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Clearwater officials open marina City officials expect boat slips to revitalize downtown ... Page 5A. Opening this week – ‘Resident Evil’ sequel in theaters in 3-D Alice (Mila Jovovich) looks for survivors in a world ravaged by a virus infection ... Page 1B. Volume XXXIII, No. 7 www.TBNweekly.com September 9, 2010 City gets new library cafe vendor By TOM GERMOND credentials. suggesting to our City Commission in order to be fair to Three proposals were received by the bid deadline, everyone who responded that we have to reject this pro- LARGO – City commissioners voted 4-3 Sept. 7 to and two did not meet the minimum requirements, city posal ... ” award a proposal to a vendor to operate the library cafe officials said. Under the agreement, R.G.’s Bookmark Cafe will have over objections that the offer didn’t meet the minimum Commissioner Mary Black said she was against the no rent for the first three months. R.G.’s will pay the qualifications for compensation to the city. agreement because R.G.’s Restaurant didn’t meet the city $7,200 the first year, $10,800 the second year and The new vendor is the owners of R.G.’s Restaurant requirement that the city be compensated $15,000 an- $12,000 for each of the remaining three years of the Inc., which is located in LaBelle Plaza on Highland Av- nually for allowing the vendor to operate the cafe. contract. The vendor also must pay sales tax to the city. enue. City officials said the principals of the company “This RFP did not qualify either because it failed to have substantial restaurant experience and culinary meet the minimum requirements,” Black said. “And I’m See CITY, page 4A COUNTY Clearwater opens downtown marina The new marina includes 126 boat slips, 1,700 feet of overnight space for On track visitors, and 700 feet of space for day- The miniature train ride along time visits and special events, with day- the Largo Central Railroad time space being free. There are still remains a popular event for plenty of slots open, which range from 30 residents and visitors to the feet to 55 feet, costing $9 per foot for res- area. The trains run Saturday idents or $10.50 per foot for nonresi- and Sunday on the first full dents. The facility also includes 24-hour weekend of every month from security, restrooms, showers, laundry fa- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Largo cilities, electricity, and a pump-out serv- Central Park. ice, as well as parking. “It’s going to help revitalize the whole downtown and Clearwater area,” said Clearwater City Councilman George Cretekos. “... (It will provide) opportuni- ties to help develop our downtown with the restaurants we’re trying to put in and retail. Marinas have always been a cen- ter for activity, whether you’re talking about here in the states or in Europe.” ... Page 5A. LARGO Photo by BRANDEN BELL City to celebrate park’s 20th birthday Longtime woman’s club McGough’s big birthday bash will be Saturday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m. until noon, at McGough Nature Park, 11901 146th St. member stays on her toes N. By SALLIE BARR PALMER judge.” Attendees will enjoy guided hikes, tur- The Largo Woman’s Club had a distinguished tle presentations, an owl encounter, ac- Nearly 70 years have passed since a young history. It had started the Largo Library and, tivities for children and adults and more. Royal Canadian Air Force serviceman in Eng- under the guidance of the McMullen family **** land during World War II attended a show put (four of whom served as president over the The business community is rallying to on for the troops by a group of entertainers years), was active in starting the county fair. support Partners N Progress as it pres- which featured a tap-dancing act by two young But by this time, membership had dwindled ents the 14th Annual Gala. This year’s English sisters. and the members were thinking about disband- event, The Age of Aquarius, will be held A few weeks later, he showed up again, and ing because of lack of support. Cameron was Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Largo Cultural this time asked one of the sisters for a date. not about to give up so easily. Center. Within a year Peg Cameron was a war bride on “I got the names of all the retired former offi- **** her way to a new home in Canada. After living cers and called them all to ask their help. I per- The county’s next Mobile Collection in Canada and later Connecticut, the suaded some of them to come back and slowly Event will be Saturday, Sept. 11, 9 