Christopher “Dodge” Smith, 40, of Safety Harbor was arrested Tuesday night and charged with attempted first-degree murder and child abuse in connection to the shooting of Jessica Antolini, 30.

Antolini died of her injuries at 9:14 p.m. Thursday, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said in an update Friday morning.

According to an arrest affidavit, Smith arrived at the Harbor Bar at 840 Main St. about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday and went inside looking for Antolini, leaving his 5-year-old daughter and dog outside.

Witnesses who know Smith said he was walking around the bar as if he was “possessed” and “appeared as if he was hunting down” Antolini, the affidavit states.

Smith found Antolini and began arguing with her outside as his daughter watched. When Smith walked over to his SUV, Antolini followed, and he pulled a gun and shot her in the face, the affidavit states. The round went into her left eye and through her skull.

Smith and his daughter got into his SUV and he backed over Antolini as she lay on the ground, according to the affidavit.

Antolini was taken to Orlando Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg and intubated.

Multiple witnesses called 911 to report the shooting, which happened at the southwest corner of 9th Avenue South and Main Street, just west of the bar, according to the sheriff’s office.

Smith called his mother after the shooting and told her he was bringing his daughter to her because he “messed up” and “shot Jess.”

A brief video released by the sheriff’s office shows a deputy using a precision immobilization technique, also known as a PIT maneuver, to cause Smith’s SUV to spin out of control on Ridgemoor Boulevard, in the Ridgemoor subdivision in Palm Harbor. Smith then got out of the SUV with his hands up.

“My daughter’s in there,” Smith told deputies as they handcuffed him. “I’m submissive, OK, I’m not going to give you any problems.”

The video shows Smith’s daughter crying as she and the dog got out of the SUV.

The girl told deputies, “Daddy shot Jess,” according to the affidavit.

Smith was being held without bond Friday in the Pinellas County Jail.

Court records show the Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender’s Office was appointed to represent Smith and filed a not guilty plea on his behalf. The Public Defender’s Office then filed a motion to withdraw, citing a conflict. A judge granted the motion and appointed the state’s Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel to represent him.

Antolini’s mother, Suzanne Rys Antolini, posted a message from the family on Facebook Friday announcing Jessica’s death and expressing thanks “for the love we’ve felt from so many people.”

The post said the family was “beyond heartbroken” and called Jessica “a beloved child, cherished sister and treasured friend.”

“Jess was a kind and loving person who advocated for the rights of all people and for animal welfare,” the post said.

Even when he was working for Delta Airlines for 37 years baseball was always kicking around in his head.

With good reason, as the baseball bloodlines have always run in the family. Both his mother Anita and father Donald Sr. had worked for the New York Yankees and his younger brother Larry, who pitched for Eckerd College and is the weekend official scorer for the Clearwater Threshers, has worked in minor league baseball since 1987.

Don Wiederecht was hoping to be involved in pro baseball his entire life, but sometimes fate takes over.

At first it was very promising. In the spring of 1980, while enroute to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Administration from Biscayne College, now St. Thomas University, he interned with the Fort Lauderdale Yankees where he also served as the Clubbie in order to earn some money. It was fun, but it wasn’t exactly a life of leisure.

“I lived in the clubhouse with manager Doug Holmquist, pitching coach Stan Saleski and athletic trainer Paul Grayner,” Wiederecht said. “It was a quiet place to call home when the team played at home.”

Sonny Hirsch, the general manager of the Miami Orioles, offered him a paying job during that season when his internship was finished with two more months to go in the 1980 season.

“Lots of crazy things happened in 1980 in Miami Stadium where the Miami Orioles played,” Wiederecht said. “If you ever want to ask me about that we can talk on the phone!” he added with a laugh.

“The big reason I wanted to work for the Miami Orioles was because I could live in a dorm room at Biscayne College instead of the clubhouse in Fort Lauderdale Stadium.”

After graduating in December of 1980, Wiederecht hooked up with the Jacksonville Tea Men Soccer Club of the North American Soccer League the next month.

“I was hired by Dick Kravitz, the general manager,” he noted. “He had made his name as general manager of the Jacksonville Suns Southern League and Jacksonville Express of World Football League in its second and last season. I remembered in high school reading in The Sporting News that Dick Kravitz was 1973 AA Sporting News Executive of the Year when he was with the Suns.”

It wasn’t baseball but it was pro sports, and as it turned out, was relatively short-lived.

“Dick was the best person to learn how to sell advertising for game day programs, wall signs along the field, as well as getting advertisers to buy radio and TV time for the Tea Men,” said Wiederecht. “I worked two outdoor soccer seasons and two indoor seasons. Thomas J. Lipton decided in August 1982 to fold the team because of lack of attendance and the pending possibility of United States Football League coming to The Gator Bowl.”

Wiederecht went to the winter baseball meetings in Honolulu in December 1982 where he had lots of interviews with GMs and other executives of minor League clubs. He got only one firm job offer. It was with the AAA Albuquerque Dukes, the LA Dodgers farm club.

“Pat Mckiernan, president of the Dukes and former president of Eastern League, offered me the job,” he said. “He told me he needed someone to sell ads and tickets for the 1983 season. My salary would be $500 for the first two months. I agreed and was ready to go. A few days later he called me and told me to sell a $1,000 ad to my father and to make sure I brought a check with me. After I talked to my dad, we agreed it wasn’t a good idea to go all the way out to New Mexico. When I called Pat back he said you need to come out here with the check from your father because he already printed my business cards. I just finished with Pat by saying that I was still not coming out.”

With a job in baseball – or any sport – now looking bleak, Weiderecht looked elsewhere and got hired by Delta working sales and marketing in their Atlanta headquarters, eventually making his way to the airline’s Tampa office. He retired in August of 2020.

In June 2021, he was hired by the Phillies to work at BayCare Ballpark at the concession stand for the team’s spring training and the Threshers. Wiederecht has been with the team ever since.

“I was glad to be back in professional baseball, making hot dogs and working with some great people,” he said.

As noted, baseball has always been a big part of the Wiederecht family. Both his parents worked for the New York Yankees, his mom as a secretary to Ed Fisher in the promotions department at the team’s executive offices, starting in 1953. She handled fan mail, autograph requests, Old Timer’s Day invites, as well World Series ticket requests. Often she answered the numerous letters that Mickey Mantle and Casey Stengel received.

In 1955, there was a job opening for a statistician for the broadcast team of Mel Allen, Red Barber and Jim Woods. The job also required working with the new public relations director, Robert O. Fishel. His mom said there were more than hundred letters of people looking for jobs and she read every single one of them. After reading them, she gave them to Allen who put them in a briefcase, who then lost the briefcase! Allen asked her for a recommendation. His mom remembered one name in particular, although she did not know him personally. First name was Donald. He was a Fordham College graduate who had played baseball and had also been a former pitcher in the Yankees organization. He lived in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, not far from Yankee Stadium.

“That would be my dad,” Donald said. “He got the job and after spring training was with the team for all home and away games. He kept daily stats and after every game updated them and typed on a stencil which got copied so paper copies were always available.”

Mom and dad eventually dated and were married. His dad left in 1958 for a position with AMF Bowling. And mom?

“My mom left the Yankees after the 1957 World Series,” said Wiederecht. “With good reason. She was pregnant with me!”

