Tampa Bay Parent

Even before Black Friday it seems that everyone is having a “Black Friday” deal. Online retailers are trying to compete with the brick a mortar stores. Traditional retailers are trying to start earlier than their competitors. Years ago it was next to impossible to find a store open on Thanksgiving Day. Now, many are having Thanksgiving sales events.

Despite all the complaining over the years about the crowds and the long lines, traditional Black Friday shopping will not ended. It is thrilling and exhilarating to shoppers to get that Black Friday deal. They hunt the deal down and proudly display it like it is prize game.

To see many of the Black Friday ads and deals go to shoplocal.com

Homeschoolers get a discount when staying at Nickelodeon Family Suites in Orlando. You can get a 2 bedroom Kidsuite for $89 per night. The homescool discount is good Sunday thru Thursday; Saturday and Sunday is an extra $40 per night. The discounted rate is good until December 23,2009.

More information on Nickelodeon Family Suite Homeschool Discount

Claywell Elementary School is sponsoring Ava’s Heart Benefit 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, to raise funds for a teacher’s 9-week-old daughter’s heart transplant.

Fifth grade teacher Nicole Snyder gave birth to Ava Snyder on August 12. Ava was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease in which the heart doesn’t adequately pump blood into the body, and needs a new heart.

Ava’s Heart Benefit will be held at Beef O’Brady’s of Citrus Park, 8568 Gunn Hwy., Odessa. Tickets are $15 each for a complete meal and a beverage, with $10 from each ticket going to Ava’s Heart Benefit. Prizes will be raffled at the event, as well.

Tickets must be purchased in advance at Claywell, 4500 Northdale Blvd., Tampa 33624. Purchases can be made weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Checks should be made out to Ava Snyder. Anyone who cannot attend the benefit but would like to donate to Ava’s Heart Benefit can send checks to the school in care of Claudia Smith.

Registration has been extended for Hillsborough County’s youth basketball.

Hillsborough County’s Winter Hoops program has been extended through Dec. 2. Registration times are 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. The popular program is for boys and girls ages 7 – 15.

Registration sites:

• Northdale Recreation Center, 15550 Spring Pine Drive
• Nuccio Recreation Center, 4805 E. Sligh Avenue
• Westchase Recreation Center, 9791 Westchase Drive
• Winston Recreation Center, 7605 Destin Drive

Cost is $50 per player and includes a numbered reversible jersey, mouthpiece and award medal. The season is scheduled Jan. 2 – March 6, 2010 and games will be played at All People’s Life Center Gym, 6105 E. Sligh Ave. and Lake Magdalene Gym, 3110 Clay Mangum Lane.

Contact Aileen Henderson at (813) 744-5595 ext. 223 for information on this youth league sponsored by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department.

This is great opportunity to get the kids off the couch and active. Although it does have a time commitment, organized sports does have many benefits for children.

The City of Tampa Park and Recreation Department is offering the opportunity for kids, preschoolers to second graders, to get a phone call from Santa’s helpers. Volunteers will be assisting Santa and Mrs Claus make phone calls to boys and girls (preschool through second grade) on Tuesday, December 8, Wednesday, December 9 and Thursday, December 10 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. You can register your child to receive a free phone call from Santa. Register at this link

If you are interested in helping to make those calls possible please contact Cathie Schanz at (813) 274-7731.

Get your family into the Christmas spirit with the free Santa Fest and Parade at Centennial Park in Tampa. This family fun event is December 5, 2009 from 11 a.m.- 4p.m.

Centennial Park is transformed in to a winter wonderland with entertainers strolling about, children’s make-n-take holiday crafts, the smell of roasted almonds and kettle korn, and the chill from the snow… that’s right, SNOW! Nearly 20 tons of snow is brought in from the “North Pole” for kids young and old to toboggan down two giant snow slides. Children can also visit with Santa Claus, enjoy three stages of continuous holiday entertainment, get great stuff in the Magic 94-9 Courtyard, write letters to Santa, get hands on with MOSI, Lowry Park Zoo and Tampa Fire Rescue as well as enjoy magicians, jugglers and so much more!

The festival culminates at 4 p.m. as the Santa Fest Holiday Parade steps off. The Holiday Parade features over 40 units including colorful floats, antique cars and dance troops. The best viewing for the parade is on 7th Avenue between 14th and 19th Streets and on 19th Street between 7th and 9th Avenues. The parade disbands along Palm Avenue.

