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Traffic Concerns Highlight Meeting

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 13, 2009

TAMPA - People who live near the site of a planned Wal-Mart at Gandy Boulevard and Lois Avenue want to limit the store's effect on certain nearby roads.

Al Steenson, president of the Gandy/Sun Bay South Civic Association, has distributed more than 250 invitations to residents and politicians, asking people to speak up at a public meeting Thursday with Wal-Mart engineers.

"It scares me," said Steenson, who especially is concerned about Peal Avenue being used as a cut-through to South Dale Mabry Highway. "I know there will be congestion issues and I don't know how to solve them."

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Quenta Vettel said the retail giant plans to begin construction before July for an early 2010 opening. Plans include a 146,000-square-foot store on about 13 acres. It will have groceries, general merchandise, a pharmacy and garden center.

Steenson said the results of the Florida Department of Transportation's work with Wal-Mart regarding turn lanes off Gandy Boulevard should be released at the meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. at the Gandy Civic Center, 4207 W. Oklahoma Ave.

Jamie Pilarczyk
Junior Royalty Crowned

PLANT CITY - Four girls were crowned in their respective age categories Saturday at the Florida Strawberry Festival's annual Junior Royalty pageant.

About 120 girls ages 5 through 15 competed before a nearly capacity crowd of about 1,000 at Tomlin Middle School.

The contestants were judged on personality, overall appearance, natural beauty and smile. The winner in each category included: baroness 5 to 6 years old Tori Wegner; duchess 7 to 9 years old Reagan Brown, princess 10 to 12 years old Elizabeth Padilla; and queen 13 to 15 years old Danielle McCullough.
Junior Royalty is the first of two major pageants leading up to the strawberry festival.

The other, the festival's queen pageant for Plant City area women between 16 and 20 years old, is 6 p.m. Saturday at Tomlin's auditorium, 501 N. Woodrow Wilson St.

Thirty-two young women are scheduled to compete for that title. Tickets are $10.

Kevin Brady

Duo Brings Bit Of New Orleans To Town

TEMPLE TERRACE - Percussionist Don Capone calls it "a work in progress."

He is referring to the Wednesday night jazz sessions at Lenny's Cafe, 10918 N. 56th St.

Capone, 65, a former teacher, police officer and drummer with more than 40 years of playing experience and numerous engagements with well-known jazz artists to his credit, kicked off the informal gatherings a few weeks ago.

Keyboardist and University of South Florida research professor Charles Berlin, 76, a onetime Juilliard School student, has since joined Capone.

Because no alcohol is served at Lenny's, the duo invites families to come out, enjoy a light meal and join in the fun from 7 to 10 p.m.

For information, call (813) 984-7884 or (813) 732-8782.

Joyce McKenzie

South Shore Seniors Play At The Library

RUSKIN - South Shore seniors are invited to put on their game faces and head over to the SouthShore Regional Library for some fun exercise playing interactive Wii games.

The free program was initiated in mid-November by librarian Bill Harris and the library's teen advisory board. Sessions in bowling and tennis are ongoing, with the winter schedule set for 4 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 22 to March 26 and 11 a.m. Saturdays Jan. 31 to March 21.

Three to 12 players usually show up to play, but more are welcome.

The Wii software and console were paid for by the Friends of the SouthShore Library from the sale of books donated by the public.

For information, call Bill Harris at (813) 672-1155 or stop by 15816 Beth Shields Way.

Lois Kindle

State Delays Pasco Landfill Decision

DADE CITY - State environmental officials will wait another month to issue a decision on a controversial landfill proposed for eastern Pasco County.

The state Department of Environmental Protection was prepared to issue an opinion Monday on the proposal by Largo-based Angelo's Aggregate Materials but opted to hold off until Feb. 12 to review counter-arguments, said Pam Vazquez, spokeswoman for the Tampa DEP office.

Angelo's wants to build a landfill south of Dade City. The first phase of the landfill would cover about 65 acres. The proposal has drawn stiff resistance from communities and environmental organizations in the Tampa Bay area, including the cities of Tampa and Temple Terrace.

The DEP recently received an analysis of Angelo's proposal commissioned by Tampa law firm Bricklemeyer, Smolker and Bolvis that was critical of the design of the landfill's liner and collection system for leachate, the polluted rainwater that seeps through landfills.

Kevin Wiatrowski

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