Beaches notebook

Redington Shores

The site that once held Town Hall could become a restaurant and lounge if town officials accept a purchase offer that is $100,000 beneath the town's asking price.

"This offer is over the appraised value and is a cash deal," said Jim Loncarski, a real estate agent from Treasure Island. "I appreciate that the city wants to get the highest and best price, but the property will have to appraise out at the higher price if the buyer is in a lending situation."

The potential buyer is Brent Cobb, who previously owned lounges in Michigan and Colorado and is now vice president of Office Pavilion, a mid county office furniture company. Cobb said he and his son, Brent Jr., would build and operate the restaurant and lounge that would "cater to the older crowd."

The property has 130 feet of frontage on 17750-17798 Gulf Blvd. with access from both 177th and 178th avenues. Town Hall and a strip of commercial stores were torn down last year.

The commission rezoned the property to allow maximum development. The town's commercial tourist facilities district allows such uses as hotels and motels, guest lodging and general commercial as well as single-family and duplex dwellings.

The commission assigned negotiating power to a special committee of Mayor J.J. Beyrouti, Town Attorney James Denhardt and town building official Mike Nadeau.

North Redington Beach

Voters will be asked next November to allow commissioners to decide their own salaries.

The commission by 3-2 vote Thursday put the referendum on the ballot amid a parade of objections from residents.

Commissioner Jeff Busch argued that most voters don't realize how much the mayor does on their behalf and that he deserved a raise.

"If you think the mayor deserves a raise, then bring it up to the people," said resident Frank Novak. "This proposal is just fraught with mischief."

The mayor and commissioners draw the same salary of $200 a month. Mayors of most towns receive a higher stipend.

Commissioner Gary Curtis was named vice mayor as the commission swore in two returning members and assigned department tasks.

David Yost and Ray Jay Jagielski were unopposed in last week's election. Jagielski said he was "disappointed" he did not have a challenger. "I feel I didn't win. I was just put in place. I'd like to see more competition," he said.

Jagielski will continue as the town's public works commissioner. Yost will serve as the building commissioner. Jeff Busch, the former vice mayor, will be the town's public safety commissioner.

Redington Beach

Alberto F. Baraybar, whose candidacy was disqualified because of an error on his qualification papers, was appointed Tuesday to fill a vacant seat on the commission.

Baraybar's lack of qualified signatures led directly to the resignation of Town Clerk Jill Pearson, who had come under fire for not catching the error.

Baraybar is a real estate broker with a background in civil engineering and land development. He will serve the remaining year of the seat vacated by Laura Canniff, who resigned.

John Fish was reappointed vice mayor, while Baraybar was named the town's building commissioner. Other commission assignments remained unchanged: Linda Wilson is in charge of town finances, and Tim Gregson is responsible for public safety.

Treasure Island

The city's annual Easter Eggstravaganza is scheduled for 1 p.m. March 30 at the Community Center and park, Gulf Boulevard and 106th Avenue. Activities will include an egg hunt, carnival games, Easter bonnet and hat contests, refreshments and a visit from the Easter Bunny. The egg hunt will begin at 1:05 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call the recreation department at 547-4575.

Madeira Beach

The Madeira Beach Seniors will meet at 1 p.m. April 1 in the City Hall Auditorium. Meetings are free and open to the public age 50 and over. For information, call Dorothy Shepherd, the president, at 397-4081.

The Pinellas Parliamentarian Unit will meet from 9:30 a.m. to noon April 6 in the City Hall Auditorium. Coffee and social hour starts at 9 a.m.

Programs are devoted almost entirely to education. Meetings are free and open to the public. The group tries to help associations having difficulty at meetings. For information, call 866-3899 or 392-3263.

Indian Rocks Beach

Applications for educational scholarships from the Indian Rocks Beach Civic Association are available at City Hall, 1507 Bay Palm Blvd.

The civic association has awarded $101,300 in scholarships since 1984.

Any resident or dependent of a resident of Indian Rocks Beach is eligible for up to four $1,000 annual awards paid directly to the accredited school of his or her choice.

Students attending an accredited undergraduate program, graduate school or trade school are eligible.

Call 595-0344 for information. Deadline for returning completed applications is April 8. Incomplete or late entries will not be reviewed.

The Beach Art Center will sponsor the 24th annual Spring Fling from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6 in Kolb Park, located between 15th and 16th avenues in St. Pete Beach.

The celebration is held in conjunction with the city's Beauty and the Beach festival, the Friends of the Library Book Sale, the Historical Museum and the Indian Rocks Beach Civic Association's fourth annual Gulfside Gallop.

Greyhound Pets of America will be on hand with their retired racers, all eligible for adoption.

The Indian Rocks Beach Rotary Club will serve an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast in the Gray Gallery from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The tickets are $3.50.

The current show at the art center is the Spring Fling Open show featuring paintings from artists throughout Pinellas County. Jeanne Dunne, an internationally known miniature artist, will be demonstrating in the King Gallery.

Also in the King Gallery is the Cafe des Artists bake sale, where customers can purchase a piece of cake or pie and have a glass of tea at decorated card tables.

A few blocks away, on the beach, will be the city's food and music festival, and everyone is welcome to bring a beach chair. Beauty and the Beach is sponsored by the city, the Beach art Center and the Pinellas Arts Council.

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