|
|
|
|
|
Legislators In The Community 03
Monument Dedicated to American Hero
Last November, a monument was dedicated to a true American hero, SFC Paul Ray Smith who gave his life for America while serving in Iraq, posthumously receiving the country's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. Those attending the dedication included Tampa Bay Tech Principal Willliam Person, Col. Jack G. Smith, Deputy Assisant Director-Afghanistan, J5 Plans and Policy Directorate Centcom, Rep. Ken Littlefield, Rep. Trey Traviesa, Rep. Ed Homan, and Hillsborough Superintendent of Schools, MaryEllen Elia.
|
|
Remembering Our Veterans
Most of the members of the Delegation attended several Veterans' Day celebrations. Rep. Rich Glorioso and Rep. Trey Traviesa are seen saluting their flag and the country for which it stands at one of the events in Brandon.
|
|
A Party for a Centurion
Rep. Trey Traviesa stopped by Hawthorne Village in Brandon to help Mrs. Minnie Whitaker celebrate her 100th birthday.
|
|
The Port of Tampa
The Port of Tampa held its inaugural "State of the Port" luncheon in mid-December. Listening to the wallop the Port packs are the Port's general counsel, Charles Klug, Rep. Arthenia Joyner, Yovanina Wainio, wife of the Port director, and Zelko Kirincich, Deputy Port Director.
|
|
A Serious Conversation
Rep. Rich Glorioso and B. J. Newberger, well-known locally and in legislative circles, take time for some serious talk before heading to learn more about the Port of Tampa.
|
|
Rep. Ambler Selected to Chair Delegation
Rep. Kevin Ambler was chosen to serve as the Delegation's chairman at its January 7 meeting. Rep. Ambler was first elected to the House in 2002 and looks to working to increase not only the Delegation's influence in Tallahassee but to also work with our neighboring counties in a regional collaborative effort.
|
|
Four Honored for Their Roles
Four members of Hillsborough's Delegation were honored at the Delegation's January 7 meeting as they leave in November either as a result of term limits or to pursue other interests. They are Senator Les Miller, Senate President Tom Lee, Representative Bob "Coach" Henriquez, and Senator Jim Sebesta. Resolutions honoring each were presented and are posted to the Delegation's WebPage at a link just below "Photo Diaries."
|
|
Rep. Henriquez Reflective as Resolution is Presented
Rep. Bob Henriquez leaves the Delegation after serving proudly for 8 years. He is a fourth generation Floridian and was first elected in 1998.
|
|
Senator Miller Rises to Salute His Colleagues
Sen. Miller has served 14 years in the FL Legislature and leaves as he seeks election to the 11th Congressional District. He has served as the Minority Leader in both the FL House and the FL Senate, unique among his peers.
|
|
Listening to Public Testimony
The Jan. 7 meeting, hosted by HCC at its new Conference Center on the Brandon campus, brought a host of issues to the Legislators. Left to right are Rep. Bill Galvano (recently elected chair of the Bay Area Legislative Delegation composed of 8 counties, including Hillsborough), Rep. Ron Reagan, Rep. Dennis Ross, and Rep. Arthenia Joyner. In the back ground are Legislative Assistants Annalee Morris (Rep. Reagan) and Lynda Barrow (Rep. Homan).
|
|
Reps. Traviesa, Glorioso
Rep. Trey Traviesa and Rep. Rich Glorioso were also attentive to the discussions at the Jan. 7 meeting where the Delegation heard testimony on three local bills and several dozen requests for funding for local programs from the Legislature. In the background are Legislative Assisants Jenna Labadie (Rep. Ambler) and Cori Cuttler (Rep. Glorioso).
|
|
Talk About Incorporating the City of Ruskin
Senator Les Miller and Senator Tom Lee were intensely interested in the proposal to form a new municipality, the City of Ruskin, in SouthShore. The local bill "stepped it up a notch" when the Delegation decided to move it along for further scrutiny in Tallahassee. In the background is Senator Lee's former legislative assistant and now policy advisor, Ron Pierce.
|
|
More Contemplation of the Issues
The Delegation had 15 of its 16 members out for the January public hearing and workshop. Rep. Kevin Ambler and Rep. Faye Culp were there as was, in the background, Mat Bahl, legislative assistant to Rep. Trey Traviesa.
|
|
Rep. Littlefield Never Misses a Meeting
And he was there on January 7 as well. Obviously a good listener, he also makes cogent remarks regarding the proceedings. Rep. Littlefield is based in Zephyrhills but represents portions of Hillsborough County.
|
|
Ruskin on My Mind!
