St. Petersburg Aglow From the Desk of Sheriff Bob ... · PDF file5000 38th Ave. N. at 11:30...

Gabber June18 - June 24, 2015 21

From the Desk of Sheriff Bob Gualtieri The scenario: You pull up to a pedestrian versus car crash on a major roadway, the pedestrian is trapped beneath the front tire, and his leg has been amputated during the incident. What do you do? Deputies are trained for various situations like this, but what about a 14-year-old? For Explorer Post 900, this is a typical training day. Explorer Post 900 is an opportunity for youth to learn about law enforcement, experience real-life situations deputies routinely encounter, and gain knowledge that could benefit them in their careers after graduation.

Explorer Post 900 was established in 1974 and is co-sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Explorer Post 900 is made up of young men and women between ages 14 and 21 who are enrolled in high school or college. The post is currently under the leadership and direction of Deputy Jim Butterfield and meets once a week. Explorers begin each meeting with personal training or drill training, followed by lectures from PCSO members in various departments including Forensics, Detention, S.W.A.T., Dispatch, and Patrol. Scenario-based training concludes each meeting, during which explorers use what they learned in lecture during a hands-on experience. Explorer Post 900 is run similarly to a sheriff’s office or police department. Each explorer has the opportunity to obtain rank through a series of tests on which they must identify various signals, codes, and Florida statutes. Under the supervision of sheriff’s deputies and trainers, explorers also train and participate in drill team, shooting team and honor guard. Once each explorer has been with the post for one year, he or she has the opportunity to join the State Competition Team. This group of young adults travels throughout Florida and the United States to compete against other Posts. Explorer Post 900 has taken home top honors in the past few years, especially at shooting competitions. Last year, the post took first place in individual shooting, marksman, and team shooting events at the Florida Association of Police Explorers Delegates Meeting and Pistol Competition. Throughout the year, explorers fundraise by selling Dine-Out Day Dollars and working sp` ecial details. They can be seen throughout Pinellas County assisting with DUI checkpoints, providing traffic assistance, and performing honor guard duties. Explorers often advance from the Post to take on a career in law enforcement, including right here at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Explorer Post 900’s mission is to provide guidance to youth within our community and allow them to gain a better understanding of law enforcement. Explorer Post 900 assists the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in our daily mission, “Leading the Way For A Safer Pinellas.” To learn more about Explorer Post 900, visit Post900.com, or contact Deputy Jim Butterfield at 727-421-3149.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri

Members of 2015 Explorers Post 900 Team

St. Petersburg Aglow Fellowship Meeting St. Petersburg Aglow Lighthouse invites you to come and fellowship on Saturday, June 20, at the Child Evangelism Fellowship Building, 5000 38th Ave. N. at 11:30 a.m. Beatrice Dukes, pastoral prophetess, intercessor and worship leader is the guest speaker. She is currently Co-Pastor of Judah First Christian Ministres in Largo, FL, with her husband, Michael. Pastor Bea served at Without Walls International Church in Tampa under Bishop Randy White and Sr. Pastor Paula White for nine years. For more information call 727-327-9070 or 727-207-2721.

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Donations for Nepal Relief Fund Thai Orchids and Leis flower shop is accepting donations for the earthquake victims of Nepal. Checks can be made out to the Thai Association of Tampa Bay c/o Thai Orchids and Leis, 5313 Gulfport Blvd., Gulfport, FL 33707. It is a non-profit organization, and receipts for tax deductions can be provided. For more information call 727-321-2732.

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22 Gabber June 18 - June 24, 2015

Wildwood Father’s Day Weekend Cookout There will be a cookout on Saturday, June 20, in the Wildwood Community, at 1344 29th St. S., north of Royal Community Holiness Church, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Food includes candy apples, ice cream, pulled pork, BBQ ribs, hot dogs, cooked sausages, boiled peanuts, grilled corn, baked sweet potatoes, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, spicy cajun boiled peanuts, fried chicken dinners, fried fish, fried chicken wings, french fries. Community Outreach participants include SafeLink (Free Phone Program), Ambassadors from

the Pinellas County Supervisor Of Elections, and the Purple Action Project of Palmetto, Florida.

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In Search Of The Gecko Queen Who wants to represent all that is Gecko Gulfport fabulous and be the next Gecko Queen? Gulfport’s third Gecko Queen will be crowned at this year’s Gecko Ball on Saturday, August 29. This is a gender-neutral opportunity for adults of any age, 21 and over. What’s important is that you can represent Gulfport with flair! The Queen’s costuming

should reflect this year’s Mardi Gras theme. The Gecko Queen represents Gulfport throughout the year at events including GeckoFest and Gecko Crawl, St. Pete Pride Parade, Gulfport July 4th Parade and more. The Queen will be chosen from among interested candidates by members of the Gecko Ball Committee. The deadline to express your interest is July 1. If interested please contact Faun Weaver, Gecko Queen Emeritus, at [email protected] with a statement as to why you want to be the next Gecko Queen and include any photos or video that represent you and your Gulfportian attitude!

