Hot Topics

Free Tax Preparation Offered Through Hillsborough County's Prosperity Campaign

Hillsborough County News

February 8, 2011

 

Free Tax Preparation Offered Through Hillsborough County’s Prosperity Campaign

 

Free tax preparation is available to those who earned less than $50,000 in 2010. Prosperity Campaign IRS-certified preparers and trained volunteers are available at convenient sites throughout Hillsborough County to help residents complete the paperwork and electronically file their tax returns. In addition, residents will be assisted in applying for the earned income tax credit, child tax credit, and other tax credits for which they are eligible. This year, qualified taxpayers can receive up to $5,666 in earned income tax credit.

 

The Prosperity Campaign of Hillsborough County represents a coalition of public, private and non-profit partners working together toward the shared goal of helping our county's most financially vulnerable families succeed. Hillsborough County and the United Way of Tampa Bay engage in outreach efforts to promote the earned income tax credit and other valuable tax benefits, provide free tax filing services through multiple locations, and offer financial education and coaching to empower families to better understand their options when it comes to spending, saving and borrowing. The goal is to help families build assets, use credit wisely, and ultimately achieve financial stability.

 

Open sites at Hillsborough County facilities include:

 

 

• North Tampa

 

University Community Resource Center

13605 North 22^nd St. in Tampa

Monday-Thursday: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.         

Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.           

 

Jimmie B. Keel Library                                                  

2902 West Bearss Ave. in Tampa

Thursdays: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Fridays: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

 

• East Tampa and Ybor City

 

Children’s Board                                                                             

1002 East Palm Ave. in Tampa

Wednesdays: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

2^nd and 4^th Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

 

Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center                                                                              

3402 North 22nd St. in Tampa

Monday - Thursday: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.       

Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

 

• West Tampa and Town ‘N Country

 

West Tampa Neighborhood Service Center       

2103 North Rome Ave. in Tampa

Monday-Thursday: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

 

Town ‘N Country Family Support and Resource Center

7520 West Waters Ave., #8 in Tampa

Tuesdays: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.                            

Fridays: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

 

• Brandon, Plant City, Ruskin, South Tampa

 

Brandon Family Support and Resource Center                  

1277 Kingsway Rd. in Brandon

Mondays: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Thursdays: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

1^st and 3^rd Saturdays of the month: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

 

Plant City Neighborhood Service Center                                             

307 N. Michigan Ave. in Plant City

Monday - Thursday: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

 

South Shore Community Center                                              

201 14th Avenue S.E. in Ruskin

Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

 

78^th Street Library                                                                           

7625 Palm River Road in Tampa

Wednesdays: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Fridays: 3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

2^nd and Saturdays: 10:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.

 

More tax preparation sites are now open. For information on other locations call 2-1-1 or visit www.unitedwaytampabay.org/freetaxhelp .

Family Support Coordinator I

Family Support Coordinator I

FT position providing intensive in home case management services to families with children from birth through fifth grade in the South County area.  REQUIREMENTS:  High School Diploma or Associates Degree with at least 1 year experience working with at risk children required.  Must be bilingual and maintain a valid FL driver’s license.  Please fax resumes to Hispanic Services Council at (813) 641-3560 or email to bwithers@hispanicservicescouncil.org.  DFWP/EOE.

Hillsborough County Health Department is seeking a Senior Registered Nurse

Senior Registered Nurse

Hillsborough County Health Department is seeking a Senior Registered Nurse (64028177) for the Refugee Clinic located at 2002 E 26^th Ave Tampa, FL 33605.  The ideal candidate will be self-directed and motivated with outpatient clinical experience in a service-oriented environment focused on Refugee screenings and immunizations for children and adults shots.  Candidate must be bilingual in Spanish and English.  Successful candidate must pass a drug screen & background investigation.  Apply online by May 30, 2011 at https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com. Contact Margaret Ewen at (813) 307-8015 x 7701 or Ruth Wyatte at (813) 307-8015 x 7702 for details.

 

EOE/AA Employer/Vet’s pref/DFWP

 

 

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SH RESIDENTS!!

From: Christie Hess [mailto:chess@seminoleheightsfoundation.org]
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:27 AM
Subject: Form Based Zoning Codes on the City's Website 

I am sending this information so that you can become knowledgeable how this new type of zoning will affect you and the Seminole Heights area. The city’s Community Planning through Form Based Zoning is a critical ingredient towards improving the sustainability and vitality of SeminoleHeights. One of the goals of the Seminole Heights Foundation is to potentially provide additional avenues that would allow this zoning to be realized. We hope that you will be able to attend the meetings next week. I wanted to give you the opportunity to review the work to date via the City of Tampa’s website. This is your opportunity to have a say in the future re-development of Seminole Heights, if your schedule permits, please try to attend one or both of the meetings. 