The settlement comes three years after FrankCrum sued the city of Clearwater to demand it move possibly hundreds of graves from underneath its property and cover the cost of doing so. The FrankCrum campus, located a 100 S. Missouri Ave. downtown, is the site of a former Black burial ground called the St. Matthews Baptist Church Cemetery.

FrankCrum originally sought a jury trial that was scheduled to go to court this week. But the two parties reached a settlement at the end of last month. In a statement, FrankCrum said it agreed to the resolution “because we believe the city would continue to delay and deny responsibility for this problem.”

“Instead of doing the right thing and taking responsibility for this situation, the City and the CRA have spent untold taxpayer dollars on litigation and delaying tactics,” the statement said. “The CRA even argued that the City’s warranty against there being graves on the property had somehow expired.”

The Community Redevelopment Agency wrote in a statement that the agreement is expected to be approved Monday.

“The people buried at the former St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, and the families connected to them, have been at the heart of this matter for years and the city recognizes that this site holds generations of history,” the statement said.

FrankCrum dropped the city of Clearwater as a defendant, though it was initially a part of the lawsuit. Clearwater City Council members act as the trustees of the Community Redevelopment Agency, but they are two separate legal entities. The agency directs tax revenue to boost revitalization efforts, and the FrankCrum campus falls within the Downtown Clearwater Community Redevelopment Area.

“Let’s be clear, this is not a victory for the descendants of the people who were buried in the former St. Matthews Baptist Church Cemetery, and whose graves were nearly erased,” FrankCrum’s statement said. “This settlement might be a small step in the right direction, but it is one that the City and the CRA fought against for many years.”

The company argued that the city’s redevelopment agency falsely told a previous property owner in writing that the land no longer had human remains. But archaeologists have found there could be more than 500 graves at the site.

In its statement, the Clearwater Redevelopment Agency said the settlement isn’t an admission of fault for either side.

Since the property is privately owned, FrankCrum will have to decide what to do with the remains, the statement said.

“We hope for a path forward that honors the families connected to this ground,” the redevelopment agency said.

In its statement, FrankCrum said because Clearwater “leadership refuses to lead,” the community will have to find a solution. In the coming months, the statement said, the company will work with community members to develop a framework for next steps.

“We don’t have the answers yet,” the company said, “but we will keep you informed.”

Admission is free. Visit www.artfestival.com.

More than 125 local and visiting craft artists and artisans are expected to participate in the festival. Visitors will find a wide selection of hand-crafted products, including home décor, original art, pet accessories, wearable art, jewelry, paintings and more. The work is on display, pop-up-gallery style. The show also includes a full green market of live plants, tasty treats and creative host/hostess delights.

Parking is free and friendly pets on leashes are welcome. All artists are on-site throughout the weekend, allowing patrons to discover the inspiration behind the work of art, commission a custom piece, and even learn more about the process that goes into each creation.

Growing up in Michigan, jewelry artisan Cheryl D’Arezzo started her career in Germany before returning to the United States to raise her children. Looking at the next phase in her life, D’Arezzo decided to turn her decades of jewelry-making skills and lifelong passion into her full-time career. She designs and creates her original pieces using varying types of gold and silver from her home studio in Dunedin.

“I believe jewelry isn’t just something you wear,” D’Arezzo says on her website. “It’s part of your life. It holds your memories, tells your story, and reflects who you are.”

Tarpon Springs artist Corlene Furstenberg holds a formal degree in fine arts and entertainment technology. Her early start as a lifelong professional creative began in the creation of theatre props and décor painting. This means that no canvas or backdrop is ever too large for this bold artist.

As a reproduction artist able to adjust her artistic style from the most classical to the ultra-modern, she initially created reproductions of a variety of the Great Masters for the stage and big screen. Furstenberg has been invited to exhibit at the Julie Miller African Contemporary Gallery, ART IT IS and Yuill Demaso Studio in Johannesburg, South Africa. She adjudicates the annual International Reddam House School Concourse D’arts competition.

Born in South African, Furstenberg combines her unique, artistic talents to work across several mediums, including large scale metal, perspex and wood installations, modern limited edition prints, interactive walls of art, all the way through to bespoke commissions and sculpture gardens.

Palm Coast resin artist Monica Gonzalez and her husband are the creative team behind PM Designs, an artisan business specializing in handcrafted pieces made with natural materials. From natural cork purses and one-of-a-kind gourd creations to distinctive wood and resin pieces, each item is thoughtfully crafted with attention to the character and beauty of the materials. Their inspiration comes from nature — the textures of cork, the unique shapes of gourds, the grain and character of natural wood, and the colors of the coast.

“We also love creating custom pieces,” the team says on their website. “Whether you are looking for something special for your home, a unique gift, or a design made just for you, we would love to hear your ideas”

Second Song Studio, the creation of St. Pete artist Kai Marcus, is where clothing gets another chance to tell a story. Built around a love of creativity, individuality, and reinvention, Second Song Studio transforms thoughtfully sourced pieces into one-of-a-kind wearable art. Each piece is reimagined by hand using unexpected details, textures, fabrics, and embellishments — creating something that feels entirely new while honoring what came before. No two pieces are exactly alike. Some are bold and expressive, others beautifully imperfect and understated, but every creation is made for someone who wants to wear something with personality, history, and soul. At its heart, Second Song Studio is about seeing possibility in what already exists — taking something that might otherwise be overlooked and giving it a second song.

Gerhson J. Pernia — known in the art world as Gerhpe — is an artist with more than 30 years of experience, specializing in oil and acrylic on canvas with styles that range from the abstract to impressionism. Born in Venezuela in 1966, he graduated in the school of Plastic Arts of San Cristobal. He also graduated from law school and now presents his artwork in the United States.

About American Craft Endeavors

American Craft Endeavors produces some of the nation’s most exciting high-end juried craft shows in many of Florida’s vibrant downtown areas and popular tourist destinations including the Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival and the Palm Harbor Craft Festival, among others. The group’s founders personally select unique, culture rich cities for their show locations providing a complete outdoor experience unmatched by other festivals. For additional information, visit www.artfestival.com or call 561-746-6615.

Last tax season, United Way’s VITA program served 1,993 local households, saving families an estimated $797,200 by providing this free, reliable tax preparation service. Every return prepared by a trained VITA Volunteer can help households avoid tax preparation fees and invest in everyday necessities; such as food, rent, mortgage, electric bills, and car payments.

United Way welcomes volunteers interested in serving as Tax Preparers, Greeters and Quality Reviewers. All VITA Volunteers receive free training and IRS certification, with flexible weekly shifts during the filing season (February 2027 to mid-April 2027). No prior tax preparation experience is necessary.

Residents interested in volunteering are invited to attend United Way’s VITA Volunteer Meet & Greet on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Rookies Family Grille & Bar, 3095 Anderson Snow Road, Spring Hill.

Breakfast will be provided and guests must RSVP. Attendees will learn about volunteer opportunities, training requirements, what to expect during the upcoming season, and how their time dedicated is helping so many struggling families. Easily get connected by visiting, www.UnitedWayHernando.org/VITAGreet2026

Volunteer training is scheduled for Jan. 5 to 7, 2027, at the Pasco-Hernando State College Spring Hill Campus. Volunteers will serve during the 2027 tax season, from February through mid-April, with weekly scheduling options.

You can learn more about VITA at www.UnitedWayHernando.org/VITA.

