Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Win sends ski team searching for sponsors

OLDSMAR - The Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team won the Southern Regional Show Ski Tournament this weekend at Tower Lake behind the Oldsmar Flea Market. The team competed against other amateur ski teams from Alabama, North Carolina, Sarasota, Naples and Gainesville, said Lisa Schmidt, the tournament chairperson.

The win qualifies the team for the national show ski championships, which will be held in Janesville, Wisc. in August. Schmidt said the team would like to go and is looking for sponsors, as it will cost about $30,000 to participate. Weather permitting, the team plans to perform through the summer at 6 p.m. Saturdays, except for this weekend. The shows and parking are free.

The Pinellas County Home Rule Charter was adopted by voters in 1980 and has undergone review every six years by an appointed commission of citizens and elected representatives. The Pinellas County Charter Review Commission will hold a public hearing to gather public input on proposed changes to the Home Rule Charter for inclusion in November's ballot. Interested citizen's can attend from 5-8 p.m. June 28 at 509 East Ave. S, room 211, Clearwater. For more information call 464-3485.

Do you know a youth group looking for funding for a community service project? The 4-H Youth As Resources (4-H YAR) offers grants available to a maximum of $1,000 for any youth group, or individual, in Pinellas County with members up to age 18 who want to help their community.

Some examples of community service programs are assisting the homeless by preparing meals, holding antidrug rallies, designing and planting gardens, or hosting youth rallies. The possibilities are endless as long as the projects are youth initiated and youth led. Free grant writing workshops are available. Applications are due by July 1 and can be downloaded at: http://coop.co.pinellas.fl.us/yar/yarweb.htm

For information, call Mary Barnhart at 582-2103.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County is looking for mentors to participate in their school-based mentoring program to help children improve their reading, literacy and social skills. Sites for the upcoming school year include after-school programs at Belleair, Palm Harbor, Sutherland and Frontier elementary schools. If you are 16 or older, have a valid driver's license for a background check only and would like to mentor a child for one hour a week, call 518-8860 or visit www.bbbspc.org

The Friendship Force of the Florida Suncoast plans cultural exchanges with fellow clubs in Ghana in September and Costa Rica in October. During the exchanges, visiting club members stay in the homes of local families for a week. The club arranges for activities such as a welcoming banquet, picnics, visits to historical sites and Busch Gardens. The club is looking for hosts for about 15 visiting ambassadors for each exchange. Friendship Force has more than 350 clubs worldwide with more than 40,000 members. For more information, call (727) 785-2342.

CLEARWATER - A pediatrician and a family practice nurse practitioner can treat children from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at the Clearwater Free Clinic, 707 N Fort Harrison Ave. The clinic provides this service for children up to age 18 who are not covered by private health insurance or government assisted programs. Its nurse practitioner can see children from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. All children must be with a parent or legal guardian. New pediatric patients must have their birth certificates. For appointments, call 447-3041.