News Briefs and Events Calendar
Article published on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 |
Permit needed by boaters
PINELLAS COUNTY - An important reminder for boaters: The State of Florida law requires that anyone born after Sept. 30, 1980, must obtain a Boating Safety Education I.D. card (an operating permit), issued before piloting any boat with an engine of 10 horsepower or greater.
Auxiliary to offer boating course
SAND KEY – The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Clearwater Flotilla, will offer a course on Boating Skills and Seamanship on Mondays and Thursdays, March 6 to March 27, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Clearwater Sailing Center. The cost for the seven-lesson program will be $50 for material; the class covers safe boating operation, navigation rules, using a VHF radio and trailering a boat. It is open to adults and youths. The center is at 1001 Gulf Blvd. Call 469-8895.
Boating classes to get under way
MADEIRA BEACH – Conveniently-scheduled classes in Boating Safety are offered by Flotilla 73 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Safe Boating 2006 schedule is as follows: Saturday, March 18, 8 a.m. – one lesson; Saturday, April 29, 8 a.m. – one lesson; Tuesdays, May 9 through July 25 – five lessons; Tuesdays, July 11 through July 25 – five lessons; Saturday, Sept. 9, 8 a.m. – one lesson; Tuesdays, Oct. 10 through Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m. – 13 lessons; Friday, Dec. 1, 8 a.m. – one lesson. Successful completion of this course may increase boating pleasure and may qualify participants for a discount on boat insurance. Classes are at 299 Boca Ciega Drive. Call Al MacMillan at 585-9268 or 391-5185.
USCG Auxiliary teaches boater safety
ST. PETERSBURG – Several Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs will be offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary on Tuesdays, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The program satisfies the state boater safety education requirements. The course is taught at 1300 Beach Drive S.E. Call 823-3753.
SPSPS to offer boating classes
ST. PETERSBURG – The St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron offers Boat Smart Courses. The Sailing Center is at 250 Second Ave. S. Call at 867-3088 or visit www.boating-stpete.org.
Stretch on the beach
ST. PETE BEACH – The city of St. Pete Beach Recreation Department’s Stretching on the Beach program meets Tuesdays, 9 to 9:45 a.m., at Upham Beach.
The department may add a Thursday class if there is enough interest. The class entails enhancing flexibility, toning the body and stretching to appropriate music. Participants enjoy a beautiful view and wonderful breezes. All ages and genders are welcome. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat or towel. Cost is $2 a person. Mary-Jo Golliner instructs the class. Call 363-2146 or 224-4190.
YMCA offers pilates, yoga
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH – The North Beaches YMCA is offering pilates and yoga to help those who’ve set goals to get in shape. Classes are in the mornings and evenings at Calvary Episcopal Church and Church of the Isles in Indian Rocks Beach, and at Indian Shores Town Hall. In addition to exercise punch cards, the YMCA offers memberships that allow participation in all of local classes, as well as access to both Bardmoor and Clearwater fitness facilities. Mom and Tot Yoga with Marzana Bard is offered on Friday mornings. For complete details on the YMCA programs, and to receive two guest passes and a free T-shirt, call 595-5610 or stop at the YMCA office, 500 Second St.
Fun classes to teach about nature
LARGO – Outdoor Explorers, hands-on nature activities, will be offered the second Saturday of each month, 2 to 3:30 p.m., at the George C. McGough Nature Park. The program, sponsored by Largo Recreation Parks & Arts Department, is designed for children in grades first to fifth. The cost is $3 with a resident recreation card; $3.75 with a nonresident card and $6.75 without a card. The park is at 11901 146th St. N. Call 518-3047.
Walking Club counts the miles
ST. PETE BEACH – The Walking Club meets on Fridays from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the St. Pete Beach Recreation Center. The group takes scenic walks around the county and has brunches. Meet new friends and walk together for the best of health. All ages and genders are welcome. The number of miles walked will be recorded, and at the end of the walking club season awards will be given to everyone including the miles that you walked. The cost is $4 a month. Transportation is provided by the Recreation Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive. Call Mary-Jo at 363-2146 or 224-4190.
