Greeting the governor [Times photo: Jill Sagers] Gov. Jeb Bush greets people at Pioneer Park in Dunedin on Tuesday. He was in town to announce elderly care initiatives and legislative recommendations.

North Pinellas County news

Scientologist withdraws bid for church
The woman says she will seek another Largo property for a Scientology mission because the congregation now using the building is interested in buying it.

Restaurateur's family sues over electrocution
Peter Kanellos was fatally injured while fixing a sign at Three Coins Restaurant. His family claims the property's owner should have made sure the site was safe.

Sides raise the stakes in gambling boat feud
Tarpon Springs police are investigating a complaint that could involve false imprisonment, and a lawsuit has been filed in federal court.

Man makes his mark fighting pool stains
He was so successful he opened his own pool supply business in 1988.

Free kits can make blinds safe
The owners of National Window Fashions said Tuesday they will provide tassels and tension pulleys free of charge to anyone who has vertical blinds and wants to make them safer. The offer comes just days after 3-year-old Nicholas Vasquez of Seminole accidentally strangled himself in a vertical blind chain. Jim Oliver, who opened the first National Window Fashions in 1981, said he didn't sell the blinds to the family, but their story deeply touched him. Oliver suggests that consumers cut the vertical blind chain and attach a tassel to each end. Also, they can snap the vertical blind cord into a tension pulley and secure the pulley to the wall or base board with a small screw to keep the cord out of harm's way. Valued at a total cost of $1.50 a window, tassels and pulleys may be picked up at two National Window Fashions locations: 2512 McMullen-Booth Road in Clearwater and 8812 Seminole Blvd. in Seminole. "What little it's going to cost us is worth it to ensure that no other child gets hurt on these," Oliver said.

Work to start on safe Haven for abused
The 34-bed facility will shelter victims of domestic violence and their children.

Chamber chief puts services out front
Gene Anderson's vision for the Seminole Area Chamber of Commerce involves publicizing what the group has to offer members and residents.

Builder selected for Belcher extension
The county will pay $5.98-million for construction of the stretch between Alderman and Tampa roads.

Commissioner crosses line with meeting request
A request by Clearwater City Commissioner Ed Hart to sit in on internal city staff meetings has evolved into a dispute that interim City Manager Bill Horne has asked the full City Commission to mediate in a public meeting next week.

Woman files suit claiming car dealer reneged on prize
After the legal action, the general manager of Dick Norris Buick Pontiac GMC offered to pay her the $5,000 prize, but she refused. Her attorneys say there may be other similar tickets.

Two hospitalized after four-vehicle accident
SEMINOLE -- Two people were taken to local hospitals after a 2:30 p.m. crash at 86th Avenue and Oakhurst Road, according to emergency officials. The crash was believed to have involved four vehicles.

Spring training rides begin to fill calendar
Often these days, winds are howling, and area outdoor thermometers rarely have gauged temperatures under 40 degrees.

Official hoping to avoid election
If no one else qualifies to run, Jan Tracy of Safety Harbor can keep her appointed seat without having to campaign.

Clearwater food store closes its doors
CLEARWATER -- Val's Finer Foods, a meat and gourmet foods business that has drawn customers from across the state to Clearwater for more than 30 years, has closed its doors.

Elderly man's swindler pleads to repay victim
The man who took almost $25,000 from a mentally deficient 82-year-old victim faces up to 15 years in prison.

Harbor Oaks earns initial prize
CLEARWATER -- Harbor Oaks is the first neighborhood to win Clearwater's "Neighborhood of the Quarter" award, city officials announced Monday. The new program was created last year to recognize neighborhoods that have decreased crime and code violations, and increased community involvement and pride activities.

Director wants Heritage Village fenced
Because of security concerns, he asks the county to consider internal fencing to protect historic structures.

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