By David DeCamp, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

CLEARWATER — Pinellas County commissioners voted 4-3 Tuesday to end the seven-year practice of putting fluoride into drinking water, a public health effort that riled conservative activists and skeptics.

More than a dozen dentists and pediatricians told commissioners that adding fluoride improve's people's dental health and lowers costs to the county for dental care for the needy. But critics seized on recent concerns about too much fluoride having side effects on young children and fears of government medicating the public. Some critics compared it to Soviet and Nazi practices.

Numerous federal agencies and medical groups say the practice is acceptable with the right dosage. First introduced decades ago, fluoridation has been hailed as one of the great public health advances of the 20th century.

After more than three hours of debate, the board voted to stop the practice, which ...

By Sheila Mullane Estrada, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

ST. PETE BEACH — As the city's development-related legal wars enter a sixth year, settlement talks are in the wind again.

In the past few weeks, city officials, lawyers and residents took different tacks with one goal in mind — to end the myriad lawsuits that, along with a tough economy, have paralyzed growth in this beach community.

Commissioner Jim Parent announced last week that he had met privately with Bruce Kadoura, a resident whose legal fight against the city's development regulations is under review by the Second District Court of Appeal.

Kadoura appears willing to settle his lawsuits and "can get other guys to go along," Parent told the commission. Other residents suing the city include Bill Pyle, Richard McCormick and Jim Anderson.

In a letter sent to the commission last month, Kadoura said the lawsuits "have expended vast ...

By Marissa Lang, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

A brand of California romaine lettuce that has been recalled over concerns of listeria contamination has recently been traced to restaurants and refrigerators in Florida, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Last week, True Leaf Farms of Salinas, Calif., announced a recall of romaine lettuce that had been shipped to food service distributors in Oregon, Idaho and Washington. It was initially believed only customers who bought the lettuce in those states were affected.

But only 90 of the 2,500 recalled cartons went to retail stores in those states, according to Church Brothers, LCC, which markets the farm's produce. The rest were sent to restaurants and cafeterias in Canada and 19 states, including Florida, according to the FDA.

All of the recalled chopped, bagged lettuce has a "use by" date of Sept. 29, 2011. The bag and box ...

By Patti Ewald, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Lou Worthington, cleaning a freshly caught mullet, and brother Bob are getting fish ready for a mullet fry at Gulfport’s 101st Birthday Bash on Saturday.

GULFPORT — It's every cook's nightmare: The freezer goes on the fritz a week before a party and all the food is spoiled.

The nightmare is magnified because it happened just before Gulfport's 101st Birthday Bash, and the food that spoiled is mullet — 200 pounds of frozen, cleaned, skinned, deboned and vacuum-packed mullet.

Faced with a crisis, the cooks — brothers Bob and Lou Worthington — did what any native Gulfport fisherman and student of mullet would do — cast those nets back in the water and catch some more.

After all, there are plenty of fish in the sea, right?

Well, yes, and no.

Mullet, the jumping, vegetarian fish with a gullet instead of a ...

By Sheila Mullane Estrada, Times Correspondent


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

MADEIRA BEACH — Hoping the third try will be the charm, last week the City Commission set a goal of early December to hire a new city manager.

The commission tried to find a new manager on its own, offering the job to two candidates. Both rejected the offers during contract negotiations.

Now city leaders have hired a national executive recruiting firm, Colin Baenziger & Associates, which is based in Wellington.

Since 1998, the firm has conducted more than 100 successful manager searches, mostly in Florida, including the cities of Gulfport, Bartow, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Coral Gables, Cape Canaveral, Homestead and Key Biscayne, as well as Polk, Brevard, Flagler, Baker, Bay, Clay and St. Johns counties.

Two-thirds of the selected candidates are still working for the governments that hired them, according to the company.

The firm is charging the city $20,000 ...

By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Calendar

Oct. 10-20: FCAT retakes.

Oct. 20: End of first grading quarter.

Oct. 21: Teacher planning day; no school for students.

Oct. 28: Report cards are issued.

Class notes

Anclote Elementary: School pictures, today.

Centennial Middle: Book Fair starts Monday.

Chasco Elementary: Bagels and Books Family breakfast, 8:45 a.m. Thursday.

Cotee River Elementary: Fall Fun Fest, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Deer Park Elementary: Ident-A-Kid program, Thursday. Fall Carnival, Friday. Advisory Council, 7:40 a.m. Oct. 14.

Denham Oaks Elementary: Picture day, Thursday. Fall Festival, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 14. Donations are needed for prizes. Vendor tables are available for $25. For information, e-mail the PTA at, doespta@gmail.com.

Fivay High: Homecoming Dance, Friday.

Hudson Middle: School pictures, today.

Gulf Middle: Booster Dance, 6:30 to 9 p.m ...

By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The senior project has long been a tradition in Pasco County — a "get out of high school" hurdle meant to better prepare students for what comes next.