Other Tampa Bay Events

The economy is supposed to be picking-up, but that is news to the internet company AOL. Over the next several months the company will become a little leaner as it cuts more that 2,000 jobs. According to Bloomberg.com, AOL will begin voluntary layoffs of 2,500 jobs on December 4, 2009. After that time and they do not receive the required number of volunteers the company will begin issuing layoffs.

The company would like to be leaner and is beginning a restructuring process that it hopes will increase its profits.

Although it is better that the company does not go bankrupt and have all 6,900 of its employees have to find a new jobs, it is going to be a tough holiday season for those 2,500 employees.

It was the battle for bragging rights in the state of Florida. It always is when these two teams meet. Neither team had been having a stellar season going into the game, with the Buccaneers at 1-7 and the Dolphins at 3-5. That said, those records can be deceiving. The Buccaneers recently got their first win of the season and are in a rebuilding stage. They were feeling good and always seem to put up a fight. The Dolphins are primarily a wildcat team on offense, which gives them a smash-mouth, in-your-face style. It was heart versus nasty on Sunday, and the close scored showed it.

The Buccaneers drew first blood with a 51-yard field goal early in the first quarter. It didn’t take long for the Dolphins to counter with a Ronnie Brown touchdown. A similar trend continued throughout the remainder of the first half, with the Dolphins having led 19-6 at halftime. Nobody knows if they felt comfortable with that lead, but if they truly knew the Buccaneers, they would have known they were in for a brutal fight to the end.

Josh Freeman, the rookie quarterback who led the team to their first win last week over the Green Bay Packers, once again led his team back into a game that seemed out of reach. The Buccaneers scored a field goal in the second half, then a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. They scored another touchdown late in the fourth quarter when Carnell (Cadillac) Williams rushed to the right for a one yard touchdown.

With a two point lead and about a minute to go, it was looking like the Buccaneers were going to win their second game in a row behind their rookie quarterback. But the Dolphins had plans of their own. A two minute drive led by Chad Henne got them all the way down to the Buccaneers 10-yard-line with only ten seconds left. Place Kicker Dan Carpenter split the uprights on his 25-yard attempt, dashing the hopes of the Buccaneers and giving the Dolphins new hope for the season.

Ricky Williams led all rushers with 102 yards on 20 carries. However, he did not find the end zone. Kellen Winslow led all receivers with 102 yards on 7 catches, although he didn’t find the end zone, either.

It’s hopeful that this rivalry will continue to be as entertaining as it was today.

One bright note is that there have been more existing homes in Tampa Bay sold during the third quarter of this year than in 2008. In 2008 6,502 existing single family homes were sold in Tampa Bay during the third quarter, but there was a 20% increase in single family home sales during the third quarter of this year with 7,795 single family homes sold. The sale of these homes is welcome news for home owners who are desperate to sell their homes. One sour note is that the median sale price of existing single family homes has taken a hit. The average prices of single family homes in third quarter have taken a 17% dive from 3^rd quarter last year. Tampa Bay had a median sale price of homes of $169,700 in 2008, but this year the median sale price of existing homes fell to $140,400.

The statewide existing-home median sales price was $145,400 in the third quarter; a year earlier, it was $185,600 for a decrease of 22 percent. The 3Q 2009 statewide existing-home median sales price was 1.25 percent higher than 2Q’s statewide existing-home median sales price of $143,600. According to industry analysts with the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), sales of foreclosures and other distressed properties continue to downwardly distort the median price because they generally sell at a discount relative to traditional homes. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half for less.

Although many homeowners may be happy to sell their homes and get it off the market, the loss in the home’s value is a financial blow, especially for those that bought their homes during the housing bubble. Most analysts are saying that the drop in the prices is the market correcting itself from the inflated prices that occurred during the housing bubble. There are some home that have seen a fall in prices that creates a market price that is lower that it was before the housing bubble.

Source: Florida Realtors

Miami and Tampa Bay face off at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida this Saturday. The Florida teams usually play each other during the preseason, but that is not a good barometer to measure how well they do will against each other during the regular season. During the preseason not all starters play, and the roster does change as the season progresses.

During this year’s preseason, the Dolphins defeated the Buccaneers 10-6, but the Buccaneers are looking to put that game and much of this season behind them and feed off the win they earned last week. Last week’s defeat of the Green Bay Packer’s by the Buccaneers was a win that the Buccaneers have been waiting for since last season. The last regular season game the Buccaneers won before last week’s win was November 30, 2008 against the New Orleans Saints. Now that Tampa Bay has a win under their belt they are hoping they have that momentum to lead them into the game against the Miami Dolphins and lead to a win.

