The Laker/Lutz News

Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Adding safety, security and savings to holiday shopping

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‘Tis the season of comfort and joy — unless you are trying to complete your holiday shopping in these pandemic-induced, economically shaky times.

Then, it’s more like the season of stress.

The good news is that with proper preparation, precautions and common sense, things can run much more efficiently.

Taynisha Berenguer, of the Hillsborough County Public Library System, recently presented a webinar loaded with valuable information about saving money and avoiding scams during the holiday season. (Courtesy of Taynisha Berenguer)

And, you might even save some money along the way.

That’s the word from Taynisha Berenguer, a library service/technology guide with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.

She recently shared a wealth of information in a webinar entitled: “Holiday Shopping: Safely, Securely, Sensibly.’’

“I know it’s a cliche, but shopping during the ‘new normal’ has a whole array of things to consider, and there are plenty of other things that you always need to think about,’’ she said.

Here’s how Berenguer broke it down:

The Basics
Any good shopping expedition needs a plan. That’s where budgeting applies. Even when they have a sound budget, shoppers often overlook the holiday incidentals — such as tape and wrapping paper, Berenguer said.

Research is essential, especially with so many online options.

The pandemic has mandated some creative thinking.

“You need to think outside the box … and by that, I mean it’s really easy to think about just the Big Three — Amazon, Walmart and Target,’’ Berenguer said. “There are a bunch of other retailers out there, along with many small local businesses. These are places to find some good buys and maybe find something really cool.

“If you’re going to the brick-and-mortar store, make sure that store is open. Some may be offering curbside service. You’ve got to have your hand sanitizer and mask. You should research the busy times, especially if you want to avoid crowds.

“Whether you’re online or in person, be ready for shortages and delays. There are issues finding gifts and even the necessities of daily life. You’ve got to be ready for an item not to be there. With everyone shipping everything, be prepared for delays and other issues.’’

Saving Your Money
Who doesn’t want to save money? It can be as easy as doing extensive Google searches, especially on big-ticket electronic items to unearth competitive prices and deals.

“Black Friday’’ is no longer just one day. Now it lasts for weeks. Major retailers everywhere are offering deep discounts that will linger through the holidays.

“You should look into price-tracking apps and coupon apps because there are a ton of them out there,’’ Berenguer said. “Price-tracking apps can help you compare prices with all the major retailers and maybe some others that you hadn’t considered. There are lots of coupons out there and they add up. You just have to seek them out.

“Also remember to use your credit card and store loyalty programs. Those points add up and sometimes we forget about them. If you keep up with those, it can significantly lower the cost of your purchases. But, you’ve got to stay organized.’’

Saving Your Sanity
If you don’t have your holiday shopping wrapped up before Thanksgiving, you must exercise patience, planning and good humor.

To avoid frustration, check shipping timelines before your purchase. There’s always a backlog at the holidays — but especially during the pandemic.

“Most retailers are good about establishing the timelines and letting you know about potential delays,’’ Berenguer said. “If you don’t need it to get there by Christmas, keep in mind that you could ask for a discount on the shipping.

“Be aware of the return policies. One of the biggest hang-ups on returns for gifts are people who don’t have the receipt. Keep all your emails concerning the purchase because it’s the same thing as a paper receipt. And, if you’re just not sure what to buy someone — that can be stressful, too — gift cards are always a good option. It can be for a local shop, an experience. Sometimes, people value experiences over products.’’

Safety And Security
It’s not just about masks and hand sanitizers. When it comes to holiday shopping, you need protection from the proliferation of scams.

“People are finding more inventive ways to take your money,’’ Berenguer said. “You can’t forget that when you’re shopping.’’

That applies when doing your research.

“Carefully consider the online reviews,’’ Berenguer said. “Not all are honest. Companies buy fake positive reviews. Competing companies buy fake negative reviews. You’ve got to vet them, read between the lines and look at a lot of them to pick up on patterns.

“Also, be very skeptical of social media ads. You will see really deep discounts popping up on your Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Be wary. Sometimes, these products don’t even exist. If someone is trying to sell you a $700 television for $100, and it seems too good to be true, it probably is.’’

Berenguer cautioned to only shop on secure Web sites (look for the https:// prefix, which indicates that your data is secure and not out there for all to see).

“Your data is extremely valuable in this day and age,’’ Berenguer said. “You have to safeguard that data. You probably notice these very targeted ads on your social media accounts. Companies want to find out about you and what you are purchasing.

“You have to be proactive. Make sure you always update your safety features. Change your passwords. Don’t volunteer information or data. They want access to your location, your data, your microphone — and you should immediately say no to all of that.’’

Berenguer said it’s wise to use intermediate payment methods — such as PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay — in order to have a firewall between the retailer and your credit card information. You shouldn’t keep your payment information stored on any retail sites for convenience — even reliable ones — because any site can be hacked.

