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Programs offer financial aid to homebuyers

By TIMES STAFF
Published March 16, 2007

COUNTYWIDE

PROGRAMS OFFER FINANCIAL AID TO HOME BUYERS

Looking to buy a home? Two new programs from the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County, Making Pinellas Home and HomeTown Heroes-Plus, might be your ticket. The down payment assistance programs are designed to work with the authority's below-market mortgage programs to help lower-income people who have not owned a home in the past three years. The Making Pinellas Home Program offers an interest-free loan of up to $15,000 for down payment and closing cost assistance. The HomeTown Heroes-Plus Program offers an interest-free loan of up to $25,000 for down payment and closing cost assistance to participants who are employed as police, fire or emergency medical service personnel; full-time employees of Pinellas County schools; hospital workers; 911 dispatchers; employees of assisted living facilities; pharmacy technicians; or active duty or reserve military personnel. Call the authority at 464-8210 or visit www.pinellascounty.org.

Agency needs mentors for kids

Gulf Coast Community Care is seeking positive role models to volunteer for the Adults Mentoring Children program. After a formal orientation and training, volunteers will share activities and interests including park visits, arts and crafts, sports and active listening. Become a mentor and make a difference in the life of a child. Call 479-1841 or 479-1825.

SAFETY HARBOR

Appeal filed on condemned house

Vgo, the folk musician who owns a house the city of Safety Harbor is trying to condemn, has bought the only thing he can afford at the moment: time. Thursday, he appealed the city's decision and will appear before the code enforcement board next month to plead his case. Vgo, whose real name is Phillip Terry, was evicted from the house at 323 Third Ave N. last month with his partner, Terri Musgrove. He believes the home, which has holes in the ceiling and floor, is habitable. "I don't see the building as unsound," Terry said. "I don't see it collapsing on us."

CLEARWATER

Museum honoring three local women

The Pinellas County African American History Museum will honor three prominent local women Saturday at its third "Toast to the Legends": Goldie Banks of Safety Harbor, Ollie May Henry of Largo and the late Peggy Peterman of St. Petersburg. The 5:30 p.m. event is at the museum, 1101 Marshall St. Tickets - $20 for adults, $10 for children 12 and younger - can be purchased at the museum or by calling 532-1698.

Council member to lead celebration

There's still a celebration at 11 a.m. today at Osceola Avenue and Cleveland Street for the opening of the first block of the Cleveland Street Streetscape. But don't look for the mayor to lead the miniparade of children from the Peace Memorial Child Development Center. The city announced Thursday that plans had changed and City Council member John Doran will do the honors.

[Last modified March 16, 2007, 07:19:10]