Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 12-18-18

Feature
Concerns Of Childcare Owner
Dear Editor,
As a person who has worked in childcare for
many years, I have often wondered why parents send their children to childcare when they are sick. Don’t they know that they can cause more children to get sick or worse, their child becomes sicker?
I see that there’s two parts to this answer.
First, being sick or contagious isn’t always some- thing that a parent knows. We work with our fami- lies to inform them of the center’s health policy and why it is important for their child to rest at home when they become ill. This is not limited to children; adults will go to work even when they are sick. This is a poor understanding of hygiene and how diseases are communicable.
The second part involves the workplace. Parents do not always have that ability to call out sick to care for their sick children. Parents have to work to pay their bills, as well as for their children’s care. It’s much easier to turn a blind eye to a symptom than to deal with the problems.
Childcare centers are charged with the responsi- bility of preparing children for success in their school years. This includes working with families to develop healthy outcomes for all children.
WANDA WILSON Childcare Owner
11th Annual ‘I Believe In Miracles’ Christmas Banquet Held At University Community Center
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
It’s seven days until Christmas, but the holiday arrived on Sunday for dozens of University Area residents and homeless citi- zens at the 11th annual ‘I Be- lieve In Miracles’ Banquet and Concert.
Attendees were treated to gifts, haircuts, and makeovers as well as a buf- fet dinner of roasted chicken, rice, and cake at the University Area Community Center.
The event is the brain- child of Paulette Rolle- Alesnik, Manager of the University Area CDC’s Prodigy Cultural Arts Pro- gram. It’s come a long way from its humble beginnings in 2007, where Rolle- Alesnik and the students in her theater group would hand out peanut butter sandwiches and socks to homeless gathered at Curtis Hixon Park.
But while the venue may have changed, Rolle- Alesnik said the mission remains the same.
“I’m going after creating memories that possibly have them change their lives,” she said. “This is a ‘we love you’.”
The banquet is another chance for the CDC to not only serve area residents, but also learn more about them and how to best help them, said Sarah Combs,
Event founder, Paulette Rolle-Alesnik, Manager, University Area CDC Prodigy Cultural Arts Program; University Community Development Corp. CEO, Sarah Combs; and Steven Harper at the 11th annual event.
the CDC’s Chief Executive Officer.
“It’s a perfect example of us learning more about the families and the issues in the community and more importantly how we can ad- dress that need,” she said.
The banquet was a hit with LaShanda Copeland, a mom of five who had her older children volunteer at the event.
“I think it’s awesome,” she said.
Before guests filled their bellies, emcee Steve Harper filled their spirits with words of inspiration.
For those who may be struggling, who wonder if
their downtrodden situa- tions would remain the same, Harper had a defini- tive answer: “absolutely not.”
“One of the things we have the power to do is to change our minds,” he said. “What you are destined to do in this life is just around the corner.”
The dinner, gifts, and makeovers are ways to be- stow acts of humanity to folks who often are forgot- ten, said Rolle-Alesnik.
“When people are down on their luck, we don’t see them anymore,” she said. “We just want to remind them, ‘we see you’.”
Tampa Bay Area
Law Enforcement Investigates Several Bomb Threats
Law enforcement officers throughout the area investi- gated several bomb threats last week. All of the bomb threats were sent by email. Several law enforcement agencies throughout Central Florida investigated the threats. However, in each case no devices were found.
In each case, the threats were not identical, but simi- lar to email messages that were sent around the Tampa Bay Area, the state and the nation. The treats were sent to local businesses, in one case a charter school, a vari- ety of businesses, including two law firms, an industrial equipment business, a con- struction and architectural firm, and a credit counseling service.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office investigated a
total of 13 bomb threats to local businesses.
Investigators with the Tampa Police Department responded to a total of 9 bomb threats.
The Pinellas Park Police Department responded to three bomb threats during the day.
The St. Petersburg Police Department investigated four bomb threats received by businesses in their jurisdic- tion.
The Sarasota Police De- partment also received sev- eral threats. The threats in that city were also sent to businesses.
In all cases, law enforce- ment said no devices were found and they do not believe that the public is in danger.
The investigation into the threats is continuing.
PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2018