Find out who is performing in Largo Performing Arts Center announces lineup. … Page 2B. Smithereens ready to take the stage The rock band, which has been performing for nearly 40 years, visits the Central Park Performing Arts Center on Friday. … Page 4B. Volume 40, No. 36 www.TBNweekly.com August 8, 2019 LARGO CONNECT WITH US ONLINE Plant project’s price tag spikes Increasing construction costs mean new facility could cost as much as $8.35 million Visit us at www.TBNweekly.com By CHRIS GEORGE and reinforce the approximately 40-year- to move forward with construction after $5.25 million.The remainder of the spike, Follow us on Facebook Tampa Bay Newspapers old operations building and laboratory so approving the Belleair-based Biltmore he said, is a result of escalating construc- www.facebook.com/ that the structure, which city staff said is Construction fi rm’s guaranteed maximum tion costs. TBNweekly LARGO — A project at the wastewater essential to treatment plant operations, price of $8.35 million. “One of the things we’ve heard through- Follow us on Twitter treatment plant that once was estimated could survive a Category 5 hurricane. Facilities Manager Mark Meyers said out this process is that, since the reces- @TBNwebmaster to cost $4 million could now cost more The facility will consist of a three-story, $1.25 million of the price increase was a sion, construction prices in the country than double that, city commissioners 13,187-square-foot hardened building that result of hardening the building to survive have just skyrocketed,” he said. “They’ve learned Aug. 6 during a meeting at City can accommodate laboratory staff and a Category 5 storm rather than the orig- talked about a 20% increase over the last Hall. plant operators after a storm. inal plan based on a Category 3 storm. See PLANT, page 4A CLEARWATER The two-phase project aims to replace Commissioners voted 7-0 on Aug. 6 That would have brought the project to Coast Guard has new man at helm SEMINOLE Capt. Joseph McGilley, the new com- mander of Coast Guard Air Station next to the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Inter- Adults with national Airport, has been here before. It was his fi rst duty station 24 years ago and he said “it’s fantastic to be back.” autism serve … Page 9A. community, INDIAN ROCKS BEACH Eateries examine themselves perils of plastics Restore old, broken items at A challenge has been issued to all Earth to Autism’s Repair Café the restaurants in Indian Rocks Beach to become a certified Ocean Friendly By TIFFANY RAZZANO Restaurant by the end of September, or Tampa Bay Newspapers at least begin the process. Greentown Kids, a local environmental group, held SEMINOLE — Earth to Autism, a non- a seminar and brought together restau- profi t organization that trains adults with rateurs, suppliers and an OFR represen- autism for green industry jobs, will host its tative to convince local establishments next Repair Café on Saturday, Aug. 17, 10 to get on board. Photos courtesy of SUNCOAST PINBALL a.m. to 12 p.m., at Seminole United Meth- … Page 9A. Suncoast Pinball and Arcade owner Jon Weaver, bottom right, assembled a team of talented artists to help create his new Cosmic Carnival pinball game. odist Church, 5400 Seminole Blvd. The community is invited to bring their SEMINOLE broken household items — bikes, jewelry, small household appliances, torn clothing Developer moves and more — for repair at no cost, although Entrepreneur steps up his donations are accepted. This month’s event will focus on bike repair. Individuals can forward on project relax and have a cup of coffee while they’re The owner of the former Tides Golf waiting or work with the repair experts to Club has submitted plans to Pinellas learn how to fi x their items themselves. County to build 273 detached sin- “The goal of the Repair Café is to reduce gle-family homes on the property. The the number of items being thrown in the developer, TTGC LLC, also requested a landfi ll,” said Leanne Scalli, the organiza- zoning change to the county’s compre- tion’s founder and chair. hensive plan ahead of its plans to rede- Repair Cafes are held around the world, velop the property into Restoration Bay, After years of work, Largo’s Suncoast Pinball & Arcade but Earth to Autism hosts the only one in a residential development. rolls out its first original game Florida. … Page 9A. “The Earth to Autism Repair Cafes are unique in that we use it as a green work- By TIFFANY RAZZANO • Tampa Bay Newspapers space opportunity for our adults with au- ONLINE tism,” Scalli said. “Our adults work on LARGO — Jon Weaver’s pinball obsession started early. learning repair skills through our Ambas- Back to School By the time he was 9 years old, he was busing tables at sador Training Program so that they can The school year is fast approach- his father’s restaurant in Indiana. He earned 25 cents for