And for many, the multi-layered, year-long project is well under way.

While each high school has its own nuances, most senior projects have similar components: picking a subject or topic at the beginning of the school year, writing a research paper on that topic, working with an adult mentor or a local organization on a product or event, putting together a portfolio and finally, giving a PowerPoint presentation, typically in the weeks leading up to graduation, while dressed in proper business attire before a panel of judges.

"It's not just about getting kids ready for college," said English teacher Harmonie Blankenship, who serves as senior project coordinator for J.W. Mitchell High ...

By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Briefs

• After months of construction, new make-overs at two Dade City schools are ready to be officially revealed to the community on Saturday. Pasco High School will host a dedication ceremony at 2 p.m. with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Pasco Middle School's dedication ceremony will be at 3 p.m., with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m.

• Want to see what's going on in Pasco schools from the comfort of your home? Pasco Education Television (PETV) showcases student, school and district produced videos. PETV can be found on Channel 614 (BrightHouse) and Channel 40 (Verizon). Go to http://connect.pasco.k12.fl.us/petv for the latest content and broadcast schedule.

Library notes

Centennial Park, 5740 Moog Road, Holiday. (727) 834-3204.

• Teen advisory board, 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Hudson ...

By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Pottery instructor Christa Stanelun helps homeschooled student Victoria Jenkins, 14, fashion a holiday candle holder during a Clay for Kids pottery class, which are held Wednesday mornings at the Pasco Art Center on Moog Road in Holiday.

The making of a clay candle holder or a special shelter for Spikes the pet lizard is meticulous work — particularly when you're using a slab pottery technique. The process starts with the patting and rolling of a gray glob of stoneware clay, a material with some give to it for those who are new to the craft. They create art with typical potters' tools: cutting knives, paint brushes, water, white vinegar and an ordinary kitchen rolling pin.

The slab technique is just the latest lesson for three youngsters enrolled in a Wednesday morning pottery class for homeschooled children at the Pasco Art ...

By Will Hobson, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

LARGO — There is one question City Commission candidate Michael Smith says he hears more than any other as he seeks to unseat incumbent Seat 1 Commissioner Mary Gray Black.

The question: "There's an election this year?"

Yes, one City Commission seat is up for grabs in the Nov. 8 city election. (Seat 2 Commissioner Robert Murray's seat would have been up, too, but no one filed to run against him.)

Registered voters in Largo who requested mail ballots started receiving them this week. Voters interested in mail ballots can request them online at www.votepinellas.com, or by calling the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office at 464-VOTE (464-8683).

Anyone who hasn't registered to vote has until Oct. 11 to do so.

The Largo election pits Black, 72, who has held the seat since 2005 and served ...

By Dan Dewitt, Times Columnist
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

I have some advice for professional football fans.

Don't go to the stadium.

Stay at home. Avoid the expense, the hassle, the loss of precious afternoons (or, in the case of night games, evenings, late nights and early mornings) and enjoy the National Football League's product as it is intended to be enjoyed, on TV.

If you want to follow the action and appreciate the strategy, it's better than live in every way.

Sure, you might say. But what about the electricity, the buzz of an NFL game, especially on Monday night? Nothing beats the thrill of bearing witness to a national ritual. Right?

Not really. Not judging from my experience Monday night, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosted the Indianapolis Colts.

As you probably know, the sellout on Monday was the first in 11 games. The Bucs ...

By Lee Logan, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

DADE CITY — County Commissioners on Tuesday approved $80,000 for nearly 20 Pasco festivals, plus funding for a new concession stand for J.W. Mitchell Park, though Commissioner Jack Mariano objected to both projects.

Mariano's stance sparked contentious debate, but he couldn't persuade fellow commissioners to spike the plans. He was the lone "no" vote in both cases.

The grants are routinely awarded each year to support events ranging from Chasco Fiesta to the Longleaf Triathlon. But Mariano objected that some smaller events like Dade City's Pioneer Days Festival didn't prove they generated more patrons at local hotels.

"You've got some people who didn't even report heads in beds at all, and you're still giving out the money," he said. "Great event, great cause. If the focus is for tourist development, for heads ...

Times staff


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Clearwater

It's now $5 to park all day at Sand Key

Parking at Sand Key Park will jump from $1 an hour to $5 for a flat daily fee starting today. Pinellas County officials said the price change will make Sand Key's fees consistent with county beach parks like Fred Howard and Fort De Soto, where the $5 fee will begin in January. Officials said the extra cost will help pay for park maintenance and enhancements. Sand Key Park's hourly meters have been replaced by 18 automated pay stations, which accept coins, cash and credit cards. Annual parking passes covering all three parks can be purchased for $75, or $55 for seniors over 65, at the county's Parks and Conservation Resources Office at 12520 Ulmerton Road in Largo, or at the administrative office at Fort De Soto.

palm harbor

Underpants ...

