JROTC CADET LEADERSHIP CAMP INTRODUCES CADETS TO ADVENTURE TRAINING

From rappelling of a 40-foot tower to ziplining from tree to tree roughly 20 feet in the air, the Junior Reserve Ofcers’ Training Corps (JROTC) Cadet Leadership Camp (JCLC) took the summer camp experience to new heights this season.

Hosted at the Flaming Arrow Scout Reservation in Lake Wales from June 12 to June 15, JROTCs from schools in Pasco, Broward, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties attended the annual adventure training conducted here at no cost to the cadets. Cadets from each school were then assigned to one of the four companies — Alpha, Bravo, Charlie or Delta — in an efort to teach them leadership skills among new friends and colleagues.

On June 12, cadets who could not swim were identified. To increase their familiarity with the water, these novice swimmers were introduced to several basic techniques in a pond on the property with lifeguards on duty. All JCLC cadets were then encouraged to complete a 10-meter swim; those who were unable to finish were given a bracelet to identify their current swimming level and had access to life preservers for all future challenges.

Beginning on June 13 and continuing through June 14, each day was divided into both a morning and afternoon session, both of which were devoted to the completion of a particular task. This ranged from rappel and water survival training to canoeing. Cadets were also encouraged to finish a Challenging Outdoor Personal Experiences

By Madeline Gardner

(COPES) course; this course tethered participants in before requiring them to walk across a series of cables and brave a zipline along the way.

Running the rappel tower this year was Lennard High School’s senior army instructor, LTC (R) David Dietz, who brought along 16 of his own cadets. Monitoring their progress on this course, Dietz cited the sense of personal accomplishment the cadets experienced to be a rewarding aspect of this challenge and others.

“They’re very scared of these training events, but when they go through and they conquer it, it’s a sense of success you just can’t give in any book or on a PowerPoint,” said Dietz. “Every year — these cadets who say they can’t do something — we teach them they can do it with a little bit of grit and application of efort.”

Topping of the camp experience with closing remarks, June 15 also featured an opportunity for each of the four companies to compete against one another as they prepared and performed skits. This final collaborative activity ofered the cadets a moment to reflect on all the connections the camp had helped furnish.

“The most exciting aspect of JCLC for me is teamwork while going through all the activities,” said Cadet Isabela Stitt, a rising sophomore at Lennard. “I realized you needed to be able to get along with others to complete the tasks. The aspect of teamwork was also rewarding because teamwork helps you meet new people and make new friends.”

KNOW YOUR ZONE BEFORE THE STORM: LOCATION IS EVERYTHING DURING STORM SEASON

With the summer storm season upon us, protecting property, valuables and lives from the e f ects of foul-weather events, including, but not limited to, hurricanes, becomes a consideration. Knowing what to do and when to do it can depend on understanding terms that are often heard but maybe not well understood, such as flood zones and evacuation zones.

Hillsborough County’s landscape has many bodies of water and low-elevation areas that make it a good idea to check how a property is classifed in food and evacuation zones.

Flood and evacuation zones serve two di f erent purposes, and assigning properties to them is done by di f erent government agencies.

Flood zones are determined by the National Flood Insurance Program and serve to identify areas that could easily flood. Designation within a high-risk flood zone could mean flood insurance is required for a property. Factors such as land elevation, proximity to water bodies and the historical record of floods are considered in determining flood zones.

Evacuation zones identify areas that are at risk of being evacuated during a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or a flood. Local o f cials determine evacuation zones based on things like an area’s potential for flooding and the availability of safe roads and shelters. You can check which evacuation and flood zone a property is in by visiting hillsborough-

By Brad Stager

county.org and entering the address in online interactive maps accessible on the website. Information from the maps also include locations of public shelters and an area’s evacuation status. Some shelters are designated as pet-friendly, and nonhuman family members are welcome at these facilities. County o f cials say it is important to pay attention and be able to provide for your pet’s needs if moving to a shelter during a disaster.

“It is strongly recommended that everyone bring their own supplies with them; crates, food, water, medication, anything that the pet needs,” said Crissy Leto, who is the program coordinator for Hillsborough County’s pet resource center.

She added that custodians of pets who are not dogs or cats need to be particularly mindful of the animals’ needs.

Residents who require routine medical support such as dialysis and other conditions can register for space at a special needs shelter where medical personnel and equipment are available. Registration can be accomplished online or by mailing or faxing a downloadable form available at www.hillsboroughcounty. org. You can also call the Hillsborough County Health Department at 813307-8063.

