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Digest

Mayor, two commissioners are sworn in

By TIMES WIRES
Published March 22, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS

City Hall was filled Tuesday night with a bustling crowd and boughs of mums and snapdragons in red, white and blue. Giddy families circled around Mayor Beverley Billiris and City Commissioner Peter Dalacos as each was sworn in for a second term. Chris Alahouzos was sworn in for a first full term. Alahouzos had been temporarily filling in on the commission since his predecessor, state Rep. Peter Nehr, stepped down in the fall. Billiris and Dalacos thanked families and campaign supporters, and promised to wipe clean the frictions that have festered between them over the past three years. Last week's election secured wide margins of victory for the two incumbents, who each faced challenges from political newcomers. Looking forward, Billiris and Dalacos both pledged to fight hard for city residents on what they said is the most pressing issue of the time: tax reform.

OLDSMAR

As officers enter, plan chief departs

Tuesday night's City Council meeting started with a welcome to a newly sworn-in council and a farewell to a city employee. New Mayor Jim Ronecker appointed council member Suzanne Vale as the city's new vice mayor. Ronecker also thanked Jerry Paradise, the city's planning and redevelopment director, for his service. After two years, Paradise is taking a job as the community development director of Casselberry, a city of about 25,000. In his new role he will oversee the planning, zoning, redevelopment, building and code enforcement departments. His last day is March 30.

PALM HARBOR

Firefighters host Saturday breakfast

A Palm Harbor firefighters' pancake breakfast is scheduled from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Station 68, 3007 Alt. U.S. 19 N. Cost is $5 and supports the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

COUNTYWIDE

School choice deadline is near

An important Pinellas County school choice deadline is coming up. The deadline to apply for an attendance area school is Saturday . Parents need to apply for an attendance area school if their child:

- Is entering kindergarten or entering or returning to the district in August.

- Is entering sixth grade.

- Is entering ninth grade and does not want to use extended grandfathering.

- Wants to change schools in the attendance area.

Parents of all children, except those requesting family preference, may apply by calling (727) 501-0871. Parents of children who will be new to the district in August must call or visit a family information center to register the child and obtain a student identification number. The centers are at 1101 Marshall St., Clearwater, (727) 298-2858; and 3420 Eighth Ave. S, St. Petersburg, (727) 552-1595. For more information, visit www.pinellaschoice.org.

Correction

Marcy and Scott Daniels will present a program on the pros and cons of widowers selling their homes at 6 p.m. March 29 at the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast Garden House, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Largo. Call 586-4432. An item Wednesday gave the wrong date.

[Last modified March 21, 2007, 23:28:04]