GE microwave, $45 In Today’s Classifieds! AND WEEKLY Charlotte Sun HERALD FIVE-SET THRILLER SURVIVORS RECALL SAIPAN ATTACK Novak Djokovic denies Roger Federer a record eighth Veterans visited the New York State Military Museum to attend a presen- Wimbledon title in an almost four-hour match. SPORTS PAGE 1 tation on the battle’s 70th anniversary. THE WIRE PAGE 1 An Edition of the Sun VOL. 122 NO. 188 AMERICA’S BEST COMMUNITY DAILY MONDAY JULY 7, 2014 www.sunnewspapers.net $1.00 HACKIN’ AROUND Asperilla on Affordable senior housing dizzying pace coming to Punta Gorda couple of weeks ago, some of the most prestigious names in the A world met in Berlin for the 18th By GARY ROBERTS “It’s fantastic news,” costs in exchange for tax State Housing Initiative Symposium on Infections to discuss STAFF WRITER said Loraine Helber, PGHA considerations during the Partnership (SHIP) program infectious diseases. executive director. “We’ve next 10 years. toward the development. The USA had four PUNTA GORDA — After completed so many appli- PGHA will add its insur- Norstar Development representatives who years of trying to get fi- cations since 2008, we can’t ance proceeds and addition- USA, PGHA’s develop- spoke. nancial assistance to build even count them.” al U.S. Housing and Urban ment partner, will design, There was a fellow affordable senior housing, The award of 9 percent Development grants to fund engineer and build The from Harvard, an- the Punta Gorda Housing tax credit funding, from the the $10 million project at Verandas. The estimated other from the Mayo Authority is receiving tax Florida Housing Finance the corner of Airport Road start date for the project is in Clinic and a speaker credits that will allow the Corporation, will permit and Cooper Street. Charlotte 2015. PGHA plans to follow from the University 60-unit project to move investor groups to provide County also is contribut- of Chicago. Oh, and forward. equity toward construction ing $75,000 through its HOUSING | 6 that fourth speaker John was Dr. Mark Asperilla, from the HACKWORTH metropolis of Port EDITOR Charlotte, Fla. Pretty heavy company for Dr. Asperilla, but that is no surprise. The piano-playing doctor, entrepreneur, community activist, boxing club sponsor, volunteer and just plain good guy is respected worldwide for breaking ground on how to deal with the out- break of Hepatitis C. Our good doctor, who always has his hands in what seems like at least a half-dozen projects, has focused recently on a plan to reduce Hep C infections by cutting back on needle sharing among drug addicts. It has been a somewhat controversial approach as some people debate if providing clean needles encourages drug use. “It does not,” Asperilla said. “We are trying to prevent the spread of a disease with a low-cost treatment. Studies prove this works.” According to Asperilla, Hep C is the number one epidemic in the U.S. It means a slow death for many but it is treatable through expensive drugs. Asperilla is using grants and volunteers to administer those drugs that can cure the disease. Spread through needle sharing and sex, the disease can also be passed on from a mother to a child during birth. Hep C accounts for 32 percent of those in the U.S. who are awaiting a liver transplant — many who die waiting. “People should not judge addicts,” SUN PHOTO BY PAUL FALLON Asperilla argues. “They are human beings. We need to focus on containing Cyclists riding in the fifth annual Wheels and Wings take off early Sunday morning. About 350 participants were expected for the event. the epidemic.” The doctor’s compassion stretches way beyond Hep C patients. He lived through Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, his native country, and saw the devastation there. He recently Cyclists roll into town organized a team of doctors to travel there and help in any way they could. With aid from the Peace River Rotary, By PAUL FALLON Romagnoli said. “And there aren’t a lot the event, Romagnoli hopes it won’t be the team took supplies and donations STAFF WRITER of hills to ride up here, either. his last. to buy school supplies for kids dis- “We have a lot of hills up north,” he “We’ll absolutely come back,” he placed by the storm. They also treated PUNTA GORDA — Adam Romagnoli, added. said. 4,000 patients in eight days. 32, of Dracut, Mass., was excited to ride Romagnoli and his father-in-law Romagnoli was one of about 350 Asperilla has also helped raise in the fifth annual Wheels and Wings opted to drive down from Bradenton to bicyclists who participated in the event $100,000 to build 30 homes for families cycling event in Punta Gorda early participate in the bike ride through the Sunday morning. There was one