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Citrus slices
By Times staff writer Cute shrubs are good, but Disney's not comingSchools maintenance supervisor David Locke was explaining a new mowing plan to the School Board last week when he mentioned he had checked with other school districts to find out how they handled outside school maintenance. In Hernando County, he noted, representatives of Disney World were brought in to talk to maintenance crews about the Disney way of maintaining grounds. "They had Disney give a class but we're not going to do that," Locke said. Board member Sandra "Sam" Himmel expressed her disappointment. "It'd be cute to have one of those little bushes here," she said, referring to the animal-shaped topiaries found at Disney World. Locke said he thought it might be interesting to offer a class in bush shaping. He even approached Steve Hand, director of the Withlacoochee Technical Institute, with the idea. "He said if I can get him 20 students, he'd find the space," Locke said. * * * WHAT DID THEY SAY?: After a lengthy discussion last week, the School Board decided to push forward with its efforts to renovate the former Citrus High School gymnasium into a community gym -- despite the huge tangle of potential red tape involved. The board's message to staff: Cut through it all and find a way to make the project happen. As various school officials walked out of the meeting room, board attorney Richard "Spike" Fitzpatrick walked up to facilities director Alan Burcaw to see if he understood the board's direction. "You clear?" Fitzpatrick asked. "Not really," Burcaw replied. "Good," Fitzpatrick said. "I thought it was just me." * * * WATCH THAT HAND: During the County Commission meeting last week, Chairman Jim Fowler honored two Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation workers -- Karl Seigfried of New Port Richey and Jesse Cook of Homosassa -- for their help in saving an abducted woman. Fowler stepped between the men for a photo opportunity, raising his arms and sliding them behind the two men. As he did, a wary Seigfried warned: "Be careful where you put your hand!" -- Times staff writers Barbara Behrendt and Mary Ann Koslasky contributed to this report.
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