can see quite a few dolphins enjoying their afternoon swimming in the waterway.

Call the Seawall Experts, Gibson Marine Construction

For more information about seawalls or seawall construction projects, contact Gibson Marine Construction. These seawall construction experts are happy to take on seawall construction projects, both large and small.

2018 Hurricane Season: Make an Emergency Plan

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Preparing for the 2018 Hurricane Season: How to Make an Emergency Plan

Forecastors at the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project (CSU), a leading authority on the topic are predicting another busy hurricane season – slightly above historical averages. Prepare for the 2018 hurricane season by making an emergency plan.

There are four key components to an emergency plan. These include:

  • Determine how to stay updated on the latest emergency alerts and warnings.
  • Prepare a shelter plan – Create an in-home shelter plan and an off-site shelter plan.
  • Map out the best evacuation route so you can leave quickly should you need to.
  • Make a family/household communication plan.

Stay Updated on the Latest Emergency Alerts and Warnings

Hurricane-related Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are sent by state and local public safety officials, the National Weather Service, or even the President of the United States. WEAs look similar to text messages on your cell phone but usually have a unique sound and vibration, repeated twice. They are usually short messages and will include: the type and time of the alert, instructions on any action you should take, and which agency issued the alert.

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system. During an emergency it broadcasts alerts via satellite providers, cable television systems, etc. to communicate emergency information to the public. You can find additional information about the National Emergency Alert System (EAS) on the FEMA website at: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-system.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio All Hazards is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. Visit www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ to learn more about the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards network and to find a network station in your area.

Create an Emergency Shelter Plan

Communicating during an emergency can often be difficult if not impossible. To help keep your loved ones safe, you should put at least two emergency shelter plans in place: a plan for sheltering in place in your home, and a plan for evacuating to a nearby shelter.

Sheltering in Place

Often the best option for finding shelter is staying right where you are. Designate an area in your home where all family members should gather in case of emergency. A basement or storm shelter is usually best but if that’s not an option, and interior room (with no windows) or hallway is best. Preparing a disaster kit and storing it in there is also highly recommended.

Finding a Shelter

When sheltering in your home is not the best option, such as when the local authorities recommend or mandate an evacuation, you should put an alternative shelter plan in place.

Here are a few options:

  • Talk to friends and relatives to see if you can stay with them in case of an emergency.
  • Or create a list of hotels/motels to contact and make a reservation should evacuation seem likely.
  • Research mass care shelter options in your area. (Keep in mind pets are often not welcome at these facilities.)
  • Search for open shelters by texting SHELTER + a zip code to 43362 (4FEMA). Standard rates apply.

Map Out Your Best Evacuation Route

Plan how you will leave and where you will go in case of an emergency evacuation. Plan ahead by mapping out and documenting a primary and backup evacuation route. Keep in mind storms can often knock out services such as cell phone service and/or GPS – so keep an old school, paper map handy with your evacuation plans.

If you have a car, and an evacuation seems likely, keep your gas tank full. Fuel can sometimes be difficult to find during an emergency as stores can run out or close down in the area. A full tank can get you further out of the evacuation area faster and further away from the evacuation area where more fueling options are more readily available.

Put a Family/Household Communication Plan in Place

We can’t emphasize this enough: communicating during an emergency can often be difficult if not impossible. Put a family or household communication plan in place before an emergency to help get your loved ones reunited as quickly as possible.

Here are a few communication guidelines to follow:

  • Choose an out of town friend or relative to use as a point of contact. Send all messages through that designated person.
  • Designate a predetermined meeting place for all family members to go if you/they are unable to return home.
  • Keep important phone numbers and emergency contacts with you at all times. Make sure all members of the family, especially children have this information.
  • Don’t forget about social media. You can communicate a message to loved ones via a social channel and can even mark yourself as safe on Facebook to let friends and family know about your status.

Stay Safe this Hurricane Season

As a Florida area business and seawall builder, we have seen first hand the damage a hurricane can do. We hope these tips are helpful and that all our friends, neighbors, customers, etc., – everyone – stays safe this 2018 hurricane season.

And if you are interested in learning more about our services, and how a seawall could help protect you and your property this hurricane season, give us a call.

The 2018 Hurricane Season

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The 2018 Hurricane Season: When is it? What should I expect?

The 2018 hurricane season is upon us. Arm yourself with information in preparation for the 2018 hurricane season.

When is the 2018 Hurricane Season in Florida?

Hurricane season in Florida officially begins on June 1st and runs through November 30th. But most storms typically hit during peak season, between August and October.

