The Pasco County Library System has laptops available at every library branch designated for the completion of online government forms including the Access Florida forms. To find out more about these laptops read this press release

You can click this link to go directly to the Access Florida website.

If you need assistance completing the forms a Department of Children and Families (DCF) representative is available at the Pasco County Health Department in Dade City and the Department of Children and Families offices in New Port Richey.

The Dade City office of the Pasco County Health Department is located at 13941 15th Street, Dade City their telephone number is 352-521-1450.

The DCF office in New Port Richey is located at 7601 Little Road New Port Richey their telephone number is 727-834-3900.

Also, all three Career Central locations have computers dedicated for Access Florida form use. They also have staff that can assist with completing the forms. The Career Central locations are:

Career Central
7361 Forest Oaks Blvd.
Spring Hill, FL 34606
(352) 200-3020

Career Central
6038 Gall Blvd
Zephyrhills, FL 33542
(813) 780-0111

Career Central
4440 Grand Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL 34652
(727) 484-3400

For more information call any branch of the library system.

The Pasco County Library System has laptops available at every library branch designated for the completion of online government forms including the Access Florida forms. To find out more about these laptops read this press release

You can click this link to go directly to the Access Florida website.

If you need assistance completing the forms a Department of Children and Families (DCF) representative is available at the Pasco County Health Department in Dade City and the Department of Children and Families offices in New Port Richey.

The Dade City office of the Pasco County Health Department is located at 13941 15th Street, Dade City their telephone number is 352-521-1450.

The DCF office in New Port Richey is located at 7601 Little Road New Port Richey their telephone number is 727-834-3900.

Also, all three Career Central locations have computers dedicated for Access Florida form use. They also have staff that can assist with completing the forms. The Career Central locations are:

Career Central
7361 Forest Oaks Blvd.
Spring Hill, FL 34606
(352) 200-3020

Career Central
6038 Gall Blvd
Zephyrhills, FL 33542
(813) 780-0111

Career Central
4440 Grand Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL 34652
(727) 484-3400

For more information call any branch of the library system.

Make Money...Make a Difference

The Census Bureau is currently recruiting for thousands of temporary census jobs. You must be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, have a valid social security number, take a written basic skills test, pass a background check, and for field jobs you must have a valid driver's license.

You can call 1-866-861-2010 to schedule an appointment to take the test and apply for a job.

Find more information at the Census Bureau website

On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels. To learn more check out the FCC Digital TV Transition website.

If you currently rely on an antenna and don't want to pay to watch television you will need to obtain a digital to analog converter box.

Between Jan. 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, all U.S. households will be eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes. To obtain the coupon go to the TV Converter Box Coupon website.

Several branches of the Pasco County Public Library System are hosting information sessions about digital TV. For more information check out the library's Calendar of Events or call the library 727.861.3040.

Career Central is a one stop center for Pasco and Hernando county residents seeking a job or changing careers. They will help you in your job search, provide training, and teach you interviewing techniques. Their website Career Central is loaded with tools and information. You can visit one of their three office locations or stop by the
Hudson Library on November 19 and December 10 between 11am and 3pm. For more information call the Hudson Library at 727-861-3040.

There are other one stop career centers throughout Florida. Click on this Workforce Florida link to find the career center near you.

On Veteran's Day we honor all men and women who have served in the armed forces. This day gives us an opportunity to thank them for the sacrifices they have made for our country.

The U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs website is loaded with information such as veteran's benefits, jobs and more. New educational benefits for veterans are available under the Post 9/11 GI Bill you can obtain more information directly about these educational benefits in The Post-9/11 Veteran's Educational Assistance Act of 2008 Fact Sheet.

Election Day is November 4th

For Pasco voter information including a list of polling locations,
visit the Pasco Supervisor of Elections website:
http://www.pascovotes.com

For election results, visit the Florida Division of Elections website:
http://election.dos.state.fl.us

United States Election Assistance Commission website is loaded with information about the election process and is there to answer your questions.
http://www.eac.gov/

The Pasco E-Government crew video taped both the Republican and Democratic vice-presidential rallies at Sims Park in New Port Richey. Stay tuned for video footage from both rallies!