LARGO — The City Commission has proclaimed October Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Police Chief Mike Loux accepted the proclamation Oct. 6 on behalf of the Police Department and thanked commissioners and city leaders for their support of victims. He was joined by police victim advocates Alexis Singh and Linda Riley.

Singh noted that about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience some form of domestic abuse in their lifetimes, and she urged residents to learn how to recognize and report it.

Resources for victims and families are available at Largo.com/VictimAdvocate.

Lighthouse of Pinellas sets White Cane Walk

LARGO — Lighthouse of Pinellas will hold its second annual White Cane Walk from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 17, at Largo Central Park.

The walk, held in conjunction with White Cane Awareness Day on Oct. 15, raises money for the nonprofit’s programs and highlights the white cane as a symbol of independence and mobility for people who are blind or visually impaired.

More than 400 people attended last year’s inaugural walk.

The family-friendly event will include live music, games, sensory experience stations and crafts focused on white cane awareness and safety.

To register, donate or sponsor, visit secure.qgiv.com/event/whitecanewalk2026.

CLEARWATER — The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Clearwater Flotilla will offer its Boat America safety course twice more before the end of the year, once online and once in person.

• Oct. 24-25: Live, instructor-led classes on Zoom.

• Nov. 21-22: In-person classes at the Coast Guard Auxiliary facility, 510 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater.

Both sessions run 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The course, taught by Auxiliary instructors, is open to beginners and experienced boaters. It is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and meets Florida’s boating safety education requirement.

The $50 fee covers the textbook, materials, instruction, the final exam and processing for a permanent Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Boating Safety Education ID card for those who pass.

Florida law requires anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, who operates a vessel with 10 horsepower or more to complete an approved course and carry the card, with some exemptions.

To register or for more information, email clwtr.auxboating@gmail.com or visit clwboatingsafety.com/boater-class-registration.

Rescued manatees on view at Clearwater Marine Aquarium

CLEARWATER — Two male manatees rescued earlier this year can now be seen by visitors at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where they are in the second stage of rehabilitation.

Axle and Gilbert arrived Sept. 23 from ZooTampa, which gave them critical care after their rescues. Public viewing opened Sept. 30.

Gilbert was rescued Jan. 2 in Sun Springs as an emaciated orphaned calf with a low body temperature. Axle was rescued Feb. 21 from shallow water in Venice, suffering from cold stress.

Since their arrival, aquarium staff have let the pair adjust to their new surroundings, set a daily routine and gradually moved them to a full diet.

Both are expected to stay at the aquarium for several more months, with release into the wild planned for early 2027.

Christian university to open Clearwater campus

CLEARWATER — Cedarville University, a Christian university in Ohio, will open a Clearwater location in partnership with Calvary Church Clearwater, with classes starting Jan. 4.

The campus will initially offer a bachelor’s degree in biblical and theological studies. Applications opened Oct. 2.

“We were approached by various church leaders about opening a location in Clearwater and prayerfully sought the Lord’s direction,” university President Thomas White said. “After careful review and extensive discussion with Florida stakeholders and state officials, we believe now is the time to bring Cedarville to Florida.”

The university said the five-year joint venture with Calvary Church will give it a presence in the Tampa Bay area and help it build relationships with churches, families and prospective students.

Nearly 500 Florida high school students take Cedarville courses through its dual-enrollment program, according to the university, and the Clearwater location would let them continue their studies closer to home.

Cedarville is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is seeking the commission’s approval of the Clearwater site as an additional location. The campus will open under a provisional license from the Florida Commission for Independent Education.

Clearwater adds tracking technology to trash collection

CLEARWATER — The city’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department has begun using Routeware, a platform that gives crews in-cab tablets for digital route management and lets supervisors track trucks in real time.

The system also centralizes complaint reporting and collects data the city says will help staff spot trends, measure performance and make routes more efficient.

Onboard cameras let staff review footage when a resident reports a missed pickup, so they can confirm whether service was completed.

Salvation Army honors Tampa Bay Magazine publisher

CLEARWATER — Margaret Word Burnside, publisher and editor of Tampa Bay Magazine, received the 2026 Dr. William E. Hale Community Spirit Award at the Salvation Army’s 20th annual Community Prayer Breakfast on Sept. 24.

The breakfast, held at the Salvation Army’s local headquarters, featured prayers for military members, people experiencing homelessness, health care workers, families and others.

Prayers were offered by Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector; Michael Blue of Joy of the Gospel Ministries; Annah-Lauren Hooten Valicoff of BayCare Health System; and Bill Layman of the Salvation Army’s advisory board.

Gil McArthur, the 2023 award recipient, was the featured speaker.

The Bluffs Business Association’s annual sip-and-stroll runs from 3 to 7 p.m. along Indian Rocks Road and West Bay Drive. BBA President Larry Bell said this year’s event will feature more than 90 participating vendors, live music, a hog roast, prizes and giveaways.

Last year’s Wine Walk drew a record crowd, and Bell said he expects this year’s to be bigger.

The most visible change is how people will get around. Star Trolley’s Pink Champagne Bus will replace the Jolley Trolley as the event’s shuttle. The specialty bus has a lounge area, a bar and a dance floor, and it holds 16 passengers.

“The bus ride is free, and it will run the normal route of the old Jolley Trolley for the entire time the event is going on,” Bell said.

The event also is adding a check-in site. Stefanec’s South Barber Shop, near Mehlenbacher Road, joins Valley Bank, BayFirst National Bank and Belleair Market, giving attendees another entry point along the route.

The Surfin’ Raccoons will return to the main stage at the Bluffs Community Center. This year, the Smart Monkeys and other bands also will play at the check-in sites.

The hog roast outside the community center also returns, provided through contributions from presenting sponsor the Silver Queen, the city and the BBA.

Advance tickets cost $39.19 at eventbrite.com/e/bluffs-wine-walk-2026-tickets-1990719482561. Tickets also will be sold on the day of the event by QR code for an additional $10.

“Attendees purchasing tickets on site via the QR code will receive an email with their tickets, just like the people who purchase in advance through Eventbrite,” Bell said.

All ticket holders must be at least 21 and show valid government-issued photo identification at check-in. Organizers encourage attendees to drink responsibly.

Bell has been involved with the Wine Walk since it began, working alongside former BBA President Bonnie Trembulak. The event has grown every year since and has been named Best Attraction and Event by Tampa Bay Beacons readers three years in a row.

“I’ve watched so many people put their hearts into this event over the years,” Bell said in an email. “To see it become a tradition that people look forward to, and to still be part of it today, means a lot to me, and Bonnie and the people who started this deserve real credit.”

Bell said the Wine Walk reflects the BBA’s mission of supporting local businesses through networking, promotion, partnerships and community events, bringing vendors and business owners together with thousands of residents and visitors.

“Whether you’re in Belleair Bluffs, Largo, Clearwater Beach or one of our coastal communities, my goal is to keep bringing people together and finding new ways to help local businesses succeed,” he said.

For more information, visit BBAStrong.com.

For more information on the 2026 Bluffs Wine Walk, visit BBAStrong.com.

Hart, a two-time all-state shortstop at Clearwater Central Catholic, was recently named head baseball coach at North Carolina State, where he has been an assistant since 2005. He replaces longtime coach Elliott Avent, the man who hired him.