race, without shelter on the barrier islands Sunday morning. city. Romagnoli’s father-in-law owns a a 10-mile event, along with a 15-mile, there. “It’s nice to see all of the different home in the Southwest Florida town. He has done all this while mourning bikes people have around here,” Although this is his first time riding in ROLL | 11 the loss of a brother in the Philippines to cancer and while recovering from pneumonia he contracted while riding out the typhoon in a small cellar with about seven other people. He was NPHS student gets Dream admitted to a local hospital when he returned from his experience with the storm — a stay that caused him to look in the mirror a little bit. Ticket to ‘American Idol’ “You know doctors are the worst patients,” he smiled. “I was not a good By STEVEN J. SMITH endure, while waiting to patient.” SUN CORRESPONDENT audition for the show’s exec- When not healing or organizing relief utive producers. She said the efforts, he likes to play the piano at The Alyssa Pasick is headed American Idol Experience Fishery, a Placida restaurant he owns. to Nashville, Tenn., on uniquely prepared her for “I was taught piano by a Belgium July 31 to audition for season the Nashville audition. nun and whenever I missed a note she 14 of “American Idol” with “They have real produc- rapped my hands with a stick.” a Dream Ticket she recently ers there, who audition He is thankful his children are won at the American Idol you — and they do your successful enough to plan careers in the medical profession and law. Experience at Disney’s hair and makeup,” Alyssa “I told them do not become a doctor Hollywood Studios — part said. “So it’s really like the for the money,” he said. “Your first of the Walt Disney World full experience. There are Resort. five rounds throughout the priority is to help people.” PHOTO PROVIDED That is advice he lives by each day. Dream Ticket No. 001959 entire day and the winner John Hackworth is editor of the Sun will allow Alyssa, 16, to skip from each round competes North Port High student Alyssa Pasick is headed to Nashville to newspapers. You can email him at the long lines thousands audition for “American Idol” after winning a Dream Ticket at a Disney [email protected]. of other contestants must DREAM | 6 World competition. THE SUN: Obituaries 5 | Crosswords 7 | Police Beat 7 | Viewpoint 8 | Opinion 9 CLASSIFIED: Comics 7-10 | Dear Abby 10 | TV Listings 11 INDEX | THE WIRE: Nation 2 | State 5 | Weather 6 | World 6 SPORTS: Lotto 2 Daily Edition $1.00 Look inside for valuable coupons CHARLIE SAYS ... High Low This year’s savings to date ... I am completely shocked that SUN COUPON CALL US AT Florida is the deadliest state 91 75 VALUE METER $44,823 941-206-1000 for lightning strikes. 7 05252 00025 8 Scattered storms. 50 percent chance of rain. Our Town Page 2 E/N/C www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun /Monday, July 7, 2014 Solid Waste workshops announced By DREW WINCHESTER Environmental Center Currently, the county waste and the landfill in The meeting on new plan. STAFF WRITER in Englewood, to hear is in a contract with Nokomis, Usher said. Tuesday is from 5:30 p.m. “We’re looking forward presentations from Waste Management to They’re hoping to even- to 7:30 p.m., while the to community mem- SARASOTA COUNTY county staff. pick up solid waste and tually start using “waste Wednesday meeting runs bers attending these — Three upcoming According to Solid recyclable materials in as a resource,” and come from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A workshops, because we workshops this week will Waste Operations unincorporated parts of up with alternatives to third meeting is sched- value their feedback,” give Sarasota County Manager Brian Usher, the county. diverting waste to the uled for Thursday, at Twin said King. “Together we residents the opportunity the presentations will The contract, which landfill. Usher said the Lakes Park on Clark Road, can guide the future for to voice their needs and focus on “strategies and runs through 2018, is county is also consider- from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. turning solid waste into wants for an updated scenarios” for the updat- valued at $14.8 million ing automated curbside Kristina King, business a resource for Sarasota Solid Waste master plan. ed long-range plan. for fiscal year 2014-2015, pickup, which would manager for the county’s County.” South County residents “It’s important for us according to county eliminate the “guy on the Solid Waste department, For more informa- will have the chance on to hear from the public,” spokeswoman Jamie back of the truck.” is hoping the conversa- tion, visit www.scgov.