Election Day is November 4th

For Pasco voter information including a list of polling locations,
visit the Pasco Supervisor of Elections website:
http://www.pascovotes.com

For election results, visit the Florida Division of Elections website:
http://election.dos.state.fl.us

United States Election Assistance Commission website is loaded with information about the election process and is there to answer your questions.
http://www.eac.gov/

The Pasco E-Government crew video taped both the Republican and Democratic vice-presidential rallies at Sims Park in New Port Richey. Stay tuned for video footage from both rallies!

Neighborhood Stabilization Program

Communities in Florida, including Pasco County, recently received a Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds will be used to provide emergency assistance to state and local governments so they can purchase foreclosed properties that might be abandoned. These homes can be rehabilitated, resold, or redeveloped. For more information about this program in Florida communities-
http://www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=fl

The Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation is a HUD-approved non-profit organization whose mission is to promote homeownership opportunities to low and moderate income households in the Tampa Bay, Florida area.
For more information visit:
http://www.tampabaycdc.org

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (or "Swiftmud") has extended the once-a-week watering restrictions through February 27, 2009. Even though we have seen better rainfall in the area over the past year, it has not been enough to offset the two-year drought.

For Pasco County residents, you can view the watering schedule here. If you have any questions, check with the Pasco County Utilities Services department. If you live outside of Pasco County or want more information about the watering restrictions, check out www.watermatters.org.

The economy is affecting not only banking and Wall Street executives, but also the average citizen. TBO.com reported yesterday that "the call volume [to the Department of Children and Families' ACCESS Florida line] has risen to 120,000 a day, 40,000 more than a year ago. The number of Floridians using the program is up more than 20 percent statewide and more than 60 percent in some areas."

Do you think you could benefit from food stamps or Medicaid? You can apply online using the ACCESS Florida application.

The flu season is fast approaching. Do you need to get a flu shot? Do you need to find out where to get a flu shot? Do you want to know what the flu outlook is for the 2008-2009 flu season?

Find all this information and much more on the CDC's flu webpage.

Here's to a healthy next few months!

The book closing date of Monday, October 6, 2008 for new Florida voter applicants and party changes is fast approaching for the General Election of Tuesday, November 4, 2008. You can access the forms you need at the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections website or pick up a voter registration form at any Pasco County library.

Election season is often a stressful time, and this year is definitely not an exception. The highly-contested presidential campaign and numerous state and local battles leave many of us with headaches, wondering whom to vote for.

Fortunately, there are a couple of websites that can help you make these important decisions. Project Vote Smart is a largely volunteer, nonprofit organization whose mission is to cut through the mudslinging found in so many political campaigns to uncover the true issues and policies of the candidates.

FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, and is a non-partisan, nonprofit "consumer advocate" for voters, monitoring the factual accuracy of what is claimed by politicians and political players in advertisements, debates, speeches, press releases, and interviews.

Check these sites out and become an informed voter, for the good of the country's future.

From the ACCESS Florida webpage:

The ACCESS Florida Applications will not be available on Thursday, August 28th from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight EST because we will be performing maintenance.

If you are working on an ACCESS application at 8:00 p.m., you will be able to log back into the application after the maintenance is complete - you must have the ACCESS Online Number and password created at the beginning of the process to finish your application.

If you are pre-screening to see if you might be eligible for benefits at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

If you are reporting a change at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

If you are using the Automated Response System to get information regarding the status of a recently completed application at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

If you are using the Platinum Community Partner link to get information regarding the status of a recently completed application at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced yesterday that the Price Gouging Hotline has been activated. Florida residents who suspect price gouging in the face of approaching Tropical Storm Fay should call the hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). For more information, please refer to the Attorney General's website.

