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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 11, 2009

PLANT CITY - The Florida Strawberry Festival ended its 11-day run Sunday with attendance totaling about 500,000, according to a preliminary count.

"We're going to be right on par with last year, I think, maybe even up a little bit," general manager Paul Davis said. Last year's attendance was "a little over 500,000."

A final count will be available after festival officials calculate the number of discounted tickets sold at area Sweetbay grocery stores.

The festival, which opened Feb. 26, generally was blessed with excellent weather. The first Sunday was an exception: cold and blustery. But that night was highlighted by the sold-out Taylor Swift concert, which drew thousands of fans, mostly young ones, undeterred by the weather.

Many who bought the advance tickets arrived early or stayed late to experience the festival midway and other attractions, Davis said.

"It's those 13- to 17-year-olds who come to the fair and really enjoy the rides and the cotton candy," Davis said. "So for a really cold day, ... it was a great concert to have."

George Wilkens
Homeless Pets Need Volunteers

TAMPA - Want to do your part for homeless pets? Hillsborough County Animal Services will hold orientation sessions for people interested in joining the Volunteer Partnership Program at the shelter.

Duties will include escorting people interested in adopting pets to the kennel area, photographing animals, assisting veterinarians, helping with special events and walking and socializing animals.

Orientations will be at 5:30 p.m. today, 10 a.m. March 21, 10 a.m. April 11 and 5:30 p.m. April 29.

Volunteers must be 16 or older. Candidates will be asked to commit to a minimum of 20 hours of service a month, including weekends.

Call (813) 744-5660 or go to www.hillsboroughcounty.org/ animalservices for information.

Felix L. Martinez

Energy Lecture Is On Tap Today

ST. PETERSBURG - A former oil company president who now advocates for energy independence will speak at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science today.

John Hofmeister retired as president of Shell Oil in 2008 and now runs Citizens for Affordable Energy, a public policy and education firm that promotes affordable energy supplies, sustainable environmental policies and public education on energy issues.

Since retirement, Hofmeister has become an outspoken critic of political leaders' handling of energy challenges.

Hofmeister will speak on "America's Energy Security: After 35 Years of Systemic Failure, What We Must Do Differently." The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. at the Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Ave. S.E. For information, call Vickie Chachere at (813) 974-6251.

Lindsay Peterson

Session To Focus On Voting Rights

TAMPA - A showing of the BET special "Locked Out: Ex-Cons & The Vote," with a panel discussion afterward on civil rights restoration, will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at the University Area Community Center, 14013 N. 22nd St.

Lawyers from the George Edgecomb Bar Association will be available to help people who have felony convictions apply for the return of their civil rights.

The event is being sponsored by the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which includes the Hillsborough County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Hillsborough League of Women Voters and the American Civil Liberties Union.

For information, go to www.restorerights.org.

Donna Koehn

Trio Want School Official Ousted

LAND O' LAKES - Three state lawmakers have called on Gov. Charlie Crist to consider removing Pasco County School Board member Cathi Martin from office because of her history of absences from board meetings.

Rep. John Legg, Rep. Will Weatherford and Sen. Mike Fasano sent a letter to Crist on Monday stating that Martin "continues to fail her obligations to the citizenry of Pasco County."

"Martin has declined to resign and continues to accept her annual salary and the accompanying benefit package afforded to full-time district employees even though she has and continues to miss multiple school board meetings," the lawmakers wrote.

Martin could not be reached for comment.

She has been criticized in the past about her attendance. Health problems and other issues have caused her to miss school board meetings, workshops and other functions since she was elected to a third term in 2006.

Ronnie Blair

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