The promotion caps a two-decade climb that also landed Hart in the CCC Athletic Hall of Fame in late August.

Hart, who grew up in Palm Harbor, was a switch-hitter who put up big numbers at CCC, enough that the Boston Red Sox drafted him as a senior in 1999. He didn’t sign. Instead, he went to Florida State, where he started as a catcher before moving back to the infield. After an injury cost him time as a sophomore, he finished with two strong seasons.

Unlike some of his teammates, Hart wasn’t chasing the pros.

“I had no intention of turning pro,” Hart said. “At the end of the day I realized I just wasn’t good enough. So never on my mind. I wanted to coach college baseball.”

Coaching runs in the family. Hart’s older brother, Dickie, also played at CCC before starring as a middle infielder at Florida Atlantic, where he was a first-team All-Atlantic Sun pick on a team that tied the NCAA record with 34 straight wins.

Dickie Hart played in the Anaheim Angels’ minor league system, then went 54-33 in three seasons as head coach at Tarpon Springs High, earning Pinellas County Coach of the Year honors twice, before spending more than a decade as an assistant at FAU.

Chris Hart started at St. Petersburg College.

“I knew coaching was what I wanted to do,” Hart said. “I jumped right in at St. Pete, got my foot in the door — was able to live at home so it was an easy decision. A good decision. I was 23 years old, and Coach (Dave) Pano allowed me to do a lot of things, gave me a lot of responsibilities.”

After a year at SPC and a summer coaching in the Shenandoah Valley League, Hart got a tip about an opening at NC State from Mike Bell, now the head coach at Pittsburgh. Several people pushed for his hiring, chief among them Eddie Biedenbach, an NC State alumnus and former college basketball coach.

“I think Eddie went a long way in encouraging them to hire me,” Hart said. “I didn’t really know anybody when I went up there, had no furniture, just moved there and was ready to grind it out.”

He built a reputation as one of the best assistants and recruiters in the country. Baseball America named him its National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021.

Players Hart helped bring to Raleigh or develop include three-time MLB All-Star Trea Turner, Carlos Rodón, Patrick Bailey and Will Wilson. From 2019 to 2025, 18 Wolfpack players were drafted.

“Trea was the best player, no doubt,” Hart said. “The things he did here, and still does that impacts the program, are very special. From the day he set foot on the campus it was clear that he was a special person – and not just on the field.”

Hart could have left for other jobs along the way. He never felt the need.

“I’ve had plenty of opportunities to leave,” he said, “but something has always kept me here. It’s a very successful program, my family and I love this place. The location, the ACC, all of it. I sit here and say how many people have what I have?”

Todd Vaughan, Hart’s coach at CCC, isn’t surprised by any of it.

“Chris Hart was an extremely talented and intelligent player, and a major player on some of the most talented teams we had,” Vaughan said. “The success Chris has had as a college coach is not a surprise. His experiences as a player at all levels of the game laid the groundwork. And his work ethic, knowledge and competitiveness took care of the rest.”

Hart was one of six inductees in CCC’s 2026 Hall of Fame class.

“It’s always nice to be recognized,” Hart said. “It feels good. I loved playing for Coach Vaughan. Very thankful and appreciative of that school. Really love it. What’s really important to me though is being in baseball and helping young guys. It’s an even better feeling when some of them get drafted and some get to the big leagues. At the end of the day as a coach there’s no better feeling.”

2026 CCC Athletic Hall of Fame inductees

Todd Drum (‘92) — Three-time state champion soccer standout, college and professional athlete, and devoted servant leader.

Chris Hart (‘99) — Record-setting baseball player, MLB draft pick and current NC State head baseball coach.

Kevin Lyons (‘03) — State champion distance runner, two-time county runner of the year and Harvard University student-athlete.

Ryan Orr (‘13) — One of the most decorated golfers in school history and a standout student-athlete at the University of Florida.

Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton (‘20) — CCC football standout, consensus All-American at Illinois and current Washington Commanders defensive tackle.

Daniel Krause — Longtime CCC football staff member whose work behind the scenes has helped generations of Marauders succeed.

The alternative budget for fiscal 2028 shows how the city could absorb an estimated $15.7 million a year in lost property tax revenue if the state’s proposed amendment gets the 60% voter approval it needs Nov. 3. Staff stressed that the document is for informational purposes only and that nothing has been decided.

“By law, the city of Largo doesn’t support or oppose any measure on the ballot,” Kristina Messenger, director of the city’s Office of Performance and Budget, said as she opened the presentation to the City Commission. “What follows is actual information about a budget scenario. It is not a city position.”

Amendment 3 would raise the homestead exemption on primary residences from $51,411 to $150,000 in January 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028, Messenger said. Once the exemption reaches $250,000, staff estimates the city would collect about $15.7 million less in property taxes, a loss “recurring every year, not a one-time impact,” she said.

To build the scenario, the city’s executive leadership team rated 185 programs across all general fund departments. Messenger called the result “a planning and analysis tool, not a decision or a proposed budget,” and said any real budget would still go through public hearings and commission review.

Assistant City Manager Meridy Semones then walked commissioners through the potential cuts.

The library would take the deepest proportional hit: $3.26 million and 27 full-time-equivalent positions, or 62% of its general fund budget, Semones said. Hours would drop from 56 a week to 28, “which will result in reduced public programming and access to general library services,” she said.

Fire Rescue faces the largest dollar cut, $5.22 million and 28 positions. Because the department is funded almost entirely by property taxes from the city and Pinellas County, Semones said, the reduction “reflects the scale of reductions from all of those sources.” It could mean eliminating two advanced life support units, staffing for one of the city’s two district chief posts and the department’s public outreach program.

The Police Department would lose $2.88 million, mostly from non-patrol operations and support services. Semones said the cuts would include reductions in the traffic safety unit and “the elimination of the problem-oriented policing team,” which handles street crimes, homelessness, mental health and senior services. The city could also shift more of the cost of school resource officers to Pinellas County Schools, end the school crossing guard program and give up its police dogs, though the K-9 officers would stay on the force.

Along with the library, Semones said, the Recreation, Parks and Arts Department would see “the largest public-facing reductions.” Cutting $2.37 million and 32 positions could close the Central Park Performing Arts Center, the Largo Community Center and the Highland Family Aquatic Center, along with some nature parks and sports fields. All city events would be eliminated, and hours would be reduced at the Highland and Southwest recreation centers.

The list also included cuts to information technology.

In all, the draft would eliminate 136.24 full-time-equivalent positions from the general fund, leaving 599. That is fewer than the 615 the city employed in 2013, in the aftermath of the Great Recession.

“So, this is a generational reduction in staffing in the general fund,” Semones said.

Commissioner Mike DiBrizzi said he had “a lot of different thoughts about whether we should have done this,” but thanked staff “in the spirit of transparency.”

He said he disagrees with much of the plan. “But if Amendment 3 passes, there’s going to be changes that we have to make. And if it doesn’t pass, there’s still changes we have to make.”

DiBrizzi, CEO of Largo-based Camelot Community Care, a child welfare and behavioral health nonprofit, said city spending “has by far outpaced inflationary growth over the last few years.”

“I’m not going to say this is wasted money. We’ve invested in things our residents really like. ... Unfortunately, we created an unsustainable growth rate that we have to roll back,” he said. “We have to manage growth, and we have to manage spending. And sometimes that means sacrifices and maybe we would not be able to provide some things that we’ve done over the last few years.”

