Coral Reef Seminar - Thursday, January 20, 2011

Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway on Friday for needy families - St. Petersburg Times

If you are in (or can get to) the Trinity area on Friday, December 17, 2010, the annual Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway is taking place at Generations Christian Church, located at 1540 Little Road. This event provides fresh food for a full holiday dinner for approximately 500 families in need. Sponsored in part by state Sen. Mike Fasano and state Reps John Legg and Richard Corcoran.

What: Holiday Food Giveaway
When: Friday, December 17, 2010 - 10 a.m. until 12 noon
Where: Generations Christian Church, 1540 Little Road, New Port Richey.
Click below or call Sen. Fasano's office at (727) 848-5885 for more details.

Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway on Friday for needy families - St. Petersburg Times

Senior Safety Phone Project

Old Cell Phones Can Be Lifeline for Seniors

Donate your old cell phones to the Senior Safety Phone Project, which provides seniors in Pinellas and Pasco counties with free emergency cell phones. The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco – Pinellas collects donated cell phones, tests and charges the phones, and then distributes them to seniors in the community. For a full list of the donation and distribution sites in Pasco and Pinellas counties, please call the Senior Helpline at 1-800-96ELDER (1-800-963-5337).

Free Financial Friday - Nov. 5

FFF+flyer+(2)

Candlelight Vigil - October 28

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Join Sunrise of Pasco Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center for the 14th Annual Candlelight Vigil as they come together to honor victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Thursday, October 28, 2010
6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills
7050 Gall Blvd.
Zephyrhills, FL 33541

For more information, call Sunrise of Pasco at (352) 567-1681 or visit sunrisepasco.org.

Homebuyer Fair - Saturday, October 2

If you are in the market for a new house in Pasco County, check out the Homebuyer Fair this Saturday, October 2, at the West Pasco Government Center, located at 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey, Florida. The Fair will run from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and will include educational seminars in English and Spanish, as well as the Homebuyer Education Class that is required to receive housing purchase assistance through Pasco County. Several real estate agencies, banks, and other realty concerns will have informational booths set up, and door prizes will be available. For more information, call (727) 834-3445 or click on the link below.

Homebuyer Fair will help families find housing

Benefit Concert for Meals on Wheels

Suicide Prevention Week

Suicide Prevention Week for 2010 is set for September 5 through 11.

Florida ranks 17th in the nation in its rate of suicide deaths.  Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States with one suicide occurring on average every 15.2 minutes.  Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15- to 24-years-olds.  The elderly make up 12.6% of the population, but comprise 15.7% of all suicides.

Approximately 864,950 Americans attempt suicide each year.

It is estimated that five million living Americans have attempted to kill
themselves.  Every year in the United States, more than 17,000 men and women kill themselves with a gun; two-thirds more than the number who use a gun to kill another person.

An estimated 4.6 million Americans are survivors of the suicide of a friend, family member, or loved one.

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or if you hope something bad will happen to you, seek help immediately.  Talk to a friend, a teacher, a doctor, a pastor, or call one of the following numbers:

1-800-273-TALK (8255) - National Suicide Prevention Hotline
727-849-9988 - The Harbor Behavioral Health Care Institute (Pasco County)
727-791-3131 - Suicide Prevention Hotline (Pinellas County)

Free School Supplies!

If you are a parent of a school-aged child, you know how expensive August can be.  If you need a little help getting your child's school supplies together, check out one of these events to get free school supplies:




Saturday, August 7  11 a.m.-1 p.m.
2nd Annual Back to School Bash
Cobb Theatres Grove 16 & Cinebistro
6333 Wesley Grove Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL
Free school supplies, free games, face painting, health screens, free hair cuts

Sunday, August 15  8:10 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 11:20 a.m.
Back to School Backpack Giveaway
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
6825 Trouble Creek Rd.
New Port Richey, FL
Free backpacks, school supplies, games, prizes, free hair cuts, gently used clothing & more.  Register online at www.ccwc.org or call Andrea Wolloff at (727) 376-7733, ext. 120 for more information.

School Supply Drives

In two weeks, Pasco County children will be returning to the classroom.  Unfortunately, not all of them can afford the supplies they need to help them succeed in their studies.  Some area organizations are collecting school supplies for these students in need.  While you are doing your shopping, consider picking up a box of crayons, a pack of notebook paper, or even a backpack and donating it to one of these organizations.

CARES Rao Musunuru, M.D. Enrichment Center
12417 Clock Tower Pkwy
Hudson, FL
Collecting notebooks, paper, pencils, backpacks, other school supplies for Hudson Elementary and Middle Schools.  Cash donations gratefully accepted.
Donations may be dropped off at the center weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Call (727) 863-6868 for more information.

