Residents asked to conserve water County works to improve water pressure, quality ... Page 4A. ‘Pompeii’ erupts on the big screen, along with ‘3 Days to Kill’ Also, Temptations and Four Tops to perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall this Friday ... Page 1B. Volume XXXVI, No. 31 www.TBNweekly.com February 20, 2014 COMMUNITY Largo considers downtown signs Commissioners discuss ways to set apart businesses on West Bay, beyond By JULIANA A. TORRES town Largo. other businesses in Largo’s undefined economic redevelopment,” according “I never saw I sign that says, ‘Wel- downtown area. to city documents. The designation, LARGO – The owner of a recently come to Largo,’ ‘Welcome to down- “I hope we are the grain of corn unanimously approved by commis- closed business on West Bay Drive town Largo.’ Where is downtown that fell on the ground, that died sioners, gives framework to the area New officers join spoke up during the Largo commis- Largo? I don’t know,” she said. (and) that will bring life for the rest of around the Largo Mall, allowing for sion meeting Feb. 18 to ask city lead- Other signs point to Largo Public the people that are there,” she said. more intense mixed-use development Largo’s force ers to define the downtown area. Library, Central Park and City Hall, “They need help. They need a lot of compared to other parts of Ulmerton Ahiskell Delgado – owner of Dolci- but nothing delineates where Largo’s help. They cannot do it on their own.” Road. Assistant Community Develop- Additions to the Largo Police Depart- ni’s Gelato, which until this weekend downtown businesses and restau- The meeting included a public ment Director Bob Klute said the des- ment – from left, Ryan Freudenthal, was located at 325 W. Bay Drive – rants begin, she said. As she hearing to approve the Largo Mall Ac- ignation would allow the mall’s movie Nicole Gulizia and Michael Petrow – swear said she only recently found out that mourned the loss of her own busi- tivity Center Special Area Plan, “de- into their new roles as officers Feb. 18. her business was located in down- ness, she wanted to speak out to help signed to act as a catalyst for future See SIGNS, page 4A ... Page 4A. LARGO Dog Bone Run Officials City pool offers lifeguard classes eye medical As local swimming pools look to hire for peak attendance, the Largo Recre- ation, Parks and Arts Department an- marijuana nounces the beginning of two classes to help experienced swimmers with their By SUZETTE PORTER employment goals at Southwest Pool. ... Page 3A. CLEARWATER – There’s a chance Florida may join the list of 20 states that have legalized the use of medical marijuana. BUSINESS A ballot question is scheduled to appear on the Nov. 4 ballot, asking voters to approve allowing Largo business physician-supervised use of cannabis. Bills filed in the House and Senate of the Florida Legislature Feb. 10, call for legalization of controlled use of ranks No. 1 on site medical marijuana. Salt N Pepper Bistro, at 1757 Clearwa- Pinellas County Commission Norm Roche, who ter-Largo Road, ranks as a No. 1 restau- serves on the Public Safety Coordinating Council, rant on TripAdvisory.com. brought the subject up during the Feb. 11 commis- ... Page 9A. sion meeting. He said the coordinating council was looking at what county ordinances might be affect- ed if medical marijuana was legalized. “It’s a very fascinating discussion,” Roche said. Photos by JULIANA A. TORRES Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch asked Above, Joe and Candi Soltau encourage their 8-year-old Shih Tzu, Willie, to play in the fenced-in dog park within about the paraphernalia ordinance enacted when Bayhead Action Park Feb. 17. Below, Willie takes off at Candi Soltau’s call. he was chair in 2006. Roche said it was among those being considered. He said the sheriff’s office also was looking at what county laws legalization might affect. Largo adds a dog park at Bayhead Welch pointed out that if medical marijuana were legalized, an education campaign likely would be re- By JULIANA A. TORRES quired to inform the public that not all marijuana use was legal. LARGO – Bayhead Action Park now includes a fenced-in half-acre dog park, which will eventually in- clude a fire hydrant drinking fountain, K9 agility items Push for legalization Retired cop plays and a paw-shaped picnic table. United for Care is the backer of the constitutional The park, dubbed Dog Bone Run, has been enclosed amendment to legalize medical marijuana. The with a 4-foot fence. The other dog-friendly amenities Florida Division of Elections confirmed that enough a bad guy in films should be installed in a month or less, said parks