Pasco County students return to school on August 24th.

Here's some information that will make that transition a little easier:

• Are your child's immunizations up-to-date? You can get free immunizations at the health department or call 727-861-5250 to find the health department location near you.
• Need help with school supplies? Several churches and other organizations are providing free clothes, school supplies and more. Call 211 to find out where.
• All the information you need to register your child for school and for after school care http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/back_to_school/
  
• Hey where's the bus stop! Click on http://trans.pasco.k12.fl.us/bus/bus_info.html or call (813) 794-0400, (352) 524-0400, (727) 774-0400
• The2009-2010 school year calendar
  
• Here's a list of school start and end times

Managing money wisely is a challenge for many of us. In times like now, we are trying to stretch that dollar just a little further. The Federal government has released a toolkit that will help you with saving, investing, protecting, and getting the most for your money. You can request the toolkit using this online form or by calling 1 (888) 696 – 6639, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. eastern time (except Federal holidays). Supplies are limited, so order soon.

The tool kit contains the following publications. If you click on the links below you can read these publications now!

Jim Martin, Office of Emergency Management

(727) 847-8137

Flooding in the neighborhood is approximately in a 10-block radius ranging from the intersection of Zimmerman and Ranch roads. A half a dozen residents have been directed to the shelter and no injuries have been reported. Water has surrounded a number of homes and is standing in some residences. Some streets are flooded and residents are advised not to drive through standing water. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the entire Tampa Bay Area until 11:45 a.m.

Pasco County Fire Rescue is one of a number of agencies on scene. Fire-Rescue personnel are going home-to-home in order assist citizens and access any further property damage.

For further information, please contact the Pasco County Office of Emergency Management at 727-847-8137. Or you can visit our website at www.pascoemergencymanagement.com.

Would you like to reduce your monthly mortgage payment?

The Home Affordable Refinance Program gives up to 4 to 5 million homeowners with loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac an opportunity to refinance into more affordable monthly payments. The Home Affordable Modification Program commits $75 billion to keep up to 3 to 4 million Americans in their homes by preventing avoidable foreclosures.

To find out if you are eligible go to www.makinghomeaffordable.gov
You may be eligible for refinancing of your home at a lower interest rate or you may qualify for a loan modification to make your monthly mortgage payment more affordable.

Beware of foreclosure rescue scams-help is free.

Other helpful websites:
Financialstability.gov

We've been hearing a lot about the "Cash for Clunkers" program. Cash for my old car, sounds good to me!



Here are the rules:

• Your vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date
• Only purchase or lease of new vehicles qualify
• Generally, trade-in vehicles must get 18 or less MPG (some very large pick-up trucks and cargo vans have different requirements)
• Trade-in vehicles must be registered and insured continuously for the full year preceding the trade-in
• You don't need a voucher, dealers will apply a credit at purchase
• Program runs through Nov 1, 2009 or when the funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
• The vehicle that you are trading in is required to be destroyed. Therefore, the value you negotiate with the dealer for your trade in is not likely to exceed its scrap value. The law requires the dealer to disclose to you and estimate of the scrap value of your trade-in vehicle.

We're here to help you! The Pasco County Library is here to help you cope in these tough economic times.

Laid Off?
We have laptop computers available for you to file for unemployment, search for a job, and create a resume.
You can make an appointment with a librarian who will help you navigate forms and applications. Call your local branch and ask for the egovernment librarian or schedule an appointment using this form.

Pasco County's One Stop Employment Center- Career Central has a mobile unit where job seekers can search for work, create and print resumes, access local and statewide job listings, and more. The mobile unit is available at various locations throughout the Pasco County including the library. Click here to see when the mobile one stop will be near you!

In addition to online resources, the library also has book resources to help you cope with these challenging times. Check out our library catalog. Search for books on how to: write a resume, develop your networking skills, use the Internet to find employment and more.