assist repair experts during the actual Re- ing. Visit TBNweekly.com to check out each table he cleared and he used the money to play the pair Cafes.” our special section that features plenty pinball machines that stood at the front of the restaurant. Eventually, she added, Repair Cafes will of tips and resources for parents and “Every single quarter I made went into those machines,” be run entirely by graduates of the training students. Weaver said. program, which launches this September. … TBNweekly.com Super Mario Brothers. Hurricane. Comet. Cyclone. It This “innovative program” teaches pre-em- didn’t matter the game; he loved them all. They rotated ployment skills to adults with autism, pre- at the restaurants, so there was always something new to paring them for green industry careers, she VIEWPOINTS play, he said. said. Decades later, his passion for pinball continues. Though Once they’ve completed the program, each Chris George he veered off course for a while, owning other businesses, graduate has the opportunity to become including a charter boat company and restaurants, the an ambassador for Earth to Autism. These A quick look at some recent highlights Palm Harbor resident found his way back to his early love. ambassadors help educate the community and lowlights about autism awareness and sustainability. from around See GAME, page 4A Earth to Autism also runs a gardening Pinellas County. … Page 8A. See CAFE, page 4A CLEARWATER A diver checks Features out one of the 12 concrete statues Beaches . .10A Veterans, divers christen placed 40 feet Classifi eds . 6-9B underwater about Community . .9A a dozen miles off County . 2-3A new underwater memorial the Clearwater Cravings . .5B shore. The statues, Entertainment . 1-4B each standing Health . .7A Circle of Heroes will feature 24 concrete statues 6 feet tall, are the Puzzles & Games . .2B fi rst half of what Largo . 4-5A By JOHN GUERRA shots of the site from the upper deck of will become the Outdoors . .6A Tampa Bay Newspapers the Super Queen fi shing boat on Aug. 5, Circle of Heroes Pet connection . 10B a few veterans of Vietnam and other wars memorial. Police beat . .3A CLEARWATER — The dozen concrete kept an eye on their grandchildren as Viewpoints . .8A statues of American soldiers awaited they mingled with Coast Guard personnel Photo courtesy their christening under a beautiful blue and members of the public. of CIRCLE OF Call 727-397-5563 sky and a small fl otilla of dive boats bob- A 30-foot-long red ribbon attached to HEROES For News & Advertising bing on a choppy sea. As television news crews set up their See HEROES, page 4A Academy of Animal Arts & Sciences, LLC HAIR • NAILS • SKIN • MASSAGE Pet Grooming Special! (New Client) 12000 INDIAN ROCKS ROAD, LARGO AUTO ACCIDENT INJURY? Any Dog Breed! 727-595-9999 Diagnosis • Treatment • Rehab 061319T Includes Wash / Dry $ Permanent Make-Up & Microblading 080119SL 22 Nails / Ears and a Trim! Attorney and Specialist Referrals SPA PEDICURE/MANICURE (727) 596-CLIP (2547) SHAMPOO/CUT/STYLE 25 GREG HOLLSTROM, DC & BRIAN REBORI, DC W/GEL POLISH 39 Long/Thick Hair Additional. Visit our State-Of-The-Art Facility at Exp. 9/15/19 PERMANENT MAKE-UP 11444 Seminole Blvd., Largo 20% OFF NEW NAILS CLIENTS 011719 1258 West Bay Dr. Suite E, Largo EYEBROWS or EYELINER 150Reg. 250 CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. Exp. 9/15/19 Reg. 350 Exp. 9/15/19 Exp. 9/15/19 SM academyofanimalarts.com LIPS 200 727-393-6100 • drgreghollstrom.com 2A County Largo Leader, August 8, 2019 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Around Pinellas PSTA keeps millage rate steady Board also agrees to 40-foot buses on its future 10-mile reserves. caused issues with on-time perfor- Central Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Both sizes could accommodate mance. Consequently, riders are use small buses for project, which will link downtown two wheelchair riders, but the unhappy with the reliability of the St. Petersburg to the beaches. number of available seats would be connector service. rapid transit project Director Richard Bennett, North reduced. Staff recommended putting a Redington Beach commissioner, Staff estimates that passenger stop to the deviations, along with By SUZETTE PORTER voted no. loads will be in the range of 31-36 minor adjustments to the routes. Tampa Bay Newspapers Abhishek Dayal, director of during peak periods. During off- They also would be renamed to nu- project management, told direc- peak times, passenger loads are merical designations. ST. PETERSBURG — Pinellas tors that design on the project was expected to average about 24. Staff Starting in October, the Coun- Suncoast Transit Authority’s Board nearing the 60% mark and it was said off-peak passenger loads occur tryside/Oldsmar Tampa Connector of Directors said yes to a tentative time to consider what buses to pur- on about 80% of bus trips.