The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 29

Carrollwood Carrollwood Village Forest Hills Lutz Northdale North Lakes Seminole Heights THE TAMPA TRIBUNE Thursday, April 28, 1994 Last Wag's bows out t. LffikT This Wag's restaurant at North Dale Mabry and Stall Road will soon be converted to a Rudy's Country Store and Barbecue. It is the last of the former chain to be converted to another type of eatery. Restaurant to become part of barbecue chain. By NANETTE WOITAS Tribune Staff Writer CARROLLWOOD Late night diners and breakfast lovers soon may wave goodbye to the state's last Wag's Family Restaurant, a popular, 24-hour eatery on North Dale Mabry Highway.

The owner, Florida Family Restaurants, wants to transform it into Rudy's Country Store and Barbecue, a new theme restaurant chain. Hillsborough County records show Florida Family filed applications last week to add an outdoor dining area to the existing building at 12701 N. Dale Mabry Highway. Customers aren't happy at the prospect of losing the popular meeting and eating spot. "Where do you go for breakfast if Wag's closes?" asked customer Gerold Dixon as he waited for a friend outside the restaurant Wednesday morning.

"There aren't a lot of places around here where you can get a sit-down breakfast. Maybe a lot of people don't eat breakfast any- See WAG'S, Page 2 DayView Daniel Ruth hi fifarn iinnnhti ir nruMVuitf I BOB WESTENHOUSERTribune photo Carpet 4 store gets 1 "SSJ Cf I I' ezonin: What is a unanimous vote worth? How much should a neighborhood have to' take shoved, down its throat before it gags back? It may well be that residents and merchants of Tampa Heights, Tampa's perverse homage to Calcutta, have drawn their swords in the sand and said: "No more. We're sick of being a dumping ground for sopiety's excess baggage." At issue is a proposal by the Salvation Army to house at least 30 juvenile delinquents at the organization's facility at 1603 Florida Ave. under a $337,000 contract with the state Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. Last month, in a 6-0 vote, the Tampa City Council rejected the Salvation Army plan, much to the relief of the Tampa Heights Civic Association, merchants and residents, who argued the area already is exploding with crime brought about by an influx of transients, homeless and other social service organization clients.

The last thing Tampa Heights needed if it ever hoped to become part of any downtown revitalization, opponents argued, are more juvenile felons in its midst. Feeling like a chump But just when the residents and merchants were beginning to think the little guy had won a round with city hall, the Spy 1 i i council agreed to reconsider the youthful offender detention issue this evening following a lobbying effort led by juvenile ins irtf HfiviiiTHir? niiisiifii iiut'ii i.uuulv i.uui- CANDACE C. MUNDYTribune photo Chamberlain students Sucre Viteri, second from left, Rockettes Karyn Tomzak, Deanna Fiscus-Ford and and Tomas Lozano, second from end, practice the Rosemary Rado. The dancers visited the school as can-can with the Radio City Rockettes. From left are part of the Artists-in-the-Schools program.

High-steppers meet high schoolers In unusual twist, residents say OK By TOM BRENNAN Tribune Staff Writer CARROLLWOOD Helen Guess has tried to sell her land on North Dale Mabry Highway for more than 10 years. She has had plenty of potential buyers, but none could rezone the property to build what they wanted. "I can't tell you how many contracts we lost because of it," Guess said. "You can't imagine what we've been through." Her luck changed Tuesday when the Hillsborough County Commission voted 4-2 to re-zone the 1.75 acres to allow commercial development. The vote paves the way for a New York Carpet World store to be built on the four lots just south of Handy Road.

The company has a contract to buy the land, but it was contingent on the rezoning. Commissioners said they were swayed by the company's agreement to limit the size of the building to about half of what was allowed. The company saidjt wants Jo a single-story store. The majority also said they were impressed that surrounding neighbors supported and spoke in favor of the project The carpet company has agreed to build a landscape buffer across the back of the project to shield residents from the store. It also has agreed to prohibit public access to Little Bay Lake to the east of the store.

