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Get free tips to start your own business

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 23, 2007

Learn the 10 steps to starting your own business at a free seminar, presented by members of the Pinellas County chapter of SCORE, at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Tarpon Springs Library, 138 E Lemon St. Materials and handouts are provided, and registrations are requested. Sign up at the library or call (727) 943-4922.

Contest to award student films

The sixth annual Sol Peska Student Film Contest awards ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at the Tarpon Springs Library, 138 E Lemon St. The contest received 28 entries in the high school and college divisions, and categories included comedy, documentary, drama, music and public service announcements. Prizes, awards and certificates will be presented at the ceremony, which is free and open to the public. The winning films will be shown, and light refreshments will be served. For more information, call the Friends of the Library at (727) 944-3042 or the library at (727) 943-4922.

New city manager reports to work

Rob DiSpirito, formerly the city manager of Oberlin, Ohio, reported to work as Dunedin's new city manager at 7 a.m. Monday. He said his day began with unpacking boxes and chatting with Harry Gross, the acting city manager since January 2006. Then came a staff meeting, more talks with Gross and a briefing on redevelopment efforts from economic development director Bob Ironsmith. DiSpirito, who makes $129,000 annually, said his first goal as the city manager is to learn "who's who and what's what," which means listening and asking a lot of questions. He told staffers that he is committed to employee recognition and will be sensitive to family commitments, he said. He also emphasized that he wants staffers to come up with creative ideas for the city. After meeting with Ironsmith, DiSpirito said he had more boxes to open and e-mails to respond to. "At some point today, I plan to get back to my family," he said. "I haven't seen them since they were asleep this morning. But I'm sure I'll be bringing reading material home, too."

Have lunch with seven authors

The Friends of the Clearwater Public Library is hosting "Lunch With an Author" at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St. The lunch includes seven authors: Tim Dorsey (Hurricane Punch), Fawn Germer (Hard Won Wisdom), Kathy Carmichael (Chasing Charlie), Jeff Klinkenberg (Seasons of Real Florida), Kim Llewellyn (The Quest for the Holy Veil), Lary Crews (The Baby Boomer Writer) and photographer Patrick Foley. The cost is $20. For reservations, send checks to Friends of the Library, 100 N Osceola Ave., Clearwater, FL 33755. For more information, call Rita Garvey at (727) 446-3845 or Rosalie Murray at (727) 531-0667.

[Last modified January 22, 2007, 22:00:34]