Alberto attempted to kick the hurricane season off early, making landfall over the Florida Panhandle on Memorial Day weekend, but luckily Alberto didn’t gain enough strength and only made it into the subtropical storm category.

2018 Hurricane Season Predictions

Forecastors at the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project (CSU), a leading authority on the topic are predicting another busy hurricane season. They predict the 2018 hurricane season to be slightly above historical averages. Here are the numbers:

The average number of hurricanes each season (averaged out over 30 years):

  • 12 named storms
  • 6 hurricanes
  • 2 major hurricanes.

CSU is predicting the 2018 hurricane season to have:

  • 14 named storms
  • 7 hurricanes
  • 3 major hurricanes.

 

How the 2018 Hurricane Season Compares to 2017

Although CSU predicts an above average hurricane season, they are predicting less activity than the previous year.

Here are the numbers from 2017:

    • 18 named storms
    • 10 hurricanes
    • 6 major hurricanes

How to Prepare for the 2018 Hurricane Season

Being prepared for the 2018 hurricane season can make a big impact on how you spend your summer in Florida. Proper preparedness upfront can make clean up and repairs a lot easier down the line.

Review Your Florida Homeowners Insurance Policy

Take some time to sit down and review the details of your Florida Homeowners Insurance Policy. You may need to consider increasing your level of coverage if:

      • You made any improvements to your home or property since you last reviewed the policy.
      • You’ve made any expensive purchases, such as jewelry, antiques or art. Make sure all documents have been submitted to ensure these items are specifically listed and covered.

Also keep in mind that certain types of flood damage is often not covered by your homeowners insurance policy. If you live on or near a body of water, you may want to consider adding a flood insurance policy to make sure you have protection from all the types of water damage hurricanes can cause.

If You Have an Existing Seawall, Have it Inspected

Seawalls are a great way to help protect your property from some of the damage a hurricane can cause. But a seawall is only as strong as its weakest part.

Regular seawall inspections by seawall service professionals, such as the experts at Gibson Marine Construction, can identify areas in need of repair. Having these areas repaired and/or replaced will help stave off the misfortune of the more costly damage a busy hurricane season could bring.

Install a Seawall to Protect from Hurricane Damage

If you live on the waterfront and don’t have a seawall, you may want to consider having one installed to help protect your property from hurricane or other water damage. Call Gibson Marine Construction to learn how a seawall can help protect you and your property this hurricane season.

Types of Landscape Lights

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Commonly Used Types of Landscaping Lights

Landscape lighting is a great way to enhance your property. Different types of landscape lights can be used to create different landscape lighting effects throughout your property.

The most commonly used types of landscaping lights include:

Area Lights

Area lights are used to illuminate larger areas and are often mounted high up on poles, buildings, or in tall trees.

Deck Lights

Deck lights are most commonly used to illuminate deck or patio areas, hence the name. Most decks have posts, usually used to support some sort of railing, therefore most deck lights are designed to be mounted on posts. Other uses for deck lights may include lighting up walkways or stairs as they can be mounted to the sides of nearby structures or stairs.

Flood Lights

Flood lights are a type of area light. You would commonly see them being used to light an outdoor sports field to enhance viewing capabilities during or after dusk.

Hardscape Lights

Hardscapes refer to the man-made features of a landscape. These can be any built structures such as patios, decks, walkways, walls, arbors, etc. Most hardscape lights attach to the underside or an overhang area of a hardscape structure. These light fixtures are often hidden in the design of the hardscape making the hardscape appear as if it is glowing from underneath.

Path Lights / Bollards

A bollard is defined as a short, thick post. Since most path lights are attached to bollards, they can sometimes be referred to as a bollard light.

Path lights are used to aim light downward, and most illuminate a 360 degree area around the path light itself. Since this downward pointing light helps light up areas below it, a.k.a. the ground, they are most commonly used along walkways, driveways, or stairs to help a person better navigate their path.

And since these path lights or bollards are usually out in the open, along a frequently travelled area, the design aesthetics of these fixtures is often important and should fit in with the overall landscape design.

Spotlights

A spotlight can be a type of area light, but it is usually used to focus a more intense light on a smaller area. Most are used to draw attention toward and highlight a very specific object or area within the larger design. Spotlight shapes and intensities can vary, so you may need to test a few different ones to get the ideal lighting effect you are looking for.

Step Lights

Steps are typically comprised of two main parts:

  • Treads – The horizontal part of the step you actually step on.
  • Risers – The vertical part of the stair often referred to as the back of the stair.

Most step lights are mounted to the risers or along the walls of the stairway. The fronts of step lights should be installed so they are flush with the riser or the wall as to not cause a tripping (safety) hazard.