By Lorri Helfand, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

BELLEAIR — Town leaders are so disappointed with a $55,000 feasibility study of the Belleview Biltmore, they want a refund.

A few months ago, the town hired a Las Vegas consultant to find out if restoring the 114-year-old hotel is economically feasible. And if not, town officials asked StoneCreek Partners LLC to explain how other projects on the 22-acre site might impact the community.

They got neither, they say.

In a five-page letter to Donald Bredberg of StoneCreek Partners on Friday, Town Manager Micah Maxwell blasted the consultant for repeated delays, excuses and misrepresentations, calling the study a "total failure."

Maxwell informed Bredberg the report, due Sept. 8, was submitted incomplete and 22 days late. It lacked most of the information the town requested and provided "no useful guidance" for future decisions on the redevelopment of the site, Maxwell wrote ...

By Erin Sullivan, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

NEW PORT RICHEY — Jeffrey Harrington is returning to the agency where he began his career in Florida 20 years ago: the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Harrington is leaving his position as chief of the New Port Richey Police Department to be a major at the county agency.

"There is something very special going on over there right now," Harrington said of the Sheriff's Office, which is under the leadership of recently appointed Sheriff Chris Nocco.

Harrington, 47, will be in charge of all road patrol deputies, a position held by former Maj. Maurice Radford, who abruptly left the Sheriff's Office on Sept. 14. Harrington's salary will increase from $77,000 a year to $108,622. His last day as New Port Richey chief will be at the end of next week. He begins at the Sheriff ...

By Rebecca Catalanello, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

A month into his job as interim superintendent over Pinellas County schools, John Stewart has made such a great impression on his bosses that they've decided to delay finding a permanent replacement.

School board members on Tuesday said they'd like to move forward with a search, but they won't hire anyone until they've left the district in Stewart's hands for at least a year.

"I think we hit the lottery right now after a month of working," board member Robin Wikle said during a board workshop.

He's honest, transparent, confident and communicative, she said. He fits the description of the leader the board sought during the last search in 2008, board member Linda Lerner said. He's helping put the district on the right track, board chairwoman Carol Cook said.

Stewart took the district ...

By Lorri Helfand, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Perry Burright of Oldsmar checks out the new City Council chambers on the second floor of the former bank building.

OLDSMAR

The City Council and the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce showcased their new quarters in the former Oldsmar Bank building during an open house Tuesday. It took two years to complete a $2.6 million renovation of the historic landmark on State Street, which opened more than 90 years ago as the city's first bank. It later served as a grocery, post office, apartments, City Hall and, most recently, Oldsmar's library, which moved into a new building on St. Petersburg Drive in 2008. Now the restored, 8,500-square-foot building will house offices for the Chamber of Commerce, the Oldsmar Historical Society and Pinellas sheriff's deputies, as well as new chambers for the City Council on ...

By Jacqueline Baylon, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

LAND O'LAKES — A proposed charter school does not have a firm location, a local governing board or a transportation plan for its future students. Nor has it obtained nonprofit status.

All of those issues concerned the Pasco School Board. But the board went ahead Tuesday and approved the application by Broward-based Charter Schools USA and Bay Area Charter Foundation, LLC because it met the mandatory criteria under Florida's charter school law.

"I will tell you we should go ahead and approve the application, but I will also tell you that we have a lot of concerns," Pasco schools superintendent Heather Fiorentino said to the board.

Even with Fiorentino's advice, board vice chairman Allen Altman voted against the application.

"Our most successful charter schools are those who are started by people in our community, where the board members ...

By Tony Marrero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Board member Dianne Bonfield argued to extend the ban to all property.

BROOKSVILLE — Faced with a proposal to ban tobacco from all school district property, the School Board opted to butt out.

The comprehensive tobacco-free policy, advocated by the state Department of Health, would forbid smoking and other forms of tobacco use on all district property, including athletic fields and parking lots.

That would have meant snuffing out all tobacco use not just on school campuses but also on other property where students rarely or never go, such as the maintenance office and the district administration headquarters in Brooksville.

That's going too far, a majority of board members agreed during a workshop Tuesday.

"At the end of the day, is smoking a smart choice? No, it's not," member Matt Foreman said. "But do you have the ability, as ...

Logan Neill, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

BROOKSVILLE — The on-again, off-again effort to use cameras to catch red-light running drivers on city streets is back on again.

Council members voted 3-2 on Monday night to enter into a contract with a vendor to install 20 cameras at an undetermined number of intersections that could net the city more than $1 million a year if projections are met.

According to City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha, the company will begin installing the cameras in March and plans to have them operational sometime in May.

Under the terms of the contract, Miami-based Sensys America would split the proceeds with the city up to $4,500 per month per camera.

Under a new state law, violators now get a $158 ticket when cameras catch them running a red-light.

The host entity receives $75, and the state takes $85. Right turns on a red ...