Vice Mayor Chris Johnson, president and CEO of Piper Fire Protection and Electrical Services, said part of the budget growth came from catching up on infrastructure.

“We were critically behind on stormwater and wastewater, and we had to get caught up,” he said. “And we still have a lot of work to do.”

Johnson, who served eight years on the city’s Finance Advisory Board before he was elected in 2022, said the city has had to absorb “historic inflation ... just like our citizens have.” He defended staff, including City Manager John Curp, for putting the draft together.

“We asked for this. I asked for this,” Johnson said. “This isn’t what’s going to pass. This isn’t what’s going to happen. This is just what would happen if we didn’t do anything. And we’re not going to not do anything.”

Commissioner Curtis Holmes floated alternatives, including “outsourcing everything,” as some communities around the country have done, or raising the tax rate to 7 mills.

“Amendment 3 does not get rid of the property tax,” he said. “It says, ‘this amount is exempt from,’ and it’s on certain properties. So, you could change your millage and you’re back in the saddle again.”

Others on the dais pushed back. Mayor Woody Brown noted that state law limits how much the city can raise its millage rate in a single year, and Johnson and Curp said a higher rate would come nowhere near covering the lost revenue.

“I think about 2 or 3 million is all we could recoup,” Johnson said. Curp put it at “about 2 million in a given year. We could never catch up to 15.”

Holmes, who is seeking reelection to Seat 2 in November, said he was “shooting from the hip.” He also suggested renting out the city’s cultural center to private companies.

The commission took no vote and no public comment on the item, but residents weighed in on the draft budget during public comment at the start of the meeting.

“In my opinion the city manager has wrongly told everybody when this passes, services are going to have to be cut, we’re going to have to lose personnel and fire and police response times are going to be slower,” said Dwayne Wilson, an auditor and accountant who has been an outspoken supporter of Amendment 3. “None of this is true.”

Wilson said he reviewed the city’s expenses from 2021 through 2025 and “came up with $19 million that we can cut that was in excess instead of cutting services,” including high wages and insurance packages.

“Let’s get rid of the excess,” he said.

Matthew Faustini, chair of the city’s Planning Board, who is challenging Holmes for Seat 2, faulted the commission for not preparing sooner.

“This is a severe situation for Largo if Amendment 3 passes,” he said. “By year two, 90% of Largo homesteaded properties would be paying zero in property tax. They would not be paying a dime for their police services. They would not be paying a dime for their fire service, and this commission didn’t do a new study (of special assessment fees) because of the city manager’s failure in leadership.”

Faustini said the city could save $5 million a year by contracting with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for police services.

“Let’s be honest with people,” he said. “We didn’t do these kinds of cuts during the Great Recession. It is a disgrace, the budget you are presenting.”

Before the meeting, Brown told Tampa Bay Beacons that presenting the draft budget now “was a little premature. But I think it shows how we’re going to get to these numbers.”

One result, he said, would be fewer people working for the city.

“I think, unfortunately, there’s going to be some unintended consequences,” Brown said. “Employees will have the opportunity to go somewhere else, and they’re going to take that opportunity. And as a result, there will be less people working for the city.”

A detailed breakdown of the alternative budget is available at Largo.com.

Notable options for reductions

Here’s a look at options for some of the city’s operating departments

Fire Rescue

Cuts: $5,224,700

Staff reduction: 28 FTE (full-time equivalents)

Details: Options include reducing deployment at 3 stations and eliminating 2 ALS rescue trucks and 3 Lieutenant positions within EMS Response; reducing relief staffing, reducing District Chief coverage, and eliminating 1 Division Chief within Fire Administrative Services Division

Library

Cuts: $3,263,400

Staff reduction: 27 FTEs

Details: The library’s primary option is to cut its hours in half each week from 56 to 28.

Police Department

Cuts: $2,881,900

Staff reductions: 29.4 FTEs

Details: Personnel make up approximately 81% of the department’s budget, so most options are staffing reductions. Options include reducing the Traffic Safety Unit by a sergeant and 5 officers, reducing the Problem-Oriented Policing team by a sergeant and 4 officers, and eliminating the part-time School Crossing Guard program.

Recreation, Parks & Arts

Cuts: — $2,366,800

Staff reductions: 32.03 FTEs

Details: RPA has a variety of options, including several full-facility closures. Options include closing the Central Park Performing Arts Center; closing the Largo Community Center; closing McGough Nature Park, which would require rehoming city-owned animals; closing Bonner Park; closing Whitesell Softball Complex; closing Highland Tennis Courts; eliminating all special events; and a full closure of the Highland Family Aquatic Center.

ST. PETE BEACH — The St. Pete Beach Public Library has announced its upcoming programs:

• Monday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Sunny Days Retiree Wellness Expo: Explore local resources and meet community organizations offering ways to stay healthy, independent, safe and engaged in retirement, from health and financial planning to lifelong learning, recreation and social activities.

• Tuesdays, 10 a.m. — Storytime: Stories, songs and movement that build early literacy and motor skills, for children 5 and younger and their caregivers.

• Tuesday, Oct. 20, 4-5 p.m. — Play With Clay: Children 3 and older can create sculptures from modeling clay.

• Wednesday, Oct. 21, 9-9:45 a.m. — Click With Confidence: Email Basics: A beginner-friendly session with hands-on practice.

• Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1-4 p.m. — Open Mahjong: Bring friends and play. No instruction is provided.

• Thursday, Oct. 22, 10-11 a.m. — Inclusive Art Hour With Creative Clay: Make art alongside teaching and member artists from Creative Clay, a nonprofit that provides arts programs for people with disabilities. Materials are provided.

• Thursday, Oct. 22, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. — Understanding Elder Abuse: Community Action Stops Abuse, a certified domestic violence center in Pinellas County, will discuss how to recognize and prevent elder abuse and the resources available to victims and caregivers.

• Thursday, Oct. 22, 4-5 p.m. — Tech Help: Get help with phones, computers and library apps. No repairs. Sign up for a 30-minute appointment at calendly.com/stpbeachlibrary/30min or call 727-363-9238. Because the session runs after regular hours, other library services will not be available.

• Friday, Oct. 23, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — SHINE Medicare Counseling: Free one-on-one help during Medicare open enrollment from SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas. Appointments are required; call 727-363-9238 or register at spblibrary.com.

• Saturday, Oct. 24, 1:30-2:45 p.m. — Fall Concert: The St. Pete Sax Quartet performs. Sponsored by the Friends of the St. Pete Beach Library.

Gulf Beaches Library releases schedule

MADEIRA BEACH — The Gulf Beaches Public Library, 200 Municipal Drive, has released its schedule of upcoming events:

• Writers Group: Mondays, 10 a.m.

• Storytime: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., for children 2 and younger; Fridays, 10:30 a.m., for ages 2-4.

• Adult Coloring Book Group: Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-noon.

• Mahjong: Thursdays, 11 a.m. New and returning players are welcome.

• Investment Club: Thursdays, 2:30-4 p.m.

• Meditation: Fridays, 11 a.m.-noon.

• Scrabble: Fridays, 1-4 p.m.

• A Novel Book Club: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. The group will discuss “The Madness” by Dawn Kurtagh on Oct. 20 and “Worthy Opponents” by Danielle Steel on Nov. 10.

