Page 3 - 3-20-15 Friday's Edition

Features
Entrepreneur With New Product Sets Sights On ‘Shark Tank’
Former B-CU Wildcats Football Player Passes Away
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
An idea that a Bay Area woman has been toying with for the past several years has fi- nally come to fruition. Ms. Theresa Thompson learned last week that the United States Patent and Trademark Office had is- sued her a Provisional Patent that she believes will be useful to anyone, especially those who enjoy working in their yards. Plans are to have the product available to the public in about a month.
“Growing up and living in the country (Seffner) around a lot of oak trees, and com- mitted to keeping my yard beautiful, I wanted to come up with an invention that would help with the yearly task of removing leaves,” she explained. “With my discovery, leaves will not be picked up the same of ways as my grand- mother did: big tarps, dragging sheets across the yard and the typical way of shelving them up. And of course, leaving mounds of leaves piled up before coming back a few days later to finish the job.”
Her new product is called The Leaf Re- lief, a yard tool for outside picking up leaves, cut grass and yard debris. “The Leaf Relief is simple, 100% guaranteed to pick up all your leaves with a 1, 2, 3 motion,” she stated. “It’s easy enough for a child and the elderly to use,” Ms. Thompson said.
The daughter of Ms. Annie Grace, she said her next step is to file an application with a popular TV Show, Shark Tank, of which she is a faithful viewer, to see if they’d be inter- ested in her product.
Ms. Thompson has fulfilled a number of projects, but felt something was missing. She worked at The Sentinel in 1989 as a reception- ist, went to Business School, got married, had 3 children (Asia, Aishia and Warren) started a home-based trucking business, worked as an independent contractor for 10 years with the Tribune, started an entertain- ment business and cleaning business. As these
Former Howard W. Blake, Tampa Bay Vo-Tech, and Bethune-Cookman Univer- sity football player, Oscar Folks, Jr. passed away Monday after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 61 years old.
After completing his col- lege career, Folks returned to Tampa where he worked as a State Farm Insurance Agent for 40 years. He was the first African American State Farm Business owner in this area and opened doors for many future oppor- tunities for other minorities.
Folks was a member of Pi Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
OSCAR FOLKS, JR.
Folks was married to Julia Jackson Folks for 39 years, and the couple has a son, Oscar Folks, III.
Wilson’s Funeral Home will be handling arrange- ments for the family.
MS. THERESA THOMPSON
businesses dissolved, children got older and she became a divorcee, Ms. Thompson went on to secure an 8-5. Currently, she is em- ployed with the Hillsborough County Court Clerk.
God kept showing her why she should not give up on the unfinished project, in spite of the different circumstances that occurred. “Some situations can set you back and let you down, but you have to find strength in God to keep on getting back up and keep going.” She has worked on this venture since 2008.
“I know I have a long road ahead, but I know this is my product given to me from the Lord above.”
Ms. Thompson says there are a number of people who encouraged and believed in her. “I know I could not have done this without their prayers and support.”
Apartment Building Fire Displaces 10 Residents
At 9:40 p. m. Wednesday, Tampa Fire Rescue units were called to a fire at the Bethlem Apartments, 2918 North Ola Avenue.
When the first unit ar- rived, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear of the build- ing.
Some firefighters fought the blaze while others searched the building to make sure no one was in- side. They reported all of the tenants had evacuated, and no one was hurt.
An investigator from the
Fire Marshal’s Office arrived to determine the cause and source of the fire. The build- ing had working smoke de- tectors and contributed to the safe evacuation of all oc- cupants.
According to the Ameri- can Red Cross, 10 residents were displaced, and they are assisting them with tempo- rary housing.
The damage to the build- ing was restricted to the rear of the roof, and sources said residents could return in about a month after repairs have been completed.
Empowerment Forum Breakfast
Faith-based organizations are invited to an Economic Em- powerment Forum at the Open Café, 3222 N. 34th St. on Mon- day, March 23, 2015, 8 a. m.-9 a. m., and 9:30-10:30 a. m. There is a $20 fee. The guest speaker is Dr. R. Joaquin Willis.
For information, contact J. G. Nealy, (813) 746-5209.
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A