St. Petersburg College-Gibbs Campus Gym in a Fundraiser for the Seminole High School Marching Band
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
‘Hunger Games’ hits the big screen Science fiction tale opens locally ... See page 3B. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play the Forum Friday night His current tour is in support of his 17th studio album “Wrecking Ball.” ... See page 1B. Volume XXXIII, No. 50 www.TBNweekly.com March 22, 2012 INSIDE Plantamura, Waters re-elected Incumbent city councilors garner nearly 61 percent of the vote By BOB McCLURE captured 1,299 votes for 27.6 per- Mobile Home Park, taking care of street drainage and cent. repaving, and monitoring activities related to the Semi- SEMINOLE – They say it’s tough Burke, who was campaigning for nole Mall. to unseat an incumbent and that the third consecutive year, was Plantamura and Waters ran vigorous campaigns. fact was no better illustrated than third with 996 votes (21.1 percent), Plantamura credited her victory on supporters who in the March 13 municipal election followed by Christy, 496 votes asked her to run again, while Waters walked house-to- in Seminole. (10.5 percent); and Goff, 374 votes house to meet voters. Three challengers and a pair of (7.9 percent). “A number of people asked me to run (again) and incumbents were in the hunt for “What a great win! My thanks to when the voters ask you to run, that’s a big part of the two seats on the City Council. And Patricia Leslie Waters Al Waters, my campaign support- campaign,” Plantamura said. “The voters demonstrated as fate would have it, incumbents Plantamura ers and to Seminole voters who re- their support of me and I’m humbled.” Patricia Plantamura and Leslie Wa- elected me,” Waters said. “It is an honor to serve on Since the city is switching to a November election ters defeated challengers Chris Burke, Thomas Christy Council, and I look forward to continue to work on is- date in 2014, Waters and Plantamura will serve terms and Sheryl Goff. sues that impact our great city.” of three years, seven months. POLICE Waters, 64, the former vice mayor, finished with In addition to the fire pension fund, she said the However, Waters has stated she plans to run for 1,544 votes in the nonpartisan election for nearly 33 city’s key issues over the next couple of years would be Racketeering percent of the vote, while the 54-year-old Plantamura overseeing the Kitson project at the former Bay Pines See ELECTION, page 4A suspects nabbed Five of 10 suspects wanted in connec- Street tion with a $3.1 million racketeering scheme involving luxury vehicles and credit card fraud were arrested March 15 light in Pinellas County. ... Page 2A. policy COUNTY Butterfly counter amended seeks volunteers By SUZETTE PORTER Heads up or rather down, the annual CLEARWATER – Pinellas North American Butterfly Count is com- County commissioners had ing soon to a neighborhood near you and some good news March 13 for Lois Weber of Palm Harbor needs a few residents of Rexdale Heights in good men, women and children to serve unincorporated Seminole. as volunteer counters. Weber, a retired Commissioners unanimously teacher and a master gardener, has been agreed to amend its lighting dis- doing this for 30 years. trict policy and procedure to ... Page 9A. change requirements for adver- tising. The savings to Rexdale Heights, which has been work- VIEWPOINTS ing on approval to become a street lighting district, is nearly $3,000. More columnists Residents came to the com- Tampa Bay Newspapers is adding mission for help several months columnists to the papers’ Viewpoints ago and as recently as Feb. 7, pages. after staff informed them they Through a service called “Florida would be responsible for adver- Voices,” the newspaper will publish tising costs. They argued that columns and other opinion pieces writ- staff had not made them aware ten by editors and other experts on Flori- they would have to pay until da politics and issues. they were near the end of the Among the columnists whose work lengthy approval process. readers will rou- Staff said at the time Rexdale tinely read on our Heights had started work to- Viewpoints pages ward becoming a street lighting are Martin Merzer, district, the county had been Photo by ALICIA KOLNICKI paying advertising costs. Since formerly a senior Former Harlem Globetrotters standout Tyrone “Hollywood” Brown, left, performs ball tricks with Seminole High School band director writer for the that time, the county attorney’s Daniel “Chip” Wood at a school assembly on Tuesday March 13. Brown and other former Globetrotters will play in a pair of games office ruled that residents Miami Herald; Saturday, March 24, at the St. Petersburg College-Gibbs campus gym in a fundraiser for the Seminole High School marching band. Lloyd Brown, a should pay the expenses as part former editorial of a new policy. page editor of the