Here is the link: 

http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Land_Development/information_resources/Zoning/community_planning_through_form_based_codes.asp

Tuesday, April 28 at 6pm – Overview
Wednesday, April 29 at 6pm – Working session 

Ragan Center
at 1200 E. Lake Ave  

Thank you,

Christie Hess

VIDEO Contest For Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For
additional information, contact:
Elias J. Franco, Distribution Division Manager
Office: (813) 259-1641
Cell: (813) 352-3607
Fax: (813) 259-1645
Elias.Franco@TampaGov.net

"Use Water Wisely" PSA Contest Begins Today
Students Can Compete For $1000 Cash Prize

TAMPA, FL (Jan. 26, 2009) - The City of Tampa Water Department and
Hillsborough County Water Resource Services have officially opened their
first "Use Water Wisely" PSA Contest for submissions. Hillsborough
County high school students (grades 9 - 12) are encouraged to enter
original Public Service Announcement (PSA) videos promoting the
importance of protecting our drinking water resources and the
Hillsborough River water system. The contest winner will receive a
$1,000 cash prize.

Videos should be 60 seconds in length, or less, and raise the
viewer’s awareness by explaining how water is used, the importance
of conservation, the dangers of overuse, or exploring sustainable
programs which will continue to protect the Hillsborough River and local
water resources. Submissions must be postmarked by midnight, March 6,
2009.

Entries will be judged more heavily on creativity, content, and
persuasiveness than technical attributes. In addition to the $1,000 cash
prize, the winner and a select number of entries may be chosen to appear
during a 30-minute television program about local water supply issues
and the PSA contest.

Contest rules, guidelines, technical criteria, and submission forms are
available online at www.tampagov.net/SaveWater. For questions concerning
contest criteria, please contact Andrea Roshaven with the City of Tampa
Water Department at (813) 274-5912 or Andrea.Roshaven@tampagov.net .

The "Use Water Wisely" PSA contest is jointly sponsored by the City
of Tampa Water Department and Hillsborough County Water Resource
Services as part of their continuing public education efforts.

Tampa Water Department serves a 211-square mile area with a service
population of approximately 645,000 people. The Tampa Water
Department’s mission is to provide superior drinking water and
reclaimed water services to its customers.

Hillsborough County Water Resource Services delivers high-quality
drinking water, collects and treats wastewater, and distributes
reclaimed water in unincorporated Hillsborough County. The department
also coordinates a comprehensive water conservation program and enforces
watering restrictions throughout the unincorporated areas.

A VERY IMPORTANT ARTICLE WRITTEN BY A SESH NEIGHBOR

This is an interesting article and very timely, as our speaker for next week's GM meeting (SESH) is Phil Compton of Sierra Club who will address this very issue.

Good meeting not to miss!

The following article is reprinted from Tampa Tribune

Runoff Fertilizes Debate

 By MIKE SALINERO

msalinero@tampatrib.com

Published: January 11, 2009

TAMPA - Scientists have long known that the nitrogen that makes your lawn green also chokes the oxygen out of water, making it hard for fish, crabs, shrimp and other marine life to breathe.

Nowhere is that more true than in the Tampa Bay area, where the state has declared many water bodies "impaired" because of high nitrogen levels.

That's why local governments are considering a law to restrict fertilizer use.

Hillsborough County will be one of the first to consider a model ordinance

Thursday.

Tampa and Pinellas County are considering similar ordinances.

The Tampa Bay Estuary

Program, a public-private agency that works to increase sea grasses

in the bay, developed the model ordinance. The estuary program

estimates residential runoff, including fertilizers, comprises about 32 percent of the total amount of nitrogen carried to the Bay, said Nanette O'Hara, a spokeswoman for the estuary program.

"Obviously we are continually looking at ways to reduce nitrogen loading

to the Bay," she said.

"This is one tool in the toolbox to do that."

The estuary program

estimates the amount of nitrogen flowing into Tampa Bay could be reduced by 4 percent a year, or 84 tons, if 50 percent of households in Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties

complied with the ordinance.

A Controversial Proposal

But fertilizer restrictions are controversial in Florida, where lush, emerald-green lawns are intrinsic to the state's image. A key part of the ordinance, a ban on applying nitrogen-based fertilizers during the summer rainy months, is opposed by the lawn-care and turf-grass industries.

The industry groups reject claims by environmental groups and government agencies that rain washes

fertilizer off lawns and into stormwater drains. It then flows to the nearest river or bay.

"It is scientifically shown that the turf and mulch capture those nutrients and don't allow them to move," said Erica Santella, regional technical manager

for TruGreen, a lawn-care company.

Opponents of the ban also say summer is a critical growing period when turf grasses need nitrogen the most. They dispute claims by environmental agencies that other, safer soil additives can keep a lawn green in summer.

Concerned About A Ban

But in Sarasota County, where a fertilizer summer ban was enacted more than a year ago, no ill effects to grass or ornamental plants have been seen, said Commissioner Jon Thaxton.

"We have some groups doing leaf and root testing, to test the health of the plants, and we're not seeing stressed lawns or die-off," Thaxton said.

Hillsborough Commissioner Al Higginbotham, who chairs the county Environmental Protection Commission, said he worries about the summer fertilizer ban.

"I'm real concerned about using the word ban," Higginbotham said. "If there is a way we can fix this rather than ban the sale of a product, I'd like to see it."

