FDOT presents Gateway Express Project should improve travel time in Pinellas County ... Page 6A. ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’ and ‘Into the Storm’ hit theaters Also, catch ‘Moon over Buffalo,’ Crosby, Stills & Nash and Mid-Pinellas Comic Con ... Page 1B. Volume XXXVII, No. 3 www.TBNweekly.com August 7, 2014 LARGO Leaders tour completed complex New Public Safety Complex designed to withstand Category 5 hurricane By SUZETTE PORTER and JULIANA TORRES As Pinellas reached out to its neighbors and emergency management workers came together LARGO – Ten years ago, Pinellas County pre- in the aftermath of Charley, Frances, Ivan and Largo Knights pared for what could have been its biggest disas- Jeanne, officials began to realize that changes ter in modern history. were required to better prepare for the future. On Aug. 13, 2004, tracking maps showed Hur- Pinellas began updating its disaster plans. install new officers ricane Charley taking aim at Tampa Bay – specifi- Work started on hurricane hardening of build- The Knights of Columbus Council No. cally Pinellas County. Evacuations were ings, expansion of shelter space, training for staff 4892, based in Largo, installed new offi- underway. An emergency order and curfews were and educating the public. cers for the 2014-15 year July 26. in place. The county braced for the worst. A key piece to the county’s plan was construc- ... Page 3A. Pinellas dodged a bullet that day. Charley made tion of new facilities designed to withstand the landfall just after 3 p.m. further south in Lee force of a Category 5 hurricane. One of the lessons County as a Category 4 hurricane with winds in learned in 2004 was how difficult it is to respond POLICE BEAT excess of 150 mph. The hurricane traveled through after a disaster when critical infrastructure fails. central Florida leaving a huge path of destruction A new two-story Public Works Operations facili- before exiting just south of Daytona Beach. ty and vehicle storage building opened Aug. 12, Inmate, mom Florida weathered four hurricanes in 2004 – 2007, at 22211 U.S. 19 N. in Clearwater. The Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. Hundreds buildings were designed to withstand a Category Photo by JULIANA A. TORRES caught smuggling died. Property damage added up to billions of dol- 5 hurricane. In case of an emergency, the opera- Pinellas County Interim Chief of Staff Bruce Moeller, left, answers lars. Fortunately, none of those hurricanes tions facility would serve as an emergency center questions about the Regional 9-1-1 Center from Commissioners A female inmate and touched Pinellas. Although, weaker systems did Janet Long and John Morroni during a July 31 tour of the Sheriff’s her mother reportedly See COMPLEX, page 4A Administration Building and Public Safety Complex. organized a scheme to pass through, causing some minor damage. smuggle prescription drugs into the Pinellas County Jail on 49th Street in Clearwater. The mother was arrest- Largo competes in regionals ed July 31. Detectives report the Janelle women devised a plan Albertson in which Mary Ann Al- bertson, mother to inmate Janelle Albert- son, would deliver and hide various prescription pills in a public restroom at the jail. ... Page 5A. COUNTY Water restrictions ease for Pinellas Water restrictions changed for Pinellas County Utilities customers effective Fri- day, Aug. 1. ... Page 7A. FAITH & FAMILY Largo High 50th reunion planned Photos by JAY RICHMOND Largo High School class of 1964 is an- The Greater Largo Little League senior division All-Stars represented Florida in the southeast nouncing their 50-year reunion, with regional tournament in Safety Harbor Aug. 2-6. At left, Largo’s Kyle Koker, No. 14, hits a double events to begin Friday, Oct. 17. for two runs in the second inning of the game against North Carolina Aug. 4. Above, Hunter ... Page 10A. Gatrett of Largo slides safely into third base. Largo beat the team from North Carolina 7-4 and made it into the semifinals against Virginia Aug. 5. For more, see page 13A. OUTDOORS Trio valuable to Teenagers to add mini-golf Largo to upgrade Heritage Village Three long-time volunteers have ex- layouts to Largo library its city signs celled in their efforts to assist the village and have become lead volunteers and By JULIANA A. TORRES By JULIANA A. TORRES good friends. ... Page 12A. LARGO – Since September, LARGO – Recently, Largo commissioners asked city staff to erect teen volunteers at Largo Public some signs that would mark where the West Bay downtown district Library have been constructing began. VIEWPOINTS 27 layouts in different themes The sign that went up last week wasn’t quite what commission- to turn the library into a minia- ers had envisioned. Commissioner Michael Smith called it “cheesy” Debra Saunders ture golf course. and said he had hoped for something “more than a street sign.” The whole project will come The problem is the city doesn’t have a set standard for what A common sense together for Book Maniacs’ Mini Largo signs should look like. Its facility, wayfinding and gateway position on mari- Golf, an inaugural fundraiser signs sometimes use the city logo, sometimes the old clock tower juana. for the teen program Saturday, logo. They’re usually blue, but sometimes green. They don’t have a … Page 11A. Aug. 