County officials OK lake projects Funds approved for Lake Seminole work. See Page 8A. Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell star in action, adventure comedy Also opening this week is ‘Step Up 3D,’ a hip-hop musical, dream fairy tale ... Page 1B. Volume XXXIII, No. 2 www.TBNweekly.com August 5, 2010 McGough nature center lauded Residents ask City Commission to keep park facility open By TOM GERMOND meeting Aug. 5 her group has been aggressively searching to keep the center open while it tries to launch programs. for funds to help offset the costs of keeping the center open. “We will continue to work with staff, crunching numbers, LARGO – Park lovers are leaving no stones unturned in She said her group recently attended a meeting in St. Pe- finding creative ways to help out,” she said. “I think we can their efforts to keep a nature center open. tersburg hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva- pull it off.” DIVERSIONS City officials are considering closing the nature center at tion Commission, which has a wildlife foundation in search The Friends of McGough, Bonner and the Nature Preserve McGough Park as part of their budget cuts for the next fiscal of partners to establish youth conservation centers. was started in April of this year to promote, maintain and ‘Regrets Only’ full year. “McGough fits the bill,” she said. raise funds for the projects in those parks. In recent months, people who use the park, located on She said the group was excited that the foundation had a Volunteers said they have been opening the gates to the of witty one-liners 146th Street off Walsingham Road, have pleaded with city of- lot of money available, and “they are eager to part with it.” parks in McGough and Boner parks since January. They ficials to keep open the nature center. The group is optimistic that it will get money, but it will not also have been pulling invasive plants, trimming trails and “Regrets Only,” by Paul Rudnick, runs Pat Edmond, a member of the Friends of McGough, Bon- be available until January. through Aug. 15, at the West Coast Play- ner and the Nature Preserve, said at the City Commission Edmond asked commissioners to provide partial funding See CENTER, page 4 ers Theatre, 21905 U.S. 19 N., Clearwa- ter. Performances are Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees are Sunday, 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $18 a County seeks Star struck person or $15 for seniors, students and members of the military. All seats are re- served. For reservations, call 437-2363 or visit www.wcplayers.org. ways to cut Directed by Ginny Fraebel, “Regrets Only” is a comedy of manners set in a modern Manhattan penthouse on Park Avenue. Both marital vows and the EMS millage bonds of friendship are tested when cir- cumstances force a powerhouse attor- ney, his unrepentantly socialite wife and By SUZETTE PORTER a leading fashion designer to examine their views on marriage, friendship, It’s complicated. Yet, the concept is simple: Con- wealth and influence. tract with the nearest provider for fire and first re- ... Page 1B. sponder services in unincorporated areas of Pinellas County. LARGO The problem is cost – personnel cost mainly. Pinellas County commissioners gave staff a direc- tive on May 4, to “wire brush” the fire and EMS budg- Unoccupied house ets to identify potential savings while maintaining performance standards. destroyed by fire For the past several years, the county’s EMS de- partment has been decreasing its spending and defer- Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office ring expenses, said Craig Hare, county EMS deputies were called to 11323 Currie coordinator. During the “good years,” money was put Lane in Largo at 1:24 a.m. July 31 to as- into reserve accounts. sist the Suncoast Fire Rescue Depart- “So, we were able to live off our savings,” Hare said. ment, who were on the scene of a house To balance the EMS budget without depleting the fire. reserves, county staff is recommending a millage rate The deputies contacted the Sheriff’s increase of .1028 – from .5832 to .6860. The increase Arson Unit when it was determined the would mean an additional $10.64 a year in taxes for house was vacant and there was no obvi- a single-family residential property with a Photo by WAYNE CATHEL ous cause for the fire. Enthusiastic fans seek autographs from Tampa Bay Rays outfielder/designated hitter Matt Joyce prior to According to detectives, a neighbor, warmups at the Rays-New York Yankees game July 31. Joyce obliged, providing several delighted fans with his Donald Goldberg, was awakened by his See MILLAGE, page 