Celebrating 65 Years In The Tampa Bay Area ' · .'j~-- . /_t • . :.:; • • I II I - . SEE STORY ON PAGE 2 CITY HOSTS EEO TRAINING SEMINAR The City of Tampa's Division of Community Affairs and the U. S. Equal Opportunity Commission hosted an Equal Opportunity Training Seminar last week at Ragan Park Auditorium. Several topics were covered with presentations from Attorney James W. Jones, Manuel Zurita, Field Director, EEO Commission, Tampa; Atty. Yvette D. Daniels and Atty. Roderick 0. Ford. Atty. Ford, center, is shown with City of Tampa employees: Kenneth Perry, Community Affairs Manager; Jesus Loquias, Maritza Betancourt, Ross Silvers, Joann Blount, Margarita Gonzalez, Edna Cade, Deborah Jones, Cherlylene Beall, Rebecca Cortes and Viola Luke. (Photography by BRUNSON) Models leaded Deaths 01 Siblings For Charity Event Ruled Accidental SEE PAGE 3 · - SEE PAGE 16 Governor Visits Changes In WIC' Local Businesses Program Planned SEE PAGE 2 . SEE PAGE 6 ~r------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ~ Features N N ct UJ School Bookkeeper al Business Owner Gets Surprise ~ UJ ..... a. Visit From Governor Sued Over Missing UJ (j) ~ Funds Arrested c (j) Earlier this month, the UJ ::> Tampa Police Department ..... arrested a ss-year-old woman and charged her with grand theft and official mis­ conduct by falsifying records. She is also a defendant in a civil lawsuit in connection with the case. According to Hillsborough County Jail Records, Ms. Dianne Parker was taken Barber Marven Lindo had into custody on September the opportunity to serve 3rd and charged. She was DIANNE PARKER Governor Charlie Crist !'eleased after posting bond Former Bookkeeper at some authentic Jamaican Erwin Technical Center food during his visit. the following day. Ms. Parker is a 29-year scheme that allegedly BY IRIS B. HOLTON employee of Hillsborough Barber Marven Lindo had the opportunity to give Governor enabled Ms. Parker to con­ Sentinel City Editor County Public Schools. She Charlie Crist a haircut during the governor's recent visit to his has worked at Erwin ceal her improper actions. shop. " School district auditors dis­ Businessman M~rven Technical Center as a book­ keeper since being employed covered the improper trans­ ~ Lindo knew that Governor Crist pulled up in front of Pit, where he served him a fers using the district's new c Charlie Crist would be in Uppercuts Barbershop on E. meal. with the school district. · a: auditing report feature, u.. town recently. His friend, Fletcher Avenue. Lindo said Governor Ms. Parker was respon­ sible for processing funds, which adds another layer of c who is employed by the gov~ "I was surprised when his Crist said he was very z including checks, money scrutiny to bookkeeping. ernor, told him about the entourage pulled up in front impressed to see a young After the discovery, attor­ c:r: man in business for himself. orders, and cash paid to the trip to an area school. of my barbershop. My friend neys for the Hillsborough A riative of Jamaica, Lindo school. However, she is ~ Lindo said his friend also set it all up," Lindo said. County Public Schools filed a c completed his education and alleged to have held on to tn said he would bring the gov­ The 31-year-old father of civil complaint naming Ms. w ernor by his business. He two had the opportunity to training as a barber before numerous checks and money ::) Parker as the defendant. .... was skeptical that this would cut the governor's hair. After corning to Tampa to live with orders ·for several months his father. without proper receipt and The lawsuit alleges she inten­ happen. However, on the haircut, he took tionally failed to properly ~ Thursday, September 1. th, · He obtained work and made deposits for less than l • w Governor Crist next door deposit school funds and > the driver of Governor opened his barbershop in the amount she received. She w to his restaurant, the Jerk instead used the fundSfof<ner­ c 2002, and opened the was able to conceal the w restaurant in November scheme because her receipts personal use; :::z::: 2008. and deposits appeared to The school district seeks en to recover funds in the ::::i Ofhis success, Lindo said, agree, school officials said. m "I have a passion for great The alleged scheme was amount of $582,659, in addi­ :::» a. food and cutting hair. I uncovered in June when dis­ tion to costs and attorneys z turned my two passions into trict auditors noticed irregu­ fees. i= a business. It wasn't easy, larities as they attempted to A spokesperson for the w but you can do it. It's not reconcile the non-sufficient school district said Ms. ..J what happens to you in life, ..J:::» funds account. Parker is suspended without m it's what you do about what The school district investi- · pay from her job. I happens," the young man ..J gation uncovered a complex w r-··o, · , said . o·r-. .I~M!