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Letter to the editor

Cleveland street gets dose of curb appeal

By Times Staff Writers
Published December 16, 2007

CLEARWATER - After 18 months of anticipation, residents Friday got their first glimpse of the $10-million revitalization of Cleveland Street. The city wanted to create a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere to lure new residents, visitors and businesses to an area that has long been in decline.

The plan was conceived in 2002 as a way to offset the loss of traffic on Cleveland Street due to the new Memorial Causeway Bridge, which now routes beach-bound traffic to Court Street.

The four-block stretch starts at Myrtle Avenue with two 26-foot concrete columns welcoming visitors. Medjool date palms, more than 50 of them, line the newly paved sidewalks. Four medians include planters, young oak trees and 4-foot tall spherical traffic guards. Further west, landscapers have planted crape myrtles to add color to the block. It ends at Osceola Avenue.

- Mike Donila, Times staff writer

Forum features former mayor vs. current mayor

CLEARWATER - The race to become Clearwater's top elected leader kicked off Wednesday night with the city's first mayoral forum in almost a decade.

Former Clearwater Mayor Rita Garvey and incumbent Frank Hibbard spent two hours at the Clearwater Beach Recreation Center answering questions about the waterfront, downtown, Scientology, taxes and the Community Development Board. The election, set for Jan. 29, marks the first time a Clearwater mayor has been challenged since Garvey faced two candidates in early 1999.

Garvey, 62, served as mayor from 1987 to 1998 and served as a city commissioner before that.

Hibbard, 40, is seeking his second three-year term.

- Mike Donila, Times staff writer

East Lake, Palm Harbor: County's new towns?

EAST LAKE - Instead of one new town in North Pinellas, how about two?

While some Palm Harbor residents are considering the possibility of trying to incorporate and create their own city, some East Lake activists are watching the process and might pursue their own incorporation strategy for East Lake.

On Monday, the Greater Palm Harbor Community Coalition, a partnership of community groups, gave the Pinellas County legislative delegation its final draft of a proposed bill to schedule a referendum on incorporation in November 2008. In addition to Palm Harbor, the coalition's study includes Ozona, Crystal Beach and all of East Lake, communities that would vote on whether to be part of any new town.

- Theresa Blackwell, Times staff writer

Haven't they ever heardabout 'fun in the sun?'

CLEARWATER - You're kidding, right?

Clearwater is the worst place in the nation to retire?

In a new ranking, AOL.com's Money & Finance section contends this "hamlet" - referred to as "Clearwater City" - is awful for seniors partly because of "the bland culture, extreme weather and high real estate and homeowner's insurance prices of Florida." But the biggest reason for the rap was that the city already has too many old people. Clearwater has the highest percentage of residents 65 and older - 21.5 percent - of any other city with more than 100,000 residents in the country, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

"We have a lot of fabulous attributes," Beth Coleman, president and CEO of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce. "There is access to health care, tremendous arts and culture....We have Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. (We are within driving distance of) the museums in St. Pete and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center."

- Eileen Schulte, Times staff writer

He has law enforcement gear, but isn't an officer

DUNEDIN - On Monday, a Pinellas County sheriff's deputy saw a white 1990 Mercury Cougar with dark tinted windows in the middle of Main Street with a red light flashing on the dash and blue and red lights under the rear bumper.

The deputy doubled back, looking for the owner, and found 66-year-old Lawrence Hyker of Safety Harbor.

Investigators said Hyker was wearing a green baseball cap with a sheriff's star on the front and a blue windbreaker with the word "Police" on the back. In his possession were three badges, a collapsible baton and two handcuff keys, one on a chain around his neck and another in his pocket. Three police scanners were found in his car. Also in his pocket were a variety of drugs in at least one unlabeled bottle.

The deputy arrested Hyker on charges of impersonating an officer, drug possession, possession of a concealed handcuff key and unlawful installation of radio equipment.

Released from the Pinellas County Jail, Hyker said his scanners and radios are legal, and that all of the medications, including Xanax and Valium, were prescribed by his physician.

"I don't claim to be anybody," Hyker said, "but myself."

- Eileen Schulte, Times staff writer

[Last modified December 15, 2007, 20:51:03]