Higginbotham has invited University of Florida agriculture scientists to Thursday's EPC meeting to discuss how much nitrogen grasses need during the summer.

Though the ordinance would include fines for non-compliance, proponents say its main purpose is to educate homeowners and lawn-care companies about proper fertilizer use.

"This is one of those situations where we don't have the ability to hire new enforcement agents to go out and tell people they can't," said Hillsborough Commissioner Mark Sharpe said. "We're going to have to try to get people to want to do that."

TURF WAR?

Tampa, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties

are considering an ordinance restricting lawn fertilizer use. Key elements include:

!

Banning application of fertilizers containing nitrogen from June 1 through Sept. 30.

!

Designating a fertilizer-free zone 10 feet from waterways.

!

Creating a licensing and certification program for lawn-care professionals.

Source: Tampa Bay Estuary

Program

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303

CHEMICAL AND ELECTRONICS COLLECTION

City to Hold Household Chemical and Electronics Collection

Tampa, FL October 15, 2008 - The City of Tampa Department of Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management will hold a Household Chemical and Electronics Collection from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2008. The collection will take place at the Solid Waste facility, at 4010 West Spruce Street, located behind the main Solid Waste building. The following materials will be accepted at the collection site: paints and solvents; used motor oil; automotive products; pool chemicals; mercury-containing devices, such as fluorescent light bulbs and thermometers; lawn, garden and household chemicals; and electronics including computer monitors, printers, CPUs, keyboards and televisions. The city will not accept any explosive, radioactive or biomedical wastes at the collection site and only residential waste will be accepted. To access the facility residents should enter on Clark Street. For additional information, please call the Department of Solid Waste at (813) 348-1111. Residents in the City of Tampa can now recycle cardboard at the Manhattan Brush Site, located at 6727 S. Manhattan Avenue and at the McKay Bay Refuse-to-Energy Facility located at 112 South 34th Street in Tampa.

A NOTE FROM PUBLIX

Hey all, just wanted to drop a Publix note letting you know that this March we began our fourteenth year with the new store. We had forty years with the old store, so fifty five years of Publix in Seminole Heights!

I am very honored to be your neighborhood manager and continue to strive to make you proud of our little store.
Some updates of things that have recently happened and are coming up:

1) The big yellow generator outside is large enough to run the entire store in the event of an emergency(hurricanes!). This will be very helpful to everyone if TECO has a major outage, plus good for Publix. We threw away $65 million in Groceries when the storms hit a few years back. This should be a win/win for everyone.

2) The locking wheel carts are helping make sure you always have a cart available when you come shopping, plus they don't end up in your yard. We are finding them very successful and hope you haven't noticed any difference in your shopping experience with them.

3) We will be getting a new hot case in the Bakery which will include empanadas, croquettes, pizzas, and pasties similar to what you find if you shop at the Hillsborough Publix. This should be in within the next four weeks.

4) We are getting a dedicated Publix Tea case in the Deli department. By taking the Tea to the Deli, we will have more room to expand on the Greenwise milk in the milk case. I get many requests for this and will have it happen soon. This includes carrying half gallons of the Greenwise milk, plus Publix buttermilk.

5) We have two new Limited Edition Ice Creams and one yogurt that have just come in. They include Key Lime Pie Ice Cream, Its Your Birthday ice cream, and Lemon Sugar Cookie yogurt, an award winner from the American Ice Cream panel. Look for these in the ice cream section.

So some updates of what is going on with your local store. If you have any questions or comments that I can assist with, please do not hesitate to call me at 813-238-7720.

It truly is a pleasure working and living in
Seminole Heights!

Thank you!

Chuck
Your Neighborhood Publix Manager

SOMETHING NEW FOR THE SH HOOD!

 

One of our neighbors has been working on something which is just now being unveiled.  I urge all of you in the Greater SH area to log on, join up and participate.  If this works it will be of a great help to all.  Will save a bunch of work making sure all the emails get passed around, if it is all in one area!

Check it out and see!!

http://heightswatch.com

NEED A GOOD EDUCATION?

SACRED HEART ACADEMY PLANS OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

Sacred Heart Academy will be hosting two Open Houses for prospective students on Thursday, April 17, 2008 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Tuesday, May 13, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the school. An informational presentation of the school will be given, followed by an informal Q&A session and tour of the campus. Lunch will be provided for the April 17th Open House.

Sacred Heart Academy is located at 3515 N. Florida Avenue in Tampa.

To register for the free Open House, call Sacred Heart Academy at (813) 229-0618 or e-mail sha@sacredheartfla.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sacred Heart Academy, founded in 1931, provides a rich educational experience for children 3 years old through 8th grade. Sacred Heart is a Catholic school that welcomes students of all faith traditions. The school is located on a 10-acre campus, one and one-half miles north of downtown Tampa. Sacred Heart Academy, fully accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference, is a school ministry of Sacred Heart Church, a Franciscan parish with a rich 100-year history.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Shelley Dignum
Marketing Director
(813) 229-0618
sdignum@sacredheartfla.org
Web site: www.sacredheartfla.org/academy <http://www.sacredheartfla.org/academy>