Miami comes into this Sunday’s football game with a 3-5 record after suffering a loss at the hand of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. We will have to see what the 1-7 Buccaneers can do tomorrow against the Miami Dolphins.

It is hard to know which team to root for tomorrow. Both teams are special to me. I grew up cheering for the Miami Dolphins and singing the Miami Dolphins #1 song. Now that I have been in Tampa Bay for several years and married to a Tampa native I have become a Tampa Buccaneers fan. I do have to say that I am kind of leaning on the side for the Buccaneers to win so that Buccaneers can improve their record; a 1-7 record isn’t cool and a 2-7 record is not that much better but it is a little better.

Elizabeth Mendez Zambrano, mother of Victor Zambrano, was kidnapped from the family farm in Maracay, Venezuela. Victor Zambrano was pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2001-2004. He is not the only sports figure to have a family member kidnapped. Rockies catcher, Yorvit Torrealba, endured the kidnapping of his son and father in Venezuela as well. Both Torrealba’s son and father were returned and Torrealba then moved his family to the United States. We are praying that the Zambrano family is soon reunited with Elizabeth.

Source: Sports Illustrated

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling the “My Baby Soother” pacifier because the nipple can become unattached from the pacifier base and then cause a choking hazard. Most of these pacifiers were sold for a $1 in New from 2007 to July 2009. If you do happen to have one of these pacifiers you should throw it away immediately. Store should no longer be selling these pacifiers. More information about these recalled pacifiers.

Images of Recalled Pacifiers

Maclaren is recalling strollers because of the hazards it poses to children. 12 children have had their fingertips amputated by the hinges of the strollers when the strollers were being opened. The strollers were sold at many stores including Babies “R” Us, and Target from 1999 to November 2009. The original price tag for these strollers range from $100 to $360. Consumers are urged to discontinue use of the strollers and contact the company for a repair kit.

This recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers. The word “Maclaren” is printed on the stroller. The affected models included Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller. For additional information, contact Maclaren USA toll-free at (877) 688-2326 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.maclaren.us/recall

Images of Some Maclaren Recalled Strollers

Report if you have had a hazardous incident with these strollers

The Consumer Product Safety Commission would like to know if you have had an incident with any of the recalled Maclaren stroller. You can report any hazards you have had with this product or any other products at:
https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

Today the Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed up and showed out. For the first time in 12 games the Buccaneers have won a regular season game. It was a great game for Raheem Morris , Josh Freeman, and the rest of the Buccaneer franchise. Raheem Morris has felt the pressure as a new coach as the losses have piled up all season. Now he can breathe a small sigh of relief after finally getting over the hurdle of winning his first game. The young team that he has been trying to put together is finally coming together. A young quarterback, Josh Freeman, has led the Buccaneers to a win that all of Tampa Bay has been waiting for. He is the youngest starting quarterback in Buccaneer history and the only Buccaneer quarterback to win his first game as a starter. Freeman was the first round draft pick for the Buccaneers in 2009 and in this game he worked to show that he is worthy of the position. Hopefully he can become the long-term Buccaneer franchise quarterback that the Buccaneers have been searching for all these years.

It was an exciting game to watch and the Buccaneers defense, offense, and special teams worked well together to get the Buccaneers their victory 38-28. Congratulations Tampa Bay Buccaneers!!!

The city of St. Petersburg will like its citizens to be a part of choosing the new city song. You can go to http://www.stpete.org/song/song_form.cfm and listen to finalists and then vote for the song should be the new son of St. Petersburg. The deadline for voting is Monday, November 9^th at midnight.

The three song finalists are: “Carry Me Back to St. Petersburg,” by Charlie Souza and The New Tropics; “I’m Off To St. Pete,’ by Bob and Bruce Jacobs; and Jeff Arthur’s “Life’s Sunny & Sweet In St. Pete.” Souza tells the story of leaving St. Petersburg for Hollywood and experiencing a major earthquake before realizing there’s no place like home. Cousins Bob and Bruce Jacobs contrast life in St. Petersburg, where Bob resides, with Bruce’s grittier New York City lifestyle. And Jeff Arthur, a six generation St. Petersburg resident, celebrates the city as a great place to raise a family.

Several Walden Books’ stores will be closing in 2010. In a effort to increase profits, Borders Group which includes Walden Books and Borders, is going to close about 200 Walden Books across the United States. The store closure includes the Walden Books in University Mall in Tampa, and the Walden Books in Lakeland Square Mall.

With the store closings in January, approximately 1,500 positions–the majority of which are part-time jobs–will be eliminated. Employees have been informed of the right-sizing plan and efforts will be made to place qualified individuals in other positions within Borders Group. Displaced employees will receive severance.

