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All vets deserve holiday, legislator says

By TIMES STAFF
Published November 14, 2006

All vets deserve holiday, legislator says 

Veterans - and business owners - take note: State Sen. Mike Fasano says he plans to file a bill next session that would make Veterans Day a paid holiday for all veterans, even those working for private employers. Government employees already get the day off, and Fasano's bill would allow veterans working in the private sector to request the day off, too. "With all of the sacrifices made by those who serve in the armed services," Fasano said, "one paid holiday a year is but a small way to acknowledge their efforts to protect the freedom we enjoy each and every day."

City looks at ideas for rundown house

Last month the city bought a rundown home with a history of code enforcement problems for $7,195, plus nearly $15,000 in legal fees. Now officials need to figure out what to do with the house at 6230 Vermont Ave. The staff's top choice? Sell it to Tampa Bay Community Development Corp. for $20,000. The Clearwater organization wants to tear down the dilapidated building and build a home to be sold to a lower-income family. Six other proposals involve rehabilitating the home. The city's Community Redevelopment Agency will decide tonight what to do. The agency meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 5919 Main St.

Work begins on shopping center

A strip mall that will eventually be home to as many as 11 businesses is under construction at State Road 56 and Arrowgrass Drive. The 21,000-square-foot Cypress View Square, built by Itasca Construction & Associates, is next to the Sports + Field fitness center just west of Seven Oaks. So far, a veterinarian, a Monstah Lobstah seafood restaurant, a Remax Realty outlet, a dry cleaner and a kids' furniture store have signed up, said Dale Bizzell, Itasca's superintendent. Store openings at the 1.5-acre site are expected in mid 2007, Bizzell said.

Fun at the park benefits Habitat

Looking for something to do this weekend? Pasco County employees are hosting a festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Crews Lake Wilderness Park, featuring a talent show, chili cookoff, hay rides, face painting and games. Crafts, baked goods and books will be for sale. The proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity. The park is at 16739 Crews Lake Drive.

 Wide open space, if builders agree

The plan to preserve the rural feel in northeast Pasco centered around conservation subdivisions, in which developers would cluster homes together to preserve open spaces. But the idea has gone from a requirement to an option. Page 3

[Last modified November 14, 2006, 07:09:04]