• Book Lovers Club: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 10:30 a.m. — “The Paris Novel” by Ruth Reichl.

• Open Mic Night: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

• International Movie: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2 p.m. — “Two Tickets to Greece” (French).

• Energy Abundance Book Club: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2:30 p.m. — “The Beginning Comes After the End” by Rebecca Solnit.

The library also offers ongoing help with library apps such as Kanopy, Hoopla and Libby, and is accepting donations of gently used books. Textbooks are not accepted.

Redington Beach sets townwide yard sales

REDINGTON BEACH — Residents may hold yard sales without a special permit Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17, from 8 a.m. to dusk, under a townwide sale approved by town officials.

For more information, call Town Hall at 727-391-3875 or email info@townofredingtonbeach.com.

SEMINOLE — The Seminole Junior Woman’s Club is collecting nonperishable food for its 28th annual “Share Our Spirit” food drive, which helps feed local children over Christmas break.

Many students rely on school meal programs and go hungry when school is out. Each year, the club works with guidance counselors at Seminole-area elementary schools to identify families who need help providing meals during the break.

Needed items include canned chicken, tuna and salmon; canned vegetables and fruit; cereal and breakfast bars; peanut butter and jelly; rice, pasta and pasta sauce; fruit cups and applesauce; and boxed macaroni and cheese.

Donation boxes will be at locations throughout Seminole, including the Seminole Recreation Center, Salon 131, Lake Seminole Square and Oakhurst Learning Center. Donations will be collected Nov. 1 through Dec. 12.

Cash and gift card donations, which help the club buy perishable items, are also welcome.

To arrange a pickup, email GFWCSeminole@gmail.com, call 727-687-3077 or visit facebook.com/seminolejuniorwomansclub.

FBI agent to speak at Seminole Historical Museum

FBI agent Al Scudieri will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Seminole Historical Museum, 7464 Ridge Road.

Scudieri discussing his recent book, “A Fortunate Fed — Behind the Scenes in the Life of an FBI Agent.” He will highlight local cases involving corruption cases in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties and solved by the FBI.

The museum is open from 10 a.m.to 1 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Seminole Woman’s Club seeks new members

The Seminole Woman’s Club is looking for new members interested in serving the community, participating in fundraisers and who enjoy volunteering, meeting new people and having fun.

The club meets once a month on the fourth Monday at the Seminole Chamber of Commerce, 9200 113th St. at 6 p.m. Meetings consist of guest speakers, discussions of latest projects and upcoming fundraisers. Refreshments are provided.

Come meet club members on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Fall Craft Show, which will be held at the Seminole Recreation Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For additional information, email Pat Coughlan at pecoughfl@aol.com, call or text 727-709-3778.

Deadline imminent for Kiwanis Field of Honor

SEMINOLE — The Kiwanis Breakfast Club’s Field of Honor deadline to sponsor a flag honoring a U.S. military veteran past or present is Thursday, Oct. 15.

To sponsor a flag online, go to www.Kiwanisseminolebreakfast.com and select the button in the upper right corner “SPONSOR A FLAG.” A flag sponsorship is $35. Applications are also available at Seminole City Hall, Seminole Recreation Center, and Library.

For more information, contact Leah Hoffman at seminolebreakfast@gmail.com or via phone 727-873-7852.

Rotary to dedicate peace pole on Veterans Day

LARGO — The Rotary Club of Seminole Lake will commemorate Veterans Day with the installation and dedication of a permanent Peace Pole at Serenity Gardens Memorial Park, 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The pole will bear the message of “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

The community is invited to attend the event.

The move came at the end of the meeting, during commissioner comments, rather than as an item on the published agenda.

“I personally view the decision to remove me as vice mayor as retaliation for continuing to ask questions and demand transparency,” Vasquez wrote on Facebook the next day.

Vasquez, who represents District 1, filed a formal grievance against Van Zant on Aug. 5, citing concerns about his fiscal judgment, communication failures, inappropriate workplace conduct and leadership, and asked for an outside investigation. On Sept. 10, Mayor John Doctor and Commissioners Chris Clark and Dickey said their own reviews had cleared the city manager of wrongdoing.

At the Oct. 6 meeting, Clark moved that the commission “consider and act on a different vice mayor.” Dickey seconded.

“It appears to me, and I’m not going to get into whose fault it is, but we have a vice mayor and a city manager that cannot work together,” Clark said. Addressing Doctor, he added, “God forbid something happens to you, John. I don’t know how we run a city that way.”

Vasquez said that would not be a problem.

“There’s a certain level of professionalism that comes into it,” she said. “God forbid if something like that happens, I absolutely would do my duty as I’m sworn to do. That’s the one thing that I’ve always done, whether people agree with me or don’t agree with me.”

Dickey said he had weighed the issue before the meeting.

“Just in the past month I’ve seen a lot of behavior from the vice mayor that I would consider not appropriate for that position,” he said.

He said he looks for consistency, leadership, professionalism, sound judgment, factual statements and a willingness to work with the mayor, the other commissioners and the city manager in a vice mayor.

“Up to this point you have not shown a willingness to do that,” he told Vasquez.

Vasquez asked how Dickey happened to have notes in front of him if he hadn’t known the motion was coming. Dickey said he had notes, but not on the vice mayor question.

“I’ve never had a problem working with the mayor,” Vasquez said. “I think he and I have worked very well together for the last year and a half. But obviously if three of you don’t think I’ve done my job, then by all means do what you need to do.”

Clark then moved to elect Dickey vice mayor. The motion passed 4-1, with Vasquez dissenting.

Vasquez asked whether the matter should have been placed on an agenda so the public could comment. No one responded.

Scott McKinney, a resident, objected to the commission’s action.

“Some complaints that Tammy had were passed on for investigation,” he said. “If people aren’t allowed to put forth their concerns for proper investigation without retribution of losing a position like this, that is retaliation, and I just don’t agree with it.”

In her Facebook post, Vasquez wrote that the vote “didn’t happen in a vacuum.” She said an independent investigation should have been allowed to follow the facts, but that three commissioners “voted to stop the independent investigative process before witnesses could be interviewed, evidence examined, or findings issued.”

“And now those same three commissioners have voted to remove me as vice mayor,” she wrote. “That sequence of events matters.”

She said one of her original concerns involved the treatment of women in city leadership, and that the vote “certainly did nothing to alleviate those concerns.”

“This is about whether elected officials should be able to ask difficult questions about public money, management and accountability without fear of retaliation,” she wrote.

The commission, she said, did not take away “my seat, my voice, or my responsibility to the residents who elected me.”

“I was elected to represent District 1, protect taxpayer dollars, ask difficult questions and demand transparency and accountability,” she wrote. “A title doesn’t determine whether I do that.”

“From an enforcement standpoint, we don’t need any more tools,” Gualtieri said during the commission’s Oct. 8 work session.

Gualtieri, who said he supported and helped work on a statewide e-bike bill that Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed in June, predicted lawmakers will revisit the issue during the 2027 session. “There’s no doubt about it,” he said.

Until then, he urged commissioners not to overreach.

“We have to be careful that we don’t do any harm. … For a lot of people, that’s the only way they are getting to work,” he said. “We want people working, we want them employed, we want them to be productive.”

