Neighborhood notebook

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 3, 2001

Claywell goes through growth spurt

NORTHDALE -- Claywell Elementary School officials expect to open the school year more crowded than ever. But the school district has a plan to fast-track an addition that should provide some relief by next year.

Over the summer, Claywell replaced about a dozen portable classrooms with more comfortable and stable trailer classrooms. Now, Claywell has 22 temporary classrooms.

The school, built to accommodate about 750 students, will have more than 1,100 when school starts Aug. 8, said principal Glenda Midilli. To reduce the role of portable classrooms, the district will start work in October on a $1.5-million addition that will provide 12 more classes for the 2002-2003 school year.

"We're very excited," Midilli said.

Until the wing comes on line, Claywell's staff will have their hands full juggling lunch periods and library access. "Obviously, the shared spaces are the most difficult to manage," Midilli said. "We have an open library system, so I think we're okay with that. I think lunch is probably the most difficult area."

Midilli said lunch sessions will run continuously from about 10:15 a.m until 1:30 p.m., and some kindergarten students will eat in their classrooms.

Despite the crush, Midilli said she welcomes them all. "Everyone has been very flexible," she said. "While there are some inconveniences, it's like squeezing your family into the van. It's worth it once you get there."

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS -- FOOTBALL: It's a simple equation. Tampa Bay Buccaneer players in pads plus the start of training camp equals the return of football mania. How wacky is it? Well, the Northdale Special Tax District is adjusting its meeting schedule to accommodate the boys in pewter and red.

Each month, the district holds its meetings on the second Monday of the month. But a notice on the Northdale Web site (http://www.flcommunities.com/northdale/index.html) explains the exception to the rule: "Following custom in August would have created a jarring conflict with the Bucs' appearance on Monday Night Football."

This month's meeting will be held on a Tuesday: Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Northdale Community Center.

Keystone

SPORTS COMPLEX SETTLES CONTRACT DISPUTE: The disagreement outlived the arrival of cars and cleats, but Hillsborough County and David Nelson Construction Co. finally resolved their longstanding contract over work at the recently opened Ed Radice Sports Complex.

The $201,000 settlement for Nelson represents about $100,000 less than what the Palm Harbor-based contractor sought for extra work and overhead. On Wednesday the County Commission approved a $64,000 change order while officials approved an additional allowance for $137,000 on July 27, records show. The agreement was hashed out at an earlier meeting between Assistant County Attorney Rosemary Perfit and Nelson vice president Roger Sharkey, Perfit said. Both sides said they compromised.

Nelson, which has no other projects with Hillsborough, had threatened to sue the county. "The settlement isn't everything we wanted," project manager Kevin Carbonelli said. "When we get into those situations it becomes a business decision. If we go to court we probably could win but what do you win? We don't want to have any bad feelings with these folks."

The amount is relatively small considering the size of the $7-million project, Perfit said. The complex includes five baseball and softball fields and nine soccer fields, some of which are being used by the Tampa Bay Mutiny. The county is getting back about $25,000 in work credits, she added. "Neither side is real happy with it but that's a good settlement."

SILVER DOLLAR TO GET MORE MOBILE HOMES: National Home Communities will be able to add more mobile homes at the Silver Dollar Golf and Trap Club after a unanimous vote Monday by the Hillsborough County Commission.

The arrangement allows the company to put as many as 303 mobile homes on a 372-acre tract west of Patterson Road, a language change National Homes says could upgrade the property. Previous zoning language limited the tract to 190 mobile homes and 113 recreational vehicles.

In another vote, the board approved a language change allowing National Homes to increase the number of recreational vehicle spaces on the east side of Patterson to 85. The new spaces will consume land previously set aside for a mobile home and a convenience store.

Keystone Civic Association members initially worried that the request for more mobile homes would transform Silver Dollar into more of a campground setting, president Steve Morris said. But after hearing more details he said he believed Silver Dollar would continue to house long-term seasonal visitors.

From the association's perspective, another factor in Silver Dollar's favor was that it was not looking to connect to county water and sewer lines.

"There really wasn't an impact to the community," Morris said.

New Tampa

CALLER TAKES A STAND AGAINST CUT-THROUGHS:

Traffic on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard has inspired some motorists to become creative in their daily commute.

In the past two weeks, Tampa Police have received several complaints from one New Tampa woman who says drivers are cutting through a parking lot at the New Tampa Center, hoping to leapfrog a few vehicles.

Sgt. Alan Draffin of the motorcycle unit said he will have officers nearby to observe any potential violation.

"The parking lot is built for the convenience of the customers, and not as a thoroughfare," he said. "Increased traffic is obviously dangerous to the pedestrian traffic and shoppers."

Draffin said he has received three complaints from an anonymous woman. She told him she has watched other drivers pull into the parking lot and then out to the traffic light on New Tampa Boulevard.

She says she will call every day until they resolve the matter.

"She is probably one of those morning commuters, and being the good person, she is waiting in line," said Draffin. "And she's seeing all these people cut through ahead of her."

Draffin said state law prohibits motorists from cutting across private property to avoid a traffic signal. Though the drivers sound guilty of being impatient, he said they appear to be within their rights. He will verify that with the city's legal staff.

"Obviously, they are doing a scam," he said. "They are avoiding all the congestion. But they are not avoiding the light."

NEW TAMPA BOARD GETS NEW MEMBERS: Steven Rothfarb, owner of Frame by Frame Gallery in Tampa Palms, and Regina Ramalheira, of Coldwell Banker, have been named members of the New Tampa Community Council's board of directors.

They replace Victoria McCracken, co-chair of the Taste of New Tampa, who is moving, and Patricia Ashton, of the Terrace Bank, who resigned because of job duties.

Lutz

THE PARENTS' COACH: Avila's most famous father will share words of wisdom on that solemn task at a special Father & Kids Day at the Bucs training camp today at 3:30 p.m. The first 1,500 families through the gates on the University of Tampa campus will get free T-shirts and goody bags and toys.

After watching the team work out, head coach Tony Dungy will lead a presentation on the importance of being a good dad. The event is sponsored by AllProDad.com, a Web site that bills itself as "the ultimate resource for men who want to become better fathers."

All Pro Dad Team members include active NFL players and coaches and retired NFL standouts. Dungy is the "head coach" of the dad team.

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