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'Magical' Performer Plans To Spend 40 Days, Nights In A Modified Phone Booth On A Pasco Street

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 21, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - He was born Ben Garcia, but he's better known as Ben Hvar - or Otok Ben-Hvar.

It's difficult to define what he does.

He's an artist. He's a performer. He's a performance artist.

He's been described as "America's premier host and social director," "a magical Disneyland figure come to life" and is referred to in the Congressional Record as "America's Santa to the World."

Whoever or whatever he is, it is certain where Hvar is, and if all goes according to plan, where he will be until April 30 - in a modified phone booth behind Market on Main, 6040 Main St., where he will attempt to establish a new world record.

Spectators at today's Chasco Fiesta Street Parade may want to take notice of a white-haired gent in a phone booth Pasco-Hernando Community College students are towing. That's Hvar.

Immediately after the parade, he and his booth will take up residence behind the market for his world-record run.

According to Hvar, there is no official record for time spent in a phone booth, so he wanted to set a mark that had a world-record ring to it. The biblical 40 days and 40 nights sounded about right.

If successful, this would be the second time Hvar established a category in Guinness World Records.

He got into the 1988 edition by driving an 8-horsepower riding mower 2,801 miles.

Klint Lowry

Here's Music To Some Ears

TAMPA - Want to tickle the ebony and ivory on a hot pink baby grand piano?

How about baby blue or royal purple?

That thrill is waiting for seven lucky nonprofit organizations that reach out to Patel Conservatory at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The conservatory is helping Holland America cruise line give away seven used pianos in various colors during the next two weekends.

The only costs for the nonprofit groups are pickup and transportation.

The first pianos arrive Sunday and must be picked up by 3 p.m. Wednesday. The last ones arrive Friday and must be picked up by 5 p.m. March 30.

Up for grabs are one upright piano, one full grand piano and five baby grands. The condition of the pianos is unknown.

Three nonprofits already have asked for a piano, Leigh said, and a lottery probably will be needed to complete the giveaway.

For information, call Victoria McCarthy at the Patel Conservatory at (813) 222-6411.

Kathy Steele

These Trucks Up For Touches

TAMPA - Children will have a chance to explore, climb into and ask questions about various types of trucks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Macfarlane Park.

The Touch-A-Truck event features vehicles from various businesses and government agencies. Children also may have their photographs taken behind the steering wheels of the trucks.

Proceeds will help pay for renovations to Friendship Park on Bay to Bay Boulevard in South Tampa.

Greg Carr

Items Appraised For Good Cause

CARROLLWOOD - Clean out those closets and dust off those long-cherished valuables because they might be worth some cash.

The LifePath Hospice Thrift Store in Carrollwood hosts an antique appraisal fair today.

Collectors can get one item appraised for $5 or three for $12. Appraisals are provided by Dale Smrekar, a certified appraiser. Customers are limited to three items per person and are encouraged to bring photos of larger items. Appraisals will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the store, 4802 Gunn Highway.

Michele Sager

Fiorentino Asks Obama For Help

LAND O' LAKES - Pasco schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino has turned to President Barack Obama for assistance after Wachovia Bank more than doubled the fee the school district pays for the letter of credit on a school construction bond issue.

Wachovia was one of the banks that received federal rescue funds through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Fiorentino said in a letter to Obama that banks that receive the federal help "should not be permitted to exploit bad market conditions in order to make a profit at the expense of local taxpayers."

The school district learned in February that the yearly fee it pays to Wachovia would increase from $367,000 to $950,703.

Ronnie Blair

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