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Neighborhood Notebook

Mayor to proclaim Latinos Unidos Day at luncheon

Briefs and news of note

By MEAGHAN FORBES
Published May 12, 2006

DOWNTOWN - Mayor Pam Iorio will proclaim Wednesday as Latinos Unidos Day during the ninth annual Latinos Unidos Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency.

The event highlights the growing economic impact of Hispanics locally and nationally. Carlos Fuente Jr. will be the keynote speaker.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Council's scholarship endowments at Hillsborough Community College, the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa.

Tickets are $30. For information, call 274-7416.

Essays earn two students $1,000 college scholarships

GOLFVIEW - For the 16th year, Feldman Orthodontics recently awarded college scholarships to two local high school seniors.

Caitlin Wilson from Gaither High School and Stephanie Romain from King High School each received $1,000 for their winning essays about "What a smile means to me?''

"A smile to me is a constant reminder that joy and hope can be found in the little things," wrote Wilson, after spending a summer in China on a mission trip.

Wrote Romain: "Through the act of smiling you can transfer the joy you feel to others and in turn have a positive influence on someone.''

In addition to the essay, students had to have at least a 2.5 grade point average and submit reference letters from a school administrator and a college acceptance letter.

Letter carriers, volunteers begin summer food drive

TAMPA - Letter carriers will pick up grocery bags of donated food on Saturday for the annual Letter Carriers Food Drive.

Publix Supermarkets gave 7.7-million plastic grocery bags to distribute to residential addresses across the state.

Mail customers should hang or place their donation bags of food near their mailbox for collection.

The drive helps local food banks provide food for needy children during the summer months when school is out.

Along with the letter carriers, volunteers from local service groups will help collect.

Island used for ecology education open to public

CHANNEL DISTRICT - Fantasy Island, a 4-acre spoil island in Tampa Bay, has opened to educate children and visitors about ecology.

Just north of the Alafia River, the island made from dredged material will be part of the Florida Aquarium's educational programs and be used as an offsite classroom.

Visitors will learn the importance of native vegetation in fragile coastal ecosystems and the role the port plays in the restoration, improvement and protecting of Tampa Bay.

The island has been an ongoing environmental and educational project between the Florida Aquarium, Tampa Port Authority and Tampa Electric Co.

The $175,500 project began in 2001.

[Last modified May 11, 2006, 14:10:48]