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Birders Count Feathered Friends

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Bird enthusiasts fanned out over west Pasco County on Friday to find out how many feathered creatures are hanging around.

More than 50 people participated in the annual Christmas Bird Count organized by the West Pasco Audubon Society. They searched the woods, the shore and neighborhoods for wood ducks, cattle egrets, ospreys, least sandpipers, Eastern towhees and other species.

Among this year's birders were Kenn and Virginia Pray, who are from Ontario but winter each year in Zephyrhills. They have participated in bird counts in Canada before, but this was their first Florida count.

"They had 3 feet of snow this year when they did the bird count," Kenn Pray said.

Ronnie Blair

Students Clean Plant City Parks

PLANT CITY - More than 40 students at Shiloh Charter School spent a day cleaning two local parks because they wanted to give back to their community.

The students decided to pick up trash at Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex and Mike Sansone Park after discussing possible service projects, teacher Rachael Bowen said. The students were bused to the adjacent parks east of Park Road and handed bags to fill with garbage they found, Bowen said. The students were also accompanied by Sherry Craft, the school's other sixth-grade teacher.

"From learning teamwork to perseverance and commitment, the students gained a valuable experience and appreciation for Plant City's resources," the school said in a statement.
Dave Nicholson
Workshops Focus On Development

TAMPA - The city will mail thousands of postcards to Seminole Heights households about a series of workshops to discuss long-range redevelopment.

The first workshop will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at Ragan Park, 1200 E. Lake Ave. The postcards will list additional workshops through May and the focus of each.

In the past, some residents said they did not receive the city's postcard notifications. The new batch will be bigger with splashes of color, zoning administrator Cathy Coyle said.

The workshops are phase two of a two-year pilot project launched in February to create regulations for Seminole Heights, known as form-based zoning codes, to guide future growth for the next 10, 20 or 50 years. City council must approve the codes.

Kathy Steele

Paint A Picture In 2 Hours

TAMPA - Here's a chance to learn to paint without having to go indoors.

Tampa artist Terry Klaaren will host a series of workshops on completing an outdoor painting within two hours.

The workshops are at Wilderness Park at Trout Creek on Saturday; Morris Bridge Road on Jan. 17; Riverhills Park in Temple Terrace on Jan. 31; Lettuce Lake Park on Jan. 7; and Lowry Park on Feb. 21.

Each class is $30, with family rates available. For information on schedules, go to www.klaarenart.com. To register, e-mail info@klaarenart. com or call (813) 985-9200.

Lenora Lake

New Hotel Opens Friday

PLANT CITY - The city's newest hotel opens for business Friday near the Interstate 4/County Line Road interchange.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Plant City/Lakeland is opening at 4307 Sterling Commerce Drive. The hotel has 87 rooms, including 25 suites, pool with a spa, exercise room and other amenities. The developer wanted to open in time for the Super Bowl.

A staff report

Krewe Offers Scholarships

APOLLO BEACH - Ye Notorious Krewe of the Peg Leg Pirate offers scholarships for student amputees to help with expenses for college or trade and technical schools.

The krewe also helps amputees with the cost of services and equipment designed to improve their quality of life.

Last year, the organization awarded $17,000 in educational scholarships to people in Florida, Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, Maryland, Colorado and Jamaica.

To learn more or get an application, visit www. peglegpirate.org. The deadline is March 31.

Lois Kindle

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