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Digest

Make a difference and mentor a child

By TIMES STAFF
Published March 3, 2007

COUNTYWIDE

Gulf Coast Community Care needs volunteers age 30 and older for its mentoring program. Volunteers are matched with children of all ages throughout Pinellas County who need a positive adult role model. Many of the children are in foster care or live with a single parent who is going to school and working. No experience is necessary. There are no costs. Volunteers spend a few hours a week doing simple activities such as reading, fishing, baking, teaching a craft or visiting a park with a child. For more information, call Beverly at 479-1841 or Bonnie at 479-1825.

COUNTYWIDE

Clear your pipes with community chorus

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

COUNTYWIDE

Hellenic association offers scholarships

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

Hearing-impaired program expanded

The Deaf and Hearing Connection for Tampa Bay has expanded its no-cost telephone loan services, which include amplified telephone and equipment usage, at the following 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

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.

The litter hotline is designed for large-scale litter problems or those that pose a public safety hazard, such as cases where items could create traffic problems. Examples include:

- Road or environmental hazards.

- Illegal dumping.

- Areas with major litter problems, such as storm drains with shopping carts or bulky items in them, or places like businesses with widespread litter problems.

The hotline is not for reporting code enforcement problems such as overgrown lawns or minor instances of littering.

Action to remove the trash/litter is taken by Keep Pinellas Beautiful Staff or coordination with the appropriate city or county department.

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

Teen volunteer guide is now available

In an effort to promote youth volunteerism and help students complete service projects, the Volunteer Action Center and 2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares has published the Pinellas County Teen Guide to Service Learning.

The guide lists 26 agencies in Pinellas that have volunteer opportunities for teens who need to complete 75 hours for the Bright Futures scholarship or for other programs.

For a free copy of the guide, call 211 or visit www.211tampabay.org. The 211 information line has information on health and human services in Pinellas, Hernando and Citrus counties.

To reach the information line from a phone that's blocked from making three-digit calls, call 210-4211.

COUNTYWIDE

Sign up to help collect for Tampa Bay 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

Pay for misdemeanors, infractions at kiosks

Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court Ken Burke has introduced payment kiosks for fines in misdemeanor and felony cases, municipal and county ordinances, and boating and traffic citations. The kiosks are at the clerk's North County and Tyrone branches at 29582 U.S. 19 N in Clearwater and 1800 66th St. N, St. Petersburg. You can pay fines, plus a 3.5 percent service charge, with a debit or credit card or by using a checking account number to pay by electronic check.

You also can pay fines by calling (727) 464-4846 or visiting http://www.pinellasclerk.org and clicking on the "Make a Payment" link. To learn more, call the branches at 464-8700 in Clearwater, 582-7681 in St. Petersburg or the clerk's office at (727) 464-7000.

CLEARWATER

Restrictions on lawn watering in place

The city of Clearwater has restricted lawn watering to one day a week for most residents.

The limit comes as a result of the announcement of a severe water shortage by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Officials said the one-day-per-week restriction applies to the use of water from public and private water utilities, all wells and surface water sources such as ponds and rivers. The city's reclaimed water customers are not affected by this restriction and can water on any day of the week. Users of potable water will remain on their usual one-day-per-week schedule. Residents who use water from private wells or surface water sources can water one day per week on the following schedule:

- Addresses ending in even numbers or the letters A through M can water only on Tuesdays.

- Addresses ending in odd numbers or the letters N through Z can water only on Sundays.

LARGO

Largo's Celebrity Showcase guests set

Largo's 2007 Celebrity Showcase features Branson, Mo., entertainer Doug Gabriel on March 22. Advance tickets are $11 plus tax, $13 plus tax at the door. Group rates are available. For more information, call (727) 518-3131 or visit www.largo.com.

CLEARWATER

People's Law School runs through April

Sessions of the Clearwater Bar Association's annual People's Law School continue in the teaching auditorium at St. Petersburg College's Clearwater campus, 2465 Drew St.

The People's Law School will meet Thursdays through April. The remaining schedule includes:

- March 15, 7-9 p.m.: Family law

- March 22, 7-7:55 p.m.: Local government law; then from 8:06 to 9 p.m., State of our circuit

- March 29, 7-9 p.m.: Bankruptcy

- April 5, 7-9 p.m.: Construction contracts and mechanic's liens

- April 12, 7-7:55 p.m.: Mediation and arbitration; then from 8:06 to 9 p.m., Small claims court

- April 19, 7-9 p.m.: Contracts and business law

- April 26, 7-7:55 p.m.: Identity theft; then from 8:06 to 9 p.m., Graduation.

All sessions are free. No registration required. Call (727) 461-4869.

[Last modified March 3, 2007, 07:33:23]