The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 53

The Tampa Tribune, Wednesday, April 7, 1993 PoIk-3 Scotty's may boost Strawberry Plaza By SUSAN MARSCHALK Tribune Staff Writer PLANT CITY America's flea market apparently wasn't Plant City's cup of tea, but merchants at Strawberry Plaza on the city's south side are hoping a Scotty's store will draw more customers to the table. Value Mart, an indoor enterprise billed as America's flea market dur lumber storage at the former discount store site, Karpinski said. City planner Sherry Blanchard said Monday that city hall has received some plans regarding the Strawberry Plaza site, and the city's staff likely will request more information about parking and traffic. But the location already has the appropriate zoning and no city commission action would be required before Scotty's could move in, Blanchard said. Value Mart was owned by Massachusetts-based TJX which bought the balance of Ames' 20-year lease last summer on the store at Strawberry Plaza, Karpinski said.

Ames Department Stores filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in April 1990. Leases for many Ames stores in Florida later were sold. TJX remains responsible for za. "We're working on it," Karpinski said Monday.

"We haven't got all the agreements signed yet but it's exciting." Daryl Lansvale, president and chief executive officer of Winter Haven-based Scotty's, said Tuesday the retail home-improvement chain has been talking to Strawberry Plaza about occupying the former Ames site but no lease has been signed. He said he could not say what might happen to the existing Scotty's location at 1001 S. Alexander St "It's just too early yet," Lansvale said. Calls to Value Mart's Fort Lauderdale headquarters were referred to Warren Robbins, who said Tuesday he was too busy to comment. Scotty's has submitted plans for city planning department approval regarding changes that would be required to accommodate outdoor about 14 years on the Strawberry Plaza lease unless negotiations with Scotty's go through, Karpinski said.

Strawberry Plaza has struggled since the Ames closing, with owner Strawberry Square Shopping Center Associates filing for Chapter 11 protection last May. A survey Monday showed six vacancies besides Value Mart and 18 occupied storefronts at the strip center. Monica Morgan, owner of Monica's Place party supply store at the center, said Value Mart pulled in customers when it first opened, but the appeal seemed to fizzle. She said she was looking forward to Scotty's opening, hoping that hardware customers would venture over to her store as well. Sue Smith, owner of Sue's Jewelry Designs and a former Value Mart vendor, said the market opened with less than half the rental space occupied and "it kept dwindling." ing a bevy of promotions since its opening last October, closed quietly at the end of February, merchants said.

The flea market had filled the shopping center's anchor slot, left vacant since Ames Department Stores pulled out in the summer of 1990. Value Mart's closing again left the 6-year-old shopping center without an anchor. But Carolyn Karpin-ski, the center's leasing agent, confirmed that negotiations are under way to bring a Scotty's hardware and building supply store to the pla DAVE GEIGERTribune photo The Value Mart store in Plant City's Strawberry Plaza opened in October 1992, and was closed last February. Negotiations are underway to fill the vacancy with a Scotty's hardware store. Sewer users to pay more Bulletin board Send us your Bulletin Board news.

The Polk section of The Tampa Tribune will publish, on a space-available basis, news of activities of interest to the community. News releases must be received 10 days before expected publication date, and should include the name and telephone number of a contact person. Write to Bulletin Board, The Tampa Tribune-Polk, 114 W. Main Lakeland 33801. growth in the city is slow and the impact fee increase can not be depended on to help make payments on the 25-year bond issue.

The commission Monday night accepted a low bid of $6.5 million from Indian River Industrial, a Jacksonville firm, for construction of the treatment plant. Another contract of about $500,000 will be awarded for pumps and blowers, and the city already has spent $800,000 upgrading portions of the current plant, which will be integrated into the new plant. Construction of the new plant will begin within 60 days and take about 18 months to complete, O'Connor said. He said if the full $9 million is not needed, it won't be borrowed. From Page 1 that another sewer-rate increase probably will be needed later this year.

O'Connor said Tuesday the rate may go up another $5 to $7, depending on the size of the bond issue and the interest rates. Hooks emphasized that the city is under a state mandate to meet new wastewater treatment requirements by August 1994. The city also wants to expand the plant's capacity from 2.75 million gallons per day to 4 million gallons per day to meet growth needs for the next 20 years. The commission soon will consider increasing its impact fee on new development to help pay for the increased capacity required by new growth. But O'Connor said Study finds water sports complex doable cludes lunch.

For information, call Barbara Stampfl at 499-8279 or Gloria Brooke at 688-6844. New Beginnings classes: Polk Community College's New Beginnings program is offering classes designed for those who are underemployed April 30 through May 2 at PCC's Lakeland campus. The class is a 34-hour non-credit continuing education course. The course number is CEV 2397-8479. The cost is $20 for Florida residents, $77 for non-residents.