The Volunteer Way
7820 Congress St.
New Port Richey, FL
Collecting school supplies and backpacks for the 3rd Annual School Bash.  Cash donations gratefully accepted.
Donations may be dropped off at the center between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays.  Donations should be dropped off by August 13th.  Call (727) 815-0433 for more information.

Joining Hands Community Mission
3214 U.S. 19
Holiday, FL
Collecting back to school supplies for families in need.  Donations may be dropped off at the Resource Center Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon or Friday from 10 a.m. until noon.  Call (727) 937-3268 for more information.

Salvation Army Community Center
7745 Ridge Rd.
Port Richey, FL
Collecting back to school supplies for families in need.  Donations needed include backpacks, highlighters, scissors, plastic zip bags, notebooks, index cards, pocket folders, binders, lined filler paper, #2 pencils, colored pens, pencils & markers, graph paper, nonscientific calculators, baby wipes, tissues and hand sanitizer.  Donations may be dropped off weekdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Community Center on Ridge Road or at the Salvation Army Center of Hope, 8040 Washington St., Port Richey.  Donations are needed on or before August 9.

Children's Dental Care

If you can't get down to Largo today for free dental care for your children, consider visiting the Pasco County Health Department.  The Dental Clinic, located in building A at 10841 Little Road in New Port Richey, offers dental services to children ages 1-20 on Medicaid.  The Dental Clinic also accepts uninsured children ages 1-17 on a sliding scale fee basis.

Services available include:
Exams & X-Rays
Cleaning
Fillings
Sealants
Preventive Care

The clinic is open from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.  To make an appointment or for more information, call (727) 861-5260, ext. 284 or visit their website.

2010 Pasco County July 4th Fireworks

July 4th celebrations start early in Pasco County!  Get a jump on the festivities this weekend with
Main Street Blast
Sims Park/Orange Lake
Downtown New Port Richey, FL
Saturday, June 26
3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Live music, crafters, kids' games and activities, giant slide, river boat tours, food and drink, and FIREWORKS at approximately 10 p.m.


Hudson celebrates Independence Day on the 3rd of July with
Fun, Family & Fireworks Extravaganza
The Angelus
12413 Hudson Ave.
Hudson, FL
Saturday, July 3
12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
$5.00 per carload, live music beginning at 4 p.m., food & drink, kids' games, FIREWORKS at 9:00 p.m.

On the Fourth of July, come on over to the east side of the county for
Sparklebration
Pasco County Fairgrounds
36722 SR 52
Dade City, FL
Sunday, July 4
4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
Admission $3.00 (kids 10 & under FREE).  Live music, eating contests, bounce houses, Miss Sparklebration pageant, food & drink, and FIREWORKS at 9:15 p.m.

Want to Help With the Oil Spill Cleanup?

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has affected all of us in the Gulf Coast region.  If you would like to help with cleanup efforts, there are several agencies you can contact:

LOCAL/BAY AREA
Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
(727) 391-6211
Needs volunteers and donated items (Linens, kennels, towels, sheets, detergent, toothbrushes, Pepto-Bismol)

Save Our Seabirds, Inc.
(941) 388-3010
Needs volunteers and donated items (Towels & sheets)

Mote Marine Laboratory
Sarasota, FL
Needs volunteers to register for cleanup efforts

STATEWIDE/NATIONAL
Register through Volunteer Florida for volunteer opportunities

REPORTING OIL
To report oil on the coastline, call 1-866-448-5816
To report oiled wildlife, call 1-866-557-1401

Pasco Co. Extension Office Upcoming Events

The Pasco County Extension Office offers several free, interesting and educational seminars and events for Pasco County citizens every month.  Upcoming events for June and July include:

Kid Kamp - Ages 8-12
Diggin' in the Dirt
Tuesday, June 29
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
36702 State Road 52
Dade City, FL 33525
Come and explore the dirt world under us and meet the creatures that live there.  See why all dirt is not the same and make some "black gold" of your own.  Plants to take home are included.  Come dressed to get dirty and bring a lunch. $5.00 fee payable with registration.  Registration form can be found here.

Bonsai Basics Seminar
Tuesday, July 6
6:30 p.m. - 7:40 p.m.
Hudson Library
8012 Library Rd.
Hudson, FL
Come learn about this ancient art form focusing on plants.

2010 Pasco County Summer Camps

Summer is almost upon us!  Need ideas on what to do with the kids during their summer vacation?  Consider a summer camp!

YMCA of the Suncoast - Ages Vary By Location
Participating Pasco County locations include James P. Gills Branch and New Port Richey SunTrust Branch.  Other area locations are available in Hernando and Pinellas counties.

