5 Things to Know Today, March 10

1. Artist Scott King, featured on Bloomingdale Patch in January, will celebrate the unveiling of his latest series of paintings inspired by classic video game characters and the start of Scott King's designs exclusive to Tadpole's of Brandon, 115 W. Brandon Blvd.  Thursday, March 10 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Tadpole's. There will be raffles and drink specials.

2. With gas prices on the rise throughout the Tampa Bay area - more than 78 cents higher than this time last year and 17 cents more than last week - the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) is offering commuters some simple solutions to reduce the pain at the fuel pump.

Through its Commuter Services program, TBARTA offers commuters a number of simple and easy-to-use tools designed to get people where they need to go -while keeping more cash in their pockets, consuming less fuel and causing less wear and tear on their vehicles.

Through its free, online ride-matching program, TBARTA Commuter Services helps potential carpoolers connect with each other to share the ride to and from
work.  At www.tampabayrideshare.org, commuters create a profile and search for potential carpoolers with similar commutes in their area. The TBARTA database contains thousands of potential carpool partners in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Commuters without Internet access can sign up over the phone by calling 800-998-RIDE (7433).

Other commuter services programs include Vanpool, which links five or more
people to share a ride to work in a passenger van or SUV.  Similarly, the Bike
Buddy program connects cyclists who want to share the ride.  TBARTA can also
work with employers to set up an effective "Telework" or telecommuting program that can not only save employees money and businesses parking space, it can also boost employee productivity and morale when properly implemented.

To give commuters a greater sense of security when they don't drive their own
car, TBARTA also offers a free Emergency Ride Home program to qualified
participants. The program provides up to eight free taxi rides a year from
work to home to registered participants who use a commute option other than
driving alone at least two days per week in the event of an emergency, illness
or unplanned overtime.

Using public transit is another great option for saving on the high cost of
gas. The American Public Transportation Association estimates the average
rider of public transit in the U.S. can save $9,904 annually - or $825 a month
- based on the March 4 average national gas price of $3.47 per gallon.  The
Florida average is even higher - $3.55 a gallon, according to the American
Automobile Association.

When gas reached $4 a gallon in 2008, local transit agencies such as HART and
PSTA saw spikes in ridership as consumers struggled to make ends meet.  With
some experts predicting fuel costs increasing to $5 per gallon by 2012, local
transit agencies are gearing up for another surge.  The TBARTA Commuter
Services webpage offers links and information on public transit options in the
Tampa Bay region.

"TBARTA stands ready to assist commuters in the Tampa Bay area in any way we can,'' said Executive Director Bob Clifford. "While we continue to plan for
more long-term solutions to the region's transportation problems, we can also
provide the kind of 'right now' solutions that people want and need.''

2. The 19th annual Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts will take place March 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the TECO SouthShore Community Center, 302 Noonan Branch Road, Apollo Beach. The cost is $5 and includes a shuttle to the Manatee Viewing Center. Children 10 and under are free.

3. The Bloomingdale Regional Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico, will host a class in Digital Manga March 10 at 3:30 p.m. Using the tools and various filters of Photoshop Elements, participants will explore the ways they can create and colorize Manga illustration on the computer. Seating is limited. Registration is required no earlier than a half hour prior to the start of the program. Call (813) 273-3652.

4.Free tax help from the AARP Foundation's Tax-Aide Program will be offered from noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays on a first-come, first-served basis in the Community Room at the Bloomingdale Regional Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. This is cosponsored by Hillsborough County Family and Aging Services and presented by American Association of Retired Persons in cooperation with the Prosperity Campaign of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

5. Stroller Strides offers fitness for mom and fun for baby. The hour-long classes include power walking and cardio training, intertwined with strengthening stations where moms can use exercise resistance tubing, the stroller and the environment. The first class is free.  Classes are offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays at 9 a.m.  at the Osprey Club in FishHawk Ranch. Contact Natalie Johnson at (813) 952-7277 or e-mail nataliejohnson@strollerstrides.net for more information.