String Lights / Rope Lights

String lights, also referred to as rope lights are just that – lights that run along a cable, appearing as if they are attached to a rope or string. Most string lights are placed evenly along the cable and most commonly used for decoration.

Christmas tree lights are the most common form of string lights purchased in the U.S., however other string light forms and designs have become more popular in recent years as a relatively inexpensive way to put a personal touch on a space.

Submersible Water Lights

Also often referred to as underwater lights or pool lights, these lights are waterproof and specially designed to be fully submerged in water. They are most commonly used in pools, ponds, fountains, waterfalls and other water features to create a unique affect illuminating the water and what’s behind or underneath it.

Wall Lights

Wall lights are lighting fixtures affixed to a wall and using only the wall for support. Most wall lights direct lighting either upwards or downwards, but in recent years wall lights directing beams in both directions simultaneously have become more popular.

Wall light fixtures come in a variety of shapes, colors, intensities, etc. They should be chosen carefully so that they enhance the overall design aesthetic of the area.

Wall light fixtures can also be more difficult to install than other types of fixtures since they usually need to be connected to an electrical box by running wires behind the wall.

Well Lights

Well lights, also sometimes called ground lights or in-grade lights are used for uplighting, basically lighting an object(s) from below.

In many instances well lights are built into hardscapes to keep the surface of the well light flush with or beneath the surface of the surrounding hardscape. This makes them ideal for use in driveways or walkways where traffic can move right over them without damaging the lights.

Get a Custom Landscape Lighting Design from Gibson Marine Construction

There are so many different types of lights to choose from and even more ways to use these lights. The landscape design experts at Gibson Marine Construction can create a custom design, using these different types of lights to highlight the best features of your property. And the best part about hiring Gibson Marine – they offer turnkey landscaping services. They find the perfect fixtures for you – so you don’t have to lift a finger until the work is done.

Call today to learn more.

Landscape Lighting

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Shine a Light on Your Waterfront Property with Landscape Lighting

Professional outdoor landscape lighting can enhance the beauty of your waterfront property. And a custom landscape lighting design may help to increase the value of your property by:

  • Highlighting the beauty of your home and property
  • Offering additional functionality options
  • Adding a safety element

Landscape Lighting Helps to Highlight the Beauty of Your Property

A custom landscape lighting design can be used to draw attention to specific features of your home or property that you would like to highlight. Some of these features may include:

Softscape Elements of Your Landscape Design

  • Shrubbery
  • Trees
  • Flowers or flower beds
  • Grassy areas
  • Gardens

Hardscape Elements of Your Landscape Design

  • Access points such as walkways, driveways, docking areas, doorways, or gates
  • Seating areas such as patios, decks, porch swings, or benches
  • Design features such as fountains, arbors, or walls

Landscape Lighting Can Add Additional Functionality to Outdoor Areas

Landscape lighting may help you enjoy certain aspects of your property more. It can help you to see better when swimming in your pool after dark or shine some light in the areas around your hot tub allowing you to see your surroundings while relaxing in the hot water.

Landscape Lighting Adds an Element of Safety

It can be as simple as highlighting a walkway for guests arriving or leaving after dark. Or it can be part of a more complex calculation, as part of the equation used to deter crime.

Landscape Lights Along Walkways and Driveways Help Visitors Navigate Better

Illuminated paths help to prevent injuries caused by people stumbling in areas where they aren’t able to see well. Some home insurance policies may even give you a discount, saving you money for adding safety features, like outdoor lighting to your property. Check with your insurance company to find out what discounts they offer and what requirements must be met.

Outdoor Lighting May Help Deter Criminals

One of the more popular recommendations for preventing home burglaries is implementing a strategy called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Studies show that when implementing a CPTED strategy effectively, which includes the strategic placement of outdoor lighting, these practices can reduce crime by 30 to 84 percent.

Call the Landscape Lighting Experts at Gibson Marine Construction

Keep your beautifully landscaped yard from disappearing into the darkness when the sun falls below the horizon. The landscape lighting experts at Gibson Marine Construction can design a custom lighting plan that highlights the beauty of your waterfront property and gives you the added peace of mind that comes from illuminating the area around your home.

Fixed Boat Dock

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The Advantages of Owning a Fixed Boat Dock

Just as there are a lot of advantages to owning a floating dock, there are also a lot of great advantages to owning a fixed boat dock.This post will focus on the advantages of owning a fixed dock.

Stability

Since floating docks sit on top of the water, they are affected by the movement of the water. Waves can impact floating docks and cause them to bounce up and down on the water, just as a boat or other watercraft would. Therefore, fixed docks are usually the better choice for areas that have strong tides or currents and/or a lot of wave action, such as high traffic areas.

