060514 Largo Leader

Taxable values on the rise Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s annual report is good news ... Page 6A. ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ opens this week, features Cruise, Blunt Also, check out featured acts this week such as Boston and Selwyn Birchwood ... Page 1B. Volume XXXVI, No. 46 www.TBNweekly.com June 5, 2014 LARGO Commissioners OK disputed ALF Vacant church approved to be converted to 75-bed assisted living facility By JULIANA A. TORRES clients requires city approval. Commissioner Robert Murray cited the city’s restric- Commissioners expressed dismay that the Planning tions for a Class 2 use – what an assisted living facility LARGO – With a 6-1 vote June 4, Largo commission- Board didn’t record much explanation as to why three is in this case. The code states that Class 2 develop- ers reversed the city’s Planning Board decision, allowing of its five members voted against the project. City staff ments “are not allowed on local and minor collector Relay for Life for a vacant church to be converted into a 75-bed as- reported that there was no discussion before the vote. roads,” which make up most of the neighborhood sur- sisted living facility. “I don’t really understand where the planning board rounding property. raises $38,700 The new facility at 1071 Lake Ave. NE., would be was coming from on this,” Commissioner Curtis Holmes “So I don’t understand how we can have a Class 2 called The Lake House. Mark Gainer of Rosewood said. use on that piece of particular property,” he said. “I can None of the dozens of participants at House II appealed the Planning Board’s decision to the The board stated that the project did not meet the see how this could be denied.” the Relay for Life fundraiser had walked commission, requesting again that the city allow him to city’s requirements for assisted living facilities. The Principal planner Christine McLachlan pointed out even a lap through Largo Central Park renovate and expand the existing building. Per the city’s church property currently is zoned institutional, but is May 30 before they started sweating. code, any assisted living facility serving more than 14 surrounded by land that is zoned residential-suburban. See ALF, page 4A Yet there were smiles all around of people united in a cause, and smiles brought about by the idea that their foe, cancer, might someday be beaten by their efforts. Largo High’s 100th graduating class Jolly wants to ... Page 2A. POLICE BEAT talk to Bay Two arrested in Pines patients carjacking By SUZETTE PORTER Pinellas Park police report that two ar- rests were made Tuesday morning in car- U.S. Rep. David Jolly is hosting a VA Intake Day on jacking cases that began in Clearwater Tuesday, June 17, to talk to veterans who have had and Largo. problems at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center. Largo police report that Douglas “With the growing VA controversy, it’s imperative that Heale, 56, was in the drive-thru lane we hear directly from veterans about their experiences, when he was approached by a black wait times and the quality of service they’ve been getting male with a semi-automatic handgun, at local facilities like Bay Pines Healthcare System,” who ordered him out of the car before Jolly said in his weekly newsletter released May 31. taking the car and fleeing westbound. “But unless we hear directly from veterans, we may ... Page 5A. never know if there are local problems, to what extent there are problems and what types of corrective actions need to be taken.” SCHOOLS The intake is scheduled at the Seminole District Of- fice on the campus of St. Petersburg College, 9210 113th St., between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Veterans will be able to meet with staff and discuss their experiences. For more information, call 392-4100 “In some cases, we hope by getting involved we can resolve the problems immediately,” Jolly said. “But this intake may also give us a clearer snapshot of what is truly happening locally.” Jolly said he had spoken with the director of the Bay Photos by JULIANA A. TORRES Pines VA Healthcare System about intake day and ex- Anona hosts Above, choral director Bill Renfroe, who is retiring this year, congratulates Alissa Hawk before she walks on pects Bay Pines to be ready to help. stage during the Largo High School graduation ceremony June 2. Below left, James, left, and Jack Spittle stop to “It should be noted that my staff already works on science event take a selfie, with their fellow classmates behind them, before leaving the stage. Below right, Cordell Hudson veterans’ casework but again, unless we hear