Scuba West Scuba Camp - Ages 12 and Up Only
6815 Tower Dr.
Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 863-6911

Camp Seal - Aquatic Summer Camp for Ages 3-12
Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church
19501 Holly Ln.
Lutz, FL
(813) 229-7946

Pasco County Parks & Recreation
Various Locations
Contact Administrative Office at (813) 929-2760

The Big Green Event

Pasco County Utilites/Solid Waste Department is proud to present The Big Green Event, this Saturday, May 22, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the West Pasco Government Complex, 7530 Little Rd., New Port Richey.

This event is FREE for Pasco County households.  Want to make some room in your garage or workshop?  You can bring in the following items to dispose of:

• Computer, TV, Monitor (limit of 2 per family, please)
• Mercury thermometers and/or thermostats
• Batteries (dry cell and auto)
• Paint (up to 20 gallons)
• Motor oil (up to 10 gallons)
• Cooking oil (unlimited)
• Antifreeze (up to 10 gallons)
• Fertilizers (unlimited)

Rainbarrel workshops will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  Pre-registration is required for the workshops - contact the Cooperative Extension at http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu.

For more information about this event, contact Pasco County staff at (727) 847-8041.

2010 Swim Lessons

It's swim season again in Florida!  Are your kids (or are you) ready?  Make sure you and your loved ones are water-savvy - invest in swimming lessons.  This spring and summer, group classes and private lessons are available at the following locations:






Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex
3032 Collier Parkway
Land O' Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1220

Veterans Memorial Park
14333 Hicks Road
Hudson, FL 34669
(727) 861-3033 or (727) 861-3052

New Port Richey Aquatic Center
6630 Van Buren Street
New Port Richey, FL 34653
(727) 841-4560
Sign-Ups every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. through the end of July.  $40 non-members/$20 members for each 2-week session.

East Pasco Family YMCA
37301 Chapel Hill Loop
Zephyrhills, FL 33541
(813) 780-9622
www.tampaymca.org

James P. Gills Family YMCA
8411 Photonics Drive (in Trinity)
New Port Richey, FL
(727) 375-9622
www.suncoastymca.org

Making Waves Swim School
Serving Pasco, Pinellas & Hillsborough Counties
www.makingwavesswimming.com
Mollie Brauer Moore (727) 510-7066

Maureen's Swim Academy
Serving Pasco, Pinellas & Hillsborough Counties
www.maureenswim.com
(813) 855-0491

Seal Swim School
Tarpon Springs, South Tampa and Lutz locations
www.sealswimschool.com
(727) 943-8782 - Tarpon Springs, (813) 879-7946 - South Tampa, (813) 229-7946 - Lutz

Free Starbucks on Thursday!

In an effort to make their customers more environmentally-conscious, Starbucks is offering free brewed coffee to anyone who brings in their own reusable travel mug this Thursday, April 15.  Visit their website for more information.

Veterans Benefit Resource Fair

Are you a veteran?  Are you interested in finding out what benefits are available to you?  Then consider attending the Veterans Benefit Resource Fair!  Information will include Veterans Claims Service, Education Benefits, Employment Services, Housing & Social Services, Healthcare Enrollment, Medical/Dental Services, and more!

Veterans Benefit Resource Fair
Monday, April 12, 2010
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Charles S. Rushe Middle School
18654 Mentmore Boulevard
Land O' Lakes, FL 34638

For more information, please contact the office of Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite at (352) 799-8354 or toll-free 1-866-492-4835.

Easter Activities For Everyone!

Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the Bunny Trail...

Here are just a few of the exciting events happening this weekend in our area:

FRIDAY, APRIL 2

Free Breakfast at IKEA
IKEA Tampa
1103 N. 22nd Street
Tampa, Florida
Free small breakfast (egg, potatoes, coffee) during breakfast hours Friday, April 2 through Sunday, April 4.

Black Maria Film + Video Festival
Richey Suncoast Theatre
6237 Grand Boulevard
New Port Richey, Florida
(727) 842-6777
Doors open at 7 p.m., screenings begin at 8 p.m. Tickets $4.00
Screenings of 7 award-winning short independent films, selected to be of interest to the local audience and appeal to teens through adults.


SATURDAY, APRIL 3

Jellybean Jamboree
Veteran's Memorial Park
14333 Hicks Road
Hudson, Florida
(727) 861-3033
9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Bounce houses, carnival games with prizes, and a special appearance by the Easter Bunny!  Bring your Easter baskets!

Huge Easter Egg Hunt
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
6825 Trouble Creek Road
New Port Richey, Florida
(727) 376-7733
9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
50,000 Easter eggs to find!  Also face painting, bounce houses, laser tag, and much more!  Hunt times begin at 10:00 a.m. for 2-3 year olds, and occur every 30 minutes thereafter for each year's age group.

Easter Egg Hunt
Tarpon Springs High School
1411 Gulf Road
Tarpon Springs, Florida
(727) 418-6219
10:30 A.M.
Egg hunt for ages 2-11 with cash prizes in special gold eggs.  Live music, special appearance by the Easter Bunny and more!  Adults will not be allowed on the hunt grounds.

