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State grant of $4.5M will help Dunedin in land deal

The money will be used to buy 6 waterfront acres.

By Times Staff Writers
Published November 7, 2007

DUNEDIN - The city has officially won a Florida Communities Trust grant to help buy 6 waterfront acres from songwriter J.C. Weaver.

The $4.5-million state grant would go toward the first phase of the two-phase project, but it still must be matched by the city. The next step is for the City Commission to approve an appraisal of the property, which officials believe is worth less than Weaver's asking price of $18-million.

Dunedin's application tied for second out of 118 projects. The top-ranked application came from Clearwater, which wants to use a $4.8-million grant to acquire 49 acres near Lake Chautauqua for horse-riding trails.

Dunedin's efforts to buy Weaver's land have been opposed by former Mayor and state Rep. Tom Anderson, R-Dunedin; state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey; and state Sen. Dennis L. Jones, R-Treasure Island. All say taxpayer dollars would be better spent on other projects.

Tamara El-Khoury, Times staff writer

Qualifying begins for municipal elections

Qualifying for the 2008 municipal elections started in Clearwater on Friday, in Safety Harbor on Monday, and is coming up soon in Dunedin and Tarpon Springs.

Three of the four cities will hold elections on Jan. 29.

Tarpon Springs' election is scheduled for March 11.

Clearwater: So far two people have stepped forward to challenge incumbent Mayor Frank Hibbard: former Mayor Rita Garvey and Georgia transplant Richard Goodson.

Also up for re-election are council members John Doran and George Cretekos. As of Tuesday, only Cretekos had turned in his paperwork.

Attorney Doug Hilkert picked up an election packet but has not said which seat he might seek.

Safety Harbor:Three seats are up for election, those now held by Mayor Andy Steingold, interim Commissioner Keith Zayac and Commissioner Nadine Nickeson.

Steingold has said he plans to run again, but so far has drawn no competition. Nickeson is running for Seat 3, now held by Zayac, who was recently appointed to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of James McCormick.

Political newcomer Robin Fornino is going for Seat 4, which Nickeson occupies.

Dunedin: Two commissioners - Deborah Kynes and Julie Ward Bujalski - are up for election. Incumbents and Arnold "Tony" Scruton have picked up election packets.

Tarpon Springs: City Commission Seat 1, held by Robin Saenger, and commission Seat 2, that of David Archie, are up for grabs. Archie cannot run again because of term limits.

As of Tuesday, no candidate packets had been picked up.

Eileen Schulte, Tamara El-Khoury and Elena Lesley, Times staff writers

Palm Harbor group explores incorporation

PALM HARBOR - Activists intrigued by the idea of incorporating Palm Harbor as its own city are gathering facts.

The Greater Palm Harbor Community Coalition, an informal partnership of community groups, will complete a feasibility study on the details of incorporating and submit it to the Legislature.

State Rep. Peter Nehr, R-Tarpon Springs, has agreed to sponsor a bill in the House that would allow Palm Harbor residents to vote on whether to form their own city.

State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, wants the coalition to collect 1,000 signatures of people who would affected by incorporation before he co-sponsors the bill.

If the Legislature passes a bill, then a referendum would take place no sooner than November 2008.

Theresa Blackwell, Times staff writer

Health forum focuses on African-Americans

The 10th annual African American Health Forum is set for Saturday.

"African-Americans are disproportionately affected in pretty much any disease you can think of," said Dr. Kenneth Bryant, of the Suncoast Medical Clinic and an event founder.

"We have twice the death rate of white Americans in prostate cancer. Hypertension is more prevalent. We have more strokes and have five times the amputation rate with diabetes compared to the white community."

This year's forum will include a variety of free health screenings and six breakout sessions, including speakers on a cancer, hypertension, obesity and mental health.

The free forum, held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., takes place at the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Center, 1244 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. Call 821-6701.

Nicole Hutcheson, Times staff writer

[Last modified November 6, 2007, 21:52:00]