March - Pinellas County Government Home Page

Pinellas Employees Newsletter
UPDATES
March 2012•Vol.40 No.3
6TH Annual
Colors of Pinellas 2012
Ron recently began working in glass after
purchasing an online Groupon deal. He had
taken a class in stained glass years ago and
enjoyed it. He thought glass fusing sounded
interesting – and it appears he has a knack for it.
“This is the only fusing class I have taken, but
I am scheduled to take another … I enjoy
learning new things and this is providing a
challenge to keep trying different techniques.”
When asked how he arrived at this design, Ron
said he was just playing around and looking for
symmetry.
Ron Boucher (PAO) with his Best in Show
craftwork, “Green Bowl” (adult, amateur, craft).
Congratulations to Ron Boucher (Property
Appraiser) for winning the coveted “Best in Show”
prize at the 2012 Colors of Pinellas Employee Art
Show. The art show judges were so impressed
with the craftsmanship they wondered if this
piece of fine china had been purchased. When
The Pen told Ron that, he modestly chuckled
“Nooo. Nooo.” and smiled.
What was his family’s reaction to his ‘major
award’? He said “It was happy.” He also noted
he had shown the piece to them before and
they thought it was “nice”. But now that he’s
won a best in show, his artistry is validated.
In addition to his duties at the PAO, Ron plays
golf, dabbles in creative writing and loves to
travel.
INSIDE
3
Ask Peggy
4
Monthly
Contest
5
Finances
Songs of the
Century
6
Service Awards
7
Retirements
Promotions
8
Volunteer
Corner
9
TIPS
Pet of the Month
9
Winners of the 2012 Colors of Pinellas Art Show
CONTINUED on PAGE 2
P I N E L L A S
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UPDATES
CONTINUED from PAGE 1
The Pen
Some of the other fine winning
entries are pictured on this page.
We hope you enjoy them.
The Pen
EDITOR......................................................... Laura Berkowitz
ASSISTANT EDITOR...........................................Maria I. Reilly
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT.......................................Mary L. Sault
A monthly publication by the
Pinellas County Human Resources Department
How to Participate:
It’s easy to get involved in The Pen. You can contribute by informing
us of noteworthy news or sending us story ideas. You can also ask
about writing a guest column or submit photos of co-workers at
work in your department.
PHONE: (727) 464-4836 • FAX: (727) 453-3660
E-mail: employee.communications@pinellascounty.org
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Cover your back side
Cut waste by 50% by using
both sides of the paper.
Set your printer default at
work and home to duplex
(two-sided) printing. Make
double-sided copies whenever
possible.
Green Tips courtesy
of Pinellas County
Communications Dept.
Visit www.pinellascounty.
org/utilities/green for 200
more Green Tips.
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Q:
My 5 years of service with
Pinellas County will be April 20,
2012. I’m excited about this! When
I reach my 5 year mark my long
term disability is free of charge,
correct? Will I be notified of this
change or will I just see it on my
pay slip?
A:
Peggy Rowe
Director of Human Resources
Q:
I opt-out of the County health
plan. Can I still participate in the
wellness incentives?
A:
Absolutely you can and should
participate. Even though the County
does not pay your health care costs,
your health and productivity are
important to you, your co-workers
and the citizens who depend on us
every day.
Note: Certain United Health Care
activities may not be available to optout employees. Over the year the HR
department, if necessary, will identify
alternate activities to help you earn
your rewards. Spouses of opt-out
employees are not eligible.
Opt-out employees may log in at
https://my.healthatoz.com/portal/
bridge/Pinellas and view the points
you have earned as well as additional
activities you may do to earn more
points.
Q:
Can you tell me where I go
to do the health assessment for my
spouse?
A:
Once your husband has logged
on to myuhc.com with his own
user name and password, he will
see in the far right column, 4th tab
down HEALTH ASSESSMENT. Click
on it to open a description of the
program designed by the University
of Michigan for United Healthcare.
