013112 Seminole Beacon

State introduces new testing standards Teachers to focus more on critical thinking. ... Page 4A. ‘Bullet to the Head,’ ‘Warm Bodies’ open this weekend Get the scoop about all the new movies opening in theaters. See Diversions. ... Page 3B. Volume XXXIV, No. 43 www.TBNweekly.com January 31, 2013 ENTERTAINMENT Bay Pines project moves forward City gives initial OK to development agreement for 2nd phase By BOB McCLURE mains to be seen. cial. It also provides an assurance to the city of Walmart has discussed the possibility with city of- Seminole that ultimately a hotel can be constructed SEMINOLE – The next phase of construction on ficials but has not agreed to build according to the as proposed as a part of the development.” Lisa O’Brien stars as Jimmie Wyvette the Bay Pines property moved forward Jan. 22 when Mediterranean architectural style the city requires. A 2-acre site on the east side of the project, next to Verdeen in the West Coast Players the City Council voted unanimously to give prelimi- Unless Walmart gives in, the city will not approve 100th Way North, has been set aside for the future Theatre production of “The Red Velvet nary approval to a development agreement. the chain to build on the site, said City Manager construction of a hotel. Cake War.” ... Page 10B. The deal, between the city and KE Bay Pines Prop- Frank Edmunds. The agreement also sets aside a 3/4-acre location erties LLC, if passed during a second public hearing The agreement covers a 30-year span. on the northeast corner of the site for the construc- SEMINOLE on Feb. 12, will open the door for Kitson and Part- “It follows the master plan agreement the City tion of a city fire station. ners to submit a site plan for city approval later this Council approved in July 2011 as well as the apart- The agreement addresses perimeter fencing on the year. ment agreement approved in 2012,” said Edmunds. northern property line and states it must be consistent “Buy local” The development agreement sets the parameters “The agreement before you allows for the continua- in style with the PVC fences used on the north side of for the commercial and residential development of tion of the multi-use development of the remainder program kicks off the 40-acre parcel. Just who will build on the site re- of the site, including residential as well as commer- See BAY PINES, page 4A The long-awaited launch of a “buy local” program in Seminole is now a real- ity. The Greater Seminole Area Chamber PSTA of Commerce and Gulfport-based Local- Shops1 have teamed up to form a new “Buy Local Seminole” campaign. looks to ... Page 2A. COMMUNITY improve Teen musician to transit perform on NPR By SUZETTE PORTER Is it work or is it fun? Do the countless While the Pinellas Suncoast hours spent practicing the French horn Transit Authority Board is mov- make Kaitlyn Resler want to try some- ing forward with plans to im- thing else? Not a chance. The 17-year-old prove local service and better Clearwater Beach native says playing connect to the rest of Tampa classical music on her instrument is all Bay, its first priority is maintain- she has ever really wanted to do, and it is ing current levels of service. as much fun as it is work. Resler will be But, record ridership and performing on National Public Radio on higher-than-ever demand is put- Sunday, Feb. 3, the result of securing a ting a strain on finances. place through a national audition pro- The PSTA board agreed Jan. cess. 23 to ask Pinellas County Com- ... Page 3A. Photos by BOB McCLURE missioners to authorize adding a Mayor Leslie Waters, front left, displays a plaque awarded to retired Mayor Jimmy Johnson, front right. Standing in back, from left, are referendum to the November City Councilors Bob Matthews, John Counts, Chris Burke, Thomas Barnhorn and Jim Quinn. COUNTY 2014 election ballot that would ask voters to approve a transit Pinellas workers improvement sales tax. End of an era “We are at a point where we ei- ther ask the county to put a ref- give day of service erendum for a new funding For employees of Pinellas County, City officials honor retired Seminole Mayor Jimmy Johnson source on the ballot or start Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a Day of By BOB McCLURE the face of Seminole at most public events. planning to drastically cut bus Service, a day to use time off from work Johnson was forced to resign as mayor Nov. 2 due to health service,” PSTA CEO Brad Miller to volunteer for the community. SEMINOLE – City officials rolled out the red carpet Jan. 27 at issues. A few weeks earlier