The same caution applies to age limits, Gualtieri said. Many students live too close to school to ride a bus but far enough away that their parents don’t want them walking, so they ride e-bikes.

“It’s not the thing, it’s the people,” he said. “It’s not the e-bike. A lot of people love e-bikes, enjoy e-bikes, and some of them are using it for their primary mode of transportation. … It’s the people who are doing it improperly, misusing it, so the emphasis and focus should be on the conduct and our enforcement of that misconduct.”

Gualtieri said directed patrols are making a difference.

“A year ago, it was the No. 1 complaint,” he said. “We put a lot of directed patrols out there, a lot of enforcement effort, and I think we’ve made great progress. It’s certainly not resolving the issue totally, but we’re much better than where we were.”

County Administrator Barry Burton said enforcement is the key and that the county is working with the Sheriff’s Office.

Whit Blanton, executive director of Forward Pinellas, the county’s land use and transportation planning agency, walked commissioners through the vetoed measure, Senate Bill 382. It would have required e-bike riders and other micromobility users to yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal when passing on trails — “a common courtesy,” Blanton said — and to slow to 10 mph within 50 feet of a pedestrian on a sidewalk.

Blanton said the governor vetoed the bill primarily over concerns about how local governments would respond to it, including how they would track speed limits. “We do expect it to come back in some form in the next session,” he said.

In the meantime, local governments already have considerable authority, Blanton said. Cities and counties can require e-bike riders to carry government-issued photo identification, which need not be a driver’s license, and can set a minimum age to operate one. They can also restrict e-bikes on specific facilities or beaches, cap sidewalk speeds at 15 mph and set speed limits on trails.

Some Pinellas municipalities have adopted such restrictions, Blanton said.

“There has been a hodgepodge of ordinances that have been introduced and passed across the state, because of the vacuum at the state level,” he said.

Complaints have centered on e-bikes on sidewalks and the Pinellas Trail, “where we have all kinds of users out there,” Blanton said. He said he is working with county staff on proposed rules that will come back to the commission for consideration.

The alternative budget for fiscal 2028 shows how the city could absorb an estimated $15.7 million a year in lost property tax revenue if the state’s proposed amendment gets the 60% voter approval it needs Nov. 3. Staff stressed that the document is for informational purposes only and that nothing has been decided.

“By law, the city of Largo doesn’t support or oppose any measure on the ballot,” Kristina Messenger, director of the city’s Office of Performance and Budget, said as she opened the presentation to the City Commission. “What follows is actual information about a budget scenario. It is not a city position.”

Amendment 3 would raise the homestead exemption on primary residences from $51,411 to $150,000 in January 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028, Messenger said. Once the exemption reaches $250,000, staff estimates the city would collect about $15.7 million less in property taxes, a loss “recurring every year, not a one-time impact,” she said.

To build the scenario, the city’s executive leadership team rated 185 programs across all general fund departments. Messenger called the result “a planning and analysis tool, not a decision or a proposed budget,” and said any real budget would still go through public hearings and commission review.

Assistant City Manager Meridy Semones then walked commissioners through the potential cuts.

The library would take the deepest proportional hit: $3.26 million and 27 full-time-equivalent positions, or 62% of its general fund budget, Semones said. Hours would drop from 56 a week to 28, “which will result in reduced public programming and access to general library services,” she said.

Fire Rescue faces the largest dollar cut, $5.22 million and 28 positions. Because the department is funded almost entirely by property taxes from the city and Pinellas County, Semones said, the reduction “reflects the scale of reductions from all of those sources.” It could mean eliminating two advanced life support units, staffing for one of the city’s two district chief posts and the department’s public outreach program.

The Police Department would lose $2.88 million, mostly from non-patrol operations and support services. Semones said the cuts would include reductions in the traffic safety unit and “the elimination of the problem-oriented policing team,” which handles street crimes, homelessness, mental health and senior services. The city could also shift more of the cost of school resource officers to Pinellas County Schools, end the school crossing guard program and give up its police dogs, though the K-9 officers would stay on the force.

Along with the library, Semones said, the Recreation, Parks and Arts Department would see “the largest public-facing reductions.” Cutting $2.37 million and 32 positions could close the Central Park Performing Arts Center, the Largo Community Center and the Highland Family Aquatic Center, along with some nature parks and sports fields. All city events would be eliminated, and hours would be reduced at the Highland and Southwest recreation centers.

The list also included cuts to information technology.

In all, the draft would eliminate 136.24 full-time-equivalent positions from the general fund, leaving 599. That is fewer than the 615 the city employed in 2013, in the aftermath of the Great Recession.

“So, this is a generational reduction in staffing in the general fund,” Semones said.

Commissioner Mike DiBrizzi said he had “a lot of different thoughts about whether we should have done this,” but thanked staff “in the spirit of transparency.”

He said he disagrees with much of the plan. “But if Amendment 3 passes, there’s going to be changes that we have to make. And if it doesn’t pass, there’s still changes we have to make.”

DiBrizzi, CEO of Largo-based Camelot Community Care, a child welfare and behavioral health nonprofit, said city spending “has by far outpaced inflationary growth over the last few years.”

“I’m not going to say this is wasted money. We’ve invested in things our residents really like. ... Unfortunately, we created an unsustainable growth rate that we have to roll back,” he said. “We have to manage growth, and we have to manage spending. And sometimes that means sacrifices and maybe we would not be able to provide some things that we’ve done over the last few years.”

Vice Mayor Chris Johnson, president and CEO of Piper Fire Protection and Electrical Services, said part of the budget growth came from catching up on infrastructure.

“We were critically behind on stormwater and wastewater, and we had to get caught up,” he said. “And we still have a lot of work to do.”

Johnson, who served eight years on the city’s Finance Advisory Board before he was elected in 2022, said the city has had to absorb “historic inflation ... just like our citizens have.” He defended staff, including City Manager John Curp, for putting the draft together.

“We asked for this. I asked for this,” Johnson said. “This isn’t what’s going to pass. This isn’t what’s going to happen. This is just what would happen if we didn’t do anything. And we’re not going to not do anything.”

Commissioner Curtis Holmes floated alternatives, including “outsourcing everything,” as some communities around the country have done, or raising the tax rate to 7 mills.

“Amendment 3 does not get rid of the property tax,” he said. “It says, ‘this amount is exempt from,’ and it’s on certain properties. So, you could change your millage and you’re back in the saddle again.”

Others on the dais pushed back. Mayor Woody Brown noted that state law limits how much the city can raise its millage rate in a single year, and Johnson and Curp said a higher rate would come nowhere near covering the lost revenue.

“I think about 2 or 3 million is all we could recoup,” Johnson said. Curp put it at “about 2 million in a given year. We could never catch up to 15.”

Holmes, who is seeking reelection to Seat 2 in November, said he was “shooting from the hip.” He also suggested renting out the city’s cultural center to private companies.

The commission took no vote and no public comment on the item, but residents weighed in on the draft budget during public comment at the start of the meeting.

“In my opinion the city manager has wrongly told everybody when this passes, services are going to have to be cut, we’re going to have to lose personnel and fire and police response times are going to be slower,” said Dwayne Wilson, an auditor and accountant who has been an outspoken supporter of Amendment 3. “None of this is true.”

Wilson said he reviewed the city’s expenses from 2021 through 2025 and “came up with $19 million that we can cut that was in excess instead of cutting services,” including high wages and insurance packages.