The mall-based right-sizing initiative has been ongoing at Borders Group for a number of years as the retailer has closed underperforming Waldenbooks Specialty Retail stores annually as part of its overall turnaround strategy. The company shuttered 112 stores in the segment in fiscal 2008 and from fiscal 2001 through 2007, closed an average of 66 stores per year within the Waldenbooks Specialty Retail segment.

According to the official press release the store closings are not set in stone and actual closures may vary from the list that was originally provided.

These stores are expected to close by the end of January 2010. The list is not final and does not create any obligation by Borders Group with respect to the closure of any specific store. This list is based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information. Actual store closures may differ depending on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, risks related to finalization of third-party agreements, expected cost savings, income tax and other benefits associated with the store closures in the anticipated time frame, if at all.

Three teens were sitting in the parking of Dixie Collins High School in Pinellas County with ninja weapons and ski masks.

When deputies searched the car, they found two ninja throwing stars, a three-bladed circular knife and a ski mask, authorities say.

One of the teens was arrested and charged with having weapons on a school campus. The students said that they were not planning anything and that they were just kidding around in the parking lot. With the amount of school violence that has occurred on school campuses throughout the United Sates, many schools have adopted a zero tolerance policy.

Source: tbo.com

The younger the gestational age of an infant, the more likely it is for the baby to suffer health complications. In the United States one-third of infant deaths have been linked to prematurity. Births that occur when a baby is born at 37 weeks gestation or less are considered premature births.

November marks the 7th Annual Prematurity Awareness Month(R), a time when the March of Dimes focuses the nation’s attention on the growing problem of premature birth (birth before 37 weeks gestation). Later this month, the March of Dimes will issue its 2009 Premature Birth Report Card. The report grades the nation and the states on their preterm birth rates and assesses states’ progress toward improving access to health care coverage for women of childbearing age, helping women quit smoking during pregnancy, and to preventing medically unnecessary c-sections prior to 39 weeks of pregnancy – three criteria that can reduce preterm birth rates.

In the United States, more than 540,000 babies are born too soon each year. Preterm birth is a serious health problem that costs the United States more than $26 billion annually, according to the Institute of Medicine. It is a leading cause of infant death, and babies who survive an early birth often face the risk of lifetime health challenges, including breathing problems, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and others. A March of Dimes report released in October found that 13 million babies worldwide were born preterm, and more than one million die each year.

Contrary to popular belief, not every book is purchased online. Some folks still enjoy going into their neighborhood bookstore to purchase a book. Borders would like to have everything you want in stock, but if they don’t you can order the item and have it shipped for free.

Booksellers have had to contend with a lingering slump as consumers have headed online, especially to Amazon’s web site. Borders has been getting out of categories such as music and putting a greater focus on helping shoppers choose books. It has also cut jobs and inventory.

Borders said it added children’s toys and items geared toward teens, such as Twilight-themed journals and clothing, to attract shoppers for the holiday season.

Source: Reuters

Hillsborough County is making sure abandoned and foreclosed homes remain maintained. We know that abandoned and foreclosed homes can become eyesores in a neighborhood. It is a given that there will be overgrown grass and bushes when no one is living in and maintaining a home. Neighbors are the ones left behind to deal with the problems that may arise. Not only does it not help with the property value of the homes in the area, a visibly abandoned home attract crime. When there is no one home vandals or squatters may choose to enter the home and cause damage.

Areas across the United States, Florida and the Tampa Bay area are creating ordinances to help neighborhoods that have had to deal with the surge in abandoned and foreclosed homes that the bust of the housing bubble has caused.

Hillsborough County will become one of 13 local governments in Florida that have a new foreclosed property registry on their books. The County’s new Property Registration Ordinance becomes effective on Monday, Nov. 2.

The new ordinance requires lending institutions to register all vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties with Hillsborough County Code Enforcement, and provide periodic inspections of the property. Each registration costs the mortgage company $100 per property.

The new ordinance applies only to properties in the unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County, and only pertains to properties that are abandoned or vacant, and are in some stage of foreclosure.

The intent of the Ordinance is to maintain a listing of these properties for periodic inspection to ensure compliance with Hillsborough County’s Property Maintenance Code. Abandoned properties that develop overgrown conditions and have unsecured, accessible structures can lower neighbors’ property values, foster an unsafe and unhealthy environment for children, and are an open invitation to thieves and gangs.

For information, log onto Hillsborough County Code Enforcement on the County’s Web site at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/hcce/ and click on Abandoned Property Registration on top of the page.