Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 1-27-17

Local
Hillsborough County Extension Offering Free Tax Help
Hillsborough County Ex- tension, 5339 County Road 579, in Seffner, is now sched- uling appointments for resi- dents who need expert help in preparing their federal in- come tax returns.
The free service is avail- able to individuals and fami- lies whose Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is no more than $64,000. AGI does not include money contributed to tax deductible retirement plans, or certain other adjust- ments.
Internal Revenue Service- certified volunteers can pro-
vide access to a self-guided tax preparation program, as well as one-on-one assis- tance.
Appointments are re- quired, and are available:
Tuesdays and Thursdays from Feb. 7 through April 11, between 2 and 7 p.m.
On the following Satur- days: Feb. 11, Feb. 18, March 4, and March 18, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
To schedule an appoint- ment, contact Denise Kan- tak at (813) 744-5519 ext. 54141, or kantakd@HCFL Gov.net.
Natasha Bernard:
Popular Blogger Transitioning Her Passion Into Lifestyle Brand
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Three years ago when Natasha Bernard created her popular blog “Fashionably Fabulous,” she focused mostly on showcasing OFTD ( outfits of the day) and helping others discover their inner style diva.
In 2017, Fashionably Fab- ulous is poised for big things as Bernard transitions it from a blog to a lifestyle brand.
That means an expansion into travel, food, and home décor. The turn over already has begun with a makeover of the blog and the recent release of the “Travelista” luxury pass- port cover and luggage tag set.
Much of what fans have come to love about the blog – intriguing topics, great pho- tography, and quality cus- tomer service – will remain, Bernard said.
The changes are in re- sponse to requests from Fash- ionably Fabulous’s audience asking for more, she said.
“People are always looking for new and exciting ways to enhance their lives,” she said. “The expansion allows me to do just that.”
A former healthcare IT ex- ecutive, Bernard recently ex- ited Corporate America to focus fully on the Fashionably Fabulous brand, which in- cludes a style academy, a bou- tique, and consulting services.
For years, Bernard jug- gled both her interest in fash- ion with her tech career.
“My love has always been fashion and design,” she said. “My blog was a way to channel that creativity.”
But in the last two years, it became apparent that both Fashionably Fabulous and Bernard were poised for something greater.
“I always try to not box myself in,” she said. “I have a lot more to offer than just fashion.”
The transformation began when Bernard realized she was unhappy in her job and began searching for a way out of corporate life.
“I was in an unhappy place,” she said. “I knew I should be pursuing my pas- sion.”
Bernard pressed forward. She created a business model and allotted herself two years to develop her plan.
Critical to the process was changing her mindset about work and success.
“Mindset is everything,” she said. “When you decide this is the journey you want to take, you have to change the way you think.”
So far, stepping out on faith has proved to be the right move for Bernard.
She’s in talks with retailers to carry her passport cover and luggage tag set and Fash- ionably Fabulous coffee mugs and throw pillows also are in the works.
Bernard credits her suc- cess to a mix of divine order and perseverance.
“I don’t believe anything comes by chance,” she said. “We work toward what we want.”
Natasha Bernard is ex- panding her brand.
Hillsborough County To Provide Scholarships
Achieving a higher educa- tion is an important life goal for young people and their families. Hillsborough County Social Services has partnered with the Community Action Board to offer scholarships for up to $5,000 to eligible stu- dents wishing to continue their education by attending an institution of higher learn- ing.
Last year, 52 scholarships, totaling $160,000, were awarded to Hillsborough County students through Hillsborough County Social Services.
Scholarship applica- tions for the 2017-2018 school year will be ac- cepted through Friday, March 31, 2017.
Recipients will be notified in writing prior to the start of the fall semester. Applicants who meet the following eligi- bility requirements may be awarded a scholarship:
Applicants must be be- tween the ages of 17 and 22, and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent (16-year-olds may apply if they
are graduating seniors); Applicants must reside in
Hillsborough County; Applicants must have a
minimum GPA of 2.0; and The applicant’s household income must fall within 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines of the Community
Services Block Grant (CSBG) The following criteria will also be used to evaluate appli- cants: Community service and school involvement; Applica- tion and letters of recommen- dation; Academic record (Transcript); Essay response; and Panel interview participa-
tion. Application materials can
be downloaded on the Schol- arship Application page on the County website.
Students may submit com- pleted applications online, via mail, or hand deliver applica- tions in person to any County Community Resource Center.
Mailed applications can be sent to P.O. Box 1110, Department of So- cial Services 24th Floor, Attention Sylvia Wint, Tampa, FL 33601.
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