Professional Installation

Since a fixed dock is almost always considered a structure, certain building protocols need to be followed. These may include (but are not limited to):

  • Pulling proper building permits
  • Following state and local building guidelines, such as hiring a state certified contractor
  • Using specialty equipment for work when required
  • Using only approved marine-grade materials on the project

Hiring professional dock builders can be more costly than doing it yourself, but it will likely take less time to complete the project. You can also rest assured knowing it was built properly and will safely support your friends and family.

The state certified contractors at Gibson Marine Construction are the ideal experts to build your fixed dock for you. They offer turnkey services, handling every aspect of the project for you from start to finish. You can sit back and relax while they do all the heavy lifting.

Custom Designs and Quality Materials

Hiring the experts to build your fixed dock also comes with another great perk. There’s a wide variety of dock designs and building materials to choose from. You can flip through pictures of docks to find one you like, or work with the design experts at Gibson Marine to create a custom design just for you.

An Extension of Your Living Space

Fixed docks can support more weight than a floating dock, and with stability not being an issue, there are a lot more options for adding your own touch to the space. Here are just a few options:

  • Add outdoor furniture for a comfortable seating place by the water
  • Add a kitchen and/or grilling area to easily clean-up and/or cook up the fresh catch of the day
  • Install a bar area to easily enjoy boat drinks down by the water
  • Add railings and/or lighting to enhance the ambiance
  • Add useful accessories such as power pedestals, benches with built-in storage space, or ones that are more fun like dock swings or swim benches.

Withstand a Storm

Fixed docks are made with high quality materials and sturdy construction allowing them to remain in place during a severe weather event such as a hurricane. With a fixed dock, there is no need to rush around and worry about getting it into storage, unlike its counterpart, the floating dock that should be removed from the water before a storm. This time saved can be especially beneficial if you are ordered to evacuate the area quickly due to an impending weather event.

But no matter what type of dock you have, following evacuation orders and getting your loved ones out of the area quickly and safely should always be your top priority.

The Fixed Boat Dock Experts: Gibson Marine Construction

If you would like to add a fixed boat dock to your property, call Gibson Marine Construction. They are experts at designing and constructing docks. They will ensure you get the fixed boat dock that best suits your wants and needs.

Floating Boat Dock

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The Advantages of Owning a Floating Boat Dock

Deciding to add a dock to your property can be a fairly easy decision. Yes, I want a dock! But deciding what type of dock to get, and figuring out which type of dock best suits your needs – that decision can be a lot more difficult. There are so many choices!

One of the biggest choices is to decide between a floating dock and a fixed dock. This post will focus on the advantages of owning a floating dock.

Basic, Less Expensive and Easy to Install

Many floating docks are pretty basic. Some of these basic floating docks can be purchased and delivered fully assembled while others are designed for easy assembly by a handy do-it-yourselfer.

Installing a basic floating dock is not typically considered a true marine construction project, so installation does not require:

  • the expertise of a marine contractor
  • the use of speciality equipment
  • obtaining the proper building permits (although you should always verify this with your local governing agency)

For these reasons (and more) installing a basic floating boat dock is usually much less expensive than other types of boat docks.

Easy to Maintain

Most floating boat docks are made of low-maintenance materials, such as polyethylene. This type of material doesn’t need to be painted or stained, so you can set up your floating dock and start enjoying it right away. And it’s also pretty easy to clean; usually soap and water will do the trick.

Many Floating Docks are Modular

Modular floating docks are easy to expand and are often sold in sections. Using connectors, sections can be assembled like building blocks allowing you to configure and reconfigure your floating boat dock to best suit your needs at any given time.

Marinas love to take advantage of this feature. Slips can easily be reconfigured to accommodate boats of varying sizes. This means not having to turn any potential customers away because of boat size.

Adjusts to High and Low Water Conditions

Because it floats on top of the water, a floating boat dock is always at the same height as your boat or watercraft allowing you to embark or disembark with ease. You will have use of your dock no matter how high the water rises or how low the water levels drop. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for your boat – low water levels can leave you high and dry, unable to move your boat without scraping the bottom.

Easy Removal

You don’t have to worry about your floating dock getting damaged during a hurricane or severe weather event. Floating docks are easy to remove from the water and should be placed in a safe storage area before a big storm.

Call the Dock Experts at Gibson Marine Construction

Sometimes even the most basic dock installations can give the best do-it-yourself guys a hard time. If so, Gibson Marine Construction is standing by ready to assist with the install.

