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New Seffner-Mango Library Set To Open

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 2009

SEFFNER - A grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Hillsborough County Seffner-Mango Branch Library will begin at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the library, 410 N. Kingsway Road.

The 15,000-square-foot library will offer state-of-the-art amenities, a separate children's area, community and study rooms, a computer lab, a science room, public computers, and a Friends of the Library bookstore.

Residents are invited to bring their own scissors to participate in the ribbon cutting and take home souvenirs.

Call (813) 273-3652 or go to www.hillsboroughcounty.org.

Felix L. Martinez

Council Reviews Cell Tower Issue

TAMPA - City council members on Thursday asked their staff to review location criteria for cell phone towers.

The move comes after Wednesday night's heated public meeting about a tower proposed for athletic fields at Coleman Middle School in South Tampa.

"If the school board wants to put the tower out in the middle of a field, hundreds of feet from the school, that might be one thing," said Councilman John Dingfelder. "But our code allows them to be in our city parks and schools. I have grave reservations about that."

The school district built its first tower at McKitrick Elementary School in 1997, one year after Congress passed a law limiting the authority of local governments to prevent the installation of towers.

In 2006, Hillsborough County school officials entered into a contract with Collier Enterprises II, allowing the company to work with school principals to place towers on suitable campuses. Leasing profits from phone service providers are dispersed at 50 percent for Collier, 40 percent for the school where a tower is placed and 10 percent for the school district.

Jamie Pilarczyk

Veterinarian To Share A Shark's Tale

TAMPA - Here's a free lecture of gigantic proportion.

Tonya Clauss, chief veterinarian of the Georgia Aquarium, will present a program on "Gentle Giants: Care of Whale Sharks at the Georgia Aquarium," on Tuesday at The Florida Aquarium, 700 Channelside Drive.

A reception is at 5:45 p.m. and the program is at 6:15.

The whale shark is the largest fish in the world, reaching lengths of 40-plus feet and weighing as much as 15 tons. They do not have large, razorlike teeth for tearing the flesh of their prey, however; they actually are filter feeders. Clauss, who is a University of Florida graduate, will discuss logistical challenges in terms of transport, housing and handling for medical procedures.

Reservations are requested by calling (813) 273-4568.

Lenora Lake

Class Will Tap Your Inner Artist

WESTCHASE - The Life Enrichment Center is holding registration for a new six-week portrait-painting class for adults.

Learn techniques for painting skin, hair, eyes and more. Classes will meet Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 26 through March 9 at the center, 9704 N. Boulevard. Cost for the class is $75.

Classes are open to adults of all ages. Class size is limited; advance registration is required. To register for the portrait class or for information about other classes and workshops offered by the Life Enrichment Center, call (813) 932-0241 or visit www.lifeenrichmenttampa.org.

Michele Sager

Authors, Poets To Sign Books

WESLEY CHAPEL - For Zephyrhills author Susan Harmon, being invited to do a book signing at the new Barnes & Noble Booksellers is "like hitting the big time."

"I am humbled and honored," Harmon said. "To me, it couldn't be better than being on 'Oprah.'"

Harmon is one of 14 local authors and composers participating in Saturday's event at the bookstore in Shops at Wiregrass. She will be promoting her first novel, "Under the Weeping Willow," which is published by Mountain Girl Press. The book captures what it was like to grow up in southeastern Kentucky in the 1950s: from devastating floods to bomb shelters and bootleggers.

Acclaimed New Tampa poet Sasenarine Persaud will promote his sixth volume of poetry, "In a Boston Night." Persaud spent the 2005-06 academic year as a teaching fellow at Boston University. He said the book was inspired by his surroundings, especially the fall foliage and historic architecture.

The book signing will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 28152 Pasco Drive, Suite 100. For information, call (813) 907-7739.

Laura Kinsler

Older Softball Players Sought

PLANT CITY - John Wolfe wants to hear from men interested in playing softball.

However, if you're younger than 60, don't bother.

Wolfe is the founder and organizer of a team for players 60 and older. He is seeking more players for the 2009 season, which starts this month.

All games will be played at the city's Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex, next to Plant City Stadium. Wolfe can be reached at (813) 754-8649.

George H. Newman

Lutz Man Wins $50,000

LUTZ - A Lutz man was among the winners in Florida's first Powerball lottery drawing on Wednesday.

Kevin Cohen, 22, won $50,000 for picking four of the five winning numbers. Normally, that would only be a $10,000 payout, but Cohen chose a Power Play chance to have any nonjackpot winnings be multiplied by a chosen number - in this case five.

"That was a great investment of one extra dollar," Cohen said when he picked up his earnings at the Florida Lottery's Tampa district office.

Cohen was one of six Florida residents who matched four winning numbers. He bought his ticket at Cumberland, 24050 S.R. 54.

Tom Brennan

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