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ARGO EADER LVolume XXXII, No. 52 L July 22, 2010 www.TBNweekly.com Sisters Ramona Quimby (Joey King, right) and Beezus Quimby (Selena Largo commissioners Chow time Gomez) all-too-rarely see eye-to-eye in the film “Ramona and Beezus.” ...Page 11. approve millage rate Correction City leaders move ahead on plans An article in the July 15 Leader gave incorrect informa- to reduce cost of local elections tion about proposed utility fees. By SUZETTE PORTER City stormwater fees are project- ed to increase by 15 percent in LARGO – City commissioners voted unanimously July 20 to keep the fiscal year 2012, and wastewater millage rate as-is for fiscal year 2011. fees by 15 percent in fiscal year The proposed rate of 4.3113 has been the same for the past four years, 2013. according to Amy Davis, manager of Largo’s Office of Management and Budget. A public hearing on the millage rate and the tentative FY 2011 budget is scheduled on Monday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m., at Largo City Hall, 201 Highland Largo Ave. Around Largo: Fun things Davis told commissioners that latest figures from the property appraiser showed a $73,000 increase in property values; however, the amount of to do around town revenue coming in through property taxes for 2011 is estimated to be 10.2 Discover fun and affordable percent, or $1.6 million, lower than 2010. things to do throughout the city in August. ... Pages 3, 5. Charter amendment Commissioners also approved the first reading of an ordinance for a proposed charter amendment that provides for four-year terms for the mayor and commissioners to allow the city election to be held in conjunc- County tion with countywide elections. Administrator delivers Vice Mayor Woody Brown said the changes would save the city money. The cost for a stand-alone election is $70,000, compared to the cost of proposed budget $6,000 to $22,000 if done in conjunction with a countywide election. CLEARWATER – Pinellas Commissioners are scheduled to make a final decision on the referen- Photo by TOM GERMOND County Administrator Bob dum question on Aug. 3. If approved, the question would be placed on the A black swallowtail flutters as it feeds in the butterfly garden at LaSala fulfilled his statutory re- Nov. 2 ballot. McGough Nature Park, located at 11901 146th St. N. This species is quirement July 13 when he pre- common throughout North America. sented to commissioners his See COMMISSION, page 4 version of the fiscal year 2011 budget. The proposed budget totals just over $1.6 billion. Uncertainty grips Gulf coast; well remains closed The voluminous report on the By SUZETTE PORTER county’s “financial plan” con- Louisiana on July 15. Four days later Sunday despite continuing concerns erations, including progress on the relief tained few surprises as much of the well remained shut in. about pressure readings lower than ex- well within four hours. the information was disclosed It’s worse than waiting for a hurri- Officials had originally planned to pected. Monday morning, Allen announced during budget presentations, cane. shut off the flow of oil for only 48 hours Allen sent a stern message to Bob that a late night conference call had pro- which have been ongoing since At least, officials can tell people how – the time needed to determine if the Dudley, BP’s chief managing director, vided the answers he was looking for March. soon, how strong and where it will hit. wellbore or casings were damaged and Sunday night that emphasized the re- and the testing would continue. ... Page 7. Three months after BP’s Deepwater to assess the possibility that the well quirement for constant monitoring and In a press briefing that afternoon, he Horizon well exploded killing 11 workers could be shut in temporarily in case a response to any condition considered said the seep detected July 17 about 3 and triggering the worst oil spill in U.S. hurricane threatened. out of the ordinary. kilometers away was probably not asso- history, residents of states bordering the At the scheduled end of testing time Allen referred to a detected seep locat- ciated with the well. He said the leak de- Pets of the week Gulf of Mexico continue to live in a world on Saturday afternoon, officials gave the ed a distance away from the well and tected on the wellhead was coming from of uncertainty. OK to continue another day. National “undetermined anomalies” at the well- a flange located between the capping Officials halted the flow of oil from the Incident Commander Thad Allen ex- head. He directed Dudley to prepare a leaking well offshore the coast of tended the test another 24 hours on response and timeline for continued op- See OIL, page 4 Community garden thrives, gets tender care By TOM GERMOND ble land for redevelopment, demol- ishing structures that were not in LARGO – Joseph Stefko is enjoy- good condition. Because of concern ing the vegetables of his labor from about the appearance of the prop- the community garden. erties, the city came up with the “I have probably eaten $100 plan to do some temporary land- worth of vegetables out of there,” scaping. Meet Sylvester and the other Stefko said. “As part of that we felt that pets of the week. Stefko, a member of an organiza- putting in a temporary open space ... Page 13. tion called Old Northwest, said sev- including a community garden eral people have asked him when would be a great way to build com- the next growing cycle will be for munity for the residential neighbor- Fish Tales the garden, which is at the corner hoods that surround it,” Stricklin Capt. Tyson of Fifth Street Northwest and First said. Wallerstein Avenue Northwest. The garden sits on a parcel “We are going to try a summer where a historical residence, the garden,” he said. “It’s going to be Perkins House, was located. The Columnist Tyson Wallerstein hard; it’s pretty hot out,” he said. city rehabilitated the house and discusses where to catch Tarpon. The community garden has moved it a few blocks away. ... Page 18. flourished under a partnership be- City officials credited Stefko and tween city officials, Old Northwest others in the area for working with Features and residents of the area. city officials to map out plans for Stefko, owner of the Hair Jungle, the garden. The city had a success- Classified . .22-26 located just north of the garden, ful garden at McGough Park, Parks Community . .14-17 said that about a year ago, a parks Superintendent Greg Brown said, County . .7-8, 10 department official heard about his and officials thought the same con- Entertainment . .11-12 request to the city for a community cept would work downtown. Just for fun . .21 garden “and it was history.” It now has 35 gardeners and 56 Largo . .3-5 “It was that easy,” Stefko said. spots. The city mows the lot in the Military . .20 Community Development Direc- open space, but the gardeners look Photo by TEENA BAATEN tor Carol Stricklin said the city has Gardeners apply a decorative touch to their plots in the community garden at Outdoors . .18 See GARDEN, page 4 Pets of the week . .13 been acquiring property to assem- Fifth Street Northwest and First Avenue Northwest. 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