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GriefShare Offers Evening Meetings GriefShare will start an evening group at Cornerstone Community Church, 6745 38th Ave. N. They meet every Friday through July 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For information call 727-343-7747. GriefShare is for anyone who has lost a loved one to help them get through their grief.

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Flighty

Crossword Puzzle Solution on Page 18


Q: City council has been considering the budget for alley and sidewalk repairs in 2016. What would be the logistics of such an endeavor, and does the city have a plan to address the potholes and other issues in the roads?

A: “We currently have a sidewalk repair and replacement program in place that we could expand it to include more ADA ramp updates and to install new sidewalks where they may be needed,” said Public Works Director Don Sopak. An ADA ramp, or a wheel chair ramp, is a ramp that requires a slope no more than 1:12 for wheelchairs and scooters for business and public use, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. “The city contracts out the sidewalk work and our current contractor has the ability to handle the extra work,” Sopak continued. “The alleys would require a plan to replace existing dirt alleys with recycled millings and would require us to go out for bid to obtain a contractor to perform the work.” Sopak also stated that the city does pothole repairs now. They need to be reported to Public Works to be added to the list. The city also has a paving and brick street repair program in place.

City of Gulfport

“Gecko Season” Opens with Gecko Crawl The eighth annual Gecko Crawl will help usher in “Gecko Season” in Gulfport with a poker run, an opportunity to sample drinks at six locations and a festive street party in Gulfport’s colorful Waterfront District. The Crawl will be held Saturday, August 8 from 4 to 9 p.m., with afterparty beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are now on sale. Gecko Crawlers will be able to enjoy a beverage at these participating bars and restaurants: Little Tommie’s Tiki, Mangia Gourmet, Neptune Grille, O’Maddy’s, Peninsula Inn and Salty’s, all located within easy walking distance along Beach and Shore Boulevards. A poker run game of five card stud will add to the evening’s festivities. Crawlers will be dealt a free card at each location when they pick up their drink token. One additional card may be purchased for $5 at O’Maddy’s when checking in at the end of the run. There will be three poker run winners: best poker hand, worst poker hand and a grand prize winner chosen at random from all participants regardless of their poker hand. Prizes include a two-night stay at Hotel Zamora on St. Pete Beach, a two-night stay at Sirata Beach Resort on St. Pete Beach, and a sunset cruise for two aboard the Boat Butler. A high-energy afterparty will be held at O’Maddy’s beginning at 9 p.m. Poker run participants must check in their hands with crawl ambassadors at the party by 9:30 p.m., and winners will be announced at 10 p.m. Participants for poker run prizes must be present to win. A portion of afterparty proceeds will be donated to Gulfport’s Michael J. Yakes Foundation. Tickets are available in advance for $20 each at Gulfport Beach Bazaar, 3115 Beach Blvd. Tickets are limited and purchase of advance tickets is encouraged. If tickets remain available on the day of the crawl, they will be sold for $25 each at all participating locations during the crawl until sold out! For more information, contact Biff Lagan at 305-923-1803 or [email protected].

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Florida Native Plant Society Meeting The next meeting of the Florida Native Plant Society will be held on Wednesday, July 1, at 7 p.m. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month at Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Ln, This month’s topic will be how to plant and maintain green roofs and walls to provide insulation and shade, reduce noise, provide a wildlife habitat and create an original and beautiful look on blank spaces. Meetings involve talks, discussion, free refreshments, a plant auction, book sales and meeting new and friendly people.

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Gulfport’s July 4th Celebration The city of Gulfport invites everyone to celebrate the Fourth of July all day long with an amazing lineup of fun and exciting activities in the city’s downtown waterfront district on Saturday, July 4. The open air event trolley will be running from noon to 5:30 p.m. and from 6:30 to 11 p.m. to pick up passengers from remote parking spots. Look for the red signs as remote parking spots include: Recreation Center, 5730 Shore Blvd. S.; Library 5501 28th Ave. S.; Senior Center and Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S.; Hoyt Field, 2306 56th St. S.; Chase Park, 54th St. S. and 28th Ave. S. and Ted Phillips Wood Ibis Park, 58th St. S. and 28th Ave. S. If you see the trolley, just give the driver a wave and they will pick you up along the route. Wake up early and bring the kids to the Kid’s Fishing Derby sponsored by the Gulfport Marina, at the Recreation Center seawall. Registration for the derby will start at 7:30 a.m. Please bring your own fishing pole and the marina will supply bait from 8 to 11 a.m. The free Family Sand Sculpture Contest, sponsored by the Gulfport Recreation Division, on Gulfport Beach, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with registration starting at 9:45 a.m. Keeping with tradition, the theme will be “Patriotic.” Bring your own tools and supplies. Recreation staff will be on Gulfport Beach for the kids from 12 to 5 p.m. with water slides, balloon entertainment and concessions available.

