General:

Pinellas County Seeks Input on Affordable Housing Ordinance
Participation is Open to the Public; Reservation Deadline is May 21

Pinellas County Community Development Department is coordinating an interactive design charrette to provide input on the county’s draft Inclusionary Housing Ordinance on Wednesday, June 4, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo. more>> (posted 05-12-08)

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Clearwater Leg of Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail to Close for Repair

A leg of the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail south of Sunset Point Road, between Harbor Drive to Stevenson Avenue in Clearwater, will be closed for repairs starting the week of May 12 and continue for an estimated 30 days. more>> (posted 05-07-08)

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Pinellas County Launches Prescription Drug Discount Card
Discount Cards Offering Average Savings of 20 Percent Off Retail Price

Pinellas County today launched a discount card program to help consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. The county is making free prescription drug discount cards available under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) that offers average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs. more>> (posted 05-06-08)

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St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport receives grant for terminal renovation project

St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is pleased to report a $1.5 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for safety, security, and the airport’s terminal renovation projects. more>> (posted 05-05-08)

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Mayor’s Green City Action Accord - Watch Video

Pinellas County mayors joined Pinellas County Commissioner Karen Williams Seel May 3 in the signing of the Mayor’s Green City Action Accord. The ceremony, held at the Harborview Center the first morning of the Pinellas Living Green Expo, symbolized the strong and unified support of green initiatives throughout the community. more>> (posted 05-05-08)

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1,100-Year-Old Prehistoric Canoe Found in Pinellas County, Florida

Buried in the sand along the shoreline, a prehistoric pine canoe was found on Weedon Island Preserve, located on the southeast region of the peninsula that is Pinellas County on Tampa Bay. With the ancient discovery, a mystery unfolds: how was quick-eroding wood preserved in the very aggressive salt and sand environment? more>> (posted 05-05-08) Watch Video

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Pinellas County Marks Building Safety Week

When someone enters a house or building, most likely they are not thinking about whether it is properly constructed and safe. Fortunately, local safety experts think about building safety and fire prevention every day. To help raise awareness of building safety, the Pinellas County Building Division of Building and Development Review Services is celebrating Building Safety Week from May 5 to 11. Across the nation, communities will promote the use and understanding of building safety codes to protect lives and property. The theme is “Building Safety: Where You Live, Work and Play.” more>> (posted 05-02-08)

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Utilities Call Center Hours Temporarily Expanding

Due to the anticipated high volume of customer call activity and the increase in customer wait time, Pinellas County Utilities Customer Services Call Center is temporarily expanding its hours of operation. Customer Service reps will be available to respond to customers’ calls from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, starting Thursday May 1st through Friday May 9th. more>> (posted 05-01-08)

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Belleair Causeway Bridge Replacement Project update:
5 million pounds of concrete in place over channel

Pinellas County’s largest infrastructure project currently under way – the Belleair Causeway Bridge – is fast emerging as a major area landmark. Over the last four weeks, building crews and engineers have worked fast, furious and sometimes in the dark to reach a major “highpoint” in construction: installation of 5 million pounds of concrete 75 feet over the Intracoastal Waterway channel. more>> (posted 04-30-08)

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Tarpon Springs Tax Collector Office Temporarily Closes May 19-21

The Pinellas County Tax Collector Office at 743 South Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs, will temporarily close Monday through Wednesday, May 19 to 21, 2008, for necessary repairs. more>> (posted 04-29-08)

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Register at Your Local Merchants Month

Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark – along with the 66 other Florida elections supervisors – is designating May as Register at Your Local Merchants Month. more>> (posted 04-29-08)

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“Lights Out!” To Help Nesting Turtles

She crawls from the sea in the darkness, leaving tracks as she plods through the sand. The loggerhead turtle finds a satisfactory spot and starts digging with her rear flippers. She excavates a hole, lays approximately 120 eggs, covers them up with the soft sand, and starts her methodical crawl back to the sea. more>> (posted 04-28-08) Watch Video

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Master Gardener Plant Sale Offers Low Cost, High Quality Greenery

The popular spring plant sale hosted by Pinellas County Master Gardeners takes place Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pinellas County Extension in Largo. This Master Gardener Plant Sale promises excellent bargains to delight garden lovers. Visitors should arrive early as plants and garden accessories sell quickly. They might want to bring a wagon to help tote all those botanical beauties to their new home. more>> (posted 04-28-08)

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Fly2PIE.com - New Airport Website Debuts

The St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) launched its new website on Monday, April 11.

A fresh look showcasing the airport as a gateway to the beauty of Pinellas and Tampa Bay is featured. The menu is reorganized to highlight the information customers are most interested in - including daily departures and arrivals on the home page and quick access to airlines and destinations. more>> (posted 04-17-08)

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Stock up on Hurricane Preparedness Know-How

Hurricane season will be here before we know it, and it only takes one storm to make a bad season. Member libraries of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative will host a series of free, fun and informative sessions on how to prepare for the season. more>> (posted 04-14-08)

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Prescribed Burns Expected at Brooker Creek, Mobbly Bayou and Weedon Island Preserves

The Pinellas County Wildlands Fire Team will conduct several prescribed burns between March and August 2008. more>> (posted 03-18-08)

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Animobile Brings Free Pet Services

The Animobile is on the road again, bringing free veterinary services, including spaying or neutering and $1 rabies vaccinations, for pets of eligible citizens. Find out where the Pinellas County Animal Services’ mobile veterinary vehicle will be next. more>>

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Transportation:

Road Construction

Consumer Tips:

Online Advice and Precautions for Parents

Whether playing games, completing homework, or simply surfing for fun, children are taking advantage of all that the Internet has to offer. Although there are many wonderful places to learn new and exciting things and meet new people, there are also places that are inappropriate or dangerous for children. more>> (posted 04-23-08)

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How to Stop Unwanted Telemarketing Calls

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched the National Do Not Call Registry to give Americans a choice about getting telemarketing calls at home. According to a recent Harris Interactive poll, 92 percent of people who reported placing a number on the registry said they are receiving fewer calls; a total of 78 percent said they’re getting “far fewer calls” or none at all. more>> (posted 04-14-08)

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Communications Department
333 Chestnut Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-4600  FAX (727) 464-4432