Weedon Island Preserve plans guided hikes
ST. PETERSBURG – Weedon Island Preserve offers free guided hikes on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The volunteer-led guided hikes offer the general public a chance to examine the best of our cultural and environmental attributes. Call 453-6500, as pre-registration is required. The Center is located at 1800 Weedon Drive N.E.
Self-guided kayak, canoe tours at Weedon
ST. PETERSBURG - Self-guided kayak and canoe tours are available every Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Weedon Island Preserve on Riviera Bay. Paddle beautiful mangrove tunnels that lead through the tidal forests into private lagoons. The marked South Paddling Trail is easy to follow. Expect to see an amazing array of wildlife including great blue herons, great egrets, roseate spoonbills, yellow-crowned night herons, white ibis, osprey, and belted kingfishers. Watch the water for jumping mullet, stingrays, manatees, and Eastern bottlenose dolphin. Rental kayaks and canoes do not require paddling experience and are user friendly . Every weekend, kayaks and canoes are on site at the Preserve. To arrange a drop off during the week, call Sweetwater Kayaks at 570-4844. Fee: Single: $35 for up to 4 hours or $15 per hour. Double: $50 for up to 4 hours or $20 per hour.
Weedon offers kayaking for seniors on Fridays
ST. PETERSBURG - Join Sweetwater Kayaks for a program that introduces senior paddlers to the more gentle aspects of kayaking on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Roomy kayaks with large cockpit openings that are easy to get in and out of are provided. Taught by certified instructors, paddlers learn basic boat control and safety tips while on the sheltered waters of Riviera Bay in Weedon Island Preserve. Become empowered by being the captain of your own vessel and venture into the beautiful waterscape of Weedon Island Preserve. Call Sweetwater Kayaks at 570-4844 to reserve a class. Fee: $49.
Sweetwater Kayaks offers introduction to basics
ST. PETERSBURG - Sweetwater Kayaks offers introduction to kayak basics and safety on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the shallow waters of Riviera Bay in Weedon Island Preserve. Touring kayaks are provided to give paddlers an idea of what a sea kayak is like. Surprisingly stable, these seaworthy craft can take paddlers on rivers, lakes and open water. Boat control, self-rescue and rescuing fellow paddlers will be taught. The three hour class is kept small to enhance the learning experience. To reserve a class, call Sweetwater Kayaks at 570-4844. Fee: $69.
Treasure Bay to host open house
TREASURE ISLAND – The Treasure Island Recreation Department will host an open house on Saturday, March 11, 2 to 6 p.m., at the Treasure Bay Golf and Tennis facility. Activities will include free golf and tennis clinics for adults and juniors, free play on the nine-hole par-3 golf course, music, face painting, bicycle registrations, child identification, pet identification by the Treasure Island Police Department, police vehicle and firetruck display, food and beverage concessions and much more. The facility is at 10315 Paradise Blvd. Call 360-6062.
Shamrock’n Run set for March 11
LARGO – A new 5K run, Shamrock’n Run, sponsored by Largo Recreation will be on Saturday, March 11, 6 p.m., in Downtown Largo at Ulmer Park. Participants should register by Tuesday, March 7 for all events. Call 587-6740, ext. 5016 or visit www.largo.com.
Freedom Boat Club opens with a splash
MADEIRA BEACH - Freedom Boat Club-St. Petersburg will offer free boat rides at its Open House Celebration on Saturday, March 11, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 200 150th Ave. Guests will be offered free boat rides and complimentary luncheon bites hot off the grill and will be entered in drawings for free 30-day memberships to Freedom Boat Club-St. Petersburg. Reservations are required for the free boat rides at the Open House. Call Judy at (877) 315-5200. For membership information, call (888) 781-7363 or visit www.freedomboatclub.com.