Local vendors offer a variety of arts, crafts, food delicacies and patriotic knick-knacks for your enjoyment, from 2 to 10 p.m. On the main casino stage, live music of Maggio and Friends will entertain downtown Gulfport beginning at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., the community parade will make its way down Beach Boulevard to the Gulfport Casino, then turn west on Shore Boulevard to 58th Street South. Make sure to grab a good viewing spot! If you are interested in participating in the parade, fill out the online form at

mygulfport.us/july-4th under the tab parade and hit “submit” or visit Gulfport City Hall to fill out the form. Deadline is Friday, June 26. At 9 p.m., a phenomenal fireworks display will close the day’s festivities on Gulfport Beach. The city welcomes all to celebrate in the city of Gulfport! To stay up to date on event information, visit the official city of Gulfport’s website at mygulfport.us/july-4th. For more information, contact Gail Biron at [email protected] or call 727-893-1118.

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By Robert J. Myers, Esq.

What is Disclaimer of Interest?

Disclaimer of interest, in the law of inheritance, wills and trusts, is a term that describes an attempt by a person to give up their legal right to benefit from an inheritance (either under a will or through intestacy) or through a trust. A disclaimer of interest cannot be changed. There are a number of reasons why a person might wish to avoid an inheritance, particularly if the proceeds would only go to their creditors, or if it would drastically affect their income tax liabilities. Under the common law, a person who disclaimed their interest would be treated as though they had died before the trust or will came into effect. This was a sensible option if

the disclaiming party was an heir by descent, whose own children would then take in his place and without the imposition of a gift tax. Disclaimer of interest is also called a renunciation. A disclaimer of interest must be complete, and not a partial disclaimer. Such a disclaimer can be made by a legal guardian on behalf of a person who lacks the capacity to make the disclaimer themselves, but this usually requires a finding by the probate court that the disclaimer is in the ward’s best interest. The disclaimer must be in writing and submitted to the probate court overseeing the administration of the estate within a legally specified time period, which is usually 12 months after the death of the person from whom the disclaiming party stands to inherit, or 12 months after the creation of a trust by a living person. An affidavit may be required in which the disclaiming party must swear that he or she has not received any compensation for the disclaimer. The disclaimer

must also take place before the disclaiming party has enjoyed any benefits of the trust or inheritance. In addition to the more typical disclaimer under wills, an individual may also be able to disclaim his interest as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or employee benefit plans. It may also apply to concurrent interests in real property that automatically transfer after death by operation of law rather than by the rules of inheritance (such as joint tenancies or tenancies by the entirety).

•• Mr. Myers is the owner of Akerson Law Offices which is located at 1135 Pasadena Avenue South, Suite 140, St. Petersburg, Florida. The telephone number is 727-347-5131. Mr. Myers welcomes calls regarding this article and other related legal topics. This column outlines general legal principles and is not intended to give you legal advice. If you have a specific question about the law, please consult an attorney.

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Try your hand at SudokuSolution on Page 18

Gulfport Painter Exhibits Work Gulfport artist Cay Maria Adams will have her artwork on exhibit from June into July at the Catherine Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S. An opening reception will be held Friday, July 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments and a cash bar will be offered. Cay Maria is largely a self-taught artist, although always studying and learning. She credits living in Europe for seven years as a great influence. Upon returning to the U.S., her needlepoint designs for Erica Wilson were sold by the Pierpont Morgan Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She relocated from Sag Harbor to Gulfport a year ago to concentrate on painting, drawn to the Florida light. For more information, contact Jessica at 727-608-0070.

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Seniors’ Chat Room Join others as they experience table topics with the Gulfport Senior Center’s Chat Room every Friday at 1:30 p.m. The Center is located at 5501 27th Ave. S. in Gulfport.

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Let Freedom Ring at Pass-A-Grille Church On Sunday, July 5 at 10 a.m. Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church will celebrate the 236th birthday of America with a patriotic musical celebration, “Let Freedom Ring.” The celebration will be held in lieu of the traditional worship service. Under the direction of Dale Williams, Florida Orchestra keyboardist and PAGBCC organist, the celebration will include renditions of “America,” “America the Beautiful,” “And Give Me Your Tired and Your Poor” among other patriotic songs. There is no charge for this event. All are invited to attend and join the congregation for coffee and cake after the celebration. Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church is located at 107 16th Ave. For further information on this and other church activities, please call the office, 727-360-5508 or visit the website, pagchurch.org.

