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Drew Park Raids Called A Success Get Ready, Set, Now Climb

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 19, 2009

TAMPA - City officials are proclaiming a six-month undercover investigation of adult-oriented businesses in Drew Park successful.

The investigation focused on businesses that are regulated as adult-oriented and those that were not, but that offered adult-type services.

Nine unregulated adult businesses, all of which were lingerie shops, have closed. Police made 163 arrests in the operation that ended in November.

Police also made arrests at regulated adult businesses - 22 arrests at the Playhouse Theatre, 4421 N. Hubert St., and 21 arrests at Fantasy Land, 4715 N. Lois Ave.

The operation began after residents and business owners requested increased law enforcement attention on adult businesses. The neighborhood's community redevelopment agency voted to spend $132,000 to help pay for police overtime and enforcement.
Jose Patino Girona

Ready, Set, Now Climb

Can you run up 42 flights of stairs without collapsing of exhaustion?

If so, the Tampa Bay chapter of the American Lung Association wants to hear from you.

The association is preparing to hold its annual "Climb Tampa" challenge in March, where dozens of brave souls race to the top of the 42-story Bank of America building in downtown.

The race, entering its fourth year, is a fundraising event and organizers hope to generate at least $135,000 for research, education and prevention of lung diseases.

A minimum of $100 is required to participate in the race, which gets under way at 7 a.m. on March 21 at the Bank of America plaza at 101 E. Kennedy Blvd.

The deadline to register is March 18.

For information and to register, go to http://stairclimb tampabay.com/stairclimbtampabay/

You can also register by calling (727) 347-6133.

Christian M. Wade

Group Plans To Talk Music

CARROLLWOOD - The Carrollwood Cultural Center and the Florida Orchestra Guild will present the second event for Music Notes, a discussion series covering topics associated with the Florida Orchestra's 2008-09 Masterworks Series.

The next discussion will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday and will cover Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky and conductor/pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Mary Ann Scialdo, the Carrollwood Cultural Center artistic director, will lead the discussion using copies of the original paintings that were Mussorgsky's source of inspiration.

Admission is $15 per discussion. Coffee and pastries will be served. For information, contact the Florida Orchestra Guild/Tampa Inc. at (813) 960-1121.

Michele Sager

New Signal On The Way

WESLEY CHAPEL - The growing flood of drivers traveling between homes in northern Hillsborough County and shopping in southern Pasco County will soon find one more obstacle in their path: a traffic signal at Williamsburg Drive and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Pasco County officials opened bids recently for the installation of the signal, the fourth on the mile-long stretch between County Line Road and State Road 56.

The stop is needed to ease the bottlenecks being driven by the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on the south side of S.R. 56 and the nearby Shops at Wiregrass mall.

The signal was part of a deal struck last year between the developers building the eastern extension of S.R. 56 and Publix.

Kevin Wiatrowski

Fun Fest For Seniors

Senior Connection magazine hosts a free Senior Fun Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

There also will be a 1-mile fun walk at 9 a.m. Thursday. Registration and warm-up begin at 8:30 a.m. The first 100 people to register will receive a T-shirt, continental breakfast, a walk certificate and goodie bag. The cost is a $4 donation.

The event will feature free bingo games, health screenings, magic performances, arts and crafts, a classic car show, photo contests, prizes, giveaways, free coffee and doughnuts, and more, accompanied by live music from the 1950s and '60s.

Food will be available for purchase. The Tampa Tribune is among the sponsors. Parking is $5 for cars and $10 for RVs or buses. The fairgrounds is at 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa. Visitors are asked to enter at the U.S. 301 entrance. Call (813) 653-1988 or go to www.srmagazine.com.

Felix L. Martinez

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