To register, call 297-1002. Gallery show: imperial Art Gallery, 322 E. Pine Lakeland, will hold a gallery show featuring interpretative works celebrating Lakeland's Fly In for experimental aircraft daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 30.

Admission is free. Accepting nominations: Historic Lakeland Inc. is accepting nominations for its fifth annual presentation awards for work completed in 1992. The awards event is at 5:30 p.m. South Florida will sponsor a Brown Bag Lunch Lecture from noon to 1 p.m.

April 13 at the Lakeland Public Library. Jerry Hill, state attorney for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida, will be the guest speaker. Coffee and dessert will be furnished. For information, call Gloria Harvard at 667-7015. Downtown Luncheon: The Board of Directors of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority will hold its annual Downtown Luncheon at noon April 15 at the Lakeland Civic Center, Hall A.

The guest speaker will be Jim Cloar, president of Tampa Downtown Partnership. The cost is $12 per person. League of Women Voters: Polk County League of Women Voters will hold a regional workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 17 at the Lakeland Public Library.

Guest speakers will include Charles Kovaleski, representing the TsongasRudman Coalition and Bill Jones, executive director of Common Cause of Florida. Seminole, Orange, Lake and Polk counties will be participating. The cost is $10 and in From Page 1 The three sites are: 3,000 acres of IMC mining land southeast of Bartow. The Tenoroc State Reserve, owned by the state Department of Natural Resources, northeast of Lakeland. Privately owned property on the southeast corner of Lake Hancock.

The Tenoroc site was identified as the least expensive, because the property is already in government hands. Fragala said he believes De Sebring Planning Council: The Central Florida Regional Planning Council will meet at 9 a.m. today at the Highlands County Health Department HRS Building in Sebring. Winter Haven Dance classes offered: The city of Winter Haven Department of Leisure Services is offering county western dance and line dance classes at the Chain O'Lakes complex in Winter Haven. County western dance will be taught from 7 to 8 p.m.

Thursdays. Country line dance will be taught from 8 to 9 p.m., also on Thursdays. The fee is $20 for city residents, $25 for non-residents. For information, call Donna Sheehan at 297-4018. Lakeland State attorney to speak: The University of who takes time to talk PEE Watson Medicare for all JLifferences Public viewing of recovered stolen goods scheduled today EVERY SUNDAY more than 800,000 adults read The Tampa Tribune.

he difference May 13 at Nathan's Men Store on Munn Park. Awards are given for distinctive work in preser-vation recognizing commercialinstitutional and residential project owners, designers and contractors. Nomination forms are available at the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority. Art competition: The Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto will hold the fourth annual All-Florida Biennial, a jury competition for Florida artists, through May 16.

The judge for the competition is Jan Avgikos, art historian and critic from New York City. COUNTYWIDE Advocates for elderly sought: The Long Term Ombudsman's Council is seeking two volunteer ombudsmen to serve as advocates for elderly residents in nursing homes and congregate living facilities in Polk County. For information or to volunteer, call Jack West at 686-3909 or the council's office at 935-7084. the Watson Clinic Lakeland, FL 33805 (813) 682-3937 Lakeland, FL 33803 (813) 647-8023 A Tribune Staff Report LAKELAND The Polk County Sheriff's Office will hold a public viewing today of more than $100,000 in stolen merchandise re covered last month during an undercover investigation. The display will be held from noon until 8 p.m.

at the Ruthven Industrial Warehouse at 3030 Reynolds Road. Items recovered by dep WATER RESTRICTIONS For most Polk residents, outdoor watering is restricted to two days a week from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Watering is allowed Tuesdays and Saturdays for even-numbered addresses or those ending in the letters A through and Wednesdays and Sundays for odd-numbered ad Clinic Ophthalmology Services assignment now accepted procedures and office visits partment of Natural Resources officials can be convinced that the high-intensity water sports complex can be compatible with the conser-. vation and low-intensity uses of the state reserve. Another site rated high in the study was Saddle Creek Park, but it was eliminated because it was too small. At 650 acres, the county would have to buy another 350 acres of adjoining land from American Cyanamide. Fragala's study did not consider purchasing that lard.

"The price was ridiculously high," Fragala said. uties include jewelry, firearms, stereos, televisions, furniture and paintings. To reclaim property residents must provide proof of ownership. During the first two weeks of March, investigators arrested 10 people and seized property, cash and drugs resulting from the undercover operation. Authorities investigated four operations where stolen merchandise was exchanged for drugs.

dresses or those ending in the letters through Z. No water restrictions have been enacted for residents of extreme eastern Polk who live in the area served by the South Florida Water Management District. For more information, call the Southwest Florida Water Management District at I (800) 423-1476 or the "Know Your Day" number at I (800)848-0499. With This Ad 4-SOMES PLAY FOR: $150oAfter 1-00 L. -Expires Call 859-5461 For Tee Times 6001 Sandpiper Drive Lakeland, Fla.

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