June concerts include Coldplay, Def Leppard Plenty of others scheduled ... See page 1B. ‘Madagasgar 3’ brings Stiller, Rock together again on big screen Also opening this week is Ridley Scott’s ‘Prometheus’ at area theaters ... See page 3B. Volume XXXIV, No. 9 www.TBNweekly.com June 7, 2012 30 years later Seminole Middle School students to dig up 1982 time capsule SEMINOLE – Thirty years ago an industrious group On Thursday, June 7, at 11:30 a.m., former students to determine what about 2012 was noteworthy enough of Seminole Middle School students in the school’s En- are gathering in the front yard of the school with their to add to the capsule, and what artifacts should be pre- hanced Learning Program buried a collection of arti- former teacher, Hilda Rosselli, to dig up the time cap- served as an indication of the standard of living and as Got a facts that represented life in 1982. sule and share the artifacts with Deborah Love’s stu- a representation of the 2012 culture of Seminole, Flori- They included items reflecting world news, recre- dents. Although many of the former students in the da, America, and even the world,” Love said. “My stu- centennial story? ation, technology, family life, government, basic needs, project are unable to attend in person, they have been dents cannot wait to open it again in 2042, and see the and entertainment. Each item was sealed and placed in reconnecting with their teacher and classmates via reactions of those future middle schoolers.” To celebrate the county’s centen- a container designed to withstand the elements and Facebook and email. Principal Tom Lechner is looking forward to former nial, Tampa Bay Newspapers is Florida water table. Students in Love’s classes are planning to continue teachers and alumni interacting with present teachers seeking unique stories from long- Then the time capsule was ceremoniously buried in the tradition and will be burying a new time capsule to and students as they unearth the time capsule. time Pinellas residents who have front of the principal’s office at Seminole Middle School, be recovered in 2042. stories about the way things used 8701 131st St. “It was a learning experience in itself for the students See TIME CAPSULE, page 4A to be. Currently, stories are being sought from those who lived in a Pinellas community between the years 1910 and 1950. Provide a brief description of your story and mail it to Tampa Bay Newspapers, 9911 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, FL 33772. Alternately, stories may be It’s easy to see submitted by email to editorial Lake Sylvia’s T- @TBNweekly.com. shape in this If the editors feel your recollec- satellite view from tions fits the theme of the Centen- Google maps. The nial Stories series, you will be 3.2-acre lake is contacted for further information. located in unincorporated Seminole between COUNTY 86th Avenue North and 84th Avenue Pinellas fares with 122nd Street to the west and well in survey 119th Street and the Pinellas Trail to Generally, Pinellas County residents the east. have few gripes. Most seemed content with things the way they are during a survey conducted by HCP & Associayes from March 23 to April 27. Many said things were no better and no worse than they were five years ago. HCP is a nation- al research, strategy and marketing firm headquartered in Tampa. ... Page 2A. Photo copyright GOOGLE MAPS Driver’s license Stormwater system an issue for lake homeowners office cuts services By SUZETTE PORTER stormwater problems upstream from Lake Sylvia. “We’ll take a look at this issue and others like it,” The Florida Department of Highway “Only the few are expected to pay for maintenance,” he said. “But we don’t have the staff to do it. And I’m Safety and Motor Vehicles has reduced CLEARWATER – Homeowners who live around Lake Reyner said. “We ask that you do no harm to our pri- not sure it would do any good. We still have the poli- services at its driver license office at Sylvia say they shouldn’t have to bear the cost of vate property.” cy about spending taxpayer money on private proper- 6855 62nd Ave. N. in Pinellas Park. maintaining a piece of Pinellas County’s stormwater Commissioner Ken Welch thanked Reyner for his ty.” ... Page 3A. management system. presentation. Commissioner Nancy Bostock said while it was They say stormwater should be the county’s re- “You make a great point about stormwater being a good that the county was no longer paying to main- POLICE sponsibility. core service,” Welch said. “We need to step up.” tain private lakes, she didn’t think the policy should John Reyner presented the case for homeowners extend to