Or if you want a floating boat dock with more than just the basics, the experts at Gibson Marine Construction can handle that too. They can create a custom design incorporating a floating boat dock that will best suit your needs.

Marine Construction Structures: Seawalls and Revetments

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More Marine Construction Structures: Seawalls and Revetments

The previous post focused on the differences between retaining walls and bulkheads. To refresh your memory on the topic, please click here.

In this post, we will expand the discussion to include two more types of marine construction structures and learn what differences set them apart.

Seawalls

A seawall is the most common type of marine construction structure, and people often refer to all marine construction structures as seawalls. However, like each structure type, it is slightly different.

To the naked eye, a seawall and a bulkhead can look almost identical. And, just like a bulkhead, a seawall retains earth on one side of the wall and has water on the other side. But what sets the seawall apart from a bulkhead is it’s functional capabilities. In addition to holding soil in place, a seawall also performs the function of protecting the property from wave action. Seawalls are designed to withstand the constant impact of waves crashing into them and periodic occasions of significant pressure caused by larger storm surges often attributed to hurricanes.

Revetments

The general appearance of a revetment differs from that of retaining walls, bulkheads, and seawalls. A revetment typically has a sloped appearance instead of the more common perpendicular appearance of the other structures. But the biggest difference is the primary function it serves, to slow or help prevent erosion.

Protect Your Property with a Seawall or Revetment

The type of protection your property needs will be the determining factor when deciding between a seawall and a revetment. The marine construction experts at Gibson Marine Construction can guide you to ensure you get the right type of structure in place to properly protect your property. Call today to learn more.

Marine Construction Structures: Retaining Walls and Bulkheads

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Protect Your Waterfront Property by Building a Marine Construction Structure

Most marine construction structures are built to protect or prevent damage to shoreline or waterfront property. The four most common marine construction structures are:

  • Retaining Walls
  • Bulkheads
  • Seawalls
  • Revetments

Although the names of the most common types of marine construction structures are often used interchangeably, they are all actually a little different. Knowing these differences can help you determine which type of marine construction structure would best protect your property.

What is the Difference? Retaining Walls vs. Bulkheads

This post will focus on the primary difference between retaining walls and bulkheads. To learn more about the difference between seawalls and revetments, please continue on to the next post.

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are often considered the most basic out of these four common types of marine construction structures. Wikipedia defines a retaining wall as a relatively rigid wall used to support soil mass laterally so that the soil can be retained at different levels on the two sides. The primary function of a retaining wall is to prevent land movement, such as sliding.

Bulkheads

A bulkhead is very similar to a retaining wall as they have the same functionality. The primary difference between the two comes down to what element is being retained on each side of the wall. A retaining wall has soil (earth) on both sides of the wall, whereas a bulkhead retains earth on one side of the wall and has water on the other side.

Why Build a Retaining Wall or a Bulkhead?

Both retaining walls and bulkheads are a common form of engineered stabilization that prevent land movement, and are often used in areas that have undesirable sloped terrain. Building one or both allows sloped land to be shaped in a way that better suits it for specific uses.

Stabilize Your Property with a Retaining Wall, Bulkhead, or Both

Since every property is unique, the specific factors of your property will determine if you should build a retaining wall, a bulkhead, or a combination of both to provide the best form of stabilization for your needs.

Call Gibson Marine Construction. Their experts can design a beautiful solution to best stabilize your land.

Marine Construction Structures

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What is a Marine Construction Structure?

A marine construction structure is something that is built or constructed in a marine environment, most commonly along the shoreline. Most marine construction structures are built to protect or prevent damage to shoreline or waterfront property.

What are the Most Common Marine Construction Structures?

The four most common marine construction structures are:

  • Bulkheads
  • Retaining Walls
  • Seawalls
  • Revetments

Why Hire a Marine Contractor to Build Your Marine Construction Structure?

Building a marine construction structure, such as a seawall, requires a unique skill set and additional resources beyond those required of a general contractor. A few of these additional requirements include:

  • Specialized Marine Construction Knowledge
  • Specialized Ocean Marine Insurance Coverage
  • Specialized Equipment
  • Marine Construction Experience

Gibson Marine Construction: Tampa Bay’s Marine Construction Specialists

The specialists at Gibson Marine Construction understand the unique challenges associated with building a marine construction structure and do more than just meet the special requirements listed above. They have the specialized knowledge, coverage, and equipment to meet the needs of any marine construction project – large or small. And with over 30 years in the industry, you know they have the experience too.

Call Gibson Marine Construction today to discuss your marine construction structure needs.

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36366 US Highway 19 North,
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
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