Here in Florida we have a wide variety of specialty license plates to choose from. Perhaps you would like to show your support of your favorite Florida sports team or support Florida's natural resources. Maybe you have very strong feelings about a particular social issue. Chances are, Florida has a license plate that reflects your interest. Check out the list on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle's website.

In case you are curious, for the 2007 Fiscal Year, the University of Florida license plate earned the most specialty plate revenue ($2,459,850.00). The Orlando Predators earned the least revenue ($50.00).

The State of Florida's Department of Environmental Protection is making it easier to report suspected environmental crime. Simply dial #DEP from your mobile phone to report an environmental crime.

From the State DEP's website:

What is an Environmental Crime?

Environmental crimes can cause harm to Florida’s environment and put people at risk. These crimes can be defined as the willful or negligent violation of any law or rule enacted to protect the environment or regulate the generation and disposal of waste. Some examples include the illegal disposal of hazardous waste, burning or burying prohibited materials, and unauthorized dredge and fill activity in wetlands.

Members of the Environmental Response Team are specially trained agents.

Violations of environmental laws may not always be obvious. Signs of violations may include:

• Containers or drums that appear to be abandoned (for example, you find them in a forest, along a roadside or otherwise in a place where it appears they do not belong), especially if they are corroded or leaking.
• Discolored and/or stressed, dying plant life.
• Visible sheens on the ground or in the water.
• Foul smelling or strange looking emissions into the air.

Citizens should also be aware of odd activities, such as:

• A truck dumping materials into a manhole or sewer drain.
• A truck unloading drums at odd hours or in odd places.
• A person burying drums on business or residential property.

Early voting in Florida started today! If you live in Pasco County, you can check out a sample ballot and keep track of how many people have voted at the Supervisor of Elections website. If you don't live in Pasco County, check here to find your local Supervisor of Elections office.

If you are a potential victim of the foreclosure crisis, check out the Hope for Homeowners program, recently signed into law. Keep in mind, however, that this program does not begin until October 1, 2008, so try to keep your head above water until then!

If, on the other hand, you are concerned about the recent bank failures, ease your mind by checking the Failed Bank List here. If you have an account in a failed bank, you can check to see whether your account is fully insured by the FDIC here.

It's hard to believe it's already Back-to-School time! The federal government has some excellent resources for parents to help prepare their children for scholastic success. Check it out!

Helping Your Child Succeed in School -- Helping Your Child Series

Consumer Focus: Back to School

First Day of Preschool/Kindergarten

You may be eligible for additional unemployment compensation above and beyond the usual 13 weeks. Check out the Agency for Workforce Innovation's article to find out more, or visit their website at www.fluidnow.com.

You've probably all heard by now that tomatoes are no longer believed to be the culprit in the recent Salmonella outbreak. The FDA is currently recommending that individuals who may be at increased risk of infection (including the elderly, infants, and those with suppressed immune systems) should avoid eating jalapeno and serrano peppers.

Read all about it on the FDA's webpage.

If you want to vote in the August 26 primary election or if you want to change your party affiliation for this election, you must do so on or before the book closing date of July 28.

Pasco County FL Supervisor of Elections - Complete an Application

If you are not interested in voting in the August Primary, you have until October 6, 2008 to register to vote or to change your party affiliation for the November 4 General Election.

The FDA recently notified the manufacturers of fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drugs such as Cipro, Factive, Levaquin, Avelox, Noroxin and Floxin of the need to add a boxed warning to their medications advising of the increased risk of developing tendinitis and tendon rupture in patients taking these drugs. For complete information, please refer to the FDA Alert below:

Information for Healthcare Professionals: Fluoroquinolone Antimicrobial Drugs

I am pleased to announce that the Pasco County Clerk of Courts is now offering searchable Criminal Court records on their website! This replaces a very outdated system known as CJIS, which was only available to subscribers via a dial-up modem or through an MS-DOS terminal at the clerk's office.

