Learn How To Make Your Community Better at This Year's Neighborhood Conference

Want to start a neighborhood crime watch? Start a fire prevention education workshop for your neighborhood? Or build an outdoor garden?

Learn how to do these things, plus more at this year's Hillsborough County Neighborhoods Conference. This marks the 9th year of the annual event.

The event began because "The Board of County Commissioners wanted to create a venue where neighborhood leaders could strengthen our community by coming together to network, share ideas, and develop strategies for making our communities healthier, safer and more attractive," said Wanda Sloan, with the county's Office of Neighborhood Relations.

This year's conference will be held at Hillsborough Community College. Speakers include Pat DePlasc with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Major J.R. Burton with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Jim Blinck with Hillsborough County Code Enforcement, plus many more.

This year's title is "Connecting Neighbor to Neighbor." Conference goers will be able to choose from 24 one-hour informational workshops including:

• Painting your home inside and out
• Building an outdoor garden
• Identity theft
• Safety and security inside a gated community
• Fire safety in your home
• Keeping your neighborhood informed through social media
• Making your Neighborhood Crime Watch program successful

Conference goers can register early until March 22 and pay $15. Registration at the door on the day of the event is $20. The registration fee includes an official Conference tote bag, a continental breakfast, and admission to the workshops, access to Conference exhibits, and the awards luncheon.  The 2012 Neighborhood Recognition Awards will be given at 1 p.m. at the luncheon.

Pre-register for the Conference at the Neighborhood Relations website at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/onr or by calling the Hillsborough County Office of Neighborhood Relations at 813-307-3564.