5 things to Know Today, March 4

1. Do you enjoy swimming? If so, here's a job just for you. The Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department has five open positions for part-time lifeguards at the Lithia Springs Park. Qualified candidates must be high school graduates or possess a GED certification, and must have current American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Certification, current American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer Certification and a current American Red Cross First Aid Certification. This position pays $9 an hour.

For additional information, or to apply for this position, view the LIFEGUARD (PART-TIME) job description atwww.hccsb.org, then click on the “Job Opportunities” link on the left side.

2. If your neighborhood is s standout, you might want to nominate it for the Neighborhood Recognition Awards. 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 more information, call (813) 272-5860.

3. If you're a homeowner, you may be interested in this new guide on protecting your property from wildfires.

Wildfire risk in Florida is high due to winter freezes and a recent dry spell. Florida is among the top 10 states for the number of fires and acres burned.

While seasonal rainfall typically leads to tropical conditions throughout much of Florida, prolonged dry spells can quickly dry out lush vegetation and leave properties increasingly vulnerable to wildfires.

Florida property owners can find solutions to reduce the risk of wildfire damage to their homes and businesses in the Institute for Business & Home Safety’s free guide “Protect Your Property from Wildfire – Florida Edition.”  The guide takes into account typical Florida building styles and construction materials, common topographical characteristics and weather patterns, and other risk factors identified by fire science research.

If you would like more information, please contact Joe King, media relations manager, IBHS, (813) 675-1045 / (813) 442-2845 or jking@ibhs.org.

4.  Do you have some books your children has outgrown. You may want to consider donating them to the Goodwill's Bookworks programs. A drive to collect children’s books for Goodwill’s BookWorks childhood literacy program is now under way. People in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Hernando and Marion counties are asked to donate new or like-new books for children ages 2 to 5.

Throughout the year, volunteers for Goodwill’s BookWorks program read to children at Head Start centers and then present each child with a personalized book to take home. Last year, the program gave more than 29,000 books to preschool children who may not otherwise have them. The book drive will supply the program during the next 12 months.

To donate books, attach a note indicating they are “For BookWorks” and drop them off at any Goodwill-Suncoast store or donation site. For store and donation site locations, call toll-free 888-279-1988, or visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org. To volunteer as a reader for the program, call Goodwill Community Relations at 888-279-1988, Ext. 1013.

5. While you're at it, consider becoming a volunteer for the Goodwill GoodGuides program. 

GoodGuides helps boys and girls aged 12 to 17 who face risk factors such as school failure, family violence and other challenges. Young people are matched with caring mentors who help them finish school and transition into productive careers. You could have a huge impact on a young person's life by volunteering just one hour per week.

For more information, call the GoodGuides program manager at (727) 423-1379, e-mail goodguides@goodwill-suncoast.com or visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org/goodguides.