Local arts groups looking ahead Orchestra, theater announce fall seasons. ... Pages B2-3. Let’s go on a virtual tour of Pinellas Since you’re stuck at home, you might as well plan for what’s ahead. So check out our special section highlighting what Pinellas has to offer. … INSIDE. Volume 42, No. 3 www.TBNweekly.com March 26, 2020 SEMINOLE CORONAVIRUS CONTINUES TO WREAK HAVOC ON PINELLAS Longtime councilor Matthews dies at 75 City leader since 1990 died of gastric cancer By TIFFANY RAZZANO Tampa Bay Newspapers SEMINOLE — Longtime city council- or Bob Matthews died of gastric cancer March 18. He was 75. Matthews was fi rst elected to Seminole City Council in 1990 and has held the role for nearly three decades. Originally from Texas, he moved fi rst Alabama and even- tually, when he was Empty beaches, 13, to Miami with Signs his family. After high school, he enlisted bars, restaurants, and in the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1964 to of the 1968. stadiums are among the Once his service ended, he joined his Matthews mother and other side effects of COVID-19 family members in Pinellas County. Upon his return to Florida, he earned a two- year electronics degree from Pinellas Vo- cational Technical Institute and attended Times Photo by CHRIS HENDERSON classes at St. Petersburg Junior College. He was a mechanic in the Air Force, said his wife, Pat Matthews. “He was very tech minded.” His daughter, Diana Beckham, said, “He was very skilled with machinery. He was mathematical minded. Calculus was nothing for him. He was super smart with that.” Bob met his wife at the former Grace Baptist Church in Pinellas Park. “We dated and married at the same church and put down roots here and never moved,” Pat said. In 1971, they moved to unincorporated Seminole, and purchased a home within city limits in 1978. For 32 years, he worked for Florida Power Corp. as an instrument technician. By the time he retired, his wife had left her career as a dental assistant to enter the fi eld of fl oral design. She opened Sem- inole Garden Florist and Party Store, and Bob eventually joined her at the business. He took classes and discovered he had a talent for creating balloon art and sculp- « « « tures for customers. A devastating Restaurants Sports teams “When he retired, he decided he would help me in the shop, and he became in- blow for bars. seek options. left in limbo. terested I balloons and incorporating that VISIT WWW.TBNWEEKLY.COM TO READ THESE STORIES AND OTHERS AS TBN CONTINUES ITS COVERAGE OF COVID-19 See MATTHEWS, page 4A SEMINOLE Dear TBN Readers We want to thank all of you for your loyal readership and patronage. All of us at Tampa Bay Newspapers (TBN) Walgreens employee tests positive for virus are proud to publish one of the best and largest group of weekly communi- ty papers in the country. By LOGAN MOSBY GEORGE appear as early as two days after exposure, or in some As we continue into these unprece- Tampa Bay Newspapers cases, the symptoms may be so mild that one is unaware dented times, we all are facing a mul- Online TBNweekly.com titude of challenges that have already they are infected or contagious. impacted our daily lives. This is cer- SEMINOLE — An employee at a Walgreens store in advertisement Visit TBNweekly.comcom tainly no different for the over 100 fi ne Seminole has tested positive for coronavirus. When asked if there was a plan in place to notify any for the latest updates and folks who produce, print and deliver District manager Mark Mason confi rmed to Tampa store or pharmacy patients about the case, he declined more coverage, including: our papers. Bay Newspapers on March 19 that an unnamed em- to comment, referring a reporter to the health depart- • Free internet available as Although we are hoping to maintain ployee called in to report the diagnosis the afternoon of ment. Pinellas’ schools move to digital our print schedule, please understand March 18. The statement from Walgreens, however, said, “We learning. that schedule could be temporarily Citing privacy rules, Mason declined to say whether have contacted impacted individuals who may be at risk disrupted at any time. Health risks to our • Coronavirus saps nonprofi ts’ employees, government mandates and the employee worked in the store or the pharmacy. and they are self-quarantined.” services in Pinellas. fi nancial considerations are all factors The store, located at 10563 Park Blvd. on the corner of Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough and • Closing Clearwater beaches that could necessitate that decision. Park and Seminole boulevards, was subsequently closed shortness of breath. hits tourist businesses hard. Whether that becomes a reality or not, afterward, in what Mason said was “an abundance of Since the store’s closure, Mason said it has been thor- • PSTA limits bus occupancy to we will maintain up-to-date coverage caution.” oughly cleaned and sanitized. no more than 10 riders. on our offi cial publication websites at: A sign on the door of the store said “We are closed for Employees with Coastal DKI, a Stuart-based company • Help available for small tbnweekly.com (Pinellas) and suncoast- maintenance. Sorry for the inconvenience.” that specializes among other things in infectious disease businesses and residents news.com (Pasco & Hernando). We A statement from Walgreens said the individual had control, were spotted outside the store Thursday morn- affected by COVID-19. encourage you to regularly visit the site not been in the store since March 12. ing. that impacts your community. • People mostly staying off Regardless of what action is re- “In accordance with our established protocols and The store reopened March 20. Pinellas’ closed beaches. quired, know that it will be temporary. CDC guidance, we took immediate action to temporarily If you were a visitor at the Seminole location within • Largo police assist Our thoughts and prayers are with close the store for cleaning in order to disinfect the prem- the past two weeks, Mason said to refer all questions to understaffed dollar store. each of you as we get through these ises,” the statement reads. “We promptly notifi ed and fol- the health department, which can be reached at 866- • Largo Medical Center stiffens diffi cult times … and we will get lowed the guidance from the public health department.” 779-6121. visitation policy through them. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the in- — Your Friends At TBN cubation period for COVID-19 is 14 days. Symptoms can — Tiffany Razzano contributed to this story. SHOP LOCAL GREAT PRICES WIGS BY ABBY FAMILY OWNED & SELECTION AUTO ACCIDENT INJURY? Diagnosis • Treatment • Rehab New Wigs Are In! 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Contact the church at 727- tions like Feeding Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay Newspapers selves, they’re now offering curb- 544-8558 for more information. the RCS Pinellas Food Bank, and outreach program side pickup for groceries. already “the volume we were get- As COVID-19 continues to Food pickup will take place RCS Pinellas Food ting just two to three weeks ago spread around the world, Pinellas Monday, Tuesday and Thursday isn’t there,” he said. for elderly, sick County food pantries are feeling mornings. Bank Because everyone is panic-buy- the economic devastation caused Clients picking up will be asked 700 Druid Road, Clearwa- ing, they’re having a diffi cult time by pandemic. their name and the number of ter fi nding the non-perishable items By LOGAN MOSBY GEORGE Here are some area resources people in their family. Then, the Even before the coronavi- they typically purchase at Walmart Tampa Bay Newspapers distributing food to those in need pantry volunteer will bring them a rus pandemic, the RCS Pinellas and dollar stores, and when they that could also use community pre-fi lled bag of groceries. Food Bank had a wide reach. It do fi nd them, there’s often a limit BELLEAIR — With events in the support during these trying times. Hall anticipates more people will supports nearly 100 community to the amount they can purchase, world changing rapidly, it’s easy to rely on their pantry for groceries. food pantries, serving more than Kline added. feel lost at sea and in uncharted Good Samaritan “I’m fearful the need will in- 70,000 individuals each year. Meanwhile, they’re expecting an waters — especially if you are elder- crease exponentially with so many That’s more than 6 million pounds increase in need. ly or dealing with chronic illness. Community Food people being laid off of jobs,” she of food distributed annually. “This is just the first week of In an effort to shine a beacon Pantry said. To learn more on how to give or dealing with this sort of thing,” of light during these murky days, Photo courtesy of the TOWN OF BELLEAIR 6085 Park Blvd., Pinellas It’s already diffi cult to fi nd the receive help at RCS, visit rcspinel- he said.