EMINOLE EACON SVolume XXXII, No. 12 B July 22, 2010 www.TBNweekly.com Seminole Little League’s 10-11 all- stars won the District 5 tournament. See page 22A. Plantamura pans Edmunds again Sports For second consecutive year councilor gives city manager a bad grade Seminole all-stars By BOB McCLURE how it could be a violation of the Florida Gov- host sectional ernment in the Sunshine Law. “I ask that our city manager take all She also pointed to her concern over the Seminole Little League’s Majors SEMINOLE – With the exception of Patricia string of city clerks the city has had in recent all-stars play host to the sectional Plantamura, members of the City Council gave evaluations seriously and respond years, noting that consistency in employment tournament this weekend at the City Manager Frank Edmunds glowing remarks to all questions.” is important to morale. SYAA complex. during his annual performance review July 13 “I ask that our city manager take all evalua- ... Page 22A. at City Hall. It was the second consecutive year Planta- – Patricia Plantamura tions seriously and respond to all questions,” mura has given Edmunds less than a positive city councilor Plantamura said. “If all questions are not an- Outdoors score. Last year she gave the city manager a swered, the evaluation process is just a mere score of 26 out of a possible 72 and this year formality.” Plenty of tarpon graded Edmunds at 33. during the evaluation process were not an- City Attorney John Elias, who has served still out there The city’s six other councilors scored Ed- swered by Edmunds, she felt compelled to Seminole for 29 years, said it was his interpre- Columnist Tyson Wallerstein munds at 66.5 or higher. Two councilors – score him below 40. tation of the Sunshine Law that minutes from says we have entered phase two of Leslie Waters and Jim Quinn – gave Edmunds “In spite of the lack of response by our man- workshops don’t necessarily have to be tran- the summer tarpon season and a perfect score of 72. ager, I will not let it prevent me from completing scribed. They can be in any form, such as an there are still plenty of opportuni- Plantamura said she felt a good score for this evaluation,” Plantamura said. audio tape or hand-written notes. someone meeting expectations would be 40. Plantamura pointed to her concern about the ties for anglers. See PLANTAMURA, page 4A ... Page 23A. But since some issues she brought up last year city’s lack of minutes for city workshops and Schools SHS band joins Initial SPC oil forum online contest Seminole High School Band attracts crowd of 400 Boosters are hoping an online contest sponsored by Pepsi will re- By BOB McCLURE sult in a cash payout large enough to pay for a trip to the SEMINOLE – The first of three public forums at St. Petersburg College Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. on the impact of the oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico was termed a huge ... Page 20A. success by college officials. A crowd of more than 400 turned out July 14 for the discussion that featured six speakers who addressed different topics related to the disas- Entertainment ter and the impact to the Tampa Bay area. Another 50 watched the forum online. New movies open “It was very well received,” said Jim Olliver, provost of the SPC Seminole A number of new movies open campus. “The comments afterward were very positive and we had people this week in the area, including attending from all over the county.” the family comedy “Ramona and A second forum, which will deal with short-term solutions, is set Beezus.” Wednesday, Aug. 18 at SPC-Seminole and a third forum, which will ad- ... Page 13A. dress long-term energy solutions, is planned Saturday, Oct. 2. Last week’s forum was divided into two panel discussion groups. The first dealt with the current reality of the spill and featured D.T. Minich, executive director of Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater; Keith Over- ton, senior vice president of the Tradewinds Resorts International and Photo by BOB McCLURE president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association; and Laurie D.T. Minich, executive director of Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, said his MacDonald, Florida program director of the Defenders of Wildlife. office would be requesting additional funds from BP to finance Pinellas A second discussion focused on the Tampa Bay response to the oil spill. County’s fall and winter advertising campaign. It featured David Sorrick, vice president for power generation in Florida for Progress Energy; George Sheldon, secretary of the Florida Department of not convinced (our beaches are still oil free).” Children and Families; and Robert Weisberg, a faculty member in the Uni- Minich said