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The no-smoking ban at Pinellas County's 13 centers did not hit as hard as many proprietors feared - except in their lounges.
Countryside Lanes is the only area center where smoking is allowed and that's on a technicality. The lounge is part of the facility but can be closed off to bowlers by two wide doors. Bowlers can step inside the lounge and light up.
"We're going to buy a new liquor license, meet a few other requirements, and our lounge will then be classified a stand-alone bar, exempt under the smoking ban," said Dana Henson, director of operations for Socia Enterprises, which owns Countryside Lanes.
Tarpon Lanes manager Barry Marvel said he lost a senior league to the ban.
"I was a bit surprised," Marvel said. "I knew we'd lose a few of our friends but not a whole league. They just up and moved to another center."
Tarpon Lanes, owned by Socia Enterprises, is undergoing more than $1-million in renovations.
"We're installing the Qubica scoring system, new Brunswick glow-in-the-dark lanes, a music and lighting system for Cosmic bowling, new double ball returns and the Qubica computer-controlled pop-up bumpers," Marvel said.
Bobbie Stealy, owner of Twedt's and Ten Pin Lanes, said: "As you can imagine, our bar got hit hardest. Our patrons like to have a smoke with their drinks, and that's out, so our bar business is way down. Some of the more avid smokers did quit our summer leagues, but not as many as we feared."
At AMF Kenneth City, manager Tom Milton said: "We lost maybe one or two bowlers, but people handled it pretty well."
Like many other centers, AMF Kenneth City provided an outside designated smoking area.
"We put up a canopy and butt cans, and we'll do something different later on," Milton said.
Southland Lanes "didn't have a single argument about the ban, as I expected," co-owner J.R. Sarley said. "Our regulars were really good about it, taking a smoking break between games and sometimes even between frames."
Southland was built with a large, wooden patio just outside the bar doors, so Sarley was prepared long ago for the ban.
"It's hard to tell just how many bowlers we lost, but we sure did in the bar," said Sunrise Lanes general manager Ann Taylor. "We put up a deck outside, and we'll see how our fall league bowlers will handle the ban."
LARGO LEAPS: While Pinellas County High School League standings held, the Largo girls jumped from third to first place in the handicap competition.
The Packers have a 46-16 record after four weeks. Former leader Boca Ciega fell to third, and Palm Harbor dropped to second.
Largo is led by Erica Goyette's 173 average. Teammates following her are Ashley Dove (123), Cyndi Sidell (110), Kendra Growe (105) and Sarah Rustay (93).
The Gibbs boys fell from third to fifth in the scratch division. Northeast (74-10) continued to lead. High scratch scorers included Sean Crosby, Boca Ciega, 289; James Croy, Seminole, 799; Brandy Bryan, Northeast, 247; and Katie Kashmanian, East Lake, 566.
ENTRIES OPEN: The ABCb.line Sports World Team Challenge makes its second visit of the year to Seminole Lanes on Saturday-Sunday. Registration is $600 per team. For information, call Tom Boedecker, (800) 514-2695.
The WTC, which lost its Brunswick sponsorship last season, has visited Pinellas 10 consecutive years and last season added two stops at Seminole Lanes. The center has the WTC entry record, 112 squads set in 1996. Lately, however, entries have declined, and last February's stop drew 32 squads.
The winning team receives $3,000-4,500 based on registration, expenses-paid entry to the national finals, merchandise and rings.
MEETING SET: A meeting for St.Petersburg Women's Association members and league officers is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Seminole Lanes.
AROUND THE LANES: High scorers - Kevin Krauss, 300-806, Don Cassell, 288-719, and Don Page, 288-734, at Seminole Lanes. ... Joanne Orr, Avon Park, beat St.Petersburg's Kent Worrall for the NABI Club title at AMF Clearwater Lanes. ... Tampa's Jeffrey Mersch beat defeated Shawn Ryan, 201-197, capturing the Florida Youth Scratch Bowlers Tour event crown at Orlando's Boardwalk Bowl. Palm Harbor's Ashly Galante was the top girl.