“Let’s get rid of the excess,” he said.

Matthew Faustini, chair of the city’s Planning Board, who is challenging Holmes for Seat 2, faulted the commission for not preparing sooner.

“This is a severe situation for Largo if Amendment 3 passes,” he said. “By year two, 90% of Largo homesteaded properties would be paying zero in property tax. They would not be paying a dime for their police services. They would not be paying a dime for their fire service, and this commission didn’t do a new study (of special assessment fees) because of the city manager’s failure in leadership.”

Faustini said the city could save $5 million a year by contracting with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for police services.

“Let’s be honest with people,” he said. “We didn’t do these kinds of cuts during the Great Recession. It is a disgrace, the budget you are presenting.”

Before the meeting, Brown told Tampa Bay Beacons that presenting the draft budget now “was a little premature. But I think it shows how we’re going to get to these numbers.”

One result, he said, would be fewer people working for the city.

“I think, unfortunately, there’s going to be some unintended consequences,” Brown said. “Employees will have the opportunity to go somewhere else, and they’re going to take that opportunity. And as a result, there will be less people working for the city.”

A detailed breakdown of the alternative budget is available at Largo.com.

Notable options for reductions

Here’s a look at options for some of the city’s operating departments

Fire Rescue

Cuts: $5,224,700

Staff reduction: 28 FTE (full-time equivalents)

Details: Options include reducing deployment at 3 stations and eliminating 2 ALS rescue trucks and 3 Lieutenant positions within EMS Response; reducing relief staffing, reducing District Chief coverage, and eliminating 1 Division Chief within Fire Administrative Services Division

Library

Cuts: $3,263,400

Staff reduction: 27 FTEs

Details: The library’s primary option is to cut its hours in half each week from 56 to 28.

Police Department

Cuts: $2,881,900

Staff reductions: 29.4 FTEs

Details: Personnel make up approximately 81% of the department’s budget, so most options are staffing reductions. Options include reducing the Traffic Safety Unit by a sergeant and 5 officers, reducing the Problem-Oriented Policing team by a sergeant and 4 officers, and eliminating the part-time School Crossing Guard program.

Recreation, Parks & Arts

Cuts: $2,366,800

Staff reductions: 32.03 FTEs

Details: Options include closing the Central Park Performing Arts Center; closing the Largo Community Center; closing McGough Nature Park, which would require rehoming city-owned animals; closing Bonner Park; closing Whitesell Softball Complex; closing Highland Tennis Courts; eliminating all special events; and a full closure of the Highland Family Aquatic Center.

For Ashley Veselis, a middle school visual arts teacher, that discomfort arrived during her first visit to an art classroom at Kansai International Academy in Kobe. She began asking the teacher questions, only to realize he spoke only Japanese.

Veselis sat down and observed. By the end of the week, what initially felt unfamiliar had begun to look recognizable.

“We both follow the IB curriculum,” Veselis said. Even without understanding every word, she recognized classroom practices and expectations much like her own.

Kansai is a bilingual school where half the classes are taught in Japanese and half in English. Students might leave an English-language math class and enter an art class taught entirely in Japanese, switching languages and addressing the teacher as “sensei.”

The secondary students generally remain in one homeroom while teachers move between classrooms. They leave for classes such as art, music and physical education or to conduct experiments in a science laboratory.

There were other adjustments. Each morning, students, teachers and administrators changed from outdoor footwear into indoor “school shoes,” storing their other shoes in cubbies. At a group dinner, Veselis instinctively moved to put her arms around the others for a photograph, then realized her Japanese hosts did not greet one another with the same casual physical contact.

Veselis traveled with Amy Callahan, Carrollwood Day School’s middle school music teacher and Veselis’ department head and mentor. The two applied for a Round Square faculty exchange in the summer of 2025 and later learned they had been selected.

They spent six weeks in Japan beginning around Memorial Day. Their first week was at Kansai, where they observed classes, met educators and presented to faculty. After three weeks of independent travel, they completed two weeks of professional development through Montserrat College of Art, studying calligraphy, fabric art, manga and mokuhanga woodblock printing.

Veselis also chronicled the experience in a Carrollwood Day School blog post titled “Faculty Exchange Brings Global Learning to Carrollwood Day School: Reflections on My Summer in Japan.”

Inside Kansai’s arts classrooms, Veselis was struck by the patience students showed themselves and one another. During a theater exercise, students had to improvise a scene in English, with each line beginning with the next letter of the alphabet. When someone struggled, classmates waited without ridicule and offered suggestions when the teacher invited them to help.

In art class, Veselis watched a student repeatedly back up a video tutorial and try a drawing again.

That persistence is something she wants to strengthen in her own classroom. Veselis wants students to replace “This is hard. I don’t want to do this” with “This is hard. I know I can do this. I just need to keep going.”

Callahan found her expectations shifting, too. Although she anticipated connecting primarily with Japanese music educators, her secondary-school counterpart was from Brazil and an elementary music teacher was from Ghana. Students were learning traditional Japanese instruments, but the teachers discussing the music came from several cultural backgrounds.

“I really had more of a world music connection,” Callahan said. “It was a unique experience that was very multicultural.”

Callahan also noticed that the students were expected to consider how their behavior affected those around them. She watched seventh-graders independently use a band saw while carefully following every safety rule. In music and other classes, students listened quietly without the frequent side conversations she sometimes sees among American middle schoolers.

“It’s community first versus individual first,” Callahan said.

She did not view one classroom culture as entirely better than the other. While the Japanese students appeared more mindful of the group, Callahan said their reserved nature sometimes made their individuality more difficult to see. Carrollwood students, by comparison, readily display creativity and outgoing personalities but are still learning how to express themselves without disrupting others.

The emphasis on community extended beyond the school. Veselis and Callahan saw young children walk long distances and navigate crowded trains without adults. When the teachers became lost or confused during their travels, strangers often did more than point them in the right direction.

“They literally went out of their way to walk us somewhere, make sure we got there, make sure that we knew what we were doing next,” Callahan said.

Both teachers returned to Carrollwood thinking about how independence, consideration and persistence work together. Callahan now compares music practice with athletics: Students who attend soccer practice several times a week can also find 15 minutes to practice an instrument four days a week.

“It’s about consistency,” she said.

For Veselis, persistence remains a choice students must make.

“You can do it,” she said, “but it is a choice you have to make.”

The month began with a presentation about native plants by Wilcox Nursery, followed by a field trip to Folly Farm.

Upcoming events include:

• Oct. 23 — Town of Belleair Halloween Bash

Stop by and say boo! Belleair Garden Club volunteers will welcome families and hand out treats at the Town of Belleair Halloween Bash from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dimmitt Community Center, 918 Osceola Road in Belleair.

• Oct. 24 — Florida Botanical Gardens Pumpkin Fest

Join the fall fun at Pumpkin Fest at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the Belleair Garden Club’s table to create a fun and festive fabric pumpkin. This activity is suitable for all ages. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Florida Botanical Gardens.

• October 31 — Boo-tanical Plant Swap & Potluck

Celebrate Halloween with plants, food and friends from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the clubhouse. Bring plants, cuttings or seeds to share and a dish for the potluck. This informal gathering is free and open to all.

For event details, RSVPs and membership information, visit BelleairGardenClub.com.