Neighborhood briefs

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 14, 2001

Officials to discuss election voting problems

State Sen. Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg, and Pinellas County Elections Supervisor Deborah Clark will discuss the November election's voting problems at Wednesday's Suncoast Tiger Bay Club meeting.

The noon luncheon is at the St. Petersburg Suncoast Association of Realtors headquarters, 7655 38th Ave. N, St. Petersburg.

Clark will discuss county-level problems and Sebesta will describe measures the state government plans to avoid future difficulties, said Tiger Bay president Pat Fulton.

The public is invited, but reservations are necessary. Call 738-3000, ext. 5660, or 896-0523.

Group to discuss downtown progress

The Downtown Core Group will present its annual State of Downtown Report at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Keystone Club, 320 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg.

A panel of speakers, including St. Petersburg City Administrator Tish Elston, Chamber of Commerce business assistance director Mike Littman, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Dick Crippen, BayWalk general manager Jill Connolly and Core Group president Pat Fulton, will discuss downtown progress.

The meeting is free and open to the public. For information call 821-0444 or 896-0523.

Area Agency on Aging offers free job training

Free job training and job placement assistance is available for seniors older than 55 through the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Inc.

Interested seniors must make less than $8,350 annually for singles or $11,250 for a family of two, excluding Social Security earnings. Courses to be offered include computer literacy, clerical work, medical coding and billing and home health care.

Pasco and Pinellas county residents who are interested may call (727) 570-9696, ext. 237 or ext. 281.

Candlelight walk to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Color Me Human Inc., the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission and Equality Florida will host a candlelight walk and vigil to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The walk will begin in front of the Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg, and will proceed along Bayshore Drive to the gazebo at Demen's Landing. For information, call 867-0036.

Public Arts Commission seeks submissions

St. Petersburg's Public Arts Commission hopes to fill Wildwood Community Center, currently under construction, with local art that will celebrate the center's history and importance to the black community. The commission invites artists to submit letters of interest and slides of past work. Commissioned artwork will be located inside and outside the new center.

To see site drawings and to get more information about opportunities as well as the history of Wildwood and Youth Arts Corps at Wildwood, visit St. Petersburg's Web site at www.stpete.org/publicart.htm or call (727) 551-3250. Deadline for submissions is Monday.

Nursing home residents need ombudsmen

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Councils in the Tampa Bay area are looking for volunteers to act as advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Volunteers help in investigating patient complaints and inspecting facilities. Ombudsmen are asked to ensure that they are free from conflict of interest. For information, call one of the following councils: (727) 834-3127 (North Pinellas/Pasco), (727) 588-6912 (Mid- and South Pinellas), or (813) 871-7185 (Hillsborough).

Area Agency on Aging offers free job training

Free job training and job placement assistance is available for seniors older than 55 through the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Inc.

Interested seniors must make less than $8,350 annually for singles or $11,250 for a family of two, excluding Social Security earnings. Courses to be offered include computer literacy, clerical work, medical coding and billing and home health care.

Pasco and Pinellas county residents who are interested may call (727) 570-9696, ext. 237 or ext. 281.

Aluminum can recycling helps build homes

Habitat for Humanity International has teamed up with the Aluminum Association to help needy families. Aluminum Cans Build Habitat for Humanity Homes raises money to build homes through aluminum can recycling.

Five local recycling centers are located throughout Pinellas County. The list of recycling sites can be obtained by calling the Pinellas Habitat for Humanity office at 894-1522.

Individual, family, church, club and company participation is encouraged.

Volunteers also are needed to manage Aluminum Cans Build Habitat for Humanity Homes day-to-day operations.

Aluminum can recycling helps build homes

Habitat for Humanity International has teamed up with the Aluminum Association to help needy families. Aluminum Cans Build Habitat for Humanity Homes raises money to build homes through aluminum can recycling.

Five local recycling centers are located throughout Pinellas County. The list of recycling sites can be obtained by calling the Pinellas Habitat for Humanity office at 894-1522.