Memory Walk – Taking steps to end Alzheimer’s
CLEARWATER – The Alzheimer’s Association, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, will host its annual Memory Walk on Saturday, March 11, at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Preregistration is at 9:30 a.m.; the step-off is at 10:30. All walkers are provided entry to the aquarium for the day as well as to a special dolphin show immediately following the walk at noon. Information about forming a team, making donations or sponsoring a walker is available by calling 1-800-772-8672 and ask for a walker packet.
Bowl for Kids’ Sake rolls on
PINELLAS COUNTY – Big Brothers Big Sisters is gearing up for its campaign to help kids – Bowl for Kids’ Sake. Bowling sessions will take place on Saturdays, March 11 at Seminole Lanes in Seminole and on March 18 at Countryside Lanes in Clearwater. Each year, local residents and representatives from businesses, civic clubs, professional organizations, law enforcement agencies and schools participate by forming teams and raising money to help Big Brothers Big Sisters match more kids with volunteer “Bigs.” Teams of friends, family members or co-workers spend an afternoon filled with bowling, refreshments, giveaways and prize incentives for raising the minimum in pledges, all the while remembering that it’s not about the bowling, it’s about helping kids.
Bowl for Kids’ Sake nationwide has raised millions of dollars to support its one-to-one community and school/site-based mentoring programs. Call 518-8860 or visit www.bbbspc.org.
Golfers tee up for Pace Center for Girls
BELLEAIR – The Belleair Country Club Women’s Golf Association and the Harbor Springs Woman’s Club of North Pinellas will host a first-class charity golf tournament at Belleair Country Club on Monday, March 20. The shotgun start will be at 12:30 p.m., with a dinner reception at 5:30. An awards ceremony and auction will follow. The tournament will raise funds to directly help finance Pace Center for Girls, a nonresidential program for girls 12 to 18 who are experiencing difficulty or conflict in school and at home. Pace’s purpose is to intervene and prevent high school dropouts, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol addiction, and welfare dependency. For sponsorship or team registration information, e-mail juliec620@aol.com or kallen@idatix.com.
Swimming pool maintenance classes available
LARGO - A free class for pool owners to learn pool maintenance and safety from the experts is scheduled for Tuesday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., at the city's Southwest Recreation Center on Vonn Road. The classes will feature presentations by representatives from Pinch-A-Penny, Curtis Pools and the Pinellas County Health Department.
Seminole Rotary to host golf tournament
SEMINOLE – The Seminole Rotary will host its annual golf tournament on Saturday, March 25, at the Tides Country Club. Shotgun start will be at 7:45 a.m. Proceeds will benefit programs sponsored by the Seminole Rotary Club including Student of the Month at Orange Grove Elementary and Seminole high schools, Kids at Christmas, Kids Back to School, Kids’ Appreciation Day and Seminole Youth Athletics and scholarships. The $75 fee includes golf, cart, lunch and prizes. The club is at 11832 66th Ave. N. Call Robbin Mallory at 239-849-8444.
Bardmoor to host Climb for Cancer Tournament
LARGO – The Third Annual Climb for Cancer Golf and Tennis Tournament will take place on Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, at the Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club. The popular two-day event raises money for the Climb for Cancer Foundation. The Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club is at 8001 Cumberland Road. Call Maria Cercone at 392-1234, ext. 3, or visit www.cfc-foundation.org.
April Pools Day set for all county kids
LARGO – A free county-wide event that’s all about aquatics and safe pools for youths will be on Saturday, April 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Southwest Parks Recreation facility. Exhibitors, organizations and citizens of all ages from throughout the county will play games, enjoy live entertainment and learn about water safety and aquatics. Included will be Safety Simon, the Singing Smuppets, dancing to the DJ’s music, a simulated water rescue and CPR demonstration, contests, games and more. Joining the Suncoast Safe Kids Coalition, led by All Children’s Hospital, are the Cities of Safety Harbor and Largo, the Florida Department of Health and other national/countywide organizations. Southwest Parks is at 13120 Vonn Road. Call 767-8581, 518-3128 or 724-1555, ext. 404.
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Article published on Wednesday, March 8, 2006
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