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Neighborhood notebook: Developer addresses civic organization

GANDY/SUN BAY SOUTH - The Gandy Civic Association met Monday night to hear a presentation from Grady Pridgen, a St. Petersburg developer, who plans on turning the Imperial Yacht Basin off Gandy Boulevard into a $350-million mixed-use development of townhomes, residential towers and a marina.

Many in the audience of about 40 people expressed concerns about how the city would handle traffic and flooding issues, said association president Al Steenson.

"It is a good development plan, but there must be some give and take when it comes to traffic and flooding concerns," Steenson said.

Steenson said the association may approach the City Council next month about the concerns.

HISTORIC YBOR - Dr. Ferdie Pacheco has quite a resume. He has been a pharmacist, medical doctor, boxing fight doctor and corner man for several world champions, including Muhammad Ali for 17 years, and boxing commentator for NBC, Showtime and Univision.

So it's no surprise that the Ybor City Lions Club will honor Pacheco with the 14th annual Award of Achievement at the group's 53rd anniversary celebration at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Columbia Restaurant, 2117 E Seventh Ave.

Michael Chillura will sing I Fell in Love in Ybor City with remarks by Victor J. Martinez. Tickets are $45 and are available at La Gaceta Newspaper, 3210 E Seventh Ave., or by calling Peggy Schmechel, 248-3921. RSVP by Monday.

OSCAWANA - Inkwood Books, 216 S Armenia Ave., welcomes James O. Born, a suspense writer, at 6 p.m. Monday as he reads and signs his debut Walking Money. Born has 17 years of experience with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service. He used those experiences in his story about a missing satchel full of cash. With a phony community activist and an FBI agent eying the prize, state cop Bill Tasker ends up framed as the body count mounts.

Also at Inkwood Books, Fox News analyst and former Clinton adviser Dick Morris will discuss and sign Rewriting History, described as a rebuttal to Sen. Hillary Clinton's bestselling autobiography, Living History, at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Morris is the author of Behind the Oval Office and Off with Their Heads.

For information on either discussion, call Inkwood books at 253-2638, e-mail inkwoodbks@aol.com or log on to www.inkwoodbooks.com

CLEARWATER - The Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Liver Foundation based in Ybor City presents An Evening With Bond dinner and auction, with a James Bond themed evening of entertainment and dining at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Belleview Biltmore, 25 Belleview Blvd., Clearwater.

Cost is $100 per person, which includes dinner, live music with the Music Express Band, live and silent auctions, a raffle and cash bar. For information, call Maria Eddy, 248-3337 or email meddyalfgcc@aol.com

CHANNEL DISTRICT - Looking for something cool to do with dad on Father's Day? How about heading to the Florida Aquarium to check out the sharks, stingrays and alligators. Dads get in free on Sunday with another paid admission. For information, call 273-4000.