Individual, family, church, club and company participation is encouraged.

Volunteers also are needed to manage Aluminum Cans Build Habitat for Humanity Homes day-to-day operations.

Flags available through Department of State

Both State of Florida and United States flags are available through the Department of State. Costs vary according to size and materials used. You may also have your flag flown over the Florida Capital at no additional charge. Call (850) 488-1802 or write Wilma Shouse, Florida Department of State, Bureau of General Services, 430 E Gaines St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250.

YouthBuild offers training program for youths 16-24

YouthBuild St. Petersburg offers an eight-month program for youths ages 16 to 24 who reside in St. Petersburg that includes GED training, leadership development and training in the career field of construction, among other support services. To be considered for admission, call 893-1573.

Museum seeks witnesses to Holocaust experience

Since 1994, the Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth St. S, St. Petersburg, has been interviewing Holocaust survivors, and now the museum is expanding its work to include refugees, hidden children, liberators, protectors, freedom fighters and children of survivors.

Because of the age of these eyewitnesses -- most are over 65 -- the museum considers making an official record of the testimonies a priority.

If you have an eyewitness account or have information pertaining to the events surrounding the Nazi rise to power, invasion of Europe or other Nazi war crimes, the museum asks for your participation in the project. For information, call the museum at 820-0100.

Goodwill seeks donations of children's books

Goodwill Industries Suncoast Inc. is seeking donations of new or used books in good condition for their "Bookworks" program, in which children are read to by volunteers and given a free book. Donations may be taken to Goodwill at either 10596 Gandy Blvd. or 7601 Park Blvd. For information, or to locate additional drop-off sites for donations, call 523-1512, ext. 223.

Program teaches dangers of substance abuse

Family Resources Inc., a non-profit family service provider that works in conjunction with the James B. Sanderlin Family Center, offers the Kinship Care Family Heritage program for children ages 6-10 and their caregivers.

The program is open to caregiver families who are active participants in support groups at the Sanderlin Center, who are in need of assistance or have struggled with substance abuse problems.

The program will be offered in three 14-week segments through August. The purpose is to provide stability for children in the caregiver's homes by strengthening the overall family unit and educating children about the dangers of substance abuse and the availability of community resources and prevention services.

For information, call 550-4250.

Infants and children can get free food

The Florida WIC Program, a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, is available to anyone with legal responsibility for a child younger than 5 who qualifies. It provides free food, including cheese, cereal, eggs, infant formula, and fruit juice. Eligibility for WIC is not affected by the client's status in the WAGES/TANF programs. For information, call 824-6914.

Pets for People matches pets with seniors

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Pinellas County, 9099 130th Ave. N, Largo, matches pets with senior citizens in the Pets for People program.

Seniors age 60 and older can take home a specially matched pet, and the adoption fee and the first veterinarian visit are covered. For information, call 586-3591.

Meals offered by senior services group

Neighborly Senior Services offers a service called Neighborly Care, with services that include Select Choice Meals. The program provides a choice of 18 meal selections to be delivered to those who are unable to shop for or cook their own meals, regardless of age. Meals are delivered frozen and may be heated in the microwave or oven. For information, call (727) 573-1832.

The disabled can get help with accessibility at home

St. Petersburg's Housing Department offers a Barrier Free Home Program to assist physically disabled residents with plans and loans to improve access in their homes. For information, call 893-7247.

Hardball outlawed for teens, adults

KENNETH CITY -- A new ordinance, approved unanimously Wednesday, prohibits anyone older than 12 from playing hardball in town parks. Teens and adults will have to play softball. The ordinance also bans park users from acting in a "loud and boisterous manner" and from using obscene or profane language.

Amendment lets people vote to abolish police

KENNETH CITY -- A proposed charter amendment on the March 13 ballot would give voters the last word if the town wishes to abolish its police department. Council members voted 4-1, with Mayor Bill Smith opposing, to put the referendum to the electorate.

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