"I can't see anything less offensive or having less impact," said Commissioner Jim Norman, who represents the area. Commissioners Jan Piatt and Phyllis Busansky cast the no votes. They sided with county planners who opposed the project because it extends strip development along Dale Mabry. Piatt and Busansky also said a favorable vote wouldn't be fair to other developers who tried unsuccessfully to get similar zoning changes in the area in the past year. "I am very concerned about consistency," Piatt said.

The other commissioners argued it was easy to distinguish the carpet store from the other cases because the earlier developers sought larger and more intense development. They also pointed out neighbors vehemently opposed the other projects. "We shouldn't ignore the wishes of this neighborhood," Commissioner Lydia Miller said. "Everything we asked the developers, they did." It requires discipline and keeping fit. It means working out every day and warming up before performances, Klein said.

"You cannot let a day go by." Klein's not lying, Lozano said, after trying a few of the dancer's moves. "It's hard to do 400 kicks; I had trouble with eight." Members of the Chiefettes squad said dancing with the Rockettes was like a dream come true. "They're so glamorous. They're gorgeous. I was impressed," said London Hairston, 17.

"I was excited to be up on stage with them," said Amanda Sells, 18. "It was definitely an experience to remember." The dance-along was part of a visit to the school at 9401 N. Boulevard by the The Great Radio City Music Hall Spectacular, the Rockettes' first touring company. The group's yearlong tour includes 44 cities, with eight performances a week. This week they're at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

The Chamberlain visit, part of the Florida Theatrical Association's Artists-in-the-Schools program, gave students a chance to find out more about the realities of the life of a professional dancer. "The reality of the entertainment industry is brutal. It's horrendous," said Klein, whose credits include numerous Broadway productions. It's a business where it can take 200 auditions to land one job. And often, the rejection has nothing to do with one's talent, Klein said: "You're too tall.

You're too short. You're too heavy. You're too light. You're too fair. You're too dark." Chamberlain drama teacher James Rayfield asked the dancers: "Can you tell us some of the jobs you've taken just to stay alive?" "I was a blowfish on a table at a wedding," Radow said.

kids were throwing things at me. People were putting dirty plates on my table." Waitressing and temporary jobs are other ways to bring in cash. Klein said he loves the chance to talk to kids who are interested in the theater. "Theater is passed on, one to one," Klein said. "It's the responsibility of every performer to pass it on." By B.C.

MANION Tribune Staff Writer FOREST HILLS When it comes to high school memories, Tomas Lozano and Sucre Viteri are going to have a hard time topping the one they made Wednesday at Chamberlain High. The seniors were in a crowd of about 275 students watching three members of the Radio City Rockettes demonstrate a few moves. But the youths bolted out of their seats and dashed to the stage when Joe Klein, music director of the Rockettes' touring group, asked if anyone would like to try a few steps with dancers Rose Radow, Deanna Fiscus-Ford and Karyn Tomzak. Nine members of the school's dancing squad joined the others and the high school kids took their cues from the women clad in the elegant silver and black costumes. Dancing is not nearly as easy as it looks, Klein said.

The Rockettes do hundreds of kicks in some of their numbers and must make all of their moves with precision. i missioner Phyllis Busansky. The decision to reconsider the earlier vote has outraged the Tampa Heights community. "This is where we feel stupid," sighed Tom Rogers, who manages Robertson Billiard Supply. "What's a unanimous vote in council worth?" Even all the opponents against the facility agree the problem of juvenile crime is a major social crisis demanding attention.

But what bothers these folks is that Tampa Heights already is overrun with the residue of social consciousness. From the Salvation Army, to Metropolitan Ministries, to the food stamp center, to Derek Chamblee's Homeless Network, to DACCO, to other smaller independently run ministries and shelters, the area is filled with indigents roaming the streets, tent cities in vacant lots, burned out and abandoned property, broken windows, walls smeared with excrement, shattered bottles and shattered hopes. When does it end? What concerns the, Tampa Heights community the most about the new facility is that it is not going to house mere youthful pranksters, who have been caught spraying graffiti. The Salvation Army plans to take in level six offenders which is the HRS designation for those who have generally committed serious property offenses and their offending is characterized by frequent and repeated violations." Very comforting. Indeed, there is nothing to prevent any of these offenders from walking out of the facility except the fear of violating their court sentences.

