EMINOLE EACON SVolume XXXI, No. 50 B April 22, 2010 www.TBNweekly.com The Rays return to the The Trop this weekend to face the Toronto Blue Jays. See related story, page 23. Dubov: Foreclosures still a problem County First quarter of 2010 sees increase in sales of single-family homes Tampa Bay Watch By BOB McCLURE don’t want to take them back and plans Earth Day event have to pay condo association dues.” Tampa Bay Watch and Pinellas SEMINOLE – Pam Dubov is get- All of this leads to a strong buyers Pinellas County County will host a public aware- ting used to being the bearer of bad market but most families can’t af- Property Appraiser ness event on Earth Day to intro- news. ford to purchase because so many Pam Dubov duce new speed zone signs at boat Most recently, the Pinellas County are unemployed. addresses members ramps. Property Appraiser told members of Still, the first quarter of 2010 saw of the Seminole ... Page 2. an increase in the sale of single-fam- the Seminole Chamber of Commerce Chamber of ily homes in the county from the that foreclosures continue to be a Commerce April 15 same period a year ago, Dubov said. problem in the county, driving mar- at the group’s In the first quarter of 2009, there Police ket values down while taxable val- monthly luncheon. ues, or cap values, continue to rise. were 395 sales at a median price of Treasure Island “There are actually more foreclo- $155,000. During the first quarter of man hit by car sures in Pinellas County than what this year, home sales were up 24 A 62-year-old Treasure Island appears on the Clerk of the Court’s percent to 490, but the median price man was transported to Bayfront records,” she said during an April 15 dropped 17 percent to $128,000. Medical Center with critical in- luncheon. “They involve condos pri- See DUBOV, page 4 juries following a pedestrian-car marily and it occurs because lenders Photo by BOB McCLURE crash. ... Page 5. Kicking it up Entertainment Hundreds New movies open A number of new movies open expected this week in the area, including “The Back-up Plan,” with Jennifer Lopez. at Relay ... Page 16. For Life By BOB McCLURE SEMINOLE – The battle against cancer will take shape locally in the form of the annual Relay For Life event beginning Friday, April 23, 6 p.m., at Osceola High School, 9751 98th St. N. Between 600 and 800 participants Disneynature brings “Oceans” to on 39 teams are expected for the the big screen on Earth Day. event that continues through Satur- day, April 24, 10 a.m. Outdoors Teams continuously have a repre- sentative walking around the school A change is track during the 16-hour vigil to in the air honor cancer survivors, bring aware- Columnist Tyson Wallerstein ness to the dangers of cancer and Photos by BOB McCLURE says the transition into spring is raise research money for the Ameri- taking longer than normal. can Cancer Society. ... Page 25. Above, Seminole High School band member Aaron Lehrian, left, performs on the keyboard and Thomas Shepard Teams have been given goals to on the saxophone April 17 during a band fundraiser at Jim Graden’s Cardio Karate, 9112 Seminole Blvd., to help raise various amounts of money for raise money for the band’s trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Graden offered $10 the cause. Sports kickboxing and self-defense classes throughout the day with proceeds going to the band. Last year’s Seminole Relay raised Below right, members of different associations at Seminole Gardens Apartments presented checks totaling $1,250 $89,000 after expenses. It was the King of Beach to the band. In front, from left, are Jeannie Kamrada, second vice president of the Seminole Gardens Ladies Club, most money raised out of 19 events fishing event set with a $200 check; Ramona Brown, president of the Seminole Gardens Community Club, with a check for $200; in Pinellas County and represented The 17th annual King of the City Councilor Jim Quinn, president of the Seminole Gardens Men’s Association, with a check for $500 and 11 percent of the $800,000 raised in Beach Fishing Tournament is set another $300 donation from the Ridge Seminole Management Corp. for $300; Seminole High band director Chip the county. in Madeira Beach April 29 to May Wood and City Councilor Leslie Waters. Standing in back is Jim Graden. Quinn also presented an additional $50 This year’s goal is $92,000, said 1. ... Page 22. donation from an anonymous Seminole Gardens resident. Later in the day, members of the band marched Joan Hannay, chairwoman of the through Seminole Gardens where they collected