vacationers are canceling plans, despite offers by hotels Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn versity of South Florida’s College of Marine Science. who say they will refund money to vacationers if oil shows up on Pinellas Salt in the contemporary action Minich, speaking on the topic of marketing efforts to bring visitors to beaches. thriller “Salt.” See page 13A. the beaches, said Pinellas County recently received $1.15 million from the “The problem we’re finding is vacationers have non-refundable airline state of Florida, which pocketed $25 million in marketing aid from BP. tickets,” said Minich. “So we’re pushing the airlines to drop non-refund- Minich said a new ad campaign that would target residents of the Mid- able clause on airline tickets to Florida.” County west and Northeast would feature shots of the pelicans that were recently He said the county would be requesting additional funds from BP to released at Fort De Soto Park after being rescued in Louisiana. fund his group’s fall and winter advertising campaign. LaSala unveils “We’re very concerned about the fall and winter market,” said Minich. 2011 budget “When we talk to Midwesterners and people from the Northeast, they’re See OIL, page 4A County Administrator Bob LaSala presents commissioners his version of the fiscal year 2011 budget. ... Page 5A. Suite Caroline to kick off Music in the Park By BOB McCLURE McMillion Orchestra, Oct. 8; and the Shaguars, who will play 1960s British invasion hits, Oct. 15. This and That SEMINOLE – Suite Caroline, a 12-year-old singing Seminole residents first got a chance to see Suite sensation from Belleair, will kick off the city’s 14th an- Caroline on stage locally during the 2010 Pow Wow Thomas Michalski nual Music in the Park series Sept. 10 at Seminole City Festival. Park, 7464 Ridge Road. She credits Taylor Swift and George Strait for their Caroline Kudelko is the first of six performers or influence on her music but those that have listened to Tom Michalski discusses ways groups booked for the Friday night concerts – all of her say she clearly has her own style. to avoid credit card fraud. whom have played Music in the Park or the Pow Wow Caroline has recorded two CDs of all original music, ... Page 6A. Festival before. performed on stage with Pat Benatar and the GoGo’s, and sung live with Sheryl Crow. Features “She (Caroline) was really excited and wanted to play our venue again,” said Dwayne Crandall, a recreation Supernatural, a local Pinellas County group that Business . .1,3B program coordinator for the city and a member of the has toured nationally, last appeared at Music in the Classified . .7-11B event selection committee. “All of the others have also Park two years ago. The group features Dave Mueller Community . .7-12A, 4-5B played here before. It will be an all-star lineup.” on guitar, El Nino Garcia on the congas, Pete Kane on County . .2, 5A In addition to Suite Caroline, the free, six-week se- keyboard and vocals, Michael “Angus” McEachern on Entertainment . .13-18A ries will include the Latin rock sound of Supernatural bass and vocals, vocalist Todd Plant, Steve Eiseman on Just for fun . .2B Photo courtesy of MARIE KUDELKO on Sept. 17; Cajun/zydeco tunes from the Gumbo drums and vocals, and Asoka Compton on timbales. Lifestyles . .24A Suite Caroline opens the 14th annual Boogie Band, Sept. 24; Suzette Jennings performing Outdoors . .23A Music in the Park series at Seminole City blues and jazz, Oct. 1; the big band sound of the Dan See MUSIC, page 4A Pets of the week . .6B Park on Sept. 10. Region . .3A Schools . .19-20A Sports . .21-22A Viewpoints . .6A Lolly’s Wigs Donate your old wig to American Cancer Society Call 397-5563 Receive $20 credit on a new wig. For News & Advertising 13611 Park Blvd. Suite G, Seminole • 369-8299 • See Ad on 2A 727-723-5255 • 9148 Seminole Blvd., Seminole 2A County Beacon, July 22, 2010 NEED WINDOWS? County considers changing ‘last call’ time Now you can have it all! By SUZETTE PORTER In a June 4 e-mail sent to 23 of the nicipalities had not responded. county’s municipalities soliciting their Cities that said no or had no interest Energy Savings, Hurricane Protection, CLEARWATER – People who want to opinions, Commission Chair Karen Seel included Belleair, Belleair Bluffs, Clear- Tax Credits, Rebates and More! drink alcohol past 2 a.m. currently have said requests had been coming in to water, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian limited choices – drive to St. Petersburg amend the countywide ordinance regu- Shores, Kenneth City, North Redington or Tampa. lating the hours for sale of alcoholic Beach, Pinellas Park, Redington Beach, However, Pinellas County bar owners beverages from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.