Commissioners were con- Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, and Ex-Globetrotters to play in SHS fundraiser cerned not only that the rules Cary McMullen, former religion colum- had been changed for residents nist for the Lakeland Ledger. SEMINOLE – As part of its efforts to raise funds for the Semi- Dixon is also a basketball trick artist, while Clark is a 10-time in mid-process, but also about The columnists will complement long- nole High School marching band’s trip to the 2013 Tournament Nike Slam Dunk champion. Forbes is a former basketball stand- the cost. They asked staff to re- time opinion writers for Tampa Bay of Roses Parade, the SHS band boosters have organized a charity out at Southwest Texas State University. search alternatives. Newspapers, such as Bob Driver and basketball game involving former members of the Harlem Globe- The Seminole High School Marching Band is preparing for its Staff suggested a change that Carl Hiaasen. trotters. second trip to Pasadena, Calif. The band will entertain an antici- would remove the requirement “We look forward to providing readers The Globetrotters alumni will play a team billed as the Tampa pated one million spectators and an international television audi- to advertise in a daily newspa- with more variety on our Viewpoints Bay Generals in a pair of games Saturday, March 24, at the St. ence of over 40 million on New Year’s Day. per with general circulation to pages, especially pertaining to state and Petersburg College-Gibbs campus gym, 6605 Fifth Ave. N. Games The two benefit basketball games are among many projects the require and allow advertising in national issues,” said TBN Executive Ed- tip off at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. students and band boosters are using to raise the needed funds a non-daily publication of gen- itor Tom Germond. “We believe readers Among the well-known former Globetrotters expected to play to cover travel expenses for the 140-plus-piece band. eral circulation. will find the columnists’ articles insight- are Matt “Showbiz” Jackson, Tyrone “Hollywood” Brown, Reggie At halftime, the band will perform. There also will be a pre- According to a staff memo, it ful, well-written and provocative.” “Airman” Dixon, Wayne “Above and Beyond” Clark, Sterling game foul shot contest for kids, raffles, concessions, basketballs would cost $3,406 to advertise For questions or comments, email “Smooth” Forbes and others. for sale and autograph sessions. two public hearings once a [email protected]. Jackson, a former player at Savannah State, was recognized as General admission is $15 in advance and $22 at the door. Pre- week for two weeks in the St. ... Page 15A. the “Clown Prince” of basketball as the lead showman and long- mium VIP seating is available for $25. Petersburg Times. The same time member of the Globetrotters from 1987 to 2007. He was To purchase tickets or get additional information, call 254- known for his behind-the-back half-court trick shot. 9556 or visit www.shswarhawkband.com. See LIGHTS, page 4A Features Business . .12A Classifieds . .6-9B City gives final approval to McDonald’s upgrades Community . .8-9, 17A County . .2-5A By BOB McCLURE However, hungry motorists will be most impressed In other action, councilors: Entertainment . .1, 3-5B with the addition of a second drive-through lane to • Passed an ordinance on second reading that allows Faith & family . .17A SEMINOLE – Officials at McDonald’s hope city resi- make the drive-through process go more quickly during an amendment to the current budget, which increases Health & fitness . .16A dents will be “lovin’ it” after planned renovations to its peak hours. A tree and some shrubs in the front of the the Administration and Public Works accounts Just for fun . .2B restaurant at 7003 Seminole Blvd. are complete in a few building near Seminole Boulevard will be removed to $566,728. The funds were left over from the fiscal 2011 Outdoors . .11A months. make room for a drive-through waiting area. unreserved fund balance designated for capital projects. Pets of the week . .14A The company got the green light to move forward on There will be an entrance and exit for car traffic off A total of $186,728 will be used for Recreation building Seminole . .6A proposed upgrades March 13 when the City Council Seminole Boulevard, as well as two locations off 70th repairs and traffic calming and $100,000 for roadway Schools . .13A voted unanimously on second reading to approve a de- Avenue. resurfacing. The ordinance also allocates $120,000 for Sports . .10A velopment agreement for the 1.18-acre site on the The site plan calls for 32 regular parking spaces and design work on proposed renovations to the Community The Beaches . .7A northeast corner of Seminole Boulevard and 70th Av- three handicapped spaces measuring 12 feet wide by 20 Building at Seminole City Park, $20,000 for a work Viewpoints .