Actor to be auctioned off at charity fashion show
By Times Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2005
BELLEAIR - Walt Willey, who portrays Jackson Montgomery on the soap opera "All My Children," will host a fashion show from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 12. at the Belleview Biltmore Resort & Spa, 25 Belleview Blvd., Belleair. Willey will present a comedy act, and he also will be "auctioned off" for a dinner. The cost is $45 per person, which will benefit All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg. Reservation deadline is Feb. 1. The event is sponsored by the Daughters of Penelope, Clearwater-Pelias Chapter 186. For information, call Patti at 595-1294 or Joanne at 785-2358.
Clearwater ice-skating show to benefit tsunami victims
CLEARWATER - A figure-skating show to benefit tsunami victims will be held at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy's ice rink at Westfield Shoppingtown Countryside Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. The show, "Children Helping Children," includes a lineup of local skaters as well as 1992 Olympic bronze medalist Petr Barna. Actor Crystal Hunt, who plays Lizzie Spaulding on the daytime drama "Guiding Light," will sign autographs. Representatives from the American Red Cross will collect donations for tsunami relief efforts.
Volunteers invited to Paint Your Heart OutSAFETY HARBOR - Volunteers are being sought for the 2005 Paint Your Heart Out Safety Harbor Paint Day. Program volunteers can sign up individually or as a team, but must be at least 14 years of age to participate. The event, in which volunteers will help beautify a home in Safety Harbor for those who have financial or physical limitations, will be March 12. All contributions to the nonprofit Paint Your Heart Out are tax deductible. Call Karen Sammons at 724-1555, ext 406.
Literacy Council offers help to improve EnglishThe Literacy Council of Upper Pinellas has certified tutors available to teach individuals who wish to learn English or those who need to improve their reading and writing skills. Sessions are free and hours are flexible. For information call the Literacy Council at the Dunedin Public Library, 298-3080 ext 242.
Registration open for men's basketball leagueThe Dunedin Recreation Division is offering a basketball league for men ages 18 and older at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 550 Laura Lane. The eight-game season begins Feb. 3. The cost is $200 per team if everyone has a recreation card or $250 without one. Call 738-2920.
Toastmasters to offer public speaking workshopDo you get nervous when making presentations or speeches? Toastmasters will hold a public speaking workshop beginning at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 7 at the King Buffet Restaurant, 7610 49th St. N., Pinellas Park. The workshop will last for six sessions. Fee is $20 to cover cost of materials. For information and registration, contact Jim Martin at 536-3392 or Carol Craddick at 399-8092, or visit www.learnearnprosper.com
Clearwater High's class of 1980 plans reunionClearwater High School's class of 1980 is planning its 25-year reunion for Aug. 5 and 6 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. Members of the class are asked to visit www.clearwaterhigh.com for more information or e-mail reunion@clearwaterhigh.com
Used eyeglasses sought to help those in needCLEARWATER - Used eyeglasses can be dropped off at the Vision Center in the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 23106 U.S. 19 N in Clearwater. The glasses will be given to the needy. Glasses can be mailed to Gary Benson, in care of the Lions Club, 1856 Cameo Way, Clearwater FL 33756.
Those who are HIV-positive and need glasses can call the AIDS Community Project at 449-2437.
Elder affairs program in need of volunteersThe Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a division of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, is a statewide volunteer program that advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
The program needs volunteers in Pinellas County. Anyone can apply, but the program needs specialized volunteers such as pharmacists, elder law attorneys, registered dietitians, social workers, nurses, physicians and individuals of all cultural backgrounds. Fluency in multiple languages is a plus. The Governor's Office approves each applicant. Training is provided to investigate complaints and conduct inspections of facilities.
Call toll-free at 1-888-831-0404.
Knights of Columbus serve up fish fry dinnersThe Knights of Columbus Council 3580, at 512 S Lincoln Ave., Clearwater, will hold a fish fry from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Friday through March 18. Dinners are $5.95. For information, call 726-6964.
AARP tax team seeking volunteers through AprilAARP Tax-Aide needs volunteers for its tax preparation team. The organization serves low- to middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older. They have 44 preparation sites throughout Pinellas County. Volunteers receive IRS-certified training and are reimbursed for all expenses. Volunteers are required to serve a minimum of four hours a week from Feb. 1 to April 15. For information, call Diane Hernan at 544-1754.