a.m. Camerons retired to Largo. And at age 90, the group started to grow again,” Cameron said. to 2 p.m., at the Largo Recycling Collec- Cameron is still tap dancing. Under Cameron’s presidency projects includ- tion Center, 1551 Starkey Road. “When we moved to Conn.,” said Cameron, “a ed starting a musical group, introducing the Pinellas County Utilities offers this neighbor asked me to come with her to a local Teacher of the Year program and, in conjunc- service free to county residents. Busi- Woman’s Club meeting. I became interested, tion with the Boy Scouts, delivering Christmas nesses should arrange for drop off and payment by calling Creative Recycling at joined, and after four years, I was elected presi- food parcels to needy families. 813-621-2319 for electronics, or EQ dent. After that, I became a district director for “We also started Campership,” she added, “a Florida at 813-319-3400 for chemicals. the Federated Women’s Clubs, and later I was program to send 25 needy children every year on the state board.” to camp. That was later taken over by the city, In 1980 came the move to Florida. “I looked which had the resources to send more chil- PET CONNECTION for a Woman’s Club to join down here,” dren.” Cameron said, “and I chose Largo because it Today Cameron is the longest-standing mem- Dive in for pet tips was a service club, which I wanted, not just a ber of the Largo Woman’s Club. She is still on social club. The first meeting I went to featured the board of directors and is looking forward to Photo by SALLIE BARR PALMER Check out a competition of arts and crafts. The judge did- celebrating the club’s 100th anniversary in five Peg Cameron, 90, is still on the board of directors of the Largo Woman’s this week’s win- n’t turn up, so I ended up being asked to years’ time. Club. ning pet photo from Largo, get pointers on proper dog park Foreclosures, tax etiquette from ‘All about Dr. Michael Ru- more, DVM, and meet two deed sales to go pets looking for the kids’ homes. ... Page 9A. online in October Boys and Girls By SUZETTE PORTER Club revamped VIEWPOINTS More than 15,000 foreclosures were filed in Pinellas County By JULIANA A. TORRES in 2009, and in 2010, an average of 1,000 are coming in each Carl Hiaasen month. PINELLAS PARK – The oldest The increase in activity led to a decision by Pinellas County Boys and Girls Club in Pinellas Rick Scott’s sur- Clerk of the Circuit Court Ken Burke to take advantage of re- County celebrated the opening of prise victory last cent changes in state law that allow clerks of the court to hold its spruced-up facilities Aug. 27 week over Attorney electronic sales, said Deputy Clerk Myriam Irizarry. with bounce houses, race cars General Bill Mc- Pinellas County contracted with Realauction of Fort Laud- and cotton candy. Collum was a gift Photo by JULIANA A. TORRES erdale to conduct sales through two separate websites, The Boys and Girls Clubs of to the Democrats Eddie Kosinski, a member of the club advisory board, monitors the www.pinellas.realforeclose.com for foreclosure sales, and the Suncoast Inc., Pinellas Park and a blow to the www.pinellas.realtaxdeed.com for tax deed sales. Chapter, first established in bounce house set up for the Pinellas Park Boys and Girls Club Aug. wobbly state Re- The daily online foreclosure sales begin on Oct. 4, and the 1959, is in its final stages of ren- 27 re-opening event, which showed off recent renovations. publican machine. monthly tax deed sales begin on Oct. 20. Realauction will pro- ovating the well-used old struc- passion that went into it,” Unit around the corner for the sum- ... Page 11A. vide online training and orientation sessions for bidders dur- ture at 7790 61st St. N. The Director Kevin Davis said. “At mer. At the time, club leaders ing September. Complete instructions will be available online event last month was an oppor- the end of the day, it was all were leaning toward closing the at the two websites. Features tunity for the club to show off the about the kids.” local chapter altogether, Davis Irizarry said staff from the clerk’s office met with some of revamped building and new The building renovations were said. the people who she termed “typical bidders” and tried to incor- amenities to the community that Business . .13A a much-needed facelift. Without “We were facing the reality of porate their concerns into the process. supported it, as well as to the air conditioning and in a dire not having a place for program- Classifieds . .7-9B She said several clerk’s offices around the state already children it serves.