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Letter to the editor

Affordable housing, services at Goodwill

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 6, 2008

COUNTYWIDE

Did you know Goodwill offers affordable living options for people with low incomes, including seniors and people with disabilities?

Goodwill's Freedom Villages, in Tampa, Pinellas Park and Clearwater, offer one- and two-bedroom apartments. Heritage Oaks in Palm Harbor offers one-bedroom apartments for people 62 and older with low incomes.

All four properties feature well-maintained buildings with community rooms and common areas. On-site Goodwill service coordinators at each facility help residents connect with community resources and services.

The HUD-subsidized apartment buildings, owned and operated by Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, are architecturally barrier-free to accommodate the needs of people with physical disabilities.

There are often waiting lists for these apartments. Prospective residents should call the property in which they are interested to check availability or to be put on a waiting list. The four Goodwill apartment communities are:

- Freedom Village I, 7700 66th St. N, Pinellas Park, (727) 541-6620

- Freedom Village II, 5002 S Bridge St., Tampa, (813) 831-6988

- Freedom Village III, 1167 Turner St., Clearwater, (727) 443-6799

- Heritage Oaks of Palm Harbor, 2351 Alderman Road, Palm Harbor, (727) 787-0792

For general information about Goodwill apartments, visit the Housing page at www.goodwill-suncoast.com.

DUNEDIN

Guided nature walks offered on Saturdays

See a variety of plants and wildlife in their natural habitat on guided walks with Florida Park Service rangers at Honeymoon Island State Park at 11 a.m. every Saturday through March.

The walks are free, however, there is a park entrance fee of $5 for two to eight people in a vehicle, $3 for one person in a vehicle and $1 for walkers or bicyclists.

Participants should dress appropriately for the weather and may want to bring binoculars and a field guide.

Meet the ranger at the beginning of the Nature Trail. The park is at 1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin. For more information, call the park at (727) 469-5942 or visit www.floridastateparks.org.

CLEARWATER

Learn about key topics of the law at seminars

The People's Law School will continue weekly at the Drew Street campus of St. Petersburg College on Thursdays through April. Participants may attend as few or as many sessions as they wish, free of charge. No registration is required. For information, call (727) 461-4869 or visit www.clearwaterbar.org.

The class schedule:

- Today, 7 to 7:55 p.m., Consumer Complaints; 8:05 to 9 p.m., Mediation and arbitration.

- March 13, 7 to 9 p.m., Wills, trusts and estate planning.

- March 20, No class. Spring break.

- March 27, 7 to 7:55 p.m., State of Our Circuit; 8:05 to 9 p.m., Small claims.

- April 3, 7 to 9 p.m., Family law.

- April 10, 7 to 9 p.m., Bankruptcy.

- April 17, 7 to 9 p.m., Contract and business law.

- April 24, 7 to 7:55 p.m., Identity theft; 8:06 to 9 p.m. Graduation.

LARGO

Got rhythm? Join the drum circle

Bring a drum or other percussion instrument to the drum circle at 6 p.m. the first Saturday of each month starting in January at George C. McGough Nature Park, 11901 146th St. N.

Listeners of all ages are invited to relax by the campfire and enjoy the rhythms led by Barry Skeete. Admission is $2 for those 13 and older. Call (727) 587-6775.

COUNTYWIDE

Apply now for groups' $1,000 scholarships

Two Italian-American associations are offering $1,000 scholarships to high school graduates and returning students.

The applicants must be Florida residents and of Italian descent. The scholarships are available through the Daughters of Italy Lodge 2825 and the Clearwater chapter of Order of the Sons of Italy in America.

For information, call Clara Shaw, Daughters of Italy scholarship chairwoman, at (727) 785-6428 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Applications available on the Web at www.daughtersofitaly.com. The deadline is March 27.

LARGO

School launches effort to expand campus

The Pinellas County Jewish Day School has launched a capital campaign to buy and renovate property and buildings immediately next to is campus on Cambridge Avenue in Largo.

The purchase will add 11 new classrooms and a new auditorium.

The school, which has 205 students, has outgrown its existing facilities.

To learn more or support the capital campaign, call Brian Siegel, head of the school, at (727) 588-0100, or Michael Seltzer, president of the board of directors, at (727) 532-1999.

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.

COUNTYWIDE

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.

CLEARWATER

Residents pay once, park all year at beach

Clearwater residents can buy annual beach parking permits valid at five lots for only $40 a year. Permits can be bought from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Municipal Services Building, 100 S Myrtle Ave., Suite 220. Proof of residency and vehicle registration required. Call (727) 562-4704.

COUNTYWIDE

Print out checklist for disaster survival items

Pinellas County Emergency Management has created a printable disaster survival kit that can make shopping for essential items to have on hand easier.

For information on hurricane preparedness, call 464-3800 or go to www.pinellascounty.org/emergency.

COUNTYWIDE

Arbor Day group offers pocket guide to trees

Can you spot the difference between a poplar and pine? What Tree is That?, a 72-page pocket guide to distinguishing trees is available from the National Arbor Day Foundation. For a copy send you name, address and $3 for each book to 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, Neb., 68410 or online at www.arborday.org.

[Last modified March 5, 2008, 23:20:43]