Neighborhood briefs

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 25, 2001

St. Petersburg town hall meeting is Thursday

Citizens United for Shared Prosperity will hold a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss public expectation for the new St. Petersburg police chief. The meeting will be held at the Asian FACE building, 2201 First Ave. N. Call 357-7982.

Asian center offers GED, English classes

The Asian Family and Community Empowerment Center offers classes for general equivalency diploma preparation at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, English for speakers of other languages at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and citizenship preparation at 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the center, 2201 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg. The classes are free and open to the public. Call 321-8887.

Vendors needed for church craft show

St. Paul United Methodist Church seeks artists and craftspersons to display their wares at the church's sixth annual craft show, "Homespun by Hands and Hearts," to be held Oct. 20 at the church's Christian Life Enrichment Center, 1199 Highland Ave., Largo. The registration deadline is Sept. 24 or until display space is sold out. Call 585-4758 for an application or for information.

Click to avoid points on your driver's record

The Suncoast Safety Council now offers its traffic school on the Worldwide Web, for Florida residents with a moving violation who wish to prevent having points placed on their license. The four-hour course costs $35. Call 373-7233, ext. O, for more information or to register.

Nursing home residents need ombudsmen

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Councils of the Tampa Bay area seek volunteers to serve as advocates to residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, in order to investigate and resolve resident complaints.

Volunteer responsibilities may include periodic inspection of facilities, and travel expenses to and from facilities will be reimbursed.

Prospective ombudsmen should be free from a conflict of interest and will be interviewed before selection by local council members. The councils are also seeking specialized volunteers such as licensed pharmacists and social workers, elder law attorneys, and registered dietitians.

If you are interested in volunteering, call (727) 588-6912 for the Mid- and South-Pinellas council, (727) 834-3127 for the North Pinellas and Pasco council.

Event gives teens some good, clean muddy fun

Teens in grades 7 through 12 can participate in the biggest mud slinging event this side of the Mississippi from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at Spa Beach on the approach to The Pier, 335 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Teams of 10 can get down and dirty with mud joust, obstacle course, tug-of-war and more. Each coed team must include a minimum of four girls. Contestants can compete for cash and prizes. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and is free. Call 892-5060.

Walk to benefit polycystic kidney disease research

The Suncoast Friends Chapter of the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation will sponsor a "Walk for PKD" at 9 a.m. Sept. 8 at Fort De Soto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Proceeds will benefit PKD research programs. Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic, life-threatening disease that affects more than 600,000 Americans and an estimated 12.5-million people worldwide. For more information, call (727) 784-4320, (813) 986-2850 or (727) 848-7804.

City of St. Petersburg offers water info line

Unsure of when to water? The City of St. Petersburg has set up an official phone line to answer questions about potable, well and reclaimed water restrictions. The information will be updated as guidelines change. Call 892-5300.

For early risers, a chance to exercise

LARGO -- Start your day with exercise in a program sponsored by the Largo Recreation and Parks Department at the Southwest Recreation Complex, 13120 Vonn Road, Largo.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6:30-7:30 a.m., instructor Janis Scot will lead participants through a vigorous program of stretching, toning and strengthening exercises.

The class is offered on a drop-in basis at $2.25 per class with a resident card, or $2.75 without a card. For information, call 518-3125.

Fitness training orientations scheduled

LARGO -- Orientations for a fitness training program conducted by Eugene Shuhayda are being offered free from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Southwest Recreation Complex, 13120 Vonn Road.

Fitness training sessions are by appointment and cost $18 per hour with a recreation card or $20 without a card. For information, call 587-6725 or 559-8855.

Senior agency looking for volunteer drivers

Can you drive a van? Or visit someone who needs companionship? Neighborly Senior Services, which is based in Clearwater but serves Pinellas County, is looking for volunteers to drive seniors to and from doctor appointments. NSS also needs volunteers to go into seniors' homes to socialize, read newspapers or books to them, sort mail and possibly go grocery shopping for them. To volunteer, call Pat Hofstadter, NSS volunteer coordinator, at 573-9444, ext. 291.

Bingo returns to St. Dunstan's church

LARGO -- Tuesday bingo games sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10094 and its Ladies Auxiliary have returned to St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 10888 126th Ave. N. Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch is served at noon by the auxiliary. Every Tuesday, one game benefits the de Paul School for Dyslexia. The bingo games are smoke-free events. For information, call 596-8959 or 585-9094.

