Pioneers amid progress [Times photo: Mike Pease] LAKE MAGDALENE -- The old phone in Martin Bearss' living room is an unusable relic, a wood-and-metal fixture with a hand crank and a dry cell battery.

After debate, menorah will stay
The Northdale Special Tax District votes to let the symbol stand. The wife of a board member had questioned spending district money on religious symbols.

Girl sets her eyes on old glasses
WESTCHASE -- Got glasses?

'Tis the season

Out & about

New route to Pinellas gets approval
Construction will begin on a new road that will connect Linebaugh Avenue to Oldsmar.

Vote vastly changes board
Only one incumbent survives a vote to fill 11 seats on the contentious Westchase board.

Grant will help uproot Brazilian peppers
The money will pay for equipment to rid a recreation trail of the pest tree.

Road realignment gains momentum
The plan would provide an alternative for commuters wanting to avoid the Bearss-Dale Mabry intersection.

Land rezoned, but with a catch that pleases slow-growth advocates
Land at Van Dyke Road and Gunn Highway can now be used for commercial purposes, but the largest building will be much smaller than what developers had hoped for.

Trees can come down to build road extension
WEST MEADOWS -- The city gave the go-ahead Tuesday night for the half-mile extension of Highwoods Preserve Parkway through West Meadows.

Neighborhood gets a park in land swapdeal
CROSS CREEK -- The New Tampa area stands to receive a new park thanks to a pending land-swap deal between the school district and the county.

The gift of reading
The Rotary and Wharton High School collected nearly 1,000 new and barely used books for every Mort Elementary student.

New plan means more trees survive
The developer says it will need to cut down about 50 percent of the trees on a site where a restaurant and retail area is planned. Previous estimates were 77 percent.

Retired professional ball player to speak at Cypress Point church
HIGHWOODS PRESERVE -- For years, Howard Johnson stood out among the crowd as a major leaguer. The All-Star third baseman helped the New York Mets to a memorable 1986 World Series championship using his combination of speed and power.

Plant choices, watering techniques help conserve
As the drought continues, we all must become even more aware of the water we use. It's imperative that absolutely none be wasted. I've listed water-saving techniques in this column before, but I think they are worth repeating.

Deputies chase teens driving stolen car
CARROLLWOOD -- Two teenage boys were arrested this week after leading authorities on a chase in a stolen car that ended with them crashing into a telephone pole.