Then click on LAUNCH University of
Michigan HEALTH ASSESSMENT in
the center of the page and begin
answering the health questions.
For further information, visit Wellness
Incentives 2012.
Congratulations on your
upcoming milestone. You will
continue to see deductions
through April. On your May 11 pay
you will no longer have a personal
contribution. No change notice is
provided. You will simply see the
difference on your pay slip.
Q:
I have taken several classes
and received certifications which
are relevant to my job. I really
would like to include these in my
personnel file and was told I could
do this electronically. How can I do
this?
A:
Congratulations on your
continuing education efforts and
yes you can certainly list all of
these certifications, degrees and
various courses in your on-line
resume. You can access this via
your OPUS log in and under the
PIN Employee Self Service you
will see Professional Details – and
it is there that you can update
your resume with the list of your
newest accomplishments. I would
recommend you keep a copy of
the certificates so that you can
present those upon request.
Q:
Can you republish the
change in the Personnel Rule that
states that time off (AL, LWP Other,
Floating Holidays, PERSONAL
day) stopped counting as time
worked, thus changing how/when
OT would be calculated? I think it
changed in the Fall of 2009?
A:
The rule is Rule XI –
Standard Workweek, Overtime
Compensation and Standby
Assignments and the part you
refer to is “A”. For overtime
compensation purposes,
recognized Holidays or Leave
with Pay for work-related
purposes shall be considered as
time actually worked. Any other
time used by employee, such as
benefits from the Group Health
Plan, time paid under Workers’
Compensation, Compensatory
Time, Annual Leave, Extended
Illness Leave, Floating Holidays,
Personal Days, or Leave with Pay
for non-work related purposes
shall not be considered as time
worked.
Q:
I asked to take a half
hour of lunch and leave a half
hour early as I was not feeling
well. (I was out the previous
day due to an illness which I
submitted as unscheduled annual
leave). I was told that “you can’t
schedule an illness”, in other
words by me asking to flex due
to not feeling well I was asking
to schedule illness. Can you
please comment on this? If this
is true, how can you schedule
any doctor’s appointment, unless
it is a wellness appointment? I
understand there are different
sets of rules to accommodate
the workplace, but me leaving a
half hour early would not have
affected my job in the least.
A:
While it is true that you
cannot schedule “getting sick” on
the job, it is reasonable to allow
employees to flex out their time
where possible, in circumstances
like the one described above,
provided it does not unduly affect
the work flow. It is important
for employees to come to work
feeling well. You should discuss
this further with your supervisor
to understand that division/unit’s
policy on ‘flexing’ time.
In times of change, learners inherit
the Earth, while the learned find
themselves beautifully equipped to
deal with a world that no longer
exists.
--Eric Hoffer
The Pen
ASKPEGGY
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P I N E L L A S
P E N
MONTHLY CONTEST
SUDOKO
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Notice of Annual Meeting
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March 21, 2012, 5:30 p.m.
105 Central Park Dr.
Largo Cultural Center
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There will be dinner, door prizes and reports from the
Board of Directors, Supervisory Committee
and President/CEO.
The Pen
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BLOOD
DRIVE
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To enter this month’s contest send your answer to
employee.communications@pinellascounty.org or via
interoffice mail to The Pen, attention Editor. All correct
entries will be entered into a special drawing. Entries
must be received by April 13, 2012. The winner will
receive a special prize and be recognized in the next
issue of The Pen.
Answer to last month’s contest:
Q. This south county sub-division was developed by a
Kentucky drugstore owner who moved to this area in
1904 and turned to real estate for his livelihood; an
occupation financed by his wealthy bride Lillian Allen.
Mark Your Calendars
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
New Courthouse
315 Court Street, South Parking Lot
Clearwater
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2012
Logan Lab
1620 Ridge Road S.
Largo
Every donor is three more lives saved!
REPCO NEWS
REPCO’s regular meetings are held at noon on the
second Monday of each month at Golden Corral,
10050 Ulmerton Road, in Largo. A representative
from Sandy Morris Financial Services will address
the members on “Investing after Retirement” at the
March 12, 2012 meeting.
