This January, the Pinellas County Housing Authority and the Community Service Foundation will be holding a free two-part First Time Homebuyer seminars and workshops.

Participants will gain an understanding of the various types of assistance and programs available to first time homebuyers.

The seminars are scheduled for Jan. 3 and 10, from 6 - 9 p.m., at PCHA's Central Office, located at 11479 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

The housing authority will also be holding a two-part Household Bugeting Seminar Feb. 16 and 23 at the same location.

St. Petersburg, FL -- You can check out the three finalists in the Pier Design Competition, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG); Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc.; and West 8 Urban Design and Landscape Architecture. The presentations are now posted for view on the city's website, www.stpete.org, on St. Pete TV, and will be available for view or checkout at all St. Petersburg libraries in DVD format by Jan. 3.

Pinellas County government offices will be closed on Monday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 2, in observance of Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The courts of the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pinellas and Pasco) will not be in session Monday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 2, except for first-appearance advisory hearings and emergency situations.

Animal Services will be closed on Monday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 2, with the outside animal drop-off area remaining open.