Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 30

Local News TIMES SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1998 3B wmtitf to ravisK Tih Pm sitfta all 2S0 stitches later, dog gets home Faced with losing the winter attraction, the city of St Petersburg looks for ways to help the ship's foundation. By KRISTINE MILLEN Tim SUflWritw By JOUNICE L. NEALY Tim SuHWrtUr River Office of Economic Development Nothing was put in writing when the agreement was made in 1995, according to Futoransky. Economic development officials have asked for interest payments that exceed $5,000. "We're not paying it" Futoransky said.

The Bounty, built in 1960 for the remake of the movie Mutiny on the Bounty, may apxar in another movie. The Bounty first came to St Petersburg in 1965 and stayed year-round for the next 20 years. It returned in 1995; a contract with the city says it can stay during the winters through the year sidered steering clear of St. Petersburg unless the city pitched in $25,000 toward the cost of bringing the ship here. "We're not committing anything," Fischer explained in an interview.

But "we want to help them bring it back here." That may mean helping with marketing, Fischer said. Corporations, for example, may want to charter the Bounty, and other companies may want to host events on it. Futoransky expects the 169-foot-, long ship to return in time for Halloween and stay until just after Easter. "Strike up the band," he said. The mayor and Futoransky still must finish details, and the foundation may approach corporations to help pay for the trip.

Futoransky said the ship was a mar keting tool that wasn't used properly. Executives would enjoy having meetings on board, he said. "It's better than sitting in a stuffy boardroom when smoke is blowing in your face and eating your sandwich," Futoransky said. The ship was widely used during festivals this summer, he said. Its success has not been hampered by an $47,000 IRS lien or failure to repay a loan.

Futoransky said they are repaying the IRS money that was used to pay bills instead of employees' withholding taxes. It was a mistake made before Futoransky came aboard, he said. A new administration, he said, refuses to honor a deal that the Bounty had to repay a $50,000 loan from the Fall ST. PETERSBURG The HMS Bounty will return to its winter port at The Pier in St. Petersburg, ship officials decided Friday.

Normand Futoransky, president of the Tall Ship Bounty Foundation board of trustees, said the board agreed to give the city another try after Mayor David J. Fischer sent a letter saying that residents and tourists love it and the city will help. The foundation had con 2000. "I've "I'm happy," Futoransky said, always wanted to go back." Weenie woes help planning for Pinky CLEARWATER Nearly three weeks after being found with deep V-shaped cuts sliced into his back, Moose has a new home. Swathed in a turquoise pressure bandage and clutching a furry white teddy bear between his teeth, Moose met his newly adopted parents, Ron and Susan Gerino, for the first time Friday.

"I love you already, Moosey," Mrs. Gerino told the 72-pound black Lab in the parking lot of the Animal Health Care Clinic, where he was treated. "You're going to have the best life and you're never going to live outside again." Moose, named by Humane Society workers, was found critically wounded Aug. 4 near the Moose Lodge on McMullen-Booth Road by lodge members. He underwent nearly four hours of surgery and received 250 stitches to close the gashes.

Moose will join the Gerinos' two dogs, Ralphy, a springer spaniel, and Lexxy, a Wei-maraner, in their two-bedroom pool home in Indian Rocks Beach. "We don't have any kids. They are our babies," said Mrs. Gerino, a sales representative for GTE Communications who works out of her home. "Anything they want, they get" The Gerinos were among 75 people who called the Humane Society of North Pinellas wanting to adopt Moose after hearing of his plight "As soon as we saw him on TV, we knew we wanted him," said Gerino, a financial adviser for American Express.

"It's a shame that all this attention had to come from something like this." said. The gates will open at 11:30 a.m., but more gates than usual will be open, Vaughn said. There will also be "express lines" designated for adults who do not care to receive Pinky. "We're taking the extra steps to make sure everyone is as comfortable as possible," Vaughn said. "Obviously, Beanie Babies are very popular.