Financial Focus Help Get Your Teen Started With A Roth Ira

To be successful in most endeavors, it’s important to develop good habits — and that’s certainly the case for investors. And the earlier one develops these habits, the better. So, if you have teenagers who may be starting to work at part-time jobs, now may be a great time to introduce them to investing — and one place to begin might be a Roth IRA.

As you may know, a Roth IRA is a popular retirement savings vehicle — its earnings can grow federally tax-free, provided withdrawals aren’t taken until the investor is at least 59 ½ and has had the account fve or more years. But because a Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars, contributions can be withdrawn at any time, penalty-free, to pay for any expenses — including college. Roth IRA earnings can also be used to help pay for college, although these withdrawals will be taxable. However, if a child is the account owner, a lower tax bracket will likely apply.

In 2023, up to $6,500 per year can go into your teenager’s Roth IRA, as long as the amount contributed doesn’t exceed the amount of their taxable compensation for the year. And your child doesn’t have to put all the money in — you and the child’s grandparents can also contribute. In fact, you might want to “match” your child’s contributions up to the limit to provide an incentive for them to continue investing in the Roth IRA. Not only will your matching contribution help build the Roth IRA’s assets but it can also instill in your child’s mind the beneft of earning a match – which can prove valuable later on, when your child is in the workforce full time and has a chance to receive an employer’s matching contributions in a 401(k) or similar plan.

Your child may well fnd a job at a local restaurant or shop, as these businesses have experienced a shortage of workers the past couple of years. But if you have a family business, you can employ your teen to provide income that can go into a Roth IRA. Furthermore, if the business is one parent’s sole proprietorship, or it’s a partnership in which each partner is the parent, the payments for a child younger than 18 are not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. As an employee, your child must perform reasonable tasks necessary for the business and be paid reasonable wages — that is, wages comparable to what you’d pay a regular employee for the same work.

But wherever your child’s wages come from, using some of them to help fund a Roth IRA can be a good move. For one thing, it gives you a chance to explain the value of putting time on your side when you invest — simply put, the more years you invest, the greater your chances of accumulating the resources you need to meet your goals. And by helping your teen open a Roth IRA, which holds stocks, mutual funds or virtually any other type of security, you can discuss the diferent risk/ reward characteristics of various types of investments — the kind of basic knowledge that all investors should have.

Once your teen’s frst paychecks start coming in, consider bringing up the idea of opening a Roth IRA — you may well be opening the door to a lifetime of consistent and informed investing.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

The Hillsborough County Communications and Digital Media Department has come up with a great way to connect new residents as well as longtime residents with the services, activities and opportunities that Hillsborough County has to ofer. The new service is called Home Sweet Hillsborough.

Each month an estimated 2,500 people move to Hillsborough County. There are nearly 1.5 million residents in Hillsborough County. The county is larger than several states, including Alaska, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Hawaii.

Hillsborough County launched Home Sweet Hillsborough to welcome the thousands of new residents every month and help them learn about the county they now call home. Te county wants residents to easily locate services and learn about unique programs and new initiatives that will help lead to a better quality of life.

Terri Cordova-Hewitt, director of Hillsborough County’s Communication and Digital Media Department, said, “Our goal is to be proactive and not reactive. We want to ofer a page that is helpful and residents can turn to and know they are getting quality information.”

Cordova-Hewitt added, “With Home Sweet Hillsborough, we want to welcome our new residents and serve as a trusted voice that they can depend on and turn to. Home Sweet Hillsborough can serve as a page where they can find the resources to help answer questions that they might have about the county or find new opportunities that they did not know existed.”

Home Sweet Hillsborough is a digital welcome guide that is a one-stop shop for a number of services, programs and top-

By Kathy L. Collins

ics of interest that would be useful to new residents and longtime ones alike.

Cordova-Hewitt said, “Residents can learn about what is available in recreation, culture and parks. They can learn about family resources, including our public library system, and the county’s mental health resources hub. They can learn about our pet adoption program, how to prepare for a hurricane and all about their trash, water and sewer services. It is a variety of important and fundamental information that can serve both the new residents and existing residents.”

The Hillsborough County Communications and Digital Media Department works with the other county departments to provide important and helpful content to residents on the services that each department provides. The county’s programs, activities and services are always evolving with residents in mind. Home Sweet Hillsborough will be updated as programs are updated. The plan is to update the site regularly, so that residents will always be able to find out about new events and services being ofered by Hillsborough County.

For more information and to find the new service, please visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/residents/home-sweet-hillsborough.

