Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 8-28-15 Edition

Local
Churches, Care Facility Unaware Of Toxic Contents Of Building
Formerly The General Cable Building
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
A building on East Hanna just west of 30th Street has been vacant since 2008. For close to 40 years, General Cable Corporation manufac- tured telephone and electrical cables at the plant. After they left in 1992, several other com- panies occupied the building prior to a bankruptcy sale in 2008.
Left behind inside the building was a toxic mix of pe- troleum, chlorinated solvents and lead that leaked into the soil and groundwater, accord- ing to a 2014 environmental site assessment. The building also has asbestos problems.
The City of Tampa is plan- ning to clean-up the site before construction of an $8.8 million office, storage and mainte- nance facility.
As a first step, officials are trying to get the site classified as a Brownfield, a designation that would allow the city to re- coup much of the estimated $600,000 in cleanup costs. Public hearings about the plan are scheduled to start later this month.
A pair of churches and an assisted living facility are close to the building, and each were contacted and asked if they knew the building was contam- inated.
Apostle James Howell
of the Cathedral of Faith: “This
is my first time hearing that that building was contami- nated. No one with the city ever told us. I once considered putting a trade school in that building and we actually went inside and looked around.”
Carmen at Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church, and Clinton at Grande Oaks Apartments both said they were aware the city had pur- chased the building, but had no idea it was contaminated.
City Council Chair Frank Reddick was con- tacted and he also said he was unaware of the condition of the building.
“I haven’t been over to the building, although I was aware the City had purchased it.
“I think the City found out about the condition of the building after they inspected it prior to the purchase.”
City of Tampa Solid Waste and Environmental Programs Director, Mark Wilfalk said, they found out about the prob- lems with the building before they purchased it a year ago.
“The toxic nature of the building represents no danger to the surrounding commu- nity. We can’t hold the previ- ous property owner at fault for leaving the building in that condition because that’s the job of the state.
“Because it has been desig- nated as a Brownfield site, no taxpayer dollars will be used to clean the building up.”
Entrepreneur Creates Venue To Highlight Tampa Talent
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A local entrepreneur plans to make Tampa the place to come to be discovered.
Franklin Hills is cur- rently planning to host audi- tions for the debut of Tampa’s Star Showcase. The auditions will take place on October 26th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Centro Asturiano de Tampa, 1913 North Nebraska Avenue. The first showcase will take place next April.
“Every great city has its own platform for up and com- ing talent. New York has the “Apollo,” Atlanta has the “Fox,” and now Tampa has the “Centro,” Hills said.
Hills will introduce the showcase as a four-segment variety event. The show will give a platform to the prospec- tive entertainers, creating ex- posure and opportunities to the up-and-coming future artists.
It will also give them a
FRANKLIN HILLS ... Founder of Tampa’s Star Showcase
chance to win a promo pack- age to help jumpstart their music careers and cash prizes totaling $1,700.
He said in addition to pro- moting local talent, the Show- case also seeks to sponsor several events. Those initia- tives include “Feed Those In Need,” an organization that donates food to deserving fam- ilies during the holidays; and “Community March of Hope,” which will pair youth with mentors to help them seek a
career or employment path. Hills brings a wealth of ex- perience to the table as a per- former. He has participated in talent competitions, per- formed as a soloist and per- formed with a local group, Nothing But Smooth, through- out the Tampa Bay Area. He also served as the manager of a
local group.
He has also worked behind
the scenes in the music indus- try and served as one of the ad- visors to Daryl Underwood of Underwood Records.
A Tampa native, Hills at- tended the University of South Florida where he received sev- eral degrees. A Masters of Arts Degree in Theology and a Mas- ters of Education degree in Ed- ucational Leadership were among the degrees he earned at the University of South Florida.
Currently a successful real estate investor and business- man, Hills feels the time has come to tap into Tampa’s tal- ent.
Local Pastor Starts New Radio Network
Pastor Al Gallon of Al Gallon Ministries has started a new business venture in the Tampa area called “The AGM Radio Network.”
The goal of the network is to embark on a mission to en- tertain as well as empower the community with a variety of programs for all ages.
Located in Thonotosassa, the AGM Radio Network is a new addition to urban radio by way of the internet. This access allows the station to have a lis- tening audience that is not only local, but international, with some listeners as far away as Nairobi, Kenya. You can lis- ten in from anywhere by downloading the TuneIn App and follow the AGM Radio Network.
Programming at the AGM Radio Network ranges from Gospel, hip hop, talk shows,
Pastor Al Gallon (seated) and his AGM Radio Network team.
live remotes, and an upcoming sports program in addition to something for youth which is in the works. The network also has plans for other initiatives that include a television pro- gram and workshops for the
community on varying topics, like entrepreneurship, wealth building, health/wellness, and much more.
In the coming weeks, the network is taking the show on the road throughout the State of Florida with the AGM Food Road Trip. Ebone Cruz and her team will air their 4-hour show live from various restau- rants Monday through Friday from 11 a. m. to 3 p. m. They will interview entrepreneurs, authors, the restaurant owners and patrons as they dine and share a taste of Florida over the airways.
The long awaited AGM Talk Show returned on Satur- day, August 15th at 9 a. m. with Pastor Gallon, Belinthia Berry, and Veronica Blakey where they discuss is- sues and concerns that matter to you. Their first live remote will be Saturday, August 29th from 9 a. m. to 10 a. m. at the community political forum. The community is asked to come out to meet and ask questions of your elected offi- cials and stop by to say hello to the AGM Radio Network team.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-A