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.

Websites to save you money!

Feeling the pinch of rising gas and food prices? I'm sure we are all cutting back in one way or another to cut down on expenses and save a little money. Here are a couple of websites that can help you do that:

The Dollar Stretcher http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm

This website offers tips on ways to save money on everything from taxes to food recipes. Advice is given both from the community at large and from experts in the field.

A good personal finance website is Bankrate.com http://www.bankrate.com/

Bankrate provides one stop shopping for financial rate information on everything from mortgages and CD's to checking accounts and credit cards. One will also find articles on personal finance and handy rate calculators for determining payments and interest rates for auto loans, credit cards, etc. Tax advice is given as well as advice on debt management.

Check these sites out. You might find some information that will save some greenbacks.

Local Harvest (LocalHarvest.org)

Here's a website to find locally grown, organic food. Just type in your zip code and start searching for farms, farmers' markets, restaurants, grocery co-ops, and more.

According to the website, "LocalHarvest is America's #1 organic and local food website. We maintain a definitive and reliable "living" public nationwide directory of small farms, farmers markets, and other local food sources. Our search engine helps people find products from family farms, local sources of sustainably grown food, and encourages them to establish direct contact with small farms in their local area. Our online store helps small farms develop markets for some of their products beyond their local area."

If you are interested in finding good, fresh food from a locally grown source, this is the place to start. There's nothing like taking a trip to a local farm on a Saturday afternoon to pick berries or just pick up some fresh corn, citrus, and more. The adventure can begin at Local Harvest.

The website is located at: http://www.localharvest.org/

WUSF Radio Reading Service

Similar to the State's Talking Book Library, WUSF 89.7, out of Tampa, offers the WUSF Radio Reading Service for the visually or physically impaired who are unable to read print sources. It is available to listeners 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via a specially tuned low frequency radio receiver, provided at no charge to listeners, or through the WUSF-TV Channel 16 SAP option.

The WUSF Radio Reading Service broadcasts many local and national newspapers, an extensive selection of current magazines, and many unique programs, such as:

-Grocery and department store ads
-Special announcements from the Library of Congress Talking Book Program
-Newsletters and updates from local/national organizations for the blind and visually impaired
-Numerous holiday specials

A schedule of readings is available from the WUSF website. Materials are read by dedicated volunteers.

To contact the Radio Reading Service:

You can e-mail RRS Program Director, Brad Stager at bstager@wusf.org.
You can also send mail to the WUSF Radio Reading Service:
WUSF Radio Reading Service University of South Florida -WRB 2094202 E. Fowler Avenue Tampa, Florida 33620Phone: 813-974-8633Or, from anywhere in Florida 800-444-4193

Their web link is http://www.wusf.usf.edu/WUSF-FM/reading/Radio_Reading_TVLk.cfm.

Agency for Persons with Disabilities

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities is a state run program that helps individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. It provides assistance to identify the needs of persons with developmental disabilities and funding to purchase supports and services. The agency's primary mission is to "to support persons with developmental disabilities in living, learning, and working in all aspects of community life." To receive services, a person must live in Florida and must be diagnosed with a developmental disability before the age of 18. Persons who have or might have a developmental disability may apply for services at any time by calling the agency in their area. Concerned relatives, friends or others may apply on behalf of a person believed to have a developmental disability. For Pasco County, one can contact the Suncoast office at:

1313 N. Tampa Street, Suite 515
Tampa, FL 33602-3328

Phone: 813-233-4300

You can visit their website at http://apd.myflorida.com/