City to Celebrate 11th Annual Neighborhoods Week

CLEARWATER, FL (March 2, 2009) - Clearwater's Neighborhood Services Division will host several events as part of the 11th annual Celebrate Neighborhoods Week, March 8th-14th. Mayor Frank Hibbard will officially recognize the week, which honors Clearwater's residents with a City Council meeting proclamation on March 2nd .

Wednesday, March 11th from 6-8pm, residents will have an opportunity to attend mini-seminars on salient neighborhood topics at the Countryside Recreation Center, 2640 Sabal Springs  Drive Clearwater. Sessions include gangs and crime, landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities, housing issues and foreclosure prevention strategies as well as hurricane planning and preparedness.

A "Movie in the Park" will be shown Friday, March 13th at Crest Lake Park. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets to see Madagascar II, a free family film. The screening begins at sunset. In case of inclement weather, the raincheck date is March 20th.

The culminating event is Neighborhoods Day, Saturday, March 14th when approximately 20 neighborhoods hold block parties that are visited by city officials and staff. Residents  are given an opportunity to discuss their concerns with city officials as they socialize with neighbors. Personnel from Clearwater Police, Fire & Rescue and Solid Waste will be on hand with specialized vehicles and offer guided tours of the equipment.

Residents who would like to organize a neighborhood block party and be included in the festivities may contact Neighborhood Services Manager Becky Melendez at 562-4585.