4A autograph. dog barking at 1:15 a.m. When Goldberg went outside to investigate he discovered smoke and fire coming from the resi- dence at 11323 Currie Lane, he immedi- ately called 911. MOMS Club provides Except for a few pieces of furniture, the house was vacant. The homeowner, Mary Herstel, has been living with her daugh- ‘priceless’ support to ter in Indian Rocks Beach for the last year. The house was unoccupied. Although no one was injured, the house appears to be a total loss. The mothers in transition cause of the fire has not yet been deter- mined, however, detectives believe the By JOANNA BLAZ “We accommodate circumstances are suspicious and they will continue to investigate. LARGO – About 5.1 million American everybody, no matter women were “stay-at-home” moms in what their schedule.” VIEWPOINTS 2009, according to a 2010 U.S. Census Bureau report. That number is likely to increase in the future as the report stated – Marissa Nguyen A new road home that the number of wives who are unem- Columnist Thomas ployed has doubled in the past two years. Michalski and his The MOMS Club of Largo (M.O.M.S. fizzled out and with no family in the wife are hiting the stands for “Moms Offering Moms Sup- area; she turned to the MOMS Club to road in a new home, a port) is an organization open to both answer her questions about being a 27-foot recreatonal ve- stay-at-home and working moms that new mom. hicle. can help these new moms transition from “My child was hitting certain mile- Photo by JOANNA BLAZ ... Page 7A. working to staying at home with their stones that they already had,” Hordern MOMS Club Monkey Playgroup Coordinator Susan More plays with her 20-month-old children by offering activities and sup- said. “It was just extremely helpful, I daughter Erin More at ‘itty bitty splash time’ at the Highland Family Aquatic Center on port. didn’t know many moms with kids.” July 12. MOMS Club of Largo President Maris- Hordern said another great benefit SPORTS sa Nguyen said she knows the struggles was the help from the MOMS Club Sun- date school-age children. There is also also organizes events just for moms. that come with being a new mom, espe- shine Committee, which delivers home- a new group forming, the Koalas, for “We accommodate everybody, no cially a mom who is transitioning from cooked meals to members who have just new babies. The play dates range from matter what their schedule,” Nguyen Blue Jays promote work to home. had a baby. a local park to Planet Jump to a said. She said that the club’s 45 mem- “I was a working mom for awhile,” The MOMS Club also offers help with seabird sanctuary. bers include stay-at-home moms, charitable event Nguyen said. “It was a rough transition older children by offering play dates, Most of the play dates are free or low working moms and students. and this has been a great outlet to get which are organized by age group. The cost, Nguyen said. To join, members The members organize a “moms night The Dunedin Blue Jays and the Amer- involved.” Monkey group is for children born in must pay a $20 annual fee, but noth- out” every month, alternating the days ican Cancer Society have teamed up for MOMS Club of Largo Treasurer Jill 2008 and 2009, the Seahorse group is ing else is required, she added. Howev- so that everyone can attend. Past out- a fundraiser Saturday, Aug. 21, at Hordern would agree. When Hordern for children born in 2006 and 2007, and er, some events such as the holiday ings have included bowling and karaoke. Dunedin Stadium. left her job at the airport when her first the Lion group is for children of all ages parties or the camping trips might re- The bulk of the money will be raised son was born, many of her friendships and meets in the afternoon to accommo- quire additional costs. The MOMS Club See MOMS, page 4A through the advance sale of commemo- rative Dunedin Blue Jays jerseys. The purple jerseys, which the players will wear during the game, sell for $100. Sale of the jerseys and all of the funds We’ve made our papers bigger to serve you better from the silent auction will go to the ACS. By DAN AUTREY, TBN publisher In this time when reduce, cut back and lay off seem “win - win” situation for readers, advertisers and the ... Page 12A. to be the actions of choice, Tampa Bay Newspapers employees of Tampa Bay Newspapers. As you read today’s paper, you might have noticed has had the rare opportunity to offer “more for less.” We understand that some of you might prefer the a “big” change to your Tampa Bay Newspaper. In moving from a tabloid to a broadsheet newspaper, smaller size paper, but ask you to keep an open mind.