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Bank Gives Girls A Lesson In Finance

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 4, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - It was checkbook time for the 10 students in the PACE Center for Girls classroom.

They weren't spending money, though - at least, not yet.

Instead, the girls were learning the advantages, responsibilities and pitfalls of establishing a checking account.

The lessons came courtesy of First Bank of Lutz, which is teaming with PACE during the next few months to give the girls a little financial savvy.

Danielle Taylor-Fagan, executive director of PACE in Pasco, said the finance lessons are especially important to the girls enrolled at the school, some of whom are helping support their families or end up on their own much quicker than most young people.

The bank employees visit PACE twice a month to offer the girls tips on how to handle money.

The PACE Center for Girls serves at-risk middle and high school students, as old as 18, who are having trouble at school or at home.

A recent topic was checking accounts, which allowed Sandy Golberg, branch manager for First Bank of Lutz, and Karin Gayda, a First Bank customer service manager, to cover all sorts of ground, such as ATM fees and the difference between debit and credit cards.

Ronnie Blair

Library Board Shuffles Priorities

TAMPA - The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library Board may have closed the chapter on the chances of Wimauma and Bealsville getting new libraries in the near future.

In a surprise move recently, the board rejected the recommendation of its planning committee, which two days earlier ranked the Wimauma and Bealsville projects as top priorities.

Instead, the board decided to adopt the 2008 capital improvements list with a few changes, namely removing the previous top two ranked priorities, which were land acquisitions for future projects and replacing the Seminole Heights Library.

The new ranking pushed the New Tampa library renovation project - a 5,000-square-foot patio enclosure included in a broad expansion proposal that was ranked third last year - to the top of this year's list.

Joe Stines, director of Hillsborough County Library Services, said he would explore the possibility of working with the school district to find space at a Wimauma school to provide public library services. He did not discuss a plan for Bealsville.

Kenneth Knight

Bayshore Condo Proposal Still Under Fire

TAMPA - A proposed high-rise condominium on Bayshore Boulevard won approval recently from the city's Architectural Review Commission. But owners of a nearby Bayshore Royal condominium, who say the high-rise will devalue their property, have filed an appeal with the Tampa City Council.

Attorney James De Furio filed the appeal for Bayshore Condominium & Co. The hearing is April 2 at 1:30 p.m. at 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.

The architectural board last month approved plans by Citivest owner Bill Robinson to build the DeSoto, a 346-foot-tall building planned for 1.5 acres at Bayshore and DeSoto Avenue. The project has been entangled in legal disputes for nearly six years.

Kathy Steele

Veterans Get In Free At Berry Fest Today

PLANT CITY - Today is Military Day at the Florida Strawberry Festival, which means free gate admission all day for active and retired military personnel. Here's the daily schedule of events:

10 a.m.: Gates open

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Poultry and rabbit shows, CF Industries Ag Tent

Noon: Midway opens

3-11 p.m.: Ride-A-Thon; a wristband purchased at the midway for $17 entitles the wearer to ride most mechanical rides.

3:30 p.m.: Brenda Lee, GTE FCU Soundstage

6 p.m.: Youth steer show, TECO Livestock Arena

7:30 p.m.: Ray Stevens, GTE FCU Soundstage

The festival grounds are at 2202 W. Reynolds St., Plant City. Festival admission tickets purchased at participating area Sweetbay Supermarkets are $8 for ages 13 and older and $4 for ages 6 to 12. Admission prices at the gate are $10 for adults and $5 for youths. Children 5 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

A staff report

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