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More places to borrow phone to aid hearing

By TIMES STAFF
Published January 27, 2007

COUNTYWIDE

The Deaf and Hearing Connection for Tampa Bay has expanded its no-cost telephone loan services, which include amplified telephone and equipment usage, at these locations: Largo Library, Clearwater Library, Palm Harbor Library, Dunedin Senior Center, Safety Harbor Library, the Upper Tampa Bay Library, St. Petersburg Sunshine Center, Gulfport Senior Center and the Gulf Beaches Library. Call 727 399-9983 for dates and times.

COUNTYWIDE

Community chorus seeks male singers

The Palm Harbor Community Chorus is looking for male voices to join its group, which meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Global Family Fellowship Church on Hercules Avenue. Preparations are under way for our spring concert series. Call 709-5818

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association has applications available for more than $5,000 in high school and college scholarships awarded by AHEPA's Pinellas Chapter No. 356 and the Daughters of Penelope, Pelias Chapter No. 186. Applicants must be 2007 high school graduates or current college students. Applicants do not have to be of Greek descent, but they must be a family member of a current member of the Order of AHEPA or the Daughters of Penelope. Call chairman John Tsagaris at (727) 791-1040 for an application or visit www.ahepad2.org or www.ahepa.org.

COUNTYWIDE

Bothered by litter? Call this number

Keep Pinellas Beautiful has a new 24-hour litter reporting hotline residents can use to report litter problems: (727) 210-4663.

Callers will need to provide a street address or intersection, description of the litter problem and a contact phone number. Keep Pinellas Beautiful will coordinate with the appropriate city or county departments to address litter reports.

For more information, call (727) 210-4663 during regular business hours or visit the Web site at www.keep pinellasbeautiful.org.

COUNTYWIDE

Small business program upgraded

Pinellas County has revised and renamed what used to be known as the Small Business Assistance Program.

Under its new name, the Small Business Enterprise Program allows qualified vendors to bid for county purchases from $2,000 to $10,000.

The program is designed to benefit all small businesses principally located in Pinellas County, regardless of the gender or race of their owners, with sales and staffing below established limits. Employers with fewer than 50 full-time employees and annual gross revenue of less than $2-million are eligible.

To learn more, call 464-3148 or e-mail businesshelp@pced.org An online application is available at www.pinellascounty.org/ purchase/sbap1.htm.

COUNTYWIDE

Submit essays in black history contest

The Pinellas County Urban League's Black-on-Black Crime Prevention Program is holding its 16th annual Black History Essay Contest.

The contest is open to all students attending public, private or home schools. Deadline for submissions is Feb. 1. First-, second- and third-place winners will read their essays at an awards ceremony Feb. 17. The topics are:

- Elementary: "I believe the greatest African-American male or female in my community is or was ..."

- Middle school: "What would you like to tell the world about a little-known black history fact?"

- High school: "Explain the impact of an important period in black history and how it impacts society today."

COUNTYWIDE

Dentists hope to see 400 children smiling

As part of its fifth annual Give Kids a Smile program in February, the Pinellas County Dental Association hopes to screen and treat more than 400 Pinellas children ages 3 to 18 who otherwise would be unable to receive dental care.

To be eligible for the free dental care, the child must be Medicaid-eligible, but without a dental provider. The parent or guardian must fill out paperwork authorizing dental treatment and must take the child to the nearest clinic for an appointment.

On Feb. 2 and 9 every child participating in the program will be seen for a screening, X-rays, a cleaning and sealants if needed. On Feb. 10 any children needing treatment will return to the clinic for fillings and extractions.

Parents can check to ensure their children are eligible and can make an appointment by calling (727) 210-4222. Appointments are limited.

COUNTYWIDE

Sign up to help collect food for Harvest

Tampa Bay Harvest is an all-volunteer organization that collects food from restaurants, supermarkets and other sources to donate to food pantries and other local organizations that help feed the hungry. Volunteers are needed to transport food, help with coordinating and record-keeping, and assist with food-collecting events. Call 538-7777, ext. 1.

COUNTYWIDE

U.S. Naval Sea Cadets offer youth programs

IF YOU'RE A STUDENT BETWEEN THE AGES OF 11 AND 17 AND INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT NAVAL TRADITIONS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES ON AND OFF THE WATER, THE U.S. NAVAL SEA CADETS, A NONPROFIT YOUTH ORGANIZATION, AND PART OF THE U.S. NAVY'S YOUTH PROGRAM, OFFERS VALUABLE LIFE AND WORK SKILLS LIKE TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP AND CITIZENSHIP. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PROGRAMS, THE NAVY LEAGUE CADET FOR AGES 11 TO 13 AND THE U.S. NAVAL SEA CADETS FOR AGES 13 TO 17. ALL CADETS MUST BE U.S. CITIZENS, BE IN GOOD MORAL STANDING, HAVE A MINIMUM OF A 2.0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE, BE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND BE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL. VISIT WWW.SUNCOASTAIRSQUADRON.ORG FOR INFORMATION OR CALL (727) 796-7322.

COUNTYWIDE

African-American Heritage Celebration

The eighth annual Florida African-American Heritage Celebration is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24, at Heritage Village, the Gulf Coast Museum of Art and the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo . For more information, call (727) 588-6342, or visit the event's Web page at www.pinellascounty.org/unity.htm. Admission is free.

TARPON SPRINGS

Hospital offers weight loss seminar Feb. 27

Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital, 1395 Alt. U.S. 19, is offering a seminar on losing weight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 27.

The first 45 minutes of the session is a free orientation. If the participant feels comfortable with the program, he or she pays a one-time fee of $69. This fee includes a hypnotic session, behavior modification booklet, home reinforcement audiocassette tape (CD's are available), and unlimited free repetitions of the hypnosis, if needed.

No reservations are required. For information call 1-800-848-2822 or visit www.easywillpower.com

[Last modified January 27, 2007, 07:47:02]