Consumer Credit Counseling of Florida

The Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Florida and the Florida Gulf Coast Inc. is a non-profit agency serving those who are struggling with their finances. Are you in mortgage trouble, swimming in credit card debt, pondering bankruptcy, or just looking to get on a better financial track, the CCCS may be able to help you. They offer counseling and debt management to help people get out of trouble. They also offer numerous workshops on subjects such as affordable home ownership. budgeting for teens, car buying, understanding credit, credit repair, reverse mortgages and a whole lot more. For information, call their headquarters at 1.800.984.0977 or visit their website. Just click on the link under Consumer Information/Protection. There are two service centers in Pasco County.

Dade City
37837 Meridian Ave.
Suite 200
Dade City, FL 33525

New Port Richey
5945 Florida Ave.
New Port Richey, FL 34652

EARTH911.org

Earth911 is a wonderful website that, according to its mission state, "delivers actionable local information on recycling and product stewardship that empowers consumers to act locally, live responsibly and contribute to sustainability." This website not only provides lots of information on what can be recycled and how, but it also provides information on how we can all be better consumers in ways that benefit the planet. There's even information for students, articles on how to compost and other information on various environmental topics covering air and water quality, climate change and energy conservation. The best tool of the website is the search bar at the top of the page that can help you locate local places that will take unwanted chemicals, electronics, metals, plastics and more. Earth911 "centralizes information and resources into a single user-friendly, neutral and non-governmental network." It's definitely worth a look. Click on the link under "Environmental."

Career Central and Connections

This week's posting is about area career centers, places that help individuals looking for jobs and employers looking for qualified employees. In these uncertain times, these resources can prove very helpful.
Career Central "is an enterprise sponsored by the Pasco Hernando Jobs and Education Partnership Regional Board. Career Central serves as the area's One-Stop venue for meeting both employer and employee needs." With offices in Port Richey, Zephyrhills, and Spring Hill, Career Central is ready to provide job search help, training, career planning and targeted services such as help for seniors and veterans. Career fairs and resume help are other activities of this organization.
Connections, located on Main Street in New Port Richey, "is funded by the United Way of Pasco County, Pasco County Commissioners, and donations from area churches, individuals, and businesses." Connections serves individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, need computer skills training, or are seeking a career change. Connections also helps employers find qualified employees. Some specific services Connections offers job seekers include career counseling, and help with job skills, interview skills, and networking skills as well as resume writing advice.
Check out these two organizations. You never know when you might need them. You can find links to their websites to the right under Business/Legal/Career.

GAS!!

We are all facing higher gas prices. It seems like everyday gas prices go higher and higher. What can we do? There are some websites that track the cheapest gas in any given area. A couple of sites that can help you track cheaper gas prices in your area include: Gas Buddy and Gas Prices-Mapquest. Click on their links under "other community information" at the right. There are also numerous articles on the web about how to increase gas economy through car maintenance and driving style. Fueleconomy.gov is just one site that offers this kind of advice.




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My Safe Florida Home (MSFH)

Well, with hurricane season just a little more than a month away, I thought this would be a good time to remind everyone of the state-run My Safe Florida Home program. MSFH exists to educate the citizens of Florida on how to better prepare their homes against windstorm damage. Not only can one obtain free information from the MFSH website, but one can also make application to get a free wind inspection of their home by a qualified inspector. One can even possibly get matching grant money to help them make improvements to their home. This is a useful tool to any homeowner. We all need to be prepared come hurricane season. MFSH is here to help.

LOVEBUGS!

I thought this would be a good time to do a post about everyone's favorite insect, the Lovebug. The one insect we all can't wait to scrape off of our cars each spring and fall. We usually see them in late April to May and in late August to September. Maybe by creating this post, we will be spared (I can dream can't I?). I wanted to provide information on what exactly a lovebug is and tips for getting them off of one's car. The first link is information provided by the University of Florida Extension Service on what exactly lovebugs are.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MG068

The second link is from the Dollar Stretcher website and provides tips for getting lovebugs and other insect carcasses off of your vehicle.

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/990614c.cfm

So, be ready! Our flying friends will be here soon.

Pasco County Parks & Rec Summer Camp

It's that time of year again! What time of year, you ask? Time to think about what the kids are going to do this summer! Well, how about signing them up for summer camp? Pasco County Parks and Recreation sponsors Summer Camp programs throughout the county. Camps will run between June 23 and August 1. Registration varies for the different locations. Be sure to click on the link below and then click on the link for the "Summer Camp Brochure" at the top of the Parks and Rec page. It's a PDF file, so it might take a few minutes to download.

http://www.pascocountyfl.net/pubser/deptp/parks.html

To register, you must have proof of Pasco County residency, a driver's license or picture ID, emergency contact and medical insurance info, cash or a check made payable to the Pasco Board of County Commissioners, and your child's birth certificate and proof of kindergarten completion. Camp is for ages 5-13 years.