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Places of Worship

Gulfport Presbyterian Church

Come, explore and deepen faithwith a welcoming, inclusive,

small congregation.

5313 27th Ave S • 727-321-8086Gulfpor [email protected]

Sunday Worship:10:30am


An administrative judge has sided with embattled South Pasadena Mayor Daniel Calabria in a complaint by a city commissioner who alleged the mayor tried to use his position to influence a local election in 2014. Administrative Law Judge J. Lawrence Johnston issued a decision May 12 recommending that the Florida Commission on Ethics dismiss charges made by City Commissioner Arthur Penney against Calabria in 2014. A hearing on the matter was held March 10 after the Ethics Commission, which sets ethics standards for public officials, found probable cause and referred the matter to the state Division of Administrative Hearings. Calabria has long been at odds with the other four members of the South Pasadena City Commission, who earlier this year sought to have him dismissed due to his management style but in March agreed to try to settle their disagreement through mediation. No outcome has been publicly announced regarding that process. The March 10 hearing examined whether Calabria violated Florida law by allegedly overstepping his authority to benefit two candidates he supported in the March 2014 city commission election. At issue was whether Calabria sought to have lettering encouraging

residents to vote for incumbent commissioners Penny and Max Elson removed from the marquee inside the front window of a prominently located business. In a 10-page decision, Johnston said “it was not proven by clear and convincing evidence that the Respondent’s [Calabria’s] actions with respect to the … marquee were taken for the purpose of influencing the election …for the purpose of securing a special privilege, benefit, or exemption for himself or the unsuccessful candidates …” or “with corrupt intent.”

Recommendation to Dismiss Charges Against South Pasadena Mayor Thus, the decision concluded that it was “recommended that the Ethics Commission enter a final order dismissing the charges against the Respondent.” Penny, who was reelected March 11, 2014, despite Calabria’s support for other candidates, had not responded to a request for comment by the Gabber, nor had City Attorney David Ottinger. In an email forwarded to the Gabber along with Judge Johnston’s decision, Calabria said: “Bottom line is simple … I was found not guilty of violating the State’s Ethics Code.”

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Artists Create Geckos for Charity Auction Nine larger-than-life geckos will be the centerpiece of a live auction to benefit local charities. Each gecko, measuring approximately three feet long, will be created and decorated in a variety of media by local artists. The art pieces will be auctioned during the seventh annual Gecko Ball on Saturday, August 29. Each gecko will be a prized collector’s art work and join the ranks of nearly 50 other geckos that have been created since the event’s inception. Organizers

initiated the Artists’ Gecko Auction six years ago with much success and the auction is now a popular part of the tradition of annual Gulfport Gecko-related activities in late summer. Artists selected to create geckos for this year’s auction are Janet Folsom, Denise Keegan, Lenne’ Nicklaus-Ball, Owen Pach, Tom Pitzen, John Ricci, Jonathan Schork, Frank Strunk III and Matt Worsham. The nine finished geckos will be on display at nine Gulfport locations in the weeks leading up to the Gecko Ball. An art show featuring work by

the gecko artists will be on display at the Catherine Hickman Theater, with an opening reception scheduled for Friday, August 7 at 6 p.m. The annual Gecko Ball has become known as Gulfport’s Party of the Year. It will be held at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom. Tickets are $35 each and are available in advance beginning July 4 at Gulfport Beach Bazaar, 3115 Beach Blvd., or online with a credit or debit card at Geckofest.com. A portion of proceeds from Gecko Ball, as well as Gulfport’s Gecko Pub Crawl and GeckoFest will benefit CASA, the Circle of Friends of the Gulfport Public Library, Daystar Life Center, and the Sonia Plotnick Health Fund. All Gecko events are sponsored by the non-profit Gulfport Merchants Association. For more information go to visitgulfportflorida.com or facebook.com/geckoball, or contact Michael Gauthier at 207-312-4317 or [email protected].

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Is Law School for You? Stetson Offers Help Have you always wondered if law school is for you? Stetson University College of Law is hosting an open house on July 30 from 12:15 to 1 p.m. at their campus at 1401 61st St. S. The open house will explain the admissions process for part-time law school applicants. Students interested in the full-time law program at Stetson are also invited to attend. To RSVP and for more information visit law.stetson.edu/parttime or email [email protected].

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Books on Tape Sale at the Library The Circle of Friends Bookshop at the Gulfport Library is having a huge close-out sale of books on tape. There is an excellent selection of fiction and non-fiction books on tape at a bargain price of 25 cents each. So dig out your cassette player and enjoy listening to some fine literature this summer. The library is located at 5501 28th Ave. S. Please call 727-321-4035 if you have any questions.

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St. Petersburg Aglow From the Desk of Sheriff Bob ... · PDF file5000 38th Ave. N. at 11:30...

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