Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 1-19-16 Edition

Features
Association To Host Seminar To Discuss Final Expenses
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
When a death occurs, whether sudden or ex- pected, family members must make arrangements for their loved ones. How- ever, when the person does not have life insurance, the death adds an additional burden on the family.
In an effort to let resi- dents in the Tampa commu- nity know affordable life insurance is available, the East Tampa Business and Civic Association will host a Final Expense Seminar on Tuesday, January 26th. The seminar will take place at the Cyrus Greene Commu- nity Center, 2007 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Ms. Dianne Hart, CEO of the East Tampa Business & Civic Association said, “I get really sad when I find out that families are strug- gling with trying to bury their loved ones. People need to understand that there is affordable life insur- ance out there. We are pro- viding them with an opportunity to see just how inexpensive it can be.”
Ms. Norene Copeland Miller, Board member and Chairperson of East Tampa Business & Civic Association
MS. NORENE COPELAND MILLER
... Chairperson of East Tampa Business & Civic Association Social Services Committee
Social Services Committee said, “Too often we’re not prepared to bury our young people, or older people ei- ther.
“We know there is a need in our community for resi- dents to obtain burial insur- ance to take care of these final expenses so that it won’t be a burden on a fam- ily that is already grieving.”
The seminar will focus on the cost of funeral and cemetery arrangements and putting a Final Expense pol- icy in place to protect the loved ones left behind.
Several insurance agents will attend the seminar. One of them is Ms. Angela Birdsong, Health and Life Insurance Agent with Bankers Life/Colonial Penn Insurance Company.
Ms. Birdsong joined
MS. DIANNE HART CEO, East Tampa Business & Civic Association
Bankers Life in 2013. She currently works with seniors and baby boomers assisting them with transitioning onto Medicare and helping them with annuities, long term care and life insurance.
She also provides cash value life insurance policies for children and those with health challenges such as heart attacks, strokes, can- cer, hypertension and dia- betes. She also brings the experience of having worked in the funeral industry as a pre-need counselor.
Ms. Birdsong also holds an Associate Degree in funeral service.
East Tampa Business and Civic Association is re- questing that those planning to attend the seminar con- tact them at (813) 248-3977. Light refreshment will be served.
Black Chamber Leader Wants To Empower Black West Tampa Business Owners
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Willis “KC” Bowick has tried for years to unite the Black business owners of Tampa. He is the founder of the Tampa Bay Black Cham- ber Of Commerce.
Now, he’s turned his at- tention to the West Tampa community because it has been targeted for redevelop- ment.
“I don’t want to see all those Black owned businesses being forced to shut down be- cause of the redevelopment project,” said Bowick.
“It has been my experi- ence to know that without unity, there’s no strength, and the Black business own- ers in West Tampa need unity. That’s the only way they can stay alive with all that’s going on in West Tampa.”
Bowick is not advocating they join his Chamber, but he does want to share knowledge with the owners and inter- vene anyway he can to help them get through what lies ahead.
“I’ve seen what redevelop- ment plans can do to Black owned businesses. Look at
WILLIS “KC” BOWICK
what happened on Central Avenue and in the Tampa Heights community.”
Bowick said it’s impor- tant that the Black business owners take advantage of funding and other projects that can help them stay in business.
“We’ve already seen how Black-owned businesses dis- appear after redevelopment projects, and never appear again. Some of them have tried to reopen, but the inter- est is not there, and they get no support.”
Bowick is proposing a meeting with the Black busi- ness owners in West Tampa, and if they are in favor of this opportunity, they can contact him at (813) 443-4805.
FYI
Meeting
Partnership Meeting
The University Area Community Development Center Partnership Coalition Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2016, 8:30-12:30 p.m.
The public is invited to this first-quarter gathering. Attendees will learn about programs and initiatives happening in the USF area. This gathering is for anyone who has an interest in im- proving the neighborhoods in the university area.
The University Area CDC Community Center is located at 14013 N. 22nd St., Tampa, FL 33613. Please RSVP to reserve your space: rsvp@uacdc.org by January 19th.
Do It Yourself Home Improvement Scholarships Available
Home improvement scholarships are now available to quali- fied City of Tampa Water Department customers through a part- nership with Hillsborough County Public Schools. The next eight-week (16 sessions) Home Improvement course starts Tues- day, January 26th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Classes are being taught at the D.G. Erwin Technical Center (HITECH) located at 2010 East Hillsborough Avenue. Seating is limited.
Those wishing to take advantage of this learning opportunity can call the Tampa Water Department at (813) 274-8121, option #5, to verify their utility account and request a tuition voucher, or send an email to SaveWater@tampagov.net.
Once a voucher is received, the prospective student has two weeks to register for their class on-line at www.Erwin.edu or in person at Erwin technical Center Evening Admissions Office between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m., Monday through Thurs- day, or between 8 a.m. and 3
p.m. on Fridays.
The voucher issued for the
Home Improvement course which covers topics from plumbing to electrical to con- struction, covers $166 of the tuition fees, leaving the stu- dent responsible for just $50 to complete registration.
Visit tampagov.net/DIY or all (813) 274-8121, option #5 for more information about obtaining a voucher to attend the course.
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