Representative Ron Reagan and Senate President Tom Lee represent the people in the area which may be incorporated...if the Legislature enacts the bill, if the Governor signs it, and if the people in the area vote in favor of it should it make the November 2006 general election ballot.
|
|
Rep. Joyner, Senator Miller
The Rep from District 59 confers with the Senator from the 18th over an issue. Representative Arthenia Joyner seeks election to Sen. Les Miller's seat as he looks to move on to Congress.
|
|
The Delegation Honors Becki Forsell
Rep. Kevin Ambler presented a plaque to Becki Forsell, executive director of YES! of America United. She has been recognized by both President George Bush and Governor Jeb Bush in their Points of Light award programs.
|
|
The Homeless Coalition Seeks Funding
Rayme Nuckles, Chief Executive at the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County, is seeking funding for Community Voicemail. You can learn more about the program at www.cvm.org.
|
|
Jose Valiente, 2005 Tampa Hispanic Man of the Year
Jose Valiente was warmly greeted and flanked by Rep. Arthenia Joyner and Rep. Bob Henriquez. Mr. Valiente is not only Tampa Hispanic Heritage Hispanic Man of the Year, he is also a founding partner of Valiente-Hernandez, P.A., and is also Chair of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce.
|
|
Much in Demand by the Press
Rep. Ron Reagan was much in demand by the press as he sponsored the House ethics/gifts ban proposal in December in Tallahassee and the Ruskin proposal at the January meeting. Here he talks with Alex Leary of the St. Petersburg Times. In the background is HCC Brandon Campus President Carlos Soto and Mat Bahl, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Trey Traviesa.
|
|
Tampa Spring Expo
The Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers hosted its annual Spring Expo at the Fairgrounds and invited the legislators to drop by to learn more about Hillsborough's ornamental plant industry. Part of the activities include the auctioning of plants to raise money to support FNGLA's Endowed Research Fund at the University of Florida and Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Service educational programs with Roy Davis of Tampa Wholesale Nursery, Inc., serving as one of two auctioneers. TBWG, FNGLA, and Mr. Davis are also big supporters of "Flavors of Hillsborough," coming to Tallahassee for its third run on April 20, 2006.
|
|
Foils
Mr. Ron Arkay of Green Tree Nursery served as co-auctioneer at the plant expo. He and Mr. Davis would often throw in their own bids to help run up the prices (all in good fun, of course) to benefit the agricultural programs.
|
|
360 Booths!
Harrell's Nursery of Plant City was one of 360 exhibitors at the Tampa Spring Expo. It's easy to see why ornamentals have become one of the leading agricultural industries in the State of Florida.
|
|
Procumbus "Nana" Patio Tree
John Bacon of Kim's Wholesale Nursery in Ruskin is flanked by a pair of "procumbus 'nana' patio trees," one a single graft and the other a triple.
|
|
K9 Community Assistance Network (K9CAN)
If we haven't already mentioned it, "Flavors of HIllsborough" is returning to the Senate Portico in Tallahassee on April 20. One of the new partiicpants is TRAIN (Teens Reaching Animals in Need), developed and managed by local not for profit K9CAN in partnership with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and Riverside Academy to pair incarcerated teen boys with homeless dogs for the mutual benefit of both groups. The boys are taught to train the dogs in basic obedience in order to make the dogs more adoptable. As they work with the dogs, the young men learn life lessons such as patience, unconditional love, and the power of positive reinforcement.
|
|
TRAIN Receives Highest Award
TRAIN was selected by the FL Dept. of Juvenile Justice as its Volunteer Program of the year in 2005. The young men also give back to the community by working with autistic children and others who have cerebral palsy and assorted physical challenges. They are designing display boards and baking homemade dog cookies and people treats for "Flavors" - April 20, Senate Portico, Tallahassee.
|
|
|
|