A. In the 1920s Perry Snell developed Snell Isle, known
for its wide boulevards, venetian style bridge, golf course
and lavish statuary. The structure in the foreground is
the clubhouse of the Snell Isle Golf Course.
John Linton (DEI) adds: The view is southeast toward the “Old
Northeast” section of St. Petersburg. Mr. Snell also constructed
the Woman’s Club on Coffee Pot Bayou in the 1920’s.
And the Winner is: Terrie Lee Grace, DEI
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You don’t have to be a Pinellas County retiree to
attend - current employees and family members are
also welcome.
Don’t forget to check out the REPCO website. It’s
filled with information on what’s happening and
lots of photos of what’s been happening. Be sure
to scroll all the way through - http://www.knology.
net/~scroft/repco.htm.
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Streamline Your Finances
By Nan Jensen, Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences
other personal matters if you lose the
ability to do so. Be sure to let loved
ones know where copies of all legal
documents can be found.
8. Get your papers under control. Set
up a central filing system at home for
your financial records and designate
one place for gathering your bills.
9. Don’t let a disaster catch you off
guard. If an emergency were to occur
and you had only a few moments
to evacuate your home, perhaps for
several days or even weeks, would you
have access to cash, banking services
and the personal identification you
need to conduct your day-to-day
financial life? Make sure you have all
your family’s records and valuable
documents in one place so you can
easily pick them up and take them
with you. For information on what
types of records to take, check out
Disaster Planning: Important Papers and
Documents at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
pdffiles/fy/fy61900.pdf.
10. Learn more about managing
your finances. There are many on-line
resources and classes to help you learn
more about managing your financial
life.
If you would like free one-on-one help
organizing and taking control of your
finances, you can be paired up with a
Florida Master Money Mentor through
Pinellas County Extension. Contact Nan
Jensen at 582-2104 for information on
the program.
Songs of the Century--Vincent’s Picks: The 1920s
By Vincent D’Emedio, Volunteer
“Ain’t We Got Fun”
Richard A. Whiting,
Raymond B. Egan,
Gus Kahn
“Ain’t Misbehavin’”
Thomas “Fats” Waller,
Harry Brooks,
Andy Razaf
As the twenties began, there were many people who didn’t appreciate the
“new morality” that modern living unleashed. As a result of this, conservatives
in Congress tried to regulate people’s morality by passing the Volstead Act,
a.k.a. Prohibition. And, as with other imposed “moralities”, Prohibition had the
opposite effect. The culture became far more liberated.
My first pick, “Ain’t We Got Fun”, embodies the attitude of the times. The
colloquial term was the “Age of Wonderful Nonsense”. Since most nightclubs
were shuttered and people still wanted to have fun, criminal enterprises soon
stepped in and replaced them with “speakeasies”, private clubs where people
could dance, drink and party. “The Jazz Age” was in full force and, with dance
music controlling the top of the charts, a new musical form was born—“Swing”.
This music was played by “Big Bands” which came to dominate the next two
decades. That’s why my second pick is “Ain’t Misbehavin’”.
The Pen
Do you ever feel like there are too
5. Consolidate accounts. By
many things to do and never enough
consolidating accounts you can reduce
time? Most of us could probably answer mail and paperwork, avoid certain
yes to this question. By investing some
fees and may even get better deals.
time and effort into organizing your
This step makes it easier to monitor
financial life, you can save many hours
your entire portfolio and ensure that
and even a significant amount of
your money is properly diversified. If
money. The Financial Deposit Insurance you plan to consolidate your deposits
Corporation offers some tips to help:
at one institution make sure the
combined funds don’t exceed the
1. Use direct deposit. Make sure
FDIC’s deposit insurance limitations.
to have your pay, pension or Social
Security benefits automatically
6. Look into money-management
deposited into your bank account. It
tools. Software that you download
is easy, convenient and safer. It may
to your computer or Web services
even help you avoid bank fees. Direct
managed by your bank or another
deposit also gives you access to your
third-party can give you an updated
money sooner than a check.