“My rule of thumb is give the least amount of data as possible,’’ Berenguer said. “When you sign up for coupons or take surveys, your information will be aggregated and you’ll get ads you don’t want. I use a secondary email and call it my junk email. I give a fake last name. You’re not obligated to provide this information and if you are pressured to do so, I would carefully consider whether you want to use that service. You have to protect your interests because no one else is going to do that.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published December 16, 2020

Book captures Dade City’s history through photographs

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When visitors drop by downtown Dade City, its stately historic courthouse, unique shops and good restaurants likely will impress them.

But there’s so much more to Dade City’s story, and Madonna Jervis Wise has captured that through 200 photographs of the people and places in this city that initially was known as Fort Dade.

Downtown Dade City, during the 1940s, was a thriving hub of activity. (Courtesy of Madonna Jervis Wise)
Downtown Dade City, during the 1940s, was a thriving hub of activity.
(Courtesy of Madonna Jervis Wise)

Wise began working on the volume about a year ago. She’d done another book called “Zephyrhills” for Arcadia Publishing, and the South Carolina publisher approached her to see if she had an interest in writing a book about Dade City.

Wise wasn’t sure initially if she wanted to take it on. But her family encouraged her to pursue the opportunity, and Wise decided to meet with some local leaders to see if they’d like to have a book about their community published.

John Moors, the executive director of the Dade City Chamber of Commerce, greeted the idea with enthusiasm and set up a meeting for Wise with the city’s development director. She also met with the Dade City Preservation Advisory Board, which encouraged her to write the book and provided invaluable suggestions, she said.

Wise said her husband Ernie played an instrumental role, too.

The book includes photographs of everything from old railroad depots to stately homes, from ballet dancers to orange packers. It includes photographs of the sons and daughters of Dade City, who shaped the community and played an instrumental role in Pasco County and beyond.

“Dade City is a rich historical hub,” Wise said. “For many, many decades, this county was run by Pasco High graduates.”

The book showcases the community’s diversity, covering the history of the African-American community and its migrant farmworkers.

Wise used information and photographs she gleaned from a multitude of sources. Jeff Miller of the West Pasco Historical Society provided about 3,000 photos for her to consider from his collection.

She also used photos from the collections of Helen Eck Sparkman and of Oliver and Barbara DeWitt, who provided them to Eddie Herrmann, one of the authors of “The Historic Places of Pasco County.”

The Pasco County Genealogical Society and the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System’s Genealogical Collection, as well as the librarians, were invaluable resources for the work as well, Wise said.

She used photographs from The Memory Project, produced by the Florida government.

The book’s photographs convey the city’s history through its people, residences, churches, social and civic clubs, and commerce. It points out that Pasco Packing, later known as Lykes Pasco, was the largest orange packing plant in the world, in the days before freezes, blight and development wiped out much of Florida’s citrus industry.

The photographs also show homes of early residents, with many of the structures still standing today.

“My husband photographed many of the houses,” Wise said, noting some of the photos had to be taken more than once, to be sure that alarm signs and air conditioners didn’t show up in the frame.

When they were out in the neighborhoods taking the photographs, people would approach them and ask what they were doing, Wise said. When she told them about the book, she said, “they would add other pieces to the story. It was great. It was just great.”

The actual work of culling photographs, writing captions and arranging the layout was a gargantuan task. But Wise enjoyed learning about Dade City’s history and spending time with the people who helped on the project.

Besides Herrmann, other primary sources included William G. Dayton and J. Thomas Touchton.

“I probably talked to Eddie (Herrmann) nearly every day,” Wise said. “And Bill is a real storyteller. He can give you the feel for the different eras. He knew a lot of the inside of what was going on.”

Touchton, a Dade City native and leader of the effort to establish The Tampa Bay History Center, also provided valuable insights, she said. Touchton has an international reputation for the collection of maps he’s acquired, and has fond recollections of Dade City.

“He told me the most fabulous stories about growing up there,” she said.

As she conducted her research, Wise was struck by the realization that Dade City remains a cohesive community, something that’s not all that common in the 21st century.

As people page through the volume, Wise hopes it will inspire them to learn more about Dade City.

“The book is intended to be an invitation to learn more about Dade City and serve as an enticement to walk through Church Avenue, visit the historic courthouse, dine in a vintage café, or visit the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village,” Wise writes in the acknowledgements section of the book. “History must be shared to pass it on to the next generation.”

If you go …
WHAT: Author Madonna Jervis Wise will offer some remarks regarding her new book, ‘Images of America, Dade City’
WHERE: Historic Pasco County Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave., Dade City
WHEN: Oct. 4, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
DETAILS: Other speakers at the event will include Pasco County commissioner Pat Mulieri, Dade City councilman Scott Black, Trilby historian Angelo Liranzo, and J. Thomas Touchton, founding board member of the Tampa Bay History Center

Published September 24, 2014

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