This is a way to reach more fans that might not come out to a game otherwise." Pinky the flamingo is not as valuable as Weenie, said Tammy Tucker, of Country Goose collect-ables at The Pier. That's because Pinky has not been "retired" from the line of stuffed animals, while Weenie is no longer made and worth about $150 to collectors. But Pinky will come with a card that explains the Beanie Baby was handed out at a Devil Rays' game, which may make the flamingo favors more valuable, Tucker said. "His value is right now about $5 to $7," Tucker said of Pinky. "But I think his popularity has sparked because of Sunday's game.

Sales have definitely skyrocketed because of this. And after the game, if Pinky is retired, he will definitely be more valuable." The Devil Rays learned from their first Beanie Baby giveaway. By CHRISTINA HEADRICK Timet Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG Just when you thought it was safe to go to a Devil Rays' game, it's time for Beanie Baby II. In the second giveaway of Beanie Babies this year, the first 10,000 fans age 14 and under to enter Tropicana Field Sunday will get a Pinky the flamingo.

Devil Rays management however, has learned from the first time it tried the promotion. Three weeks ago, collectors flocked to Tropicana from all over the state, some even camping out the night before the game, to grab a Weenie the dachshund. Dozens needed medical attention after spending hours in the heat all unnecessarily since the team had plenty of the dolls to go around. For the Beanie Baby sequel, paramedics will be stationed nearby, water will be sold to fans waiting in line, and portable mist machines will be set up so people can get wet and stay cool, Devil Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn Lawyers grade judicial hopefuls in preference poll Mine hunter visits I pj -L, J' r.J "JT3 HI lv.yj:z 4 ft ssi irrTr'- fr ii i a --mmL. -ffSLi By WILLIAM R.

LEVESQUE Tim Stiff Writ.r Anti-hunger summit takes stock of goals By JOUNICE L. NEALY Tim Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Bonnie Newton drew the lowest approval rating among candidates for her judgeship in a St Petersburg Bar Association judicial preference poll released Friday. In the poll of circuit lawyers, 26 percent of 194 lawyers who said they have considerable knowledge of Newton's work either approved of her or highly approved. Another 73 percent disapproved.

Newton faces Judicial Qualifications Commission charges that she is abusive, demeaning and sarcastic to people in her courtroom. She has denied wrongdoing. Newton has fared poorly in past Bar polls rating judges' performances. One of her challengers, Irene Sullivan of St Petersburg, received a high approval rating from 80 percent of the 190 lawyers with considerable knowledge of her. A third lawyer in the race, John Stewart of New Port Richey, scored a 61 percent high approval rating, though only 31.

lawyers knew his work well. About 452 lawyers participated in the poll, voting that they either highly approved, approved or disapproved of candidates based on attributes such as legal ability, communication skills and profes- sional conduct 1 In the race to replace retiring Pinellas County Judge Radford Smith, lawyer Amy Williams and Kevin Fantauzzo posted the highest approval Williams drew a 65 percent high approval rating among 108 lawyers who said they had consid-' erable knowledge of her work. Fantauzzo drew a 61 percent high approval rating among 148 lawyers who said they know his work well. Sylvia Barr drew a 30 percent high approval rating from 102 lawyers. Her disapproval rating of 41 percent was the highest of the group.

Candidates George Brown and Richard Stoffels were well-known by fewer than 30 lawyers responding to the poll. to culture urban vegetable gardens and to continue education of food assistance programs. "We've got to do a better job," said Mike McKinney, a faculty member of the UF extension service. And do it as a team, he said. Last year, hunger coalition teams estimated that 40 percent 151,000 of children living in the Tampa Bay area will either experience hunger or are at risk of hunger.

Brewer, standing in front of the restaurant's green-tinted windows, used the baseball diamond to illustrate the fight against hunger. She was invited to talk about Montana's approach to establishing a network of anti-hunger groups. First base represents the food banks and meal programs, the easiest and simplest things to do. To get to second base, activists must promote research to document the problem, education to let people know that hunger exists, advocacy to generate politicians' interest and collaboration to organize a hunger-fighting system. Activists who reach third base have helped write laws, for example, that give all people access to food.

