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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2009
Bully Busters Bus Bench Kicks Off Campaign
Photos (opens in a new window)
Hillsborough County and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office officially kicked off the new anti-bullying initiative, Bully Busters, this morning with the unveiling of the first Bully Busters bus bench. Bully Busters is a joint effort with the County, the County's Criminal Justice Liaison, Children's Services and the Sheriff's Office to battle bullying in schools.
Commissioner Rose Ferlita, the driving force behind the project, unveiled the bus bench at the corner of Florida and Sligh Avenues. The bench is one of 50 that will be placed in strategic locations around the county that are frequented by children and teenagers.
"Visibility is a key in this initiative," said Commissioner Ferlita. "We want everyone to know the county has a zero-tolerance for bullying."
In addition to the bus benches, the County is also distributing 10,000 Bully Buster bookmarks and 500 posters. Hillsborough Television (HTV) has also produced public service announcements that are airing on HTV, as well as several cable channels including Animal Planet, the Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, MTV and Nickelodeon. The project is funded through state justice grants.
Ferlita went on to say, "It's wonderful to see we now have the mechanisms in place to create awareness, and to report bullying incidents."
For more information, contact Jan MacLeod, Hillsborough County Criminal Justice Liaison, at (813) 276-2539.
September 17, 2009
Hillsborough County Launches New Census 2010 Web Site
A preview of the questions on the 2010 census form is available right now on Hillsborough County's new Census 2010 Web site. The site at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/census was launched at Hillsborough County's Census 2010 Kickoff at the University Area Community Center.
The census forms can be found in English, Spanish and a number of other languages. Residents can find out about job opportunities with Census 2010, including volunteer needs.
Residents can click on the tab on the left side of the Web site to find samples of the census questionnaires, information on the Complete Count Committee, employment information, a calendar of events and nearly a dozen helpful links. A Frequently Asked Questions section is also included.
Census information helps determine locations for schools, roads, hospitals, child-care and senior citizen centers, and much more. Census data also directly affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to communities for neighborhood improvements, public health, education, and transportation.
More than 200 people rallied at the Kickoff with Commissioner Rose Ferlita to launch the local census effort. Commissioner Ferlita was asked by her colleagues to serve as the Community Leader for Hillsborough County's United States Census 2010 Complete Count Committee.
"This is going to be everybody's job if this is going to be successful," Commissioner Ferlita said at the 2010 Census kickoff. Ferlita went on to say that "If done correctly and completely, it will yield benefits to Hillsborough County in terms of federal dollars that will go to support school lunches, Head Start programs, public transportation, senior centers, job training and much more."
Hillsborough County has partnered with the cities of Plant City, Tampa and Temple Terrace to organize the County's Complete Census Count Committee.
The Census 2010 public service announcement with Commissioner Ferlita and produced by Hillsborough Television was also unveiled at the Kickoff.
For more information on becoming involved with the 2010 census campaign, contact Joyce Russell, Hillsborough County African American Liaison, at (813)276-2637, or Sandra Sroka, Hillsborough County Americans with Disabilities Act Liaison, at (813)276-2742.
Photos from the County Census Kickoff Event
August 5, 2009
Hillsborough County Unveils "Bully Busters" Program
Hillsborough County unveiled its new anti-bullying initiative, Bully Busters, this morning at its regular County Commission meeting. In light of the bully assault case at Walker Middle School earlier this year, Commissioner Rose Ferlita received hundreds of emails and calls from parents, community groups and more requesting the County assist with this important issue.
Working with the County Attorney's Office, the Criminal Justice Liaison, Children's Services and the Sheriff's Office, Commissioner Ferlita put together the Bully Busters program which includes public awareness, education and intervention and community support. The Board voted unanimously to move forward with the establishment of an Anti-Bullying Advisory Committee at the grass roots level.
Bully Busters will kick off in time to reach students and parents before the start of the school year later this month. Public service announcements, posters, bookmarks, bus bench advertising and other communication means will be used. Existing anti-bullying curriculum will be used to train community leaders, parents, County parks workers and others who can positively influence children.
"By partnering with others and using existing resources, Bully Busters will not cost taxpayers' dollars," said Commissioner Rose Ferlita. "And, we intend to not duplicate anything the School Board is doing in this critical area, but hopefully assist, enhance and complement their efforts."
County's Renewable and Sustainable Energy Workgroup Praises New Legislation
July 2, 2009
Energy was in the air Thursday (July 2) morning as a coalition of public and private parties celebrated the inclusion of waste-to-energy technology in the renewable energy standard of legislation recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, as was recommended by Hillsborough County.
During a meeting at Hillsborough's Waste-to-Energy Plant on Falkenburg Road, Commissioner Rose Ferlita welcomed Nathan Taylor from Congresswoman Kathy Castor's office and praised the Congresswoman for her key role in getting the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed.
"Castor's critical leadership role in the Energy and Commerce committee ensured that Hillsborough's early investment in pollution reduction through waste-to-energy is rewarded," said Commissioner Rose Ferlita.
Commissioner Rose Ferlita had been tapped by the Board of County Commissioners to head a local workgroup on carbon credits, energy conservation, alternative fuels, and environmental issues. Previously, this workgroup met to examine the County.s energy conservation projects, alternative fuels for area fleets, and grant opportunities to fund these proposals. The workgroup will meet next to examine green building initiatives for Hillsborough County, with the goal of developing strategies for sustainable energy and carbon credits.
Workgroup members in attendance on Thursday included participants from County Commissioner Rose Ferlita's office, Hillsborough County administration, Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, Congresswoman Castor's office, Covanta, Peoples Gas, and Tampa Electric.
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