Help Control the Pet Population!

Do you have a dog or cat (or two or three)?  Consider helping all pets by reducing the number that will become homeless.  Help control the pet population by having your family pets spayed or neutered.  Think you can't afford it?  There are several low-cost or free spaying/neutering programs our there.

Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinics in Pasco County and the surrounding areas are:

PLANNED PETHOOD
Non-Profit Spay, Neuter & Shots
5053 Gall Blvd.
Zephyrhills, FL 33542
(813) 779-7000
www.plannedpethoodpasco.org

P.A.W.S.
Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinic
11720 US 19
Port Richey, FL 34668
(727) 819-1910, (727) 863-1309
www.pawsfl.com

PetLuv
Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinic
7346 Broad St. (US 41)
Brooksville, FL 34601
(352) 799-9990

Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT)

Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinic
1719 W. Lemon St.
Tampa, FL 33606
(Neuter Scooter pick-up in Wesley Chapel)
(813) 250-3900
www.actampa.org

Spay Pasco
Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinic Database
San Antonio, FL
(352) 585-6205
www.spaypasco.com

For low- or no-cost spay/neuter clinics in other areas, visit the ASPCA's Free and Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Database.

Free Income Tax Help & Resources

It's tax time!  Time to gather up all of your W2's, 1099's, and whatever receipts you may need, sharpen those pencils and... wait a minute.  Didn't get your 1040 form and instructions in the mail like you normally do?  Need help navigating the different stimulus refunds available to you?  Here are some resources that may help.

If you are used to filling out the paper tax forms but would like to save yourself a trip to the post office and get your refund faster, consider e-filing for free!  Online forms are available through the Free File Alliance.  Your information is password-protected and you can fill out your forms online and send them electronically to the IRS at no charge.  Check it out at www.freefilefillableforms.com.

If you want to have the paper tax forms to get your information or if you just feel more comfortable mailing paper forms to the IRS, your local Pasco County library has the basic 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ forms and instructions, as well as the most popular schedules and additional forms.  The staff at the Information Desk can print copies of other forms for you from the IRS's website for $0.10 per page.

Need a little hand-holding from a trained professional?  Low to moderate income people can make appointments through the United Way's Prosperity Campaign to receive free tax preparation help.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the United Way at 2-1-1 (in Pasco County only).

Additionally, AARP's Tax Aide program offers free tax preparation help from trained volunteers during tax season.  Visit their website for a location near you.

FREE Dental Work TOMORROW in New Port Richey!

Tomorrow is the 10th Annual Dentistry From the Heart free dental care event at Monticciolo General and Sedation Dentistry, located at 4530 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey, FL.  500 patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 7:30 a.m.  You may want to dig out that sleeping bag and prepare to camp out, as hundreds of people are lined up before dawn for this once a year event.

The dental staff will be providing free cleanings, fillings and extractions.  Referrals will be made for patients needing additional dental work performed.  Patients must be 18 years or older, and there are no income requirements to qualify.  For more information, visit their website.

If you can't make it tomorrow, another event will be held in the Tampa Bay area on Friday, March 5, at Marnie C. Bauer & Associates, located at 4306 West Kensington Ave. in Tampa, FL.  Visit their website or call the office at (813) 434-0305 for more information.

It's Fair Season in Florida!

February is here, which means the local and state fairs can't be far off!  Take a look at the dates for this year's festivities and plan your trips now.

Fort Dade Mountain Man Rendezvous
Feb. 6-8, 2010
Withlacoochee River Park, Dade City, FL
See how people lived in the early 19th century.

Florida State Fair
Feb. 4-15, 2010
Florida State Fairgrounds
4800 Hwy 301 N
Tampa, FL

Pasco County Fair
Feb. 15-21, 2010
Pasco County Fairgrounds
36722 State Road 52
Dade City, FL

Florida Strawberry Festival
Mar. 4-14, 2010
303 North Lemon St.
Plant City, FL

Aid for Haiti

If you want to send a monetary donation to relief efforts in Haiti, you can do so now via your cell phone.  Simply send a text message to one of the following groups:

• Text "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 on behalf of the Yéle Foundation, the leading contributor to rebuilding Haiti founded by Wyclef Jean.
• Text "Haiti" to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of The Clinton Foundation (former President Clinton is Special Envoy to Haiti)
• Text "Haiti" to 85944 to donate $5 on behalf of the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International.
• Text "Haiti" to 25383 to donate $5 on behalf of the Internal Rescue Committee.
• Text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 on behalf of the Red Cross in the U.S.

If you do not have a cell phone, do not have text messaging enabled, or wish to donate online or in another fashion, please click on the link below for more options:


How you can help Haiti