Looking for live music?

The Subdudes and the Ditchflowers perform (well not at the same time) at 8 p.m. tonight (Feb. 28) at Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road. $17-20. Must be 21 or accompanied by parent. Call toll-free, 1-800-594-8499.

Handyman occasionally spent night at professor's Cory Lake Isles home

By Rebecca Catalanello
Times Staff Writer

MIAMI — The handyman who helped topple a University of South Florida administrator hasn't visited his mother in years.

He leaves a trail of women angry about the child support he owes. He gets in trouble for having cocaine.

Victor Waiters is out there, somewhere.

With him, maybe, is a good explanation for why he needed a $100 bike more than Abdul S. Rao needed a $384,000 job.

Waiters, 45, and Rao, 51, were caught on video Feb. 9 taking a graduate student's bicycle from the Johnnie B. Byrd Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute. Rao, a senior associate vice president for research, admitted his role. He resigned and then rescinded his resignation. He explained his actions as a "lapse in judgment."

But, above all, he praised Waiters, calling him "trustworthy" and "extremely hard-working." Waiters, in Rao's view, was just down on his luck and trying to make it off the "poverty bubble."

"He is a proud person," Rao said. "He has so much pride, he will not take a handout."

Court papers suggest an alternate image of the man Rao befriended and occasionally let stay in his $441,738, Cory Lake Isles house.

Arrested 29 times, Waiters was twice convicted of cocaine possession and once of marijuana possession, records show.

Four women say he fathered five children between them. And, despite the four paternity lawsuits, Waiters rarely pays child support, records show.

A magistrate wrote in 1995 that Waiters "does not seem to be interested in obtaining a job." At the time, he owed $5,000 to the mother of his 6-year-old son.

His state driving record lists him as a "habitual traffic offender." His license has been revoked for more than a decade. There are 28 entries for failing to pay a fine or go to court. The agency lists his address as "unavailable."

His own mother, Anna Waiters, an 80-year-old retired nurse, did not have Victor's phone number until a news reporter gave it to her.

The Times reached Victor Waiters just once, by cell phone on Feb. 13. He has not returned calls since and could not be located.

Cross Creek Publix robbed at gunpoint

Tampa Police officials are at the Publix on Cross Creek Boulevard and Morris Bridge Road to investigate an armed robbery that occured there about half an hour ago, police officials said. An armed robbery ocurred shortly before 3:30 p.m. in the store's pharmacy. The suspect is a white male. Police are still investigating.

The Publix is located at 10928 Cross Creek Blvd.

Botanical Gardens volunteer orientation

Love plants and want to learn more about them? The USF Botanical Gardens volunteer orientation is at 10 a.m. today (Feb. 28) at 4202 E Fowler Ave.

Find out about the garden and how you can be a part of it the fourth Saturday each month. No experience necessary. Call 813-974-2329.

Tidbits from Freedom High School

This from the Freedom High School PTA:

Board Members for 2009-10:  We are currently seeking board members for next year. You are invited to join us at the next PTSA board meeting, March 17th. Come meet the current board and see if you'd like to join. Contact Struby Thelen at cstruby@tampabay.rr.com if interested. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration!
Memorial Bricks for Sale: Looking for an unusual gift for your graduating senior, consider a memorial brick. You have the opportunity to purchase and personalize the bricks surrounding the flag and "cement your place in history." Design one for yourself, a friend, your team, a club, or a special teacher. Order forms are attached and all profits go directly to the memorial fund.
Relay for Life of New Tampa: This is a wonderful community event that raises money to combat this disease and to spread awareness about how we can protect ourselves from cancer. It is a fun-filled event bringing together people of all ages to camp-out and take turns walking around a track for 18 hours to signify that cancer never sleeps. It's a time to celebrate those who are battling the disease and remember those we have lost. -- The PTSA is currently recruiting people to join a Liberty and Freedom PTSA team and wanted to invite you to join. Please visit http://main.acsevents.org/goto/libertyandfreedom for a better idea of what Relay For Life is all about. Consider joining this fight against cancer and if you can't join the team then please consider making a donation!
From the Health & Safety Committee: Did you know that 50% of students have used an illegal drug by the time they leave high school? How do you know if your children are using drugs and what do you do if they are? Telltale signs include recent mood and energy level changes, changes in eating habits, specific signs like redness around the eyes, and changes in social and educational performance. Listen carefully to what your children are telling you about their lives and how they feel. And watch how they behave. It may seem natural for an adolescent to be a bit surly, but most adolescents are not actually sullen, withdrawn, apathetic and lethargic. You should talk to your child about any of these symptoms. You do need to know. Here’s a further resource for more information from the National Institute of Health: http://www.nida.nih.gov/Published_Articles/Sally.html
Lacrosse: Freedom’s Lacrosse Club team faces Lakewood Ranch at the Benito field Tuesday night. Tentative game time is 6:30 p.m. Last night, Freedom trounced St. Pete 22-0.
Cell Phone and Ink Cartridge Recycling:  Help the Freedom PTSA and the environment by submitting your used cell phones and ink cartridges to the front office for recycling.

Oboe masterclass

Dan Ross, from Arkansas State University, will lead an oboe reed masterclass from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 28) at the School of Music at USF, 4202 E Fowler Ave. Cost is $25 for students and $35 for others. Call

Lunch and learn about Spain

George Zucker, a Spanish professor at the University of Northern Iowa who taught about Spain’s Renaissance and Baroque literature, will talk about "Spain from Columbus to Cervantes" at 12:15 today (Feb. 27) as part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute brown bag Lunch and Learn series at USF, 4202 E Fowler Ave.

In 1492 Columbus gave Spain a whole new world. But the country was unable to deal with some of the social, economic and philosophical changes of the Renaissance. Spain became more and more self-centered, seeing enemies of the church and kingdom on all sides. The decline is portrayed in the literature of the 16th century, culminating in the universal literary masterpiece, Don Quixote, with its message of hope.

Save Cypress Creek fundraiser

Zach Deputy and Tribal Style play at 8 p.m. tonight (Feb. 27) at Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road. $10-15. Must be 21 or accompanied by parent. Proceeds go toward saving Cypress Creek and drinking water. Call 1-800-594-8499.

New Tampa Rotary Club breakfast meeting

Denny Mitchell, senior volunteer at Big Cat Rescue, will talk about the Big Cat Sanctuary at 7 a.m. Friday (Feb. 27) at the New Tampa Rotary breakfast meeting at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd. The cost is $12. Call (813) 972-9235.

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Dance, dance, dance

The University of South Florida's spring dance concert is at 8 tonight (Feb. 26) and throughout the weekend in Theater 1 at the School of Dance at USF, 4202 E Fowler Ave. $8-15. Call (813) 974-2323.

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