Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 8-16-19

Features
State Rep. To Host Appropriations Workshop
DIANNE HART State Representative
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Saturday, August 17th, State Representative Di- anne Hart will host a “Lunch & Learn” Appropriations Workshop. The event will take place in the Media Center at the Carter G. Woodson K-8 School in the Media Center, 8715 N. 22nd Street, 33604 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
State Senator Darryl Rouson (D-18) is the special guest.
Senator Rouson said, “In the Legislative process, there is an important compo- nent known as Appropria- tions. One must learn to do both legislate and appropriate to be an effective member. I urge all constituents to come out and understand the ap- propriations process.”
Rep. Hart (D-61) said, “I am very excited to start preparing for the 2020 Leg- islative Session with this Ap- propriations Lunch & Learn Workshop. Although no fund- ing is guaranteed for any or- ganization, I hope that eligible 501c3 nonprofit organizations learn the process for applying for state funding, and that like-minded organizations
SEN. DARRYL ROUSON Special Guest
partner to make funding re- quests go farther.”
The Appropriations Lunch & Learn Workshop will serve to educate constituents and local 501c3 nonprofit organi- zations of the state appropria- tions process that affects all Floridians.
Rep. Hart will provide background on how the Florida House processes ap- propriations and Senator Darryl Rouson will provide background on how the Florida Senate processes ap- propriations.
The Appropriations Lunch & Learn Workshop will cover what an appropriations proj- ect is, what documents are re- quired and best practices on how to complete them, sub- mission deadlines, who quali- fies for state funding, and how an appropriation becomes a bill. The Workshop will also touch briefly on the Confer- ence process and the overall state budget.
Forms will be readily avail- able, and lunch will be pro- vided. Attendees are encouraged to bring laptops and RSVP on Facebook, Eventbrite or by emailing www.Miles.Davis@myflorida- house.gov.
Veteran School Bus Driver Dies In Traffic Accident
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For more than 36 years, Ms. Cynthia Gibson ac- cepted the responsibility of driving children to and from school. She had planned to retire after this year to pur- sue her own interests.
However, Ms. Gibson died in a traffic accident on Airport Road near Mid State Drive, in Plant City. She was transported to Lakeland Re- gional Health Hospital, where she died of her in- juries.
According to the Plant City Police Department, the accident took place at 5:02 a.m., Monday. Ms. Gibson was traveling eastbound on Airport Road in her 2017 Nissan Rogue, SUV.
Ms. Gibson failed to ob- serve that a semi and trailer was stopped in the road and failed to stop. Her vehicle struck the rear of the tractor- trailer, police said.
A native of Detroit, Michi- gan, Ms. Gibson moved to Tampa as a teenager. After graduating from high school, she entered the workforce and often held numerous jobs, her daughter, Ms. Cy- nesia Boykins said.
Ms. Boykins further said, “My mother was a good lady, a giving person. I have never met anyone like her.
“She loved people and would put others before her- self. She wanted people to be happy. And, everyone called
MS. CYNTHIA GIBSON 6/29/1960 --- 8/12/2019
her about their problems.” At the time of her death, Ms. Gibson was the Chief Steward for the bus drivers’ union, an Honor Guard and a member of the Hillsborough Community Mass Choir for
more than 20 years.
A widow, Ms. Gibson,
who celebrated her 59th birthday in June, began driv- ing buses during the early 1980s. She also served as a foster mother for more than 20 years.
Her hobbies included singing, dancing, and serving as a mentor.
But her activities did not stop there. Ms. Gibson was known in the community as “DJ Cherry Red.” She was also a member of Soul To Soul.
Jeff Taylor, known as “J. T. Tampa’s Dancing DJ,” said, “We started as members of the Motown Revue and later went out on
our own with some others to create Soul To Soul.
“We opened for such en- tertainers as Betty Wright, Shirley Murdock, and Keith Sweat. We have been performing together since 2005. I was just with her Sunday. She told me she was looking forward to retiring and traveling and enjoying life,” he said.
Jim Beekman, of the Hillsborough County Trans- portation Department said, “There are days in our lives that we will always remem- ber. Some for the joy we ex- perienced and others for the sadness. Today is one that I and our Transportation Fam- ily of Hillsborough County Public Schools will remem- ber for the sadness that it brought, the shocking real- ization of losing such a vi- brant member of our family.
“Cynthia Gibson, known to many as Ms. Cherry, was tragically taken from us in an automobile ac- cident on her way to work this morning. It was the first day of school and to her fam- ily she had shared it would be her last first day, she wanted to retire at the end of the year...
“Ms. Cherry has touched thousands of lives in this community through her driving, her service to her church and most important to her, her beautiful family. She was a strong advocate for drivers and attendants un- derstanding the importance they play every day in the lives of the children and par- ents in this community.”
“When schools had some challenging students, she would step forward and work with those at-risk kids and made a difference. Her most rewarding role however, was grandmother to her beautiful grandkids.”
“I have never met a driver so unique and so full of pas- sion for those around her. I truly lost a great friend today,” he said.
In addition to Ms. Boykins, Ms. Gibson was the mother of two other daughters, Earlynthea Knight and Cyntia Beck- with. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 4 brothers, other family members and friends.
Funeral services were in- complete at press time.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019