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Pictured L to R:Fire Chief, James Angle, District Chief and Team Captain, Dan Zinge, Firefighter/Paramedic Rodney Malpass, Firefighter/Paramedic Doug Zimmerman, Firefighter Rick Weschler, Firefighter Mike Harvey, and Firefighter/Paramedic Bill Fisher

Six Palm Harbor Firefighters are on the way to Wales to participate as the only U.S. team in the World Extrication Competition.

Firefighter/Paramedic Rodney Malpass, Firefighter/Paramedic Doug Zimmerman, Firefighter Rick Weschler, Firefighter Mike Harvey, and Firefighter/Paramedic Bill Fisher will represent not only Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, but the U.S. in the upcoming competition.

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue received a letter in April from the Chairman of the World Rescue Organization (WRO) inviting Palm Harbor Fire Rescue to participate in the 2008 World Rescue Extrication Challenge as the only team of more than 200 registered extrication teams in the U.S. The WRO is a worldwide organization that promotes rescuer training, safety, and new tool technology in addition to conducting extrication challenges all around the world.

This year's event will be held July 9-12 in Cardiff, Wales UK, where 31 teams from 16 different countries will determine the extrication champions.

For more information, visit www.worldrescue-wales.org.uk.

Operation PAR, West Central Florida's largest substance abuse agency, is celebrating Christmas in July and invites the community to join the early festivities.

Recognizing that many people will be overwhelmed with requests for assistance during November and December, PAR is seeking donations in July of new toys and clothing for children from birth to 17 years of age. Suggested donations for adults include socks, t-shirts, paper, pens, markers and toiletries.

Approximately 250 adults are receiving residential treatment at PAR facilities and some are mothers that have children who actually live on property with them. PAR's Adolescent Residential Center houses 30 teenage boys and girls and Outpatient, Intervention and Prevention programs have several hundred clients as well.

While PAR can help clients in their recovery process, it doesn't receive funding for extras such as Christmas gifts. Last year, more than 2,000 adults and children received holiday donations.

Unwrapped gifts can be put under the Christmas tree at PAR's office at 6655 66th St. North in Pinellas Park throughout the month of July. Monetary donations in support of Christmas also are welcome and can be mailed to: Christmas in July, 6655 66th St. North, Pinellas Park, FL 33781.

The Pet Food Warehouse BOWser Abode Competition and Tour – a collection of artistically designed doghouses created by local architects, builders, artists and designers – will be at Sunken Gardens lobby through Wednesday, July 30, before moving on to the Largo Library.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view unique concepts in doghouses, including the "Puppies of the Caribbean,” the "Gypsy Wagon” or the "Scrap-E House” made entirely of scrap materials with solar lighting.

The public also will be able to vote for the People’s Choice Award at the onsite ballot box. The People’s Choice Award, along with the Best of Show, 2nd and 3rd place awards will be given on Friday, Aug. 1 at the Largo Library – where the doghouses will be up for auction.

The BOWser Abode event is produced by and benefits the Pinellas Animal Foundation’s humane education Safe House Service Program that works with children at risk of anti-social behavior due to trauma in their lives. The foundation is a non-profit veterinary and community partnership established in 1983; dedicated to improved animal care, owner responsibility and increased awareness of the value of the human/animal bond.

Sunken Gardens is located at 1825 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. For more information or to bid on one of the doghouses, call 727-710-7387.

With fuel prices at record levels and rising, consumers are urged to take precautions to prevent thefts of fuel from their vehicles.

While there is no statewide database detailing the extent of the problem, anecdotal evidence is mounting that thieves are siphoning gasoline, diesel and other motor fuels from cars and trucks sitting in driveways and parking lots because of the rising value of the fuel. Gasoline stations are also increasingly being targeted by fuel thefts, according to the state's Petroleum Inspection Bureau and Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement.

"While Florida and the nation are working on the development of alternative fuels and adopting conservation measures to ultimately bring down the price of gasoline, we are nonetheless all forced at the moment to pay record prices for fuel," Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said. "And with filling a gas tank commonly reaching $50 and even $75 each fueling, the last thing we need is for thieves to siphon the fuel

out of our gas tanks."

Toward that end, Bronson is offering the following tips to prevent a motorist from being the victim of fuel thefts:

-- Consider the purchase a locking gas cap.

-- When possible, park your car in a locked garage.

-- Park in well-lit areas when possible.

-- If a vehicle has an alarm, set it before parking.

-- Check the fuel gauge before parking; report any fuel theft immediately.

-- When pumping fuel at a gas station, never leave an activated pump unattended.

-- If purchasing a new vehicle, inquire about a locking fuel door.

Farms and agricultural operations in general, both nationally and in Florida, appear to be victims of increasing gasoline and diesel thefts also, and Bronson recommends that such properties be fenced or gated, and as well lit when possible. Nurseries, packinghouses and agricultural storage areas should consider installing security cameras with a tape backup. Thefts at farming operations should be reported to local law enforcement or the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement at 1-800-342-5869.

In addition to protecting a vehicle's fuel from being stolen, Bronson also is encouraging consumers to adopt fuel conservation measures as a means of combating skyrocketing fuel prices.

Such measures include car pooling, using public transportation when possible, combining errands to minimize the number of trips taken in your vehicle, maintaining a reasonable speed, using the most economical grade of gasoline recommended for your vehicle and keeping tires properly inflated.