You can reach the disclaimer here. Scroll down and click on "I Agree" to access the search form.

The Florida Legislature recently passed a law called the "Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008". Curious as to whether this applies to you or your place of business? Check out the full text of the law via this link:
Ch_2008-007.pdf (application/pdf Object)

The IRS is looking for the millions of people who did not file a tax return and have not received stimulus rebates to which they are entitled. You can help! Do you have retired friends or family members who don't usually have to file a tax return? Ask if they did this year, and let them know they may have some money coming to them!

People have until October 15 to file in order to receive a stimulus payment. Find out more at www.irs.gov.

We've all heard about the outbreak of salmonella believed to have been caused by tainted tomatoes. Want to know which tomatoes are safe to eat? The FDA has a webpage dedicated to the current tomato crisis.

If you receive Social Security benefits and currently receive a paper check, the Social Security Administration would like you to consider their debit card instead. This card will work like any other debit card and will be accepted in ATM's and anywhere MasterCard is accepted. Read the following article for more information:

U.S. pushes debit cards for Social Security payouts - St. Petersburg Times

The Social Security Administration can be found online at www.socialsecurity.gov.

The following ACCESS Florida Online Applications will not be available, Wednesday June 11th, from 8:00 pm until 11:00 pm EST due to implementation of changes to the Intake Management System:

Web Application
ESS Online applications
Reported Change System
Web ARU
Pre-screening
Platinum Partner
KidCare

Gas prices keep going up and up, as does the temperature these days. If commuting by foot, by bike, or by public transportation doesn't work for you, you are probably interested in getting better mileage from your vehicle. One great resource for researching fuel mileage is the Fuel Economy website, brought to you by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This site not only offers comparisons of gas mileage, but also has a link for you to find the lowest gas prices in your area and tips to better your gas mileage.

If you live in or near Pasco County, consider coming to one of the upcoming E-Government Computer Skills classes! These classes will teach you how to navigate the Internet to find government services online and will outline the most popular government services, like food stamp and unemployment applications.

Attendance is limited, so call and sign up for a class today! Locations, dates and times can be found in our current Calendar of Events.

Hope to see you there!

A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that less than 20% of children between the ages of 4 and 9 years old were properly restrained in a booster seat when riding in a vehicle.

I'm sure most of you are aware that infants need to be in the backseat in a rear-facing car seat until they are approximately 1 year old, then they can be buckled in to a forward-facing car seat (still in the back seat) until they outgrow it, usually at around 40 pounds or 4 years old. After this, they still need a booster seat until they are 4'9" tall (usually around 9 years old). All the requirements and recommendations can be found here.

And remember, the back seat is the safest place for kids up to 13 years old!

Have you ever wondered what kind of thought processes went on when making decisions about how the security in airports are handled? Got a beef over how long it takes to get through the security checkpoints? Then you might want to take a look at TSA's blog. It covers hot button issues and topics of interest for those jetsetters out there.

Want to know where your stimulus payment is? The IRS website now has a tool to let you know when your payment will be sent to you. Just click here and answer the questions. You will need to have:

• Your social security number;
• Your 2007 filing status (i.e. Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.); and
  
• The number of exemptions you claimed on your 2007 return (not the same as # of dependents).

Do you need help with the ACCESS Florida online application? Try their online tutorial. It is based on the old application, but the content (what you need to apply, etc.) is the same.

Starting with the August 2008 election, Pasco County will be using optical scan machines to record votes. Check your mailbox for a brochure outlining the new voting system, and check out the new system at one of these Supervisor of Elections office demonstrations.

If you need a little more time to get your paperwork to Uncle Sam, use this form. If you get this to the IRS by the regular due date of your return (April 15, for most of us), then you get an automatic 6-month extension to get your paperwork in.

Owe money? Then you should pay as much of it as you can to the IRS by April 15 to minimize your penalties and interest. The Automatic Extension of Time to File does not equal an extension of time to pay.