su- signatures had been validated to put the measure on the November ballot and the state Supreme After retiring from his job as an under- pervisor Greg Brown. While the gate has no latch yet, Court approved the ballot language in January. cover narcotics detective for the Sheriff’s Brown said he’s noticed nearby residents letting their The Florida Division of Elections reports that Office three years ago, Randall Speak- dogs play in the open space already. Pinellas County residents accounted for 76,787 of man was uncertain what his next step “People have gotten the picture,” he said. “It’s good to would be. see there’s a need there.” the 786,368 valid signatures favoring placing an Speakman had always been interested Joe and Candi Soltau walked their 8-year-old Shih amendment on the ballot. in acting. After all, he had spent 27 years Tzu through Bayhead to the dog park the evening of According to the nonprofit lobbying organization with the Sheriff’s Office, where acting Feb. 17. Encouraging little Willie to exercise was im- Norml, the amendment would allow doctors to “rec- was an integral part of his job as an un- portant, they said, adding that they enjoyed the atmo- ommend cannabis therapy” to their patients and dercover detective. sphere of the park. authorize the Department of Health to register and ... Page 10A. “The whole neighborhood uses it,” said Joe Soltau. regulate centers that produce and distribute mari- “It’s pretty communal.” juana for medical purposes. To pass, the amend- ment needs 60 percent approval by voters. See DOG PARK, page 3A VIEWPOINTS See MARIJUANA, page 7A Tom Germond A suitcase full of memories. Chamber president reflects over last 10 years … Page 13A. By JULIANA A. TORRES as vice president of marketing for the Central Massachusetts Regional Tourism LARGO – Tom Morrissette didn’t really Council, a state agency that had suffered have an end date in mind when he started financially post-Sept. 11. After a month with what is now called the Central Pinel- in Florida, he saw an ad in the newspa- las Chamber of Commerce 10 years ago. per for the job as president of what was He didn’t even have the job lined up then the Largo/Mid-Pinellas Chamber of when he moved to Tampa Bay in Commerce and figured he could handle Features September 2003 with only his clothes, running a 400-member chamber. some dishes, pots and pans. Looking to By March, Morrissette was watching Business . .9-10A escape the snow and try something dif- sunsets from a rented cottage on Bel- Classifieds . .5-7B ferent, he had accepted an offer for his leair Beach and marveled that he had Community . .4A condo in Massachusetts, sold almost ev- gone from no job in Massachusetts to a County . .5-7A erything and headed to Florida. great job in a completely new state in Entertainment . .1-4, 8B He signed a seven-month lease on an only a year. Health . .11A apartment in St. Petersburg. The offer on “It was a fun year, a year of change,” Just for fun . .2B his condo had been much higher than he said. Largo . .3A what he originally had bought it for at an Since then, Morrissette has guided the Police beat . .5A auction, so he had some funds to burn. nonprofit organization through its transi- Outdoors . .15-16A Morrissette, then 42, had never been to tion as a regional chamber and through Schools . .12A the west coast of Florida, but had some its own financial difficulties. Sports . .14A friends in the area. “We went through the greatest reces- Viewpoints . .13A “I played hooky for a little, checking sion since the Great Depression and are out the beach and exploring the area,” still here holding our own, and back to Call 397-5563 he said. “I thought, if it doesn’t pan out, where we were before the recession,” he For News & Advertising I’ll go back up north.” said. “We’re fortunate in this area, in Photo by JULIANA A. TORRES About a year and a half prior, he had Tom Morrissette, pictured in his Largo office, celebrated his 10th anniversary as been laid off from his relatively new job See CHAMBER, page 4A president of the Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce last month. AUTO ACCIDENT 020614 INJURY? 12046 Indian Rocks Road, Largo Diagnosis • Treatment • Rehab 727-595-1222 • www.VONailsAndSpa.com SPA MANICURE & Attorney and Specialist Referrals FACIALS • SPA THERAPY • WAXING • NAILS AND MORE 020614 SHAMPOO/CUT/STYLE 25 PEDICURE W/SHELLAC 39 Exp. 3-15-14 Greg Hollstrom II, DC, Brian Rebori, DC Exp. 3-15-14 Basic Pedicure & SWEET 20% OFF Manicure w/ Shellac FULL SET 11444 Seminole Blvd., Largo All Services PEDICURE 25% OFF NEW NAILS CLIENTS BROW TINT & WAX 19 $42 $5 OFF CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS.