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Speaker shares family's contributions to county

By TIMES WIRES
Published September 24, 2006

TARPON SPRINGS - Jill Noblit MacGregor, descendant of Tarpon Springs pioneer Granville Edwin Noblit Sr., is scheduled to be the featured speaker at this week's meeting of the Tarpon Springs Area Historical Society.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Historical Society Train Depot Museum, 160 E Tarpon Ave.

MacGregor will discuss the early history of Tarpon Springs, the establishment of Pinellas as a county separate from Hillsborough County, and the role in that move played by her great-grandfather, G.E. Noblit Sr.

MacGregor's interest in her family's rich heritage began several years ago when she portrayed her great-grandmother in the Historical Society's annual cemetery tour. Her research for that role has led her to write a book about the early families who settled the area. Titled Once Upon a Bayou, the book will be published shortly in hardcover with more than 90 photographs from the historical society's archives and private collections.

MacGregor has developed an exhibit on some of the themes of her book. The exhibit will be on display at the Historical Society Depot Museum on Sept. 28 and then will move to Heritage Museum at Craig Park.

The program is free and open to the public.

Call 727 943-4624.

Palm Harbor native offers stories from the olden days

EAST LAKE - Winona Jones, retiring director of the North Pinellas Historical Museum, will talk about growing up in rural Palm Harbor when the Palm Harbor Newcomers Alumnae and Friends meets for lunch at 11 a.m. Oct. 5.

The lunch will be held at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club, 1055 East Lake Woodlands Parkway.

Guests are welcome. The cost is $15 and the deadline for reservations is Sept. 29. Call (727) 784-3386.

Hocus Pocus Ball to stir up fun, funds for downtown

PALM HARBOR - Old Palm Harbor's first Hocus Pocus Ball is scheduled for 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 27.

This costume-themed ball will be held at Old Palm Harbor Main Street's Harbor Hall, 1190 Georgia Ave.

The event will feature music, prizes for best costumes, door prizes, food and a cash bar. Costumes are strongly encouraged but not required.

Tickets are $25 per person prior to the event and $35 per person at the door. A total of 200 tickets are available.

For tickets or more information, call Kathy Govola at (727) 787-4700 or e-mail ophms@verizon.net Proceeds benefit Old Palm Harbor Main Street, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the redevelopment of historic downtown Palm Harbor.

Brooker Creek center holds programs on art, nature

EAST LAKE - The Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, is offering the following programs:

- Florida Undiscovered: The Wildlife Art of Peter Gerbert. On exhibit through Saturday. Gerbert's acrylic paintings capture wildlife and their habitats in realistic detail.

- World Rivers Day Fest, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 30, will highlight waterways at the Brooker Creek Preserve and show practical ways for residents to step lightly in the ecosystem.

The ribbon will be cut to celebrate the new bridges and boardwalk over Brooker Creek and trails will be open.

Live music, demonstrations, children's activities and refreshments will be available. The event is free and for all ages.

Call (727) 453-6800.

How do you want your pennies for Pinellas spent?

PALM HARBOR - Pinellas County officials have scheduled a community forum to give North Pinellas residents a chance to say how they would prioritize projects if the Penny for Pinellas sales tax is extended next year.

The forum is scheduled for 4 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Palm Harbor Community Activity Center, 1500 16th St.

On March 13, voters will be asked to renew the tax, which has been in place for nearly two decades.

The proposed renewal of the Penny would be expected to generate almost $2-billion.

Penny revenues are shared by Pinellas County government and the county's 24 municipalities.

For information about the Penny for Pinellas, go to www.pinellas county.org/penny. To book a Penny speaker for your community group, call (727) 464-3000.

Help synagogue, church cook for, feed the hungry

TARPON SPRINGS - Congregation B'nai Emmunah, a Reform Jewish synagogue, 3374 Keystone Road, works with Mount Moriah AME Church, 722 S Disston Ave., to feed the hungry on Sundays. More volunteers are needed. They meet at 2:30 p.m. at the Tarpon Springs church to prepare a meal they serve from 4 to 5 p.m. Call (727) 938-9000.

Haiti assistance group needs contributions

PALM HARBOR - For Haiti With Love, a nonprofit organization that provides free homes for the homeless in northern Haiti as well as a free emergency medical program and food for the hungry, needs tax-deductible cash contributions to be used for bulk purchasing of medical supplies and food.

For information, call (727) 938-3245 or mail contributions to For Haiti With Love, P.O. Box 1017, Palm Harbor, FL 34683.