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the set font, sometimes say “city of Largo” and other times just “Largo.” library, 120 Central Park Drive. In short, there is no unified theme to any of Largo’s signs. “We have tons of themes,” ex- “We’ve never, as a city organization, had a comprehensive sign plained teen volunteer Nicole program,” said Assistant City Manager Michael Staffopoulos during Harrison, 18, of Largo. “Music, Photos by JULIANA A. TORRES the commission meeting Aug. 5. “We’ve never identified what our Candy Land, Quidditch, under Above, Thien Vu, 17, of Largo adds some detail to a castle “wall,” sign standards should be: what our colors should be, what mini- Features the sea, bugs, fantasy, Seven part of a mini-golf course Largo library’s teen volunteers are mum lettering or wording should be on the sign, what kind of fonts Wonders of the World, space or organizing as a fundraiser Saturday, Aug. 9. Below, Julie Gonser, we should use, what types of materials should be used and what Business . .8A astronomy.” library youth services assistant, shows off a model of the Largo type of general appearance our signs should take.” Classifieds . .5-7B Nine of the holes are designed Public Library made out of books to be added to the course. Further, several of the city’s facility signs – especially the “Largo County . .5-7A to be easy for younger partici- Municipal Complex” one in front of City Hall and ones in front of its Entertainment . .1-4, 8B pants, set up in the children’s police and fire stations – are in disrepair and need to be replaced. Faith & family . .10A area as the Toddler Tee-Off Its gateway signs, welcoming drivers into the city, also are in poor Just for fun . .2B Course. The rest of the 18 holes condition. Some, due to annexations, aren’t in the right place. Largo . .3-4A are for older children and adults The need presented an opportunity, Staffopoulos said. Along the Outdoors . .12A in the Family Fairway Course. facility signs, the city could redesign its wayfinding signs, demark- Pet connection . .9A “Everything for the putt-putt, ing the downtown, trails and community streets, as well as its gate- Police beat . .5A because we’re doing it in the li- way and facility signs. Sports . .13A brary, is book-themed,” said Commissioners could choose to hire an outside company to cre- Viewpoints . .11A Julie Gonser, library youth ate a new brand for the city, Staffopoulos explained. Such branding services assistant. “That’s not efforts cost the cities of Clearwater and Dunedin $100,000 and $76,000, respectively, and took about a year to complete. Call 397-5563 hard to do just because there Or, commissioners could ask the city’s own community For News & Advertising are books about everything.” See GOLF, page 4A See SIGNS, page 4A AUTO ACCIDENT INJURY? 12046 Indian Rocks Road, Largo Diagnosis • Treatment • Rehab 727-595-1222 • www.VONailsAndSpa.com 080714 SPA MANICURE & Attorney and Specialist Referrals FACIALS • SPA THERAPY • WAXING • NAILS AND MORE 080714 SHAMPOO/CUT/STYLE 25 9-15-14 PEDICURE W/SHELLAC 39 Exp. Greg Hollstrom II, DC, Brian Rebori, DC Exp. 9-15-14 Basic Pedicure & SWEET 11444 Seminole Blvd., Largo 20% OFF Manicure w/ Shellac FULL SET 25% OFF NEW NAILS CLIENTS All Services $ PEDICURE 9-15-14 $5 OFF BROW TINT & WAX 19 9-15-14 42 CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. 727-393-6100 • drgreghollstrom.com 010214 for New Clients. $3 OFF Exp. Exp. Not available with other offers. Exp. 9/15/14 Not available with other offers. Exp. 9/15/14 Not available with other offers. Exp. 9/15/14 Not available with other offers. Exp. 9/15/14 Tampa Bay Newspapers, Inc e-edition.tbnweekly.com 2A Leader, August 7, 2014 Seminole Largo Mall S. Pasadena 7501 Seminole Blvd. 10500 Ulmerton Rd., Ste. 740 1155 Pasadena Ave. 1/2 Block North of Park Blvd. Near Albertsons Next to Horse & Jockey British Pub next to SunTrust Facing Ulmerton Rd. Across from Blockbuster Video (727) 391-6642 (727) 586-5553 (727) 347-2938 Palm Harbor Clearwater St Petersburg 35208 U.S. 19 N. 1932 Drew Street 1598 62nd Ave. N. Alderman Plaza Professional Plaza SE corner of 16th St. Corner of Alderman Rd. & U.S. 19 1 1/2 blocks West of Hercules & 62nd Ave.