SEMINOLE - We are all citizens of the world. What does that mean in terms of good citizenship? Are there obligations to our fellow global citizens - ethical behaviors that determine our citizen-worthiness on Planet Earth?
Benjamin R. Barber, an internationally acclaimed scholar, political theorist and lecturer, at the second Ethics Speaker Series event at St. Petersburg College’s Seminole campus on Feb. 29, will explore those issues in depth.
The forum is titled “The Ethics of Global Citizenship: Does It Affect You?” It is jointly sponsored by the SPC’s Applied Ethics Institute, College of Policy and Legal Studies, and Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Times and WUSF Public Media. It is free to SPC students and the general public.
Barber is the ideal authority to address the issues of global citizenship. He is founder and president of CivWorld, a global interdependence initiative based in New York at Dmos, a policy, research and advocacy center dedicated to generating new ideas and catalyzing social change to help everyone achieve the American dream. At CivWorld, Barber oversees projects aimed at raising awareness of the interdependence of global society and fostering transnational and interdependent solutions to global challenges.
ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays Baseball Foundation, the charitable arm of the Tampa Bay Rays, is accepting applications for its Community Fund Grant Program.
Applications for the Community Fund Grant Program are currently available on raysbaseball.com on the community page.
The Rays Baseball Foundation Community Fund Grant Program provides financial support to local nonprofit institutions in the Tampa Bay area. These funds will support current youth and/or education programs offered by community-based nonprofit organizations.
Grants up to $5,000 are awarded through the program.
TALLAHASSEE - Florida Gov. Rick Scott is pleased with recent actions by the state legislature to pump up funding for education.
In a Feb. 9 press release, Scott said, "I am pleased that the Florida Senate, like the Florida House, has answered my call to significantly increase education funding by advancing a proposal that provides over $1 billion additional state dollars for educating Florida’s future. I applaud Senate President Mike Haridopolos, Senator J.D. Alexander and Senate Pre-K-12 education budget chief, Senator David Simmons, for recognizing the importance of increasing state K-12 education funding.
“Both the Florida House and Senate have demonstrated that they share my commitment to provide our students with a quality education. We all recognize that in order to have an outstanding education system and a qualified workforce, we must increase our investment in K-12 classrooms. I expect the final budget that comes to my desk for signature will do just that by including at least $1 billion in new state funding for K-12 education.”
Scott issued a similar statement Feb. 2 after the House Appropriations Committee made its recommendations for education funding.
Scott said “On behalf of Florida’s students, I thank Speaker Cannon and members of the House Appropriations Committee for focusing on my proposal to place an additional $1 billion into K-12 education.
CLEARWATER - Clearwater Christian College has named Dr. John F. (Jack) Klem as the school’s fifth president.
Klem holds degrees from Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pa.; Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pa.; and Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Minn. He has served as vice president of academics and dean of graduate school at Northland International University in Dunbar, Wis., and academic dean and executive vice president at the Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Virginia Beach, Va., where he also served on the faculty as professor of biblical theology and exegesis.
Klem is currently senior pastor of the Brookdale Baptist Church in Moorhead, Minn. He is originally from Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He and his wife, Cathy, have two adult children. He will follow current president Richard A. Stratton who concludes his 10-year tenure with the institution in the spring.
PINELLAS PARK - To help students prepare to do their very best on comprehensive tests, the Pinellas Park High School, at 6305 118th Ave., scheduled boot camp tutoring sessions for all students over the next several months.
Tutoring through TESTZONE, the school’s “boot camp” program, will be held on Mondays, 2 to 3 p.m. on the following topics:
- FCAT Reading and Writing, scheduled for Feb. 13, 20 and 27
- FCAT Reading and Math, scheduled for March 12, 19 and April 2
CLEARWATER - When school is out of session, children can receive free meals through the Summer Food Service Program. Facilitated by Pinellas County Health and Human Services, the food program runs from Tuesday, June 12, through Tuesday, Aug. 7.
Health and Human Services is currently seeking locations within the county to serve as meal service sites. Recreation and community centers, school sites and day camps throughout Pinellas County can apply for the upcoming food program. At approved sites in low-income areas, meals are provided free to children 18 years of age and younger, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex or disability.
Each site must be approved by the state and meet certain criteria. An agency serving as a site must have not-for-profit status, adequate storage and refrigeration for meals, and meet state and local public health standards.
Agencies and organizations that are interested in participating in the summer program must apply by Wednesday, Feb. 29.
ST. PETERSBURG - Kyla Kolb, a student at Lakewood High School’s Center for Advanced Technologies, has received the 2012 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. The award, sponsored by Bank of America and the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), recognizes young high school women for their computing-related achievements and interests as part of an effort to encourage more young women to choose careers in technology.
Kolb is one of 35 award winners nationwide selected for their outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology and computing, solid leadership ability, good academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.
“Encouraging young women’s interest in technology careers is critical,” said Lucy Sanders, CEO and Co-founder of NCWIT. “Our workforce needs their creativity and their innovation.”
Pete Oberg, CAT program coordinator, describes Kolb as an excellent example of what students can accomplish through dedication, guidance, and vision.
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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