an additional $471 in donations from Seminole Gardens Seminole event. residents for a total of $1,721 for the day. Below left, Karen Iannotti, an instructor at Jim Graden’s Cardio Karate, “We had 22 teams last year and demonstrates a few kickboxing moves. we have 39 right now,” Hannay said Dolphin late last week. “(The Seminole event) Watch has taken on a life of its own. Partic- Ann Weaver ipation is the best in Pinellas County and we have twice as many cancer survivors scheduled from a year Animals who eat fish also tailor ago.” the way they catch their varied As the sun goes down, hundreds fish diets. ... See page 24. of luminaria, paper sacks filled with sand and candles, light the way for Features walkers following a moment of si- lence during a ceremony of remem- Business . .21 brance. Classified . .31-34 “We’re walking through the night Entertainment . .13-17 in the same manner a cancer patient Faith & Family . .29 would go through treatment,” said Gardening . .25 Hannay. “There’s darkness at the Health & Fitness . .12 beginning of treatment, which turns Just For Fun . .28 to light when the disease is beaten.” Outdoors . .24-25 Pets of the week . .36 See RELAY, page 4 Police beat . .5 Schools . .18-19 Sports . .22-23 Yes ... it’s a wig. Viewpoints . .6-7 Private Lolly’s Wigs Viewing rooms. Call 397-5563 Layaway Available For News & Advertising 13611 Park Blvd. Suite G, Seminole • 369-8299 • See Ad on 2A 727-723-5255 • 9148 Seminole Blvd., Seminole 2 Beacon, April 22, 2010 County to present lawn care class Earth Day event focuses on seagrass awareness ST. PETERSBURG – A free class on Florida-Friendly Tampa Bay Watch and Pinellas County will safe boating is crucial to the preservation of sea- crease in seagrass coverage is mostly due to bay- Lawn Care will be presented host a public awareness event on Earth Day, grass, scallop and manatee populations. wide water quality improvements and reduced Wednesday, April 28, 2 to 3 Thursday, April 22 to introduce new speed zone The signs are being funded by the Pinellas dredging and filling along with educational pro- p.m., at the West St. Peters- signs that are being placed at local boat ramps County Tourist Development Council. grams aimed at the importance of the beds and burg Community Library, and marinas to heighten the awareness of pro- Over the past 100 years, Tampa Bay has lost responsible boating. 6605 Fifth Ave. N. tecting seagrasses and manatees. more than 80 percent of its seagrass beds due The cold winter has resulted in a devastating Attendees will learn how to A total of 100 signs are expected to be posted mostly to wastewater discharges and dredging number of cold-related manatee deaths in Flori- care for their Florida lawns. in this collaborative campaign as boating season for port and residential waterfront development. da which makes it even more important for Pam Brown, Extension agent gets under way. This loss has severed a crucial link in the bay’s boaters to be extra vigilant in watching for man- emeritus, will share tips on Karen Williams Seel, chair of the Pinellas food chain for fish and wildlife resources, caus- atees in shallow waters near the coast, both in- when and how to water, fertil- County Board of Commissioners; Peter Clark, ing the collapse of the bay’s scallop and oyster land and coastal, and obeying all posted ize and mow a lawn. She also executive director of Tampa Bay Watch; and Pam fisheries and major declines in bait and food manatee speed zone signs. will discuss some of the chal- Leasure, land manager for Pinellas County Envi- shrimp, spotted sea trout and red drum. To report manatee sightings, call the Pinel- lenges of caring for a lawn in ronmental Land, are expected to attend the 10 In Tampa Bay, seagrasses are mostly found las County Manatee Watch Line at 464-4077. Florida and what to do to a.m. ceremony at the Fort De Soto boat ramp. along the shoreline fringe, barely exceeding a 2- To report an injured or dead manatee, imme- overcome these challenges. The signs remind boaters to follow regulatory meter depth. Seagrass coverage in Tampa Bay diately contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Con- To register, call 582-2100 speeds and to avoid the seagrass beds. has slowly been increasing and it is estimated servation Commission’s 24-hour hotline at or visit www.pinellascoun Boat propellers damage the seagrass beds and that there are now nearly 28,000 acres. This in- 888-404-3922. tyextension.org/. MAKE GOOD ORAL HYGIENE A FAMILY TRADITION! 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