he underwent esophagus surgery due told the board. ... Page 7A. the Seminole Recreation Center to honor the longtime face of the to an inability to swallow well. Although the procedure was la- Miller estimated that PSTA city. paroscopic, it was extremely hard on Johnson and zapped him of would be forced to cut up to 30 SCHOOLS A crowd of about 200 attended a two-hour reception for former his strength. percent of its bus service by Mayor Jimmy Johnson, who resigned from office in early Novem- In March 2008, he had a single lung transplant that has re- 2016 if more money didn’t come SHS hosts ber due to health reasons. quired Johnson to be on three anti-rejection drugs since. He in to pay to keep its buses on the Johnson, 70, wept at the podium as he spoke briefly about his makes regular trips to Tampa for monitoring of his medications. road. late daughter Heather who he wished could have been in atten- Johnson’s fight with lung disease began in the spring of 2007 However, despite recent media robotics event dance. But on a brighter note, he received a number of accolades when he was experiencing a cough that wouldn’t go away. After reports, the board did not talk For the uninitiated attending a robotics from city and county leaders on hand. he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, he underwent a about a specific sales tax amount competition, it is sensory overload. The They included current Mayor Leslie Waters, City Councilors number of tests and nearly was declared a noncandidate for the or any projects the money would stands are full of cheering students and Thomas Barnhorn, Chris Burke, John Counts, Bob Matthews surgery when a tumor was discovered in his intestinal tract. fund, according to PSTA Manag- parents, music is playing, the master of and Jim Quinn; City Manager Frank Edmunds, City Attorney However, the tumor was found to be benign and Johnson was er of community relations Bob ceremonies is loudly directing what is John Elias, State Rep. Larry Ahern, Clerk of the Court Ken given the green light for the transplant. Lasher. going on, a big screen showing it all in liv- Burke, Pinellas County commissioners Janet Long, John Mor- A native of Fayetteville, N.C., the former mayor earned a de- Lasher said in an interview ing color. Such was the scene at the roni and Norm Roche; former Pinellas Park Mayor Bill Mischler, gree in personnel management from the University of South Jan. 24 that the bigger priority is Seminole High School gym on Jan. 26 Gulfport Mayor Mike Yates and Belleair Bluffs Commissioner Florida and served four years in the U.S. Air Force as a cryptolo- keeping the buses running. where the U.S. First Robotics Pinellas Jack Nazario. gist, before embarking on his career with Kmart that took him to Lasher said projections show League Championship tournament was Johnson served for nearly 10 years on the City Council as a 13 cities. that property tax revenue, which held. councilor, interim mayor and mayor for two terms. Among the honors he received at the reception was a county currently funds a large portion of ... Page 9A. In September 2000, he was named executive director of the proclamation from Morroni declaring Jan. 27 as Jimmy Johnson PSTA’s budget, would remain flat Greater Seminole Chamber of Commerce, a position he held for Day in Pinellas County. until at least 2018, while operat- over 12 years. Morroni called Johnson “one of my most favorite people I’ve ing expenses would continue to VIEWPOINTS Residents first knew Johnson, who has lived in Seminole since had an opportunity to work with.” increase. He said the board 1980, as the manager of the Seminole Kmart store where he Waters referred to Johnson’s tenure as “a great run” before wanted to make the public aware worked for a number of years. After ending a 33-year run with she and the other City Council members presented him with a Carl Hiaasen of its request for a different way Kmart, he turned his attention to public life and truly became sizeable plaque, recognizing his years of service to the city. Conspiracy kook to fund transit as early as possi- should make for a ble to allow everyone to have a good case study, say in the matter. columnist says. “We want the public fully in- … Page 13A. volved,” he said. “We want this vetted so we can find out how best to serve the public. We did- n’t want to be accused of coming up with anything at the last Features minute or the public saying they weren’t involved in the decision.” Business . .5A He said regardless of any fu- Classiﬁeds .

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