Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 8-2-16 Online Edition

Features
State Rep. To Host ‘Farm Share’ Food Donation
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Saturday, August 6th, State Representative Ed Narain, in partnership with the 100 Black Women of Tampa Bay, Inc., will once again host the Florida Farm Share Food donation. The event will be held at St. John Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 2504 E. Chipco Street, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon.
The event will feature the donation of fresh groceries to 1,000 families. Other activities planned for the day includes a mini bike safety clinic and hand washing activity, vision screening for children by Pre- vent Blindness, and healthcare insurance enrollment.
There will also be free Basic Health Screenings. However, those interested in obtaining the screenings are required to pre-register.
Farm Share came into exis- tence in 1991. Its goal was and remains to distribute food without charge to agencies such as soup kitchens, home- less shelters, food banks, churches, and other locations.
Farm Share operates the
ED NARAIN State Representative
only charitable produce pack- ing house in the Eastern United States. The organization can donate the food through its partnership with the Depart- ment of Agriculture and Con- sumer Services, and the Florida Department of Corrections.
The food is donated by pro- duce farmers, packers, brokers, and wholesalers.
This event marks the third time Rep. Narain has been instrumental in offering the program to Hillsborough County families.
Anyone interested in volun- teering for the event can con- tact Dewayne at (813) 241-8024.
Mother Of Slain Teen Frustrated Over Progress In Finding Her Son’s Killer
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
On July 27, 2008, Levi Dixon, Jr. was in West Tampa at a friend’s house on Walnut Street working on his music.
The aspiring Gospel singer and musician had reportedly fallen asleep inside the resi- dence where he had been en- joying the company of his friends earlier.
According to reports, at some point during the night, his friends left the house, locked Dixon up inside, and at 4 a.m., someone kicked open the front door of the home and shot him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was only 17-years-old.
Dixon’s mother, Angela Pearson, said Levi was her only child, and today she’s still mourning his death and seeking answers.
“I’ve been very frustrated and angry over the progress made in the investigation of my son’s murder.
“I’ve been told by family members of the boys who were in the house with Levi before the shooting that they know who did it. I also believe other people in the commu- nity know who did this. It wasn’t robbery, so I don’t know why my son was mur- dered.”
“Levi was the world to me. As an only child, I know I probably spoiled him and al- lowed him to have a little more freedom than some
LEVI DIXON, JR. .....murdered 8 years ago.
other parents would have. “Levi was my son, and I trusted him. I knew he would- n’t do anything to put himself
in harm’s way.”
Ms. Pearson wants to
join any group that is focusing on addressing the deaths of loved ones due to violence.
“I’d like to be associated
ANGELA PEARSON .....grieving mother.
with the group that’s focusing more on the children who’ve died as a result of violence, and their killers are still free.
“I am going to get justice for my son. I’m quite sure of that. I just want it to be known that whoever did this, you will be caught, and whoever is holding out information, you will end up in jail as well. None of them know what it’s like to lose a child, especially your only child.”
Groups Meet To Decide Next Step After TBX
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Representatives from Sun- shine Citizens, Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, and the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association held a meet- ing Thursday night to go over strategy for the Tampa Bay Ex- press Project.
Two weeks ago, the Metro- politan Planning Organization (MPO) voted 11-5 to approve the billion dollar project being
MAURICIO ROSAS
proposed by the Florida De- partment of Transportation (FDOT).
During that meeting, more than 180 attendees signed up to speak, and more than 300 were in attendance.
The majority of the speakers were in opposition of the proj- ect, and outlined how the proj- ect would destroy the history of Tampa and Seminole Heights communities.
“We were well represented at the meeting and it was great to see so many people come out and speak against the project,” said Mauricio Rosas a mem- ber of Sunshine Citizens.
“When the meeting was over, we all felt disappointed, but not defeated. We had discussed in advance what our next move would be in the event the proj- ect was approved.”
At Thursday night’s meeting, mass transit advocates spoke, including “Gridlock” Sam, the author of “Street Smart,” the rise and fall of cities and the fall of cars.
“Current trends in mass transit were discussed, and for- mer County Commissioner, Mark Sharpe from Tampa Innovation Alliance spoke about transit issues,” said Rosas.
The groups will be meeting again to discuss presenting an alternative plan to the one being proposed by FDOT.
THE FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN . . . Picks For August 30th Election
U. S. Senator
Pam Keith
U. S. Representive
No recommendation
State Senator District 19 Edwin Narain
State Rep. District 59
Rena Frazier
State Rep. District 61
Sean Michael Shaw
State Rep. District 70
No recommendation
Clerk Of The Circuit Court Pat Frank
Board Of County Commissioners District 6 Thomas Scott
Circuit Judge, 13th Judicial Circuit Group 3
Carl Hinson
Circuit Court Judge Group 24
Melissa “Missy” Polo, Gary S. Dolgin, and Lanell Williams-Yulee
County Court Judge Group 10 Miriam Valkenburg
School Board District 1 William “Bill” Person
School Board District 5 Joseph Jordon-Robinson
School Board District 7 Stanley Gray
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016