Family Offers Mini Friends Farm Visits To Bring Joy To Special Needs Children

Nestled among the roads of Valrico is an expansive 4.3acre property that is home not just to the Karnowski family, but also their farm full of miniature animal friends.

“I hope that it just brings joy in sometimes a sad world,” said Melissa Karnowski, founder of Mini Friends Farm.

The farm aims to provide a place of peace for people with autism and mental health conditions.

“Our goal is to equip all children with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to overcome their challenges,” the Mini Friends Farm mission statement reads.

Melissa views the farm as a place to disconnect from the rest of the world and embrace the quiet of the outdoors. She and her husband, Tom, were inspired to create the farm after their son, Brandon, started showing pigs through his school’s FFA program.

Brandon was diagnosed with autism and used showing pigs as an outlet to express himself. Melissa described how his entire demeanor seemed to shift when he was around animals, and she wants to give other kids with autism the opportunity to experience the same happiness. Currently, several people with autism visit the farm every one to two weeks to brush and feed the animals.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY’S CHRISTOPHER TOMPKINS JOINS FLORIDA 4-H HALL OF FAME

By Ava Benedict

Melissa’s ultimate goal is to have even more children with autism visit and experience the farm. She said the animals have a healing touch, and spending time with them is extremely calming for everyone who visits. The farm is home to a variety of animals, including alpacas, miniature donkeys and a pony. Each animal is named after a celebrity or pop culture figure, including donkeys Snoop Donk and Martha Stewart and a pony named Dolly Parton. Although these animals are super lovable, it takes a huge amount of work to maintain the farm and cover the costs of providing for them.

To raise money for feed, farm supplies and animal surgeries, Mini Friends Farm hosts birthday parties and other special events on the property. One of these special events includes an annual Open Farm Day, where the public has the opportunity to learn how to brush, feed and take care of the animals on the farm. The last Open Farm Day attracted a crowd of over 70 people, so booking ahead is a must for those wishing to participate. Mini Friends Farm also gives people the opportunity to book experiences with the animals, such as walking the donkeys and animal-assisted therapy. To learn more about Mini Friends Farm and how to donate, visit its website at www.myminifriends.org.

The UF/IFAS Extension 4-H Youth Development Program and Florida 4-H Foundation are honored to announce the 2023 inductees to the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame: Betsy Barfield of Jeferson County, Todd Bundy of Gadsden and Leon counties, William ‘Bill’ Hill of Polk and Hernando counties, Larry Middour of Orange County and Christopher Tompkins of Hillsborough County (posthumous).

The induction event will be held Thursday, August 3 at the University of Florida (UF) Reitz Union.

Established in 2002 during the national 4-H centennial year, the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding 4-H alumni, volunteers, professionals and community leaders. Members have made significant contributions to 4-H and their community through accomplishments in the areas of citizenship, leadership, career and character.

Tompkins made a lasting impact on all who knew him. His legacy of leadership at a young age impacted the careers of many fellow 4-H youth.

Warren Brooks, executive director of career, technical and adult education for Hillsborough County Public Schools, shared, “I am not sure if there has ever been a student more decorated than Christopher Tompkins. His drive to succeed I have not witnessed in any other; however, instead of focusing on all his awards, his real impact was his ability to elevate others and encourage them to grow personally.”

Tompkins influenced Brooks’ own evolution from a shy, quiet kid into a 4-H state ofcer traveling the country, an experience that would impact his own career. This is a common testament from those who knew Tompkins.

As a student at the University of Florida, Tompkins continued to succeed and serve. He became UF’s first Truman Scholar, and in his final year of law school served as UF Student Government president. Tompkins worked with multiple elected ofcials before opening his own law firm in Brandon. Tompkins passed away in 2005 at age 34 after a battle with leukemia. His legacy is marked by dedicated service, authentic leadership and firm belief in the importance of citizenship and community service.

Special thanks to 2023 hall of fame sponsors Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. and Friends of the Florida 4-H Foundation. Event and youth sponsorships are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/florida-4-h-hall-of-fame-induction-registration-623709280247.

Nominations for the 2024 inductee class are accepted online at https://give.ifas.ufl. edu/4-h-giving/fl-4-h-foundation/fl4hhof/ now through January 31, 2024. For questions, contact Caylin Hilton at grow4H@ ifas.ufl.edu or 352-392-5432.

4-H is the youth development program of the land-grant university system and Cooperative Extension System. 4-H provides hands-on educational experiences for youth ages 5-18 with the objective of developing youth as individuals, and as responsible and productive citizens. In Florida, 4-H is administered by University of Florida/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University. Learn more at https://florida4h.org/.