snapshot of all your account
information from multiple institutions,
2. Automate recurring bills. Often
in one place. The programs also can
merchants like insurance companies, or help you organize your finances,
utilities, will allow you to pay recurring
understand how you spend your
bills with an automatic withdrawal
money, and spot a potential fraud or
from your checking account or through
theft.
a charge to your credit card. However,
be sure to record these transactions
Do your homework and
in your check register to avoid
choose a known and
overdrawing your account. And if you
trusted organization,
charge the bills to a credit card, pay
as most of these
the balance in full by the due date to
services collect
avoid interest charges.
account numbers
and passwords
3. Consider online banking. This
along with other
service allows you to review deposits
confidential and
and withdrawals, keep track of your
personally
balance, and move funds between
identifiable information.
accounts.
7. Update your legal documents. In
4. Save money automatically. Arrange
addition to reviewing your will, check
with your bank or employer to
the beneficiaries listed on life insurance
automatically transfer a certain amount policies and retirement accounts.
into savings accounts or investments on Update documents that would enable
a regular schedule.
someone to handle your finances or
P I N E L L A S
P E N
SERVICEAWARDS
SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES
35 YEARS
30 YEARS
Linda F. Jones
Sr Office Spec
Health & Human Services
Helen M. Hall
Admin Supt Spec
Supervisor of Elections
25 YEARS
Marvin L. McAuley
Util Spec 2
DEI
UNAVAILABLE FOR PHOTO
ANNIVERSARIES
25 YEARS Cheryl C. Ferguson, Crt Rec Supv, Clerk
of the Circuit Court, Norman D. Jester, Pub Wks Eng
Supv, DEI
20 YEARS Melissa M. Beem, Dept Trng Spec,
Tax Collector, Jimmy L. Chambers, Util Spec 2, DEI,
Sandra M. Goss, Crt Rec Spec 2, Clerk of the Circuit
Court, Malia M. Kucera, Info Tech Spec, Business
Technology Services
L-R: Barbara J. Jordan, Util Bus Supt Spec, DEI,
Charles C. Freeman, 911 Sys Mgr, Public Safety
Services, Paul N. Berlage, Pub Wks Eng Supv,
DEI, Rita D. Hargrove, Info Tech Spec, Business
Technology Services, Casimiro V. Rael, BTS Tchnlgst 3,
Business Technology Services, Barbara L. Robinson,
Sr Crt Rec Spec, Clerk of the Circuit Court
20 YEARS
L-R: Carol E. Grynewicz, Envir Spec 2,
DEI, Michael A. Kenyon, Crt Rec Supv,
Clerk of the Circuit Court
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15 YEARS
Karen M. Barkiewicz......................... Clerk of the Circuit Court
Michelle L. Britt.................................. Clerk of the Circuit Court
Leonard R. Brunette............................................................BDRS
Kevin A. Cox.............................................................................. DEI
Rose M. Ferkul-Boggess......................................... Tax Collector
Joseph P. Gras........................................................................... DEI
Amelia E. McFarlane................................................. Purchasing
Andrew P. Squires.................................................................... DEI
Earldel R. Watts........................................................................ DEI
Thomas D. Wright.................................................................... DEI
10 YEARS
Thomas J. Cooney.............................. Clerk of the Circuit Court
Stuart J. Dawson...................................................................... DEI
Cynthia S. Forness....................................... Property Appraiser
Deidre M. Haggerty............................ Economic Development
Bernard P. Maloney................................................................. DEI
Eric V. Schutzendorf.................................... Property Appraiser
Phyllis M. Tausend........................................... County Attorney
Dana M. Zordan........................ Business Technology Services
5 YEARS
Douglas A. Blackwell........................ Emergency Management
Christopher A. Carlsen.........................................................BDRS
Hilton A. Ellish.................................................... Animal Services
Kim M. Hochberger........................... Clerk of the Circuit Court
David A. James........................... Business Technology Services
Lynn S. Kiehne................................. Health & Human Services
Tiffany C. Makras........................................... Risk Management
Nicole McKeigue...................................... Public Safety Services
Yvonne M. Skinner............................................ Animal Services
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35 YEARS
Frank Solava
Operations Specialist 2
DEI
23 YEARS
OVER 12 YEARS
Wayne Martin
Environmental Program Manager
Parks and Conservation
Resources
Heather Stawkowski
Court Records Specialist 2
Clerk of the Circuit Court
UNAVAILABLE FOR PHOTO
Over 31 YEARS Susan Charbonneau, Administrative Support Specialist, Justice and
Consumer Services
Over 13 YEARS Martina Kupitz, Fiscal Records Specialist, Clerk of the Circuit Court
Over 8 YEARS Loren Shultz, Park/Preserve Maintenance Worker, Parks and Conservation
Resources
The Pen is once again pleased to provide the Promotions report
thanks to the diligence of the OPUS team.
