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© St. Petersburg Times, published July 12, 2002
Matt Stevenson walked into Seminole Lanes as general manager for the final time last week, knowing he was moving on to a higher calling.
Jill Manning cleared out her desk after 15 years as an employee of the Jerry Krauss corporation, also looking forward to a new job.
Stevenson, Manning and Sandy Grumblatt are the new owners of Dunedin Lanes, buying the 24-lane center from Helen Smith.
"We anticipate closing the deal later this month," Stevenson said. "We will not change the name of the center and we will be making only cosmetic renovations since the center is in very good shape."
Stevenson is a Stetson University graduate and Pinellas County High School League administrator who started working for Krauss in high school. "I learned about the back shop, snack bar, front desk and lounge and became general manager in 1995," Stevens said. "My main duty at Dunedin Lanes will be business operations, promotions and sales."
Manning also worked for Krauss in high school as an assistant in the corporate office. She was office manager at Sunshine Bowl and later at Seminole Lanes before being promoted to corporate office manager.
"Jill will be our business manager and will be involved in every aspect of our operations," Stevenson said.
Grumblatt has never worked at a center, but her long-time participation and love of the game are a "valuable part of our ownership team," Stevenson said. Dunedin Lanes was built in 1960 by Joe Hoagland and Ham Hamilton, who later owned Highland Lanes, now Rainbow Lanes. Dunedin Lanes was originally a 16-lane house. Eight lanes were added in 1973 before Bob and Helen Smith purchased the center in 1974. Bob Smith died in 1995, survived by his son, Cotton, former owner of the now-defunct Largo Lanes, and Tracey Smith, owner of Tarpon Lanes.
"I'm going to get totally away from the center except to bowl," Helen Smith said of the sale. "I've been so busy the past few years I haven't gotten into what I really want: learning computers. I'm moving into a smaller house, hiring a tutor and learning all about computers. And I want to start bowling again."
STATE YABA ENDS: Brittany Scanlon and Rebecca Schmais were singles winners in the Florida State YABA tournament in Ocala. Official results have yet to be posted.
Scanlon, from the Upper Pinellas Junior Association, rolled a 788 handicap series in Division 4 singles for 110-134-average bowlers. Schmais, fro the Suncoast YABA, fired 757 to win the Division 3 title for players with 135-159 averages.
Ten Pin Lanes No. 4 finished fourth and Tarpon Lanes Pro Shop fifth in Division 2 team competition. The Spare Shooters from the Greater Pinellas YABA finished fourth in Division 5.
Local qualifiers for next year's Junior Olympic Gold tournaments were Shawn Ryan, Terrance Reeves, Adam Chobrda, Ashley Galante, Jamie Potter and Nicole Hall.
Many of the state YABA competitors moved on to the USA Junior Gold National Championships, which started Sunday, and the Coca Cola Junior National Championships starting Saturday. Both events are at Lakeland and Winter Haven centers.
NABI WINNERS: St. Petersburg's Ronda Masanotti won consecutive NABI tournaments at Seminole and AMF Kenneth City lanes recently. St. Petersburg's Davi Goller captured his second title and $377 at Kenneth City on June 16.
Masanotti won her sixth and seventh titles and earned $1,075 total. NABI players are at Countryside Lanes on Sunday.
BOWLING AMBASSADOR: David Krutzler, 14, Pinellas Park, will participate in the U.S. People to People Sports Ambassador program. Krutzler will travel to England as part of the U.S. team competing in the London Hollywood Bowl Classic.
AROUND THE LANES: Cliff Barnes rolled an 815 series and Phil Peters fired 300-761 at Countryside Lanes. ... Marty Goodale rolled 300-783 and John McLeod 290-735 at AMF Kenneth City Lanes. ... A meeting for high school coaches, proprietors and others will be July 18 at 4 p. m. at Liberty Lanes. ... The combined associations' workshop co-sponsored by the Suncoast men's and women's associations is scheduled for 8 a.m. Aug. 10 at the Tarpon Springs Elks Club. All league secretaries, officials and proprietors are invited. ... The Florida Youth Scratch Bowlers Tour will be at Seminole Lanes July 27-28 with a $45 pre-registered entry fee or $50 for walk-ins.
-- Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes8@msn.com.