If you live in Florida and need to know where to mail your tax forms, which are due TOMORROW, by the way, here you go (straight from the IRS website)...

Want to know more about the newly-designed $5 bill? Want to know what happens to old money? Would you like to trade out damaged currency for the kind you can spend?

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing's website gives you answers to these questions and much more!

If you are in the Suncoast Region (DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties) and you want to go to a brick-and-mortar DCF office, you can find a listing of DCF service center locations here. If you need general information or information about the status of your application, you can try the automated telephone service at 1-866-76ACCESS (1-866-762-2237).

The IRS has posted the schedule for disbursing the stimulus payment checks. The schedule is based on the last two digits of the primary filer's Social Security number and is as follows:

DIRECT DEPOSIT

PAPER CHECK

According to DCF's ACCESS Florida site, the ACCESS Florida application will not be available tonight, Wednesday, March 5, from 8:00 p.m. until midnight ET. When it comes back online, it will be a new and (I'm assured) improved application.

Having a problem with unsolicited junk text messages or e-mail coming to your cell phone or wireless device? You can file an online complaint with the FCC using their Form 1088.

The FCC's website also offers other complaint forms for everything from DoNotCall list violations to obscene content complaints.

If you are looking for information on how to apply for food stamps in states other than Florida, refer to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food & Nutrition Service Food Stamp Program site. Click on the desired state, and you will receive links to the individual state's food stamp program as well as contact information for food stamp outreach programs in that state.

Florida's food stamp application can be found at ACCESS Florida's website.

The new online application for ACCESS Florida is scheduled to go live on Wednesday, March 5. It was previously reported that the new application would up and running on Friday, February 29, but the date was recently changed by the Department of Children and Families.

All online applications should be e-signed by March 5. Those applications not e-signed by that date will be purged and the applicants will need to complete a new application.

Do you have children but no health insurance for them? Perhaps you are unemployed, self-employed, or you just can't afford to add children to your employer's insurance plan.

Florida KidCare may be the answer for you! Florida KidCare provides health insurance coverage for uninsured children under 19 years of age. Eligibility is based on your child's age and your household income. Enrollment is open year-round.

Have you heard about the economic stimulus package? This is the program that will send payments ranging from $300 to $1,200 to over 130 million Americans beginning in May.

Most Americans will automatically receive their checks, as they will be sent to those who submit a 2007 income tax return. Those low-income workers and recipients of Social Security and certain Veteran's benefits who made at least $3,000 and are not usually required to file income taxes will need to do so in order to receive the stimulus payments. More details, including telephone numbers for agencies providing help in preparing tax returns, can be found here.

Have you heard about the Next Big Thing in television broadcasting? As of February 17, 2009, full-power television broadcasters will switch from analog to all-digital broadcasting. What does this mean for you at home?

If you receive your television signal for free using t.v. or rooftop antennas, you will need to make sure that you either:

a. Purchase a digital-to-analog converter box;
b. Subscribe to a cable or satellite provider; or
c. Purchase a television with a digital tuner

before the 2/17/2009 transition date. Find out more information here.

If you are interested in purchasing a converter box, there is a coupon program available. Coupons may also be requested via telephone at 1-888-388-2009.

Take steps now to make sure your television coverage doesn't lapse later!

According to the DCF website, the ACCESS Florida website will be changing as of February 29, 2008.

What does this mean for you if you are a DCF customer? You will need to make sure you have an electronic signature on file with DCF prior to February 29, 2008. Any applications that are not electronically signed by that date will need to be resubmitted.

Confused about how to vote on Amendment 1 - the property tax amendment? This section of the Tallahassee Democrat's website has a breakdown of how the amendment will affect different types of people - from young families to empty nesters, snowbirds to government employees.

Are you doing your taxes and discovering you owe the government a lot more than you can pay at one time? You can set up a payment plan online at the IRS's website.

Spread out the payments and stress less on April 15!