Since 1954 www.PINELLAS-NEWS.com Friday, January 29, 2010 | 25¢ OBAMA BRINGS Mayor Foster’s Night Out BY:DANIELA DISTEFANO $1.25 BILLION FOR PINELLAS NEWS ST.PETERSBURG- Are you looking for an opportunity to voice your opinion about HIGH-SPEED RAIL garbage collection in your neighborhood? Do you have a permit issue you need to re- Obama announces high-speed rail in Tampa; says he’ll be back to ride it solve but have not had the time to get down to City Hall? Or maybe you have just always wanted to meet with the Chief of Police? A new city program will of- fer St. Petersburg residents an opportunity to have face-to- face interaction with the indi- Photo courtesy of the mayor’s office viduals who help provide es- been successful in other cities. sential services to the Mayor Foster said the Mayor community. Jerry Abramson of Louisville, Recently announced by KY, has found the program to Mayor Bill Foster, “Mayor’s deliver more community im- Night Out” will be an eight- pact than any other public night series where the mayor, meetings. along with council members, “It’s all about the interac- police and fire chiefs, city ad- tion,” Mayor Foster said. “This ministrators and directors, will will get us up from behind our be available to meet with the desk and out of the office and public on a one-on-one basis. to the people we serve.” “Most people can’t make it Mayor Foster believes the to City Hall during the work- program will be a learning ex- day, and it’s not always easy to perience for both the public get an appointment with the and city staff, and he hopes it mayor or officials,” Mayor Fos- will expand past the eight ter said. “With these sessions, scheduled dates. photo by Tihomir Krstic citizens can meet with me and Even if residents do not President Barack Obama spoke at the University of Tampa, Thursday afternoon. senior city staff to pose their have pressing issues, Mayor BY:DANIELA DISTEFANO questions and get assistance Foster hopes they will come PINELLAS NEWS project would create up to cause people won’t be frus- with any city services they share their ideas for city im- 15,000 construction jobs, as trated stuck in traffic for may need.” provement or just come out to TAMPA- On the heels of his well as additional permanent hours.” Although the series is the meet the heads of the depart- first State of the Union address jobs once the line is up and University of Tampa’s Asso- first of its kind in St. Peters- ments. Wednesday, President Obama running by 2014. ciate Dean of Students and the burg, similar initiatives have arrived at the Bob Martinez Director of the Office of Stu- See MAYOR PAGE 2 Sports Center at the Univer- dent Leadership and Engage- sity of Tampa Thursday after- ment, Stephanie Holtz, began Raising lung disease noon for a town hall meeting. the town hall with the Invoca- A jazz band greeted the tion. Sofía Cárdenas, 7, and Su- awarness one dish at a time crowd of approximately 3,000, sannah Wertz, 9, students at along with a large red banner St. Mary’s Episcopal Day reading, “The University of School in Tampa, lead the Tampa Welcomes President Pledge of Allegiance. Univer- Obama.” Starting almost 45 sity of Tampa senior Melissa minutes later than originally Steiner then took the stage to planned, the President re- sing the National Anthem. photo by Tihomir Krstic ceived a start-studded wel- A high speed rail supporter holds up The last President to visit come as he entered. a T-shirt during the announcment. the Tampa area was President “It’s great to be back in the Bush in May of 2007 who ad- sunshine state, especially in “You are the most ready, and dressed a large military audi- January,” he began. your plans are the most ad- ence at MacDill Air Force Base With Vice-President Joe vanced,” Vice-President Joe about the progress in Iraq. Biden, Obama announced Biden said. “It made the most Among the various local of- Florida will receive $1.25 bil- sense to start here.” ficials sitting front-and-center lion in funding for a high-speed The rest of the $8 billion in for Obama’s appearance was rail line from Tampa to Or- Recovery Act grants will go to- St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Fos- lando. The funding will have wards the creation of a high- ter. Foster said he was there great impact for the Tamp area, speed rail corridor connecting to represent the city and en- strengthening the economy Tampa and Orlando to Miami, sure the rail announcement and bringing much needed jobs by 2017, as well as 13 other would have positive influences to Florida. potential rail corridors across on St. Pete. “Connecting the Photo courtesy of The American Lung Association of Florida “I’m going