Hydrilla treatment planned this week on Lake Tarpon

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 25, 2000

EAST LAKE -- The Southwest Florida Water Management District, also known as Swiftmud, and Pinellas County plan to apply the aquatic herbicide Sonar to Lake Tarpon from Monday through Thursday to control the spread of hydrilla.

The application of the herbicide means that residents must temporarily stop using lake water to irrigate their lawns.

If anyone irrigated with lake water when it contained the herbicide, "It would kill the yard like it's killing the weeds," said Jeff Ball, the county's assistant district supervisor of mosquito and vegetation management. The herbicide is not toxic to people or animals.

Swiftmud officials said canal and lakefront property owners should not use water from Lake Tarpon to irrigate their lawns for 14 days after the treatment.

A 30-day irrigation restriction will be in effect for some residential access canals being treated separately by Pinellas County. The county plans to notify homeowners on those canals by hanging fliers on their doors.

The weed-control program on Lake Tarpon is an annual event.

Hydrilla is a troublesome, exotic aquatic plant introduced to Florida in the 1950s. It was imported from Sri Lanka for use as an aquarium plant, but it found its way into Florida waterways and flourished. Hydrilla can grow an inch a day, and if left unchecked could overtake the lake and make recreational boating impossible.

Because of the drought, the level of the lake has dropped. As a result, hydrilla has spread to areas where the water is usually deep enough to prevent light from reaching the bottom, making the growth of the plant possible, said Swiftmud aquatic plant manager Brian Nelson.

Except for irrigation, there will be no other restrictions on water use from Lake Tarpon. For information, call Nelson at Swiftmud at (352) 796-7211, ext. 4537, or Ball at Pinellas County at (727) 464-7503.

Performing Arts Center showcases Tarpon artists

TARPON SPRINGS -- The Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center gallery will feature the work of Tarpon Springs residents Duncan Mac Lean, Betty Westcott and Chris Tagaras from Wednesday to Sept. 12.

The exhibits will be on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and during evening or weekend events. The gallery is inside City Hall at 324 Pine St.

Annual blood drive hoping for more than 500 donors

WTSP-Ch. 10, WQYK-99.5 FM and local Home Depot stores are hosting the second annual All American Blood Drive on Friday.

The goal is to have more than 500 blood donations to help Tampa Bay area hospital patients over the Fourth of July weekend. A Florida Blood Services bloodmobile will be at Home Depot, 30144 U.S. 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Donors will receive gifts including a T-shirt, a wellness checkup that includes a cholesterol screening, a free ticket to the Kennedy exhibition at the Florida International Museum in St. Petersburg, a free ticket to Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, a coupon for free bread sticks from Papa John's and a coupon for a free Coolatta drink from Dunkin' Donuts. Donors also can register to win round-trip tickets for two from United Airlines.

Generally, healthy people who are 17 or older and weigh at least 100 pounds can donate blood. Identification is required before donation. For further eligibility information, call 1-800-68-BLOOD.

Typically, more than 600 blood donations a day are required to keep up with the demand for blood in the Tampa Bay area. Blood supply information is available at http://www.fbsblood.org.

YMCA organizing series of youth golf events

PALM HARBOR -- The YMCA of North Pinellas is looking for volunteers, sponsors and participants for the Suncoast Family YMCA junior golf summer tour.

The tour consists of eight 9-hole events from July 10 to Aug. 3 and is open to boys and girls from 6 to 17. Participants must have golf course playing experience or lessons and will be grouped by age and handicap. Proper golf attire will also be required, which means no T-shirts or cutoffs.

The tournaments will be held at about a half-dozen golf courses in Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties, and the tour is limited to 72 players. The cost is $100 for YMCA members and $125 for non-members. Transportation to the tournaments is not provided.

For registration and more information, call the YMCA of North Pinellas, 4550 Village Center Dr., Palm Harbor, at (727) 772-9622.

Tarpon chamber names three top businesses

TARPON SPRINGS -- The Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce has announced its outstanding businesses in three categories. The judges selected the winners based on work ethics, integrity, community involvement and growth and financial success.

In the small business category, for firms with less than $1-million in gross sales, the judges selected Pinellas Rental Center. The company opened in 1971, specializes in equipment rental and is owned by Artie Carbone.

In the medium business category, for firms with $1-million to $5-million in gross sales, the judges selected Hoffman Architects, owned by Tarpon Springs native Eddie Hoffman. The firm designed the Sponge Exchange, the renovations at Tarpon Springs City Hall and the Leepa-Rattner Museum, which is being built on the St. Petersburg Junior College campus in Tarpon Springs.

In the large business category, for companies with more than $5-million in gross sales, the judges selected Ferman Chevrolet/Oldsmobile/Volvo.

Two bank officials complete program at LSU

PALM HARBOR -- Florida Bank of Commerce vice president Karyn Johnson-Mahorney and senior vice president Scott A. Grutchfield were among the 195 bankers who received graduation certificates June 2 from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

The program provides courses covering all aspects of banking, economics and related subjects. It is sponsored by 15 southern states' bankers associations in cooperation with the Division of Continuing Education at LSU. The faculty for the program consists of bankers, business and professional leaders and educators.

During their three two-week summer sessions in the program, students receive 180 hours of classroom instruction, 30 hours of reviews, planned evening study and written final exams.

Lung association honors East Lake student group

EAST LAKE -- The American Lung Association of Gulfcoast Florida recently presented a special recognition award to East Lake High School for its student government anti-smoking program.

The Student Government Association organized a tobacco awareness month in February that included speakers, posters with anti-tobacco messages, messages on the morning announcements and "Kick Butt" T-shirts that showed the school's mascot, an eagle, kicking a cigarette.

Students organized an event for national Kick Butts Day in April. Thirty students took over the smoking section of a restaurant, essentially making the restaurant smoke-free while they were there.

The award was presented at a luncheon at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club on June 3. Accepting on behalf of the school were student government president Susan Brewer, student government faculty adviser Valerie Newton and principal Rick Misenti.

Country breakfast raises funds for senior center

PALM HARBOR -- A Father's Day country breakfast co-sponsored by the Palm Harbor Kiwanis Club and the Senior Center Action Team attracted 115 people and grossed more than $400 for the Palm Harbor Senior Activity Center.

The club plans to co-sponsor an antiques appraisal fair at the Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 15 and to have another country breakfast Aug. 10.

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