062311 Largo Leader

Alt. U.S. 19 work in Palm Harbor slated Project should be completed in fall ... Page 4A. Lightning McQueen returns in ‘Cars 2,’ an animation sequel ‘“Bad Teacher,” starring Cameron Diaz, also opens this weekend in theaters ... Page 1B. Volume XXXIII, No. 49 www.TBNweekly.com June 23, 2011 INSIDE City won’t buy Rescuing reefs proposed site for fire station By TOM GERMOND Staffopoulos said at the commission’s meet- ing June 21 that based on the culmination LARGO – City officials will seek direction of the issues, “we feel that this significantly from the City Commission for alternatives to places risk on the city if we were to proceed buying 1.5 acres of land on Indian Rocks with closing and it may make development Road for a new fire station. of the parcel unrealistic for the needs that City officials said they have identified sev- we would have.” LARGO eral issues that would be detrimental to the City officials will meet with commission- city’s ability to build the station, which ers at a work session Aug. 9 to discuss op- would have been located on property just tions for the Belleair Bluffs and Ridgecrest First Friday event north of Largo Medical Center, Indian Rocks stations. Road campus. For months city officials have discussed on tap for July 1 The issues include local and federal gov- buying the parcel, at a cost of $495,000, to ernment regulatory impacts with the proper- replace the two stations. By closing the sta- The First Friday Street Festival will be ty being designated as a coastal high hazard tions, city officials expect to reduce person- held July 1, 6 to 11 p.m., on First Av- area. The designation would have to be re- nel in the stations by half. Savings have enue Southwest between the Clearwater- moved, entailing several mitigation steps. been pegged at $500,000 to $1 million an- Largo Road and Ridge Road. A dedicated parking easement over a por- nually. The event features art, food, music tion of the site given by the owner of the The parcel was given a high ranking for a and drinks. Vendors, street performers property, Hospital Corporation of America, fire station last year because it was one of Photo courtesy of DENNIS KELLENBERGER and other activities will be featured. to a third party, also presents problems as only five proposed sites that allow response Divers remove debris during a cleanup operation. Reef Monitoring uses The featured band will be “Lounge does other easement issues involving a sin- volunteers and scientists to get data on the artificial reefs. See page 3A for Cats” followed by ‘Jus’ Jeff. Entertain- gle-family home. details. ment includes jazz, swing music and Assistant City Manager Michael See FIRE STATION, page 4A blues. A 22-inch LCD television will be given away. Report: Safe Harbor working as intended BUSINESS By SUZETTE PORTER 6, is providing a cost-effective, safe environment for peo- As of May 31, the average daily population was 335, ple who had been living on the streets. He said many of Gualtieri said. Maximum capacity is 370 with expan- Jobless rate down CLEARWATER – In less than six months, Pinellas them were sleeping in the woods and in the bushes. sion plans in the works. Space is currently available for Safe Harbor has made a difference in the lives of the “We felt as a community, we could do better than 85 females and 285 males. slightly from 2010 county’s homeless population and saved money for tax- that,” he said. “We’re working on an outdoor courtyard to increase payers. capacity by 100,” Gualtieri said. The latest numbers from Florida’s Robert Gualtieri, chief deputy and general counsel for About PSH Officials estimate the courtyard will be open by late Agency for Workforce Innovation shows the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, presented a June. The space will be used to house residents who Pinellas County’s unemployment rate in Pinellas Safe Harbor, located at 14840 49th St. N., progress report on Safe Harbor to county commission- May at 10.0 percent, down from 10.1 in Clearwater, is open 24/7 and accepts residents day and ers June 14. night. People living at the shelter have an 8 p.m. curfew, April. See SAFE HARBOR, page 4A ... Page 6A. He said Pinellas Safe Harbor, which opened on Jan. after which time they cannot leave or enter. POLICE BEAT Retiree designs Deputies get lead in ’71 murder case new train engine Pinellas County sheriff’s detectives for tracks at park have been investigating a murder case since Aug. 7, 1971. Thanks to new tech- By TOM GERMOND nology, the county’s forensic lab was able to use DNA evidence to establish a profile LARGO – The city may be the first in Florida to have high- and identify a potential suspect. speed rail – sort of. ... Page 5A. Don Mann, a member of the Largo Central Railroad club for about 20 years, is building a replica of the front end of a high- ENTERTAINMENT speed rail train and plans to run it on the club’s tracks in Largo Central Park. Critic says ‘Green He came up with the idea, too, for a sign for one of the club’s riding cars. “I don’t know if I should get too political,” Mann said. “I was Lantern’ is trite going to make a little sign, ‘Largo first with high-speed rail.’ Aside from the fact that its target de- Sorry, Gov. Scott.” mographic is probably 8- to 15-year-olds Tongue-in-cheek, of course. (though it earned a PG-13 rating for “in- Mann said he became interested in building small replicas of tense sequences of sci-fi violence and ac- locomotives about 18 years ago when he saw a steam locomo- tion”), the overriding problem with tive in a restaurant. A descendent of Daniel Boone built it and “Green Lantern” is poor storytelling and ran the train in a park in Georgia. shoddy editing. “I looked at that and thought, ‘boy I would like to do some- ... Page 1B. thing like that,’ ” he said. Mann ordered some of the parts to build a replica of the steam engine and finally finished it many years later, working VIEWPOINTS on the engine when he wasn’t running his business. Mann owned a television shop for 20 years on Main Street in Dunedin Tom Germond among other businesses. Friends conjure up price- He ran the steam engine on the tracks in the park, but since less memories. … Page 8A. See TRAIN, page 4A Don Mann, above, built a Features replica of the front end of a high-speed rail train that Business . 6A will be put into service on Classiﬁeds . .4-7B the Largo Central Railroad County . .3,5A at Largo Central Park in the Entertainment . .1,3,8B next couple of months. Health & ﬁtness . .9A Shown accepting a picture Just for fun . .2B from Mann of the train is Largo . .2A Largo Mayor Pat Gerard. Outdoors . .7A Left is Don Mann’s replica Pets of the week . .10A of the front end of a high- Police beat . .5A speed rail train. He has Viewpoints . .8A spent about seven months building it. Call 397-5563 For News & Advertising Photos courtesy of DON MANN Lolly’s Wigs At The Beach All Day? 12046 Indian Rocks Road, Largo Hair Solution!! 727-595-1222 • www.VONailsAndSpa.com FACIALS • SPA THERAPY • WAXING • NAILS AND MORE 062311 20% OFF with this ad 062311 We Offer Full Set or $ 00 41411 20% OFF Full Service, Private Rooms, Licensed Hairdresser. All Services for New Clients SHELLAC for Spa Mani-Pedi 5 727-723-5255 • 9148 Seminole Blvd., Seminole & Students 4711 Not available with other offers. Exp. 7/30/11 Natural Nails Not available with other offers. Expires 7/30/11 OFF © 2011 Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved http://www.tbnweekly.com 2A Largo Leader, June 23, 2011 Briefs City commissioner seeks re-election A Pinellas County native, Smith was born in Largo and has lived town parcels with a more detailed plan for marketing and develop- LARGO – Mary Black has announced her candidacy for re-elec- in the area for the majority of his life, “developing a deep love and ment. tion to the Largo City Commission, Seat 1. appreciation for this community that he calls home,” he said in a – Tom Germond She was elected to her current three-year term Nov. 8, 2008. press release. “At that time, I said I will bring knowledge, wisdom, experience, He first became politically active at the age of 14, working on 34 graduate from sheriff’s Spanish classes honesty, integrity, leadership, and dedication to the commission. I local candidates’ campaigns. He later went on to serve as student LARGO – More members of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office will try to provide the same high quality of mu- body president during his time at Saint Petersburg College. Smith are able to communicate with people who speak Spanish as their nicipal service to the residents and property is currently a lifetime member of the Friends of Largo and Semi- primary language. owners without overtaxing,” Black said. nole libraries, as well as the Seminole Historical Society. He was Nineteen members from patrol operations, investigative opera- She also said at the time that she “will work appointed by Mayor Pat Gerard to serve a term on the Largo His- tions, detentions and corrections bureau and support services bu- with the administration to ensure residents and torical Preservation and Advisory Committee.

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