· : IJJ· rA ·s .· ~. Fr.J y·fiQr · ,ur z . rt ~ . (~ · ~ !"'! J ''!)'""• • .. i= . ·'#·-- ·- · - .......P ..,......, 1!1: .~ - ...:.. ··- . !I z "Serving ~Ire Community Since 1947" m~~~ @b\, enw Mayor To Dedicate cc:r: a: Cenotaph And 0 Public Art Piece ..Ju.. Business and community leaders, as well as leaders from the Seminole Tribe o Florida, w~ll join Mayor Pam Iorio to dedicate the ; cenotaph and the public art installation, Ceremonial Did You Know That. .... Space, on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 10:30 Medicaid Provides Coverage For Denture a.m. The dedication will take . Patients, Annual Relining & place at the south-end o Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Surgery In n For Your Dentures? Park on the Riverwalk; locat­ ed at 601 Old Water Street. Both the cenotaph and Call And Schedule Ceremonial Space are Your Appointment Today!!! intended to acknowledge and honor all of those who have been impacted by the (813) 623-1014 events that occurred at Fort Brooke while it was an active fort. Additionally, they sym­ . 813.900.6327 bolize moving forward and ronwatsona rtstuct io .con1 new beginnings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------,~c: m Features (/) c }< (/) m Children Given Chance To Participate In "'D m~ ~ Ill Positive Radio Broadcasting m BY IRIS B. HOLTON world." show that is created by child­ take part in growing their ::tl N Sentinel City Editor So, in an effort to combat ren for children. They will food, they are likely to try it, ~N the negative materials that learn the area of production, and make better choices. The N 0 A young Tampa woman has continually circulate over the voiceovers, and all other as­ 0 kids will work as a team and U) created an opportunity for Internet, Ms. Alston was in­ pects of broadcast radio. donate it. Hopefully, this will youngsters from kindergarten spired to create an opportu­ Additionally, Ms. Alston broaden the scope of what through 8th grade to enter nity for children to said Purple House Radio has one person can do positively the world of broadcasting. understand the power of their teamed up with the not-for­ with his voice and just his The vehicle she has chosen is · words and actions. profit organization, Plant a hands." Internet radio and she is of­ Ms. Alston will launch a Row for the Hungry. This will Ms. Alston is the daughter fering a hands-on approach to Saturday program geared to­ allow the students the oppor­ technology. ward school children. The of Tampa's Mrs. Janice tunity to grow, harvest, and Ms. Dionne Alston said, program entitled "Purple Hall McCaskill and Lewis donate organic fruit and veg­ "There are many opportuni­ House Radio," will feature McCaskill and the grand­ ties these days to share your children in grades kinder­ etables produce. The produce daughter of the late Mrs. voice. For instance, there's garten through third at 9 a.m. will be donated to America's Geraldine Hall Streeter, a YouTube and myspace. to 10:30 a.m. The fourth and Second Harvest Kids Cafe longtime daycare owner. Food Program to help feed Ms. Alston said enrollment YouTube is flooded with fifth grade students will be on MS. DIONNE ALSTON school fights and other un­ the air from 11 a.m. until Introduces children to the hungry. in the program is limited. mentionables that receive 12:30 p.m. And, the middle broadcasting world Ms. Alston said she Anyone wishing to learn more thousands of viewers and school children, in grades 6th wanted to providea way for information may visit the web comments. And, it's stagger­ through 8th will be featured podcast is entitled, "This Way youngsters to use technology site at purplehouseradio.net ing the images that our urban from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Up!" The youngsters will add in a positive way. "Studies or call Ms. Alston at (813) youth are sending to the programming to the radio 789-8153- ., Its companion program on have shown that if children r- 0 ::tl ,..6 (/) m Models Needed For Charitv Event § BY IRIS B. HOLTON who are unemployed and. we heavier warit to know what ing more . information can z m Sentinel City Editor like to pass on information clothes will look like on some­ contact Ms. Ashley at (813) r:- about businesses who are hir­ one who is a plu_s size. 849-3749; . or at 111 A Tampa organization is ing. The next meeting will be Anyone interested in obtain- [email protected]. c r­ lqoking for women in all held on October 1st at the . .. :~ r- shapes and sizes to participate Crosstown Executive Suites, gJ .. in a fashion show. Th.e event . 1505 S. U. S. Highway 301, be­ z will take place next month.