to come back the country. rail to us will be imperative to down here and ride it,” he said Obama said high-speed rail tourism,” Foster said. “We are BY:DANIELA DISTEFANO Te'ana Kreger, development to the crowd. “Y’all have a would “build our infrastructure the destination for tourists. PINELLAS NEWS manager for the Florida asso- date!” deep into the 21st century,” They come for the beaches, ST. PETERSBURG- The ciation. Having toiled with plans for adding how other countries the arts & culture, and the average adult takes 15 to 20 The American Lung Associ- high-speed rail for years, the have already been doing the events.” breaths a minute – over 20,000 ation reported that lung dis- state applied for $2.6 billion in same for quite some time. “It Lines of people young and breaths day. Oxygen from each ease, along with asthma, em- federal stimulus money to is good for the economy of the old stretched for five blocks in breath is transferred from our physema and lung cancer, is build the Tampa-Orlando line. region, and good for individual front of the sports center hours lungs into the bloodstream and the third leading cause of death The application indicates the lifestyles and productivity be- sent as life-sustaining fuel to in the country. See OBAMA PG 3 all the cells in the body. All proceeds from the festi- Healthy lungs are an impor- val go directly to lung illness Interior designer Champion hosts program at Clearwater Library tant part of an overall healthy research and creating educa- BY:DANIELA DISTEFANO enlist the advice of Jason the program director. lifestyle, and the American tion and prevention programs PINELLAS NEWS Champion. The interior de- Champion, who lives in Lung Association in Florida is in schools and hospitals. signer will be hosting a free Sarasota, has made the most working to prevent lung dis- More than 20 local restau- CLEARWATER- Spring program at the Clearwater of his impeccable taste by in- ease and promote lung health rants will showcase their finest will soon be here, and with it Main Library titled Creative corporating elegance and awareness. cuisines, and attendees will be will be thoughts of organizing Thinking in Design. youthful charm into his func- The organization will be given a chance to pleasure and redecorating those over- A full service designer and tional outdoor furniture and hosting the 2nd annual St. Pe- their palette with select vin- looked areas of the home. But stylist for 15 years, Champion fabric lines. He was also a fi- tersburg Wine and Food Festi- tages from the Premier Bever- while your heart may be will focus on creative but in- nalist on HGTV’s Design Star val on Feb. 26 in North Straub age Company. Jazz musician dreaming of new outdoor fur- expensive ideas to personal- television show. Park in support of their educa- Les Sabler will perform at the niture or curtains for your liv- ize any area of the home. The event will be Feb. 4 at tional, advocacy and research outdoor event downtown St. ing room, your checkbook “Jason is a very entertain- 2 p.m. at Clearwater Main Li- efforts. Petersburg. might be telling you other- ing speaker, and he has a brary, 100 N. Osceola Ave. “This is a great event for us Tickets are $50- $75. For wise. wealth of information to share For more information call to raise awareness about the more information visit the Sprucing up your living with people looking to do (727) 562-4970 or visit jason- severity of lung disease, and event’s Web site at space does not have to cost a some redesigns in today’s championdesign.com. promote the importance of ed- www.StPetersburgWineand- fortune, especially when you economy,” said Jan Nickols, ucation on the matter,” said Food.com. INSIDE THE TODAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Briefs...............3 Legal Ads .....4-5 Calendar ..........2 Recipe .............6 WEEK’S Classifieds .......5 Sports..............6 Crossword.......6 Printed on WEATHER recycled paper Vol. 28, No. 5 | One section, 6 pages with soy ink From Pinellas News sources 70 |62 63 | 50 55 | 47 65 | 56 66 | 57 67 | 56 70| 61 Page 2 | PINELLAS NEWS | Friday, January 29, 2010 Submit your events to [email protected] Deadline: Friday for the New opera series following Friday NEWS introduces the classics USE BY:DANIELA DISTEFANO featuring famous characters from renowned op- PAGE PINELLAS NEWS eras. “Maestro Sforzini has been a conductor for EVENTS CALENDAR ST.PETERSBURG- Whether you’ve been an eight years and he really knows how to engage opera lover for 30 years, or haven’t the slight- the audience,” said Nancy Preis, CFO of the Today, Friday, January 29, 2010 est clue about the difference between a tenor opera company.