CLEARWATER - Pinellas County Commissioners have struggled with balancing the budget for the past four years due to a meltdown of the real estate market and a recession that began in December 2007.
Previous budget forecasts predicted that the situation might get better by 2013. However, county staff now says it will be at least another year before the situation begins to improve.
Budget Director John Woodruff presented the 10-year budget forecast for fiscal year 2012-2013 during a regular commission meeting Feb. 7.
“The economy is on track for slow but steady recovery,” he said.
Woodruff started his presentation with a look at the economy at the national level. He told commissioners that the Gross Domestic Product is expected to grow by 2.4 percent to 3.5 percent annually over the next three years.
From the state perspective, the Florida Economic Estimating Conference, which met in December and January, says growth is anticipated to be sluggish through mid-2012, moderate through mid-2013, followed by normal growth thereafter.
Recovery of the state and local economy will be dependent on population growth, which is expected to be weak, and the unemployment rate, which is expected to remain high, Woodruff said.
However, the biggest issue creating gloom and doom for the upcoming budget year is property values.
CLEARWATER - Tourism is up in Pinellas County, and that makes members of the Tourist Development Council very happy.
In a series of reports presented Jan. 8, the numbers show reason for optimism that the lull is over and visitors are returning to enjoy the county’s many amenities.
Walter Klages with Research Data Services out of Tampa said 2011 had been “a very, very good year” with an economic impact of $7 billion, thanks to the 5.235 million visitors who came to Pinellas last year. The number represents 194,000 more visitors than reported in 2010.
CLEARWATER - Fluoride in drinking water made the news again in January when the city of Pinellas Park voted to provide the additive to its citizens as soon as it can find funding to pay for the equipment.
Pinellas County Commissioner Neil Brickfield made a motion at the Feb. 7 regular meeting to call for a referendum on fluoridation. The county stopped adding fluoride to drinking water supplied to retail and wholesale customers on Jan. 1.
Brickfield was one of four commissioners who voted to remove stop adding fluoride. He said there seemed to be enough interest to put it to the public to decide.
CLEARWATER - Business Technology Services was the focus of a Feb. 6 meeting of Pinellas County Commissioners and the BTS board.
The 11-member board includes the clerk of the court, property appraiser, sheriff, supervisor of elections, tax collector, chief judge, public defender and state attorney of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, county administrator and two county commissioners.
The Monday morning meeting provided an update for county commissioners, who are preparing to begin work on the budget for fiscal year 2012-2013, on the job being done by BTS and its budget needs.
DUNEDIN - Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office marked Crossing Guard Appreciation Day Feb. 3 by honoring its own during a special ceremony at the Elks Lodge #1525 in Dunedin.
Three crossing guards received the Maybelle Rollins Bradford Award for dedicated service to children in Pinellas. In addition, one crossing guard received the first-ever Courage Award for exemplary strength in overcoming an illness and returning to work.
Twenty-seven crossing guards received badges for completion of their initial certification from the Florida Department of Transportation. Other received awards for perfect attendance and crossing guard of the month.
ST. PETERSBURG - Thirty-one deputy recruits received badges during a graduation ceremony Feb. 8 at the St. Petersburg College Allstate Center.
The recruits are new hires for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Detention and Corrections Bureau, and were sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office for their training.
All 31 recruits hired and who began the Academy training program -successfully completed the training.
Strawberry celebration CLEARWATER - The Clearwater East Branch Library, 2251 Drew St., will host a celebration in honor of the Florida Strawberry Festival on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m. The free event is for all ages and will feature strawberry-themed crafts and strawberry treats to sample. KeeLee Tolminson from the Florida Strawberry Festival will share the history of Florida’s strawberries with attendees.
Call 562-4970 or visit www.myclearwater.com/cpl.
Dunedin's Green Market DUNEDIN - Green Market is open Saturdays through the end of July from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Douglas Avenue in Dunedin. Vendors offer a wide variety of items including: produce, cheeses, plants and herbs, local honey, all natural pet treats, organic products, nuts, olive salad, pastries and orchids. Free entertainment and parking is available at the Dunedin Green Market. For information, contact the Market Manager, Richard Kendler, at 692-5353 or email GreenMarketManager@verizon.net
Elks of Largo flea market LARGO - The Elks of Largo flea market is Saturday, Feb. 18, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 810 16th Ave. SE.