Breast, cervical cancer screenings available

LARGO -- The Pinellas County Health Department Largo Health Center, 12420 130th Ave. N, offers screening exams for breast and cervical cancer for women ages 50 to 64 who are uninsured or whose insurance doesn't fully cover such services. Pap smears, mammograms and clinical breast exams are included. For an appointment, call 824-6917.

Neighborhood housing services offer help

CLEARWATER -- Funds for housing rehabilitation and down payment assistance is available through the Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services Inc. To qualify, families must be at or below the 80 percent Area Median Income level. Business loans are also available throughout Pinellas County. For information on either program, call 442-4155.

Counselors needed for teen and play camps

SAFETY HARBOR -- Camp counselors 18 and older are needed for the Totally Teen and Sunshine Play camps at the Long Center, 1501 Belcher Road N, Clearwater. The programs are sponsored by Safety Harbor Leisure Services. To sign up or for information, call the Long Center, 724-1570.

Rape, sexual harassment counseling available

CLEARWATER -- Family Service Centers, 2960 Roosevelt Blvd., provides free counseling to rape survivors and their family and friends, as well as to sexual harassment victims. All services of the Centers' Rape Crisis Program are confidential and funded by the Pinellas County Department of Health, the Florida Department of Health and the United Way. For information, call 535-9811 or 530-7273 (530-RAPE).

DivorceCare schedules support group meetings

CLEARWATER -- DivorceCare seminars and support group meetings are from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Clearwater First Church of the Nazarene, 1875 Nursery Road, Clearwater. Each session features a videotape, followed by a support group meeting. Topics to be covered include facing anger, depression, loneliness, financial survival, child care, new relationships and more. Child care and other activities for children are available. To register, call Dolly Hickey, 446-3130, or come early to a session. There is a one-time $10 charge.

Firehouse museum has openings for kids' tours

LARGO -- The Kids Firehouse Museum, 9510 Kids Firehouse Ave., (south of Ulmerton Road at 95th Street) in Largo has openings for spring/summer tours for groups of children up to age 10.

The firehouse has 11 antique firetrucks and a playground. Children are taught fire safety, watch a video and receive free memorabilia.

Free admission, but donations accepted. Call 585-1300.

Barbershop group seeks full range of male voices

PALM HARBOR -- The Palm Harbor Crystal-Aires Men's Barbershop Chorus is seeking new tenor, bass, lead and baritone voices.

No musical or singing experience is required. The group meets at 7 p.m. every Monday at the Palm Harbor Senior Activities Center, 1500 16th St.

Call 785-9717 or 532-6126 for information.

Pediatric clinic open on Wednesdays

CLEARWATER -- Every Wednesday between 9 a.m. and noon the Clearwater Free Clinic offers a special pediatric clinic for children not covered by private health insurance or government-assisted programs.

The clinic's family practice nurse practitioner and a pediatrician are available at those times to see patients between the ages of 2 and 18. The nurse practitioner's services are made possible by a grant from the Eckerd Family Foundation.

For a pediatric appointment, call the Clearwater Free Clinic at 447-3041.

Help hospice libraries by buying a book

CLEARWATER -- Several area bookstores are co-sponsoring a Books for the Hospice project to help supply libraries in hospice's four service centers in Pinellas County.

Books needed are those dealing with end-of-life issues and bereavement. Also, the libraries are looking for books on alternative/complementary therapies to help those with chronic and serious illnesses.

The bookstores have a list of about 150 books the hospice needs. Patrons can select the book or books they wish to purchase from the list and donate to the hospice. Stores include Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 23654 U.S. 19 N; B. Dalton Bookseller, Countryside Mall; and Waldenbooks, Countryside Mall and Clearwater Mall. The book drive will continue throughout 2001. Call 586-4432.

Jazz band seeking various new players

Sonny LaRosa and America's Youngest Jazz Band is accepting musicians 12 years old or younger to play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar or bass and to sing. Beginners will be considered. For information, call 725-1788.

Clearwater food pantry needs extra hands

The Religious Community Services Pantry needs volunteers to help sort food on Saturdays. Volunteers also are welcome during the week. The pantry, at 210 S Ewing St., Clearwater, receives thousands of pounds of food weekly and serves about 2,000 families. For information, call 443-4031.

Recycle cans, help Habitat program

ST. PETERSBURG -- Pinellas Habitat for Humanity has teamed up with the Aluminum Association to help families who need housing.

Families, churches, clubs and businesses are asked to collect empty food, beverage and pet food cans and recycle them. The proceeds will go toward Habitat for Humanity. There are five recycling centers throughout Pinellas County serving as collection sites for the project.

To learn which is closest to you, call the Pinellas Habitat for Humanity office at (727) 894-1522.

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