Neighborhood briefs

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 27, 2000

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.

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 beginning this summer and continuing through August 2001. 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.

Fiddlers' group seeks string players

A local group is open to anyone who plays the fiddle or any other string band instruments.

The Bay Area Fiddlers' Association, a newcomer on the local music scene, is looking for additional members who enjoy playing, tapping toes and sharing time with other lovers of old-time country and folk music.

Call (727) 938-1417 or (727) 321-2379 for details.

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.

Adopt-a-family program needs holiday donations

R'Club Child Care Inc., a non-profit agency that has provided after-school child care in the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years, seeks volunteers to adopt a family in need for its Holiday Adoption Program. They are seeking donations of holiday meals, blankets, linens, clothing, toys, gifts or any other items to be given to local families. To assist, call 578-5437..

Children's Home to host orientation

The Children's Home will host an orientation for prospective long-term foster care or adoptive parents from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Dec. 27 at the home, 10909 Memorial Highway, Tampa. Would-be parents will receive information about children needing placement, services of the Children's Home, and the foster care and adoption process. Call Ellen Smith at (813) 855-4435, ext. 2037.

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.

Nominations open for Soroptimist contest

Five Pinellas County women will be honored by Soroptimist International of Upper Pinellas for their professional and/or civic contributions to the community. If there is a woman you would like to nominate, please request a nomination form by calling (727) 789-3691. Nominations should be submitted by Jan. 10 to Cathy Wagner, 2662 West Lake Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34684. A banquet will be held Feb. 17 to honor the selected award winners.

West Point Parents to hold reception

The West Point Parents Club of the Gulf Coast of Florida will host a holiday reception for prospective West Point cadets at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Radisson Sabal Park, 10221 Princess Palm Ave., Tampa.

Interested college and high school students, JROTC members and their parents are invited to attend the informal meeting to learn more about West Point and to meet with cadets who will be home for the holidays.

Discussion will cover the application process, physical and academic requirements and life at the academy. A West Point graduate will describe his experience and school representatives will be available to answer questions.

The informal meeting will include a question and answer session. Refreshments will be served.

Call (727) 526-3090.

AARP tax assistance program needs help

If you have an aptitude for math, experience in filing personal returns, good communication skills and some time to share with others, the AARP tax assistance program needs you. A week of training in January will prepare you to assist older taxpayers and the working poor prepare their federal returns. To get more information on how you can help, write AARP Florida State Office, 400 Carillon Parkway, Suite 100, St. Petersburg 33716 or call 571-2277.

Sunshine Brass Band needs brass players

The award-winning Sunshine Brass Band is looking for a few more brass players. Especially needed are cornet, trombone, alto horn and tuba players. The band expects to give a number of concerts and to participate in a national contest in April. Call 528-4700 for additional information.

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.

Fife and drum corps seeks new members

Liberty Fife & Drum Corps seeks drummers and fifers to sign up to play historical American music at parades and other local events. They're also looking for marchers to participate in their color guard. Call 360-2677 for information.

Florida International Museum seeks donations

The Florida International Museum seeks donations of items related to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 for a special exhibit to open this winter. Items of interest include photographs, slides or negatives, uniforms or military memorabilia, fallout shelter materials, maps, diaries, flight logs and other documents. For information, or to donate items, call the museum at (800) 777-9882.

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.

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.

Item answers questions on powers of attorney

Have you made provisions for someone to make financial and medical decisions for you should you become incapacitated? It's a good plan for many of us, but the Florida Bar recommends that you get all the facts about powers of attorney before assigning someone else that authority.

The Florida Bar provides an easy-to-understand consumer pamphlet, Florida Powers of Attorney. Set up in a question-and-answer format, it helps explain the differences between general and durable powers of attorney and the relationship between them and other advance directives, such as living wills. For a copy of this pamphlet, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Consumer Pamphlets, Public Information & Bar Services, 650 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300. Single copies are free. Information on bulk orders is available. Call (850) 561-5834. The pamphlet is available on the Florida Bar's Web site at http://www.flabar.org.

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, peanut butter, infant formula, beans, milk and fruit juice. Eligibility for WIC is not affected by the client's status in the WAGES/TANF programs. For information, call 824-6914.

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. Consumers may purchase packages of five or seven complete meals for $27 and $33. Meals are delivered frozen and may be heated in the microwave or oven. Call (727) 573-1832.

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. Call one of the following councils: (727) 834-3127 (North Pinellas/Pasco), (727) 588-6912 (Mid- and South Pinellas), or (813) 871-7185 (Hillsborough).

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