View Lebanese-American artist's work at center

TARPON SPRINGS - The art of Lebanese-American painter Omar Zaidan remains on display at the Tarpon Springs Cultural Center, 101 S Pinellas Ave., through Saturday.

After the exhibit opened on July 8, Zaidan, 54, an American citizen who splits his time between Holiday and Lebanon, returned to Lebanon to reopen his cafe he operates during the tourist season and was caught in the fighting.

Hours for the free exhibit are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Call (727) 942-5605.

Water skiing team performs show for free

OLDSMAR - The Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team will perform a free show at 6 p.m. Sept. 30 on Tower Lake.

Tower Lake is behind the Oldsmar Flea Market. To get to the show from Tampa Road, go north on Race Track Road, left on Douglas Road and left at the small ski team sign.

The show and parking are free, and there's a covered grandstand area. Call (727) 397-8904 or (813) 265-9685.

County asks that phone books be recycled

Pinellas residents recently received new phone books, and county officials would like to see the old ones hit the recycling bins.

County residents discard more than 2-million phone books annually, according to Pinellas County Utilities, and recycling those will conserve landfill space and resources.

Last year, residents crowded around the recycling bins at John Chesnut Sr. Park the day the location of the bin was published in this column. It is hoped that residents will repeat that effort this year.

From East Lake Road, turn west on Sandy Point Road. The bins are on the left, on the northern edge of the park.

Guide lists opportunities for girls to volunteer at agencies

The Girls Guide to Giving is a directory of nonprofit agencies throughout Pinellas County offering volunteer opportunities.

Groups of young women can participate in projects such as peer interaction, service learning and "how to" projects.

The guide lists agencies, contact information, group capacities and minimum age requirements and is available online at www.211tampabay.org or by calling (727) 210-4233, ext. 4557.

Dog Training Club offers variety of training classes

CLEARWATER - The Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club, a nonprofit organization, offers beginning through advanced classes in agility, clicker training, conformation, junior handling, obedience and puppy kindergarten.

The club also offers trials and provides opportunities to show your dog. The air-conditioned indoor club, 2101 Logan St., is near the Long Center. Call (727) 449-8738 or visit www.usdtc.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters group needs volunteers

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County seeks volunteers willing to spend as little as an hour a week with local children who need mentors.

Volunteers must be at least 18 and have a valid driver's license.

For information, call (727) 518-8860 or visit www.bbbspc.org.

As part of the state's mentoring initiative, some employers allow an hour or so per week of administrative leave for employees to mentor.

Visit www.volunteerfloridafoundation.org to find out more about the program.

Aquatic classes can help with physical ailments

PALM HARBOR - Physiotherapy Associates, 35111 U.S. 19 N, Suite 100, offers aquatic classes for those with arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, and chronic back and neck pain. The classes, approved by the Arthritis Foundation, are also appropriate for those with diabetes, post-rehabilitation needs or weight-loss requirements. Classes are conducted as part of a nonprofit program. They take place in a heated indoor pool and offer range of motion, flexibility and strengthening exercises.

Participants do not need to know how to swim. To register or for information on fees and schedules, call (727) 210-0760.

Library writers group meets every Friday

TARPON SPRINGS - The Tarpon Springs Public Library Writers Group meets from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays in the library conference room, 138 E Lemon St. Call (727) 942-9540.

Council needs volunteers to teach reading to adults

PALM HARBOR - The Palm Harbor Literacy Council seeks volunteers to help adults, many of them recent arrivals to the United States, learn to read, write and speak English better.

The Literacy Council provides free, one-on-one tutoring to new residents, many of whom are foreign-born college graduates now working in the United States.

For information or to volunteer, call (727) 784-3332, ext. 211.

Area Zonta International chapter formed for women

North Pinellas business executives have launched a chapter of Zonta International, a service organization that works to advance the status of women.

Zonta clubs support their communities through service projects, fundraisers, advocacy and community support.

For information on the new Top of the Bay Zonta Club, representing Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Trinity, East Lake, Oldsmar and Westchase, call Mary Fletcher at (727) 781-5949.

Kiwanis Club selling coupon books for $25

PALM HARBOR - The Palm Harbor Kiwanis Club is selling Entertainment 2007 coupon books to raise money for children's charities. The $25 books include two-for-one offers and 50 percent discounts. Call Matt Fishel at (727) 366-0125, Alicia Phidd at (727) 785-9400, Chuck Winscott at (813) 833-5511 or Nate Middleton at (727) 785-2576.

[Last modified September 24, 2006, 09:13:24]