ST. PETERSBURG Anti-hunger activists gathered Friday at Tropicana Field to take a swing at strengthening teams to battle hunger. "What we're doing really isn't a game," said Julie Brewer, executive director of the Montana Hunger Coalition. "And people helping (fight hunger) hasn't become a national pastime." Thus, in a restaurant overlooking a baseball diamond, area activists convened the third annual Tampa Bay Hunger Summit. The University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service and hunger coalitions in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties sponsored the summit, gathering about 70 government officials, not-for-profit agencies, citizens and representatives of private groups to talk about successes and goals.

Wanda Ricks-Stuart, who is a part of the Hunger Action Leadership Team, told of a program that teaches children how to make healthy snacks, for example. Tabletop placards read: "Hunger is when a person does not get enough food to be healthy." Nan Jensen, who works with the extension service, told of plans Timet photo JIM STEM The USS Facon sits in Tampa's Garrison Channel before docking at Harbour Island on Friday. The Facon is an 188-foot coastal mine hunter based in Ingleside, Texas, with a crew of six officers and 1 6 enlisted crew members. The Falcon is visiting Tampa after three days of mine warfare training off the coast of Panama City, Fla. Because of heightened security following the recent bombings overseas, the Falcon will not be opened to the public for tours.

The Falcon will leave on Monday. Demolition site creates classroom for rescuers Rescue workers train for real-life emergencies among the broken glass and twisted metal left by Sunshine Mall's demolition. By STEVEN S. WOO Timet Staff Writer can. Sometimes they get to practice on houses being demolished, but those are not as large as Sunshine Mall.

Terra Excavating Inc. of Largo began demolishing the 30-year-old mall in July to make way for apartment buildings. The demolition is taking a long time because the materials from the rubble will be separated for recycling. The Pinellas County Technical Rescue Team has been training together for five years, Livingston said. Some of the rescuers did this week's training on their own time, but they said it's worth it.

"They're spending their brief time off duty to do this so they can also travel to areas outside the state to help out" said Dave Alford, an emergency medical technician at the Largo Rescue and Fire Department. Local rescuers have dealt with some emergencies at construction sites or demolition sites where workers were trapped. Last year, a construction worker died in St. Petersburg in a collapsed building, Livingston said. "They don't do this kind of training every day," Alford said.

"The more they do it the more prepared they are if something happens." through Friday training. Trainees were divided into two teams: the Pinellas County Technical Rescue Team, with members from the Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, St Petersburg and Seminole fire departments; and the Tampa Bay Urban Search and Rescue team composed of fire and rescue members from St Petersburg, Hillsborough and Tampa departments. During the training, one group worked to stabilize walls so in a rescue a building will not "come back down on us," Livingston said. In another drill, rescuers got muddy as they dug tunnels into the collapsed rubble and pretended to remove people trapped beneath. Trainees also worked with canine search teams.

The dogs climbed on top of collapsed roofs, seeking victims. The dogs practice with items that smell like the trapped people. "If been a real good drill," Livingston said. "Using a site that is under demolition is about as realistic as we can get With hurricanes, tornadoes and bombing situations, we see the same kind of collapses." Livingston said it is difficult to do building collapse training because demolition companies usually knock down buildings as quickly as they CLEARWATER Shattered glass from the destroyed building twinkled on the ground. Twisted metal rods jutted out from vast piles of rubble.

Walls were pulverized, and the roof had caved in. Parts of Sunshine Mall on Missouri Avenue this week looked like the site of a terrorist bombing or the aftermath of an earthquake, and that's exactly what local emergency rescue teams needed to practice on in case a building collapses. "Fortunately, the only thing really missing was the victims," said Todd Livingston, assistant technical team rescue coordinator for St Petersburg Fire and Rescue. About 20 to 30 firefighters and other emergency medical personnel from around Pinellas County spent three evenings Wednesday V' i V. A Times photo FRED VrCTORIN Alexis Zeigler of Sarasota looks at displays by different organizations at the third annual Tampa Bay Hunger Summit.

This year's summit had a baseball theme, "Step up to the Plate.".