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Letter to the editor

Start your year off right by volunteering

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2007

COUNTYWIDE

Here's a New Year's resolution you can get started on today: Pinellas County's Guardian ad Litem program is recruiting volunteers.

Nearly 1,000 children in Pinellas need a guardian ad litem. Volunteers advocate for abused, abandoned or neglected children and teens in the family courts and the child welfare system. The average time needed is four to six hours a month. As a child's advocate, the guardian ad litem visits the child every month, becomes familiar with the child's case and makes recommendations to the court to help ensure the child has a safe, caring and stable environment. Thirty hours of training is required.

Seven classes have been scheduled for 2008, and the first class starts Jan. 8. To schedule a one-hour orientation, call 727 464-6528. Visit www.guardianadlitem6.org.

Musicians needed for Suncoast String Band

The Suncoast String Band is calling for musicians who play saxophone, banjo, violin, guitar and accordion. The band is starting rehearsals for the coming concert season. For information, call band director Tom Barry at (727) 738-4546.

Jazz band needs young musicians

Sonny LaRosa's America's Youngest Jazz Band is seeking children ages 6 to 13 who play trumpet, trombone, saxophone, guitar or drums. Vocalists who will consider playing an instrument will also be considered. Call (727) 725-1788 or visit www.sonnylarosa.com.

DUNEDIN

Load up on food and more at green market

Dunedin's Green Market at the corner of Main Street and Douglas Avenue features produce, cheeses, seafood, plants and herbs, honey, all-natural pet treats, organic products, nuts, natural seasonings and fresh fruit. Market hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday through the end of April. For information, call market manager Richard Kendler at (727) 733-4215 or e-mail him at greenmarketmanager@verison.net

Hit the Pinellas Trail with Walking Club

Exercise your legs with walking and your mouth with laughter with the Walking Club at the Hale Activity Center, 330 Douglas Ave. The group meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays to walk the Pinellas Trail. Call (727) 298-3299.

COUNTYWIDE

Good at preparing taxes? You're needed

The IRS/AARP TaxGuide program, which last year prepared more than 4,000 income tax returns for residents of North Pinellas, needs volunteers.

The program helps low-income and elderly residents prepare their taxes free of charge.

Volunteers receive training that leads to IRS/AARP certification.

To volunteer, call Frank Mann at (727) 726-7822 or register online at www.aarp.org/taxaide.

COUNTYWIDE

Old cell phones can be a lifeline for seniors

Senior Citizens Services welcomes donations of old cell phones to be distributed to needy seniors as 911 emergency phones.

The offices are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and phones are distributed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.

Senior Citizens Services is in Belcher Commons Office Park at 51 S Main Ave., Suite 308-M, Clearwater.

For information, call (727) 442-8104.

Free equipment for folks with hearing loss

Florida residents with hearing loss can receive amplified telephones and specialized equipment for no cost at the Deaf and Hearing Connection for Tampa Bay.

Free hearing screenings, other assisting equipment and low cost hearing aids are also available at locations across Pinellas County.

Call (727) 399-9983 or visit www.ftri.org for locations and information.

Volunteers needed in mentoring program

Gulf Coast Community Care needs volunteers age 30 and older for its mentoring program. Volunteers are matched with children who need a positive adult role model.

There is a need for volunteers for children of all ages.

No experience necessary, no costs.

Volunteers spend a few hours a week in activities like reading, fishing, baking, teaching a craft or visiting a park. Call 479-1841 or 479-1825.

EAST LAKE

Brooker educational center needs help

Looking to help out?

Friendly, outgoing volunteers are needed at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center as exhibit hall docents and summer camp assistants. Call 453-6800.

PINELLAS PARK

They've got stories waiting to be shared

The Tampa Bay Storytellers Guild Story Swap meets the fourth Sunday of every month (except November and December) to share stories.

The public is invited to attend and share their stories.

Each program has a theme.

The programs are at 3 p.m., the fourth Sunday of each month, at Pinellas Park Station, 5851 Park Blvd.

For more information, call Billie Noakes at 647-8057.

COUNTYWIDE

Make a differenceand mentor a child

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.

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.

Are phone books cluttering your home?

New phone books have arrived, so recycle that old one.

Residents with curbside collection in Belleair, Clearwater, Dunedin, Largo and Oldsmar can put their old phone books in their curbside recycling bin. Other residents can go to one of 40 dropoff locations around the county.

Most dropoff sites have bins labeled "phone books." If not, put the phone books in the "mixed paper" or "magazines" bins but not in the "newspaper" bin. For a list of phone book recycling sites, visit www.pinellascounty.org/utilities or call (727) 464-7500.

Pinellas residents discard more than 2-million phone books annually. To reduce the number of phone books delivered to your office or house this year, call Verizon at toll-free 1-800-888-8448 or Yellow Book at toll-free 1-800-929-3556.

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.

[Last modified December 18, 2007, 22:59:50]