lakes being used for the public interest. Man critical who have been paying to take care of the lake located Not an isolated problem “We can’t expend monies on private property as it in unincorporated Seminole during the May 22 meet- Commissioner Karen Seel said she has been work- benefits private property,” LaSala said. ing of the Pinellas County Commission. ing on more than one stormwater project. She said “Then what happens if we don’t use private (lake),” following crash Reyner said since the 1980s, stormwater, per coun- one involves a county-owned lake that residents are Bostock asked. ty design, has been draining into their private lake “We’d have to build our own ponds,” Yauch an- A Largo man suffered critical injuries maintaining for stormwater. from areas beyond their property and creating prob- swered. in a three-car crash about 12:30 p.m. “We’re using other lakes and we need to be fair lems. about it,” she said. Bostock suggested that owners of private lakes be June 2, on northbound Seminole Boule- Pete Yauch, director of transportation and storm vard at 101st Avenue North. According Seel reminded commissioners of another recent water, admitted that back in the day when the county See LAKE, page 4A to the Florida Highway Patrol, Samuel project where the county helped pay for stormwater began using private lakes and ponds as part of its Weldon, 18, was driving his 2003 Honda improvements on private property. overall stormwater management plan, water quality Pilot northbound on Seminole Boulevard She requested that staff look at drainage and other wasn’t an issue. when he crashed into two stopped vehi- issues at privately owned stormwater ponds. County “You have no agreement with the 38 homeowners cles. Attorney Jim Bennett was asked to follow up with the (who live around the lake),” Reyner said. “You have no ... Page 11A. issue of easements and other stormwater issues. agreement to turn the lake into a stormwater pond.” “I want staff to look at it all so we have the magni- He said staff had been unresponsive to requests for tude of what we’re dealing with,” Seel said. VIEWPOINTS help with the lake. He said staff had told the home- Pete Yauch, director of transportation and stormwa- owners that because the lake is private property the ter, agreed that Reyner made “an excellent point.” county couldn’t help pay for maintenance. Reyner “We’ve had a standard of service for many years, Tom Germond said they were advised to seek legal help. mostly for flooding protection,” he said. “Water quality He said for 30 years, the homeowners had con- What’s next? Airline potty is an afterthought. We’re dealing with decisions of our tributed to the care and maintenance of the lake with fees? predecessors.” little problems. Then the county directed water from County Administrator Bob LaSala said staff was ... Page 15A. surrounding areas to drain into the lake where it flows working on stormwater matters, but admitted that the out to the Gulf of Mexico via McKay Creek. Reyner focus was only part time. and his neighbors want the county to help pay the “They’re not totally focused on the master plan,” he cost of removing the muck in the bottom of the lake said. Photo courtesy of ECO POND RESCUE that has caused the lake level to drop to only 12 inch- He estimated it would take at least a calendar year This is a photo of Lake Sylvia taken about 2007 by Eco es at the inflow and outflow areas. to get it done. Pond Rescue, a Seminole company. Algae covered the Features He suggested that the county take care of its surface and fish kills were frequent. Business . .14A Classifieds . .6-9B Community . .7-8A Delegate hotels will not likely be targeted during RNC County . .2-5A Entertainment . .1, 3-5B By BOB McCLURE Pinellas County beaches and will be bused to the con- ever used a Molotov cocktail,” he said. Just for fun . .2B vention at the Tampa Bay Times But the tactics of an anarchist group called the Black Outdoors . .17A TREASURE ISLAND – If past history is any indica- Forum. Bloc could be a problem in Tampa. Pets of the week . .18A tion, beach communities and their hotels will not be “At past conventions, there have “They just want anarchy,” said MacNamee. “They’re a Police beat . .11A under a heavy threat of danger during the Republican been no problems at delegate ho- small part of the protests but they are the ones that Seminole . .6A National Convention, Aug. 27-30 in Tampa. tels,” MacNamee said. “But they cause the problems, getting other demonstrators juiced Sports . .12-13, 16A David MacNamee, operations manager for Pinellas were not as spread out in the past up.” The Beaches .