about smiles from amidst his fellow graduates toward the end of the ceremony. For more, see page 4A. problems we may never know how to take corrective ac- About 300 parents and students were tions,” Jolly said. in attendance at Anona Elementary’s in- Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned augural Family Science Extravaganza. May 30. ... Page 11A. “From the beginning of the VA crisis, I’ve believed personnel changes would be required and I respect the Secretary’s decision,” Jolly said. “However, his resigna- COMMUNITY tion does not bring an end to the crisis, but it does pro- vide an opportunity for the president to demonstrate his Starkey Parkies to commitment to swiftly eliminate the medical waiting lists now. “I’m encouraged by the administration’s comments fundraise for gift Friday about quickly addressing the wait time issue To raise funds for a butterfly garden at and I have renewed my call for the president to remain Largo’s Grand Villa, the Starkey Parkies personally engaged in this matter until every veteran will hold a three-hour-only yard sale. has received the timely care they have earned and The support group for those dealing should expect.” with Parkinson’s disease hope to turn Gov. Rick Scott released a statement May 25 about the dream of one of their members into news reports of a veteran that died at Bay Pines in April an expression of thanks to Grand Villa. due to a misdiagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer. ... Page 12A. “There’s no question that the VA is failing to keep their promises to the men and women who served our VIEWPOINTS See BAY PINES, page 4A D-Day revisited ‘Dreamer’ lobbies for opportunity to practice law Ernie Pyle at Nor- mandy, part three. By JULIANA A. TORRES “You think about all the hurdles … Page 10A. CLEARWATER – Jose Godinez-Samperio of that somebody as Jose had to Largo passed the Florida Bar Examination on his jump over in order to get to first try, the summer after he graduated from the Florida State University School of Law in 2011. where he got. There’s not many He’s lived in Florida since he was 9, became an people as tenacious as Jose.” Eagle Scout, graduated from Armwood High School in Tampa at the top of his class and went – Sandy D’Alemberte, lawyer Features to New College of Florida on private scholarships. By most accounts, Godinez-Samperio should Court ruled that if anyone could change it, it was Business . .8-9A have been a shoo-in for admission to the Florida the Florida legislature. It blew everything out of Classiﬁeds . .5-7B Bar. But he’s not a citizen. He doesn’t have a green the water,” Godinez-Samperio explained. Community . .12-13A card or a visa. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners It meant that, two and a half years after pass- County . .5-7A didn’t know what to do with an undocumented ing the bar exam, he still had more work to do to Entertainment . .1-4, 8B resident from Mexico who passed the exam. become a lawyer. The board of bar examiners has Health briefs . .12A “I was very surprised, because I know a lot of yet to act on the new state law that passed last Just for fun . .2B undocumented people, and I was very surprised month, a result of his successful lobbying effort. But Godinez-Samperio’s path has never been Largo . .2-4A that none of them had even gone to law school and an easy one. Police beat . .5A had that issue before,” said Godinez-Samperio. Schools . .11A The Florida Supreme Court ruled that a federal Viewpoints . .10A law precluded “aliens” like Godinez-Samperio An undocumented youth Photo by JULIANA A. TORRES from receiving the public benefit of a professional Godinez-Samperio grew up without many of his Jose Godinez-Samperio of Largo graduated at the top of his high Call 397-5563 license. Only a state law could opt out of the fed- peers knowing his immigration status. He was school class and passed the Florida Bar exam on his first try. But born in Pachuca and lived in Actopan as a boy, For News & Advertising eral requirement, the majority opinion stated. because he’s not a citizen, he hasn’t been given a license to practice “It was a bit of a shock to a lot of people when law in the state of Florida and can’t give legal opinions in his job at on March 6 of this year, the Florida Supreme See DREAMER, page 13A Gulfcoast Legal Services in Clearwater. AUTO ACCIDENT INJURY? 12046 Indian Rocks Road, Largo Diagnosis • Treatment • Rehab 727-595-1222 • www.VONailsAndSpa.com 060514 SPA MANICURE & Attorney and Specialist Referrals FACIALS • SPA THERAPY • WAXING • NAILS AND MORE 060514 SHAMPOO/CUT/STYLE 25 7-15-14 Exp.

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