Not real excited i That lack of security troubles city council Chairman Joe Greco the most. "We've asked the- Salvation Army for some feedback on security and the answers have net been forthcoming," Greco said. "I'm not real excited about it, to tell you the truth." Is there a better place for these young, repeat felons? Yes, it's called a prison. As well, a Salvation Army official, who asked that his name not be used, conceded the facility's residents will be housed in their own rooms, in part to avoid potential sex offenses between residents. Busansky, in a burst of naivete rivaling Little Bo Peep, argued the Tampa Heights community simply needs to force organizations like the Salvation Army and other groups to be more accountable for their clients.

La-de-da, la-de-da. "But we all have to stand up and take some responsibility," said Busansky, conceding she would be less than thrilled to have the juvenile facility placed next to her home. "But I suppose I'd have to bite my lip and just do it." How very NIKE of her. To be sure, society needs to reach out to help the poor, the helpless, the homeless, the disenfranchised. Perhaps no other community in the city has been asked to shoulder more of that burden than Tampa Heights.

And it has paid a price in declining property values, shuttered businesses and a fear to walk the streets. Isn't that enough? You have to wonder: if Hugh Culver-house, or George Steinbrenner, or Finn Casperson or some other heavy artillery of Tampa influence owned land In Tampa Heights, would this issue ever have seen the light of day before the city council? And where would Phyllis Busansky be? Neighborhood group wants to change name Helping hand Ted Lierman, left, and Ken Kilgore get help with their Spanish homework from student tutor Dorothy Brodeur. Brodeurand nearly 500 other HCC students will graduate Monday night. Story, this section-7. ROBERT BURKETribune photo Although some members said they wouldn't want the group to lose the name recognition it has built over the years, no one argued a change shouldn't be considered.

Among potential names are Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association and Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Preservation Association. While some interpret the group's name narrowly, it was chosen about seven years ago to reflect broader interests. "The idea was that this was a group of people who were interested in community preservation," said trustee Steve Gluckman. "Historic preservation was important but it was the preservation of the whole community the neighborhood founders were Interested in.F The group considers the neighborhood boundaries as 15th Street on the east and the Hillsborough River on the north and west. Its irregular southern boundary is Hillsborough Avenue or Dr.

Martin Lu- See NEIGHBORHOOD, Page 2 By DOUG STANLEY Tribune Staff Writer SEMINOLE HEIGHTS Some members of a neighborhood association here say its name may be holding it back. Many people, they say, perceive the Old Seminole Heights Preservation Committee as interested only in the small historic district. Although the 250-member group is a civic association interested in all aspects of neighborhood life, its name doesn't reflect that, proponents of the name change say. An informal vote at the group's quarterly meeting Tuesday night showed a majority of the 50 members that were present agreed. The group decided to discuss the issue formally at its July meeting.

The perception the association is too narrowly focused hampers efforts to increase membership and participation, said Rick Fifer, a trustee of the group and one of the chief proponents of a name change. Non-members and members who live outside the historic district tend to favor a change, he said. Arsonist's blaze leaves 2 families homeless By NONA EDELSON Tribune Staff Writer NORTH TAMPA One woman leapt from a second-story balcony as fire ripped through her apartment, blocking off the front steps early Wednesday. Laurie Torrence, who lived in apartment 6 of English Hills II, 2005 142nd sprained her ankle after the jump and was treated by emergency medical personnel at the scene, said Jack Espinosa, spokesman for the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office. Her brother and daughter, who also lived there, earlier escaped unharmed through the front door, said the apartment's owner, Martha Ciacca.

Six other people, who lived in the apartment underneath, also escaped unharmed. The 4:30 a.m. blaze that authorities say is arson left two families homeless and four others without electricity for most of Wednesday, said Ciacca. Bobby Tinsley, who lives in apartment 2, next to the vacant, bottom-floor apartment where the fire See FIRE, Page 3 7 1 lb.