PROMOTIONS
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Adam S. DiRienzo....................................... Electronic Equip Tech 1
David M. Martin......................................................Spray Technician
Vionette M. Mull................................................................ Sr Chemist
Jaime L. Prawl.................... Public Works/Utility Division Manager
David G. Spencer................................ Solid Waste Prg Coordinator
Vickie L. Tingue............................................................. Accountant 1
REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT
John R. Dunlap.............................................................Craftworker 3
Cynthia M. Harris....................................Sr Real Property Specialist
RETIREMENTS
RETIREMENTS
The Pen
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Volunteer Corner
Pinellas County Employee Day of Service: Doing our part
By Libby Bolling, Communications
The Pen
To say Tonya Clark was excited is an
understatement. As one of the future
homeowners of a Habitat for Humanity
home in St. Petersburg, Mrs. Clark
was absolutely ecstatic. She laughed,
jumped up and down, and hugged
nearly everyone that worked on her
home.
“This is great,” he said. “As this becomes
tradition, it will develop a spirit of
camaraderie and a sense of teamwork
and equality.”
And the spirit of service is already a
part of county employees, who serve
the public every day.
That is part of the thrill for those in the
Pinellas County Commissioner Nancy
Community Development department, Bostock was speaking with Mr. Geneus,
where the staff works with community
listening to his story.
partners to make projects like Habitat a
reality. They don’t often get to see the
“It all comes around,” she said.
personal side of their efforts: the house “Sometimes you need help, sometimes
going up or families that are realizing a
you give help.”
dream.
“This is truly people helping each
And the families all have a story.
other,” Mr. Geneus said. Then, the
And there were a lot of people to hug
Mrs. Clark and her husband, Daniel,
commissioner
- approximately 80. The volunteers
have four children between the ages
took her paint
who arrived at 7:30 a.m. on Monday,
of 3 and 7. They are moving from a
roller and
January 16, to help finish three Habitat
cramped, two-bedroom home, also
continued to
homes in St. Petersburg included
in St. Petersburg, to a 1,500-square
cover the side of
60 Pinellas County employees. With
foot home, with four bedrooms and
the house with
county offices closed, they were able
two bathrooms. One of the little girls
fresh paint.
to participate in the Pinellas County
already knows she wants her room
Employee Day of Service, a day that
painted pink. Mr. Clark is ready to do it
Even the homes
County Administrator Bob LaSala felt
before they even move in.
themselves are
was important.
a testament to
“My Dad built his own home and I
service. A total
“In 1995 Congress established Martin
always wanted my own home,” said Mr.
of six Habitat
Luther King Jr. Day as a National Day
Clark, who is originally from Mississippi.
homes on 23rd
of Service,” LaSala said, as he waited
“This is a dream come true.”
