This Week in Largo
DECEMBER 28, 2018
The City of Largo welcomes you to LARGO TODAY , News from the City Manager. Stay up-to-date on the superior services Largo aims to offer our residents, businesses and homeowners each week.
NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY CLOSURES AND SOLID WASTE SERVICE
CITY FACILITIES CLOSED
As a reminder, all City facilities will be closed on January 1. The Largo Library will be closing at 5:00 pm on Monday, December 31. Highland, Southwest and the Largo Community Center will be closing at 6:30pm on Monday, December 31.
 
TRASH & RECYCLING COLLECTION NOTICE
Trash and recycling will not be collected on January 1. View the  Collection Schedule to find your pick-up day.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS at LARGO CENTRAL PARK
Continue the holiday festivities and enjoy the twinkling lights at Largo Central Park nightly from 6-11pm through New Year's Day.  More Info
CITY OF LARGO STAFF GIVES BACK
The City of Largo staff is happy to celebrate the season of giving with a pooled donation of $9,067.44 to the United Way Suncoast. This month-long internal City campaign highlights employees' willingness to go above and beyond in their generosity to the community. 
 
From the cutest pet contest, to coin competitions for the best department, to selling tickets to wear jeans, employees opened their hearts and their wallets to give back. The implementation of unique fundraisers in raising money for the United Way highlights the City's values of Integrity, Collaboration, Passion and Creativity. 
 
The City's Engineering Services Director, Jerry Woloszynski, who led the internal campaign, said: "I'm so proud of City staff, who donate so much of their own time and effort throughout the year, to also give back to the United Way during the holiday season."
-Kate O'Connell Oyer
Communications and Marketing Manager I 586-7455 I koconnel@largo.com
TROTTER ROAD/DRYER AVENUE INTERSECTION CLOSURE
Dryer Avenue will be closed at Trotter Road beginning January 7-11 for subsurface utility work. Message boards announcing the closure will be in place on January 4. Detour signs will be erected Monday morning, January 7 concurrent with the closure of the intersection. Expect minor delays and slightly longer travel times.
-Barry Westmark
Senior Engineer I 587-6713 I bwestmar@largo.com
TEXT-TO-911 NOW AVAILABLE IN PINELLAS COUNTY
Citizens who cannot place a call to 911 in an emergency now have the alternative option to text for police, fire or medical response. Texts should only be used under circumstances when callers are unable to call for help. Calling 911 is still the best way to share information with emergency telecommunicators for a quick response countywide. Citizens who use text-to-911 should remember the following tips before sending a message: 

• Always call 911 if you can; text the number 911 if you can’t 
• Send a brief message including your address and description of the emergency 
• Do not send pictures, videos or emojis; avoid using slang  
• 911 telecommunicators can only respond to texts in English; multilingual translators are available for voice calls placed to 911 
• Stay available to respond to texts from 911 until released by the telecommunicator

Pinellas County Regional 911 telecommunicators are trained to respond immediately to texts and will dispatch help as soon as they receive information about the caller’s location and the nature of their emergency. 

The new capability will be of particular benefit to citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing as an alternative to using a TTY or telecommunications relay service. 

The text-to-911 service is the result of a partnership between Pinellas County and major mobile carriers in the community, supporting the county’s mission to ensure public health, safety and welfare.
UPCOMING EVENTS
YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEETING
Largo's Youth Leadership Council meets the first Wednesday of each month from 4-5:30pm. The next Council meeting is scheduled for January 2.

The council provides reports and updates to the City Commission at their meetings. In addition, the council plans and participates in several community services projects throughout the year.

Membership information
To become a member, council participants must be:
  • Current students in grades 9-12
  • Reside in the City of Largo
  • Have a desire to learn about City government

To apply, please complete an application

Why join?
  • Leadership opportunities
  • Make a difference
  • Meet and make new friends
  • Learn about City government and operations
  • Have a voice in City government
  • Learn about City history
  • Volunteer to help with community projects
  • Meet the City leaders
Looks good on college applications
SHREDFEST IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!
Largo is proud to announce the 2019 dates for ShredFest, the free document shredding and recycling event. Please join us on January 19, April 13, July 20 and October 19 at the  Starkey Road Collection Center (1551 Starkey Rd) from 9am-12pm.

The Starkey Road Recycling Center is also a 24-hour facility where residents can drop off their mixed recycling at no-cost, recycle used cooking oil and pick up free, recycled mulch all year-round.

ShredFest is part of the City of Largo’s sustainability initiatives and Largo Recycles. To learn more about ShredFest or other upcoming sustainability events, visit  LargoRecycles.com or call (727)587-6760.

- Laura Thomas
Sustainability Coordinator I 586-7424 I lthomas@largo.com