Registration open for Clerk’s Valentine’s Day weddings

CLEARWATER — Couples longing to be married or renew their vows on the most romantic day of the year can register for the 20th Annual Valentine’s Day Group Wedding Ceremony hosted and officiated by the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

This year’s celebration will take place on Saturday, Feb. 14, at the picturesque Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. The vow renewal ceremony will be held for 30 couples at 1:30 p.m., and the wedding ceremony for 30 newlyweds will be at 2 p.m.

Registration is required and space is limited. Couples must sign up online at www.mypinellasclerk.gov/valentinesdaywedding by Sunday, Feb. 1. Spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

To participate in the wedding ceremony, couples must apply for a marriage license by Tuesday, Feb. 10. The $30 ceremony fee has been waived for this special event; however, standard marriage license fees still apply.

County finance pros win national achievement

CHICAGO, Ill. — The Pinellas Clerk’s Office has earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (ACFR Award) and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Financial Reporting (PAFR Award) for the 44th and 19th years, respectively.

Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Pinellas County for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2024. The report has been judged to meet the high standards of the program which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

GFOA advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources, and practical research for more than 21,000 members and the communities they serve.

Heritage Village launches ‘Power of Place’

Heritage Village Museum & Park is launching The Power of Place Oral History Initiative to capture stories about Pinellas County places, people, and events.

Residents, community groups, nonprofits, city and county agencies, faith-based organizations, and legacy businesses (50+ years) are invited to apply.

Power of Place will be part of Heritage Village’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2026.

Pinellas County residents are invited to share stories about the local places, people, and events that shaped their lives as part of the initiative, which will highlight Pinellas County’s history by collecting personal stories and preserving them in a digital archive for future generations.

Community groups, nonprofits, city and county agencies, faith-based organizations, and legacy businesses (50+ years) are encouraged to partner with Heritage Village and share their stories.

Participation is free, and applications are now open. Learn more and apply at: https://www.heritagevillagefl.org/50thAnniversary/.

Pinellas County extends waiver on permit penalties

Pinellas County property owners with homes not deemed substantially damaged who have started or completed unpermitted repairs will now have until June 30, 2026, to obtain after-the-fact permits without paying a penalty.

The Pinellas County Commission adopted a resolution Dec. 16 extending the grace period for penalty fee waivers by six months. Normally, after-the-fact permitting fees are double the usual fee. With the waiver, applicants only pay the standard fee.

This penalty waiver applies to applications submitted by June 30, 2026, for properties in unincorporated Pinellas County and the communities of Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Oldsmar, Kenneth City and Safety Harbor that were damaged in Hurricane Helene or Milton.

After-the-fact permits for new construction unrelated to storm damage, such as pools, patios and driveways, are ineligible for the waiver.

The county also announced it is activating a provision in its Land Development Code allowing residents of mobile home communities located in flood zones within the unincorporated county to temporarily reside in their recreation vehicle (RVs) on their lot for up to 180 days.

Residents must obtain a zoning clearance to verify placement and minimum safety standards.

Residents may be eligible for the People First Recovery Program, which offers funding for repairs, reconstruction and reimbursement of costs not covered by insurance or FEMA. Residents can apply at recover.pinellas.gov.