Avenue are sponsored by Kathryn
to pick up a paint brush and get to
Fenton in California in memory of her
work. “I thought, ‘Let’s see if we can
With the 350 hours of sweat equity
parents, George Arnold and June Marie
get our employees together to take the
potential Habitat homeowners are
Gerlach. For each house, the estate
challenge to heart.’”
required to work, and classes they must donated $50,000.
attend, the Clarks are already friends
He looked around and noted that,
with their two other neighbors, who
Kathy Boucher, a radio operator for
with everyone wearing blue Pinellas
also have four children.
the county’s 9-1-1 emergency center,
County T-shirts, one could not
said she always wanted to work on a
distinguish between elected officials,
Alfredo and Mary Jane Eborda, who
Habitat project and she was glad for
administration or the staff that serves in
currently live in Pinellas Park, will be
the opportunity that this day of service
the various departments of the county.
moving into their seventh home in the
offered.
seven years since they moved
from the Philippines with
“This brings a lot of people together
their children. Their children’s
working for a good cause,” said Peggy
education is a high priority for
Rowe, who is the director of Human
the Ebordas, who see this new
Resources. “That’s what Martin Luther
five-bedroom house as the
King Jr. was all about and we are doing
best chance to give their young
our part. It’s really a beautiful thing.”
students a peaceful place to
study – they will each have their
bedroom. It has been a strain
moving so often, they said.
There will be seven people
sharing the third home, with
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Jean F. and Ruth Geneus, their four
children and Mrs. Geneus’ mother,
Marie, a survivor of the 2010
earthquake in Haiti. In the United
States for 17 years and a U.S. citizen,
Mr. Geneus moved to Florida from New
Jersey. He and Mrs. Geneus married
and she moved from Haiti in 2004.
To view YouTube video of the Day of
Service, click here.
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TIPS
WELLNESS TIP OF THE MONTH
Go Green! Did you know that many of the green vegetables are low in calorie
and high in health benefits. One cup chopped Broccoli yields only 30 calories,
one package of 10 oz. leaf Spinach only 65 calories, one cup steamed Green
Beans only 44 calories and four Brussels Sprouts only 30 calories. This is your
lucky day! Improve your health but add little calories to your daily calorie
consumption by eating LOTS of green vegetables!
Click here to see more on the health benefits of vegetables.
OPUS Tip SETTING FAVORITES:
You can personalize your OPUS Home
Page to display the menu items you
access most frequently. To set up
favorites, click on the 'Personalize'
button under 'Favorites' on the
home page. You may also click on
the 'Favorites' drop-down and then
'Manage Favorites' near the top of the
screen.
Tablet computing is taking the nation and Pinellas County by storm. The
iPad alone is owned in over 18% of homes across the U.S. In BTS, we have
received many requests for help in using iPads for county email and a
myriad of other uses.
Many of you probably have iPads at home, or maybe you bring one to work
to help you be more productive and mobile in your daily duties. BTS would
be delighted to discuss with you the things you have found that work well,
the things that don’t work so well, and see if we can share ideas we can all
use.
BTS will be hosting a Lunch and Learn on Friday, March 9th, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Courthouse Annex building
at 400 S. Fort Harrison, 3rd floor, conference room 330. Bring your lunch and your ideas, and your iPad, if you have one,
and let’s share this exciting new technology, and see if we can make our work environment just a little bit better.
Please direct any questions to Andrew Russell in BTS, x33436.
PET OF THE MONTH
This is “Ruff.” No, “Ruff” is not a dog. This handsome1-year-old black-and-white male
stray is named that because he is unruffled and calm. He is 8 pounds and loves to
be brushed. Come see him at Pinellas County Animal Services, located at 12450
Ulmerton Road in Largo. Normal hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to
5 p.m., with the adoption center closing at 4:30 p.m. The adoption center is also open
the third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon.
Visit Ruff and the other cats, dogs, puppies and kittens up for adoption, or see them
online at www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices/petfind.htm. For news on how to
adopt, donate or volunteer, join Pinellas County Animal Services on Facebook. To
learn more about the shelter, visit www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices or call (727)
582-2600.
The Pen
BTS, Tablet Computing, and Lunch