HILLSBOROUGH

Published: Jun 13, 2007

Planting Is Final Piece In Lake Avenue Changes

TAMPA - Angie Hurt, 46, remembers a shabbier Lake Avenue than the one that city officials celebrated Tuesday.

"It needed fixing up," said Hurt, who lives in Belmont Heights Estates near Lake.

She and neighbor Julia Thomas, 61, watched Mayor Pam Iorio, City Councilwoman Gwen Miller and East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership members plant a dogwood tree at Lake Avenue and 26th Street.

The fledgling tree represents the last piece of a $2.7 million makeover of one of east Tampa's major boulevards.

The project added paving, crosswalks, landscaping, irrigation, public art, sidewalks, decorative traffic signals and lights along Lake Avenue between 22nd and 29th streets.

Work on the project began in May 2006.

It was paid for with gasoline tax revenue and property taxes from the east Tampa community redevelopment area bordered by Interstates 275 and 4, Hillsborough Avenue and the city limits.

Iorio's administration has made the revitalization of one of the city's most blighted communities a priority.

"Basically we're saying we want east Tampa to shine and thrive," Iorio said.

Beautifying a major corridor makes it more likely that developers will decide this is "where I want to put my money and create jobs," the mayor said.

Kathy Steele

Commissioners Pick Lott As Plant City's Mayor

PLANT CITY - City Commissioner Rick Lott has been selected as the new mayor.

Lott, a business owner and a commissioner since 2004, was the commission's unanimous pick for the job during its meeting Monday night.

The five commissioners choose a new mayor from their ranks each June.

Lott takes over for John Dicks, a veteran commissioner who did not seek re-election.

Plant City accountant Dan Raulerson was sworn in at Monday's meeting to take Dicks' seat on the commission.

Raulerson did not draw an opponent for the seat.

Lott named Commissioner Robert Brown as his vice mayor.

Lott said his top priority will be helping to guide the city through its dealing with the effects of proposed statewide property tax reform.

George H. Newman

Inventory To Close Veterans Museum

TAMPA - The Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Museum has announced it will be closed through July 3 to take inventory and reorganize exhibits.

"We want to make sure we know where everything is," said John Brill, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department.

The museum is in Veterans Memorial Park, at 3602 U.S. 301 N.

The park, however, will remain open.

The museum and park opened in 1991 to pay tribute to members of the armed services.

Museum displays highlight the roles that state and local residents have played during military campaigns ranging from the Second Seminole War through the Vietnam War.

The museum is usually open on weekends and on patriotic holidays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The plan is to have it reopened by July 4.

Veterans Memorial Park includes shaded picnic areas and a walking trail along the Tampa Bypass Canal.

"We are sorry to inconvenience our patrols, but this must be done," Brill said.

Tom Brennan

Commissioner Schedules Town Hall Meetings

PLANT CITY - Want to sound off on issues affecting eastern Hillsborough County?

County Commissioner Al Higginbotham has scheduled a series of town hall meetings in June and July to listen to residents' concerns.

"Last year, I promised to work to restore the public's confidence and trust in local government, and that means getting out to see and hear the people," Higginbotham said in a release.

Each meeting will last about two hours.

The first meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 302 W. Reynolds St.

The remaining meetings are scheduled for:

•Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Brandon Community Center, 510 E. Sadie St.

•July 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Balm Civic Center, 14747 Balm Wimauma Road.

•July 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Valrico Recreation Center, 707 S. Miller Road.

•July 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Bloomingdale Regional Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave.

For information on the meetings and their locations, call (813) 272-5740.

Anthony McCartney

PASCO

Report Shows U.S. 19 Is County's Deadliest Road

NEW PORT RICHEY - U.S. 19 once again tops the list of dangerous highways in Pasco County.

However, other high-growth areas are proving to be hotbeds for accidents, too.

An annual report compiled by the county traffic operations division shows that there was a greater number of fatalities in Pasco in 2006 than in the previous year.

But injuries were fewer, traffic operations manager Bob Reck noted.

The number of accidents rose from 9,050 in 2005 to 9,556 in 2006.

There were 7,106 injuries and 98 fatalities in 2006, compared with 7,566 injuries and 90 fatalities a year earlier.

In 2006, 18 people died on U.S. 19, more than on any other road in Pasco. State Road 54 came in second with seven deaths. It was followed by Interstate 75 with six fatalities and State Road 52, U.S. 41 and County Road 1 with four each.

The annual study helps local officials identify where road improvements - such as traffic signals, turning lanes and widening - are needed, Reck said.

The state Department of Transportation and county sheriff's deputies also use the statistics as a planning tool.

Julia Ferrante