The market will consist of old and new items, along with arts and crafts and will be open to Elks’ members as well as outside vendors.
The club will set up the market outside in the shady park area. There will be a table space rental fee of $20. Participants are welcome to bring additional tables or a tent.
The lodge will accept donations for Elks’ tables for the reselling of items. Please do not bring clothing, and make sure that all items are clean and in good working order. There will be a rain date of Feb. 25.
Call Debbie at 559-0035 to reserve space, volunteer to help or to advise of a donation.
Roaring Twenties Night LARGO - The Knights of Columbus celebrates its second annual Roaring Twenties Night Saturday, Feb. 18, 6 to 11 p.m., at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 2121 16th Ave. SW.
Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m.; dinner at 7. Each dinner includes a salad, garlic bread and sausage. The music of the 1920s will be provided. For tickets, call Ron Klemm at 804-4804 or John Scozzafva at 422-3753.
Lady in Red sweatheart dance LARGO - The “Lady in Red” sweatheart dance will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, at Largo Community Center, 400 Alt. Keene Road.
The dance is a fundraiser for the Sonia Plotnick Health Fund, a 501c3 charity providing healthcare grants to women throughout the Tampa Bay community for 14 years.
Tickets are $25 before Feb. 12 and $30 at the door if any are available.
The dress is business casual to formal. Professional photographer, jewelry sales, DJ and a nice buffet are offered. All proceeds benefit the health fund.
Call 518-3416.
Energy efficiency workshop PALM HARBOR - In conjunction with the Pinellas County Extension Office, Palm Harbor Library will offer a free energy efficiency workshop on Saturday, Feb. 18, 11 a.m. to noon, at 2330 Nebraska Ave.
James Stevenson will discuss money saving, energy lowering tips for the home and demonstrate a new Kill-A-Watt monitor. This simple tool, which is available for check-out at all Pinellas County libraries, shows the amount of energy different home electronics use, when in use or even when turned off.
All participants will leave with a Kill-A-Watt monitor that they can borrow for up to 14 days.
To register for the program, go to pinellascountyextension.org, click on Feb. 18, 2012 and then on “Kill-A-Watt Campaign.”
Call 724-3332, ext. 3006.
Saddle Up Riding Club open house PINELLAS PARK - Saddle Up Riding Club will host an open house for its “Saddle Up for Heroes” equine program for veterans on Saturday, Feb. 18, 1:30 to 3 p.m., at 6080 94th Ave.
The event is free and will feature refreshments, a chance to meet the horses and hear from the staff about opportunities available for veterans.
The club was one of 95 nationwide community organizations awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in support of Paralympic sport and physical activity programs for disabled veterans. The grant awards, which range from $2,500 to $500,000, were announced Dec. 22.
For more information about “Saddle Up for Heroes,” call program liaison Angel Watson at 637-1067. Visit www.saddleupridingclub.org.
Super Greek Festival ST. PETERSBURG - The St. Stefanos annual Super Greek Festival will run Feb. 17-19 at St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church, 3600 76th St. N.
The festival is a nonreligious event and is open to the public. The festival will celebrate Greek food, Greek culture and the coming together of the St. Petersburg and greater Tampa Bay communities as a whole.
There will be food, music, dancing, raffle and bake sale.
Call 345-8235 or visit www.ststefanos.org.
Fresh Market on Corey Avenue Corey Area Business Association's Fresh Market on Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach, Sundays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 16 through May 2012. The market will feature vendors of fresh and/or organic produce, plants and flowers, spices, foods, handcrafted items, arts and crafts. For vendor information, call Kathi at 727-498-8778. Corey Avenue is just off Gulf Boulevard in downtown St. Pete Beach. Parking is free.
Four Chaplains celebration MADEIRA BEACH - American Legion Post 273 plans a Four Chaplains Day celebration Sunday, Feb. 19, 1 p.m., at the post, 600 American Legion Drive.
The Four Chaplains, also referred to as the “Immortal Chaplains,” were four U.S. Army chaplains who gave their lives to save other civilian and military personnel during the sinking of the troop ship USAT Dorchester on Feb. 3, 1943 during World War II.
The chaplains helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets when the supply ran out. The chaplains later joined arms, said prayers, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship. The public is invited.
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