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WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
Hockey complex to open in spring By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
An anticipated opening for the Florida Hospital Center Ice complex will be delayed until spring 2016, largely due to a slower than expected wait on permitting. Gordie Zimmermann, a partner in Z Mitch, said he expects construction to resume in the next weeks, with a scheduled completion in the first quarter of 2016. “We’re in good shape,” Zimmermann said. Initially, the opening for the sports complex, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., had been announced for the fall, potentially at the same time as the Tampa Premium Outlets. The outlet mall will open on Oct. 29. Both facilities are off State Road 56 at the Interstate 75 interchange. A groundbreaking for the sports complex took place in March. The pre-construction work including underCOURTESY OF FLORIDA HOSPITAL CENTER ICE ground utilities has been completed. But, Hockey fans watch from the sidelines in this interior rendering of Florida Hospital Center the site has been inactive for several See HOCKEY, page 13A
Ice, an ice rink and sports complex under construction at the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 interchange.
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Greg Lasher of Leechburg, Pennsylvania, left, and Lenny Carver of Sidney, Montana, inspect the radial engine of a vintage PT-17 Stearman.
Fate of flight festival remains up in the air
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Traffic jams caused tempers to flare and poor weather kept balloons from launching during the third annual Festival of Flight at the Tampa North Flight Center. Scores of motorists complained via the festival’s Facebook page about being stuck in traffic for hours. Some said they were turned away from the venue because there was no place to park. Others said they gave up and voiced irritation for being inconvenienced. Numerous posts criticized event organizers for failing to secure enough parking, for not having law enforcement to direct traffic and for not letting people know early enough when events were cancelled. The Friday Night Balloon Glow was held,
but balloon launches scheduled on Saturday and Sunday mornings were cancelled because of the weather. Some activities also were able to go on, but much of the event was a washout. Jessica Warren, festival director for Festival of Flight, said “We are reconsidering all of our options.” That includes, whether to stage the event again. “Everybody says it was disorganized,” Warren said, but months of hard work and planning went into the event. Parking was arranged for 20 acres on Compark 75, which is next to Tampa North Flight Center. Warren and her husband mowed the field to prepare it for parking. Fifty-six volunteers were also secured to help with parking, she said. See FLIGHT, page 13A
Suicide prevention can begin with small gestures By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Betsey Westuba delivered a powerful message about suicide prevention last week at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. To help illustrate the impact of suicide, she brought along a banner covered with 2,892 yellow ribbons. Each ribbon represented an individual who died by suicide in Florida during 2013. The ribbons reflect only the people who died — not the scores of people left behind to cope with the aftermath. Westuba’s talk touched on the warning signs of suicide and the difficulty people B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO often have in grappling with a loss caused by the suicide of a loved one. She provided The yellow ribbons on this banner, next to Betsey Westuba, represent lives lost to suicide. information about where to turn for help.
Westuba knows firsthand how it feels to have a loved one die by suicide because that’s how her brother died. It is common for survivors to experience guilt and to question why the death occurred, she said. Survivors may find it helpful to seek professional counseling or join a survivors’ support group, she added. There are actions that people can take to help prevent suicide, said Westuba, who is region six director for the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition. People may feel helpless, but small gestures often can help someone who is considering suicide to choose a different path, she said. Westuba addressed steps people can See SUICIDE, page 13A