5 Things to Know Today

1. Miraculous Image -- The public is invited to Resurrection Catholic Church, 6819 Krycul Ave., in Riverview, Friday, Feb. 11 from 1 to 5 p.m. for the visitation of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the Americas and the protector of the unborn.

There will be a special Mass at noon followed by the exposition of the image, a chance to pray before the image and bring flowers and other gifts.

The Missionary Images are actual size (4- by 6-foot) replicas of the original Miraculous Image of Our Lady  left on St. Juan Diego’s tilma. The images were blessed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico by the rector of the basilica, Msgr. Diego Monroy, to bring conversions, reverence for life, sanctity of the family and solidarity of the Church in America. The images have journeyed on visitations throughout the world and have visited each of the United States in more than 1,000 parishes. There have been hundreds of Masses, Confessions, hours of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Rosaries in the presence of the Images. Many conversions, healings, reconciliations and graces have been reported.

For more information, visit http://jkmi.com/olgmimage.asp.

2. Help for small businesses -- A proposed incentive program by County Commissioner Sandra L. Murman, District 1, to reward small business owners who create jobs was green-lighted for further development by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners at their regular meeting last week.

The small business reimbursement incentive program is designed to promote job creation in Hillsborough County by offering a wage reimbursement to small businesses owners. This wage reimbursement can be used for working capital or other needs as necessary.  Depending on funding, it is estimated that this program can support 2,500 jobs, and offer $1 million to small business owners. 

“Hillsborough County needs to grow our economic base and we need to improve the opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs within our region,” said Murman. “This initiative will have a real impact on the opportunities for local growth of the small business sector.”

To qualify, small business owners would have to attend a minimum of four hours of business workshops and/or technical assistance/counseling sessions and meet specific requirements such as having 10 employees or less. Jobs created must be full-time and businesses may be reimbursed for up to five created jobs. This incentive may be combined with other incentive programs.

Murman will work with the county's Economic Development staff to further develop the program and bring it back to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval 

3. Neighborhoods to be recognized -- The Hillsborough County Office of Neighborhood Relations is accepting nominations for the 2010 Neighborhood Recognition Awards. The deadline for applications is March 11 at 5 p.m. These awards are designed to acknowledge neighborhood organizations that have been active in civic affairs and worked collectively to improve and enrich their communities and the lives of their residents.

An award will be given in each of the following categories for events that occurred in 2010:

• Best Association Web site

• Best Beautification Project

• Best Crime Watch or Safety Program

• Best Environmental Project

• Best Newsletter

• Best Umbrella Association

• Most Successful Special Event

• Most Successful Youth Program

The winners will be announced in late March and the awards will be presented at the Hillsborough County Neighborhood Conference, being held at Hillsborough Community College, Dale Mabry Campus, April 2, during an Awards Luncheon.

Neighborhood Recognition Awards applications are available in the Office of Neighborhood Relations, County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., first floor, in Tampa, or by going to the Hillsborough County Neighborhood Relations Web page at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/onr. 

Applicants or nominees must be a neighborhood, homeowner or civic association, or a crime watch group within Hillsborough County, city of Tampa, city of Plant City or city of Temple Terrace to be eligible. For information, call (813) 272-5860.

 4. Relays for Life raise funds -- The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life season gets under way with organizers and participants working hard to put together teams, themes and fundraising efforts for their respective events.

Collectively, the six sites in Eastern Hillsborough County had reported 237 teams, 2,541 participants and $112,032.86 raised so far. 

Start dates for the overnight relay run from March 25 through April 8.

Relay events will be held at Bloomingdale, Brandon, Newsome, Plant City and Riverview high schools and Burnett Middle School (Seffner/Dover).

5. Honoring the slain officers -- Participating locations of Beef ‘O’  Brady’s plan to honor and support the families of slain St. Petersburg police officers Sgt. Thomas Baitinger, 48, and canine officer Jeffrey Yaslowtiz, 39.  Restaurant owners plans to contribute a percentage of sales Feb. 9 to the Jeffrey Yaslowitz/Thomas Baitinger Memorial Fund.

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