Men's chorus offers to sing, present valentineThe Palm Harbor Crystal Aires, a local men's chorus, will send a quartet to visit a special Valentine anywhere in Pinellas or Pasco County. The quartet will sing three classic love songs and present the Valentine with a silk rose and elegant parchment scroll to commemorate the occasion. Singing Valentines are available Feb. 12 through Feb. 14 for as little as $35. Quartets are limited, so reserve in advance.
The Palm Harbor Crystal Aires is a nonprofit charitable organization supporting the Palm Harbor Senior Center as well as national programs to encourage youth singing in America.
For information or to schedule a singing valentine, call Joe Roan at (727) 772-7043 or Tom Small at (727) 786-0721.
Coast Guard Auxiliary offers several coursesThe Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering public education programs throughout the year. Courses will be on boating and sailing fundamentals, using a global positioning system, chart reading and navigation. Programs are at the Clearwater Sailing Center, 1001 Gulf Blvd., Sand Key.
For information, call 469-8895 or visit www.uscgaux.org/
0701101/PublicEducationPrograms.htm. Literacy Council needs volunteer tutorsThe Literacy Council of Upper Pinellas needs volunteer tutors to teach basic literacy and English as a second language to individuals who need to improve their reading and writing skills. Volunteers are given free training classes.
For information, call the Literacy Council at Dunedin Public Library, 298-3080, ext. 242.
Business analyst offering help sessions in DunedinDUNEDIN - The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce is hosting free and confidential sessions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month. Albert Lee, Pinellas area manager and certified business analyst for the University of South Florida's Small Business Development Center, will run the sessions at the chamber, 301 Main St.
Lee can address questions about starting or expanding a business, marketing, finances and funding, human resources and more. The hourlong sessions are open to anyone. To make an appointment, call the chamber at 733-3197.
Community chorus seeking performersThe Sunshine State Chorus, a volunteer community chorus under the direction of Robert Drick, wants performers to join its 2005 concert tour of Ireland from May 22 to 31. Drick is the director of music at Pasadena Community Church.
The chorus has traveled to Italy, Austria, Germany and Scotland. Scheduled performances include Christ's Church and St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. The guided tour includes all airfare and hotel accommodations as well as two meals a day and tour arrangements made through Music Celebrations International LLC.
Students and adults are needed. Rehearsals are held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Largo.
For information, call tour coordinator Michael Vetter at 738-0138.
Volunteers requested for child mentoring programGulf Coast Community Care's Adopt-A-Grandchild program is seeking volunteers 30 and older who can commit at least four hours a week for as much as a year to work with carefully selected children who have dealt with abuse, neglect or family disruption.
Volunteers are given formal orientation and training before being matched with a child. Once matched, volunteers are encouraged to engage in a variety of activities with the child.
Adopt-A-Grandchild also sponsors group activities for the children and volunteers, including an annual picnic, bowling party, holiday party and other fun group activities. For information or to become a volunteer, call Dick Perrier at 538-7460, ext. 3085.
Palm Harbor pantry seeks volunteer to write grantsFEAST, a nonprofit food pantry in Palm Harbor, is seeking an experienced volunteer grant writer. The organization serves more than 1,400 families monthly. For information, call Walter Anderson at 789-5275.
Italian-American Club offers dinner dancesCLEARWATER - The Italian-American Club of Greater Clearwater, 200 McMullen-Booth Road, has a pasta dinner and dancing every Tuesday. Dinner at the club begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dancing until 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 for members and $8 for nonmembers.
The club puts on dinner-dances from 5:30 to 11 p.m. every other Saturday. Cost is $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers. The club is now accepting new members.
For information, call 791-8698 or go to the club's Web page at www.iacgc.freewebspace.com
Children's Home Society needs mentors for kidsChildren's Home Society of Florida, 2731 13th Ave. N in St. Petersburg, has received a federal grant for the MODEL Mentoring Program.
The program is designed to provide mentors for children ages 4-14 who have an incarcerated parent. The mentoring services will be provided in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Mentors must be at least 21 years of age, reside in the same county as the children, complete eight hours of training per year, and commit to a one-hour meeting weekly for one year. Activities should take place in the local community and can consist of taking a walk at the park or the beach, going to a movie, assisting with homework, going to the library, and most of all, having fun.
Children who receive services from mentoring programs show improvements in school, social behaviors, and are less likely to use drugs and alcohol.
Call (727) 552-1482.